THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1921, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

VISIT TO TARANAKI. TRIP ROUND THE MOUNTAIN. SEVERAL TOWNS VISITED. Arriving at Patea at 10.12 a.m. yesterday, from Wanganui, His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Jellicoe) and Lady Jellicoe commenced their visit to Taranaki. From Patea they journeyed to Hawera by car, and then motored round the mountain to New Plymouth, stopping en route at Manaia, Auro» and Opunake, where the citizens of those districts were gathered to give them a hearty welcome to Taranaki. It was a beautiful day, and ideal for motoring, and the journey was a pleasant one, the countryside looking at its best. Mr. 0. Hawken, member for Egmont County, accompanied the party from Hawera to Opunake. VISIT TO PATEA. MEMORIAL AVENUE OPENED. VALUE OF THE NAVY. Their Excellencies commenced the day’s tour by visiting Patea, arriving by the 10.12 a.m. train from Wanganui. They were met at the station by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Holtham) and borough councillors, and were motored to the Town Hall, where an address of welcome was presented by the Mayor. Morning tea«was afterwards partaken of, and a number of leading citizens were introduced to Their Excellencies. The distinguished guests then visited the local school and were met by the chairman of the committee (Mr. E. F. Hemingway), members of the committee and scholars. After a brief speech of welcome Mr. Hemingway invited His Excellency to unveil a memorial to Lieut. Robbie (headmaster) and the pupils of the school who fell in the late war, and declare the memorial avenue to the school open.

His Excellency, after unveiling the memorial, delivered a stirring address to the children, and asked them to bear in mind the sacrifices that had been made on their behalf, and ever to do their duty as Lieut. Robbie and their school fellows had done. His Excellency also presented a New Zealand Ensign, given by the Navy League to the school, in recognition of the fact that the membership of the school branch of the league numbered over 100. In presenting the flag His Excellency reminded the children that New Zealand was surrounded by sea, and without the aid of the navy her produce could never reach a market, nor could she obtain merchandise from overseas.

After chatting* with the teachers and children His Excellency and Lady Jellicoe left by car for Manaia at about 11.30, amid cheers.

VJSIT TO MANAIA. WARM WELCOME EXTENDED. SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL UNVEILED. The Vice-Regal party arrived at Hawera at about 12.15 p.m. and stayed for a few minutes at the Borough Council offices, where they Avpre received in an informal manner by Mr. C. Osborne, a borough councillor. There was a big gathering of residents at Manaia to greet their Excellencies. A detachment of mounted rifles, under Colonel Sutherland, provided a bodyguard. meeting the vice-regal car some distance up the road and escorting it into the town. A guard of honor was formed by territorial and senior cadet

companies, under Lieutenant Grant, V.C., and there was a strong body of I members of the R.S.A. present. On the staging which had been erected for the ' speakers were representatives of the Manaia Town Board. Waimate West County Council. Waimate Plains Patriotic Society. Ladies’ Patriotic Committee and Manaia branch of the R.S.A. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P.. R. Masters, M.P., and E. Dixon, M.P. THE TOWN’S GREETINGS. On arrival his Excellency inspected the guard of honor and he and Lady Jellicoe shook hands with the returned soldiers. The party then mounted the raised staging and, on behalf of ’ the* bodies represented. Mr. J. G. Craig, J.P., chairman of the Manaia Town Board, delivered the following address of welcome: — “Great was the satisfaction that we, in common with our fellow-citizens of New Zealand, felt When we learned that hi» Gracious Majesty the King had conferred upon us the' signal honor of appointing as his representative in our Dominion so distinguished a person as yourself, one who had so worthily upheld the glorious traditions of our mighty Empire. “We recall with gratitude the part you took in defending our Empire during that long, tireless vigil in the North Sea; and to you we extend our heartfelt thanks. Our sincere wish is for a long and lasting peace among all nations, the strengthening of the cords which bind the daughterlands to the Motherland, and a widespread happiness and prosperity. To her Excellency, Viscountess Jellicoe, on behalf of the wives and mothers of our district we express their gratitude at her presence among them. Nor can we overlook the arduous labors of her Excellency’ during the trying circumstances of the recent conflict. "With very great pleasure, therefore, on behalf ot the Manaia Town Board, the Waimate West'County Council, and citizens, we extend to your Excellencies a hearty welcome to our district and trust that your visit to Taranaki, with its many historic spots, will be fraught with deepe i pleasure now and fragrant memories in days ‘to come. We humbly request that it may please you to extend to hie Majesty the expression of lour continued <l#» v 6tion and loyalty to (the throne.” ' • • .

His Excellency said in reply:—“I am nappy to accede to your request that an expression of your devotion to the Throne be conveyed to His Majesty. He is well aware of, and values highly, the unswerving loyalty of his New Zealand people, who have given such visible proof of it, whenever called upon to do so. Her Excellency and I are very grateful for the warm welcome which you extend to us on behalf of the people of this district, and it is a great pleasure to us to visit one of the most prosperous parts of New Zealand. I deeply appreciate your kindly expressed reference to my appointment and to my service in the late war, and I earnestly share your wish for a long continuance of peace and of the loyal spirit of cooperation which exists between the several portions of our great Empire. We offer our best wishes that peace may bring with it happiness and prospier ity to you all.” RETURNED SOLDIERS’ WELCOME. On behalf of the Manaia branch of the R.S.A., Mr. B. Badland read the following address of welcome: — .“We, members of the Manaia branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, desire to extend to you and Lady Jellicoe a hearty welcome to our midst on this your first visit to Manaia. The mission which occasions your visit —the unveiling of a memorial to our fallen comrades—is naturally one which especially appeals to us, and we would desire no more fitting person than your Excellency, whose noble service as Lord Admiral of the great British Navy during the war, to perform this ceremony, which recalls to our mind the common sacrifices made by men and women of the whole Empire.

“While regretting that your stay among us is so short, owing to the pressure of duties of your high office, we desire to express to you, as the representative of our noble and beloved King, our unswerving loyalty to His Majesty and the Empire of which he is the head. Moreover, the members of this branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association make this pledge, that should it be the Empire’s sad misfortune to have to enter into another war in the defence of its sacred principles and traditions we will be prepard ’to go forward again and do our part to the best of our strength and ability. That your Excellency may enjoy the tour which you are making and that long life and good health may be vouchsafed to you are the sincere wishes of this, the Manana branch of. the Returned Soldiers’ A?sociation.”

Lord Jellicoe replied: “I acknowledge with much appreciation your expression of devotion and loyalty to His Majesty and the Empire, of which you have given sueh convincing proof during the late war, and I welcome your pledge of renewed service in the event of a recurrence of such a crisis, for it is the knowledge of the Empire’s strength and unity, and its readiness to champion the cause of freedom in the future as m the past, that is most calculated to prevent a further war throughout the world. Her Excellency and I are grateful indeed for your warm words of welcome to us. and we fee] the more touched in that they come from comrades of those brave men, whose glorious memory and noble self-sacrifice for the Empire we are to-day gathered together to perpetuate. We are very grateful for the good wishes which you offer to us .and we hope that you will long be spared to enjoy happiness and prosperity in this beautiful country, for the safety of which you have given sueh great service.”

Lord Jellicoe then unveiled the monument which has been erected in memory of the Manaia fallen soldiers. The monument is an obelisk bearing on one side the inscription: “To our glorious dead who fell in the Great War, 19141918.” On two other sides are inscribed the following names of those who fell: A. Aitken, C. H. M. Mills, H. C. H. Anderson. C. Austey, (E. Barlow, E. Bennett, L. Butler, A. Cadman, A. A. Campbell, C. C. Campbell, W. A. Clay. J. E. Clegg, L. J. Cunningham, J. Davidoon, A. Dixon, S. Doak. E. Gamlin, A. J. Gilmour, VV. Hamerton, C. Hill, C. Hughes, J. Hughes. R. C. Johnstone, \V. K. Le Fleming, J. VV. Leslie, T. Lloyd. D. McConachie, L. W. Meuli, P. Murphy, P. L. Parry. L. A. Ricketts, and D. M. Young.

His Excellecy said that it was ft great occasion for which they were gathered together—to perpetuate the selfsacrifice of the men in the district who gave their all for the cause of Empire, and for the sake of civilisation in the greatest struggle in history. It was very satisfactory to know that they did not pay that price in vain. It was their duty in the future to see that the ideals for which they fought were upheld and <to see that their memories were reverenced. and that those who were dependent upon them did not want in the future.

This was a great district; a district fraught with military memories from the early history of the British race in

New Zealand. He hoped he would see some of the historic spots before leaving. Those who fought a gentlemanly fight some 50 or 60 years ago now lived together in peace. It was a gentlemanly fight and left no bitter memories behind it. It was very generous of the inhabitants of Manaia to gather rohnd to take part in the ceremony and give him a chance of meeting them. In conclusion, he asked for a holiday for the school children.

A party of little girls presented Lady •Jellicoe with a bouquet of flowers, and after their Excellencies had conversed with leading residents for a short time they drove away amidst cheers and good wishes. During their visit the Manaia Municipal Band played selections. ARRIVAL AT AUROA. ANOTHER GREAT WELCOME. THE WAR MEMORIAL. There was another enthusiastic gathering of residents at Auroa when the vice-regal party arrived. A guard of honor was comprised of returned men. Mr. N. Bradford, chairman of the Auroa Patriotic Society, briefly' welcomed the Governor. They were, he said gathered together to show their last respects to the dead soldiers of the district. Each one of them was a unit in the greatest army they had known, and they had died for the cause of justice. He asked Lord Jellicoe to unveil the memorial. His Excellency said: “I esteem very highly the -privilege of being asked today to take part in this ceremony—a very solemn ceremony. I feel that in selecting His Majesty’s representative to unveil this memorial you are giving

again proof of the New Zealanders" esteem for the Throne and’loyalty. And a.s His Majesty’s representative I ap-

preciate the honor of representing him on this most solemn occasion. Nobody appreciates more than His Majesty the great work which has been done by the men of this Dominion in fighting for i the cause of Empire, freedom and civilisation. I know also that His Majesty would feel at this moment the deepest sympathy with the relatives of those whose names are inscribed on this memorial. His Majesty would, I feel sure, look with pride upon those returned soldiers who are present to-day to do honor to our fallen comrades.”

He then unveiled the memorial, which is a beautiful column, on the top of which stands a statuette of a New Zealand soldier. The memorial is inscribed “To the Glorious Dead,” and the names on it are: Private H. J. L. Anderson, Gunner A. A. Campbell, Corporal J. tE. Clegg, Private A. B. Curry, Private S. VV. Doak, Rifleman R. G. Johnstone, Rifleman H. Parkinson, irooper M. L. Poofe, and Private A. Smith. •

Whilst the memorials were being unveiled at Manaia and Auroa Sergt.Major Mahoney played the “Last Poet.”

Mr. Bradford, on behalf of the Auroa school committee and the South Taranaki Cricket Association, asked his Excellency to present the team of the Auroa primary school with the shield which they had won in last summer’s competition. o His Excellency presented the shield and shook hands with the members of the team and Mr. Larkom, teacher and coach of the boys, at whose call three cheers were given for Their Excellencies. Mr. O. Hawken, M.P. also spoke briefly, expressing the very deep appreciation of the residents of the Governor's visit. His Excellency said he would like to say before he went that if there was one thing more than another which he and her Excellency liked it was to go to one of the country districts of New Zealand. There was no credit attached to going four miles out of one’s way to perrorni'- a ceremony which it was a real honor to carry out. He was also pleased to have the opportunity of seeing some of the country of that beautiful district and to meet those who were the producers of NewZealand, He knew- as well as they did that everything in New Zealand depended opon what was produced out of the soil. He wished them every prosperity. He asked for a holiday for the school children. A party of little girls presented Lady Jellicoe with a bouquet and Their Excellencies left for Opunake amidst cheers. AT OPUNAKE. WELCOME FROM LARGE CROWD. START OF WAR MEMORIAL. Driving from Auroa, His Excellency himself took the ■wheel. The residents of Opunake had gathered in large numbers outside tlfe post office when the party arrived, and the Opunake Band was also in attendance. Their Excellencies were met by Mr. S. Campbell, chairman of .the County Council. Mr. Campbell welcomed His Excellency on behalf of the County Council, the Opupake Town Board, and the Opunake Harbor Board, and the county clerk (Mr. G. W. Rogers) read the -following address:—

“It gives us great pleasure to welcome you, as the representative of His Majesty King George V. to this remote part of His Majesty’s Dominion, to express our sincere loyalty to King and Empire, and thankfulness to Almighty God for the preservation and deliverance of the Empire in the mighty struggle recently engaged in. “We desire to tender to you personally our sincere welcome and gratitude for the able and successful part played by you in the late war. in guiding and directing the Grand Fleet to successful victory. We also congratulate you on the appointment as Governor-General of this very important Dominion, basking in the solubrious climate of the 'South Pacific.

“We heartily wish you and Lady Jellicoe and family a happy and joyous, sojourn in the Dominion, and i*ust your term Of office will be a lengthy

His Excellency replied: “I thank you for the loyal words in which you express your devotion to the King and Empire., and I share your gratitude to the Almighty in that it pleased Him to grant victory to our cause in the Great War, in which New‘Zealand is so justly proud

of the part played by her sons for the cav.se of the Empire. “1 am sincerely grateful for the kindly words in which you greet me as His

Majesty’s repre-entarivr. t and in which you express your appreciation of my appointment, and of such services as I was able to render during the war.

“On behalf of Her Excellency and of our family, I acknowledge with gratitude your good wishes for our health and happiness in New Zealand, and we sincerely hope that the same may fall jo the lot rtf all the. people o-f this beautiful country.”

After the formal address in reply His Excellency said: “I want again, in less formal language, to expfess to you out oreat pleasure to come, even for so brief a period, to this town.” He thanked thent for coming to see him in such large numbers. The population of Opunake. he was told, was only 509, but he could hardly believe that when he saw all of thorn, before him. He knew by repute the beauties of the district, and only wished that time would give him an opportunity o-f seeing them, but they had some years to spend in New Zealand, and it was likely that this would not be his only visit to Opunake. He knew that Opunake was one of the watering places of the district. He asked for a holiday for the school children.

A bouquet was presented to Lady Jellicoe by a little girl, and the party then proceeded to the cliffs overlooking the beach, where the Governor laid the stone for the Opunake war memorial, and took the opportunity of saying with what deep appreciation he took part in a ceremony which had for its object the perpetuation of the memories of those who fell in the Great War. Such memories were of great value in bringing the young children of New Zealand up !to remember what great sacrifices their [forefathers made for the Empire, and !it would . infinite them to carry on, he [hoped, the great work which their forefathers had commenced. He hoped that I before long the memorial would be finished. As a sailor its position, averi looking the sea, appealed to him. | After conversing with local residents on matters in connections with the harbor, the party returned to the town and were entertained th afternoon tea at the Club Hotel, and left Opunake at about 4.30 for New Plymouth.