NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 8

NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

TO ARRIVE ON SATURDAY. ARRANGEMENTS FOR WELCOME. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 8. A wireless message has been received from the captain of the Ruabine that the vessel, which is bringing the new GovernorGeneral to New Zealand, stating that if weather conditions remain favourable the ship should arrive at Wellington at about 7 o’clock on Saturday morning. Arrangements are now in hand for the welcome of Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson to Wellington. After he leaves the Ruahine at Pipitea wharf Sir Charles Fergusson will be welcomed by the Harbour Board. The City Council will formally bid their Excellencies welcome to the city as they leave the wharf, this ceremony being a brief one. The city will express its welcome at a civic reception. The swearing-in ceremony will bo performed by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, on Saturday afternoon. THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, December 8. Fifteen members of the household staff of l he new Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) arrived by the Ruapehu. They left for Wellington this evening to have Government House ready for the arnvat of Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson by the Ruahine on Saturday. Sir Charles’s house steward, Mr David Adams, hag spent several years in Australia 25 yi*ir» ago. He held a similar position, in the household of Lord Beauchamp, the then Governor of New South -Wales. From 1908 to 1910 Mr Adams was in the service of the Early of Dudley, at that time Governor-General of Australia. Ho returned to the commonwealth four years ago as house steward in the establishment of Sir Archibald Weigall, Governor of South Australia.

The domestic . staff, comprising eight maids, travelled under the supervision of Lady Alice Fergusson’s housekeeper. Mrs Janet M'Graw, As "her name indicates. Mrs M'Graw is a Scotswoman, and so are seven of the eight maids. Mrs M'Graw was housekeeper in, Sir Charles Fergusson’s country seat, Kilkerran House, Ayrshire. She spoke to-day in high terms of Lady Alice’s housewifelyqualities. Lady Alice was a capable manager of domestic affairs, and, moreover, took a keen interest in her staff. Some of the maids on the Ruapehu were daughters of maids in the household of Lady Glasgow, Lady Fergusson’s mother. Others had linen drawn from the households of Lady Fergusson’s sisters, the Countess of Cranbrook and Lady Augusta Inskip. Lady Fergusson also took a great interest in girl welfare work, and especially in the Girl Guide movement. Miss Ellen Fergusson was an officer in the Girl Guides. The family were keen motorists and lawn tennis players. They were also music lovers, and Miss Fergusson was “a« good a singer as many a professional.” Lady Fergusson also possessed a well-trained voice. None of the three sons would accompany their parents, but it was expected they would visit New Zealand" in about a year’s time. The youngest son. Bernard, had remained to attend Christ’s College. Christchurch. Bernard was at present at. Eton. The other two sons. Mr James and Mr Simon Fergusson, would remain in New Zealand for about six months before resuming their studies at Oxford and Sandhurst respectively. A favourite of the family was to arrive in Wellington with Sir Charles on Saturday, said Mrs M'Graw. This was the black-and-white collie dog, Dehr, which was already familiar to New Zealanders in photographs. . Mrs .MlGraw said there was a good deal of difficulty in obtaining the dog’s “passport,” but it was finally arranged. Major Leonard Proby Haviland, military secretary to Sir Charles Fergusson, served with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade during the war, and in 1917 was transferred to Mesopotamia aft brigade major to the Third Cavalry Brigade. ■ • Towards the close of hostilities he served at General Headquarters at Bagdad. He was four times mentioned in despatches. Since 1922, with the exception of six months spent on leave in England, he has been on service at Meerut. India,- with his regiment.- the Sixth Lancers, in the Indian Army. Ho was appointed military secretary to Sir Charles Ferguson in September, and is now making his first visit to Auckland.