OVATION TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 9

OVATION TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES

Manawatu’s Farewell {OPE TO RETURN FOR CENTENARY ■ ■ -‘i ; -> ■ Tributes to Successor HRESHOLD OF GREATER PROSPERITY Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 15. The Governor-General Lord Bledise and’Lady Bledisloe received a great ation when they paid their farewell sit to Palmerston North to-day. This 'ternoon a civic farewell was tendered i their Excellencies at the baud romda in the square when appreciate of their Excellencies’ work in the ominion during their live years’ term oilice was expressed by representayes of the city and neighbouring disicts.'

Long before the scheduled hour of e reception people began to gather ■ar the band rotunda and conseleutly there was/an exceedingly large •owd gathered when their Excelleues appeared. Children from the secidary schools and the higher stand■ds of the primary schools represented large portion of the crowd and :eered their Excellencies when they epped from their car at the commenceent of the reception and again when had concluded. Influence for Good of People. The Mayor, Mr. A. E. Mansford, said jlmerston North, with the other cities the Dominion, deplored the deparre of their Excellencies but appreited their having exerted an influence r the good of the people. From the ty they arrived they had identified temselves with the lives of the people ith a singular completeness. His Exllency’s wise counsel from time to me was carefully listened to and abirbed and bad assisted materially in elping the country through the t-onomic disturbance.

The people of New Zealfind appreiated the honour which his Excellency ad conferred on the Dominion by his cceptanee of the position of Governorleneral. Their Excellencies would ?ave the Dominion with something reater than any material gift. They could leave a far-reaching influence vhich must be felt in the life of every van, woman and child. Their Ex celencies had been an object lesson to he people of New Zealand.

- ‘‘Returning to Their Friends.” • “One can only say farewell with a ieaVy heart aiid a lump in the throat,” aid -Mr. Mansford. “However, we reoice that their Excellencies are returnng to their friends, ana hope that they ••ill leave with happy memories of heir sojourn in this Dominion.” Mr. D. Collis, chairman of the Kaiauga County Council, said the council ad hoped that the Fitzherbert bridge ■ ouid have been completed for his Jxceileney to open .He paid a tribute -> the work of his Excellency in the incrests of the farming community, fter five years’ residence he was reirning.with a wide knowledge of what iis small country coiud produce, and ie speaker knew that his Excellency ould use this knowledge to the benefit ' New Zealand His memory would ng live in the hearts ct the people of <e Dominion.

Mr. J. Linklater. M P., said his Ex llency.had freely imparted his knowdge of farming, and had stressed the tlue of scientific knowledge. As a ustee of Flock House he thanked fils rcelleney for the interest he had inced in the institution. His visits d been a source of inspiration to the ys. Everyone recognised the verv eat social work that mid been aceoinshed by Lady Bledisloe among the linen and children of the Dominion ie whole of New Zealand would miss f very much when she left these ores. v' Work for Ex-Servicemen.

Mr. B. J Jacobs, president of the ilmerston North branch of ttie Rerued Soldiers’ Association. expressed predation of his Excellency’s work behalf 6f the ex-servicemen of the iminion. "You and Lady Bledisloe ve endeared yourselves in the hearts every man. woman and child in this untry When you leave we will have great champion, not only for New aland, but also for New Zealand oduce and New Zealand men and omen,” said Mr Jacobs. “I greatly envy my successor,” said s Excellency, in replying, “first, be use he is about to spend five years long the warmest-hearted and most yal people in the British Empire, and condly, because he is a man of power il stature and voice, and will be able ■ make himself heard out of doors jainst the strong north-westerly wind i Palmerston North. I am delighted > say that I and Lady Bledisloe apreciate your kind expressions of goodwill.” Memories of Manawatu, He and Lady Bledisloe deeply ap•reciated the compliment which had i ;een paid to them in the' naming of Jledisloe Park after them, continued ils Excellency. It would serve to oring back to them memories of the dty of' Manawatu or Palmerston Vorth. He hoped the park, in which here were many native trees, would =erve as a nature study for the young people and would inculcate in them a pride and appreciation of their native plants, which were the finest in the world. “Live near to nature and you will never regret it," said his Excellency. In these days the world was drifting away from nature and would lose half the joys that kind Providence intended us to receive from His works, and - would lose the simplicity that went to i human happiness. February, said his Excellency, was a noteworthy month in the history of New Zealand and also to their Excellencies. In February had .been signed the Treaty of Waitangi. He had become engaged in the month of February to the helpmate to whom he owed his inspiration. He and Lady Bledisloe had left England for New Zealand in February and here enjoyed the healthiest period of their lives. Proud History of Dominion. In February, five years hence, New Zealand would celebrate its centenary. He hoped the centenary would be made an occasion well worthy of the proud history of the Dominion, aud that it would bring' to these shores patriots And makers of Empire, as was the case in the Victoria centenary. It would be celebrated on the eve of he departure of his successor, Lord Galway. He hoped that he and Lady Bledisloe would be present on that historic occasion. "I ask you to give my successor the •ame warm welcome and encouragement that you have extended to us,”

said his Excellency. “He comes from old British stock. He is a good dand distinguished soldier. He is well imbued with the traditions of the public service, and he and his good wife are deeply loved and respected in the district from which they come.” “You have been through a bad time.” said his Excellency, “but so have the people of Great Britain. Your farmers have had a bad time, but so have those in the Old Country.” Threshold of Prosperity. He was glad that he was leaving on the threshold of a period of greater prosperity. He believed that this prosperity had come to stay, so long as the farmer produced the best product and public bodies were reasonable in their public expenditure. He counselled parents to educate their children to pull their weight in the national boat and not to be merely passengers. Every nation came to realise that, not only from a sentimental desire but from a patriotic desire, it should trade with nations who traded with it. The nation which bought the bulk of the Dominion’s produce was Great Britain. If she was to continue to do so the Dominion must give her a fair share of its trade. Their Excellencies were greeted with vociferous cheering by a large crowd as they drove from the Square to the railway station. VISIT TO PIG FARM Importation of White Breed Advocated Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, February 15 The Governor-General, Lord Bletlistoe, during his visit to Wanganui, made a special trip to the Okoia Co-operative Dairy Company’s pig farm. His Excellency is closely interested in swine husbandry, and he complimented the company on the fine lay-out of the farm. He advocated tl importation of white pigs, as they were very much to the forefront on the British market