Tribe Acclaims Vice-Regal Chief

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 673, 27 May 1929, Page 1

Tribe Acclaims Vice-Regal Chief

A “SAVAGE” WELCOME ENTHUSIASM AT THE WHARE Keyed to a note of enthusiasm that bespoke in itself, a Special Occasion, the Savages of Auckland on Saturday evening did gay but sincere homage to their Ariki—the Chief Savage. Ariki, inimitable holder of the allpowerful mere, presided. Outside the magic circle of the Savage Club he is the first man of the land-—his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, G.C.M.G., * K.C.8., D. 5.0., M.V.O. Within the portals of the Whare (the Lewis Eady Hall) he was the Chief—the ordained ruler of his happy tribe. Besides being proper and fitting, his post is uncommonly appropriate for, during the period of his office, held during his stay in New Zealand, Ariki has proved the ideal Savage leader. When he took his place in the chair on Saturday evening, civil, naval, and military representatives official guests of the tribe —swelled the Savage ranks. The Whare was taxed to its utmost capacity. There followed a special ceremonial installation of the distinguished Ariki, and the correctlygarbed tribesmen accompanied a function of unparalleled enthusiasm in the history of the Auckland Club. Rangatira R. A. Singer, who received and installed his Excellency, supplemented the ceremony in the following address to the Great Chief: Your Excellency,—lt is my duty as Rangatira of this club to welcome yon as its Ariki to the Hapu. It is also my duty to mentioii that this is probably the last occasion on which you will preside as its greatest chief, as you purpose leaving this land of light and delight for the dclightfullest country in the world.

We have much joy in your presidency of this evening, remembering, as we always will, that night of nights when you occupied this chair last year. It is hard for us to decide between your virtues as a Governor-General and your virtues as a Savage. •'A,? to your first activities, may 1 say this. The days of jingoism are past—that hysteric period of unguided emotion —to this modern world what are kingship and kinship unless associated ivith purjjoses and persotis that are high in the great sense of that word. We as citizens and as Savages are loyal and devoted folloycrs of those high persons and aims, because, in our small way, we are combined for the ends of goodwill and fair going. With all the large and public praise you have received in the past and that will herald your departure, may we, sir, in club and in all sincerity—for one dare not venture otherwise on such an occasion—may we record that you have inspired in us—an inspiration that will remain with us to the end, the true, the happy and the human sentiments of admiration and of affection.”

His Excellency, who possesses that rare gift of unvarying appropriateness and being so much a man among men, held the mere of authority and every minute was worth while. His words of counsel coupled with his charm as a story-teller made the occasion of unforgettable interest to the Savages. During the evening the club’s orchestra of thirty musicians, under the baton of Savage Trevor Sparling, provided selections. The club choir, under the baton of Savage Len Barnes, contributed part songs. Vocal, instrumental and humorous items were to the credit of Savages Alan McElwain, Stan Pritchard, R. Muston. Dan McKivett, Len Barnes, H. E. Gillespie, T. H. 'Brooke, W. H. V. Taine and J. Hogben.

The function terminated at 10.45 p.m., his Execellency retiring to the accompaniment of the cheers of the Tribe.