NEW ZEALAND VISIT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 84, 21 January 1936, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND VISIT

FAMOUS SPEECH RECALLED. “ENGLAND MUST WAKE UP.” King George was the greatest Loyal I traveller in history. For over 30 years he made journeys by land and sea, alongside which the records of the most travelled monarchs of the past— Alexander, Caesar, Hadrian, Charles XII., Charlemagne, Napoleon and any of the contemporary sovereigns—will not hear comparison. His Majesty visited Canada six times, India and Ceylon three, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand twice, and Fiji. The only considerable portion of the Empire he has not seen is in East Africa. It has been calculated that- he lias travelled by land and sea over 150,000 miles —equal to six times the circuihference of the globe. Most of his. travels naturally were during his career as a naval officer, as briefly narrated elsewhere, but the most important were performed after he severed active connection with the senior service, when his Royal Highness was Heir Apparent. The first Imperial tour, to Australia and New Zealand, had been contemplated during Queen Victoria’s life, for as early as 1893, a- few months after their marriage, the Duke and Duchess were invited to honour with their presence the Australasian portions of the Empire. On the occasion of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897 the invitation was renewed by the New Zealand Government—of which Mr Seddon was Premier—“in fitting recognition of the hospitality of' the British Nation and as evidence of our attachment to the Throne and to the Royal Family.” The invitation could not at that moment lie accepted, but in September, 1900, Her Majesty, in a delicately-worded despatch, announced her consent to the proposed visit of the Duke and Duchess to Australia and l - New Zealand. The immediate occasion for the expedition was the opening of the first Parliament of the newly Federated States of the Australian Commonwealth, and the Queen referred in her despatch to “her sense of the loyalty and devotion which have ~ promoted the spontaneous aid so liberally offered by all the colonies in the South African War, and of the splendid gallantry of her colonial troops.” As soon as it was known that Their Royal Highnesses were going to make the long journey, the loyalty of Canada demanded that a visit should he paid to our Lady of the Snows. The whole scheme was threatened with indefinite postponement by Queen Victoria’s death, but King Edward VII. patriotically refused to allow any disappointment of the bind.to he caused to his faithful colonies. In consequence preparations -were continued, and on March 16, 1901, His Majesty’s ship Ophir, with the Prince and Princess, set out from Spithead on its memorable voyage. The voyage was made via the Mediterranean, Ceylon and Singapore, Melbourne being reached on May 6, when a magnificent welcome was accorded the Royal visitors. Three days later the Duke formally opened the First Commonwealth Parliament, the exhibition building in which the ceremony took place, being packed by an attendance of 13,000. The 'festivities at Melbourne, Ballarat, Brisbane and Sydney were on an elaborate scale, but must be passed over with the statement that* at Brisbane the visitors wit- • ressed a native corroborec.

On. June 11 the Ophir glided into Auckland Harbour, the Premier, the late Mr Seddon, presenting an address of welcome to the distinguished visitors; In his reply His Royal Highness sounded a prophetic note. He said: “The readiness and* promptitude with which the Government and people of New Zealand sprang to the assistance of the Mother Country in the great struggle, still unhappily proceeding, in South Africa.' will ever lie remembered with gratitude by His Majesty, and by the people of the United Kingdom. Your action in that matter has proved' to the world that your appreciation of the benefits you enjoy as citizens of the British Empire will when ever the occasion arises, he shown by deeds, not words,. and that you are prepared to share in the responsibilities and heritage which.. are vbur birthright as much as that of the Motherland.” “England Must Wake Up.” That now famous colonial tour made by. the Duke and Duchess occupied seven and a half months, during which 47,000 miles were covered, and 17 British possessions in Asia, Africa, and-America visited. Needless to say, the Royal travellers derived the

areatest interest from the' living panorama -of colonial extension and enterprise through which they passed. At the Guildhall on December 5, 1901, the Duke of York was entertained by the Citv of London at a banquet in commemoration of his colonial tour. On that occasion lie used some remarkable words which have become -famous. “The Old Country must wake up,” he declared, “if she intends to maintain her old position of pre-eminence in her colonial trade against foreign competitors.” His testimony as to tlie loyalty of the colonies was emphatic: “if 1 were asked to specify any particular impressions derived from our journey, I should unhesitatingly place before all others that oi loyalty to the Crown and of attachment to the Old Country.”

RECEPTION AT ASHBURTON.

WARM WELCOME IN 190 L ENTHUSIASM AND LOYALTY. While the millions of Empire subjects are mourning the passing of their Sovereign, Ashburton residents are reminded of the. enthusiifsm which was shown toward the King and* the Queen when, as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, they paid a brief visit to Ashburton in 1901. Of all the tours in which their Majesties took part none were more notable than those in which they visited New Zealand and Australia (in 1901) and India (in 1905-06). Travelling in the Ophir, the Royal tourists reached Auckland early in June, and commenced a triumphal journey through the country. On June 25, 1901, Duko and Duchess of Cornwall and York passed through Ashburton on their way to Dunedin. The residents of the town mil country extended a warm welcome ;o the visitor? during their brief stay here. A couple of hours before the Iloyal train was due to arrive at Ashburton, residents and others began to congregate in the vicinity of the Railway Station and Post Office, the glorious morning, clear and frosty, tempting large numbers to come out. Two rows of,Hags were suspended from the Post Office tower, and also from the Borough Council chambers, and other bunting was flying in the town. The Royal train reached the Ashburton station at 11.25 a.m. punctually. A loyal address and a bouquet were presented, and a feature of the visit was the part played by the children. The whole of the eastern side of the line', almost to the bridge, was occupied by onlookers, and. as the train’s progress was made very slow, ill had a chance of seeing the Duke md Duchess, who bowed their acknowledgment to the cheers that were given as they passed. During the rest of the day the streets were crowded by the public.