FAREWELL VISIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 18 November 1940, Page 6

FAREWELL VISIT

THEIR EXCELLENCIES AT ROTORUA NEW WAHIAO OPENED [United Press Association] ROTORUA, This Day. The Governor-General, Lord Galway and Lady Galway during the weekend paid a farewell visit to the Rotorua district where His Excellency also participated in the final function of the centennial programme when he officially opened the new Wahiao, a carved meeting-house, at Whakarewarewa. The function was also attended by the Native Minister, the Hon. F. Langstone, and Sir Apirana Ngata, the member for Eastern Maori and Mrs P. Fraser, wife of the Prime Minister.

Their Excellencies on arrival, were presented with a loyal address by the Mayor, Mr J. Jackson, together with a carved Maori casket inlaid with paua shell.

Replying, His Excellency expressed confidence that the Empire had now turned the corner and victory would crown its efforts. He said that New Zealand had been particularly fortunate in the appointment of Sir Cyril Newall as his successor for Sir Cyril would be able to give first-hand advice to the War Council.

Later in the day in the presence of a large gathering of Maoris and Europeans His Excellency opened the Wahiao and inspected a military guard of honour. In accordance with the Maori custom that a woman must be the first to cross the threshold of a meeting-house after the tapu has been removed this honour was reserved for Their Excellencies’ eldest daughter, the Hon. Mary Monckton.

During the course of the ceremony a loyal address from the Arawa tribe was presented to His Excellency for transmission to the King and Mr Mitchell, chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, presented a cheque for £IOOO, half as a straight out gift to the National Patriotic Fund and the remainder as an interest-free loan to the Government.