The Ohinemuri Gazette. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1920. THE PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXI, Issue 4107, 21 April 1920, Page 2

The Ohinemuri Gazette. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1920. THE PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT.

His Royal Highness--the Prince oi

Wales is expected in Auckland on

Saturday. He will arrive ir. the biy

battleship "Renown," the largest war

vessel ever launched from a dock by

the British Navy, being SOO feet in

length, and draws 31 feet. The four centres are making extraordinary preparations for this great royal visit, while many of the provincial towns are also marking the event in a more or less degree. In another place ws make reference, .to the extreme shortness of paper, but despite this fact most of the leading papers of the Dominion have covered many reams 'chronicling the many manifestations prepared and being prepared to find colouring and admiration for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, heir to the most exalted throne in Christendom, past or present. In all likelihood the Prince is no more desirous of restricting his nationals,to certain sartorial formalities than ha would be to compel them to refer to him by his full name, Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor. Judging by the fine open l.aughing; countenance depicted in his photograph on view in the window of the "Gazette" Office, these things do not matter a "dam" to him. —and a "dam" is an Indian coin worth slightly less than an English farthing. (Ignorant modern writers have corrupted this expressive and reputable figure of speech to "damn," which, though good English, is used ordinarily in a senseless way.) What does matter i is that the people who a - re led—God help them—by these "leading" journals, tshould thoroughly understand what the inner meaning of the Royal visit is. More commonly than one might suppose in a country where' education is free and compulsory, and everyone can read| people talk of loyalty-or disloyalty as though the reigning sovereign's personal qualifications were the attributes to which homage was to be paid or dislike expressed. They do not sense the shining truth that homage is clue to the sovereign, his royal line, his ambassadors and governors, because royalty to us is the. keystone of the arch of empire. Apart from the natural love of country pbssess-

Ed by all British %ien and women whose minds have not been pervei'ted by disintegrating doctrines, the British Empire represents—despite black blots on its escutcheon—a magnificent edifice. It is the crowning glory of nineteenth century civilisation. With nil its fauLts, there is none other whose people have suffered so nobly, so generously, and with such

tiide of physical, moral, and spiritual agony for the sake of helping to uplift suffering humanity; to rescue the perishing and'care for the dying—including, recently, victims of n horrible military tyranny and thirst for world dominion. This proud heritage, this inspiring institution, like a 1! things else, great or small, must have some fountain head; the British Empire is ■symbolised- by its King, and the Prince of Wales is oun King-to-be. For this inner, spiritual reason we shall pay glad homage to our

future sovereign. Certain Auckland gentlemen cabled to the prince asking what they should wear at tho reception, and received the obvious one and only reply possible, namely, that they could wear what they liked. Though certainly not intended as such, the reply might well be taken n« a. royal rebuke of frivolity. There is on old saying that it takes nine tailors to equal one m.an, and- it is on record that Queqn Elizabeth, when receiving a deputation consisting' of eighteen tailors, greeted them thusly : "Good morning, gentlemen both." Eat it would really seem that it takes iv ne other adult males "to equal one tailor, since we are all more or less slaves of fashion. However, these things may be, let us fully recognise that the Prince of Wales represents to us the stupendous achievement, the exalted self-sacrifice, the past, present, and the living symbol of the future of the proud and powerful yet forbearing and humane British Empire.