CIVIC RECEPTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 6

CIVIC RECEPTION

GREAT ASSEMBLY IN TOWN HALL PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS At 8 p.m. the Town Hnll was filled with citizens assembled to participate in the civic wo'.come to the new Gov-ernor-General. The space above ■ the auditorium was intersected by rows of national flags, while sini:3lar flags and a number of plaster plaques ornamented the front of the gallery. Directly over tho stage was suspended a, banner hearing the civic arms and the legend "Welcome'from the citizens of 'Wellington." The itself was beautifully adorned with greenery, and on either side of the steps leading, up to it vases of daffodils lent added brightness to a pleasing scene. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided. Among those who occupied seats upon the platform were the Chief Justice (Sir Robert. Stout), the Prime Minister (Rt. Hoii. W. F. Massey), the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. T. M. Wilfprd), members of the Cabinet, private members of the House, members of -the Legislative Council, members of the City Council and the president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr. W. Perry).* As Lord and Lady Jelliboe entered the hall the city organist (Mr. Bernard Page) played the National Anthem. In intervals, between the speeches of welcome, songs were rendered bv Miss M. Esquilant, Mr. : R. R. Orr, and the "Melody Quartet." The principal business of the evening was the presentation of the civic address of welcome; and Lord Jollicoo's reply thereto. _ At the conclusion of the speech-making Lord Jellipoe shook hands with many veterans and members of the Early Settlers' Association. ,

TEXT OF THE. ADDRESS. Mr. Luke road to Lord Jellicoo the following address:— .' We, fie Mayor, councillors and citizens of Wellington, loyal and ■dutiful subjects of His Most Gra- ; oious. Majesty King ' Georgo the Fifth, extend to Your Excellency a most cordial greeting of welcome on tho occasion of your assumption of the high and honourable office of Governor-General of this Dominion. We heartily congratulate Tour Excellency upon your appointment. It is a most gratifying one to New Zealand. It is accepted as a very high compliment to this Dominion that. His Majesty selected is his repre-( sentative here one of the most dis- ; . tinguishnd men _of the day; C2a whoso life's services to • the Empire have establisntJCTns claim to. the highest honoujs» which that Empire can bestow. ' Your leader&hip of I the Grand Fleet during the late war. / more especially as the victor of Jutland, exhibited the .sjfrling, qualities of your personality, and gained for you a moral triumph equally as l : glorious as your, defeat of the Ger- J : man Navy. Tour whole life with / '. its varied experiencc3jlnd successes, I : your clear-mindedncss,and adminis- J ; trafive capacity and ability, augur I ', well for your official career in this J i Dominion, particularly at a period ' ! so full of possibilities for tho future ' of our great Empire. The deplor- [ able condition of the world to-day , as the result of the Great War de- ] mand9 the earnest end devoted at- j tention of all thoughtful men; more i especially of those whose high privi- ! lege and prerogative it is to assist in j the guidance of our Empire's des- , tinies during the period of recon- , struclion now before us; and New j Zealand has, in four Excellency, one ] wliose 'clear-sighted advice will be of j incalculable advance in the councils j of the Emnire. We welcome you. not as a stranser known to us hv , repute only, but rather as an old ) friend, of whom, Owing to a pre- ' vious visit, we have the most pleas- i ant and vivid remembrance; and we t are extremely pleased that you are t about to make your home with us I for a season. We nl«> heartily 5 welcdm," to New ZmlnndXHer Excel- j lencv, Viscountess Jellicoe. and your { family, and sincerely trust that their ] sojourn among us may bo happy and ( pleasant in every respect. May the j blessing of Divine Grace attend Your t Excellency in all the duties, labours < m>i pleasures of your administration. { We wish yon a very prosperous term t of office, and assure you that it will I i be the aim and good pleasure of all t N.»w Zealanders to ensure that j

happy result. The Prime Minister expressed his pleasure at seeing in the audience so many representative* of the hardy pioneers who Had made New Zealand what- she was. After referring to tho distinction earned by Lord Jellicoe in the late war, Mr. Massey said he was certain that the advice and assistance of Lord Jellicoe would bo of the greatest value to New foaland in matters nf defence; for New Zealand could not close her eves to flic dangers that still menaced the world's peace. Whilo the speaker expressed the welcome of the pakeha, he wished also to say to Lord Jollicoe, on behalf of Mie Maori ppoplc, "Haeremai, haeremai! Kia Oral" (Aoplause) \ Sir Hubert Stout said that for the maintenance of a high . ideal of social life, it was necessary that every citizen should be a lover of his country, and of his fellow-citizens. Grave problems confronted the people of the Dominion today, and the way to solve such problems was to work 'hard, save hard, and strive for unity. -He hoped that Viscount Jellicoo would be able at the end of his term of office to look back upon a period of conquest over difficulties. (Applause.) The Hon. T. M. Wilford praised tho "human touch" that was to he observed in all the doings of Lord Jellicoe. He spoke of the' devotion shown by the men of the fleet to their leader, and said that New Zealamlers had already learned to love their Governor-General. Lord Jellicoe could count upon possessing the affections of the people—particularly the affections of the ladies. "All the nice girls love a sailor," Mr. Wilford quoted. Lord Jellicoe stood for "all that was significant of Empire," and while on some matters there might be difference l ) of opinion between the Opposition and the Government, there would never be any difference when the Mother Country called. Mr. R. A. AVright, speaking on behalf of the city councillors, added their special welcome to that already extended to I Lord Jellicoe on behalf of the citizens. VM'r. Wilford had spoken of tho affection bf the ladies for Lord Jellicoe. "I (vnut, to toll His Excellency," said Mr. Wright, "that nil the gentlemen think Very highly of Her Excellency. (Tre.mendous applause.) That burst of applause shows that my words aro true." Mr. W. Perry, speaking for tho Returned Soldiers-* Association,, expressed to Lord Jellicoe tho thanks of tho Now Zealand soldiers for tho protection that tho Navy lent them while they went between this country and the seat of war. Referring to the fact that Lord Jellicoe was a life-member of tho Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. Perry said the soldiers folt "with characteristic modesty" thnt it was only right that one of their members should be GovernorGeneral of New Zealand. (Laughter.) Should it ever happen that the hearts of the politicians hardened towards (ho returned men, the latter might perhaps ?-cly on Lord Jellicoe for n lesson in the way to circumvent them. LORD JELLICOE'S REPLY. After reading a formal reply to the address quoted above, Lord Jellicoe said ho felt that no formal words could possibly convey the deep impression created by tho kind references made to Her Excellency and himself in the speeches to which ho had listened. Ho would not

deny Hint at first there hud been some sadness in saying "Good-byo" to relatives and friends at Home, but onco those adieus hod been said, Lady Jellicoe and he had turned their faces and their thoughts towards their friends in tho Dominion. They felt now that they were indeed at home. (Applause.) Their arrival on Dominion Day seemed to be of happy augury. So long as he retained tho affections of tho ladies—(laughter)— and Lady .Tellicoc the affections of the Kontlemen—(more laughter)—he expected they would both experience very happy times in New Zealand. He was especially pleased to be welcomed by so many of the old settlers who had fought for the Empire in tho past, and to seo upon the platform • Dr. Pomare, representing the Maoris, who were now the brothers of tho British. (Applause.) After paying a tribute to his predecessor in office, and expressing his gratification at tho reception accorded the Prince of Wales in this country, Lord Jellicoe said it would be his earnest endeavour to'- further the prosperity of tho Dominion so long as ho was here-so long, indeed, as lie was alive. He hoped to take an interest not only in affairs that made for the material prosperity of tho country, but to take an interest in the sports of the people as well. (Applause.) New Zealanders had problems to faco as the result of the war, but if they faced them with courage and in a spirit of comradeship and selMonial, the country would go oh to fulfil its destiny as one of the. fairest spots on tho globe. (Applause.) The Veterans-, on parade at Lord Jellicoo's landing jVsterdav were-.-Messrs. It. Tingey (Maori War), E. .Bexar (57th Eegi : ment, Maori War), E. Brown (Maori War), Bell (bandmaster, 65th Regiment, Maori War), W. H. Selpey (Maori War), W. Capper (Navy, Maori War), J. 1. Marshall (2 D.0., Indian Mutiny, bouth Africa), J. F. Mason (Navy, Egyptian War, 1882), J. Henry (7th Dragoon Guards, Egypt, 1882, South Africa. 18991902).