MAYOR OF DUNEDIN

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 8

MAYOR OF DUNEDIN

BACK FROM CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS ENTHUSIASTIC COMMENT ON VISIT [Special to the ‘ Star.’] INVERCARGILL,, November 19. “ Australia treated-us right royally,” enthusiastically declared the Rev. E. T. Cox, Mayor of Dunedin, who, with the Mayors of Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, were official New Zealand guests at the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. Mr and Mrs Cox arrived back by the Maheno this morning, and left Bluff at noon by the steamer for Dunedin. Fellow-passen-gers are Mr J. Watson, Mayor of Port Chalmers, and Mrs Watson. “ We were accommodated at the Windsor Hotel, and every day the director of the celebrations would personally call upon us to inquire after our wellbeing, and to make sure we were receiving every attention,” said Mr Cox. “This was but typical of the courtesy extended to us throughout our stay. At all the functions the New Zealand guests were made to feel thoroughly at home. The Duke of Gloucester was tremendously popular in Melbourne, and he has taken himself right to the hearts of the people. Mrs Cox and I were presented to him at the Government House levee-, and on one occasion His Highness was seated in seat 13, row A, and I was immediately behind him in row B at a certain function. I did not get an opportunity to discuss with him his forthcoming visit to New Zealand, but Lord Huntingfield, the Governor of Victoria, mentioned that he and Lady Huntingfield were looking forward to seeing Dunedin in the not too-distant future.

“ Dunedinites were at Flemington to see Scott and Campbell Black win the great air race,” continued Mr Cox. “ As official guests we were in a speci r ally reserved enclosure among the first hundred in the land, while many of the great and mighty of Australia were behind us. That just .shows the courtesy we received. Scott’s huge machine just shot past like a rocket in the sky-, and the famous aviators were out of sight in half a minute as they flew on to Laverton. Then they returned in about forty minutes for the official reception. Scott spoke like a university graduate, and seemed very modest. In fact, he declared that had it not been for an enterprising newspaper which published a special edition about an hour after his arrival, proclaiming that fact and publishing their photographs, he would never have known he had really reached the goal of their endeavours.” Mr Cox said that Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., Mayor of Christchurch, and he were .at Laverton to welcome M'Grcgor and Walker when they reached Melbourne at 6.30 one morning. Through the good offices of the New Zealand Association we were advised of the expected arrival of the New Zealanders, and Mr Sullivan and I were the only outsiders present, with the exception of Mr Black, the, representative or the Manawatu . Aero Club, and the Press, to bid the fliers ‘ Kia Ora.’ They were delighted to see us, and when we saw their tiny Moth parked alongside the huge machines of Scott and the Dutchmen we almost wondered at their cheek in entering the race! The New Zealand Association held a special welcoming function for M'Gregor and Walker, who were greeted with a full-throated Maori haka. The fliers received an ovation, and glowing tributes were paid to their prowess. In fact, the committee catered for 150, but such was the enthusiasm of the Maorilanders that 500 attended, a great many being New Zealanders at Melbourne for the celebrations. Everything went with a great swing, and spontaneity seemed to be the keynote of the function. Our men are not speakers. Evidently they believe in actions, not words, for their thanks consisted only of ‘ Thank yon.’ ” The New Zealand Association was a very virile organisation, and Mr Schmitt at Sydney and Mr Firth at Melbourne were two live-wire publicity men. Visitors to Australia should always get in touch with them. Mr and Mrs Cox said that the Lord Mayor’s Ball for the Duke was a brilliant function, especially from the .point of view of the decorations. The background was taken, as it were, from the Australian forest, and revealed remarkably decorative ingenuity. There 'were 2,000 present, but dancing did not really commence until after the Duke’s arrival, at 10.30. The children’s gathering at the Cricket Grounds they thought the most impressive panorama of youth they had ever witnessed. Both Mr Cox and Mr Watson spoke highly of the attention shown everyone on the Maheno. _ ‘‘ There is no doubt that this service is serving a long-felt want,” added Mr Watson.