LORD AND LADY BLEDISLOE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21424, 16 March 1935, Page 12

LORD AND LADY BLEDISLOE

FAREWELL SCENES AT WELLINGTON DEMONSTRATION AT WHARF GREAT CROWD SINGS "AULD LANG SYNE" iPBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 15. Farewell scenes almost without precedent in Wellington marked the departure of Lord and Lady Bledisloe for England by the Rangitiki this morning. As the liner drew out from the Glasgow wharf the thousands who had gathered expressed their final good wishes. The,dullness of the early morning had given place to intermittent sunshine by the time their Excellencies reached the wharf at 9.30. After acknowledging the cheering which greeted Lady Bledisloe and himself, Lord Bledisloe inspected the military guard of honour which had given the Royal salute, and then passed on to a parade of some 300 returned soldiers and South African War veterans. Their Excellencies then began their farewells of officials and others present. As their Excellencies appeared opposite the ship's service gangway they were given a Royal salute by a naval guard of honour. They were cheered to (he echo by the crowd, which threatened at any Inoo lo break through the barriers. Overhead three military aeroplanes flew in formation. Having completed their farewells, Lord and Lady Bledisloe moved amid scenes of renewed enthusiasm to the gangway, where they halted for a brief space to acknowledge the good wishes of the crowd. A salute of 19 guns was fired from Point Jerningham.

Cheering broke; out afresh when their Excellencies appeared on the boat deck. It was evident that fhey were deeply touched by the demonstration. Some minutes elapsed before the ship began to move out from the wharf, and the crowd, led by the returned soldiers, joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne," "Land of Hope and Glory," and several marching choruses. The guards of honour gave the final Royal salute, the Royal Navy Band following playing a verse of the National Anthem with "Auld Lang Syne." Thousands of voices joined in singing the traditional farewell, and thousands of hands waved to bid Godspeed to Lord and Lady Bledisloe, who mounted to the bridge, and from there finally acknowledged the sentiments which had been so Strikingly expressed throughout the memorable parting with the people of New Zealand. The following message was signalled from Beacon Hill station to the Rangitiki as she passed through the heads: "With regret, good-bye. Best wishes."

A WIRELESS MESSAGE LORD IH.KDISLOE'S THANKS iI'RESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 15. His Excellency Sir Michael Myers, Administrator of the Government of New Zealand, received the following wireless message from Lord Bledisloe:— "Being now outside the territorial waters of New Zealand, my wife and I send through your Excellency 1o the people of New Zealand our profound thanks for innumerable kindnesses during our sojourn among you, and for the cordial ancl touching farewell given to us on our departure. Wc leave with the happiest memories of the Dominion and its people, whom we shall ever regard with affection.—Bledisloe."

The Administrator sent the following message in reply:— "On behalf of the people of New Zealand, whose respect and esteem Cor you and Lady Bledisloe have been so convincingly demonstrated, especially during the last few weeks, I thank ,you for your kind message. It must be a source of deep gratification to you both to realise that you enjoy the abiding affection of all New Zealanders, to whose best interests you have so unselfishly devoted your lives during the last five years.—Michael Myers, Administrator."

ENGLISH TRIBUTE OUTSTANDING AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE (OHITED FftESS ASSOCIATION—B? ELECTRIC TELEORAPB —COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 15, 11 p.m.) LONDON. March 15. "The Times," in a leader paying tribute to Lord Bledisloe's success in New Zealand, refers to his outstanding agricultural knowledge, which was an invaluable help to the governor of a farming Dominion during difficult years, making possible an authoritative understanding of its problems. "It was his understanding and ready helpfulness which made Lord Bledisloe's success," "The Times" states. "He seems in retrospect to have been training all his life for the post he is now laying down, but no amount of agricultural knowI ledge would have won him the position he acquired in New Zealand it it had not been combined with a keen interest in everything concerning the Dominion and an instinctive affection for its people. "Even in the depth of the depression he proclaimed an unconquerable faith in New Zealand's future, which is shared by everyone knowing its resources and the sturdy courage of its people,"