WAIROA’S WELCOME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18761, 18 July 1935, Page 16

WAIROA’S WELCOME

VICEREGAL VISIT LARGE CROWD PRESENT TREES PLANTED (Herald Correspondent.) Punctually at 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday the Viceregal party, comprising Lord and Lady Galway, and the found s aide-de-camp, Sir Ktandish 0 Grady Roche, preceded by the Automobile Association’s patrol, arrived at the top of Te Uhi Hill, Wairoa, in beautifully sunny weather. The party was met in the" county by Mr. A. G. Nolan, ,'ounty chairman, who was accompanied bv the Mayor, Mr. H. L, llarker and Mrs. Marker. A Boy Scout, Tnu Allen, then flagged to his troop mate, P. Young, at the Post Office the news that the Viceregal party was about to enter the borough, and * the fire brigade siren sounded to warn all motorist to observe the parking rules laid down. The party soon arrived via Carroll street and the town bridge, the ends of which were beflagged. and the distinguished visitors were conducted to the dais in front of tbc borough cluuflbeis in Coronation Square. In front there was an assembly of at least- 1000 people, if not more, including a muster of about 100 ex-servicemen under Major J. O. Scott, 70 Boy Scouts under Mr. W. I. Mist, 35 Girl Guides under Miss V. G. Bainbridge, 25 Brownies, under Miss Habgood. and a strong muster of pupils from' the Wairoa District High School, St Joseph’s Convent School, Turiroa and Fraserlown schools, under their respeci ivc teachers. As His Excellency passed through tnc double rank of the'ex-servicemen, many of them wearing their medals and other decorations, he shook hands and ad dressed a few' words to most of them,^ and then proceeded to the dais. As 1 licit Excellencies took up their allotted posilions, the Muncipal Band, under Mr. K. S Smith, struck up the Natitmal Anthem, and a. little Brownie presented to Her Excellency a bouquet in the Guide colors (red), Her Excellency being the Dominion president of the Gnl Guides. , Members of the local bodies and their wives occupied the dais and seats close by. with Mr. S. IT. O’Loughlen, the Town Clerk. Major J. A. Scott, and Mr. I Corkill. The pioneer settlers were ■rated on the left of the dais and many ,f them recalled that they had been nresent at the reception to no less than mven Governors' or Governors-Gencral, including the Earl ol llanfurly, Baron Onslow, Lord Islington, Lord Plunket, Karl Jell icon. Sir Charles Fergusson, Lord Bledisloe, and Viscount Gnhvay. FINE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED The Mayor, Mr. H. L. Harker, then cad the address to His Excellency, the lext of which lias been aready published , it had been tastefully engrossed in colors '.v Major J. 0. Scott. Loud applause Mooted the fine sentiments expressed, and on the call of the Mayor cheers were given for Lord and Lady Galway, [’lie Mayor added that their Excellencies had consented to plant two jboliutuknwn? in the Jubilee avenue at the Hoads. His Excellency, who was greeted with loud applause upon rising to reply, said •lie had great pleasure in being able to pay a short visit to Wairoa and to be able to sec and speak to so many o* the citizens. He thanked the Mayor for the address he had read on behalf of the people welcoming himself and Lady Galway to New Zealand and to Wairoa, and for the warm feelings expressed, together with the loyal reference to the Throne. This year was celebrated in England and many parts of tbe Empire as the Jubilee of His Majesty, whose 25 years’ reign had been marked by much

,f culture, comfort and safety, even in very difficult times. In England, New Zealand - was looked Upon as one of the most loyal, if not the most loyal, pari of the Empire and the part played by her sons on the battlefields during four long \ears of war would never be forgotten lie would like to urge the children of to-day—the citizens of to-morrow—to so live that they would be able to take up the work laid down by others, and that could only be accomplished by courage, enterprise and determination. In thanking the.people for their good wishes he was pleased to see so many Maoris present. and to find that they and the Europeans were living together in peace in a most desirable brotherhood. He concluded by again expressing his thanks for the very hearty welcome to Lady Gahvay and himself, and announced that the school children were to be given a half-holiday to mark the event.

A PLEASING INCIDENT The Mayor then presented to Their Excellencies a number of local body , members and their wives, and after His Excellency had inspected the Boy Scouts and Her Excellency the Guides, and a few of the school children, the Band played the National Anthem. A pleasing little incident will be treasured by one of the Wairoa Girl Guides, who is physically incapable ot, engaging in the cult of guiding. Her Excellency, when inspecting the Girl Guides, generously autographed the book of a member, Miss Moles, the incident 1 eliciting loud applause, and again when Lord Galway thought he had omitted to shake hands with a local body mem--1 her repeated the compliment.

The party then, proceeded to the Wairoa Hotel for lunch, the Mayor and Mrs Harker, Mr and Mrs Nolan, with Mr and Mrs A. T. Carroll representing the native race, being also present. After lunch the Vice-Regal party proceeded to the Heads, to take part in the planting of an avenue of trees over a mile long, from Rangilioua bluff to Whakamahia bluff, with Norfolk Island pines on the sea side and the graceful pohutuwaka on the other. There was a good concourse of citizens assembled at • a spot no-t far from the bridge. There. > under the folds of the Union Jack, and in the centre of a. square formed by the ■ Boy Scouts. Their Excellencies were con- > ducted by the countv chairman to the

appointed spot. Mr Nolan said it had been a great pleasure to him to take part in the welcome tended to Lord and Ladv Galway on their first visit to the district. This came at a very appropriate time as it was Wairoa’s Arbor Day, and they were about to plant an avenue o-f trees to mark the King’s Jubilee. It was a fitting way, he thought, to emphasise the feelings of his subjects for the blessing they had enjoyed during his reign of 25 years.

Lord Galway said he hoped that future generations would be delighted at the provision of this additional amenity for the people of Wairoa, and it- would he a veVv fine memento of the 25 years’ reign of His Majesty, fApplause.) Her Excellency then planted her tree, and His Excellency declared both well and truly planted. • A GRACIOUS GESTURE The Wairoa Boy Scouts have had a very high honor conferred upon, them, that of being called “Lord Galway’s Own.” This has been done at the request of the Scout-master, Mr W. T.

Mist, and the local Scouts, only yet in their infancy are extremely proud of the honor. Later as Their Excellencies pay other visits to Wairoa, and it conies to his turn to say farewell the Wairoa 1 Boy Scouts may be trusted to form a capable guard ol honor. A unit of the St. John Ambulance was in attendance at Coronation Square and at tho beach, but there was no call for aid. Among those who planted their own ‘‘adopted trees” on Wednesday were Mrs S. 0. Stally, Mr and Mrs Hanham, Mr M. P. Chapman,- Miss A. Black, Mrs Swan, Mr I). McKenzie, Clydebank. Mr G. Jane, for the borough staff, Mr W. Taylor, Harbor Board, and Mr. Mrs and Alins Knight.