HARBOUR BOARD GEREMONY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 12

HARBOUR BOARD GEREMONY

HONOUR FOR DOMINION

Brief speeches were made at a ceremony on the landing stage, Mr. M. A. j Eliott, chairman of the Wellington Har- j bour Board, extending a welcome to the visitors on behalf of the board, and Lord Willingdon and Senator McBride replying. "We are deeply impressed with the honour that has been conferred upon New Zealand by his Majesty the King in sending you as his representative to our Centennial celebrations," said Mr. Eliott, addressing Lord Willingdon. While New Zealand was small and its people comparatively few in number, it gave place to none in its loyalty to the Throne and its determination to be with England in the struggle upon which the Empire was engaged, however long or weary that struggle might be. New Zealand would be with England to the finish. A TRANSFORMATION. Mr. Eliott recalled that almost exactly 100 years before the first pioneers of the new colony had arrived in Wellington after a long journey of over three months. They landed in ships' boats and there were no habitations awaiting them. Comparing that with the air journey of fifteen days which Lord and Lady Willingdon had just completed and their landing in a port complete with every possible facility and serving a modern city, he thought it would be recognised that the transformation had been wonderful. A warm welcome was also extended by Mr. Eliott to Senator and Mrs.! Mcßride. He expressed the board's hope that all the distinguished visitors would have a most pleasurable stay in New Zealand and leave with nothing but good wishes and satisfaction with what they had seen.