LORD JELLICOE

Otago Witness, Issue 3418, 19 September 1919, Page 25

LORD JELLICOE

DEPARTURE FOR THE, NORTH. A TOUCHING INCIDENT. Lord Jellicoo and staff left Dunedin for Tim am had Friday morning-. T nre e cars conveying the party left the Ferniiill Club at 7.45 a.m. Two Dunedin ladies set out shortly after 6 a.m. yesterday to walk to the Upper Junction with a view to "waylaying'' Lord Jellicoe on his journey north. As the car approached they spread a Union Jack across the road, and the car containing the Admiral pulled up. Lord Jellicoe stepped out, and raising his cap, waited for them to speak. He was told that they had had the honour of seeing his hack from the stage of His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday afternoon, but they wished to see him face to face, and "would he accept a slight gift in remembrance of his visit to Dunedin? The gift took the form of a greenstone tiki, with a card on which were the words "Kia Ora." Lord Jellicoe was both touched and delighted with the gift, and the manner of its giving. He stood for some minutes chatting with the ladies, and begged a bunch of violets which one of the ladies was wearing. This was willingly given to him. Before departing he made a neat speech, in which he stated that he was deeply moved with the patriotism and enthusiasm displayed by the people of Dunedin. Then he shook hands, mounted Ins car, and sped north, while the. ladies walked to the tramway terminus more than delighted with their trip. AT WAIKOUAITT. -The Admiral and his staff reached Waikouaiti about 9.45 a.m., and were met on their arrival by the Mayor (Mr G. J. L. Kerr) and members of the council. Mr E. P. Lee, M.P, accompanied the party, and introduced the distinguished visitors. There was a large and representative gathering present, including the teachers and scholars of the local school. Lord Jehicoe and his staff officers were heartily cheered on entering the building. . The Mayor, in a brief but appropriate speech," cordially welcomed the distinguished visitors, and the Admiral during the course of his reply was frequently applauded. The hall was tastefully decorated in honour of the occasion. After a stay of about three quarters of an hour the visitors resumed _ their journey northwards to the accompaniment of prolonged cheering. ENTERTAINED IN OAMARU. WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATED. OTboii Oub Own CoaBttSPONDKWT.) OAMARU, September 11. t The vagaries of the weather were in evidence to-day on the occasion of the visit of Lord Jellicoe. The weather in the morning was wet and unpromising, and! although it cleared in the afternoon light rain started again before the final function was concluded. There was a good display of bunting and a large turn-out of people. The Admiral and his party were rather behind time in reaching Oamaru, having had to make several stoppages en route, in addition to the seven places on the official itinerary. These extras were enforced by school children blocking the road and bringing the cars to a standstill. In one place the plan of blockade rssortod to was to stretch a line across the road bearing the Union Jack. Lord Jellicoe, who was received everywhere with a hearty greeting, took all these interruptions in good humour and made the children happy. In the course of his remarks Lord Jellicoe spoke of the close comradeship and mutual admiration of the Royal Navy and members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. He stressed the need for young men to uadergo training for the navy, and expressed the hope that many sons from New homes would show that love of the cea which was one of the fundamentals of tho British Empire, and would join the navy. New Zealand would play no mean part in the scheme which it was hoped to evolve for the naval defence of the Empire. Later in the afternoon Admiral Jellicoe participated in the ceremony of tho tion of the memorial oaks in memory of the . fallen soldiers of North Otago, before a strong parade of school children, returned soldiers, and cadets, and a large gathering of tho public. It is proposed to plant a memorial oak in honour of every soldier belonging to North Otago who made the supreme sacrifice. Speeches of welcome were delivered by the Mayor (Mr James M'Diarmid), and Mr E. P. Lee, M.P. Viscount Jellicoe, in accepting the honour of planting the first two memorial oaks, said that that day they had paid the Royal Navy a tribute which the navy would never forget, and that was that an officer of the navv should bo asked to dedicate the memorial oaks planted in honour of their fallen soldiers. He could not express to them his appreciation of the honour paid to him personally and through him to every officer and man in the navy. He looked upon it as an indication of the happy and close comradeship which existed between the navy and the army. During the war they of the Royal Navy had always held the New Zealanders in great reverence and esteem. They saw what "the New Zealanders did at Gallipoli, and they had read of (and some of them had seen) their work in France. The form of memorial to the dead that had been undertaken was as fine a monument as could be conceived. It was ideal in his humble opinion. The memory of those fallen soldiers who were commemorated by the trees would live forever, and he thought that such a memorial must always help to soothe the sorrows of those who had Tost their loved ones. He would perforin the dedication ceremony with the deepest respect and tho greatest pleasure. Lord Jellicoe then planted two memorial oaks —one in memory of Nurse Clarke, who perished in the Marquette disaster, and the other in honour of Sercreant D. F. Brown, V.C., who was killed on the Somme.

DEPARTURE FROM LYTTELTON. CIIRISTCHUROH; September 12. H.M.S. Now Zealand left Lyttelton for Picton at 6.10 p.m. Lord Jellicoe returned from the south by motor car during the afternoon- A huge crowd lined the waterfront to see the departure of the battle oruiser, and a grotesquely clad jazz band from the White Star liner Athenio waa

allowed to go alongside the New Zealand and play uncanny music. Tho sailors, who were crowded along the cruiser's decks, loudly encored each selection, and lustily joined in tho choruses of a number of popular and jjatriotic songs. VISIT TO PICTON. PIGTON, September 13. H.M.S. New Zealand anchored in Picton Harbour this morning. Admiral Jellicoo and party, on landing, were welcomed by a largo concourse on the waterfront, and tho Maoris present gave hakas. _ His Lordship was presented with a Maori battleaxe, and Lady Jellicoe with a Native mat by the ladies of Picton. The Navy League presented to the ship a silver cup. After being officially welcomed at tho Council Chambers by tho Mayors of Picton and Blenheim, Admiral Jellicoe was entertained at luncheon by the local bodies. An entertainment programme for the men is being carried out this afternoon, and will be continued this evening. Beautiful weather prevails, and the town is crowded with .visitors. On his way north on. Thursday Admiral Jellicoe made a short stop at Palmerston. J. here was a good display of bunting, and the school children who attended were well supplied with flags. The Town Hall, where tho Mayor (Mr E. H. Clark) received the famous visitor, was packed to the doors, and great enthusiasm - prevailed throughout the proceedings. After the singing ot a versa of the National Anthem and "Rule Britannia," the Mayor, in welcoming the Admdral to Palmerston, presented him, as a souvenir of his visit, with a photograph of the memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Boer war, on which was - the name of a nephew of one of the guest's late friends, Lord Kitchener. Mr George Clark (chairman of the Waihemo County Council) also spoke. Admiral Jellicoe, in reply, thanked the speakers for the cordial reception accorded himself and staff, and then gave the children present a brief address on patriotism. At tho close of the proceedings tho Mayor called for cheers for Admiral and Lady Jellicoe and family, and for his staff, which were heartily given.