THE GOVERNORGENERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1921, Page 3

THE GOVERNORGENERAL

OFFICIAL VISIT TO WESTLAND. ' ARRIVAL IN HOKITIKA. 1 ’ I His Excellency the Governor-Gen?ra*l Lord Jellicoe, Lady Jellicoe and the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe, accompanied by Captains Curtis and Mundy A.D.C.’s, left Greymouth this morning, to make an official visit to Westland travelling j by car. A short stay was made at j Kumara. The Vice-Regal party were 1 met at Kaihinu by the County Chairman, Mayor of Hokitika, Chairman of the Harbour and other members of lo cal bodies and a brief welcome extend* ed, the party then coining on to Hoki- 1 tika. Unfortunately a light rain had ' commenced to fall and this damped the proceedings to some extent. Owing to the rain, the official welcome was given at the Princess Theatre, instead of at Keller’s balcony, as was orb ■ ginally intended. On arrival at the front of the Princess Theatre, just before noon, tho 1 large assemblage gave lmarty cheers , and the band played tho National An- < them. His Excellency then inspected \ tho Guard of Honour and the Muni- , eipal Band, Mr T. E! Y. Seddon ae- ( companying. }

The Vice-Regal party then made their way to the stage of tho Theatre. Tin’ l building was crowded to the doors with a very large assemblage, the school children being placed in the front near tho stage. Two little dots then presented bouquets, Edna Woolhouse, to Lady Jellicoe, and Jean Shand to Hon Lucy Jellicoe, the presentation being greeted with applause.

011 the stage were His Excellency, Lady Jellicoe, Hon Lucy Jellicoe, Mrs Murdoch, and Mrs Michel. The Mayor (.Mr G. A. Perry) presided; also Mr T. E. V. Seddon, A1.1’., Hon H. L. Michel, and Capts. Curtis and Mundy, A.D.C’s. The assemblage sang the National Anthem and then the Town Clerk (Mr A. A. Andrewes) read the following address : THE ADDRESS. To His Excellecv Admiral Viscount John Rushworth Jellicoe, 0.M., G.C.8.. G.C.V.0., Governor-Gen-eral and Commandcr-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand. May it please your Excellency, On behalf of the people of the town of Hokitika, and the County of Westland, we, the Mayor of the Borough of Hokitika, Chairman of the Westland County Council, and the Cliair,man of the Hokitika Harbour Board, desire to extend to your a very hearty welcome to this district. The last few years have been strenuous and trying ones for every part of the British Empire, and you, Sir. have taken a high and distinguished part in the great crises of those years. This, to us. makes your visit a. very noteworthy one. Those times arc now past and though New Zealand, in common with every part of the world, is passing through a time of stringency and depression, we believe it will not be long before tbo patience and industry of its people will overcome these temporary though inevitable difficulties.

We trust your stay in the district may he a happy one, and to her Excellency Iftuly Jellicoe, and vour daughter the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe, we extend the same hearty welcome and good wishes. We bog to subscribe ourselves Your Excellency’s most obedient servants, GEORGE A. PERRY, Mayor of Aho Borough of Hokitika. JAMES, A. MURDOCH, Chairman, Westland County Council. RICHARD WILD, Chairman, Hokitika Harbour Board. Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand, 9th April, 1921. Thu Mayor (Mr Perry) said he iolt sure that they all felt great pleasure of tin* visit of Ins Excellency, which enabled them to show their loyalty to the Crown and the pleasure they felt at the visit of Lord Jellicoe and Part\. The weather was not always wet. He assured him that they had it line sometimes. He wished to extend to His Excellency, Lady Jellicoe and Hon. Lucy Jellicoe a very hearty welcome to the district. (Applause). His Excellency on rising was greeted with loud applause, followed by the singing of “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and cheers. HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY. His Excellency read the following reply ; Your Worship, the Mayor of the. Borough of Hokitika, Chairman of the Westland County Council. Chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Board and people of Hokitika and the County of Westland, I thank you very sincerely for the kindly welcome which you have extended to us and for the good wishes towards Her Excellency and my daughter to which you give expression. It is with very great pleasure that we find ourselves in this beautiful district and our only regret is the inevitable short duration of this our first visit We look forward to a very happy time amongst these beautiful surround-

ings. I am very grateful for your kind u‘ference to my past services. It is to those whom I had the honour to command to whom is due the credit of any success attained. I trust most - inrerely that the difficult times with which New Zealand is faced in eommop with other parts of the Empi-e

will soon pass From the knowledge which I have

i gained of the spirit and determination | of the people of the Dominion I feel i sure that they will face those difficul- | ties aml o vercome them in the same I courageous spirit which they displayed ! throughout the war. (Applause), j His Excellency continued—Ladies ‘ml j Gentlemen and Children of Hokitika, j They would have realised that when he j wrote the formal reply it was not rainjnc, |>ut lie recognised that rain could damp the ardour of the people <d New Zealand He thanked them most sincerely for gathering in such lar numbers to show their loyalty to their •; King and Country. Even the elements ! outside were not sufficient to damp ‘ho .loyalty of the people of New Zealand to ' the Empire. The greater the difficulty the more tlie people of New Zealand show tlmir Iqvalty to their King

I One of the things lie had noticed with ; great pleasure was the teaching of the little ones of that spirit of loyalty tint had been shown by their forefathers. AVhile that spirit endures there was nothing to prevent the British Empire from going on from one success to another. Going on and showing the world how great and wonderful was that power that bound them all together. They would only be here for 48 hours and have much to see in that time. He was quite* sure they could spend 48 weeks here with much pleasure. (Applause). On the way hero they had been privileged to see some of the pioneers of Westland at Kumara. Those old men had faced times far more difficult and far harder than we had to-day. The difficulties they had overcome would he overcome by the poop! • of to-day who showed the same sturdy spirit. It would be our happiest thoughts when we leave, if we can be assured that New Zealand’s success for the future was assured. Tt was advisable that a visit of His Majesty’s representative should lie celebrated by the children and it was well the children should recognise that far away King George V reigned over the Empire, and he would ask the authorities in honour of the visit to give the , children a holiday on Monday, (loud i applause by the children). He was glad to say the request was . granted children, and he wished the children every success and happiness in their future. Once more on behalf of Lady Jellieoe, his daughter and himself he thanked the people of Hokitika most warmly . and most sincerely for their welcome. , He could not forget that from Westland came one of New Zealand’s greatest men (applause). He was one "'ho.- | memory they could look up to and endeavour to emulate his great work. It had been his privilege during the \v.'. , few dnvs to he in the company of his son, your Member. (Applause). The children then sang “The Bed, White and Blue,” “Buie Britannia, and “Sons of the Sea. Cheers for His Excellency were heartily given and at the call ot L> •< Jellieoe further cheers were given for His Majesty the King. The National Anthem was then sung In- the assemblage. His Excellency, before the assemblage dispersed, said in a most pleased voice: “Hokitika, takes the cake” the reception given having apparently ph as'ed His Excellency. Further cheering followed, those present on the stage being presented to his Excellency. j