HANI) OF FRIENDSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 18970, 18 June 1923, Page 5

HANI) OF FRIENDSHIP

AUSTRALIA AND FRANCE ADOPTING A TOWN (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) PARIS, June 16. (Received June 17, 11.5 p.m.) A public holiday was proclaimed in Villers Bretonneux, where cheering crowds cheered the visiting official Australian party in connection with the ceremony of adoption of the town by the City of Melbourne. The party first visited the Adelaide cemetery, where a majority of the Australians were buried. Wreaths were placed on the Cross of the Sacrifice Church by the Prefect of the Somme, representing the French Government, the Mayor of Villers Bretonneux, and the school children. The party then visited the French cemetery, where a wreath was placed on the monument to French soldiers. They then proceeded to the Town Hall, where the Mayor handed Mr McWhae, the Victorian AgentGeneral in London, with the deeds, renaming the two streets Melbourne and Victoria streets. A visit was next paid to the site of the school building, where the ; French flag was handed over for the Victorian school. Mrs McWhae laid the foundation stone of the new school. Speeches of goodwill were exchanged by the Mayor and Mr McWhae and Mr Tate, the latter voicing the greetings from the children of Victoria to those of Villers Bretoneux. On returning to Amiens, the party placed wreaths on the Australian and French memorials in the Cathedral.