LORD JELLICOE

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1921, Page 2

LORD JELLICOE

WELCOMED TO WHANGAREI CIVIC AND MARINE CEREMONIES Tik' v:„u of Viscount Jellicoe. Uovernor-oeiicral ol the Dominion, ami of Lady Jellicoe to Whangarei >vas made the occasion of a civic reception tn.s morning, and also of a i marine wclcome by the local fleet, of pleasure craft. The vice-regal party arrived at the Whangarei Heads aboard the TutaneKai betore 'Jo clock, and the firs: expression of welcome and appreciation took place as that vessel steamed up the harbour. Nineteen launches and one steam pinnace ran down to Unerahi either last evening or early this morning and under direction of the harbourmaster, Mr Andrew Drever, and Mr A. E. Pickmore, president of the iiarbour Regatta Association, the order of procession was arranged and the skippers were informed of the respective launch each was to follow. When the ' Tutaoiekai was sighted steaming at full speed near Reotahi, the procession, at about :> o'clock, headed by Captain Patter- • son's Eva, flying all her bunting, ran out towards the approaching steamer. The other boats followed in her wake .n good order and the speed set was put right for all but one launch which was unable to reduce her progress to a slow enough pace always to keep in line. Upon arrival below the dagship the fleet swung round in a circle and the manoeuvre had the effect of closing the boats up to even distances. The Eva then led oflTdown che harbour again and the wellmanned launched tracked in the following order making a very, pretty picture on the glass-like sea:—Eva, Haeremai, Oleo, Biddy Early, Wildthyme, Le Cygne, Kahiwai, Te ~ vVhara, Efcat, Kiakoa, Lupe, Jean, . Alberta, Whati, Bluebird, Olaf, s.y . Matarere, Adventure ,and Avoca. . About a mile below the flashlight .. the head of the line swung round to "Port and having got the evolution 'Completed right along the line, she ' slowed speed dnd the boats awaited 11 ;he arrival of the Tutanekai. As the 11 steamer came abreast of the real* ' 1 joats the flags were dipped and in ' 1 response the 'Blue Ensign on the Counter staff of the Tutanekai was ! [lowered, the acknowledgment being i repeated upon arrival abreast the • ■ Eva at the head of the line. < i The Governor-General was on the ■ ■ port side of the bridge and he stud--1 • ied each launch through a pair of 1 glasses as the vessel overtook the units of the line, and twice he raised his cap in acknowledgement of waves of welcome from those on the launches. As the Tutanekai arrived at tha Onerahi wharf, the Manaia, whicn was also flying all her bunting, dipped her ensign, and the GovernorGeneral, alongside whom Lady Jellicoe was standing, acknowledged the welcome , of the steamer's crew and of the considerable number of people at the, end of the -wharf. The Tutanekai was quickly berthed ' inside the wharf opposite the Manaia, and the flotilla of launches raced for th.2 Kioreroa bridge to get through it befoi-e the span was lowered for the passage of the vice-regal train. The tide was favourable and the launches made a fast passage, cutting corners, back to their moorings in Whangarei, where they arrived in time to allow their passengers and crew to attend the civic reception. | The Vice-regal party boarded a special train at Onerahi and were conveyed to the Whangarei railway (station, where they arrived punctually to time, and' were met by the

Mayor and Mr F. Mander, M.P. As the train arrived at the station the. 15th North Auckland Regimental Band played "See the Conquering Hero Comes'' followed by the National Anthem as their Excellencies stepped upon the platform. When the first introductions had taken place, the Governor-General, followed by his aide-de-camp, and private secr.tary, inspected the guard of

honour. 40 strong drawn from the Whangarei Company of the 15ti: North Auckland Regiment. He the:i walked along the lines of High School and 56th Coy. Cadets, and the 15 th Regiment, stopping to speak to some of the staff n.c.o's. The party yroceeded along the full length o? the lines, which were keeping tha passageway clear, and which stretched some distance along the Bank Street frontage of the Triangle. . From the entrance gates of the Triangle to the platform steps the eavpeUd pathway was flanked by about 60 members of the Returned

Soldiers' Association and the Gov-ernor-General displayed his keen interest in ex-soldiers by shaking hands and speaking a few words to each of them, and her Excellency did likewise. Amongst the members present were some veterans of earlier wars, and Lord Jellicoe displayed a special interest in them. When the Governor-General and ! Lady Jellicoe mounted the platform their presence was acclaimed by prolonged applause, although the peculiar trait of New Zealanders to refrain from cheering was particularly ap- j parent- Liord Jellicoe signified his i appreciation of the applause of the, large gathering of citizens, and he and Lady Jellicoe were then introduced by the Mayor to the local body leaders, military officers, and other officials and guests on the platform. Before the address of welcome was read Miss Connie Harrison stepped forward and presented a bouquet of flowers to Lady Jellicoe. The bouquet, arranged by Mrs E. 0. Weaver, was a beautiful combination of

Klondyke cosmar-, orchids and marigolds, with tr.minings of purple, the whole forming a pleasing arrangement of purple and old gold. ADDRESS OF WEL.COME Thu Mayor then briefly requested Mr ii. C. Hemphill to read the address of welcome as follows:— To His Excellency the Right Honourable John Kushworth, Viscount Jeil.cc.e, Admiral of the Fleet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor General and C omnia no,cr-'in-Chiei' in and over His Majesty's Dominion of Now Zealand and its Dependencies; May it please your Excellency— We, the Mayor, Councillors, and inhabitants of the Borough ox Whangarei, ask your Excellency t:> accept a most cordial welcome upon this, the occosion of your first visit to Whangarei. We are glad of the opportunity of expressing to the representative of His Most Gracious Majesty, the King, our steadfast loyalty, and it affords us the greatest gratification that we express it to one whose own services to King and Empire have been so conspicuous and successful. ! The importance of naval questions j to this isolated and sea-girt Domin- ! ion k well recognised and its people are especially fortunate in having at this period of naval re-organisation, the benefit of your Excellency's counsel and advice. We trust that Your Excellency and Lady Jellicoe will enjoy your brief visit to this disti'ict, and we respectfully ask your acceptance of the accompanying album, as a memento, and in the hope that its views of picturesque spots in this district may bring pleasant memories to your Excellencies. For and on behalf of the inhabitants of the Borough of Whangarei. We have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servants —J. S. Dent, Mayor; H. W. Briggs, Town Clerk.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S REPLY. There was a further outburst o1 applause when Lord Jellicoe rose t< respond, and 'he read the following formal reply:— Your Worship, Councillors and In habitants of the Borough of Wha ngarei,— I thank you very sincerely for the assurance of your steadfast loyaltj to his Majesty the King, which yoi convey to me as his representative, assure you that he fully recognise and appreciates the loyalty of thi Dominion to the Throne and Empire proof of which was given so clearlj during the late war, and more recent, ly during the visit of his Royal High, r.ess the Prince.of WalesWe are deeply touched by the warm welcome with which you have greeted her Excellency and myself to-day on thi s our first .visit to Wha. .1 ngarei, and I feel highly honoured bj) your kind reference to my past ser. vices. It is gratifying to receive the an. surance that you recognise the importance of naval questions to these islands, which are as dependent on the sea for their existence and their prosperity as ig the Mother Country herself. We are very grateful for your good wishes and for the beautiful album of views of the neighbourhood which you have so kindly presented. It will serve both to remind us of our first delightful visit to Whangarei, and it will act as a strong incentive to us to renew that visit to this charming dstrict and to its people. Lord Jellicoe added that a formal reply to an address had to be a writ, ten one, but declared that had he been able to see the people of Whangarei before preparing- that formal reply, he would have tried to express in more fitting words, on beh.iic of her Excellency and himself, the very great gratitude felt by them fev the welcome by the people of Whangarei. Hi:; E\(vlleii;-y gathered from what he saw in front of him that the population of Whangarei must. -be much larger than the figures in the Year Book stated, and he added that the

new census would probably reveal the nature of the error. Lord Jellicoe then refei*red briefly to the industries of the district, the principal of which he understood were dairy farming and fruit growing, and he expressed a hope that those following them had not experienced the same difficulties as others in the South, who had been unable to sell their wool and prime beef. If ap- | pearances were anything to go by he considered that the people of Whangarei must be prosperous and, if not, they were cheerful. Lord Jellicoe expressed the hope that her Excellency and he would be able to visit various parts of the district during their two days' stay in Whangarei, and that they would s oon be able to come again- On her be-j half and on his own he declared that he could hardly express his appreciation of the presence of the public in such large numbers and the great kindness extended to them on their first visit. The children present would not, he added, remember the day—although he would—unless they had a holiday.

(Loud cheers-) He knew that the young folk always appreciated a ho. liday and he hoped that the authori. ties would give them one, because he also knew that hi s Majesty would have asked for it had he been present, and consequently as his representative he asked for a holiday. It had givn her Excellency and himself pleasure to meet a number of the many who had returned after carryins out valiant deeds in the Great War, for the cause of civilisation and

Empire, deeds wheh would live in the history of the nation. Yesterday the Dominion had shown its gratitude to those who had fallen in the war, and it s people had also extended their gratitude to those who had been maimed on the battlefields and to the bereaved ones who had lost their all at the war. It has been his Excellency's privilege to take part in a commemoration service at the Thames, and her Excellency and he had been struck to the heart by it, for he could not express their high appreciation of the devotion to duty and the hardships endured by those who had fallen. Cheers by the Returned Soldiers contingent and by the general public marked the conclusion of the Gover-nor-'Genei-aPs reply, which he acknowledged by expressing a hope that, though saying good-bye on the present occasion, he would see more of the people of the district.

The party then left the platform and, while the Whangarei Municipal Silver Band played march music, their Excellencies entered Mr W. R. Patterson's car, in which, accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress they pro. ceeded to the Hospital. During the first part of the trip he was preceded by the Municipal Band, and his car was pushed along the street, through the crowd, chiefly by returned soldiers. AT THE HOSPITAL. Their Excellencies were received at the Hospital by the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Frazerhurst, and the Matron, Miss Cookson, and without any formality proceeded at once to make a tour of the institution. The visitor.?, went from ward to ward, shaking hands with patient after patient and engaging in conversation with them. Little more than half an hour was available for the visit, but their Excellencies crowded a remarkable round of visits into that period an-.l by their kindly , inquiries and sympathetic wishes gladdened the hearts of many patients. Even a little girl, now convalescent,

who is in the isolation ward, did mot escape their notice, their Excellencies waving their haiids to her as they drove past. It had been intended to ask hi 3 Excellency to plant a tree just inside the hospital gates, but time did not permit. All "tho preparations having been made, however, it is possible that, thp visitors will be able to pay a call at the Hospital to-morrow. THE LUNCHEON. After returning from the hospital their Excellencies and party were entertained at luncheon by the Mayor and Councillors at the Commercial Hotel. An excellent menu, was presented by the host and hostess, Mr anci Mrs Nightingale. After the loyal toast had been honoured, the Mayor rose to propose the health of their Excellencies. He said that he would like to convey to his Excellency their daep appreciation of the honour conferred cn the Dominion by his appointment to the office of Governor-General. In a marked degree during the great war his Excellency had helped the British Navy to uphold iho glorious traditions of the past. He wished their Excellencies and family long life and health, and he hoped and trusted fthat. his Excellency's term as the King's representative in this Dominion might be happy • arid successful. Lord Jelhcoe returned tlianks for the kind reception the toast had received. ' He felt very deeply the honour of being His Majesty V representative in this Dominion composed of jol'y good fellows. In the past it had never' failed to show its loyalty to the Imperial Government and he hoped its loyalty would continue to coincide with the spirit of happiness shown by its peoplc.

The "Army and Navy" was proposed by Mr Prancia Mander, MP. Ho said that they had ample evidence of what their Army was responsible for, and he had no doubt that if required to do so again they would act as valiantly as they had done in the past. They never knew what was before them, but

he hoped they would all trust in God and keep their powder dry. When Lord Roberts Lad-issued his warning he was looked upon as an alarmist and a pessimist, Since then they knew what had [ taken place and as <tho fu,turc was al- ! ways uncertain it would be veiy unwise of the British ; nation to again swoon into the same state of indifference as it had lapsed into ibefore the great w;ir. The L-eaguo of Nations was undoubtedly a very good thing indeed, hut there was no guarantee even now that wars would not again take place. The' strong ami of Britain was the Navy, and without its aid the countries of the Southern Seas would be in a very precarious position. It was the duty of the people to prepare themselves so that in the event of war 'llioy would know what to do. It was sstnted' that the next war centre would be the Southern Seas, and ho trusted that the Navy would always be available to

| polic,e those seas tin J that tlicy in New Zealand would always he prepared for any contingency. When a nation be came weak through apathy it was the signal for other nations "to attack. He did not advocate being strong for the purpose of aggression, but to maintain peace. He was proud to have the Governor-General and Lady Jcllicoe in their midst that day, and it, was also in his opinion si fortunate thing that they had such men as Mr Hughes and Mr Massey to represent them at the Imperial Conference. In reply to the toast, Lieut.-jCol. Stent!"man paid a high tribute to thq work of the Army and Navy. It was, . he said, owing to the action of the Navy that they had been enabled to , retain their position as an integral part i

of the British Empire. fhc- establishment of the Territorial system in New Zealand had come in for considerable criticism, but it was bc-cause of it that, when the war broke out, New Zealand was enabled :o send a large number of trained men in the early stages of the war. It was, he felt, sure, the duty of the Government, to keep the Army up to a high standard.

They were, lie mid, in the same position in th- i horn Sens as the Imperial Nation was in the North Seas, inasmuch ;-s they had to rely upon the Navy for their outward wall of defence. In New Zealand they wanted their population increased rnd the gaps filled up, so that their front rank of .defence would never bo weak.

In conclusion, he assured their Exccllencio'i that New Zealand would not fail to show the same loyalty to the Imperial Government in the future as it had evidenced in the past.