Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 28th, 1917. NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 28th, 1917. NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

Tue Dominion has received kmuij recognition for its services rendered sineo the outbreak of war. - At noon to-day, on th© steps of the Parliamentary Building, His Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, was raised to the rank and title of a GovernorGeneral. A telegraphic message yesterday intimated that King George had been pleased to direct this to b© done in appreciation of New Zealand’s part in tho war. This recognition will be appreciated by the people, who will regard the honour at this juncture as well-timed when there are so many desolate homes in th© Dominion as s result of the splendid! part the Now Zealanders plnvod on Messines Ridge on the 7th and Bth June. We. have lu.t, had the story of that gallant fight yetWe know that our troops did all that was asked of them in splendid style, and all know the price paid! in the blood and manhood of tho country shed and laid down on those, two evermemorable days. We have had a glimpse or two of the great battle in tho word pictures supplied by the ever present war correspondents. Last, night there was. a tingling account published from tho New Zealand Official War Correspondent of what a West Coast miner, holding the rank of a corporal, had done. His goimufcry, courage and resource should win him easily th 6 Victoria Cross. No doubt in the taking of the great land Gibraltar that Messines Ridg© was, many similar qpts of bravery and devotion were performed. The death-roll published last week contained the names of many splendid fellows who would have sacrificed their lives with a worthy devotion to duty find a clear determination to die thattheir country might gain. This sacrifice and this devotion have been going on now for nearly three years, and all through that period New Zealand has not faltered in its fealty to the King, in its duty t° th© Empire. Tho King has recognised this in many ways. He has honoured our men and our representatives nt. Home by raising tho status of his representative in the Dominion to that of a Governor-General. Lord Liverpool will now rank with tho King’s representatives for ':lnd,la, Canada., Australia, and South Africa, so that New Zealand suddenly attains to tho highest degree of national life under the Motherland. It is not so long ago that this country was known Rs a colony. Later came the King’s authority to create Now Zealand a Dominion, and now wo havo the coping stone to tho national structure. | This recognition has boon spontaneous. It has come out of his Majesty’s fullness of heart for the loyalty and devotion ©■ his people in the most distant, part of his great Empire. Now Zealand nas earned most worthily the honour done it, and we are sure the loyalty and devotion of the people will continue to desorv© the honour King George has specially marked for the Dominion.