LORD PLUNKET IN TAKAKA

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12738, 9 March 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

LORD PLUNKET IN TAKAKA

(By Our Own Correspondent.)

Friday, 18tJi February, 1910, will long be remembered by young and old in Takaka as a real red letter day. The day broke fine and clear, and bright sunshine prevailed throughout the day. The decorating committee was astir very early, and by 9 a.m. the township was gaily decorated with strings of flags at intervals across the road, the business places all befiagged, and nikau palms everywhere. The platform at the Pioneers' Memorial was covered in palms, and surmounted by a staff bearing "the British ensign, while a triangle of flags crossed the two streets facing the platform; altogether a very creditable display for a town of our size. The Chairman and County Councillors set out early in a conveyance to meet his Excellency at the county boundary, and the escort of Takaka Mounted ttilles soon followed. By 10.30 a.m. the main street wao lined from end to end with an immense crowd of sightseers, the gay summer costumes and hats of the ladies making a great show among the more sombre garbed men. The school children from all the side districts were drawn up in order along the route, each beneath its own school banner, and the High School Cadets, armed and in uniform, completed the line. • i'he Takaka County Band, resplendent in their new uniforms, looked really well as they marched through the lines and took up their stand on the' right of the reception dais. At 10.30 a.m. a cloud of dust heralded the approach of the Vice-Regal party. The coach and four containing tho Governor, and the two succeeding carriages, containing the Hon. It. McKcnzie and the County Councillors, accompanied by the mounted escort, came along through the lines of children and citizens, and pulled up at tho platform. As the Governor and party ascended the dais the band played the iVahioual An thorn, and excitement was then intense. Takaka does not entertain a real live lord every day, and this is the hist occasion the public havo hcon asked to .turn out and i\eco:uo a Governor of New Zea-la-id. :■■. ■ Mr J. G. Page, the County Chair-, man, in a few well chosen words introduced Lord Plunketjto the inhabitants of Takaka, and than called on the County Clerk, Mr William Baird, to read the address of welcome, which uas done by him clearly and distinctly. Tho address was as follows :— "To His Excellency the Right Honourable Baron Plunket, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order ; Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. "May it please your Excellency— "On behalf of the inhabitants of the County of Takaka, we, the undersigned, Chairman and Councillors, desire to tender you a hearty welcome to our county. "Wo are- pleased to havo had tho opportunity of seeing your Excellency once before you .leave New Zealand, and bliank you for the honour you have conferred upon us by your visit. "Wo regret the shortness -of. your stay will prevent us from showing ■•your Excellency some of the many b'cau'tv spots of Takaka, but trust you ntny have a pleasant drive tlirougn our |

little valley, and carry away pleasant recollections of this remote portion or his Majesty's dominions. "We beg to assure your Excellency of the sincere loyalty of the inhabitants of Takaka to their most gracioUß Majesties the King and Quean and on our great love- for the mighty empire over which they reign. "Wishing you a safe journey Home, and every happiness and prosperity in your future life. "We beg to subscribe ourselves your Excellency's F<ost obedient servants 3 "J. G. PAGE, . Chairman. "W. C. BAIGENT, "A. H. BARNETT, "FRANK PAGE, "GEORGE PAGE, Junr., "W. C. REILLY, Councillors. Clerk." WILLIAM BAIRD, The County Clerk then handed the address* to the Chairman, and ho presented it to Lord Piunket. Lord Plunket, in reply, thanked the people of Takaka for their very hearty welcome and for their expression of loyalty to their Majesties the King and Queen. Concluding his formal' reply, Lord Plunket spoke on his own behalf, regretting the- shortness of lus stay preventing him from seeing more of the place. He thanked the people for the heartiness of his reception, and for the_ very evidont trouble they had taken in his honour. He stated that ho was at the moment a sort of wandering Jew, going hither and thither through the country, seeing all lie could of New Zealand during the short time at his disposal ere leaving for the Old Country. He inado special mention of the great number and sturdy qualities of the array of children then before him, and expressed a wonder as to whora they all came from, adding that apparently the people of Takaka were like himself and Lady Plunket, possessors of at least eight children apiece. . - His Excellency then stepped down and was introduced to Mr. W. H. Boyes, the .head paster of the Takaka District School, and was by him conducted through the entire line of children, making kindly remarks here and there to the children and their teachers. The children than sang the National Anthem, accompanied by Bandmaster Bensemann on the cornet. The Vice-Regal party were then conducted to the Junction Hotel, where a splendid cold luncheon was prepared for the distinguished visitor. The room seated some sixty people, and was filled to overflowing, every district being well represented. The chair was taken by Mr J. G. Page, County Chairman, he having Lord Plunket on his right and the Hon. R. McKenzie, member for the district, on his lef fc. Mr Thomas J. Baigent occupied the vice chair. The tables were tastefully laid out, and altogether the rooms looked very nice in every way. Grace was pronounced by the Rev. H. Pepper, minister of the Church of England, and then full justice was done to the many good things set out on the menu. During luncheon the band played several selections outside -t!i© ilotel, which holpe<i "to "the general success of the function. „ When the sweets were disposed of the chairman proposed the toast of the King, and those present sang the National Anthem. The second toast came from Mr T. 5. Baigent, the vice-chairman, that of the guest, Lord Plunket. Mr Baigent spoke of the honour his Excellency had conferred on Takaka by his visit to such a small unit in the composition of this Dominion, and said that Takaka was very proud that it had not been overlooked by the Governor hi his travels thzwigh New Zealand, and regretted that time would not permit of a sight of the Bubu springs and other notable spots in the neighbourhood of Takaka. Concluding, Mr Baigent drew attention to the crowd and display they had just witnessed outside as proving the pleasure of the people at the Governor's visit, and loyalty to the King and Empire. Tho Governor's health was then honoured.' Lord Plunket replied in a very happily chosen speech, that at once made him popular with his hearers. Alluding to the expressions of loyalty made use of in the address and by Mr Baigent, he expressed the opinion that loyalty was hardly the word, to use, but rather, the highest and most noble common sense and gratitude of the people. His Excellency spoke of the noble and spontaneous gift of a Dreadnought by New Zealand to tho Mother Country, and the effect it had on English speaking people all over the world, and on rival nations. He said that England was at all time 6 capable of defending herself, but the task of doing so to her many scattered colonies was a far bigger undertaking, and it was right that these colonies should share tho burden of general defence. His Excellency asked pardon if Ie trespassed into the realm of politics by touching on the system of universal service now to be introduced by the New Zealand Government. He called this th© most noble act of self sacriiice and patriotism ever done by Ner\y Zealand, and likely to be productive ni great good. Lord Plunket facetiously remarked in passing that he was, from his position, perhaps, one of the very few who always agreed with everything done by Parliament in this country.' His Excellency,- in conc.usion, made feeling reference to the heartfelt and sincere expressions of the very highest loyalty to sovereign and country that he met with on all sides. His Excellency's speech was listened to most attentively by all present, and made a profound impression on every man in tho room. The toast following was in the hands of the Rev. W. A. Kyd, Presbyterian minister, "Imperial Unity." This gentleman alluded to the late Mr It. J. Seddbn'is prompt action during the late South African war in ottering and despatching with such pronipti- j tude contingent after contingent to the help of the Home "..Country, and said that Sir J. G. Ward was. - following faithfully iv his predecessor's footsteps by his gift of a Dreadnought, and a piomiso of more it' required. Mr Kyd concluded by quoting from a speech recently delivered in WeJington, and finally wound up a stirring appeal for increased Bible teaching as an ' incentive! to loyalty and patriotism by singing a verse of Bobbie Burns' "For 'a that.". '„ Lord Plunket then briefly proposed the chairman's health, and all then rose from the table. His Excellency spent* half .an hour in conversation with various of the guests, going from one to the other, and being introduced to each in turn by the County Chairman, and iinding a pleasant word for each. Lord Plunket took special' interest in chatting to a number of our very old settlers who wore .present, and. a Crimean war veteran who was brought to him gave him special interest. The coach then drew up, and his Excellency and party drove off at 1 p.m. on their journey to Motueka amidst hearty and continued cheers from the immense crowd gathered at the starting place. Tho band again played the National Anthem, and the "children lined a'.ong the route gave out cheer upon cheer. The Mounted Rifles again oscorted the. party out of the township. During the luncheon the school children, who numbered in all some 540, were marched to the orchard adjoining the hotel, whore luncheon on a large and generous scale was provided by the parents and by public subscription. A goodly collection of silver coin was taken up among the crowd assembled, and tho committee in charge, assisted by a niim be- of parents, got off a lot of races arid amusements for the children, lasting the best part of the afternoon. " All tha business places closed for the rlo.v J) n'l h r>*"\ t.bn finvp'""" V. » i-V poie bowls was the order of the day, the local crpi'ir being crowded til dark. All Tnl-nV^^es wero sotifu fied with the proceedings throughout. All arrangements were well made and

well carried out, and the various members of the local committees are to be heartily congratulated on the great success that crowned their eirorts.