VICE-REGAL VISIT TO LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1947, Page 4

VICE-REGAL VISIT TO LEVIN

S1R BERNAKD RENEWS OLD AtQOtRtANCES The Governor-General, Sir Bernkrd Freyberg, accornpailied by Lady Freybetg, paid his first official visit to Levin t'oday. - . " . * a The Vice-Regal" visit had double sighificahee, as 34 yeArs ago His Excellency resided in this tbWh and is petsonaiiy knbwn to many of the older residents. Arriving at 10.30 a.m. .the ° Vice-Reghl •, p&tty was welComed outside the hotel in Oxford Street by the Mayor- and M&yoress of Levin) Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Burdekin, ahd uie . town clerk, Mr. H. L; Jenkins. ' After speaking to ah assembly of 100D sch'dtf)l 'children at the tirowhenua College, Sir Berhard addressed' a g-ather-ihg of citizens in the Public Gardens;

The Levin Boys' Band played at • the function at the college, and the Munieipal Band at the gardens. Speaking at the civic reception, the Mayor, Mr. Burdekin, read a LOyal Addr.ess and welcome from the Levin Borough Council and Horowhenua County .Council, on oehalf of members and residents of the borough and county. Speaking on behalf of the BordUgh Council and residents of Levin and district, Mr. Burdekm welcomed Their Excellencies, making particular reference to the days when Sir Bernard was a resident in the town. . Since that aate, said Mr. Burdekin, Sir Bernard had rendered a fine service in a wide field, and was now a national and international figure. He also paid tribute to the work of Her Excellency, Lady Freyberg, during the war. Speaking on behalf of the County of Horowhenua, the chairman of the council, Mr. A. J. Gimblett, welcomed Their Excellencies to the district. The Empire was passing through a period of trial as great as in 1939, he said. The world generally was in a turmoil and was turning to Britain for an example. That example was being set by the Royal Family. New Zealand looked back with pride on all its past representatives of the Throne. This was a great day for Levin and district, Said Mr: J. J. Maher, M.P. for Otaki. On behalf of his constituency, he welcomed Their Excellencies and trusted that their stay in New Zealand would be a happy one, and that he would take away with him many happy recollections of his association with the people of the Dominion. Levin had shown great progress an'd was now veritably the "dairy farm" of Wellington. Its present prosperity was founded on the work of the early pioneers; It was nearly 34 years since he had last been in Levin and that was a long time in anyone's life, said Sir Bernard in his opening remarks. During That time he had ' been abroad and "had lived veritably two lives, and the link with his childhood days had been consequently broken. It was with a feeling of uncertainty that he approached many of his early friends. It had been so long since he had seen them that his memory

often failed him, and it was aim- j cult in many cases to pick up those lost threads. Referring to many of his past j associates, Sir Bernard made menuon of the Mayor, Mr. Burdekin, j . with whom he had studied the j classics. He also referred to his j friendship with Mr. and Mrs. D. S. i Mackenzie, and his desire to again ; see Mrs. G. W. McShane, whose son ! had been his driver through Greece and Crete. Later he had been | commissioned, said Sir Bernard, I and unfortunately lost his life in | the battle of E1 Alamein. He was pleased to see such a } iarge guard of honour, comprising j men of the South African War, ! World War I, 2nd N.Z.E.F. and ; Pacific forces, continued His Excel- j lency. Nothing was more accept- ■ able to a soldier than to have a., guard of honour comprised of men i who had served with him and j i under him. He thanked the people j of Levin for the help they •were ; rendering Great Britain in the dis- i patch of food parcels. The people of England had shown New Zea- i land servicemen every hospitality

at a time when rationmg was heavy. Now their position was becoming increasingly worse, and he was pleased to see the people of New Zealand responding in such a manner. He could not let this occasion pass without some word of thanks and encouragement to the people of Levin for their efforts. A recent guest at Government House had been Mr. Ranaoiph Churchill, and, while talking to him, Sir Bernard detailed the main industries of New Zealand. Mr. Churchill had replied that from his observations he thought the chief industry of New Zealand was send- j ing food parcels to England. In conclusion, Sir Bernard thanked all those who had Written to him while he was overseas. '"I can assure you," he said, "that every single one was read by me personally and replied to by my secretary." " Now that he had been officially received, he would like to i return to Levin, particularly to meet old friends and pick 'up the threads of his early life here, and perhaps attend a few race meetings and A. and P. shows. Following the playing of the National Anthem, Their Excellencies were introduced to representatives of the local bodies and organisations, prominent citizens and early pioneers of the district. Later they . were entertained at lunch, leaving for Wellington at 2 p.m. Ceremony At College Over 1000 children from the Horowhenua' College, Levin Public Sehool, Levin Convent Sehool, and Ohau, Manakau, Poroutawhao. Koputaroa and Muhunoa East

Schools were gathered in the college grouhds to weicoihb Their Excellencies. The giiaM of horxqur, comprised Boy Scouts, Girl Guic^es, Ctibs And Brownies. There was & fair representation of the public. Passing through the ranks of the guard oi honour, Sir Bernard stopped to talk to individuals. He show'ed particular interest in the three local scouts who recently return ed from the world jamboree in Fran'ce. "How did you like France? Did you see Paris? What do you thitrk. of England?" he asked them. A junior member of the Cubs, Master Wilfre'd Vickers, who is only seven years of age, caught Sir Bernard's eye and he stopped to say a few words to him. Following the playing of the National Anthem by the Levin Boys' Band, Tneir Excellencies were introduced to the principal of the college, Mr. N. A. Byrne, and members of the College Advisory Committee. The head prefect, Eunice Catiey, then presented Lady Freyberg with a bouquet of. fiowers. Welcoming Tneir Excellencies. the chairman of the College Advisory commiutee, Mr. F. H. Hudson, reiterated the admiration in which Their Excellencies were held in the Dominion and district of Horowhenua. The children had been lookmg forward to this day for a very long time, and were tuliy appreciative of the service rendered the " Empire by Their Maj esties, the King and Queen, and the example they set. He aiso referred to tne excellent service rendered by Sir Bernard since he had left Levin, and the fine work of Lady Freyuerg during the war years. "Today we claim you as one of us, and want you to feel that you are returning to us as a citizqn of Levin and district," said Mh Hudson. After outlining Sir Bernard's life in Levin, Mr. Hudson said he trusted that his visit would. be the forerunner of many ihorfe. Meeting children was the happiest duty he was called on to perform. said Sir Bernard in reply. He thanked all those forming the guard of honour, and congpatulated | Levin on having such a strong I gathering of those organisations. ! "No one has seen as many New | Zealand children as I have, he pro- , ceeded. "I have seen thousands ! from Auckland to the Bluff, and it 1 is a pleasure and an encouraging

sign to see so many healthy, happy New Zealanders growing up among us." They were the heirs to the past and the trustees of the future, und he hoped that as many of them as possible would find time to travel abroad and see the world for themselves. New Zealanders during the past two wars had set a high example overseas, said Sir Bernard, not only in the military sphere, hut in their associations with the'civilian population. He trusted that ail young New Zealanders are such good elled abroad would maintain that standard. "I often wondered why New Zealanders have such good soldiers and have come to three conclusions. One is that they have the influence of good homes behind them and strong family ties. Secondly, they have been brought up with a religious background, and, thirdly the influence of their schools. Eighty per cent. of the peoples of the world would give anything to have your way of life, a life that is the birthright of every New Zealand child."