“KIA ORA."

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1924, Page 3

“KIA ORA."

A POPULAR GOVERNOR. • ... (FAREWELL FROM NEW. PLYMOUTH. TRIBUTES FROM THE PEOPLE. REGRET AT HIS DEPARTURE. An official farewell to His Excellency 'the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicoe) and Lady Jellicoe was 'tendered, by the people of New Plymtnith ait Everybody’s Theatre yesterday. Every seat in the theatre was occupied, prominent in the front row of the stalls being a number of Maori War veterans. Their Excellencies, who were accompanied by the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe and Captains Southey and Curtis, were received by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and the Mayoress, on behalf of the people of New’ Plymouth, Mr. J. Connett (chairman of the Taranaki County Council) and Mrs. Connett on behalf of the people of the surrounding district, and Lieut.-Colonel C. H. Weston, on behalf of the ex-service men. Lady Jellicoe was made the recipient of a very pretty bouquet of anemones and maiden-hair fern at the hands of the Mayoress. Also ■on the platform were the members of the New Plymouth Borough Council. An apology for absence was received from Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., whose Parliamentary duties had called him to Wellington. THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS. Following the singing of the first verse of the National Anthem, the Mayor briefly thanked His Excellency for the opportunity he nad given the people of New Plymouth to express their esteem for him, and. to bid His Excellency and Lady Jellicoe farewell. When the news first reached New Zealand that His Excellency had accepted the appointment of His Majesty’s representative in this Dominion, the feelings of the people, the Mayor said, were those of pride that so distinguished a servant of the Crown, at the very apex of his career, had consented to leave the’ centre of the Empire, with all that it meant, to come to this distant Dominion and to live with u« for a period of over four years. (Applause). The people of New Zealand had never been unmindful that it was due to the constant vigilance of Viscount Jellicoe and those who had served under him that these distant shores had been protected from invasion. It was also because the Government of this country was desirous of learning the best means of protecting the Dominion from future enemies that the people felt very gratified that His Excellency, who was in a position to give the best advice obtainable in the Empire, had consented to come to New Zealand.

These feelings of pride and satisfaction, however, were soon overwhelmed by what lie might term affectionate regard, the Mayor continued. No sooner had Their Excellencies come to reside in this Dominion than they set themselves out to become deeply acquainted wi,h New Zealand and its people, until now they knew this country better than New Zealanders themselves. Their Excellencies had identified themselves with every phase of the life of the people and the people had learnt to know them. They had patronised the sports of the people and had appealed to the British instinct for sport by patronising so many branches of it. But what above all had endeared Their Excellencies to the people was the freauy way in which they had responded to the many requests from all parts of the Dominion to take part in the dedication ceremonies in connection with the memorials that nad been erected oy the people to the memory of the men who lost their lives in the late war.

ROLE OF AMBASSADORS. New Plymouth appreciated what His Excellency had don? the previous day at the cenotaph, and the Mayor thought that the people appreciated it even more that day, because, having responded, they recognised that His Excellency gave of himself in the surrounding circumstanced. So, now that the time for the departure of Their Excellencies had come, the people from the bottom of their hearts said farewell with regret. But there was a silver lining to the cloud, for they felt that Their Excellencies, leaving New Zealand as they did. would lx k going abroad as ambassadors. They knew the people of New Zealand, and on their return to the Old Country they felt that both His Excellency and Lady Jellicoe would be able to remove some of those misunderstandings which tended to keep component parts of the Empire, apart, misunderstandings, which, God forbid, might tend to sever those invisible links which bound this Dominion to the Motherland, On behalf of the people of New Plymouth, Mr. Wilson then extended to Their Excellencies and family and all connected with tlrem the best wishes of the people for a safe return to the Homeland, and long life and prosperity. In speaking on behalf of the country people of Taranaki, Mr. J. 8. Connett, chairman of the Taranaki County Oc-uncil, expressed his sincere appreciation of tJie services rendered by Their Excellencies during the past four years. The people had nothing but regret now that Their Excellencies had received a call from the Homeland which could no longer be disregarded. When in 1919, continued Mr. Connett, Viscount Jellicoe had accepted the position as Governor-General of New Zealand, the news that the most distinguished admiral in the British Navy was coming to New Zealand had been received with great satisfaction, for New Zealanders felt it was an honour indeed. LINKS WITH THE NAVY. The pioneers of Taranaki had com? originally from the west coast of England, which since the days of Drake had been closely associated with the Buitis-h Navy. Indeed a large proportion of the population were descendants of early settlers from Devon and Cornwall. Another reason for New Zealand's eense of honour at the privilege of •hpving a representative of the great navy as "Governor, said Mr. v-onnett, •was the work done by the navy in the Great War. There were some things people did not wish to recall bearing on the Great War. but one had to remember that through the services of the navy not one of our troopships was

lost. Thon, again, there was the value of the navy in the protection of commerce and the (Carriage of the Dominioai’s produce to England. It was the piodnce carried so safely which provided the sinews of war at that time. It was a fnatter for high congratulation that our men were sent overseas from New Zealand, which was but a small unit of the Empire, and every effort was made to give them a safe passage. Mr. Connett proceeded to review the work done by the navy throughout the war. Even in New Zealand waters, he said, every craft was .in danger o-f striking mines, but except for several vessels sunk on this account and *by •submarines, and the loss of several warfchips near the American coast, the safety of vessels had -been most successfully guatded. In addition, the navy had been responsible for such achieveiflents as the destruction of the Emden iby H.M.AJ3. Sydney and the victory of Admiral St uird.ee at the Falkland Islands. All these things brought home to the people their entire dependence of the British Navy, for the days of universal peace were not yet at hand. THE EARLY SETTLERS. Reverting to the subject of New Zealand’s early pioneers, Mt. Connett analysed the aims of the men and women from Devon and Cornwall in coming such a long distance to the Dominion. They came, he said, to obtain freedom or thought and freedom of action. They cherished the idea of farming freehold land, and thought there would be greater opportunity in the new country than in the Old Land.- ’They had maintained unfailing loyalty to King and country, a loyalty that had never since wavered. Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, King Edward and Queen Alexandra. King Geoige and Queen Maty, and in more modern times still the Prince of Whies (prolonged applause), all had been regarded with rhe •highest esteem, love and affection by the early pioneers and their children’s children.

The King’s representative in New Zealand, concluded Mr. Connett, had done much to forge the chains of empire. New Zealand was only a speck in the ocean, a tiny country with a population smaller than that of many cities, but its position as an integral part of the Empird had been consolidated by the interest taken in its welfare by* Their Excellencies. In bidding farewell he could only endorse what the Mayor had said, and he hoped that Their Excellencies would continue, in the years to come, to draw closer together the bonds of empire. TRIBUTE FROM EX SOLDIERS. After referring in humorous vein to the great desire of every boy to enter the Navy and to the advice that is given them as to how they may all become admirals, Lieut.-Colonel Weston, speaking on behalf of the ex-service men, emphasised the constant desire of the officers and men of the Navy to improve the efficiency of themselves and the fleet. Every day the heads of the Navy asked the officers and men what they were doing to improve the service, and that meant that every day the officers and men asked themselves the same question. And when that question was asked day by day and year by year by a man possessed of a great personality and a great heart, they could understand that that man would become In the end a powerful agent for improvement. That, Colonel Weston ventured to say. was why the four years of His Excellency’s office in this country had been productive of such good. The people saw that in his every action, great and small, he had asked himself in what way could he benefit the country. Four years was a big span out of a man’s life, and it was a bigger span still when they considered the quality of that life, because one could count on one’s lingers the number of men raised to eminence during the momentous years of 1914 to 1918. Viscount Jellicoe was one of them. New Zealand was very grateful to the Imperial Government for allowing His ExcqJlency to come to this Dominion, and he thought the ex-service men of this country would like to regard it as a very graceful compliment to th? sacrifice* New Zealand had made. They would also like to thank His Excellency for the great sacrifice he had made in coming to this country. Fie had drawn more tightly the bonds between New Zealand and the Mother Cr. tint ry, and there wa s not hi n g we con do that would repay him. When His Excellency went away he would carry with him the esteem and regard of every man and woman in the country. (Applause.) Whenever the name of Jellicoe was mentioned in a New Zealand home, Colonel Weston added, it would carry with it a wealth of affection, an affection of that type which refuses to acknowledge any criticism. On behalf of the ex-service men he thanked His Excellency for what he had done for the country. THE GOVERNOR’S REPLY.

Viscount .Jellicoe was very warmly greeted on rising to reply. It was very difficult, he said, to find words in which to express the deep gratitude which he felt for the very kindly remarks which had fallen from the lips of Mr. Wilson, Mr. Oomnett and Lieut.Colonel Weston. Beginning with the ex-service men, he deeply appreciated the very kindly expressions which Colonel Weston had made on their behalf. It was quite natural that anybody belonging to one of the .services should feel exceedingly the goodwill and loyalty of the men of the services. He would treasure Colonel Weston’s words very deeply in his heart. On behalf of the people of New Plymouth, Mr. Wilson ’nad also made very kindly remarks, His Excellency continued, and had given Lady Jellicoe and himself many good wishes for which he was deeply grateful, while, on behalf of the men and women of the country, those engaged in the primary industries, Mr. Connett had extended their good wishes, which .he also deeply appreciated. In all these matters, he was sure Her Excellency associated herself with what he had said.

All the speakers had made kindly reference to the work of the Navy during the war, and on behalf of his brother officers and the men of the Royal Navy ;-he would like to express his gratitude for what had been said. The Navy. Viscount Jellicoe added, had done what it was ouilt and maintained for, and had endeavoured to do its duty during the war. Its operations had taken it all over the world, and had involved immense convoy work, but it had done its work ahd its duty. BEAUTIFUL TARANAKI. It was a very sad moment when one had to say “Good-bye” to a place one liked and admired. His Excellency went on. and New Plymouth was one of those ■places which luady Jellicoe and he would

remember, he was sure, -as long as they lived. New Plymouth was indeed a beauty snot,’ and, as Mr. Connett had said, it brought to one’s mind the West Country of Great Britain, that country from which -so many of the settlers of Taranaki had come and which wa* also a beauty spot sudi as New Zealand. If they were ever in danger of forgetting New Plymouth, which was not likely as far as he was concerned. it would need only a journey into the West Country to bring to mind this portion of New Zealand. Plymouth in England had produced many sailors. It was surrounded and was enveloped with naval associations, and it was a place where the people had the some warm-hearted and affectionate nature that distinguished the people of New Plymouth and Taranaki.

He would like to assure the people of New Plymouth, and indeed the people of the whole of the Dominion, that it was no .sacrifice for one to come and live ambngst them. It was a pleasure that could not be too ofteiv-repeated did conditions permit of it. No one could come to this Dominion without feeling a deep glow of satisfa<‘tion. The blessings whinh Nature had bestowed on it seemed to make the people generously inclined and warm-hearted towards the stranger who came amongst th*m.

"It is very difficult to say ‘Goodbye’ to such an audience as this,” His Excellency said in closing. “We deeply appreciate the opportunity of bidding you farewell, and. in doing <so. I would like to express the hope that Providence in His bounty will give you and yOHirs the prosperity yon wish for yourselves. Kia Ora."

Three rousing cheers were then given for Their Excellencies and the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe, followed by the singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows.” The vice-regal party were afterwards the guests of the council of the Victoria League at morning tea.