VICE-REGAL VISIT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5062, 8 December 1926, Page 2

VICE-REGAL VISIT.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S TOUR.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEPTION.

A further page to the history of Paeroa will be added to-morrow, when th Governor-General (Sir Charley Fergusspn) and party will pay their first visit to Paeroa. The last Itime the borough was honoured with a Visit of a Governor-General was in April, 1921, when Lord Jellicoe spent a few short hours here.

In order that a, befitting reception shall be acctorded their Excellencies to-morrow the Borough Council, ably led by the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), with the assistance and co-operation of M-r A. M. Samuel, M.P., has; made complete arrangements t;o mark the occasion. Given a fine day, the scene at the Paeroa Domain at 11 o’clock to-morrow morning should be a- memorable one.

The Governor-General’s party will consist of His Excellency, Her Excellency (Lady Alice Fergusson), Mr James Fergusson (son of the GovernorGeneral), Miss Jean Fergusson (His Excellency’s niece), .and Captain C. J. V. (Aide-de-camp). Weather permitting, the following programme will be carried out: — There Excellencies will be met near the borongh boundary on the Waihi road at 11 ?l.m. by the Mayor and Mayoress and the member for the district (Mr A. M. .Samuel) and Mrs Samuel.

At 11.30 a.m. a public reception will be held in the Domain, the official party entering by the Arney Street e,nt rance, where a. Guard of Honour will be formed of Territorials under Captain Porritt, M.C. On arrival at the. rotunda an address of Joyaltj- and welcome will be tendered, followed by an inspection df school childreji, etc. Their Excellencies will then plant two trees in the Domain, after which an opportunity will be afforded to citizens to meet Their Excellencies. In the event pf the weather being unfavourable the reception will be he,ld in the Drill-Hall. Their- Excellencies and party will be the guests of th e Mayor and Mayoress at a private.luncheon, and will take their departure for Te Aroha (from the Criterion Hotel at 2.10 p.m. A brief stop will be made at the Mangaiti school en route and the sch Pol children inspected.

The Salvation Army Band has generously consented to assist in the function. Invitations have been sent to the following schools :. Nethertpfa, Kerepeehi, Hikutaia, Komata, Karangahake, Tirohia,, and Hikutaia West. It is looped that there will be a large muster of children, and arrangements are being made to- supply refreshments to children visiting Paeroa with their schools.

His Excellency has expressed a special wish to meet, in addition to the children, the veterans and the returned soldiers, and the authorities sincerely hope that there' will be a rea;dy response.

Arrangements are, in hand tfor suitable dedor.ations, and citizens are requested to assist by decorating their own premises. Owners of business premises are requested .to close between 10 a.m. and 2.3& p.m., and the members of the Native race, are earnestly invited to make a. good rally for the occasion.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON, BART. Lieut.-GeneraJ Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., M.V.0., D. 5.0., .was born in January, 1865. He entered the Grenadier Guards in 1883 and became captain in 1895. In 1896 he was attached to the Egyptian Army? serving with the 10th Soudanese Battalion until 1898. With them he went through the Dongola Expedition of 1896 and the Nile, Expeditions of' 1897. and 1898, being severely wounded in'the latter. For his work in these expeditions he was. mentioned in despatches five .times, wpn the Egyptian Medal and seven clasps, as well as n the D. 5.0., and received the. rank d’ Brevet of Major, Lieut.-Col-onel, and Colonel. In 1899 he commanded the 15th Soudanese on the Nile and won another clasp to the Egyptian Medal, as well as the secondclass of the Mbdjidie Order. After the fighting he commanded the garrison -and district of Omdurman in 1900, and from 1901 to 1903 w'as Adjutant-General of the Egyptian' Army. -

Returning to England, Sir. Charles commanded the 3rd Battalion df the Grenadier Guards until 1907, the year in which the M.V.O. was bestowed upon him. In the same year he became Brigadier-General on the General Staff of the Irish Command, a plositiojh which he held until 1908. In September, 1908, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and with this rank he held the post of Inspector of Infantry between 1909 and 1912. In .1913 he was appointed to the command of the sth Division, with which he proceeded to France with the original Expeditionary Force. The sth Division fought on the left of the line at Mohs, and on the morning of the 24th had need of all .the skill of its commander flo extricate itself from, being outflanked by the Germans.. In August, 1914, he was promoted Lieutenant-General, and took a prominent part in the taking of Hill 60. His war honours include mention in despatches and his creation as Knight Commander of the (Order <Jf the Bath. He has alAo received the Order of the Crown (sec-ond-class). On January 1, 1918. he was created K.C.M.G. After the Armistice he served as Military Governor at Co’ogne. He married, in 1901, Lady Alice Mary Boyle, second daughter oF the Earl of Glasgow.