"GODSPEED"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1930, Page 10

"GODSPEED"

THEIR' EXCELLENCIES

CIVIC FAREWELL

TOWN HALL GATHERING

Spontaneous enthusiasm tempered with regret at their approaching departure prevailed at the Town Hall last night, when a representative gathering of Wellington citizens bade farewell to Their Excellencies the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) and Lady Alico Fergusson. The hall was crowded. A guard of honour of Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and Girl Guides was formed along the aisle as Their Excellencies and suite entered.amidst applause, and all present stood as the first two lines of tho National Anthem pealed out on tho grand organ. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) presided.

Apologies for absence were received from tho Prime Minister (tho Eight Hon.' Sir Joseph Ward), who is under treatment at Eotorua, the Leader of the Opposition (the Eight Hon. J. ,G. Coates) the Minister of Railways (the lion. W. B. Tavcrncr), tho Minister of Internal Affairs (tho Hon. P. A.' do la Perrelle), and the Minister of Native Affairs (tho Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata). The Prime Minister was represented by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes), and there was also on the platform the Chief Justico (Sir Michael Myers). The speeches were interspersed with musical items. Abovo the platform was suspended a. large banner bearing tho words, "Wellington bids farewell and Godspeed to Their Excellencies." SPECIALLY FITTED FOR THEIR WORK. Mr. Forbes expressed' regret at the absence of Sir Joseph Ward, who, ho said would havo desired abofce all things to bo present. It would be of satisfaction to know, however, that the Prime Minister was making progress towards a complete recovery. (Applause.) The whole country was with them that night, for there was no doubt that Sir Charles and Lady Alice had been specially fitted for the work they had carried out in the Dominion. (Applause.) Both had previously been in New Zealand. Thc-y had captured the hearts of the people in a way that had never happened previously, and everyono must feel a great deal of admiration for the way in which they kad carried out the duties of their high office. (Applause.) Their Excellencies bad taken a special interest in tho people of the backblocks, and had been able to speak to them in language they understood, for Their Excellencies were themselves pioneers in the true sense of the term. They had shared the sorrows and joys of the people, as was exemplified during the recent disastrous earthquake. One of the first to visit the affected territory and extend a ■word of sympathy to those in distress had been His Excellency. (Loud applause.) That action had been very much appreciated indeed. Both Sir Charles and Lady Alice had entered into the joys of the people, and participated in all the sports which the people of the Dominion favoured. Speaking as a representative of the Government, he could say that His Excellency had filled the office of representative of His Majesty in accordance with (lie highest traditions. So far as his relations with the Government were concerned, His Excellency's experience and sound knowledge of constitutional questions had been very helpful indeed. The people of New Zealand had come to regard Their Excellencies _as true friends, and there was a feeling of real affection towards them, from one end of the Dominion to the other. (Applause.) Mr. Forbes said he was sure Their Excellencies would prove enthusiastic champions of New Zealand wlien they returned to England. They would leave behind them a memory that would be cherished, and everyone wished that they, would enjoy excellent health and all possible prosperity. The people of New Zealand would always take the closest possible interest in the movements of Their Excellencies. (Loud applause.) FULL OF ESTEEM. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) recalled that a little over five years ago, when Sir Charles arrived in Now Zealand, he had remarked that he found difficulty in taking up his official duties because of the noble manner in which his predecessor had filled Ihe office. Sir Charles' term of office had been no less successful, and there was no doubt he had done mnch that would help still more strongly to bind New Zealand to the Old.Country. The attendance that night was sufficient indication of the success and popularity of Their Excellencies. There was no one in New Zealand or out of it who understood the various phases of the life of the Dominion better than Their Excellencies, and every aspect of our civic and national life was the better' for their careful and intimate study of our conditions. (Applause.) Tho hearts of the people wero full of esteem for them, and that was not to be wondered at. He ventured to suggest that Their Excellencies ■ would look back with the most pleasant recollections upon their association with the children of the Dominion. REMARKABLE VERSATILITY. "Many of us," said Sir Michael, "have, admired above all tho remarkable versatility of His Excellency. (Applause.') During tho course of the five years or so he has been in New Zealand he has addressed many hundreds of audiences. He has addressed farmers, and to have heard him talk _to them you would have thought he himself was an expert farmer. I have myself heard him address a gathering of lawyers—(laughter) —and he certainly did it as well as a Lord Chancellor or a Lord Chief Justice would have done. (Laughter.) Similarly, when he has addressed business men, doctors, or gatherings of other classes of people, he has always-shown that ho is a master of his subject. (Applause.) If I may say so respectfully, we have all admired on every occasion tho fact that the utterances of His Excellency have been, those of a statesman —a statesman who folt there wero certain restrictions imposed on him by tho high position "he holds." Sir Michael expressed the.hope that Sir Charles' career would not end when he left New Zealand, and that ho and Lady Alice would be able to serve King and country in some other sphere. Their career would be watched with great interest by the people of New Zealand. In conclusion, the speaker said ho could do no better than repeat a question that had been asked Their Excellencies on a recent occasion when they were being farewelled in Wellington: "Will ye. no' come back again?" (Loud applause.) "And may I add," said Sir Michael, "that if and when you do, you will both be received and welcomed by New Zealand and its people with open arms." (Applause.) THANKFULNESS AND REGRET. The Mayor said the great gathering was an indication oa tho part of the people of Wellington and tho surrounding districts of the high esteem in which Their Excellencies were held and an appreciation of their great yroxk far the Dominion. Indeed, the

gathering was an indication of the heart and mind of tho people of tho whole Dominion. Two feelings were uppermost in their minds. The first was one of thankfulness that they had had Sir Charles as Governor-General and Lady Alice as an exponent of all that was good and noble in womanhood. (Loud applause.) Their work had made an indelible impression on tho mind and heart of New Zealand. No section of the community had been neglected, although, rightly so, they had devoted more attention to the young and the old. No distinction iiad beeu made by Their Excellencies between rich and poor or between manual workers and brain workers. (Applause.) Mr. Troup made special reference to, the work of Lady Alice in connection with tho Mothers' League, and expressed tho hope that .the work she had started would go on. Tho second feeling in their minds was one of regret that Their Excellencies were about to leave them. That feeling was a genuine and heartfelt one. Sir Charles and Lady Alico would leave New Zealand with tho good wishes of all following them, and. all would givo expression to tho sincere hope that "the light which never faileth" would continue to lead them. Mr. Troup then read the address of farewell from tho people of Wellington and surrounding districts, and presented His Excellency with the casket containing the Address. Tho text of tho Address is published elsewhere in this issue. HAPPY MEMORIES. The Governor-Gou«ral rose to reply amidst loud applut'se, and formally voiced his thanks for the Address. "Tho expressions which you havo used in referring to our stay among you," Sir Charles said, "are generous beyond words and touch us. very deeply. We shall treasure them amongst the many happy memories which we take away of Wellington —the home of our childhood and a place intimately associated with the past five happy years of our residence in New Zealand. (Applause.) It has been a happiness and a privilege to havo entered during those years into, your daily life, and to have had some part in promoting with you the interests of this city and of the Dominion, and so in building up with you the Empire to which New Zealand has always been proud to show her loyalty and give of her best. Tho renewed assurance of that loyalty to the King's throne and person.which you express in your Address, I shall bo hajjpy to convey to His Majesty. (Applause.) We .thank you cordially for this testimony of your kindly feeling towards us, and in bidding you farewell we assure you that we shall over retain tho happiest memories of Wellington, and of people, pakeha and Maori alike, who havo honoured us with their friendship and their confidence." (Applause.) TRULY AND UTTERLY THANKFUL. Continuing, Sir Charles thanked the Mayor for tho consideration ho had shown in arranging that tho farewell gathering should include not only Wellington city, but also representatives of the adjacent boroughs and districts, arid of the harbour board, because by so doing he had made the task of saying farewell considerably easier and had saved a great deal of time which would otherwise have been occupied in paying visits. The people would understand how utterly impossible it was for any man to try and find words which would be an adequate answer to what had been said that night. The words which had been used were so kindly and so generous that Her Excellency and himself felt they went far beyond what they deserved, and yet they wero so sincerely expressed that they were words they would cherish to the end of their days. (Applause.) If they had won the people's confidence and affection, that was something they would greatly prize, because they did value the people's good opinion, and made no secret of it. (Applause.) The position he had held for tho last five- years was a vory proud and honourable one, and if they had been able to maintain the dignity of tho position without in any way appearing to keep themselves aloof from the people, if they had been able in any way to help to promote tho activities and interests in which tho people were engaged, and if they had been able to help in furthering the happiness and prosperity of the country, then they were truly and utterly thankful. (Applause.) INDULGENCE AND SYMPATHY. It was very difficult to realise that five years ago ■ they were in the Wellington Town Hall, soon after their arrival, asking of the citizens their indulgence and sympathy to help them in their task. That indulgence and sympathy the people of Wellington had never failed to givo in most generous measure. The people had made them feel at homo amongst them, and had extended that sympathy which made things so easy and so pleasant in life. They remembered that not long after their arrival their daughter was married in Wellington, and they would never forget the kindness that was lavished on them on that occasion. "We have gone on from one happy year to another," said Sir Charles. "We have gone on without one jarring note, without one unkind criticism or word being spoken, and tho result is that these five years have been years of unalloyed happiness. (Applause.) We have always loved Wellington because we both grew up here as children. We remember the days, or, at least, Her Excellency docs, when sho made life hideous by cracking stockwhips, and I made life hideous for the policeman at Government House gate by catapulting him. (Laughter.) In the last five years wo have given up these childish practices—(laughter)—but wo have grown to love Wellington even more and more. (Applause.) We have seen in the last five years tho most wonderful development in Wellington. We have seen places like Seatoun, MiramaV, and Karori extend widoly, wo have seen what we might call the hill stations —Ngaio, Khandallah, and Johnsonville —we have seen Petone and the Hutt Valley spread wider and wider. We have seen new' roads and new activities of the City Council in all directions. Wo have seen a new aerodrome and endless other things. In the harbour we have seen new wharves, new appliances, and new reclamations, all testifying to tho wonderful organisation and activity of the Harbour Board, and we have seen, I am glad to say, in the last few days the jubilee of that board. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I could give you many more statistics relating to what we have seen, but I am not going to do so. That, I think, I may leave to his Worship the Mayor to do when nest he goes, shall wo say, to Auckland. (Laughter.) lam suro his Worship will deal.most faithfully with tho subject. COMPARISONS. "I would like to mako this reflection. When I left New Zealand fiftysis years ago we left in a sailing ship —a big ship in those days, something about 750 tons —and wo left on a voyage of nearly four months. Tho day after to-morrow we sail in a motorship, of 17,000 tons, for a voyage which takes little more than as many weeks as it took months before. Last time when Her Excellency left sho left in tears, but this time sho leaves in a dress of New Zealand cloth. (Laughter and applause.) Although I am quite sure the tears will still be there, they may, perhaps, be a little mitigated by the pleasure with which sho will regard that dress." (Laughter.)

In conclusion, His Excellency again expressed thanks for the cordial farewell t'jiiilen.-d Hiem, and voiced their sorrow at leaving New Zealand. He said they had been happy amongst the people, and were really; sorry to go.

"We shall take away tho happiest memories," he said, "of Aotea Roa," the Land of tho Long White Cloud, and yon who have been our friends." (Applause.) A PRESENTATION. Sir Alex. .Roberts, Mayor of Lower Hutt, presented to Her Excellency a basket of native flowers and foliage gathered from the Tararuas, National Park, and other places visited by Her Excellency. Her Excollency bowed her thanks amidst loud and prolonged applause. Enjoyable musical items were ren tiered by Mrs. Amy G. Woodward, with Miss Jean Turner as fluite obbligatist; Mr. Claude Tanner ('cello solos), Mrs. Wilfred Andrews, and Mr. Harison Cook. The city organist, Mr. Bernard Page, acted as accompanist. Tho proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, "Auld Lang Syne," and with cheers for Their Excellencies.