WEEK-END EVENTS TO GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1935, Page 11

WEEK-END EVENTS

TO GOVERNOR-GENERAL

APPRECIATION EXPRESSED LETTER FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. i “AN AFFECTIONATE FAREWELL.” . i Following is the text of a letter forwarded by the Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, to His Excellency, The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe:— “On the eve of your departure from New Zealand I desire, on behalf of the residents of New Plymouth and the surrounding district, to bid Your Excellencies a most affectionate farewell. By the intimate and sympathetic maimer in which you have both associated yourselves with the national life of the Dominion, and by your consistent efforts to promote and advance their welfare and happiness, you have endeared yourselves to our people, and the memory of your stay amongst us will always remain one of our most precious memories. “It is impossible to estimate the value of Your Excellency’s work and influence during your term as Governor-General. New Zealand has indeed cause to be grateful to the homeland for the character, experience and personality of the distinguished men she has from time to time appointed to carry out the duties of Governor-General. Many of them have. been exceptional men, who have rendered notable service-men whom we ' have learned to trust, to admire and to be proud of. Yet we feel we do no injustice to your predecessors when we say that none have discharged the duties of tliis high office with a greater sense of responsibility, greater acumen, versatility, cheerfulness, love for the people and simplicity of greatness than Your Excellency has done. PERIOD OF STRESS. "The years of your sojourn, amongst us were made more full and exacting by the period of economic stress through which we have recently passed. Throughout this period your cheerful and confident faith in the ability of the Empire to weather the storm was a great comfort and mainstay to our people. Your activities in the interest of the people of this Dominion have been so numerous and so varied that it would be a hopeless task to attempt; to enumerate them. "As the centre of a dairying and agricultural district, however, we feel that we should express our appreciation of the wide and practical knowledge of agricultural principles and practice displayed by you, and the invaluable, advice thereon which at all times you so cheerfully and willingly placed at our disposal “We feel deeply grateful- for the manner in which you have impressed on the people of this Dominion the value of their magnificent heritage of native flora and the need for conserving and enriching it by protective measures and by systematic cultivation. * Your interest in our historic land-marks,' and your constant stressing of the necessity for their preservation have also earned our admiration. A very marked instance of this was the magnificent and' inspiring gift by yourself and Lady Bledisloe of the lands known- as the Waitangi National Trust, which has ensured the preservation for all time of an historic spot which may rightly be described as the cradle of the Nation. “UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADOR.” “Though you are leaving New Zealand, we feel confident that you will still maintain an active interest in the welfare of our people and the. destiny of New Zealand. Actually, we feel that we are not losing your services entirely, but that we will always have in you an unofficial ambassador at the heart of the Empire, familiar with all our difficulties, tolerant of our weaknesses and sympathetic with our aims and aspirations. “We ask you to take with you to the homeland a message that in this far-distant outpost of the Empire our hearts beat responsive to those who inhabit the land from which our forefathers departed in days gone by, and that, notwithstanding that those who first settled this country have since passed away, there remains with our people an undiminished loyalty, love and devotion to the British Crown, and to all it represents. We venture to express the hope that the great experience and gifts which you possess may not be lost to the people, but that they may continue to be used in the service of the King in .other spheres for the consolidation and welfare of our Great Empire. . . I . “We will always remember with great pleasure your several visits to New Plymouth, and, in particular, the' occasion when you formally opened the beautiful Brooklands Park. We view ■with sincere regret your impending departure, and express to you the esteem and affection of the people of this district. It is our sincere hope that at some future time circumstances may permit you both to return to New Zealand, even though your visit be short. We can assure you that no visitore would be more welcome. We again thank you and Lady Bledisloe for the splendid service you have both rendered to the Dominion, and for the beneficent interest and concern you have always displayed in the welfare of its people. “We trust that you may long be spared to each other in the full enjoyment of the best of health, and every prosperity, and that always amongst the most pleasant memories of your lives will be those of the years you spent in this . Dominion."