TOUR CONCLUDES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20715, 27 January 1939, Page 9

TOUR CONCLUDES

GOVERNOR’S VISITS OORDIAL WELCOMES EXTENDED EXPRESSIONS OF LOYALTY (Times Special Reporter) WAIHI, Thursday. The Vice-Regal tour through the Thames Valley district was continued to-day when Lord and Lady Galway visited Paeroa, Waihi and Thames. Illuminated addresses were presented to Their Excellencies at each town. After leaving Te Aroha this morning Their Excellencies were met at the boundary of the Te Aroha Borough and the Ohinemuri County by Mr J. Thorn (M.P. for Thames), Mr W. Marshall > chairman of the Ohinemuri County and an escort comprised of a motor-cycle platoon of the First Battalion, The Hauraki Regiment. The escort, which was under the command of Lieutenant S. Parfltt, was reviewed by Ifis Excellency, after which the Vice-Regal party proceeded to the official welcome at the Paeroa Domain. A large crowd, including the Paeroa Municipal Band, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and members of the St. John Ambulance Association, was present at the domain, and a guard of honour was formed by members of the Paeroa-Hauraki Returned Soldiers’ Association. The illuminated address, presented by Mr W. Marshall (Mayor of Paeroa and chairman of the Ohinemuri County), expressed pleasure at the visit of Their Excellencies and gave an assurance of loyalty to His Majesty, the King. “As the representative of His Majesty, and as one who has rendered conspicuous military service, we think you will be interested to know that Paeroa has been for many years the headquarters of the First Battalion, The Hauraki Regiment, and that we are proud of the achievements of the regiment in the testing times through which it passed in South Africa and during the Great War,” stated the address. “The dis- : trict enjoys a record second to none I in its response to the calls which i have been made, and it has felt : severely the price which had to be paid to preserve the freedom we inherited.” Continuing, the address dealt with the monument to a Paeroa man who was the first overseas soldier to d.e ! in the Boer War and with the cenotaph erected in memory of the men who fell in the Great War. Greetings to the Vice-Regal visitors and hopes for their future happiness were also included in the address. After expressing thanks for the warm welcome and for the assurances of the district’s loyalty, Lord Gil way mentioned the part Paeroa and its en virons had played in the Dominion's military affairs, and stated that the monuments would serve to remind everyone Of the proud record of Paeroa and of the duty which was owing to New Zealand and to the Empire when the nation called. The speaker also referred to international difficulties abroad and expressed the hope that the present year would see a great improvement in matters. Welcome at Waihi Following the official welcome Their Excellencies were introd’ ced to leading citizens and to old identities by the Mayor, later leaving for Waihi. On arrival at Waihi the visitors were met by Mr W. Wallnutt (the Mayor) and a ceremony of welcome was held in the drill hall. Regret that Their Excellencies were unable to spare the time to visit the gold mines was expressed by Mr Wallnutt, who presented the address of welcome. Later the speaker briefly traced the history of Waihi as a mining town, and stated that credit was due to the miners for actually being the pioneer farmers. When the early miners settled in Waihi they took up sections of land and gradually brought them to a high point of productivity. Thus the district had developed into a rich pastoral area. In reply, His Excellency stated that he hoped to be able to pay another visit to the town in order to see something of the gold mines, of which he had heard so much The speaker continued by thanking the people of the district fo** their warm welcome and for their assurances of loyalty. After luncheon at Waihi, Lady Galway paid a visit to the Waihi Beach, after which the party proceeded to Thames where another official wel- I come was held. Their Excellencies returned to Auckland in the evening.