VISIT OF THE KERSAINT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1044, 6 February 1911, Page 4

VISIT OF THE KERSAINT.

4 A CIVIC WELCOME. ." Tiercelin, of tho French" cruiser Kersaint, was accorded ail official ■welcome by the City Council and.tho Harbour Board on Saturday, morning: Tha function, which took place in the Jlayor'a foom Ai tho Town Hall, was attended by members, and officers of both bodies, there being present: The Mayor (Mr. T. 31. Wiiford, M.P.), Councillors. Shirtcliffe, Atkinson, Frost Fitzgerald, M'Laren, .Thompson, and Carmichael, and Messrs. J. R. Palmer (Town Clerk),'ff. "H. Morton (City Engineer), J. O'Shea (City Solicitor), C. Collins (City Treasurer), and' J. Ames (City Valuer) representing the: City Council; and Messrs. C. W; Jones, F, G. Bolton, H. C." Tewsley.'and thef'Hon: T. K, Macdonald and Messrs. J. Marchbdnks (engineer), H'. G. Nicholls (secretary), Captain Johnston (harbourmaster), representing the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr, James Mackintosh, Consul for France, pre. sented the visitor.

The Mayor said' he understood Conn mander Tiercelin had"visited Wellington 22 years_ ago, when he miist have been quite a small boy. It .was a great, pleasure to meet him and offer,him the most hospitable welcome in .their power. They appreciated the honour of the ..visit; ana hoped that the time spent in .the port and city would be pleasant .to.the commander and those with him. ■ Commander Tiercelin . would doubtless, notico the growth and development of the city =ince his last visit. He : trusted the visitors would find here everything they desired and that everyone would be ready to give them any assistance. The Mayor concluded in French: - , . ut "Monsieur- le Commandant, j ai 1 neur do vous offrir la bienvenue do 1& part <le la: cite de Wellington." Mr. C. W. Jones, in the. absence of the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. E. Fletcher), spoke a few appropriate words of welcome in both languages. _ Commander Tiercelin, who speaks English fluently, though with a foreign accent, briefly expressed- his thanks. Ho remarked that ho was last .here in ISBS,, two vears after the great eruption. Ho was then a midshipman. He came hack now with grey hairs, hut with the samQ • pleasure. . Personal introductions followed, and sevj eral toasts were honoured. The commander took' an opportunity of saying that he would have, rr.uch pleasure in informing..his Government of- the cordial welcome extended to him by t;he Mayor and Council and the • Harbour Board. The visitor was then conducted by the -Mayot and other gentlemen to-the large hall, where the French National Anthem was played on the organ by Mr. J. Hau-* ghan Barnett (city organist). ;ißutinß ; !thesftfreMony-jCommaMer r iier'ciH'fl' wte 'vHiWa' , by (the Hons.. Dr. .Fmdlay .(Minister for Justice), D. Buddo (Minister for Internal A£fairs),:'G. Fowlds (Minister 'for" Education), and. T-, Mackenzie (Minister -for -Agriculture),-and reciprocated the courtcsy a little later. 'Corainlander Tiercelin, accompanied by Mr. James Mackintosh (French Consul) als? called on the. General Officer Commanding the Forces (Major-General A. J. Godley, C.8.), and oh. the Officer Commanding the District (Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor). On Saturday . afternoon Commander Tiercelin, in comnanv 'with the Mayor, Mr. T.-M. Wilford, M.P., was present at the swimming sports, and was an interested spectator of the various events. Commander Tiercelin, who spent, yesterday at Mr. Ewen's, at Heretaunga, will to-day be visited by Major-General-A.-J. Godlev, C.8., Commandant of- the New Zealand'forces, the Mayor, City Councillor* and representatives of the Harbour Board, and by the Consuls. These visits will be paid during the forenoon, : and the afternoon will be spent in returning the calls. In the evening the commander and his officers will be the guests of tho Wellington Club at dinner. The Iversaint will probably sail on Wednesday or Thursday. ' ,