THE EMPIRE’S PRINCE.

Western Star, 27 April 1920, Page 2

THE EMPIRE’S PRINCE.

ARRIVES IN DOMINION

GREETED WITH CHEERS IN’ AUCKLAND. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived in Auckland on Saturday morning on H.M.S. Renown, and was accorded a. tumultuous welcome when he set his foot on the soil of the Dominion. An. address of welcome from the Parliament and people of New Zealand was presented to' him. by Mr Massey. The address was contained in a very beautiful casket of New Zealand woods, with a valuable and historical greenstone tiki suspended inside the cover. THE ROYAL REPLY. The Prince replied!: Mr Prime Minister, and gentlemen, this is a very great occasion for me, when you as representing the Parliament and people of New Zealand bid me welcome to your splendid dominion, the Britain of the Southern Seas. I have looked forward to this visit for a long time past and I shall never forget the day on which I first set foot upon New Zealand soil. It was a groat disappointment to m/e that an unfortunate epidemic in the splendid ship which brought me out, his Majesty’s ship Resown, delayed my start from England by a week and I hope that you were not put to great inconvenience ifi readjusting your arrangements for my visit, to which I know you have given much thought and care. Now that I am here at last, I feel no stranger in a strange land, but one of yourselves, amongst my own kith and kin. How could I in this land feel anything but at home. I have served with my New Zealand brother officers and men in the great war, which made all the nations of the British Empire doubly and trebly kin. I have seen the Ministers of New Zealand taking their place as representatives of nation in the framing and signing, of the peace; I have shared to- the full your pride in that achievement, the sign that this young nation has nobly won its spurs, and I have felt as deeply as you with those bravo men and women who sacrificed their life, their health, or their happiness for the victory of our cause. You will understand, therefore, gentlemen, that my thanks, for your most cordial welcome are no mere form. I am deeply touched by your expression of devotion to my, father, the King, and by your reference- to 1 the place which Ms Majesty fills in the life of the Empire today. I am also more than grateful for the much too generous things which you have, said about myself. I know that my time amongst you will be not only a keen pleasure, but a great experience. I am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones throughout the dominion, and though I cannot go everywhere in a month, I hope that I shall see something of all parts of the country and of all sections of its people before X leave. There will be much to tell you of » my experiences later in my tour. In the meantime, Mr Massey, I beg you to thank all New Zealand on my behalf for the warm and generous welcome which every part of the country has prepared.