FRENCH MISSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 9

FRENCH MISSION.

LUNCH WITH GOVERNORGENERAL. The members of tho French Mission returned to Cliristchurch from Akaroa yesterdav morning, and were enter•fained at luncheon at Elmwood by las Excellency the Governor-General. In the afternoon General Pau, Commandant d'Andro, and M. Georges Bader, motored to lai T.ipu, where they 1 % t * ed the flower show. ; Ketunnn o _ Christchunh the members ot the - » Bion visited the Canterbury Hoiticul tural Society's Show. . This morning tliev leave for Dun..din bj- tho 8.45 «***. be given civic receptions at limai , Oamaru, and other places en route. LUNCHEON AT ELMWOOD. Yesterday their Excellencies tin, Governor-General (the Earl of Liverpool) and tho Countess of Liverpool, entertained the members of the French Mission to luncheon at Elm wood. After proposing the health ot Ihe Kin"," his Excellency proposed tut, of '\fhe President ot the i' roach Republic, 1 ' and, speaking in iie.iUi, Excellencviand myself as the King's representative are delighted at the opportunity /of welconun D Mission to New Zealand. lam glad that you have bden allorded a■ of seeing the beauty spots ot this Dominion, and that you have eon able to gain an insight into its staple industries. You can bo wolr assuied that even before you arrived in this land you were certain of a • very warm welcome from all the inhabitants of these islands, and especially from those who have fought alongside tho soldiers of France against the common foe. I trust that you will take back to France a pleasurable recollection of this furthest outpost of the British Empire. "It was my pleasant duty a short time ago to open an exhibition of pic~ tures in Wellington to assist tho bund soldiers of France, of whom, unfortunately, I am told, the number is more than 55,000. I was glad, speaking as a soldier, to have this opportunity afforded to me, as the object of this exhibition naturally appealed to me deeply. , , "In conclusion, I trust that tho good oomradeship whioh has been engendered by the war between our two countries will be increased still further in times of peace, for the welfare and good of the whole world. Our flags are mado up of the same colours, and I believe that the aspirations of the two countries are also identical."

Genoral Pau replied as follows: — "Permit mo to thank you in the name of the French Mission for the cordial and charming welcome which you have to-day given us under your roof. We know that this welcome is not only a tribute to us, but, above all, to our glorious French nation. We are extremely grateful to you. More-1 over, wherever wo have been in New Zealand we have met the same manifestations of cordiality to the French nation. We recognise the glorious part which New Zealand has played in the terrible struggle of the last four years—France will never forget it. Further she will never forget how the whole British Empire has associated itself with our efforts—now crowned with success—in order to deliver the sacred soil .of our country from the invader. Our trials and our common glory have oreated between our two nations links of sympathy and mutual devotion which time can never destroy. "I cannot resume my seat withont expressing to your Excellencies the gratitude of my country for the kindly aid which Now Zealand has given to our war charities. as well as for the cordial "welcome which has been accorded to our French soldiers when passing 'through these islands. It is with particular pleasure that I couple your Excellencies' names with that of New Zealand and her Government in the thanks which I crave permission to offer to this glorious Dominion in the name of France."

INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL PAU. The members of the French Mission make no secret of the fact that their visit to Akaroa was, if not the happiest, at least one of tho happiest days they have experienced sjnee their tour began. It was not only the charm and associations of Akaroa itself that pleased them; it was the bonhommie and free-and-easy ways of it 3 residents. At the conclusion of, the dinner given by the Mayor and Borough Councillors on Thursday evening, at which the company greeted the toast of "The President of France" by singing "For He's a Jolty Good Fellow," instead of "The Marseillaise," the younger members of the party adjourned to a dance , which was being held in another part ;• of the town, and spent a most enjoyable evening Last evening a "Press" reporter had a chat with General Pau (Dr. Siegfried acting as interpreter), and asked him ifor his views on his visit to Akaroa. j-.The General said he was delighted -with the trip, the beauty of the scenery ■; had struck him particularly as a Frenchman, with tho souvenirs of a French colonisation all around him. Sevoral • articles, very well written, which had appeared in "The Press," had enabled . the other members of the Mission to . seize a number of points which had before been but vaguely in their minds, as to the history of that famous place. . They had been pleased to find there descendants of the French settlers, and one of the original settlers, and they had been delighted to talk to them in good old French, about tho good old country of France, and life in the French homes, compared with life in the Akaroa homes. They could feel everywhere a welcome which was entirely cordial. They could see that the people of Akaroa had two reasons to bo friendly to them, first, as descendants • of French settlers; second, as Now Zealanders. The members of the Mission . could say that their reception at AkaJroa was the most cordial they had received in New Zealand. Tho General expressed the hope that tho living together hapj>ily in amicable accord of the representatives of the French and British in Akaroa, should serve as a model of how their two nations should live. He expressed the gratitude of himself ; and his confreres for tho magnificent reception they had met everywhere in the glorious country of New Zealand. M. H. Corbiere, who was staying with ; Sir George Clifford on Thursday, art rived back in Christchurch yesterday in v time to go with the rest of his colleagues to the lnncheon with tho Gover-nor-General at Elmwood. S M. Corbiere expressed himself as very pleased with the fine, lot of sheep and horses Sir George Clifford had been able to show Hm in North Canterbury, and also with his visit to the freezing works at Belfast, where he was very interested to observe the methods of doaline with meat for export. Yesterday afternoon M. Corbiere paid n visit to the Gardens with Sir Geo. Clifford, and inspected them thoroughly and with much pleatore. M. Louis Leclerq-Motte and Dr. C. »T. Pfftlres,. yesterdav vi=it*>d the Kaiapoi Woollen-Company's Milk at Kaiapoi. On thoir arrival in Kaiauoi they were met by the. Mnvor (Mr J. H. Black well), who accompanied them on their visit to the mills, over which they wr>rr> shown • by the manager, Mr T. R. Leithead.