SIR PHILIP GAME

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 10

SIR PHILIP GAME

VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH

DELIGHTED WITH BOTANIC GARDENS

Sir Philip Game, Governor of New South Wales, and Lady Game, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday to spend a week with Sir Henry and Lady Wigram at Park terrace, have not yet had the opportunity to see much of the city, but what they have seen has pleased and impressed them very much. In an interview with "The Press" yesterday Sir Philip said he had been delighted with the flowers and the trees in the Botanic Gardens. Both the native and English shrubs were particularly fine, and the fernery and begonia house contained some wonderful blooms.

Sir Philip has not visited New ' Zealand beiore, but he hopes to see " just as much of the country as he ; can during a few weeks' holiday. He and Lady Game, who is a niece of Sir Henry and Lady Wigram, [ arrived at Wellington by the - Monowai on Tuesday. They I came to Christchurch yesterday morning, and intend to go north again in about a week. • After visiting Wanganui, Wairakei, • National Park, Taupo, Rotorua, and ■ Waitomo they will reach Auckland ; on February 20 to spend two days ; with the Governor-General, Lord • Bledisloe, before leaving for Aust tralia. A Limited Visit. Sir Philip expressed regret that - ho would not be able to visit tho ; scenic resorts o[ the South Island . —particularly the Franz Josef, the : Fox Glacier, and the Southern . Sounds. He had heard a great deal L about these places, and he had often j wished to be able to see them. His . son had visited the Mount Cook . region on a climbing expedition , three years ago, and he had brought , back tales of the beauties of the . Southern Alps. But Sir Philip inI tends to visit as many parts of New Zealand as he can in the limited > time at his disposal. He has a real desire to see the country as it is, and to make his own estimate of its resources and its people. Pleased with Wellington. Wellington and Wellington harbour pleased the visitors very much. Sir Philip places the harbour in (he same category as Sydnev harbour and the harbour at Hobart, two of the finest in this part of Ihe world. Wellington itself was more like Melbourne than Sydney. The streets were wider and straightcr than in Sydney and the hills about the city were higher nnd more wild than in the New South Wales capital. Australian people had of late been finding more attraction in New Zealand as a holiday resort, continued Sir Philip. In Sydney, at any rate, New Zealand was well known. Sir Philip had conic 1o the Dominion in company with a large party of Australian farmers who were eager to see as much of New possible. Sydney newspapers generally contained quite a lot of news from the Dominion, more often on commercial subjects than on political matters. A Distinguished Career. Sir Philip Game is an Air Vicciviai'shal. and holds the decorations (f G.8.E., K.C.U., C.E., and D.S.O. lie served in South Africa in 1901 t.nd 1902, was mentioned in dispatches, and was awarded the Queen's Medal with five clasos. During the Great War he was mentioned in dispatches no fewer than six times. From 3919 until 1922 he was director of training and organisation of Die Air Ministry, and later commanded tho Eoy;il Air Force in India. From 1.923 until I92fj he was air member for personnel on the Air Council. He has been Governor of New South Wales since 1930, having succeeded Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair.