THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 11 August 1908, Page 5

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

ADMIRAL SPERRY'S SPEECH.

AUCKLAND. August 10. Admiral Sperry, replying to the Mayor's speech at the civic reception, said : — "Nothing can give me more pleasure j than to accept this address as a most [cordial and gracious souvenir of the J welcome extended to the fleet which I j have the honor to represent. It is pcJ culiarly fitting that there should be the strongest possible ties of amity and | friendship between two nations of common ancestry, common blood, common traditions and common aspirations, and | that friendship is doubly cemented by the fact that we realise that the two : nations have done so much for the peace of the world, and are a large fac- i tor in everything that tends to happiness and progress throughout the world. (Applause.) The Imperial interests of both great nations *in the Pacific are the same. From New Zealand at the lowest point of the Dominion to the uttermost point of the Philippines and from New Zealand in the north-east towards Hawaii and the coast of the United States, there is an unbroken chain of common interest, common interests which to-day are only beginning to develop, common interests the magnitude of which it is almost impossible for us to appreciate. It is growing from day to day with the expansion of trade and the opening of the Panama Canal, and common interests need common protection. It is very well and it is essential that the principles of peace should be settled by The Hague Conference, but it is essential that there should be some guarantee that those principles will be followed, and the two great fleets which meet together in Auckland and with common interests make for that peace. (Applause.) They make for the AngloSaxon peace throughout the Pacific and throughout the world. It is fitting that Imperial interests should "be recognised as common, and are being promoted by our two executive heads, but it is peculiarly fitting that on this occasion we should recognise the fact that the basis of friendship between our two great nations must lay in the people, and it is particularly acceptable that we should find here a greeting extended to us from every city, from boroughs and municipalities in every part of New Zealand. In the streets it is peculiarly gratifying to see that each county, borough, and each municipality has sent a token of its welcome. They are from representatives of the people, and represent their sentiments where people are unable to represent themselves by word of mouth as they have been doing all this morning in the streets — (laughter and cheers) — to our very great gratification. Ships can be bought with money, but men and souls j cannot be bought with money (api plause), and the life of our fleet, which we cannot replace if it is ill-trained and not self-respecting, lies in the men of the fleet, to whom you have extended so cordial, gracious, and generous a welcome. On behalf of the officers and men, I thank you all most cordially for your welcome. Nothing has been, left undone or unplanned that the heart can desire/