TASMAN TERCENTENARY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15235, 28 December 1942, Page 4

TASMAN TERCENTENARY

CELEBRATION IN LONDON. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) LONDON, December 13 Tile tercentenary of Tasman’s landing in New Zealand was celebrated by New Zealanders and Netherlanders at the New Zealand Forces Club, where th© New Zealand Hjigh Commissioner, Mr Jordan, welcomed' Queen Wilhelmina’s personal representative, Rear-Admiral Baron Devos van Stenwijk, and also Jonkheer Micheils v.an Vcrduynon, who is Netherlaud Minister in London, and six members of the Netherlands Government, including th© Foreign Minister, Mr van Kleffens. The New Zealand colony it London was well represented. Also present were Air-Commodore L. M. Isitt, Brigadier R- S- Park and Sir Claude James, Agent-General for ’Tasmania. New Zealanders serving with all the forces mingled with Netherlands army and navy personnel and also sailors from Tahiti. They packed the balcony of the clubroom for the speeches and then mixed together for tea. Tli© British and Dutch national anthems were played, after which Mr Jordan expressed gratitude to Queen Willielmina for beting personally represented and made reference to the celebrations now being held in New Zealand. He read a message from the Prime Minister ; Mi- Fraser, who stated: “We are proud of Tasman’s countrymen, our Allies to whom we send cordial greetings. We have sincere admiration and respect for the gallant part they are playing in the present world struggle against tyranny and repression. It is our hope that the next 100 years will show' a record of close and generous co-oper-ation between the British and Netherlands people in, the task of world reconstruction, particularly in Europe and th© Pacific.” Mr Jordan also made reference to trade between New Zealand and the Netherlands as being “only temporarily interrupted by the war.” Mr van Kleffens, replying, referred to his visit to New Zealand, adding, “I know what New Zealand hospitality means.” He traced Tasman’s discovery of Tasmania and New Zealand and paid a tribute to the Maoris, emphasising the part they are playing in the present war in carrying on the traditions of their forefathers Queen Willielmina, he said, took a deep interest in all that concerned New' Zealand’s well-being. Mr van Kleffens amusingly referred to Mr Fraser’s apology that because of the war, the tercentenary celebrations w’ould be “modest”—even so they extended from December 9 nearly to Christmas. Queen Wilhelmina was graciously pleased to accept the patronage of the newly-opened Abel Tasman Park. Mr van Kleffens read the Queen’s message which was conveyed to the Dominion by the visiting Netherlanders, and lie asked Mr Jordan to convey a message of greetings to the Government from all assembled in the Forces Club to those attending the celebrations at Okarito. Maori songs were sung during tea bv Princess Twa and also Stella Murray. Among those accepting invitations were Lord Galway and the mayor and mayoress of Westminster.