CEREMONY ON RENOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 6

CEREMONY ON RENOWN.

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT. GOVERNMENT ADDRESS PRESENTED. Punctually nt 9.1 a a.m. the Governor•General (Sir Charles Fergiissoni hoarded the Renown, and ton minute* later a Ministerial parly visited the warship, the member* bcinjr: The Prime Minister (Hon. .?. C. Coatcsi. Sir Francis Dillon Bell. Sir Maui Pomare. Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Hon*. O. H*«kcn. W. D. Stewart. \V. H. Guthrie. F. .1. Rolleston. W. NoMvorlhy. A. D. McLeod. •T. A. Young. G. J. Anderson. R. A. j Wright. R. F. Bollard, and K. s. WilI liams. j The oflicial party was received by a guard of honour on the quarter deck. His F.xcellency presented the Prim<! Minister to the Duke and Duchess o< York. The Prime Minister in turn presented the Ministers of the Crown, iba, General Officer commanding the New | Zealand Force*, and the Commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. ; At this stage heavy rain was falling upon the canopy overhead, a squall Mot • ting out the vicinity of the Renown, with it* large fleet of pleasure craft and sightseers anxious to witness the ceremony. The Government's address to the Duke nnd Duchess of York was inscribed on parchment, and beautifully illuminated, contained in a solid silver cylindrical raw. embossed with the Royal Arms, and the arms of the Duke, with a crown surrounding them. The address was read by the Prime Minister, the text being: — to THnin nor.\r. mr.HNnssEs the IHKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK. May It rioasc Your Royal Hlshnefse*. W>. His Majfwty'* Minister* in this Do minion, offer our respectful congratulation* lo Your Royal Highnesses on ihe occasion of your first visit lo New Zealand. On behalf of Ihe people of this Dominion we detirc to assure Your Royal Hizhnessec of their strong feellns* of attachment ami ilevotion to nis Gracious Majesty the Kins nnrt of their unswervinj loyadv to the I Throne. The Tislt of Your Uoyal to this distant Dominion has aroused the creaiest interest and enthusiasm, and we feel sure that as you travel throtish the country there trill he extended | o you a wcj. come as whole-hearted a « that which was accorded io Their Majcslie* the Kins and I Q'Xfn and. at a laier elite, to His Uoyal Mistiness the Prince of Wales. The people of New Zealand r.f both race* recosnise the creat privile-e* jhrr enior a* an lot*sral part of the Kriilsh Kaipirf and they feel sure that your visit will still fur !■**;*■ h ,^'1 , .. ,0 rtr*-nstlien the Hes which unite them to the Motherland. Although the stay of Your Roral Hirhnesses with «« trill he brief, we hope It «in prove enjoyable and Instructive and that £?£ T . C3PIT , back ,o ,h " Motherland pleasant memories of the vi*U All memRoyal Highnesses ions life, health and hinPiness. and a safe return to the Homeland. We hare the honour to •nhscribr OIIr . i K T .? ur Roval , most humble and obedient servants. »""•>»«■ The Duke of York then proceeded to read his reply, the text being: — Prime Minister and Gentlemen — The Duchess and I slncerelv thank you for your address, ami I will not f* I „ conve, to UN Majesty the Kln~T| e *',t, E£'V« gSajf «*• '— -."W Ton ■JS.ttAtt", K, ""/" very soon find ourselve*. for the first tiftie In our lives, on the soil of New fceainntl, and nhle to meet your people in their

f« fi. cou,d rtf u * morc ?•«•*«»* than .. k n. ,,,e , "WS tt »»«» Of thoM. of «bos« hospitality nnd friendship wo hare heard ra much. For our part we are anxioon to irHr n . T"'!' 8 of th * condition* under which they live, and the problem* tbcv £ T °i. l 1 fn 7 > - *°. lhat ,fa « a"? time we should ».«• elvf-n the opportunity of further- *■ •Sm.i ,n,or<f,t tJ«. we *»»all be found ready and willing to play our part, and thus unite Mill more rloM-lv the tiro which hind toother New Zealand and Ihe Mother Country. W , e a , r *'V l r appreciate your welcome and SMhxl wishe* for the *ucc«ut of our visit to the Dominion, and we feel sure that when V C lo ,rarc ,nl * beautiful countrr we shall carry away the happicM memories of our stay among you.