BOTHA TESTIMONIAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 429, 7 August 1915, Page 2

BOTHA TESTIMONIAL

TEXT OF THE ADDRESS. RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTRY. Auckland, Aug. 5. Tho Biitha Te-lituoiiial Conimitice met at lhe Town Hall yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. . L. Gunson) presidingMessrs. W. B. Leyland, .1. W. Court. M. J. Coyle, and T. W. Leys wore also present. A draff address, prepared by the Hon. George Fowlds and Mi-. T. W. Leys, was submitted and approved. Ils text is as follow:-::— “To the Right Honourable General Louis Botha, P.C., Prime Minister

I of tho I'nion of South Africa. “Dear Sir. —Your fellow-citizens of the British Empire residing in Now Zealand have road with great satisfaction the story of your heroic and triumphant campaign in German Southwest Africa, and they desire io offer you their hearty congratulations and ask your acceptance of the accompanying token of their regard. “Your far-sighted ahiliiy as u statesman, and your splendid courage and resource as a. soldier, command our unstinted admiration. Ami wo believe that the wisdom of your decision and that of the majority of the people of South Africa to uphold the integrity and prestige of an Empire which assures absolute freedom to ail its subject's. will ultimately be recognised even by those among your iellowcoun try mon idr> wore unhappily misled by die specious intrigues of the

i enemy. “Yonr action has manifested a lofty appreciation of the principles which inspire British ideals ot liberty and selfgovernment. as opposed to the restrictive and repressive methods represent;ed by our present enmies. And we re- ; Joice to know that you and the people of the South African Inion, whom yon so worthily represent, have at , this critical juncture in the history of the Empire, so well deserved the confidence reposed in you. ami have inaniiestcd a sterling loyalty and a sell-sacrilicing devotion unsurpassed in any of His Alajesty’s Dominions. ‘‘That you may long be spared in , health and strength to assist in sus- ■ taming our common Empire in its 'great mission for the upholding of the ideals of truth anti honour .liberty and justice, in all the relationships of life, ; is the united prayer of your many ad- ; niirers and well-wishers in New Zea- • land.”'

The address,' which will he signed l-,y members of the committee on behalf of subscribers to the fund, concludes with the statement that the presentation was the outcome of resolutions unanimously adopted by a representative public meeting convened by the Mayor of Auckland. ADDRESS TO GENERAL SMUTS. Mention was made of the fact that many of the subset ibers urged that effect should be given to that part of the resolution adopted at the public meeting at the Town Hail which provided that recognition should he given to the services rendered by General Smuts, and the H:m. George Fowlds and Mr. T. W. Leys were, appointed a sub-committee to draft another address expressing the wishes of the subscribers in relation to this matter. THE SHILLING SUBSCRIPTION. Mr. AV. B. Leyland handed in £l7 10 -. representing contributions of a shilling each from 350 subscribers residing in the wholesale area of the city.

Letters regarding the fund from Hastings, Gisborne, I’ukekohe, and ’A hakatane wore dealt with, and it was reported that many letters had been received warmly commending the movement.

It was decided to write to local bodies and others to whom books of .souvenir stamps have been issued, requesting that all moneys collected, together with unused stamps, should be returned by the 20th August, in order that the fund may be closed. Anyone wishing to obtain further supplies of stamps may do so either from the Town Hr. 11 or the office of the “Auckland Star,” by whom also single stamps will be forwarded on receipt of a shilling subscription.