HUNTLY’S RED-LETTER DAY

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XIV, 3 June 1927, Page 2

HUNTLY’S RED-LETTER DAY

Visit of the Governor-General Dull skies and a high wind ushered in Huntly’s Red-Letter Day on Friday last, when after a lapse of four years, His Majesty’s representative in New Zealand, General Sir Charles Fergusson, honoured the Mining Town with his presence. The Committee representing the Huntly Town Board and members of the Returned Soldiers' Association had made complete arrangements for the occasion, and it is pleasing to chronicle everything went without a hitch. Those responsible tor the organisation must indeed be proud of their achievement and deserve the thanks of the people of Huntly. Piomptly at 10.30 a.m. His Excellency, accompanied by his Aide-de-camp, arrived at the Huntly Post Office, where the Chairman and members of the Huntly Town Board awaited his arrival. Amongst those present were Bishop Cherrington, Bishop of Waikato, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. Newell, chairman of the Waikato County Council, and a representative gathering of the citizens of Huntly and districts. In replying to a welcome extended by M r W. C. E. George, chairman of the Town Board, His Excellency said he was sorry Lady Alice Fergusson was not well enough to accompany him. He was pleased to say her health was fast improving, and it was imped she would be able to visit the district at a later date. He did not know whethei his father. Sir James Fergu son, had visited Huntlv when lie was Governor, but it was quite possible he had, for he toured extensively in the Waikato in 1874. His Excellency said he always felt he was intimately connected with the Waikato. His father had said it contained some of the finest country he had seen—outside of Scotland (laughter)—and shortly before leaving the Dominion he took up a farm near Cambridge. However, he gave it up in 1890 after spending nearly all his money on it. (Laughter.) A VISIT TO ROTOWARO. Rain was now falling as the procession of cars set out for the Rotowaro Mine, the pilot car being driven by Mr F. Harris. Here the party was met by Mr J. Wat- , son, superintendent of the Taupiri Coal Mines Ltd., and Mr W. Barclay, Inspector of Mines. Members of the party then boarded a single truck attached to a very small engine, and His Excellency mounted the cab. Only one house was passed on the run lo the mine, and there a large Union Jack was pegged securely on a clothes-line, beside which stood a solitary woman waving a dripping coat in the rain. After an inspection of the surface, Sir Charles and party were then fitted out with safety lamps, ami under the guidance of Mr Watson, an inspection of the Main heading was made. His Excellency displayed a keen interest in all of the mining operations. Arriving back on the surface, an enterprising youth carried out the old tradition and promptly chalked the boots of the Governor-General and the Bishop of Waikato, both gentlemen responding to the time honoured custom. Although heavy rain was falling on the drive back to Huntly, His Excellency insisted on making a brief stop at the Rotowaro School and spent a few moments talking to the delighted children. AT THE LUNCHEON. Between fifty and sixty visitors and residents sat down to the luncheon tendered to His Excellency in the Lyceum Theatre. The hall had been most tastefully decorated by willing and enthusiastic ladies on the day previous, and the long tables groaning under the good things provided by the caterer, Mr A. Shand, presented a very pleasing spectacle to th se wlm had spent a morning in the cold and rain. After the toast of “The King” ■ had been enthusiastically honoured, the chairman of the Town Board, Mr W. C. E. George, in a happy and well-chosen speech asked those present to drink to the health of ‘‘Our Guest. General Sir Charles Fergusson,” a toast which was responded to with enthusiasm and to the strains of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Upon rising, His Excellency was greeted with hearty applause, and in his reply, said : ‘‘My predecessor, Earl Jellicoe, has said that New Zealand is a place of sunny skies and warm hearts.” “There never has been any mistake about the warmth of the people’s hearts. You seem to have a happy knack of making any stranger thoroughly at home from the very first moment. "I do not like to think that visits paid by Governors General to various places are mere formalities which must be got through. I prefer to think there is a great i deal more in these visits. They

are occasions when we should try to realise and strengthen the link of the Dominion with the Mother Country (Applause). To my mind,this is more important these days than ever before. We live in an age of strange times and ideas, and as the years go on we see that link which has always bound the Mother Country and the Dominions together interpreted in a somewhat strange way to our old ways of thinking. “Yet the link remains, and will always remain, although it is important to have something to bind us together. The Dominions have been given a status which in years gone by, although it existed, was not announced, and it seems more important than ever for us to realise that although we prize our independence, united we stand and divided we fall.” In order to preserve the unity of the Empire it was important to realise the common link that bound it, namely the King, continued His Excellency. He had been given messages of loyalty from the people of New Zealand, and he in return gave the King’s message to his people. “I can fell you how sincere His Majesty is in his interest in New Zealand,” he said. “It would surprise you to know his knowledge of the

country, his intimacy in all matters concerning it and the interest he displays in its welfare. I write to him periodically and tell him everything lam doing. There is nothing too small for him to mention and comment on in his replies. I have also the responsibility and proud privilege of conveying to the King the loyal feelings of his subjects in the Dominion and this is never a hard thing to do.” The toast of the “Army and Navy” was in the capable hands of Mr P. Hunter and was ably responded to by Messrs W. Bullough and, N. Greenwell. The Hon. R. F. Bollard proposed the toast of the “Local Bodies,” Mr W. Newell, chairman of the Waikato County Council, and Dr. R. (J. Macdiarmid responding. A VISIT TO THE HIGH S 'HOOL. Immediately at the conclusion of the luncheon His Excellency paid a visit to the High School. The heavy rain which was still falling prevented the children from being drawn up in the playground, but an up-turned sea of faces greeted the GovernorGeneral when he stepped into the long corridor at the school. There is no doubt that Sir Charles possesses the gift of being able to interest children, for his address was listened to with rapt attention, and won the hearts not only of the children, but of his adult audience as well. In beautiful language, but so simple that the smallest child pre-

sent readily could follow him. His Excellency struck the keynote of “loyalty” and proceeded to relate how upon his recent visit to Samoa he had addressed another such gathering of school children. Each child, he noticed, wore a small five-pointed star, and each point had its meaning, which he enumerated as follows: — First, Loyalty to God; secondly, Loyalty to King ; thirdly, Loyalty to Country; next, Loyalty to my neighbour, and lastly, Loyalty to myself. If every child present would remember these points, and try each in his own way to live up to and carry out this lesson, he or she would be helping to make our country greater, and maintain its glorious traditions. And now so that they would remember this day he was going to ask the authorities to grant them a whole day’s holiday, an announcement which was received with the greatest possible enthusiasm. Mr George Smith, chairman of the School Committee, thanked His Excellency for honouring the school by his presence, and also for his most inspiring address. As chairman of the School Committee he had great pleasure in acceding to His Excellency’s request, and the children would be given a whole holiday on the following Monday. Mr W. W. Edgerley, headmaster of the Distriot High School, also returned thanks, and called upon the children for three cheers for His Excellency, and the bellow that issued from the lusty lungs of over 400 children must have been heard a great distance away. Led by Mr Stewart, the children sang “ Qfod Save the King’”and saluted the Union Jack. The staff of the school was then presented to His Excellency, and after a brief inspection of the class-rooms, and a hearty “Goodbye boys and girls,” New Zealand’s Governor-General took his departure to a no less hearty but somewhat reluctant, “Goodafternoon Your Excellency.” UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL.

Although heavy rain was falling when His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson unveiled the memorial for the soldiers of the Huntly District, who laid down their lives during the Great War, the ceremony was none the less impressive. A parade of over 40 returned men, under Ex Flight Lieutenant N. Greenwell, assem-

bled at Mason’s Garage at 2.30 p.m., and led by Piper Ingram, marched to the stirring strains of the bag-pipes, and were drawn up in two lines when His Excellency arrived. Sir Charles inspected the Guard of Honour, and each returned man was presented to His Excellency by Lieut. Greenwell. The actual unveiling occupied only a few minutes, after which the huge concourse of people assembled at the Lyceum Theatre to take part in the service. The service which followed immediately was impressively conducted by Bishop Cherrington, assisted by Riev. Wareing, M.A., and the Rev. J. W. Robinson, Vicar of Huntly. • In a brief address, His Excellency said he gladly paid tribute to those New Zealanders who had paid the supreme sacrifice, for he had known many of the Dominion’s soldiers on active service. He hud seen how gladly they had sacrificed themselves, and how seriously they recognised the call of duty, and no greater honour could be accorded a soldier than to pay tribute to the memory of his fallen comrades. The men who had not returned would not wish them to bekolemn that day, continued His Excellency, but he felt sure they would want them all to carry on the work they had started in an effort toabolish war ana make the world safe for peace. In the days of victory the thought of the men at the front was always. “What will those at home say ?” In times of trouble the thought was, “Will those at home understand what we are going through ’?” These men, citizens in every-day life, had risen to great heights of self-sacrifice, and as a result they had earned gratitude for raising the whole standard upon which life would be judged in the future. The question whether their sacrifice had not heen in vain had been asked frequently since the war. It was comparatively easy to erect memorials of stone, but the real memorial they had to raise was proof that the work of these men would be carried forward. If this proof were established, the sacrifice of the war would not be useless. At the conclusion of the service the audience of between 600 and 700 people stood most reverently whilst the “Last Post” was sounded by Buglers Morrison and McKinnon of the Hamilton District High School, the impressive rendering of the “Dead March” by Miss Starr and Mr .1, Allan, and the poignant lament “Lochaber No More” by Piper Thos. Ingram. CONVERSAZIONE Most of those who attended the service in connection with the unveiling of the Memorial at ti e Lyceum remained to the conversazione which took place immediately after. Afternoon tea was handed round and His Excellency moved freely amongst the people. He had expressed a wish that he should meet as many of the Huntly people as possible and it is safe to say that everyone, young or old, who desired to be presented had his or her wish fulfilled. The task of presentation fell upon the shoulders of Mr George, chairman of the Town Board, and the manner in which he carried out his onerous task entitles him to a special meed of praise When at last His Excellency took his departure the crowd had thinned perceptibly, and if, after his very strenuous day, he uttered a sigh of relief, he may of this be certain that many an eye brightened and heart beat proudly at the clasp of his hand and his kindly words, and the honour felt at his visit will not for many, many days be forgotten by the people of Huntly.