SAILORS IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Age, 6 May 1924, Page 5

SAILORS IN WAIRARAPA

A GREAT DAV AT MASTERTON

FOUR HUNDRED ON LEAVE

WET WEATHER BUT A WARM WELCOME

Masterton’s welcome to tne Special Service Squadron of the Royal Navy took place yesterday when 350 seamen of the Hood and Repulse and. 50 of the Australian cruiser Adelaide, visited Wairarapa. There were 70 or 80 petty officers in the party, C.P.O. Kissiek (of the Repulse) being the senior. In spite of the heavy rain and drizzle which prevailed most of the day the men appeared thoroughly to enjoy their visit to Masterton and they left by the special train in the evening completely satisfied that this was a place which would live in their memories. The committee which had the reception in hand deserves every credit for the suitability and the completeness of tho arrangements, which were excellent in every respect. At the railway station was the Municipal Band and a smart soldierly guard of the Wairarapa High School Cadets under Lieut. Bird. Owing to the absence of Officers, there could be no ceremonial march, but the men fell in behind the band and matched easy up to the town, round Queen street and back to the Municipal Hall. There was a great crowd both at the station and in the streets, and the men had a cordial reception all along the route. Most of the schools turned out, and the shops were closed for the hours of arrival to enable all to take part in the welcome. The High School cadets followed the sailprs, their bearing after the week’s solid training being favourably commented on. On reaching the Municipal Hall again, the men were informed of the programme for the day and then dismissed for half an hour or so to wander about until luncheon. Many of them were at once taken in charge by owners of motors and driven out to see the sights. THE LUNCHEON. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. The’ lubche'on at the Municipal Hall at midday was a complete success, reflecting credit on all concerned and particularly on the large body of ladies who undertook the duty of waiting. The tables, 10 in number, and each accommodating 50 men, were tastefully set and well stocked with a very appetising and complete meal, the caterer being Mr W. Jenkins. The decorations of the hall were especially fine. With the Mayor sat the chairman of the Masterton County Council (Air W. I. Armstrong), the Mayors of Featherston (Mr J. W. Card) and Greytown (Mr W. A. Hutton) and the chairman of the Martinborough Town Board (Mr M. R. Smith), Colonel Hart, Mr S. L. P. Free, S.M., Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., members of the Borough Council and of the reception committee, with a number or petty officers from the Squadron, including C. P. O. Kissiek, who was the senior officer with the party. “

The Rev. W. Bullock having said grace, the meal commenced. The waiting was expeditious and smooth and to music supplied by the Maori orchestra the time passed pleasantly. The Maoris also, to the great edification of the sailors, danced several pois and gave a spirited haka. Mr W. Rautu leading and singing a patriotic song.

After the loyal toast, the Mayor extended a warm welcome to the representatives of the Grand Old British Navy on behalf of Ma-sterton and the whole of the Wairarapa. They were proud, he said, of the privilege of having with them the cream of the British Navy. (Loud applause.) The traditions and the wonderful spirit of the British Navy were well represented in the 400 gallant Jack Tars whom they were so glad to welcome. At this table were representatives of all the local bodies in the Wairarapa, and they were all proud to have the privilege of welcoming the men. Mr A. D. Mcteod, M.P., had apologised for his absence and also Mr J. D. Wilson Mayor of Pahiatua, Mr W. Fisher (Mayor of Carterton), Mr J. B. Carruthers (chairman of tho Eketahuna County Council), Mr Q. Donald (Featherston) and Mr T. V. Moore (South Wairarapa) and Mr H. H. Mawley| There were 175 men from tho Hood (applause)—-125 from the Repulse (greater applause)—and last, but not least 50 of their brethren from the Ade laide of the Royal Australian Navy. (Loud and continued cheering.) H o asked them to understand that though Masterton had only 8000 people it was as great in area as the inner City of London. Finally he hoped to see them there again five years hence. (Applause.) Mr Armstrong, proposing the toast of the Navy, said: On behalf of the residents of Masterton County, I have very great pleasure iu extending to you the heartiest of welcomes to our town. We are pleased to have the opportunity of personally rnanxing you as representatives of our incomparable Navy, for keeping the seas safe during the Groat War. We desire to tell you that we fully recognise that without the protection of the Royal Navy, it would be impossible for us: to remain an entity of the Great Empire, because the British Navy is, as it has been through all the ages, the Eita/ pire’s “sure shield.” To you, worthy successors of Drake, Hawkins, Raleigh, Grenville, and Nelson; who made the name of Britain’s sea power a byword, and saved : it from ■ac.rtrtrc-’ tion on at least five different occasions,

we extend our warmest best wishes. (Applause.) W© sincerely trust that your visit to Masterton will be full of pleasant memories, and that your great Empire cruise will be an object lesson to all pirts of the Empire, and will impress upon them the fact that the Navy is our ‘all in all.’ In conclusion, I would again offer you, on behalf of the residents of the Masterton County, a very warm welcome to our little inland town. (Applause.) Chief Petty Officer Kissiek, replying, said ho wished on behalf of the men of the Fleet present to thank them all for their very hearty welcome. He did not intend to make a long speech as tho Mayor had asked them to be short, so he would cut out the rough stuff. He would just ask them to give three hearty cheers to show the feelings of gratitude that were bottled up in their hearts.

The cheers were given most heartily, again and again. An amusing interlude was provided by one of the seamen, who stood forward on the stage and, speaking typically on behalf of th© Tower <recK, thanked Masterton for the good time they were having. They did not know what-was before them until one or two people picked up some of their stragglers in tho town. He had met a citizen in the town who told him how those who came in the early days hacr not much to spend. They came her© down and out, and what they had today they had developed from the country. This (jitizen came without a penny, and now he had £loo,ooo t (Laughter and applause.) He expressed the warm appreciation of the sailors for the kindness of the “ladies in waiting,” and his call Tor cheers tor them was most warmly responded to. On behalf of th© Maoris an old chief, Apuhata Makairo, extended a cordial welcome to the representatives of the British Navy. The Maori, he said, understood that it was only through the strength of the British Navy that they were able to ■ enjoy that freedom and equality that they were promised under the Treaty of Waitangi (Loud applause). The visitors much enjoyed the Maori dances and treasured the souvenir menu cards designed by Mr Jackson and translated by Mr C. Beetham, of which each was given a copy. ROUND THE DISTRICT. A FLEET OF CARS. Between 1.30. and 2 oi’cloek a continuous stream of cars departed from the Municipal Hall for a trip around many parts of the district. The original route planned was via Te Whiti and Gladstone back to Masterton, but, as things turned out, many car-owncrs took their passengers over other routes. Over 150 cars (far more than necessary) turned out. Several made the trip to the top of Bennett’s Hill, others went by the official route, others to Carterton,- and others over Opaki : and Te Ore Ore. A number of the visitors were taken through Waingawa Meat Works, where they were most interested. The majority of them being engineers the refrigerating plant so kept their attention that it was difficult to get them away to time. Te Ore Orc Maori pa was visited by a number, and here the sailors were delighted with the novelty of seeing for the first time a relic of old New Zealand. Those who did not go on a motor trip obtained bicycles and were to be seen enjoying themselves on the outskirts of the town, while a number visited the Masterton Park and other places of interest in Masterton itself.

At 4.30 p.m. all returned to the Municipal Hall, where they were entertained at tea. Everything possible was done at tea to make the men enjoy themselves. This they did, and towards the conclusion Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist A. V. Kissiek expressed thanks on behalf of the visitors, stating that their short stay in Masterton had been one of the most enjoyable and instructive that they had experienced. • The Maori entertainers excelled themselves, being the “life of the party, ’ ’ and Mr W. Rautu gave a short speech in Maori, which the Mayor of Masterton (Mr O. N. C. Pragnell), much to the amusement of the crowd, translated as “Good-bye. Be good!”

Most of those present followed Mr W. Iggulden’s load in singing “The Navy, the British Navy,’’.followed by the National Anthem, and “Auld Lang Syne.”

To farewell the sailors a large and joyous crowd assembled at the railway station, where the scene was a memorable one. After much persuasion, and good-natured bauter, the men were got aboard and the train steamed out amid hearty cheers, leaving a few belated but quite unperturbed stragglers behind. /