WELSH WELCOME

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1930, Page 7

WELSH WELCOME

EXTENDED TO GOVERNOR, WELLINGTON, October 5. “We have met to extend a, hearty any loyal welcome to you both, and by song and with just a little nit ol language thrown in, take your minus back to people you. know and love. With this welcome comes our love, best’ wishes that veu both may have a long and happy sojourn in New Zealand, free from care, and with God’s richest blessing,” said the Mayor, Mr G. A. Troup, when extending, their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, on Saturday evening, a cordial welcome to New Zealand on behalf of the Welsh people of Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, and also the King Country. It is stated to have been one of.the largest gatherings of Welsh people ever held in New Zealand, and a most representative one. The Town Hall concert chamber was filled to capacity. Making the first speech of the evening, the Mayor said that, neither by bjyth. nqy descent, was he a Weshman. He regretted, that he could not give the whole of his remarks in their native tongue. He. found it so expressive that he dared not give it attendance. (Laughter.) Speaking for the sons and dnuehters. of Wales who were residents of this city, Mr Troup, said that they were men and women, of whom the city was justly proud. “A verv string bond is the fact that Her Excellency is a Welsh lady,” he said. “I believe that she wnB 1 born in Wales, and this gathering, therefore, takes on very great significance from that fact.” At this point Mr Troup caused a great deal of merriment by his recital of a sentence in Welsh, which, he explained, meant, (for those who did. not know): “Her own people meet her; greet her, and own her tonight.” He would say to Her Excellency that there was “Na folk like her a in folk.” Mr G. " Ay Evans, immediate Past ■ President,: also, welcomed Their Excellencies and gave an- assurance of the loyalty of ' the Welsh 'people; not only to .Tlieir Ekcellencies, but to the King. ; They were* proud of their Prince as opts who had .hot only endeared. himself to the Empire, but to the whole world. ' . : 1 f The President of the Wellington Wfelsh Society;' Mr J. Morgan Davies, said /that the occasion was unique in the’ history 1 of the Society. It wag the largest 'gathering of Welsh people that' 1 liad even 1 been held. in the Dominion.. He then referred to the gift of a. Bardie chair, made of New Zealand wood, to be presented to the Royal National Eisteddfod. .He hoped that this gift would make their compatriots at Home realise that-New Zealand was a very important unit in the British Empire. His ExcCllenry said that they should like to express their appreciation -to the eloquent 'welcome • coming from such a gathering 'of the Welsh—a gathering that had probably never as-

semhled in Wellington or in the Dominion before. “I have- been asked by Her Excellency to thank you for the form of your kind. gift. I am voicing her as well as my own, that there could be no more fit? ting gift than the Bardic chair, which she is going to be asked to convey to her compatriots in the Principality ol Wales, and incidentally England, in the year 1935. The gift will exhibit tlie skill of the Maori craftsmen, arid I do hope you will do a?i you can in the development of Maori craftsmanship and the preserving of that most glorious timber, the kauri. Please do not let-all your beautiful kauri trees he destroyed in the supposed interest of modern silviculture or modern farming.”

In conclusion, His Excellency said that he wanted to emphasise the fact that New Zealand did owe much to Wales long before the arrival of Her Excellency, and that it was high time that some person with great historical knowledge, with plenty of Celtic imagination, and flowing pen, should write a history showing what New Zealand owed to the ancient Celtic race.

A picturesque touch was added to the proceedings when little Miss Bronnen .Tones, attired in the traditional Welsh costume, came down from the stage and presented Her Excellency with a bouquet of flowers.