UNFORTUNATE DELAY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3150, 13 December 1923, Page 4

UNFORTUNATE DELAY

MANY CHILDREN FAINT. GOVERNOR-GENERAL SOLICITOUS. Considerable delay was caused in the arrival of His Excellency the GovernorGeneral at the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, owing to the time occupied in unloading His-Excellency's motor-car from the Auckland train. It was an exceedingly hot day, and the long wait proved most trying for all, and particularly so for the girl and boy scouts and school children, who had been on parade for a very long time, assembling at 12.45, and the ceremony not being completed until nearly 3 p.m. The children, too, were grouped in close proximity to the crowd, and got but little fresh air. No less than sixteen children collapsed owing to ,tho heat and the great strain, and oncers and others were kept busy in carrying.them away and attending to, of them recovered very quickly. V,. .'. His Excellency the Governor-General was greatly concerned at the inconvenience caused by his delay, and apologised for his lateness. He wag also most solicitous on behalf of the welfare of the children who had fainted, and on his departure from Cambridge on Tuesday night, expressly urged the Mayor to send him a telegram tho next morning stating how the children were progressing. His Excellency was not responsible for the delay, but stated he felt that he should have made more careful arrangements, and guarded against such a contingency. The Mayor received a telegram from Viscount Jellicoe this morning, acknowledging receipt of the Mayor's telegram, and expressing pleasure that the children affected by the heat, had all recovered^