VICE-REGAL PARTY IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3308, 30 March 1926, Page 10

VICE-REGAL PARTY IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Governor-General and Lady Fergusson’s First Official Visit Round of Visits to Public Institutions Palmerston was en fete yesterday on the occasion - of the first official visit to the Borough of their Excellencies, the Governor-General and Lady Fergu«son. , The ■ Vice-Eegal party spent a very busy day, the difficulty being to get one call concluded in time for the next. .Enthusiastic interest at their Excellencies’ presence in the i-town was demonstrated by the large number which at- . tended the civic function in the Square. Another full programme awaits Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson ; to-day.

Their Excellencies had a busy time yesterday morning.

institution, of which he and his fel-low-members of the Board were justly proud. l]t was pleasing to see the Governor-General pursuing the traditions of the Royal Family by taking an interest in hospitals. His Excellency, after making brief reply, was, together with Lady Forgusson, shown over the institution, sir Charles chat/ted with every patient and was keenly Interested in the exservice men with whom he came into contact. Rotary Lunch. Their Excellencies were the guests of the Palmerston North Rotary Clud at luncheon in Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame’s rooms, when the President, Mr H. L. Young, presided over a large gathering of members and their wives. Their Excellencies occupied the seats of honour on each side of the President and were accompanied by other members of the vice-regal party and the Mayor ana Mrs Nathan. Several visitors from neighbouring Rotary Clubs were also present, including Rotarians H. E. Hart, R. Page. R. Lee, J. A. Betts, G. W. Sellar, of Masterton, and C. East and R. J- Jackson, of Wanganui. The President extended greetings to the visitors and remarked that the interest of the guests, especially Their Excellencies, in Rotary was accepted with great pleasure. There were 35 nations which had adopted Rotary, and in all there were 118,000 members. This showed that Rotary was becoming the common ground for a brotherhood throughout the world. New Zealand was blessed with a Governor of charming personality and a man who was daily endearing himself to the people. He hoped Sir Charles would long be spared to live in the Dominion. All joined in extending the hand of friendship and their greatest wish was for his future happiness.

At ten o’clock, in company with the Mayor (Mr. F. J. Nathan), Mrs. Nathan and Captain Vernon Wentworth, they visited the Old People’s Home, where they were welcomed by Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, Mrs. L. A. Abraham and Messrs. J. A. Nash, MP., H. W. Smart, S'. Pycroft, M. A. Moody and J. T. Hollas (memners of the Board), Mr. A. J. Philllpps, (secretary). Sister H. Petersen (matron «£ the home), members of the sjaff.and inmates. After the formal introductions had taken place, Sir James thanKed their: Excellencies for their visit ana said that those old residents who were in the Home had done their duty by New Zealand in the past and were now, ■ through some misfortun 6 or other, inmates of an institution wnercthey could spend the evening of their *days in pleasant surroundings. They wer o .all loyal subjects, and desireci to express-their thanks for the visit. After Sir Charles had returned thanks, he and Lady Fergusson spent- nearly all their time at the Home chatlting with the inmates who. when the visitors were about to leave gave them three cheers. Shortly before 11 o’clock, the party arrived at thd .West End School,, jn College street. Here they were welcomed by the chairman of the scnooi committee, Mr. C. H. Whitehead, Messrs, G. Lyne, A. E. Blackboum and E. Penketh, members of the committee, .and Mr. A. W. Thompson, headmaster.

Mr. Whitehead said he hoped their Excellencies’ visit to the school would inculcate in the scholars a .greater sense of love and duty to the Empire. After th e National Anthem had been sung by the children, who were linecLup in front of the school, Master J. Woodward recited the following address: "On behalf of my fellow scholars, i wish to extend to you a hearty welcome to the West End School. Wo feel 'that we are exceedingly fortunate in meeting in person the representative of His Most Gracious Majesay King George V. Since your arrival in New Zealand we have heard witn pleasure of the interest taken m other centres by your Excellencies in the welfare of ,th o children of the Dominion. The memory of your visit will for ever remain with us, and : w 0 shall always look upon ■it as a > red letter day in the history of our school. We trust that on some future occasion we may again be honoured by a visit from your ExcellenI have therefore on behalf or the school to extend to you botn a most hearty welcome and trust that your visit to Palmerston North will be a most enjoyable one.”

Sir Charles, after returning thanks for the invitation to be present at the luncheon, remarked that he found it difficult to say anything about Rotary, in view of the recent conferences, and what he might say would perhaps lack inspiration. It was only after he came to the Dominion that he became a Rotarlan. Ho realised then the use of Rotary in the community. On visiting various clubs, he found the same spirit of fellowship and all working for the same end. Lord Jellicoe had told him that if he wanted any help in his duties to go to Rotary. That was a fine thing to say, and he had taken his predecessor’s advice. He had found one club had taken up a very large housing scheme, giving professional advice gratis in many ways. It meant an enormous amount of time and trouble given for nothing. In another instance, Rotary had been the very mainspring of the scout movement, which was dear to his heart. As a result of an apl peal from himself to rebuild the Blind Institution, the Rotary Club had raised £15,000 entirely of its own exertions, within four months. This, with the Government subsidy, had enabled the authorities to move the blind inmates into a building more fitted for them. Rotary had also come to the assistance of the Plun•ket funds and who, after those examples, could say Rotary was not worth anything? He was proud to <9e a member of such an institution. The ideals of Rotary were splendid, but it was not always possible to put those ideals into practice. It needed a display of activity, the lack of which spelt disaster. Rotarians should always be on the lookout for new avenues of service —not only service to each other, but also to the world at largo. Ho had Just come from the hospital, which revealed a great avenue of usefulness, in which a great deal could be done. In connection with hospital work, Sir Charles referred to the Sunshine Leagues, the members of which placed their services at the disposal of patients and took them out into the open air on short motor trips, for instance. Sir Charles, in conclusion, said he could look back with pleasure to the present gathering. The President expressed the w’ish that Their Excellencies would carry away in their hearts a warm spot for Palmerston North and its people. Civic Reception. The Square was en fete in the afternoon, when their Excellencies were accorded a civic reception. Long be•£ore three o'clock, when the function

Peggy Jarvis .another pupil, presented Lady Fergusson with a bouquet. In thanking Mr. Whitehead and tut pupils for their addresses, his Excellency .mentioned that he had been a schoolboy'hi New Zealand 50 years ago, when Palmerston North was only in its infancy. Lady Fergusson, too, had spent years of her youth in the Dominion, and it was a pleasure to both of them to see again the oia places they knew so well. The children he was addressing were indeed lucky to be growing up in such a wonderful country; a country which their fathers and forefathers had transformed from its virgin state into a prosperous Dominion, Tv' ith such a heritage, the school children of today should strive to mak e it an even better place to live in. It was a wonderful thing to be under the Union Jack, and if some silly people tried to say otherwise, he would advise them to take no notice. In response to a request from Sir Charles, the members of the committee agreed to give the pupils a holiday on Thursday in honour of tne visit. Before the party left, the children gave three cheers for their Excellencies. At Tile Hospital: Their Excellencies proceeded straight to the Palmerston North Hospital, where they were received by Sir James Wilson, members of me Hospital Board, the medical superintendent (Dr. Fraser), the matron (Miss Davis) and members of tne medical, nursing and clerical staff. Sir James Wilson gave a short address on the constitution of hospital boards in New Zealand and assured his Excellency that the Palmerston North Hospital was a well-equippcc

began, hundreds of people had secured, all available vantage points. The official party, which occupied the band rotunda, included the Mayor (Mr. E. J. Nathan) and councillors; Messrs. J. A. Nash, and J. Linklater, MsP., and a number of other prominent citizens. His Excellency, after inspecting a' senior cadet guard-of-honour, was welcomed by the Mayor. Mr. Nathan said it gave him groat pleasure to see their Excellencies in , Palmerston North. He recognised , that they were welcoming Sir Charles, not only as Governor-General and direct representative to the King, but also as a distinguished statesman and soldier of the Empire. Their welcome was all the more cordial, because it seemed that their Excellencies were almost Now Zealanders themselves, for there were many still living who had the happiest recollections of when their fathers had been governors of this country. It might not be known to many, Mr. Nathan continued, that Sir Charles went through the whole of the last Great War; that ho had taken part in the retreat from Mens, receiving promotion to the rank of Commander of the 17th Corps of the Third Army; and that he had commanded the New Zealand division during the wonderfully victorious advance in 1918 (Applause). It was possible that his Excellency might like to know something about Palmerston North. The town was not yet 50 years old as a borough, and it was not till 1876 that it was connected up by rail. Almost the very spot on which he was standing—as some living could still recollect—was in the early days practically all forest. The only diversion Palmerstoniana had in those days was to see the trains in and out (Laughter). Palmerston North was very proud of its parks, and the energy of the citizens who had followed up the work of the few who had started the Beautifying Society was responsible for the town’s happy situation to-day. Through a sense of duty, men such as Sir Charles gave up their homes to help keep the Empire secure; they studied conditions and took back the information to the fountain-head of the Empire, and we owed them a debt which we could never repay.

The people of Palmerston North, added the Mayor, appreciated very much the interest the Governor-Gen-eral was displaying in the schools, and his intention of paying a visit to every school in the town. It had been decided to grant a holiday to the children on Thursday in honour of his Excellency’s visit. Mr. Nathan then read the following address of welcome:— “To Sir Charles Fergusson, Baronet:—• “Your Excellency,—We, the Mayor, councillors and citizens of the Borough of Palmerston North, desire to extend to you a cordial welcome on the occasion of your first official visit, and at the same time to offer a hearty greeting to Lady Fergusson and fam'ily. We feel that yourself and her Excellency do not come amongst us as strangers, but rather as one of ourselves, and we recall with pride the memory that members of your illustrious family have held the position to which you have now been called. You yourselves having previously lived in this Dominion, your appointment to the high and honourable position of Governor-General of New Zealand is but a slight recognition of the excellent services you have rendered to your King and country during the Great War; and we believe that the knowiedge your possess will be of immense advantage to this Dominion in particular. The wisdom shown i;v selecting you for the honourable position you occupy, has been amply proved by the conspicuous tact and ability you have already displayed in cirrying out (he duties appertaining to the office. We trust your Excellencies’ stay in New Zealand will be an exceedingly pleasant one, and that on your return to the Mother Country you will convey to His Majesty an expression of our loyalty and devotion to the Great Empire, of which we are proud to form a part.” “F. J. NATHAN, Mayor. “J. R. HARDIE, Town Clerk.” On behalf of the Manawatu Scottish Society, Nancy Edwards, dressed in Scottish national costume, presented Sir Charles with an address asking him to accept a sprig of ’heather "to remind him of the bonnie hills of Scotland.” His Excellency’s Reply. On rising to reply to the Mayor’s welcome, his Excellency was greeted with prolonged applause. The initial part of his speech comprised the customary formal welcome, which he read as follows: — “I thank you for the cordial welcome which, on behalf of the councillors and. citizens of the Borough, you extend to her Exelleucy and myself on this our first official visit to Palmerston North. It is a matter of regret to us that this visit should have been so long delayed. The important position which the borough holds as the largest inland town of the North Island, as the centre of a rich farming district and of considerable industrial activity, would have led to an earlier visit had circumstances permitted. It is difficult to realise that so important a town should have grown up in little more than 50 years. That in itself is a wonderful testimony to the energy and initiative of its inhabitants, past and present, and augurs well for the future growth and development of the district. I thank you for the kind and generous terms in which you refer to ourselves personally and to our previous connection with the Dominion; and I shall not fail to take the earliest opportunity of conveying to His Majesty the expression of loyalty and devotion which is so typical of New Zealand as a whole, and which 1 am assured is nowhere more strong and deep-rooted than in this prosperous community.” Having presented this reply to Mr. Nathan, his Excellency asked permission to supplement those remarks. Because the address had been formal, ho remarked ,it was no less sincere. The welcome he had received was part and parcel of that which had been tendered to himself and Lady Fergusson throughout New Zealand and he wished to thank the

people of the Dominion for such encouragements to do their duty. They had now been in New Zealand sixteen months and had it not been for the epidemic and other circumstances, they would have been in Palmerston North before. It had not been their wish that the visit should be delayed, 1 but perhaps the delay had been —f. some little advantage. During the I period that had elapsed they had been able to see a good deal of other parts of New Zealand and he looked upon .this visit to Palmerston North as the I culminating point of the tour of New Zealand towns. Ho felt as if had worked up to this particular spot/ When he was in New Zealand as a boy, it was at the time when Palmerston North was emerging from a waste of bush, fern and scrub. During the sixteen months he had been in the Dominion he had visited many parts of both Islands and had seen nourishing towns and cities where once there were villages and smiling country districts that once were swamp and bush. It was all a most wonderful experience and during his tour, ho had endeavoured to learn something of the industries and interests in which the people were most concerned. There had been two things, however, which had struck him forcibly in New Zealand. The first was the wonderful energy and initiative that had been displayed by the early pioneers. The second thing was the atmosphere of loyalty, the wonderful love for the Mother Country and devotion to Empire and King That feeling of loyalty was worth pre serving and that was why he and Lady Fergusson wore paying particular attention to the schools and impressing upon the young people all that they owed to those who had gone before them and how they should repay that debt. The best way the boys and girls could do this was to carry on that wonderful spirit of service that had made New Zealanders wnat they were. The Dominion’s people were Empire builders and Empire maintainors and everyone should bring his and her little contribution to build up that great mosaic which represented the Empire and everything in it. It was the young people to whom attention should be given in order to see that they did understand the responsibilities of Empire. Great Britain was going through difficult times, but as long as the Dominions and Mother Country held together ,as long as New Zealand set the example of loyalty, just so long would the Empire flourish and New Zealand remain the finest example of British civilisation the world had ever known( Applause). Sir Charles also returned thanks to the Scottish Society for the kind thought that had prompted them'’ to send a reminiscence of his own home. Officers Decorated. On the call of the Mayor, three hearty cheers w r ere given for their Excellencies after which Sir Charles pinned on the breasts of Major S. Jickell and Lieut. J. T. R. Slipper, medals in recognition of 20 years’ commissioned service. In so doing, his Excellency mentioned that . Major Jickell had to his record 53 years of service. How much the territorial movement owed the Major, it was difficult to estimate. He had given all his professional knowledge whole-heartedly both in time of war and in peace. Lieut. Slipper had 32 years’ service to his credit and had served in many capacities before and through the war and was still serving. Address to Scouts and Guides. The Governor’s public address was immediately followed by one to the Scouts. Cubs, and the Girl Guides, and Brownies assembled around the band rotunda. He expressed pleasure at the way the movements were flourishing in Palmerston North, but would like to see on some future occasion, many more boys and girls -wearing the uniform of the various movements. “In other parts of the country they are growing like blackberries,” he added to the accompaniment of laughter. He wished to see the Scouts earn the badges which decorated their arms, because in some instances he was afraid this was not the case. He also wanted to see them rise as high as they could, first of all passing the tests that were most import and then qualifying in the others. They should remember that they were part of the biggest family that existed. He did not know the number of Girl Guides in the world, but there were over one million Scouts and at least another million who had passed through the movement. Sir Charles reminded the Scouts and Guides of the promises they had given on joining up and also that they were playing a part in the bul.ding up of the Empire. After the National Anthem had been sung. Sir Charles inspected the various troops and spoke with the Scoutmasters and mistresses. Their Excellencies wore the guests of the Mayoress, Mrs. Nathan, at halfpast four. Among the guests were:—Mesdames Russell, H. M. Watson, Hewitt; Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Abraham, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Fitzherbert, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Stout, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Nash, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Cooke, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Abraham, Mr. and Hrs. A. J. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Low, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Eliott, Lieut.-Col. and Mrs. J. H. Whyte, Canon and Mrs. W. Fancourt, Col. Powles and Messrs. M. H. Oram and J. R. Hardie and the Rev. G. T. Brown. Last evening, Sir Charles attended a Masonic Lodge function.