The proceedings in the Town Hall were brief but most impressive.  After the freedom of Southampton had been conferred on the Prince by the Mayor, in a gold casket, Lord READING in a touching speech announced, amid tempestuous cheers, that the Government had resolved to signalise Prince Ongtong’s services by conferring on him a dukedom and a grant of two million pounds.

Continuing, Lord READING said that the Solomon Islands had always appealed to him with peculiar magic.  He believed that they were the authentic seat of King SOLOMON’S Mines, in spite of the rival claims of Africa put forward by Sir RIDER HAGGARD.

The Prince, who acknowledged the honour in fluent Melanesian, was understood to say that he had only done his duty, that he was speechless with gratitude and that he would always regard Lord READING as a brother.  A recherche vegetarian luncheon was then served, after which Lord ROTHERMERE presented each member of the choir with a cheque for ten thousand pounds, and Mr. SMILLIE invited them to give evidence before the Coal Commission.

The Prince and party were anxious to proceed by special train to London, where rooms had been engaged for them at the Grand Palestine Hotel, but, on leaving the Town Hall, were surrounded by the crowd, which had now swelled to nearly a million and fought for the privilege of escorting the visitors to the station with such desperate enthusiasm that at a late hour on Saturday night no traces of Prince Ongtong or any of his choir could be discovered.  This is all the more to be regretted as arrangements had been made for a competition between the Solomon Islanders and the Czecho-Slovakian singers, at which Lord ASKWITH had undertaken to adjudicate.  All hope however of tracing the missing party has not yet been given up, and a wireless message received at Marconi House on Sunday night states that the Ringwood police had arrested a partially-clad foreigner in the neighbourhood of the Rufus-stone.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A GENERAL STRIKE ON DERBY DAY.

FROM OUR GALLERY OF INCONCEIVABLE HORRORS.]

* * * * *

CHANCE FOR THE HOMELESS.

    “For Sale, Hupmobile Car (1916 model), saloon body, self
    starter, electric light, lory on ground floor, 3 bedrooms,
    bathroom seater, with 2 extra chairs.”—­Provincial Paper.

* * * * *

“Mr. ——­ is forty-six and a man of business.  He is chairman of the City Lands Committee, and a member of the Corporation.  These things are not good training for championship lawn-tennis.”—­Evening Paper.

This applies more especially, of course, to the Corporation.

* * * * *

    “The Duchess still looks quite a girl, and so does the
    Duke, particularly now that he has shaved off his tiny
    moustache.”—­Weekly Paper.