ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 16

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

A CIVIC WELCOME TO LORD NUFFIELD DEPARTURE FOR SUVA TO-DAY ;ra*ss association telf.gf.au. 1 AUCKLAND, March 8. Lord Nuffield was the guest of honour at a civic reception and luncheon in Auckland to-day. He cancelled his passage by the Mono-" wai to Sydney in the afternoon, and is to leave to-morrow by the Mariposa for Suva, and his itinerary thereafter is at present indefinite. Originally he had intended to leave Sydney next Wednesday by the Orontes for London. Few persons to whom Auckland has given a civic welcome have been received with enthusiasm such as was shown Lord Nuffield. The reception had been arranged for the council chamber, but it was far too small, and the assemblage moved to the concert chamber. When the visitor entered the audience broke into a storm of cheering. Cheers punctuated the Mayor's address, and also Lord Nuffield's reply, and as he concluded the audience sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and cheered again. Speaking at the luncheon, Dr. Bernard Myers, in referring to Lord Nuffield's gift, said New Zealand would be able to emulate the best British methods in the care and treatment of crippled children. "I rise with a certain amount of embarrassment," said Lord Nuffield in reply. "I have simply tried to do what I could for the crippled children of this country, and I have been overwhelmed with such kindness and affection that I hardly know what to say." Lord Nuffield said what he had been able to do for the crippled children had given him just as much pleasure as it had given New Zealanders. Anyone who had been born with a whole body should never forget the trials and tribulations of those who had not. If cripples were to be helped, then help should be given to them when they were young. "And if we do not do it, we have failed in our duty," be added. "I have to thank the Almighty that I was born without troubles of the flesh—though I have had plenty of others. My feeling always goes out to the cripples, who are handicapped." It was his hope that New Zealand would be able to make some arrangement to give greater aid to its cripples. The first thing Lord Nuffield did when he descended from the dais was to stop and speak to a woman on crutches. Mr C. J. B. Norwood, he added, had been responsible to a great extent for his donation, by putting the thought into his mind. "Seven years ago I drove 1000 miles over the roads of New Zealand, and I shall never forget it," Lord Nuffield continued, only to find himself interrupted by a roar of laughter, in which he heartily joined. "There is a certain amount of truth in it," he remarked. "But let me say that since my last visit your roads have improved : > much that it is almost beyond understanding." MAGNIFICENT HOME MR AND MRS W. R. WILSON'S PROPERTY I THE PRESS Spocial Service.] AUCKLAND, March 8. Mr and Mrs Wilson's home, "St. Leonards," is one of the largest and finest residential properties in the suburbs of Auckland. It is situated above the cliffs immediately south of Takapuna Beach, and has long frontages to the sea. It is a large single-storeyed house, and commands a wonderful panorama of the Rangitoto Channel, the Hauraki Gulf, and the whole coastline from Tiri Tiri to North Head. The 13 acres of grounds are beautifully laid out in terraced lawns, gardens, shrubberies, and groves of pohutukawas, Norfolk Island pines, and other trees. A path gives access to a private bathing beach. There is ample room upon the property for all the buildings needed to create a children's hospital or home of considerable size. APPEAL TO MAYORS OPENING OF SUBSCRIPTION LISTS IPRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 8. Following on an announcement by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr G. W. Hutchison) that he intends to open a subscription list for the Dominion crippled fund, Mr C. J. B. Norwood, who has been entrusted by Lord Nuffield with the control of funds presented by him for the benefit of the crippled children in New Zealand, has sent the following telegram to the Mayors of all cities and towns in New Zealand:— "Lord Nuffield, in a speech to-day at Auckland, said he hoped that ail Mayors would open a fund to supplement his national gift of £ 60,000 toward crippled children. Will you agree? Press support assured." The Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr W. T. Lester, has received Mr Norwood's message asking for support for the fund, and it is expected that the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., will receive a similar telegram when he returns from Wellington this morning.