FIELD-MARSHAL IMPRESSED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 8

FIELD-MARSHAL IMPRESSED

Scenery On Road To Greymouth

CROWDS ALONG ROUTE From Our Own Reporter GREYMCUTH, July 23. The day was perfect for Field-Mar-«hai Montgomery’s drive over the Lewis Pass, but the treacherous condition of the highway for many miles east of Maruia Springs to beyond the Rahu saddle celled for careful driving. The snow, which was two feet deep on Monday* had thawed heavily on the road, leaving a greasy, icy surface.

The.e was only one halt, through one of the cars sliding on the ice off the tracks into the snow, and the party reached Greymouth at 4.55 pjn., only 10 minutes behind schedule. Over the Lewis Pass and Rahu Saddle. Lord Montgomery saw scenery of great beauty. Snow was lying everywhere the birches were drooping with their weight of snow, and icy peaks towered above the mountain forests into the clear blue sky. It was alpine and forest scenery which Lord Montgomery had not seen, and will not see again, on his New Zealand tour. “Lovely Westland” He told Grey mouth people of his trip over “the lovely mountains dividing the east from the West Coast, “descending into your lovely Westland.” The West Coast, he remarked, was a very lovely part of New Zealand. although the journey over the pass, he admitted, was verj cold. Along the main road from Christchurch, Lord Montgomery was given welcomes no less hearty and representative than those given him in South Canterbury and Mid-Canterbury Children of the Ouruhia School assembled in the frost at Chaneys corner and were in full voice to cheer the field-marshal. Kaiapoi was honoured with a short drive through the town by Lxird Montgomery in his open car. Everybody in the borough appeared to have turned out to see him. and their shouts and cheers were proof that like people everywhere they were not disappointed. At Woodend. Waikuku. Ashley bridge, and Leithfield, adults and children were given an excellent view as his car passed through the townships in second gear.

Surprise Halt at Waikari Amberley residents lined both sides cl the highway, but they were not as fortunate as Waikari people. Waikari was not on the list of stops, but Lord Montgomery was so delighted with the scenery over the Weka Pass that when he saw children on the roadway, the township profusely decorated with bunting, and a big welcome sign across the road, he stooped. He first spoke to the school children and asked them if they wanted a holiday “not to-mor-row but next week.” His offer was noisily accepted He also asked a number of questions on the sheep farming and wheat-grow-ing of the distr’ct The stop was only for two minutes. A few minutes later Culverden was letting loose its cheers. School children from Waiau were brought to the railway crossing to see the field-mar-sh all pass through. There were some of the happiest scenes on the tour of Canterbury at the junction of the Lewis Pass highway and the Hanmer Springs road, where Hanmer Springs residents, the military hospital nursing staff, and soldier patients had assembled. Lord Montgomery was welcomed by Mr A. A. Macfarlane. chairman of the Amuri County Council. “Meeting Everybody”

Lord Montgomery invited the sisters and nurses towards his car. asking the driver to move down a yard or two sc “we can meet everybody.” Matron Glen was given a hearty handshake, much to the delight of her nurses. He then asked the nurses to gather round him to be photographed.

The children rushed forward to accept his invitation to be photographed with him. “And now let us have all the ex-servicemen,” he appealed when he was told that more soldiers were on the opposite side of the road. “Aren’t you coming over, you chaps? Come along, come along.” He made everybody feel at ease, and nurses, patients, and settlers showed their appreciation by giving him a send-off which excelled even their welcome.

Children again caught Lord Montgomery’s attention as soon as he arrived at Maruia Springs for lunch. He chatted to individual children and arranged with them to be photographed with him before he left.

The photographic session developed. Lord Montgomery calling first on the drivers of the cars in his entourage and then the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), Major-General N W. McD. Weir, Officer Commanding the New Zeeland Military Forces, the Commissioner of Police (Mr J. Cummings), and Mr T . W Heenan and members of his personal staff also to be photographed with him before the picturesque background of snow and bush. Cheering at Reefton Reefton set the main for the West Coast receptions by a gay display of bunting and hearty cheering. All" the shops were closed for the field-mar-shals drive through the mining town in his open car. At Mawheraiti and Ikamatua, children again dominated the welcome Ahaura residents another West Coast welcome but a lone piper 20U yards away stole the show All the way down he Grey Valley, miners, housewives, school children, and young women greeted Lord Montfeomery At Cobden bridge he trans ferred into his open car. The Grcymoutn crowd was rather restrained at first, but in Mackay street, restraint disappeared. The street was jammed for its quartermile length. The town had closed up and it seemed that everyone near Greymouth had come into town, and. as the residents said, they “went to

town.’’ No finer reception could have been given any personage. Excited in their display of admiration. the people threatened to break the ranks all along the route, and did so when Lord Montgomery’s cqr stopped outside the Regent Theatre. A mass of cheering people milled round the car, and it was only with difficulty that a way was forced to the entrance of the theatre.

Some of the official party had no option to remaining in their cars until Lord Montgomery had gone into the theatre, where he was met by the Mayor (Mr E. A. Kitchingham). Lord Montgomery received a great reception inside the theatre, which, although thousands were outside trying to get in, had a block of empty seats. After the civic reception, the police found the crowd outside the theatre beyond their control. Lord Montgomery was escorted to Lis car, but there was a delay of nearly two minutes before he had to take personal command of the situation and direct a passage through from the theatre for the Minister of Defence. Hundreds of young people chased the car down Mackay street to Revington’s Hotel. j