INSPIRING SCENE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23574, 7 February 1940, Page 13

INSPIRING SCENE

VISITOR IMPRESSED THE BRITISH DELEGATE LOOKING TOWARD PEACE AUSTRALIAN GREETINGS . . • v iV- V ! [BT TELEGBAPH —SPECIAL. REPORTER] , ; . WAITANGI,"Tuesday.' "Although I have been .in public life for many years," said the Marquess of Willingdon to the gathering in front' of. the meeting-house at Waitangi to-day, "I have never been so much, interested', as in the wonderful scene to-day. have heard many speeches made in one day, but never so many in BOfShprt.a time as . this morning. . There were a. good many in the pageant-in which,the signing of the treaty,.was re-enacted, and there have been, more cm tnis{... almost sacred ground—speeches to ,a certain extent of importance and : pplir tical value (laughter). "I have been sent at the of your Prime Minister and Government by the Prime Minister of Britain and my Government to join in the, delightful ceremonies in your Centennial celebrations. I have been a little anxious before I leave this '■ beautifiii country lest I should trespass and make some observation that might be of- a somewhat political character and"- so destroy my character in this country. In my literally flying career around • New Zealand I have made an almost intolerable number of speeches to those * who were able to hear them.". True to the Motherland

Lord Willingdon thanked the Maoris for their welcome and for the feeling that led them to take him, although a stranger, as a member of the .Empire family. This, he added, was one of the greatest satisfactions of his life. He had lately seen New Zealand troops in training at Burnham and now_ lie had seen the Maori Battalion, anxious to help the Mother Country in what He knew to be an : absolutely just ' and righteous cause. He would return, to England grateful for the .kindness shown him, and assured that v New Zealand was as true to the Motherland and the Empire to 7 dav as it.had been through the past century. " 7.7 7 Lord 1 Willingdon said he satisfied that the Treaty of Waitangi'was being faithfully kept by both . parties and would bring much more prosperity to the country in'the next 100 years. He trusted that when he and Lady Willingdon next paid a living visit to New Zealand peace would have been restored after the presents, struggle against barbaritv for the safety of. ereryone in the Empire,, including New Zealand. ' 7 7 ' 7 7 7 7 Preserving British Rule 7 .: Senator the Hon. P. A. M. .Mcßride, in. offering congratulations from .'the Government and people of Australia• on the achievement of 100 years, said: the admirable pageant and enthusiasm. of the performers showed that after *;a lapse of a century, the spirit of' .the treaty was'still a living thing. ■ It seemed New Zealand had-,recon-ciled the unreconcilable, Mr. ; Mcßride continued, and to-day her Maori citizens were prepared tovgive up all.; to preserve British rule in the Dominion. He wished; the country even greater success than in the past and the benefits of an early .peace. •

THREE MEMORIALS HOBSON AND BUSBY CHIEFS WHO SIGNED TREATY. . UNVEILING CEREMONIES ; [bt telegraph—special reporter] , 7 WAITANGI, .Tuesday-: Three memorials were unveiled .at Waitangi this afternoon. They are; to Captain Hobson, Mr.-* James : Bushy, and the Maori chiefs who signed the Treaty of Waitangi. •'7' • "7'...:<. The memorial to Captain Hobson stands outside the entrance to the Treaty House in the form of a pylon of volcanic bluestone. It bears two bronze tablets, one outlining:Xaptain Hobson's work and the other recording the unveiling. The deputy-Prime Minister. the Hon: P. Fraser, said the greatest tribute to Captain Hobson was the petition sent bv the • tribes after his death asking that the next .Governor be a man like him. Unveiling the memorial bronze tablet in the Treaty House to Mr. James. Busby, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, said Mr. Busby embodied in the performance of his duties the best traditions 'of public service, which had remained untarnished along the years. A grandson pf Mr. Busby, Mr. James Busby, of Tokoroaru Bay, said his grandfather's uprightness in support of the. treaty had resulted in wrongful allegations against him, but the efforts of historians had remored these misapprehensions.

The acting-Native Minister, the Hon. F. Langstone, "was introduced by the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bertnett, at the ceremony-of; unveiling a bronze. tablet in the Treaty House to the chiefs who signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Mr. Langstone said the cliiefs signing the treaty knew they were signing a document, which was to preserve their possessions., fishte and liberties. v!