VICE-REGAL TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21476, 27 April 1933, Page 11

VICE-REGAL TOUR

DEPARTURE FROM APIA GOOD IMPRESSION MADE VISIT TO PAGO PAGO A MESSAGE TO WASHINGTON (By Radio—Special to Press Association) APIA, April 26 The farewell of the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe, when they left Apia last night, was a spectacular ceremony. After leaving the Protestant church, where Lord Bledisloe read the lessons, they drove to the customs pier, where there was a great gathering of citizens, officials and members of the Legislative Council, including two chiefs, Malieatoa and Mataafa, and a great crowd of Samoans. Boys from the Avela-Mah schools sang parting songs. The singing of these boys was extraordinarily touching and imparted an emotional and pathetic note to the farewell. First they sang old familiar airs, as befitted the occasion, and in the circumstances they were peculiarly appropriate and touching. As an indication of Their Excellencies' great appreciation of the school functions they attended, Lord Bledisloe has given a trophy for competition among the schools. He received thanks from Tauva, native head and the Education Department. Lady Bledisloe was presented with a farewell bouquet. " God Bless You All " There were many expressions of pleasure that Lady Bledisloe had made the visit and had contributed so greatly to the success of His Excellency's mission. Lord Bledisloe was much moved by the cordiality of the welcome and the loyalty manifested. He spoke a few words of appreciation, concluding with "God bless you all." ~ Their Excellencies' launch then lefjf for H.M.S. Diomede amid cheers an 3 messages, above which rose the strains of the choir's singing of "Good-bye, My Friend." This was sung again and again, until the voices died away in the distance. With the ship's band playing the "Star Spangled Banner" the Diomede berthed at the Pago Pago wharf at noon. Lord Bledisloe returned official calls from the American Governor, Mr. Landenberger, and later Their Excel--lencies were guests at a kava ceremony and entertainment of singing and dancing. The visitors were most hospitably entertained by Mr. Landenberger. International Goodwill The following telegram was despatched to the Secretary of State at Washington: "The Governor of American Samoa and the Governor-General of New Zealand, as the mandatory Power for Western Samoa, meeting in friendly intercourse at Pago -Pago, to express to the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain the hope that the present deliberations will eventuate satisfactorily, conferring on the whole world prosperity, happiness and industrial progress." Their Excellencies' Samoan visit was greatly appreciated by all sections of the community and is fully expected to be productive of good residts. There are signs that happier relationships would be welcomed by large numbers of Samoans. The functions in connection with the visit were well attended and if the weather of the first two days had been favourable there would have been larger gatherings of native Samoans. All the arrangements worked admirably and the impression left by Their Excellencies was that a task not free from difficulties was ably accomplished.