MINISTER AT THAMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4799, 16 January 1925, Page 3

MINISTER AT THAMES.

CIVIC RECEPTION. CEREMONY AT THAMES. A civic reception was tendered by the people of Thames to Sir C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, in recognition of his receiving a knightnood, on Tuesday afternoon at Thames. The ceremony was held in the band rotunda at the Victoria Park. The Mayor, Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., presided, and there were also seated on the platform the Hon. G. J. Anderson. Minister for Marine ; the Hon. G. M Thomson, M.L.C., Messrs H. Poland and J. Mellvride, M’s.P., and the Mavors and councillors of Paeroa, Waihi, and Te Aroha, chairmen and members of the various county councils and institutions within the Thames harbour district, as/ well as a large gathering of representative citizens.

Addressing the gathering, Mt Rhodes said that the reception had been arranged to do honour to an old Thames boy in the person of Sir C. J. Pari - , of whom the town was justly proud. Sir James was a New Zealander born, and his father had been identified with Thames in the early days. Sir James had been a pupil of the Waiokaraka (now Central) School, and it wins while a pupil of that school that he had won a scholarship entitlin ghim to further education at Auckland. Throughout his scholastic career Sir James had proved himself to be a young man of more than ordinary ability and intellect. On finishing his education he had graduated as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and established himself in practice in Auckland. As a man of attains Sir James had quickly won fame, especially in Coromandel and Thames, as well as Auckland. Not content with a successful and rapidly growing practice, he had gone further and entered into the public life of Auckland, becoming first of all chairman of the Education Board, and later on Mayor or that city. During his term of office he performed notable work, which was recognised by His Majesty the King,' who conferred the title of C.M.G. on Sir James. His political career had been a very successful one, and he had proved himself an indefatigable worker for all classes for the benefit of the Dominion.

In the political world, said Mr Rhodes, Sir James had always been a strong advocate of education on sound •lines, and in holding the important portfolio of Minister for Education he had brought about many measures that would be of lasting and inestimalbe benefit to New Zealand. Success had attained his efforts as Minister for Justice, and he had conducted his duties as Minister of the Crown in a fearless impartial, and progressive manner. The speaker said that it was small Wonder the King had again seen fit to honour Sir James by conferring on him a knighthood. The honour had been richly deserve'!. (Prolonged applause.) -Continuing, the Mayor said that Sir James was not th< first Thames boy to be knighted. as Sir Arthur Myers was also an c'd Thames boy. Brief reference was made to Lady Parr, who had also been a Thames girl, and an ex-pupil of the old Waiokaraka SchoolIn the name of the Thames Borough and residentsi tlie Mayor offered hearty congratulations to Sir James, and expessed the hope that he would be long spared to enjoy the proud title which had been bestowed on him. On rising to speak Sir Janies was greeted with cheers and apnlause. He said that he and Lady Parr had received hundreds of congatulations from all parts of New Zealand, but he assured those present that there were none that he valued more highly than the honour paid him that day by the people of Thames. He expressed his grateful thanks to the Mayor, and through him to the people, for the kindly thought which had prompted such a splendid reception, and for tlie kind sentiments expressed that day. Any honour which he had received must be regarded as an honour to New Zealand. Sir James then ppoke reminiscently of his boyhood days in Thames, and how, later on,-when Mr Rhodes was a mining advocate, he (the speaker) had rubbed shoulders with him in the Coromandel and Thames Wardens’ courts. “It. was during those times,” lie said, “that Mr Rhodes had learned the golden eloquence of which he w, possessed to-day. (Laughter.) Sir James thanked the Mayor for the kindly reference made to his wife,and he said he felt that he owed so much to Thames that it was his bounden duty to marry a Thames girl. He congratulated the residents on the progress the town was making, and the country people received special praise for the enthusiaistic manner in which they were increasing the primary production. He was of the opinion that not nearly all the gold in Thames had been won, and if sufficient capital, Government assistance, and unbounded enthusiasm and patience was forthcoming Thames would yet enjoy another period of gold mining prosperity. (Applause. J