LORD GALWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19407, 6 November 1934, Page 5

LORD GALWAY.

WELL-KEPT SECRET. NEW 'GOVERNOR-GENERAL. WIFE AND YOUNG FAMILY. The Ministry of Dominion Affairs imposes a very strict secrecy on any man who is approached on the subject of his appointment as Governor or Governor-General (writes the London correspondent of the Wellington Post). There is always speculation on the appointment, but as to the selection of Lord Galway as GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, It may be said that his name did not come into such speculation. Indeed, there have never been fewer rumours than on •this occasion, and on the official announcement of the appointment being made there was no one who could say, “There, I told you sol” Negotiations had been going on, however, for a month or two.

As for the secrecy that is Imposed, Lord Galway had an interesting story to tell when I saw him and Lady Galway for a few minutes at the Dominions Office.

On the day before his appointment was announced he was coming away from the Dominions Office when lie met a friend he had not seen for some time. The friend, in his conversation, announced: “And I’m setting out for New Zealand for a really good holiday.” The Governor-General-elect was still under secrecy, and he had to curb the natural desire to respond: “And I am setting out for New Zealand too.” Doubtless the friend read with some surprise next morning that he had been talking to the future Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand, whom he will probably meet out there. Knows About Farming. Lord Galway is essentially a soldier, and he says lie will miss very much his duties as Colonel Commandant of the Honourable Artillery Company, the famous London unit—a position which entails much interesting work with an excellent lot of men. Apart from soldiering, however, Lord Galway has taken a serious interest in farming. lie owns land round his home—The Mantles, Bawtry, Yorkshire. All his farms are now in occupation, but there was a time not long since—when times were even worse than they now are—that lie had to take up the farming of 1500 acres which had no tenant. He lias also studied the theoretical side of farming, so lie will be in a position to lake more than a layman’s interest in the chief industries of the Dominion. in these days there is a good deal of healthy rivalry among the owners of country estates, and Lady Galway has taken a great interest in gardening, botany, and forestry. Various private parks arc from time to time opened to the public, and Lady Galway has been one of the leaders In this movement in her county. A rockery at The Mantles has her special attention. The home, on the borders of Yorkshire and Nottingham, by the way, lias beau tho family scat for 200

years. Previous to that the Galways were further north in Yorkshiro. When Lord and Lady Galway leave for New Zealand The Mantles will probably have to.be left in the hands of a caretaker. It is rather out of the way for a suitable tenant to be found. Bright Little Family. Lady Galway, the daughter of a master of hounds, is herself a horsewoman, and is interested In -other sports. Among these is trout fishing. Both she and her husband visit Scotland periodically for the trout-fishing, and they are both naturally looking forward to the fishing in New Zealand.- Lady Galway has had a great many other more serious Interests in her district, however, and the local newspapers mention that “the fam ly will be very greatly missed in Norm Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, in which districts they have - taken great interest. The Viscountess has done much work for the Queen s Institute of District Nursing.” Viscountess Galway was the H°nLucia White, younger daughter of the third Baron Annaly. She was maid-of-honour to Queen Alexandra from 1919 until her marriage in 1922. Her father was Lord-ln-Walting to King Edward. Her only brother, the present Lord Annaly, is married to Lady Lavinia, daughter of the late Earl Spencer, and her only sister is the Hon. Mrs J. G. Lowther. Her aunt on the paternal side is the Countess of Leicester. There will be a very bright little family for Government House, Wellington. The family consists of Mary, born 1921; Celia, born 1925; Isabel, born 1928; and Simon, born 1929. A MllitJiry Life. Lord Galway was born on March 24, 18S2, and was the only son of the seventh Viscount Galway. After three years at a preparatory school in Berkshire, lie went to Eton in May, 1895, at Impey’s House. Leaving Eton in 1900 lie went to Christ Church, Oxford, where lie obtained a degree in honours in history. His first experience of military life was a commission in the Nottinghamshire Sherwood Bangers Yeomanry. 1900. of which his father was colonel. In 1904 he was gazetted to the Ist Life Guards, of which regiment ho became adjutant in 1908. Attracted by political ambition, he attempted to win the Scarborough constituency for the Conservative cause; and contesting both elections in 1910 was beaten by 52 votes. Determined, however, to succeed, lie continued his endeavour to win the seal, and victory seemed assured when August, 1914, closed the chapter-

He was one of the first to cross ■over to France, with the advance party o* the Corporate Regiment of Household Cavalry, and was in the first train which’left the base for the concentration area.

All through the war he served in France and Flanders, as staff captain. 4th Cavalry Brigade, D.A.A. and Q.M.G., 2nd Cavalry Division, arid finally at Hie end of tlie war as lieuten-ant-colonel A.A. and Q.M.G., 2nd Cavalry Division and obtaining Hie D.S.O. amt 0.8. H. (Mil.). At Hie conclusion of the war tire Scarborough constituency had been altered by I he Redistribution Bill, and lie never' stood for Parliament again,

devoting his energy to the Life Guards, faced with the difficult problem of amalgamation of the Ist and 2nd Life Guards Into one regiment. He commanded from 1925 to 1929. In 1933 he was given the position of colonel oommandant of the Honourable Artillery Company, and also made hon. colonel, 7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hood). Other Interests. Lord Galway is extremely fond of sport of all kinds, especially riding and hunting. In 1907 he won the Ist Life Guard Regimental Race, riding his own horse Egypt, and in 1912 he won the Heavyweight Army Point-to-Point riding his own horse Chantrey. It may be of Interest to Freemasons to know that he Is an enthusiastic member of the Craft. He was initiated in 1908 to the Household Brigade Lodge. He reached the chair in 1919 and took an important part in the ceremonies when 11.R.H. the Prince of Wales was initiated Into that Lodge. He became a Grand Senior Warden in 1925, and in 1927- accompanied Lord Cornwallis, the Deputy Grand Master, on the Masonic Deputation to India. He headed a deputation which visited the Grand Lodge of Canada in Ontario in 1930, and in 1932 accompanied the Pro-Grand Master, Lord Ampthill, on the deputation to Sweden. He belongs to the 33 degree, and is a member of Supreme Council.

lie works hard on local administration and is vice-chairman of the Nottinghamshire County Council. He takes a great interest in political matters, being a strong supporter of the National Government, and at the opening of Parliament in November, 1933, seconded the address.