SIR HARRY AND LADY LAUDER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXII, Issue 10039, 16 June 1925, Page 3

SIR HARRY AND LADY LAUDER

CIVIC RECEPTION,

BOROUGH COUNCIL CHAMBER PROVES TOO iS^IALL.

The popularity in which Sir Harry Lauder is held was strikingly shown b.t the civic reception yesterday. The function was fixed for 10.30 a.in., but long before that time the Borough Council Chamber was filled, the stairway and passages were packed, and crowds were standing in the streets. On tiro arrival of the visitors they were for a few moments unable to gain admission owing to the dense crowd.

The Mayor (Mr. G. Wildish), in welcoming Sir Harry and Lady Lauder, apologised for ‘the fact that the room was unable to contain all who desired to do honor to their guests. It showed the high esteem in which Sir Harry Lauder was held by the people of Gisborne. Mr. Wildish, on behalf of the people, then extended a hearty welcome to Sir Harry and Lady Lauder. The people of Gisborne were grateful to be included in the tour because it was not often they had the opportunity of hearing such a world-famous entertainer. Sir Harry Lauder had the reputation, of being one of the greatest entertainers in the world to-clay. But the speaker would also like to refer to other work. Sir Harry Lauder had done valuable work in the Great War. He had raised £IIO.OOO for patriotic funds. Not only had ho done that, but be bad equipped a. large army free for the Empire. (Applause.) He also went to the front and entertained the hoys. (Applause.) The Mayor said lie was sorry he was not Scotch himself, but be was the next best tiling; he bail a Scottish wife.

The Mayor said bo would again like to apolosri.se for the smallness of the room. Ho had presided over a good few civic receptions in bin time, but be could say that tiro attendance that day was far in excess of any similar function during bis term of office. He felt proud of having the honor of welcoming Sir Harry Lauder to Gisborne. Gisborne was an historic spot; it was the landing place of Captain Cook and all felt proud of it. He extended to both Sir Harry arid Lady Lauder a real hearty welcome, and trusted that their stay in this town would ho a. pleasant one, and he wished them a cafe return.

The Mayoress, in welcoming the visitors, said her parents were Scottish. Montrose was her father’s birthplace, and when she had just ascertained from Sir Harry Lauder that he knew Montrose and learned Ins golf there, she felt there was an additional bond between them. The speaker extended to Lady Lauder a very loving welcome from the Indies of Gisborne, and she trusted Ladv Lauder would go away with very plenoant memories of Gisborne, and loving thoughts of tbs town.

Mr. R. M. Birrc!!, president of the Gisborne Scottish Society, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Society and of all countrymen. The name of Harry Lauder was n household word. There were thousands who had never see is him, but they knew him by reputation and by his songs on the gramophone records. After 'references to the alleged lack cf humor in a Scotsman. the speaker went on to say that allusion had been made to Sir Harry and Lady Lander’s war work. They know of the grea.t loss their visitors had sustained in the world' weir.

“and.” continued Mr. Birrell. “we sympathise with both yourself and Lady Louder in the loss of that bright vour.g life. If you have time you will ron a statue in marble on the riverhank, showing that we also did our share of sacrifice.” In Sir Harry’s honor of knighthood all Scotchmen felt honored also. He hoped that _S:r Harrv and Lady Lauder would think of Poverty Bay sometimes on their return. Mrs. Birrell then presented to Lady Lauder a handsome bouquet from the members of the Gisborne Scottish Society, bearing the inscription “Lang may velum reek.”

Mi\ A. Zacharinh tendered a brief welcome nn behalf of the •Gisborne Savage Club, stating that lie regretted there was not a korero to welcome Sir Harry. Mr. J. B. Kirk said Scotland. Sn her religious 7.eal, had sent in the past to the Dominion vnanv missionaries, and they went to preach a well-recog-nised doctrine. Scotland now had sent out a missionary of a different class, a missionary who preached a gospel of mirth, joy and laughter. That day they were welcoming the greatest entertainer Scotland had over produced, one of the greatest in the world. In the next building men were being tried before a judge on charges of having committed offences. The speaker thought that if a man could conver.-"' with liis wife over the jokes of Sir Harry Lauder there would he far lees cases in the Courts. He believed that/what was wanted in this life was more humanness. S : r Harry Lauder was a missionary in the tnr'«t and highest sense of the word. The speaker, as a returned soldier, paid a. tribute to their guest. Sir Harry Lauder bought no title: he earned' it, and earned it well in the days of the Empire’ll distress. Sir Harry and Lady Lauder acted as the Spartens of old: they sent them son to the front. Before the hoys went into engagements they were eheered by entertainments by Sir Harry Lauder, and thev marched into the firing line singing his songs ard narrating liis jokes. That is the spirit. The speaker was glad to see Sir Harry Lauder, not because of his jokes and his songs, which he recognised at their turn value. He wanted, however, to come that day and say to Sir Harry Lauder, “Thank you for your services to the Empire in that time of strops.” Mrs. Agnes Scott extended a brief welcome to Sir Harry and Lady Lauder, and as a daughter of Seal land expressed, pleasure at their visit to Gisborne.

Mr. G. H. B. Lockett said ho would like to draw attention to a fact not generally known. Sir Harry Lauder had taken an active interest .in the welfare and better treatment of the pit ponies, and had even gone to the House of Commons to help that cause, lit was largely through Sir Harry Lauder’s efforts that great- improvements were made in the"treatment of these animals, which were always underground. The speaker exp-esred his gratitude to Sir Harry Lauder for his kinrllv interest in these animals, and also for his elieerv m.irth. Sir Harry Lauder was accorded an ovation on rising. He said tha.t they had no idea how grateful Lady Lauder ami he felt at being the guests of the Borough. They, did: not expect such functions, hut when one is held ar.d they found themselves among such a. number of friends they were a.ll the more pleased. . What he did in the Great War was 'simply a man’s duty and if he did anything that was worth while then lie had been honored hv King and country. Many a map did as much but was not recognised, and that made the sneaker all the more, pleased ard proud. When a man goes full of enthusiasm' into a great cause he is doing Ink work unconsciously a.s the sneaker did. “I raised 12,000 recruits,” said Sir Harry Lauder, “after equipping a band of fifteen pipers and sent them all over Britain. I went into some of the centres and recruited for the 51st Division, and final'y the Mayor and Councillors told me to get out or they would' have all the Englishmen in the Scottish IRegiments. ('.Laughter.) I recruited for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and went to Carlisle and had inch a -greet, response that they thought of calling, the regiment the Carlisle and Sutherland Highlanders. However, it was a great success.” Onutir" ; T>g, Sir Harr-" said he was in New Zealand when the war broke out. and delivered his first war speech in Christchurch. He knew what they

did in New Zealand, for he helped! to recruit some of the men. He went all over the Dominion, but did not got an tar as Gisborne.

Before starting on the present tour, continued the speaker, he was asked at Home what was the use of going out there, lie would only meet strangers. But he had met not a single stranger; all were friends. The speaker paid a tribute to the scenery on the Napior-Gisborne road, and raid it compared well with other places in' the Dominion.

Sir Harry staled that ho had spent a very enjoyable holiday in Southland 1 , and it was all so delightful that lie would never forget it. He met wonderful people down there on the farms, and they were all so kind.' They used to get him into the house to crack jokes and tell a few stories, and' have a song or two. “One day,” said Sir Harry, “I told them my wife had a birthday. You know.” he continued, il &. birthday is awfully exciting, especially if one is Scotch. I was expected to give a present. (Laughter.) I had to give something good and handsome —and at the same time cheap. (Laughter.) 1 remember coming home from the theatre that night and standing with my back to the lire. Suddenly I said, ‘l’ve got it’ —so. I wrote her a, song. (Laughter.) You can laugh, because it didn’t cost anything (laughter), but whore is the money that will pay for an inspiration? Her name’s Annie, so I called the song ‘Annie.’ I’ll give you a vcri-e—but mind I hope it won’t stop you coming to the theatre to hear me.” (Laughter.) Sir Harry then sang the song, and was accorded enthusiastic applause. Sir Harry, continuing, said that, as a hoy, he was taught there were four things in life: God, work, home, and a kindly neighbor over the garden wall. “What could be better than a kindly neighbor?” asked the speaker, “one to whom you can just pop over and draw a chair up to the fireside. Ho might be a tetoallcr —then (ruefully) there’s nothing doing. (Laughter.) However, the r pirit is there (More La,lighter) and after you’ve cracked your jokes the time comes to say good-night, and you say, ‘Well fill sec 1 you in the morning.’ Oh, a kindly neighbor’s a great thing.” Continuing, Sir Harry said he might not come back to New Zealand as an entertainer, but lie bad been so much impressed with the beauties of the Horn in ion and the sport that he looked forward to another visit in the near fulu re.

In humorous mood, Sir Harry referred to the journey between Napier and Gisborne. The road war good, he said,

“but oh, those bends.” Lady Lauder called him to admire the scenery with a deep valley just at the edge of the road. “I took one look,” said ,Sir Harry, “and that was enough. Oh-li-h-b-! After arrival on Saturday I lay down for a few minutes and closed my eyes, but I never slept. I fell over one thousand precipices, and our car and its occupants were dashed to piece* at least twenty times.” (Laughter.)

“.ill the same,” continued Sir Harry, “J wanted to come to Gisborne to sei 1 the. place where Captain Cook landed. ~We visited the monument yesterday, and also did not forget to go to the marble edifice on the river bank, and read the names of the men on the bronze tablets. If ever you come to Scotland you will see a bonny monument at In.vernon.den, Glenbranton, erected to the memory of Capt. Lauder.”

In conclusion, Sir Harry said that during the war time they often had New Zealanders at Laudervale and talked over the hapnv times spent in this country.” The speaker again thanked them for the hearty welcome accorded Lady Lauder and hiireelf. On the cal! of the Mayor three hearty cheers were given for the visitors.

RECEPTION AT WOMEN’S CLUB

At the conclusion of the civic function Sir Harry and Lady Lauder were tendered a welcome hv the Gisborne Women’s Club. There was a large attendance. The rooms were tastefully decorated witii autumn leaves and flowers.

The president (Mrs. J. 1?. Kirk) welcomed idie guests, who. she said, wore well-known to all hy reputation. Mrs. Kirk drew attention in humorous vein to the fact that the locker i-ystem prevailed in the cluh, hut those lockers were dry. The visitors were then entertained nt morning tea. after which the members present were introduced to the guests. In the course of a lew remarks, Lady Lauder returned her sincere thanks for the reception, which would he one of her happiest remembrances. Sir Harry Lauder said if lm spoke he could only reiterate what lie had said earlier in the morning. He extended a hearty welcome to them 1 ) vhdt Lady Lander and himself m Scotland. ' He and Lady Lauder a!, o would take away with them happy memories of their stay in Gisborne. Until guests: then signed the visitors’ hook, and Sir Harry drew _ a very clever caricature of liim.se! I in the book, under which he wrote ‘T love a lassie,” and his signature. Sir Harry and Lady Lauder were given a cordial invitation to make themselves at home at the rooms during their stay in Gisborne.