HAPPY ATMOSPHERE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18760, 17 July 1935, Page 15

HAPPY ATMOSPHERE

WELCOME TO ROTARY VICEREGAL GUEST A GOVERNOR'S DUTIES One of the most interesting of the several functions arranged in honor ol the Governor-General in Gisborne was today's luncheon of the Rotary Club, at which Viscount Gal way was the principal guest. The gathering was not marked by any degree of formality, and the happy atmosphere was commented upon by His Excellency, in the course of Ins reply to a speech of welcome addressed to him by the club president, Rotarian C. A. Smith.

To the other guests of the club, Rotarian Smith conveyed a general welcome, waiving the usual custom of Rotary gatherings which calls for visitors to introduce themselves, or to be introduced by a member of the club. The number oi' guests was unusually large, and rcflectccl the general appreciation of the Kotary Club's privilege in entertaining t lie Governor-General.

The National Anthem and the Rotary welcome song prefaced a short programme of speech-making, Rotarian Smith then addressing Lord Galway with an expression of the honor and privilege winch all club members felt on this occasion. Members also appreciated deeply the courtesy shown bv the Governor-General in consenting to attend the luncheon.

INTEREST IN DOMINION AFFAIRS

"Wo are rather off the beaten track here in Gisborne, and such an occasion as this forms a red letter.' day in our calendar. We feel a. great degree of pleasure in having you with us," continued the president, '"Yon have already received an official welcome from the people of Gisborne and the surrounding district, but we cannot let the opportunity pass of expressing our thanks to you for the keen interest which you and Viscountess Galway, in the brief period since your arrival in the Dominion, have shown* in the affairs of the country. "We hope that your term or office in New Zealand will be a happy one, happy in service to His Majesty the King whom vou represent, and to whom we offer our tribute of lovalty and love; who holds high that ideal of service expressed in the Divine injunction : 'He that would bo the greatest among you, let him be the servant of all.' The president in conclusion expressed the further hope, that for the GovernorGeneral and Viscountess Galway and their family, their stay in New Zealand would bo brightened by good health and a congenial atmosphere. "I assure yon, Mr. President and gentlemen, that it gives mo great pleasure to como among you, and I thank you heartily for the kindly expressions of your wjirm. welcome to mc and to my wife," stated His Excellency in reply. ROTARY MOVEMENT PRAISED "I am .pleased, indeed to come, to a Rotary luncheon—it is not for the first time—for I know full well the good work that the. Rotary movement is doing in all parts of the world," be continued. "Shortly after my arrival in New Zealand I met tlio founder of your movement during his tour in this conn try, and lie told mo much of the progress of Rotary and of its activities throughout the 'world, in which I found the greatest interest. "It iis a pleasure to meet men who are all working together as part of a movement for the good of the world, a movement which, insomuch as it brings joy and 'happiness into life, should be warmly encouraged. It is a pleasure, too, to be in such a happy and healthful atmosphere." His Excellency closed with an assurance that he was indeed glad of the opportunity of meeting members of the club in their own environment, bis reply arousing prolonged applause. A TOUR OF DUTY A motion of thanks to His Excellency for His brief address was moved by Rotarian F. W. Nolan, who remarked that on this occasion the GovernorGeneral was engaged in a tour of duty, as was shown by the fact that since 10 a.m. he had addressed no fewer than four gatherings; and was cvideutly facing without alarm the prospect ol making more addresses. The speaker hoped that on some future occasion His Excellency would come among them on a mission of pleasure alone, and he promised that on such ah occasion His Excellency would not be asked to make more than four or five addresses at the most. (Laughter and applause.) Rotarians were most gratified, said Rotarian Nolan, to have the GovernorGeneral as their guest, and they hoped sincerely that he and Viscountess Galway would have a happy stay in New Zealand. All would look forward to a time when, with fewer official duties requiring immediate attention, His Excellency would again be the guest of the club. (Applause.) ' The gathering closed with the singing of the National Anthem'.