ORPHANS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 10, 7 October 1919, Page 3

ORPHANS' CLUB

FINAL KORERO OF SEASON SPEECH BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL Tho final korero of the Wellington Orphans' Club for. the season was held on Saturdav night, the Chief Orphan(Colonel J. J. Esson) presiding. Tho time was drawing near, said the chairman, when His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, who was the guest of tho evening, would be leaving these, shorts, and lie would leave behind him .a. remembrance that would last for. many years—to Orphans and citizens alike. He •had carried a burden that none of his predecessors had carried—tho strain of n fljireat war, and His Excellency's efforts on. behalf of the wounded would bo long remembered. (Applause.) An excellent musical programme followed, Mr. H. Moschini conducting tho orchestra.

His Excellency, who was accorded a most hearty greeting, expressed pleasure, as patron of the club, at tho enjoyable evenings ho had spent among the members. *T desire to thank you," he said, "for tho never-failing aid which you have so often and so willingly accorded to mo by your help in; supporting mo when I have got up entertainments tor our soldiers and sailors. ' I can assure you "that I have , always deeply appreciated that very kindly-assistance, more especially a 8 I know; it was sometimes rendered at personal inconvenience to the'performers; and these words of mine can never atle-: quately discharge the debt of gratitude whioh-I-owe to you. To-night, as it will in all probability bo the lost' occasion on which I shall have the opportunity of speaking to you collectively before I New Zealand. I have departed from my usual rule, and have carefully con-sidered-what I want to say before coming among you." He paid a high tribute to Colonel' R. J. Collins, Mr. Justice Hertiman, .the.Key. A. E,. Hunt, past presidents, and Surgeon-General Hender> eon—'''and I like best to remember Sur» geon-General Henderson as one of tho kindliest gentlemen that I have ever been associated with." (Applause.) He mad» special allusion to Colonel Esson's work 'In connection with the,.dispatch arid receipt of narcols by the troops nt Gallipot! and Egypt, also to the efforts of the performers at the'various orphonosiums. "Nor shall I," he added, "for-, get yonr resourceful secretary, whose eyes are always sparkling with rwerberating enthusiasm to win frt«h victories for the club.", (Applause.), T.ht-re were' thosewho left these shores a few years ago,; fellow comrades, who could not answer the roll call at those gatherings, Their memory ttnd their heroic deeds would .n.over .be obliterated even by ! time.

We passed .'safely, but* not unscathed,' ' lie said, "through years of •perili -and if the nation' is. to .be'.'.re-., 'born,' it miist buckle on its armour and prepare itself for a period of difficulty such«as the worUl has. never known be'fore.lt certainly is not either necessary: or desirable to set about, the .time' of reconstruction with "gloomy forebodings or long faces. To take rr pessimistic outlook, of'the'future Is the surest way to court failure. * If we are confronted with obscure and difficult;' problems the .best way to tackle them is to do so in a cheerful spirit, and not allow ourselves to 1m conquered by mere details, which a little perseverance will overcome. An association like, ours can do a' lot of help, because, if we can play together we-can also work together... . .

Above everything else we must be human —that, is. tolerant to the views-of those with whom we disagree, and do all we, can to be very courteous not only to our friends'but our neighbours. If any. thing is going to make a win thron"h with comparative ease it will be bv the aid of tact and ability to smooth the -paths of those less fortunate tiffin ourselves, combined with a determination' not to be ennruiered by. those whose •'ins a l '? »ot directed towards the welfare of the community, but. only .for th"ir seif-ag?'-,movement. (Applause.)"Great ns has boon the cost in blood and treasure-t;o (lie British nation since 191.4; one thing.has been attained. TCvery ,'init of that Umpire has got to know >'ie other as they have 'never known themselves, before. Tbey have learnt not only to appreciate one'another's difficulties, but they have created a real Commonwealth, of nations which no human ; iwer can-sever, and yon and T. who are -only. pawns in tills great assemblage, can go on, without tin- fear that those who follow us will not manfully uphold tl'e '-raditions which are.'their heritage." (Applause) At the supper adjournment His Excellency was unanimously elected a- life member of the dub. and special votes of thanks were .accorded to Sir. R.' P. Wood- (secretary). 1 who announced- his impending retirement, and, Mr. H. Mm>chini, conductor of the orchestra, on the , work of which hu was highly congratulated.