NEW GOVERNOR

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 7

NEW GOVERNOR

DOMINION’S WELCOME

SCENES AT WELLINGTON

ALL RESTRAINT CAST OFF

CROWDS BESIEGE PARTY

LORD AND LADY GALWAY

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A very cordial reception was accorded the new Governor-General, Viscount Galway, and Lady Galway when they landed this morning with a booming salute of 19 guns. Although a chilly wind was blowing the rain eased off and people in fair numbers assembled to greet the new Governor-General as he drove through the streets. After the official reception on the wharf, the Vice-Regal party drove to the citizens’ war memorial, at the foot of which Lord Galway deposited a wreath. Here it was that the public had their first glimpse of His Majesty’s representative, and his tall and soldierly figure and dignified bearing were greatly impressive. Restraint was thrown to the winds and cheering crowds besieged) the two cars, the first bearing Lord and Lady Galway and their little son and the second their young daughters. A very favourable impression was created, and all along the route to the town hall for the reception were cheering groups of people. Their Excellencies, who were obviously taking a great interest in their first glimpse of the city to be their future home, graciously acknowledged the greetings extended them. GREETING AT SHIP’S SIDE. Ceremonial welcomes were carried) out at the ship’s side this morning. Punctually at 9.15 the administrator of the Government, Sir Michael Myers, attended by the acting clerk of the Executive ouncil, Mr. A. W. Mulligan, boarded the Rangitata, and five minutes later they were followed by the acting-Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and the following Ministers of the Crown: Mr. E. A. Ransom, Sir Alexander Young, Mr. Adam Hamilton, Mr. J. Bitchener and Mr. S. G. Smith. They were followed by the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, MajorGeneral Sir William Sinclair Burgess, and the rear-admiral commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Rear-Admiral F. Burges Watson. At 9.35 the Ministers of the Crown and naval and military officers disembarked, and were followed almost immediately by Sir Michael Myers, attended by Mr. Mulligan. The Vice-Regal party disembarked at 9.42 a.m., and as they stepped on to the wharf a salute of 19 guns was fired by the Point Jerningham battery. His Excellency, who was wearing the uniform prescribed for the Governor-General, was attended by his aides, Captain A. Heber-Percy, Major A. F. Purvis, M.C., and Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, R.N., and was received by Sir Michael Myers and Mr. Coates at the foot of the gangway. The party moved inside the Pipitea wharf shed, where a guard of honour supplied by the New Zealand Division of the Navy gave a Royal salute. INSPECTION OF GUARD. Lord Galway with Sir Michael Myers inspected the guard, after which the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. T. R. Barrer, was presented to Lord Galway by Sir Michael Myers. Lady Myers and the wives of Ministers of the Crown were presented to Their Excellencies, who were later escorted to a dais, where Mr. Barrer presented members of the Harbour Board and their wives, and afterwards officially welcomed Their Excellencies and family and read an address.

In his reply Lord Galway said! he appreciated the kindly expressed hope that their stay in the Dominion would be happy. The warm-hearted reception they and their children had received and the proverbial reputation of the people of New Zealand for loyalty and friendly goodwill had> already given them confidence that with God’s blessing that hope would be realised. There was a large crowd on the wharf, and as the party left the dais and inspected the Girl Guides on parade they were heartily cheered. The official party travelled straight to the memorial from the wharf. A guard of honour composed; of members of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Wellington Association under Colonel Cowles, president of the Wellington Association, lined either side of the steps leading up to the shrine. APPEAL OF PERSONALITY. A big crowd long before had gathered round and when the tall soldierly figure of the new Governor-General appeared from the car the people forgot for the moment that the occasion was a solemn one, the appeal of his personality breaking down all restraint. The crowd rushed across to the steps of the memorial, cheering as they ran. Lord Galway was met by Colonel Cowies and introduced to Mr. Spence, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Mr. J. W. Harper, representing the New Zealand Returned; Soldiers’ Association. The wreath was composed of laurel leaves and Flanders poppies made by disabled New Zealand ex-servicemen. The ceremony presented a scene both impressive and colourful. The broken weather prevented a large number of people attending, but all walks of life were represented in the gathering. At the Town Hall Lord and Lady Galway and' children were welcomed by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. J. G. Coates and Mrs. Cotes, city councillors, and senior officers of the council. The meeting was informal. The children were a trifle shy and stayed close to their mother and father mostly, but talked a little occasionally. Much of the talk of everyone was about the voyage and the children were chiefly concerned whether their ponies would be all right. A warm and sincere welcome to Wellington was given Lord and Lady Galway by citizens in the town hall in the evening. Every part of the big building was occupied, and those present were not slow to seize every opportunity of demonstrating the cordiality of their feelings. On behalf of the city the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, who presided, presented His Excellency with an illuminated address and a water colour, which, as he expressed it, depicted a local scene which the weather probably had prevented Their Excellencies from seeing as yet. Those on the platform, in addition to the party from Government House, included the acting-Prime Minister, Mr., Ransom and Mrs. Ransom, the Chief Justice and Lady Myers, the Mayoress, the Hon. R. Masters, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., city councillors and members of other local bodies. Upon the arrival of Their Excellencies the huge audience rose as one as the strains of the National Anthem came from the organ. The Mayor in presenting the address and water colour mentioned that the engrossment and illuminations were the work of returned soldiers. Mr. Ran-

som welcomed Lord and Lady Galway on behalf of the Government, and at the conclusion of his speech the Mayor presented the city’s address. In reply Lord Galway gave thanks for the great warmth of welcome and for the city’s souvenir “in remembrance of an unforgettable day and an unforgettable occasion.”