LORD JELLICOE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18217, 3 October 1919, Page 6

LORD JELLICOE.

A FAREWELL SPEECH.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 2. Speaking at Onehunga to-day, after receiving the gift of a casket made of wood taken from the wreck of the H.M.9. Orpheus, -Lord Jellicoe said that the wreck of that vessel was not only a great disaster, but it was also to bo remembered for the behaviour and great gallantry on the part of the crew of a British man-of-war. The seamen had worthily upheld the traditions of the British race, those traditions which had been upheld during the present war to an even greaid extent than ever before. It was the same spirit that ho saw displayed on the occasion of the sinking in the Mediterranean of H.M.S. Victoria in 1893, when the ship's company fell in on the upper deck, and as the vessel gradually sank waited for the order that they himself," an order which was not given himself," an order which was uot given until the ship was on her beam ends, but not a man stirred until that* order was given. It was the same spirit that was displayed in every shipwreck ol our splendid mercantile marine, the same spirit that the officers and men of that service had shown when their vessels were torpedoed, and very oftea there were no boats left to save them, and then men had gone down with cheerfulness and resignation. It was the same spirit'which the soldiers had displayed. It was the same spirit which had made the voung dominion of New Zealand what it was. In spito of every difficulty the pioneers had carried on. New Zealanders had a great heritage before them nnd he felt quite certain that they would display that splendid spirit of loyalty which ho had witnessed wherever ho met them. He felt sure the children would carry on the Dominion on the sarao lines as thosu on which their forefathers had started it as a modol to other parts of the Empire. Such a dominion as that was worth living for and it was also worth fighting for. In the hour of the Empire's danger New Zealand had always come to the front. New Zealand now had an opportunity of helping the British Navy, and he had no doubt whatever that New Zealand would take advantage ofthat opportunity. The Bafety of the British 'Empire meant the safety of Now Zealand. They stood or fell together. New Zealanders had ever been full of loyalty to King and Empire. They had ever gone to the front when the Empire needed them, and would, he was sure, co-operate and support the British Navy in the future. As that was, perhaps, the last occasion on which lie would address the people of New Zealand in public, the Admiral said he would like to remark that while no one disliked miblic speaking more than he did, he almost regretted that it was his last occasion. His heart was sad that they were leaving this beautiful country. Since he and I.ady Jellicoe had been in Now Zealand they ha*J met with a most warm-hearted welcome. People had taken him and Lady Jellicoe to their hearts. The Admiral assured the people of their deen gratitude, and said he and Lady Jellicoe thanked the people from the bottom of their hearts. *' We love New Zealand with the greatest possible regard," continued the Admiral. " and 1 nm quite surt, that a very largo majority of us on the New Zealand "would like to come back again. Of all the thousands wo have met in New Zealand, I think, perhaps, it is the children whom we are most sorry to leave. The children are perhaps more demonstrative than their elders, and wherever we have been we found tho children full of enthusiasm for tho Navy, and it is that enthusiasm that appeals very much to our hearts. 1 don't say the prown-iips are not full of the samo enthusiasm, t but they didn't let themselves go in tho same way that tho children did, and. theretWe, while not for one moment saving that we are not deeplv sorry to leave you all, it is the children, as far as I am concerned, who have got most deeply into my heart. With my sad Jm&rt I CBj good«bj« ab 4 Kift Orst w