VICE-REGAL VISIT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 June 1928, Page 6

VICE-REGAL VISIT

TOUR RESUMED. EN ROUTE TO PATEA. FINAL RAWER A ENGAGEMENTS

In continuation of their tour the Governor-General, Sir Charle-s Fergussoii, Lady Alice Fergusson, and Airs. Haviland left Hawera at 10.15 tnis morning for Patea, where a civic reception is being accorded, after which the party proceeds to Wanganui. The Mayor of Hawera (Air. E. A. Pacey) and the Alayoress were in attendance- at the Central Hotel to express farewell wishes to the viceregal visitors. A good gathering of interested citizens assembled in the vicinity and the car left to the accompaniment of rousting cheers. Last evening His Excellency as Grand Alaster met the Alasonic brethren of the lodges of South Taranaki at a combined meeting held in the Presbyterian and St. Alaryls Halls. The Provincial Grand Alaster and Grand Lodge officers were- in attendance, when the Grand Alaster gave an interesting and mast instructive address to about 250 members of the Order.

Lady Fergusson and Airs. Haviland were the guests of honour at a conversazione aranged by the Alayoress at her residence.

CIVIC RECEPTION. At- the civic reception at- the OperaHouse yesterday, bouquets were presented to Lady Fergusson unci Airs Haviland by AJisses Woods and GrindI'od and Scout L. S-pragg, who made a. little speech of welcome. A fine tribute to the work of the schools of the Dominion was paid by Iks! Excellency the Governor-General in the course of his speech at -the Opera louse. He said that during liis visits to the schools he could not help being impressed by the admirable way in which the young people were firing trained, this, lie added, needed' no testimonial from him. He referred specially to the fostering and development of a. spirit of the ethics of citizendi'in, than which nothing better was being done by the 'teachers of to-day, and wliicli would have' a- wonderful effect o,n the relations between the Dominions and the Mother Country. He

suggested that the conditions! had been -.-hanging; fo.r soon© time from what they

were- a generation ago. As the Dominions have, a® it were, grown up, so.the ink binding them to the Alother Country lias changed. The young people in the 'schools wore going to be the fatotor which was go-ing to influence that relation, and while thev were, taught a Reefing of reverence for the history and traditions of the nations, there was no need to fear that the link would- he weakened, but it would grow stronger. Perhaps, he added, these visits of the ■Governor-General had an influence in teaching the people the symbols of unity in the Empire, and their respon-;bilit-v to hand it on unsullied to their descendants.

Sir Charles said he would aisk neo-ple to remember that they came hero with certain advantages in that they both ■spent some of their early days in the Dominion. He recalled it was fifty-

fonr vea-rs next month since hie left N T ew Zealand, and a few years before that since he first set foot on these shores. The Wellington Early Settlers’ Association, realising this, had, he said, made him a member and given him their badge. Her Excellency,, -said Sir Charles, was a. daughter of the late Lord Glasgow, also a former Governor, and -nent five years in New Zealand -with the family. “We both come back.” he said, “to realise one of the dreams of our life. He recalled how sad he was to -lea-ve New Zealand as -a boy and knew th at Lady Fergusson had the j same feelings of sorrow and said when she reached England, “How can one be happy out of New Zealand.” He realised- they wore now fulfilling one of the dreams of their fives, and’ were having (lie very happy experience in coming back once more. He said he 'was ashamed to think J how late they wore in coining to Taranaki, but assured. his hearers this was. not all liis fault, but force of ciireumstanens, and lie hoped the' people would '■orgive them. They looked forward to seeing the people of the district again, if only to say good-bye. Time would not allow him to -sneak of all

the kindness be had experienced. He noticed one special section of the audience. the ex-servicemen, friends and comrades of the war, and said that all would realise how great a joy it was 1 to a soldier of forty years’ experience to meet his old comrades. He l was associated a good deal with New Zealand troops, and hoped, lue said, their association was a» great- a pleasure as was his. “Bmisis hats.” he added, “were not popular, hut they had their uses, asd “you can’t get on without them.” The times he spent at the front with the New Zealanders he would never forget-—on Viiny Ridge, in the final "ash. -Chenotis, and, again. Germany, where lie was Military Governor of Cologne. “I would like to say,” h.c added, “that their discipline was remarkable. and equal to their prowess in the fighting line.” .He referred sympathetically to the pioneers whom lie had seen, farmers, gumdi.ggers,

‘-”1 rollers, all men of grit and determination. whose work laid the foundation of the Dominions. He referred to the wonderful system < f education, which was all on right lines, and; he added that New Zealand wanted tpn million r.oop’e instead of a million and a. quarter. 111 conclusion, he sa-id that the visits of the Governor-General remind us of the link that .binds it# to ’-o 'Mother Country and the responsibilities involved therein.’’ They would carry away the happy recollections of Hie p.lneei and of the people. AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

The vice-regal party was met at the Hawera Technical High School by a guard of honour from the school cadets under Lieut. Harris. The school military band, under Bandmaster H. C. A. Fox, played the National Anthem, after Which his Excellency inspected the guard of honour, and the band, and then proceeded to the dai-s, before which the school pupils had been assembled. Mr A. Gray, headmaster, welcomed h.iis Excellency and party on behalf of the school], which was immediately followed by a welcome speech by Mr R. S. Sage (chairman) on behalf of the school board l of governors. His Excellency thanked all for the kind welcome extended him, and in delivering a short address to the scholars assembled, urged them to guard Hie honour of their school. . “I always think that the spirit of the schools is what counts. In Eligland and Scotland there are schools which have been going on for hundreds of-years, and traditions have been handed down from generation to generation,’’ said his Excellency. “School traditions are- a sense of honour, and all should try to have ,some particular aim to individualise their school. Guard the honour

of your school and always remember what use yoiu are going to be to other people, aud by -working your hardest you are all helping your country. “Whatever your future calling in life, if you do it well, you are always helping your country and people. It is the small things that count, and you must always remember that whatever you are doing, or whatever business or (-alliffg you adopt, if you do your work well you are Elmipire builders.” In concluding his address to the pupils, his Excellency quoted Pericles’ speech to the Athenians: “Fix your eyes upon the greatness of your country until you become filled with the love of her. Then, when you are impressed with the spectacle of her glory, reflect that this Empire has been acquired by men who knew their duty and had the courage to do it; who in the hour of danger and difficulty had ever the fear of dishonour before their eyes; and 'who, if ever they failed in an enterprise would not suffer their virtues to he lost to their country, but freely gave their lives for her as the fairest -and noblest offering which they could present at her feast.” “Alalce them your examples,” said his Excellency in conclusion. Three olieens were given by the pupils for the Governor-Genera], after which two bouquets were presented to Mrs Haviland, who accepted both on behalf of Lady Alice Fergusson, who was unavoidably absent through indisposition. A feature of the welcome given by the scholars was the dainty afternoon tea, the work of the students in the Home Science division of the school. They provided a profusion of dainty dishes, amongst them was a tiny flag with its name “en Fra-ncaiis.” The work was taught them -under their last year’s instructress, Alisg B. Earl, and they, on their own initiative, undertook the work and carried 1 it through in a way that did distinct credit to their branch of the school work. It. was the theme of much admiration from the many visitors. During the afternoon tea selections were played by the school orchestra,' under the baton of Air H. 0. A. Fox. VISIT TO HOSPITAL. After the receptions in town their Excellencies suite paid a visit to the public hospital. The chairman and members of the board welcomed the party. MAYORESS’S RECEPTION. LADY ALICE FERGUSSON WELCOMED. ACTIVITIES OF WOMENS ORGANISATIONS

Last evening the Alayoress, Airs Pacey, field a, reception at her residence in Regent Street in honour of her Excellency Lady Alice Fergus-son. There were present representatives of tfie many activities among the women of Hawera.

Airs Pacey received her guests wearing a frock of 'black georgette, with a diaimente buckle. Lady Alice' wore a charming sapphire blue frock, beaded in black, and Airs Haviland wore a lavender beaded frock. Airs Plaoey said a lew words in welcome to Lady Alice, and Airs Pacey’,s little neioe, Miss Jean Grindrod, presented- her and Mrs Ha-vi-land with, charming early Victorian posies. After a short musical programme, Airs Houston, acting district commissioner for Taranaki Girl Guides, gave a short account of the work and progress of Guides in Hawera. Miss BaUant-inc, secretary of the Women’s National Reserve, explained .t-het activities of the Reserve, which is very active in Hawera. Airs Goodsou, as president of the Plunket Society, spoke on the doings of the society, pointing out its very flourishing condition. The district was a large one, as it included' Kaponga, Man-ala and Otpunake at present, witli only one nurse. Mils Garter, president of the Women’s | Division of the Farmers’ Union, gave an account of the tremendous growth of the movement. Already they had over 500 members, and also a laige memibership for the Book Glub, which endeavoured to send books to families in the backfbllioeks.

Her Excellency, in a charming speech, thanked everyone for such a splendid welcome and said she was really interested to hear so much about the ladies’ activities in Hawera. She took a keen pleasure in seeing the Guides everywhere she went, and was always surprised that there were such large numbers of Hangers, Guides and Brownies. In connection with the Rlunket Society, she said that before coming to New Zealand she regarded the system as rather “cranky,” but •since ‘she has been out here she had become a “fanatic” about it. In most places the activities of the Women’s National Reserve ceased after the war, but Lady Alice realised what a live society it was in Hawera and the good deeds it was doing each day. She thought the organisation of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union wag a very courageous undertaking. The work they would have to do* in the near future, as the society grew, would he tremendous.

After supper her Excellency talked informally with everyone. Those present included: Mrs H. Lovell (0.8. E.), wine coloured morocain; Miss B. Young, blue and black frock; Miss Nutsey (matron of hospital) black georgette and lace ; Mrs Houston, dame panne velvet, Mrs Balllantine, black and green frock; Mrs W. Winks, blue and silver tissue; Mrs W. Carter, black lace; Mrs Murdoch, black frock with coloured shawl; Mrs McOay, black with lavender shawl; Miss Elliott, black velvet and georgette; Mrs L. A. Bone, black orepe de Chine with mauve shawl; Mrs N. O. Innas, maize crepe de chine; Airs E. 'Long, black embroidered frock; Mrs G. J. Bay ley, lavender beaded frock; Mrs W. G. Simpson, black isatin; Mrs W. G. Strange, black lace and georgette; Airs Butler, black satin; Mrs Alorr.issey, black taffeta with gold lace; Airs Townsend, black georgette; Airs Ifeid, terracotta crepe de chine; Al.rs Goodison, black Jaoo 'and . georgette; Miss D. Riailly. blue land silver frock; Alisa C. Rfeilly, pale pink beaded georgette.

Musical items were given by Miss C Reilly and Airs Goodison, Miss D. Reilly acting as* accompanist©- and Airs Strange recited.

ARE “ALL BLACKS” CONTENTED? Unless a perfect spirit of harmony ; prevails among the members of the All ' Black team, it is generally recognised that any feeling of dissatisfaction may reflect itself, perhaps unconsciously, in lack of complete eo-operation in the play. This must be avoided at any price. A prominent supporter of the All Blacks stated to an official that the comforts of the men should be supervised closely in South Africa. He suggested that if the men took away with them a good supply of Bears’ pure Virginian Tobacco, there would be no question of “nerves” or discontent. Did you know Boars’ is now obtainable in handy pocket tins containing 2oz, Is Gd? Also sold loose by weight at 8d per ounce. Try it, 56