MEMORABLE FAREWELL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 11

MEMORABLE FAREWELL

lord and lady bledisloe. REGRET AT DEPARTURE. Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, March 14. Representatives of every section of the community assembled at the Town Hall to-night on the occasion of the civic farewell to Their Excellencies Lord and the Lady Bledisloe. The hall was packed and thousands unable to gain admittance listened outside to the speeches by means of loudspeakers. The speakers wore the Prune Minister (Rt. Hon. G. AY T . Forbes) and the Mayor of AVellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop), who presented Lord Bledisloe with an address from the citizens of AVellington and the inhabitants of the surrounding districts. The address was accompanied by a small water-colour reminiscent of the district and was enclosed in a casket of New Zealand woods. AV.hen Their Excellencies came to New Zealand, said Mr Hislop, much was expected, for Lord Bledisloe was known as an eminent man of great scientific and scholastic distinction, but the expectation had been exceeded many times, and no one liad ever vacated the office more respected or beloved than Their Excellencies. New Zealand owed them a debt of gratitude -that could never be repaid. Mr Hislop announced that Lord Bledisloe had consented to have his portrait painted in England for permanent housing in tlio National Art Gallery here. Mr Forbes, in a eulogistic speech, punctuated by applause, said that no matter where one went, from one end of the country to the other, Their Excellencies’ name was spoken of with the greatest affection. “AVhen one looks back on the time of their arrival and remembers how tilings have been very, very difficult during the period they have been here,” he said, “one realises how much they have done to encourage a spirit of optimism when the clouds looked dark.” Lord Bledisloe, replying, said he could not adequately express either the Lady Bledisloe’s gratitude to or their affection for the kindly inhabitants of this loyal Dominion. “You NVv Zealanders, pakehas and Maoris alike,” lie said, “are curious-

lv unaware of some tilings that you ought to know. One of them is that you have a greater variety of beautiful scenery than any other country in the world, and that, if duly exploited and advertised, your tourist traffic ought to be your most lucrative industry and a source of immense wealth, as well as of aesthetic and spiritual inspiration. Another is that you are the world’s most lovable people. Your loyal message to His Majesty shall certainly be delivered corroborated by our own unvarying experience throughout the Dominion. Your loyalty to the Crown is robust, universal, and unchallengeable. Let me add that His Majesty was most touched and gratified by the cordial and generous welcome accorded to his son.” NO FEARS FOR FUTURE. Lord Bledisloe continued that, after five years’ studv of the country and its resources and potentialities, he had no qualms regarding its future prosperity, happiness and progress. After expressing the hope that his successor, Lord Galway, would enjoy both from the Government and the people the same measure of friendly goodwill which had been accorded him. Lord Bledisloe stated that, whatever might be the Dominion’s transient superficial maladies, it was sound at the core its heart boat was steady, and it would respond to the stimulant of better times that were coming. “Our love for you is deep and sincere,” he concluded, “and if we have - —as you are good enough to indicate —found a jilace in vour hearts, it will be to us a potent tonic —an ‘elixir vitae’ to sustain our vitality and possible utility in the days tlifit lie before us. AVitli sad hearts we wish you farewell. AVe certainly shall not forget you.” At the conclusion of His Excellency’s speech, the audience rose and cheered him. The National Anthem was sung and this was followed by the impromptu singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows,” with more cheering. Leaving the hall, Their Excellencies were given a continuous friendly ovation, while outside an enormous crowd lined the streets and vfitched them drive away amid cheers and farewells. It was a memorable occasion and bore eloquent testimony to the affection in which Then Excellencies are held by the people.