WELCOMED TO WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2280, 14 October 1914, Page 3

WELCOMED TO WELLINGTON

CIVIC RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL Sir Douglas Mawson was accorded a civio reception at tho City Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. Owing to the shortness of tho notice, the attendance was neither largo nor representative, but amends wore made for those shortcomings by tho heartiness and sincerity of t'ho sentiments expressed in,welcoming the distinguished scientist-explorer and his wife. Tlio Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) extended a most hearty welcome to the visitors on behalf of the citizens of WeJlington, and istaited that* though they had met for the first time that day they were not'strangers. The work and life of Sir Douglas Mawson. was fairly well known to the people of Now Zealand, and was thoroughly appreciated by them. Though their visitor had been born at Bradford, ho regarded Sir Douglas as an Australian, and referred to his progress and brilliant work at the Adelaide University. HiG research work in connection with radium ore, and'his splendid work at the Macquajie island showed him to bo a man of exceptional grit, capacity, and ideas. The Mayor referred to the presence of Mr. Hannah, who was electrician to the Mawson Expedition, and who was now occupying a similar position 011 the Maunganui, arid to the fact that,quite recently Sir Douglas Mawson's • late photographer, Mr. Hurley, who i 6 going to Antarctica again with Sir Ernest Shackleton, had been presented with a New Zealand ensign to hoist at the South Pole on behalf of tho peoplo of New Zealand. He hoped that Sir Douglas and Lad} Mawson would liavo a happy time in New Zealand, and that the Dominion would show an interest in their visit. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, on behalf of the Government, paid a graceful tribute to Sir Douglas Mawson. "When wo are all dead and forgotten," said he, "his name will be perpetuated, by all who take an interest hi history and scientilic research." Tho Minister referred to the bad luck experienced by tho Mawson Expedition, the return of which was almost completely overshadowed by the tragedy of the Scott Expedition, but liko all'good work time would tell its tale, and everything that had been done would be appreciated at 'its proper jvorth. Ho abjured those present to read the story of the Mawson Expedition —i'or pluck, fortitude; and valiant sen-ice he could recall 310 one, living or dead, who had dono' so' much as Sir Douglas Mawson. He Doped that Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson would live long to enjoy the honours so well won. (Applause.) 1 Sir Douglas Mawson, who was greeted with applause, said that the winds had been take* out of his sails to some . extent v by the war. The only reason! why ho really ha 4 wanted to be heard ■was on account of tlio lectures that were being given to "finish off the ft nds," but he returned hearty thanks for the honour they had done him in Wellington, it was difficult to interest the public in anything that wjis not connected with warfare, but lie had found that the people of the south had taken a great interest in them. As a matter of fact, they, in ordinary times, would 'have been regarded to have been nu active service—active service in warfare against our common enemy ignorance. The work was good work, if it only bred a spirit tliat was ready to face trouble and try to uphold • the : prestigo of the Empire. Amongst his men, fully-a third of them had gone to the front, and Mr. Hannah was going on one of - the troopships. He ■ would have liked-to have seon another member of the Expedition present, Mr. Hamilton - (son of the late curator of tho Dominion Museum), who had done some good work as a biologist at Muequarie Island. The lecturing tour was arranged to wipe out a debt of £301)0 on the The Australian Government had given half, but tho New Zealand Government had replied that it did 110 C "intend to give anything to the Expedition. The Australian Government's contribution wasi £28,000, the British Government gave £3000, and wealthy people in Australia had contributed another £10,000 odd, but it had cost about £50,000—these expeditions were ' very . expensive. 'They were now going on to London, and then to America, where he hoped that the more settled state of tho community would be in his favour.