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Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1926, Page 3

FOUR STARS OF NEW ZEALAND

DUKE OF YORK ON THEIR

MEANING

LONDON, June 6.

The Duke of York, who attended the New Zealand annual dinner at the Hotel A r ictoria, Northnmberland-aven-ue/AV.C'., last night, when the retiring High Commissioner, Sir James Allen, presided, spoke of the possibility o! his visiting the Dominion shortly. ' Responding to the toast of “The Guests,” the Duke said: I was wondering the other day whether those who invented the New Zealand arms did not design more wisely than they knew. Did they attach some symbolical meaning to those four bright stars? I do not know; perhaps the records of the time would tell. One star must surely stand for Loyalty. And then another star, I think, stands for Virtue—virtue in its truest sense I mean the qualities that make a. mail. Independence, determination, courage, it tine sense of duty, couites t \ —in short, sterling character. And the third star—might not that stand for Beauty? I have never yet been able to visit your country, but I hope shortly that the invitation to visit New Zealand which the High Commissioner has extended to me may be fulfilled. From my brother, the Prince of Wales, and from many others, I have heard much about it—how that it is a land of rare and entrancing beauty; rich in mineral wealth; just as your soil is;rich for the farmer, and, above all, for the pasturing of sheep and cattle. And the fourth star, I think must be the symbol of vour Destiny. For you there has been and can be no looking backward, but a steady progress in every sphere of activity upon whicli you enter,