VISCOUNT GALWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22545, 12 April 1935, Page 9

VISCOUNT GALWAY

VICE-REGAL PARTY ARRIVES IMPRESSIVE ENTRY INTO PORT COLOURFUL NAVAL PAGEANTRY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 11. A colourful naval pageantry signalised the arrival at Wellington to-day of Lord and Lady Galway. The northerly gale of Wednesday night had giveu way to a fitful breeze and the vice-regal entry was made in bright sunshine. The Rangitata was unable to arrive in time to enable the original programme of welcome to be carried out to-day. Nevertheless she arrived in ample time for an impressive entry into port, escorted by

the Diomede and the Leith, which met the liner near Sinclair Head about 3 o'clock. When about a mile, awdy both warships fired a salute of 19 guns, each ship dressing with masthead flags simultaneously. Lord Galway could be seen on the bridge of the Rangitata as the salute was fired. Approaching the harbour the Diomede took station ahead and the Leith astern of the liner. At the heads the ships were joined by an aerial escort of three Hawker Tomtit planes flying in formation. As the Rangitata was moving to her berth she came abreast of the Diomede. A parade of Royal Marines presented arms while the cruiser’s band played the National Anthem, Lord Galway taking the salute. The Rangitata • berthed shortly after 5 o’clock.

“A COMMANDING PRESENCE” IMPRESSIONS OF VISITORS CHILDREN WITH “PLENTY OF \ GO ” (Pee United • Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 11. Twenty-two hours away from becoming officially his Majesty’s representative in New Zealand, Viscount Galway, Governor-General Designate, made from the deck of the Rangitata a striking figure as he stood this afternoon on the bridge and looked for the first time at Wellington Harbour'. With him stood Lady Galway looking trim and cool, and below on dock their four children, and they all appeared absorbed in the view that represented to them their new homeland of the next five years. Lord and Lady Galway and their family dre such that the first impressions of ’ them made between the time the harbour tender arrived at the Rangitata’s side and the final berthing of the liner are able to be clear cut. They were impressions that were strengthened by the comments of the other passengers by the Rangitata, who seemed all to have enjoyed their association with the family on the trip from England. Lord Galway’s commanding presence, shown strongly in the photographs published of him, is completed by his full, resonant voice. As the Rangitata steamed slowly up the harbour, and he moved to the end of the bridge to salute the personnel drawn up on H.M.S. Diomede, he was extraordinarily erect in his six feet four or so of height, and when he and Lady Galway descended to the deck where they joined their children and chatted with the passengers, his stiff military carriage remained as of long training and habit, but otherwise he showed an easy informal bearing.

The most immediate impressions of Lady Galway were of a woman who is slim and neat, somewhat, but not a great deal, taller than the average, with a positive personality and a well-poised, entirely natural manner. Among the other passengers and even the press photographers she showed occasionally a smile that definitely was not lacking in humour. Passengers who were asked a question about the Hon. Simon Monckton Arundel I, the four-year-old son and heir, and his three sisters, remarked that they were “ just normal children,” nr that they had “plenty of go.” Apparently they did not ignore their opportunity on the trip of making friends with other children in all other parts of the ship. “I have a piquant memory still,” said one passenger, “ of the family’s initia-

tion in the equator-crossing ceremony. Lord Galway was spared nothing of the refinements of the crew’s ceremony. The children were put through it, too, but more gently, while Lady Galway took a kinematograph film of it all.” PRIME MINISTER’S WELCOME TEXT OF WIRELESS MESSAGE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 11. From Lord Galway this afternoon was received the following text of a wireless message sent him by the Prime Minister: —“ I greatly regret I shall personally he unable to meet you on your arrival in New Zealand. I can assure you and Lady Galway that a very warm welcome awaits you both, and that all sections of the people are looking .forward with the greatest pleasure to meeting you. I trust that the strong British sentiment and firm loyalty which exists among the King’s subjects in this unit of the Empire will serve to lessen the wrench of leav-

ing your Homeland, and that you and Lady Galway and family will thoroughly enjoy your sojourn in the Britain of the South. Mrs Forbes joins me in the kindest regards. —George W. Forbes.”