NELSON NEWS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 18

NELSON NEWS

CIVIC RECEPTION SIR ALEXANDER GODLEY WELCOMED I • I (SPECIAL TO THE PBJISS.) NELSON, January 28. Warm tributes to General Sir Alexander Godley's military record, eg.! pecially in his command of the New Zealand forces, were paid at a civic : I reception tendered this evening by the ' I Mayor. Mr W. J. Moffatt, which was ' largely attended. The Mayor said though the visitor was not a New Zealander, his uncle, John Robert Godley ' was one of the founders of Canterbury, and this, added to his wonderful service before the war and as commandant of the New Zealand forces during the war, made all feel that General Godley was one of themselves. He extended a warm welcome on be* half of the city. Cr. F. Huggins, who served on General Godley's headquarters staff, said he was always impressed with the confidence and respect in which the General was held by his officers. General Godley's record as a corps commander would stand comparison with that of any other in the Great War. He referred to an incident to which little reference had been made, General Godley's transference to the fifth French Army before the second battle of the Marne and the distinguished service he gave there. [ Cr. S. H. Moynagh paid a further | tribute to Sir Alexander Godley's service, stating that he commenced his' ! soldiering in the same regiment as General Godley, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Captain C. R. Duke, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, paid a tribute to the visitor's service at Gallipoli. Another thing that New Zealanders were proud of Sir Alexander : Godley for, was his recent stout defence of Earl Haig against unwarranted criticism. Mr Herbert Everett, chairman of the Waimea Power Board, said he was privileged to say something at such a gathering, smilingly adding that he would have enjoyed such a privilege about 20 years ago in Egypt General Godley had served with great distinction in Gallipoli and France, and Lady I Godley had rendered generous service in Egypt. Replying, Sir Alexander Godley said • that he always remembered the generous support found in Nelson when he was organising universal training. Colonel Pitt had been a keen /volunteer, and the Tenth Nelson Mounted Rifles and the Twelfth Nelson-Marl-borough Regiment had been formed. On Sunday, when attending service at the Cathedral, he had been pleased to see hanging there three flags which were flown by H.M.S. Queen Mary at the landing of Gallipoli and by two cruisers. I Personal The Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. Bitchener, will visit Nelson this week about the Hume Pipe Company's application to the Government for a license to develop hydro-elec-tricity in Cobb Valley. On Friday morning next the Minister will attend a conference between the City Council and the Waimea Electric Power Board about electrical supply, and at 11 ajn. will go on to Takaka to attend the Golden Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual show.