THE PRINCE OF WALES

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 17

THE PRINCE OF WALES

(By Cable.) ARRIVAL AT BARBADOES. BARBADOES, April 1. The mighty Renown, escorted by the Calcutta, arrived in the quiet, sun-kissed Barbadian roadstead on the evening pi the 25th, which was the signal JEor an outburst of loyal activity. The Governor (Sir Charles O'Brien) and Admiral Everett, in uniform, and the executive councillors, top-hatted and frockcoated, coming on the quarter-deck with digniefid ceremony, were received by the Prince, who gave an official dinner party, and a dance to 200 guests in the evening. Many lovely Barbadian girls, attired n Paris and New York gowns, danced with the officers in blue and white and gold on the Prince's promenade decks, in which the brilliant glow of the illuminations made a wonderfully beautiful picture, with the peaceful tropic island in the background. The ship herself was suffused with light, softened by passing through awnings of brocade and white stripe"!, which looked to the guests coming aboard like a great flower resting on the dark waters, which were jewelled by the reflection of tropic stars. The music of the ship's perfect band floated across the waves, and in this romantic setting the Baradians received their first impression of the rrince's gay and gracious individuality. RENOWN AT SAN DIEGO. SAN FRANCISCO, April 7. The Renown has arrived at San Diego. The American fleet saluted, the -bulwarks were lined with cheering-sailors, and seaplanes flew overhead. The Prince received Admiral Williams and others, and returned the visit to the flagship New Mexico, where a luncheon in the Prince's honour was given. His Royal Highness addressed 5000 persons through an amplifier megaphone in an outdoor auditorium. —A. and N.Z. Gable. A squadron of eight American naval seaplanes, flying in formation like a flock of wild ducks, came out of the morning mist to greet the Renown off San Diego to-day. Far ahead a flotilla . of six destroyers swept' down, and, parting into two lines, took up positions, three on each side of the battle cruiser. Next came 14 military aeroplanes, manoeuvring with beautiful precision directly overhead. It was a most impressive and dramatic reception. The Prince was on the bridge of the Renown at an early hour, and was immensely interested and pleased. The Renown saluted the American flag by gunfire, and the shore batteries replied. San Diego is an important destroyer and aircraft base of the American Pacific* fleet, which is represented by the flagship New Mexico. Admiral Wells is base commandant, and Vice-Admiral Williams is acting commander-in-chief of the Pacific fleet. Captain Williard, of the New Mexico, boarded the Renown, and was received by the Prince and his staff, who afterwards returned the call and lunched on the New Mexico. The Prince made an official landing in San Diego in the afternoon, and received a tumultuous welcome from a great gathering of citizens, the Hon. William Stephens, Governor of. California, and Mr Wilde, Mayor of San Diego, leading the proceedings. Gathered near the jetty were 75 British war veterans who were domiciled in California, and who rushed to the war at its outbreak, abandoning their acquired American nationality. There were also present a number of Canadian soldiers, and two Australian veterans of former British wars, including one from the Indian Mutiny. The Prince, on landing, shook hands with the veterans amid scenes of intense enthusiasm. There was a procession of motor cars to an immense stadium resembling the Roman Coliseum, and holding 50,000 spectators. Governor Stephens, Mayor Wilde, and other officials welcomed the Prince, who replied through an electri-cally-operated megaphone, termed a "magna vox," making every word audible to. the whole audience. The Prince expressed his thanks for the most cordial welcome. He said that San Diego was the first part of the American West that he had visited, and he was very proud to be greeted and escorted by destroyers and aeroplanes. He was delighted with California, and especially in meeting so many British war veterans. . Mr Carnegie Roos, Consul-general at San Francisco, Mr G. D. Gerard, Consul at San Diego, and Commodore Charlton, British Naval Attache, took a prominent part in the welcoming proceedings. A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE. SAN FRANCISCO, April 8. The scene at the Stadium presented elements both grandiose and bizarre. The Stadium is an immense open-air theatre surrounded by tall pillars and seated in tiers, which contained many thousands of people. A circular racing track runs between the rising tiers of seats and the central enclosure. The Prince, with the Governor and Mayor of San Diego, followed by a procession of cars, drove round the track ; which was lined with American soldiera and sailors, who presented arms. The large pavilion at the end, which was profusely decked with flags, was equipped with electric megaphones. The conditions were sufficient to daunt the most experienced speaker. The speakers poured forth a perfect Niagara of eloquence through the automatic megaphones, which distributed the speeches to the furtherest corners. When the Prince rose squadrons of aeroplanes were booming close overhead and cinema operators were concentrating on him at close quarters, but he never flinched from the ordeal and talked carefully in chosen phrases of warm appreciation into the megaphones, which aent

the words reverberating to all sides of the stadium. In the evening the Prince attended a dinner given by the Mayor and Mrs Wilde at the Coronado Hotel. Five hundred e;uests were afterwards presented at a brilliant ball. RENOWN SAILS FOR HONOLULU. SAN FRANCISCO, April 8. After a ball at San Diego, lasting till midnight, the Prince of Wales spent a quiet morning. There was a farewell reception during the afternoon aboard the Renown, which later sailed for Honolulu. RUSH FOR ACCOMMODATION. WELLINGTON, April 8. In view of the possibility of difficulty be.ng experienced by visitors in obtaining accommodation during the visit of the Prince, the Government has decided to set up an "inquiry bureau" at the four principal centres and the larger towns which will be visited by the royal party. It is considered that the Post Offices at the places concerned will be the most central and suitable places for the purpose. At the inquiry counter in the public portion of the G.P.O. an officer will be available. to assist visitors to obtain suitable accommodation. An appeal will shortly be made to the proprietors of hotels, private hotels, boardinghouses, and other persons who have suitable accommodation available to supply the inquiry' officer at the General Post Office with particulars of such accommodation, inoluding tariff. In addition to the ordinary visitors, there is every probability of there being large numbers of returned soldiers and a considerable number of sailors on shore leave at the porta where the Renown will berth, and as far as Wellington is concerned, the Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army already have kindly agreed to provide extra accommodation for several hundreds. The same organisations are also endeavouring to make similar arrangements at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Napier,Palmerston North, Nelson. Rcefton"" Greymouth, Hokitika, Chn'stchurch, Dunedin, and Inveroargill. THE MASSEY HANDICAP. AUCKLAND, April 8. In regard to the Massey Handicap, to be run at the Royal race" meeting during the visit of the Prince of Wales, and in which 66 horses are engaged, the Auckland Racing Club has decided to divide the race and run it in two sections, with a stake of £SOO in each section. COUNTRY SCHOOL CHILDREN. PROPOSAL TO BILLET. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 11. The difficulty of getting school children from out-of-the-way districts to participate in the welcome to the Prince of Wales is engaging the attention of the authorities. In regard to Central Otago and some places in Southland, for instance, it would be practically impossible to get the children back to their homes on the-one day. A suggestion has come from Otago that by giving the children a three days' pass arrangements might be made for billeting them in the main centres for two nights, so that they could return to their homes on the thii-d day, and this Sir William Fraser, who now has charge of affairs in connection with the Royal tour, is endeavouring to arrange. It will be a matter to be fixed up between the Railway Department and the. Education Boards, and the latter will be responsible for the billeting. Details will be published in a few days. The principle, of course, will be made general. CKRISTCHURCH TROTTING MEETING. CHRISTCHUROH, April 8. At the, request of the owners and trainers of trotters, the Mayor is sending a wireless message to the Prince of Wales inviting him to witness the exhibition of trotting at the Metropolitan Trotting Club's grounds oh Saturday, May 15, at 3 p.m. This is the afternoon for which the Royal race meeting has been arranged at Riccarton. Mr Cotter, acting secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club, expressed astonishment when the Mayor's action was brought under his notice. "The C.J.O. meet : ng has nothing whatever to do with the Mayor," he said . 'We have received a special permit from the Government. We have made the matter public, and our programme will be out next week. That is all there is about it."