HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 4 December 1946, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

FOur Own Correspondent], HOKITIKA, Dec. 3. Bright sunshine prevailed on Tuesday morning for the visit of the Governor-General to Hokitika. The official welcome took place at the steps of the Soldiers’ Hall and Sewell Street was gaily decorated, as was the portico at the hall. School children, Boy Scouts, Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides and Brownies paraded in full strength and members of the Hokitika branch of the Returned Services’ Association formed a guard of honour. Their Excellencies just before 11 o’clock were received by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs A. R Elcock), Mr Mark Wallace (County chairman) and Mrs Wallace, Mr J. B. Butland (representing the R.S.A.). The Mayor read an address from the local authorities of Westland, and Sir Bernard read the official reply. The Mayor paid a tribute to Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg for the car? and attention they had bestowed upon men from Westland who served overseas. Parents had deeply appreciated their kind assistance to their sons and daughters, he said. Mr Wallace spoke of the historic grandeur of Westland, adding that the Maoris first landed at a point just four miles north of Hokitika. He expressed the hope that Their Excellencies would in the very near future again visit Westland to see some of the scenerv of the district. Mr Butland on behalf of the returned servicemen, said the appointment of Sir* Bernard as Governor-General was a grand tribute to the returned servicemen of the Dominion. The association was pleased indeed to welcome its great leader to Westland. Miss Rosalie Reynolds presented Lady Freyberg with a beautiful bouquet. A tiny Maori boy and girl ascended the steps and presented Lady Freyberg with a bouquet from the Maori people. Mr R. Webb welcomed Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg on behalf of the Maori people. He presented Their Excellencies with a piece of high quality greenstone as a gift from the Maori people of Westland. Their Excellencies were charmed with the presentation, and Sir Bernard spoke at length with Mr Webb about the Maoris of Westland. Before replying to the official welcome, Sir Bernard invited the children to come as close as possible to the platform and impressed upon them the necessity to preserve the great heritage for which men of the Dominion had fought two world wars. At the conclusion of the ceremony Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg inspected the Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Boys’ Brigade and Municipal Band, and were introduced to members of local bodies and the old identities of the district, ’ir Bernard said he appreciated more than anything the splendid honour paid him and Lady Freyberg by the returned servicemen in their action of forming a guard of honour at the various functions he attended. A popular decision was the declaration of a holiday for the school children bv His Excellency. There was a large crowd in town for the civic welcome, and many country people were present. Their Excellencies then left for a tour of inspection of the gold dredges. Following lunch Their Excellencies visited the W’estland Hospital, where they were received by the chairman (Mr E. W. Heenan) and members of the board, the party being conducted on a tour of the hospital by the chairman, medical superintendent (Dr E. J. Velvin) and the matron (Miss Ramsay).