THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14665, 14 May 1913, Page 10

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

STIRRING SPEECH BY CAPTAIN

HALSEY

It was a happy inspiration to substitute a popular gathering of citizens for ; the usual formal, semi-private "return call" in the Mayor's room of Captain Halsey anel his officers, to tho official calls paid by the Siayors and local authorities earlier in the day. The ' Theatre Royal was made avn'iiablo by • courtesy of Sir Richard Stewart, manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and at 2.30 p.m.. that building was as full ' from floor to ceiling as the municipal by-laws permitted, and the doors wero closed against numbers of others for whom there was not space. Upon the stage there was a large and representative gathering of citizens, and throughout the proceedings the greatest enthusiasm prevailed—enthusiasm, too, that was entirely spontaneous. Though thero were several speeches, tho proceedings only lasted a little over half an hour. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland) presided, and it was noted that in the earlier part of the function he appeared without his chain of .office and mayoral robes. Subsequently, at the close of ono speaker's remarks, the Mayor left the chair for a few minutes and returned decked with the chain and garbed in his robes of w CO ; " It is <l l " to a n accident," his Worship smilingly remarked, "that tho chain and robe.did not appear in time— we have had quite a number of things to attend to, and we thought these the least important." The hearty laughter which followed indicated that the audience folly appreciated the Mayoral difficulty. At the request of the Mayor, and at very short notice, Mr C. Goggin arranged for an orchestra, which at appropriate intervals, played suitable selections. ON" THE PLATFORM. i., Amongst the very large number of ladies and gentlemen on the stage were: ■—The--Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (Post-master-General), the Hon. H. F. Wigram,, M.L.C., Bishop Julius and Mrs Julius, Dean Carrington, Sirs Holland (wife of the Siayor), Mrs H. R. Smith, I>ean Regnault (Acting-Vicar-General), the Rev. Father .Price, Colonel Richardson, Colonel C. "J. Cooper, Captain Salter, Mr Geo. Witty, M.P., Mr L. M. Jsitt,Sl.P.,~MrT. H.Davev, MP., Mr G. M.P., Mr M. J. Miller (MayorTJf Lyttelton), MrL. A. Stringer (Town Clerk of Lyttelton! Mr G. W. C. Smithson (Mayor of Sumner), Mr G. R. Whiting (Mayor of Spreydon),'Mr J. J. Graham (Mayor of Woolston), Mr* J. Reynolds (Siayor of Riccarton), Mr S. A. Staples (Chairman Waimairi County Council), Mr H. R. Smith (Town Clerk of Christchurch), Mr A. Dudley Dobson ■ (Christchurch City Surveyor). Mr R. Mooro (Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board), Mr Cyrus O. J. Williams (Secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board), Mr J. C. Adams (Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College), Mr G. H. Mason (Registrar of Canterbury College), Mr O. E. BevanBrown (Headmaster of the Christchurch Boys' High School), Mr Walter Hill (Chairman, of the Christchurch Drainage Board), Sir E." Cuthbert (Secretary of the Christchurch Drainage Board), Christchurch City Councillors A. M. Loasby, J. R. Hayward, H. Hunter, Jas. McCullough, A. S. Taylor, T. Dent; Mr C. J. Treleaven and Sirs Treleaven, Mr" W. Grow (private secretary to the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes), Messrs E. Snpith, R. C. Bishop, H. J. Marriner, C. ._>. Morris, A. L. Smith, Geo. Jamieson, T. Todhunter, G. W. Hulme, P.Selig, P. R. Climie, W. R. Gahagan, R; Ashworth, J. A. Flesher, E. H. England, J. Gardiner,. E. Gardiner, W. :T. Robinson, B. J. Agar, Chas. Allison, R. Vincent, T. R. Quill, E. Ncrdon, F. I. Cowlishaw, J. J. Dougall (president of the Canterbury Branch of the Navy League), R. Si. Macdonald, Geo.- Capper, IL Quane, N. Duncan, and E. SI. Warren. THE PARTY FROM THE SHIP. The strains of "Rule Britannia" announced the arrival of the party from the ship, consisting of:—Captain Halsey, Commander H. E. Efface, En-gineer-Commander T. H. Turner, Fleet-Surgeon C H. Rocky Staff-Pay-master Frank P. E. Hanham, Lieut. A. T. Lovett-Cameron, Lieut. A. I). Boyle, Sub-Lieut. Prince Georgo of Battenbefg, Slielshipman Lord Burghersh, Midshipman the Earl of Carlisle, Atidshipman'Claud B. Graham Watton, Siidshipman Cecil S. Siiller, Carpenter Robert Isitt, Engineer-Artificer Percy R. Brocker. Boatswain Heard and Gunner Reynolds. THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. The Siayor of Christchurch, who was received with applause, said that- it was with very sincere* pleasuro that he was privileged to extend to Captain Halsey and the officers and men of the New Zealand a very hearty, nnd cordial welcome. The function might not be the orthodox, method of receiving a •'return call," but he felt all along that the citizens would like'"to extend, with himself, a hearty welcome to Captain Halsey," his officers/ and men. (Applause). For that reason it was decided to hold the gathering in. the theatre. It was a return of the visit not only of the Mayor of Christchurch, bat of tho Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour. Board, the Siayors of the surrounding boroughs, and of the chairmen of the local bodies who had called on Captain Halsey in the morning. "I wish to congratulate you," . his Worship said, turning to Captain Halsey, "on the skilful manner in which tho vessel was handled in Port Lyttelton this morning. (Applause). Anyone looking_on would have believed that Captain Halsey was quite accilstomed to bring his ship up to the wharf, and it was a real pleasure to us in Canterbury to see Lyttelton being made the first port at which the vessel has been moored since she left Durban." His Worship added, that if the

citizens of Christchurch were anything at all, they wore hearty and spontaneous, and they sincerely trusted that tho visit of Captain rialsey and his officers and men" would be a real pleasure to them. It would be an equal pleasure to the citizens to contribute to the pleasure of the ship's company. They would feel that the visit was a failure if it created nothing but pleasure, and trusted that it would cement together the bonds ot union that bind the great British nation. (Applause.) He felt as proud of tho' vessel as if it belonged to himself. A little incident that occurred to him did not seem to be out of place. A great building was under erection, and funds were short. A little boy emptied his money-box, and taking the twopence half-penny it contained to those who were trying to raise funds to complete the building, said: — "Here's twopence halfpenny, and if you want am* more let mc know." (Laughter.) He felt just like that. New Zealand had given one magnificent war vessel to the Slother Country, and if she wanted any more — well, just let them know! (Applause.) They felt proud that .Aew Zealand was the first to make this very fine offer to tho Slother Country —(applause)—and he hoped, that tho example set by New Zealand would be followetl by other parts of the Empire. The New Zealand formed part of that great navy of which they, as Britishers, boasted so much —that navy which had done such wonderful things, that had given them liberty and freedom of conscience and this country to dwell in—and they felt that if they had a few more such vessels around tlio coast, they could laugh at their enemies. He .sincerely hoped that the time wnifld never come that the New Zealand's great guns would be trained on an enemy—(applause)—for he was ono of thoso who lwlieved that, having such vessels as these in the British navy wa.s the shortest means to peace. (Applause.) Whatever differences there might be regarding the army, there was no divided opinion as regards tho navy. If other nations knew that the British Empire wa.s well-prepared they would not attempt to attack it. "We welcome you here.'* concluded his Worship, addressing Captain Halsey and his party, "and we hope you will regard it as your home. We have entrusted to you the hoffbur of New Zealand, and we feel sure that you and your men will give a good account of yourselves should the occasion arise, and that. New Zealand's honour will be worthily upheld by that unit of the British Nnvv that yon command." (Applause and cheers.) THE NAVY. LEAGUE'S WELCOME. Sir J. J. Dougall, president of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League, who was received with applause, said that it was his pleasing privilege to be the medium to convoy the very hearty welcome of the. members of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League. He felt extremely diffident in attempting to express all that those, in Canterbury felt but what was

felt in Canterbury wa.s felt throughout the Dominion. That morning whjn that magnificent mass of strength and power entered between the moles at Lyttelton, a thrill of exaltation went through tho heart of every spectator. In saying that, he was only saying what was common all over the Dominion iv legard to H.SI.S. New Zealand. (Applause.) The. traditions of the British Navy were th» highest that possibly could be found on earth, and those "traditions, he felt, and they all felt, wero absolutely safe in the hands of Captain Halsey, his officers and his men. (Applause.) If they had to go to war with any other country, they in New Zealand —a very small particle of the Empire—would feel proud that they had shown their desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mother Country in defence of their ancient rights and liberty. (Applause.) He prayed that that moment might never arrive. If it did, they had absolute confidence that, the traditions of the-British Navy wero in the best possible hands. He felt sure that during their brief stay in Christchurch Captain Halsey and his officers and men would receive all possible hospitality. When they left he hoped that they would have a soft spot in their hearts for Christchurch and Lyttelton and that if they came back again it woulel be in an even bigger New Zealand. (Applause.) THE HARBOUR BOARD CHAIRMAN. Mr R. Moore, chairman of the Harbour Board, was also received with applause. As a Canterbury man, and practically' as a New Zealander, and last, but not least, as a Britisher, he was very pleased to have tho honour of welcoming Captain Halsey as representing the British Navy. He felt particularly proud, as ' chairman of the Harbour Board, to see the battleship come up the harbour and berth alongside No, 3 wharf. (Applause.) It was an honour to Lyttelton Harbour and an honour to North Canterbury and the whole of New Zealand, that they should have such a magnificent modern fighting machine lying at Lyttelton. (Applause.) Though proud of that from tne point of view; of Lyttelton Harbour, he was also proud * becau.se it would facilitate the ship being visited by the rising generation in Canterbury. He looked upon tho warship's visit as being something not only very pleasant but as an object-lesson to the school children, and those who would have to take charge of the country when somo. of the

older people "passed in their, checks." (Applause.) There was an increasing number of the native-born in New Zealand, . and he v had often questioned whether they would have the same patriotism' and loyalty to the Slother Country as the pioneers possessed. Descendants of the 'pioneers-remembered that their parents always told them to look upon Old England as the Slother Country—(applause)—and to look to the Army and Navy as their protection, and that wherever, the Union Jack floated they might feel perfectly safe. (Applause.) He had some little doubt as to whether the rising generation possessed the same feelings of loyalty and patriotism, and it was on their account that hewas so pleased that the young peoplo would have an opportunity of seeing what the Slother Country had done for them. He hoped that it would have a lasting effect on their minds, and that when they grew up to be men and women they would have a warm place in their hearts, not only for the British Navy, but for the Slother Country and the British Empire. (Applause.) He hoped that Captain Halsey and his officers and men would have a real good time in Canterbury. It would not be the fault of the people of Canterbury if they did not, for he did not think there was a more loyal part of the Dominion than this. Ho extended a welcome on behalf of the Board, and in conclusion, said that all the Boarel's plant was at the elisposal of Captain Halsey during the warship's stay. (Applause.) THE VETERANS' WELCOME.. Speaking from the audience at the Slayor's call, Mr J. Timbrell, president of the Veterans' Association of Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces, briefly welcomed the officers and crew. He endorsed the remarks of previous speakers and hoped that all would have a verygood, time in Canterbury.