THE PRINCE OF WALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17913, 19 April 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE OF WALES

PrcßS Aesociaumi—By Telegraph—■Co'pyrig'ht. HONOLULU, April 15. Tho Prince -was the principal guest at a feast which is reserved exclusively for Royalty. It contained a feature which had not been represented since the Duke of Edinburgh visited Honolulu in 1858. Behind the Prince, who sat garlanded with flowers between n Hawaiian princesa and tho hostess (Mrs Atkinson), two tall Hawaiians stood, holding sacred tapu sticks—long, pointed rode ornamented with globes. These tapu sticks' still profoundly influence the natives' imagina- ! tion, and emphasise to the mind the sacredness of kingship. Tliey are never produced except for Royalty. The sliip's officers, wearing white mess jackets with gold laco and war decorations, were similarly garlanded, as werethe ladies, -who were present in equal number. Several representatives of aristocratic Hawaiian families also participated in the feast, amid the fragrant odours exhaled from the varied flowers. 'Gleaming jewek were worn by tho fashionably-dressed ladies. The guests ate Hawaiian delicacies in Hawaiian fashion, while strange drinks of unknown composition -were served m small glasses. If Hawaii were not eo uncompromisingly dry, in common with the rest of the United States territory, one might have suspected those alluring, palatable drinks to be American cocktails in the guise of beverages compounded by ancient Hawaiian art. Many of the guests, who resided at Haiwaii, ueed their fingers for eating. Tho strangers were accommodated , with forks. During the progress of tho feast the Prince exhibited close interest in the programme presented by native girls, and listened to the plaintive Hawaiian chants and love songs. An American' lsdy vensed in, Hawaiian lore, kindly interpreted the meaning of many songs end explained them. They were largely liistorical ballads, like Sir Walter Scofct'e, celebrating the "warlike achievements of Hawaiian' heroes, and giving their genealogies and the exploits of their ancestors and descendants. Other ballads referred to the Prince of Wales, and recounted the ancient ties of friendship between Hawaii and Bereiania, which is the Hawaiian name for Britain. Others again were purely love sorig3. The principal singing girl, who accompanied herself on the ukalele, possessed a voice of much sweetness and charm, and quite captivated the audience. The dramatic scenes and stories were rather monotonous, but the dancing was extraordinarily vigorous. An old man furnished the comic relief, singing and dancing with a chorus of girls. The performance -was quite unintelligible to outsiders, but was greeted with uproarious laughter and applause. With the plaintive love songs of the Hawaiian prima donna, who sang under her native cocoanuts, ringing in their ears, the Renown left for Fiji at daybreak on Wednesday.— A. and N.Z. Cable. LL.D. DEGREE TO BE CONFERRED. At the request of the Melbourne Uni- ■ versity authorities, it has been arranged that his Royal Highnees shall attend the University on Thursday afternoon, June 3, so that the degree of LL.D. may be conferred upon him. CLARET OOP OBJECTORS. Tlio Mayor of Wanganui (Mr Mackay) telegraphs as follows:—"In connection with the claxet oup controvewy, exception is taken by tho Ladks' Committee- to the Press Association's description of the function as 'a juvenile gathering.' Tha guests include: Firstly, the single young people of the town over the age of 18 years; secondly, all returned soldiers, their wives, and mothers; thirdly, South African veterans and their

wires; fourthly, Maori war veterans and their wives. To describe such, a function as a jiwenile gathering seems lacking- m precision."