VICE-REGAL VISIT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 June 1928, Page 9

VICE-REGAL VISIT

GOVERNOR IN HAWERA.

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S WELQOME

NINE HUNDRED PARADE. A parade of 900 school children assembled on .the court before the H stiver a Main School, greeted the GovernorGeneral, Sir Olaries Fergus son, and Lady Alice Fergusson on their arrival at Hawera by oar from Eltham at 11.30 a.m. to-day. Their Excellencies were accompanied by their daughter, Mrs Haviland, and Captain Orr-Ewing was in attendance as aide de camp. The party was met at the school by the Mayor, Mr E. A. Paccy, the Mayoress, the tow;n clerk (Mr H. S. Elliott), the headmaster (Air F. A. Bates), and the chairman of the school committee (Mr. J. W. Harding), the latter presiding during the ceremony. Led by the school drum and fife band, the parade, consisting of pupils and teachers of the Hawera Alain, Tawhiti, Convent, Tokaora, Whareroa anti Normanby schools, sang the first verse of the National Anthem, as the party reached the dais fronting the hoflow square formed by the parade. The Union Jack fluttered at the peak of the flagstaff and, facing the emblem, the Governor-General stood at the salute during the singing of tlie Anthem. Following an appropriate welcome, voiced by the chairman, who expressed appreciation of the honour conferred by the visit, his Excellency delivered a brief address to the children. Bis Excellency commenced with a good morning greeting, which was voiced in unison by -the children in rcnJ y • * ‘ SERVICE TO OTHERS.

“1 am going to tell you a short story with quite a good lesson for all boys and girls and for some grown-ups as well/’ continued the Governor-General. The story, fie said, concerned a nickname used in Japanese families, whose principal food is rice. When the meal was being served the first to receive a portion was the father. Then Came tho mother after whom wiasi the youngest child. The next youngest was then served and any others in stages according to age, with the result that the eldest boy or girl was the last to be served. Consequently tlie rice which was hot for the father would be cold before it reached the eldest of a large family, and because of that tlie eldest was given the nick-name of “cold rice.” The lesosn taught by the story, said Ins Excellency, was one of unselfishness and because of the unselfishness of the Japanese boys or girls who were given the name ‘cold rice” they were worthy of ad miration. In New Zealand family life it was very often. mother who was last to be served or thought of, and if she were given better consideration those who thought of her would receive benefit through her happiness. Similarly, in all walks of life we should have thought for others, and it we couil-d get into nine habit of being unselfish our schools, homes, families and the whole world would enjoy a greater measure of happiness. THE KING’S WISH.

“I am visiting you to-day because I am the representative of tile King—king George, whom you may have never seen, but who is thinking of you and is very interested in you,” continued his Excellency. “Before I left England the King tol<l me he wanted me to see as much of tlie school children of New Zealand as possible. He had been here himself and said the children of New Zealand were splendid- So Lady Fergusson. and myself have been visiting your schools, talking with the children and we have found them just as tlie King said. We should all try to be loyal to our King and country and we Can do that best by being good citizens and doing our best to help others in our everyday life. Grow up to he good New Zealanders and always strive to help others,” concluded liis Excellency. Mis request to the school committee that a whole holiday be granted the school on Alonday was followed by cheers for the holiday and in response to tlie Mayor’s call further cheers were given for .Stir diaries and Lady Fergusson. BAND BOYS COMMENDED. A beautiful banquet from the pupils of tlie Hawera Convent School was presented by June Goodwin, and Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson walked round the lines of children conversing with many and meeting the various teachers. During this period tile school band played several items and the programme was commended iby hits. Excellency, who also complime n.tgid the boys and the conductor, Lieut. H. C. A. Fqx on the smart appearance of the band. Conversing with the band boys lie 'said that when at school lie had played the fife and also the bass drum. Later be had joined bis school's brass band and played practically every instrument, though he had a preference for the euphonium. The vioe-regai party also visited the new infant’s .school, the pupils from which had not taken part in tlie parade. In each of the rooms Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson and Airs Haviland spoke informally with the children, all of whom remained at tlieir school work, though evidently much impressed with the kindliness shown‘by their visitors. Leaving the school the viee-rega.l party motored to the Central Hotel, where the Mayor and Mayoress were the guests of Sir Citoairle® and Lady Fergusson at luncheon. THE CIVIC WELCOME. A GREAT GATHERING. CORDIAL ENTHUSIASM ST I OWN. Rarely before in the history of Hawera has there been suc-ili an enthusiastic assemblage as was gathered at the Opera House on the occasion of the civic welcome to their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Fergusson this afternoon, on the occasion of their first visit to Hawera and district. The Opera, House was packed to tho doors, and oh the stage was a goodly company, while the streets were thronged from end to end on the route of 51 the precession from the hotel.

Thirteen, stalwart pipens, under Drum Major Naim, paraded in full dress uniform and after serenading the party, phiyeidi a series/ of stirring Scottish selections iais they marched, through the streets, heading the line of cars. Round the entrance of the O'pera House were paraded long lines of Girl Guides, under District Commissioners Mrs Houston and Mrs Henderson and Commissioner Mis,® D. Hawlcen; a large coups of Brownies, Boy Scouts and Cubs under the District Commissioner F. W. Horner, Commissioner J. A. Dalgetty and l Scoutmaster Cowie, forming a, most impressive guiaird of honour. Their Excellencies inspected each corps, having a few words of welcome with each.

They then entered the Opera. House, where tlie Alain School orchestra had been playing selections to the strains of the National Anthem, played by that orchestra. On tlie stag© was tlie official party of welcome, including with the Alayor, Alnsi Pacoy, Air H. G. Dickie M.P., the borough councilors and their wives, Mr J. S. AlcKay, chairman .of the Hospital Board, the town clerk, and Mr and Aim H. Lovell. The Alayor briefly welcomed tlieir Excellencies, expressing the deep gratification of all that his Excellency had recover'd from his recent illness so far as to enable him to make the trip. Tie said that their Excellencies wished to meet as many as possible of the people of the district. THE MAYORAL ADDRESS.

A formal address signed by the Mayor and Councillors and Town Clerk, was then read. It stated: “On behalf of the burgesses of Hawera we desire to extend to your Excellencies a cordial welcome to our town. We count it a privilege and a pleasure to greet your Excellencies on this your nrst visit to South Taranaki. “We would also convey to your Excellencies an assurance of loyalty to His Majesty the King. “May we remind your Excellencies that this district has been the scene of many stirring events, in the times long past numerous wars were waged between the great native tribes, including invaders from the far north, and again, in later years, many were the stern fights between the pakelm and Maori. Happily, these days are gone. The land which was a wilderness of fern and forest is now one of the most fertile areas in the Empire, and the two races live together in complete amity, standing shoulder to shoulder in defence of” the Empire in times of stress, as was so gloriously shown in the years 1914-1918. “We hope that during your Excellencies’ stay m Hawera it will be possible for you to visit some of these historic spots.” (Sir Charles, who was received with loud applause j said it was usual when a formal .address was road, for him to read one sq that it could he filed away in the records of the town. He therefore read his address as follows :

Air Alayor—“We thank you. most heartily for your kind welcome and assure you of the pleasure it gives us to pay this long delayed visit to tlie town and district of Hawera. You may be assured of the interest which we wall take in all that you show us. The fact of our having spent some of our early days in the Dominion and consequently' our ability to' appreciate the immense advances which have been made since l those days add to the enjoyment and interest of our visit.

“With you we rejoice at the ultimate and kindly relations which exist between pakeha and the great native race. Now happily united in friendship and in common love and loyalty to His Alajesty the King, and to the great Empire of which ; we are all citizens. “I shall be happy to convey to His Alajesty the assurance of loyalty which vou express in your address and of which the (people of Hawera, in common with the rest of the Dominion, have given suiCh ample proof in the past.’ Then, speaking to tho gathering, Sir Charles said, that there wore a few ix>ints on which lie would like to touch. Firstly as to the welcome, he said that although, they had been nearly four years in the Dominion, and girthing uisedi to kind wccomes as a. .matter of catruo, and good feeling n every occasion, the gathering in front of me,” lie added, “is typical of vou all in New Zealand, and is wonderful on a working day and at such an hour. T would like to add that from the very first dav since we came among you to the present we_ find ourselves at these gatherings feeling absolute!v and eouinlately at home. It must lie. sour? rare, .oift you have of taking your visitors, and welcoming the .stranger in vour gates.” EX-SERVICE ADEN PAR ADE.

“I know you do- nob like- parades — at least non© of us used to and your compliment is therefore the more to be appreciated,” said the Governor-Gen-eral with a .smile in expressing his pleasure in noting some 80 ex-service men who paraded before the memorial arch ill Princes Street. With Lady Fergusson, liis Excellency walked through the lines- and shook hands with each man on the parade, making occasional inquiries which evinced his keen interest in tlie men'who had seen active service.

Rousing cheers, in which the crowd joined, prefaced the dismissal of the parade after which the president of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association, who had been in charge of the parade, escorted the vice-regal party on a brief visit to the Soldiers’ Club. AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. The last appointment for the viceregal party this afternoon was at the Hawera Technical High School, where the visitors were met by a guard oi honour provided by' the school cadets, under Lieutenant Harris. Tlie school military band, under Bandmaster Fox, played the National Anthem, after which liis Excelelncy inspected tlie guard and the band. He then proceeded to the dais, before which the pupils were assembled. Speeches of welcome were delivered by the headmaster, Air. A. Gray, and Air. R. S. Sage, chairman of the School Board. Alter his Excellency’s reply afternoon tea was provided by the girl pupils. AT KETEAIARAE PA. Breaking their journey on the waydown to Hawera, tl.-e Governor-General and party- paid a snort visit to Ketemarae pa, where they were welcomed by Tonga Awhikau, as chief of the pa. At the entrance f-o the pa the viceregal party- were met by a number of young .Maori girls and escorted to the meeting-house to the accompaniment of a song of welcome, supplemented with a poi dance. Tonga. Awhikau, in his address of welcome (which was translated by Air. AI. R. Jones), expressed pleasure at the visit of their Excellencies, saying: “We are indeed honoured by- the visit. This is the first occasion on which a Governor has visited our pa. Wo are very pleased with your visit. Owing to the very short notice wo are unable to entertain you in the proper Maori style. We wish you a pleasant stay in our country.”

His Excellency briefly addressed the gathering, and iu a happy speech said: “Greetings to you all from His Majesty King George, whose representative I am. it will be a pleasure to His Majesty to know that I have paid you a visit. We have come here to-day because we heard you were living here, ancl we stopped to pay our respects to your tribe. It was many years ago when my father was Governor of New Zealand. He had a great love for the Maoris and respected them as he did the pakeha. Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson’s father was also Governor of New Zealand about- 30 years ago. Now we children of those old Governors have come here to pay our respects to the Maori people and your- tribe. I am extremely sorry we have not much time af our disposal to

spend among your people. Yv e are pleased to say that the Alaoris fought side by side with the pakeha against the common enemy in the Great War. I hope you will bring up your children to remember tlie fine traditions and history of your Alaori race, and that you hand down your traditions from one generation to the other. We must always impress upon the young ones growing up of the proud race to which you belong. I sincerely thank you for "the hearty welcome you have given us, and we all hope on some future occasion to visit y-ou again, and slioula we not be able to do so we shall always remember this short visit. M e pray to A' mighty God that you and yours may live long and that prosperity- will be ever vours.”

Miss Rachel Rei Murray then presented tlieir Excellencies each with a handsome Alaori mat, after which the poi girls sang a song of farewell in Maori and then in English, in which the beautiful voices of the singers was most pleasingly harmonised. A rousing liaka. by the men and women of the pa concluded the happy function.