IN THE PELORUS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 228, 27 September 1926, Page 5

IN THE PELORUS

THE VICE-REGAL TOUR ENJOYABLE DAY ON SATURDAY A TRIP DOWN TH)E SOUND. Their Excelleincies tlie GovernorGeneral, General -Sir Charles Fergusson and the Lady Alioe Fergusson, returned to Wellington o-n Saturday night with a lasting impression of Marlborough as a land of golden sunshine, for tlie weather,- throughout their visit, was perfeet, Saturday being no exception to tlie beautiful sunny days which characterised the memorable week spent by their Excellencies on this sjde of' the Strait. Their visit will also be a memorable one for them, and also for tlie people of Marlborough, by reason of the fact that, altii-ough their Excelleneies' visit. was an official one, so that cold formalities were unavoidable, these oocasions were reduced to a liappy minimum and the vice-regal party, in tlie cour.se of a series of more or less inforinal outings, were enabled to get into touch with residents of all paris of the province, their graciousness and utter disdain of cer-emon ial forms making them manv friends and achieving for them a popularity which must be unique. Both His Excellency and the Ladv Alioe were obviously regretful on Saturday night that their visit had conie to. -a- oonclusion, and they took several opportunities to express the hope that before long they would be able to renew acquaintance with "Marlborough the Golden," asi His Excellency has got into the way of referring to the province, and with the many people with whom they came into contact. WELCOME AT1 HAVELOCK. The vice-regal party were early abroiad on Saturday in anticipation of a long day in the P'elorus Sound, and arrived at Havelock as early as 9.30 a.m. Despite the awkward hour, there was a big attendance of people from all pa.rts of the Pelorus district- to welcome them, Havelock being en Tete and gay with bunting as the vice-regal car drew up in front of the Town Hall. A seetion of B Squadron of tlie 8tli Mounted Rifles Regiment formed a guard of honor, under Ctolonel Chaytor, Captain Miirray, and Major Taylor, and, after inspection of the guard, their Bxcellencies, who had been weJcomed with cheers and the singing of the National Arithem. were received by the chairman of the Town Board, Mr H. H. White, and Mrsi White. Members of the Board and their ladies were formally p re.se nted, and Mr V hite read the lollowing address: General Sir Charles Fergusson, Gov-ernor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, and its Dependencies, and Lady Alice Fergusson- — On behalf of tbe Town Board of Havelock, and of the citizens of Havelock, Kaituna, and Pelorus districts, I wisli to extdnd to your Exoellencies our heartfelt welcome to this remote part of Hife M-a-jesty's Empire. We trust that you will long continue: to be His Majesty's representative in New Zealand, and that your stay with us will be liappy and enjoyable. We 'Would express our appreci ation of the kindly interest taken by you in our Returned Soldiers, Girl Guides, and the school children ; but- the truest indication of your kind-heartedness is evidenced by your visiting the patients in our public hospitals. On your return to the Honie-

land, we would ask you to convey to His Majesty the King our loyalty and allegiance, and to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, whose visit is still fresh in -our memories, our best wish-es for his welfare. We are prond of the honor of your visit to Marlborough, and trust that it may be our privilege to again welcome Your Exoellencies to our province. Mr White then called upon Mr W. J. Girling, M.P., who welcomedl their Excellencies on behalf of the people of Havelock and of the surrounding districts. He said tliat the people were delighted that their Excellencies were able to devote a whole day to the Pelorus district, and they -hoped that the day would be a very pleasant and memorable one. Elarl Jellieoe's visit about two years ago had been a red letter day in tlie history of Havelock, but their Excellencies were to he taken further afield on a visitto one of the most glorious boliday and scenic resorts in.New Zealand— the beautiful and magnificent Pelorus Bounds. Their Exoellerwies had already had a glimpse of part of the Queen Charlo-tte Bound, and would uiylierstand tlie pride which the district fclt in these m-aguificent ivaterways. Mr Girling concluded by expressing regret that the time at their Exceillencies' disposal preoludied a visit- to such districts as the R-a-i Valloy, but said he hoped tliat an opportunity wonld be afforded at a later date of see-ing the Rai and other part® of the province which it had been found impossible to include in the present itinerary. (Applause).

HLB EXCELLENCY' S REPLY. In response, His Excellency read the following address to the Town Board : — Mr Chairman, — The add re-ss which you have presented on behalf of the- Town Board of Havelock, and of the citizens of the town and -surrounding districts, gives me sincere pleasure. I thank you most lieartily for the warm welcome which it expre-ssed to Her Excellency aird myself on this, our first official visit to vou. Tlie visit had been planned for last year, but circumstances compelled its . postponement. We thank you for the land word-s in which you have- offered us a welcome, and can assure you that they find a warm eoho i n( our hearts. We are glad to have an opportunity of meeting the people of tlie district personally, and of making friendships among you. Tlie expression of your loyalty to His Majesty .sliall be conveyedi to him, and it will afford sincere gratification to His Majesty and to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to know of your loyal and liappy recolleetion.s of their vi.sits in former days. You may be assured of our eaniest wish to do all in our power to proniote your happiness and prosperity at all times. . CHARLES FERGUSSON, Gover nor-Gener al . Having read his address, His Excellency added to it a few words of a less formal nature, his remarks being on the lines of his previous speeches. He also took tlie oportunity of thanking Mr Girling for the kind terms in which lie had expressed tlie welcome of the citizens and the inhabitants of th« surrounding districts,

Later, His Excellency went among the school children, who were drawn up on one side of Ihe road, and addressed them hriofly, concluding hy bespeaking a holiday for them for today. A little girl named1 Joan McLean presented Her Excellency with a pret-ty bo-uquet. Tbe ceremony concluded with eheering and the singing oi the National Anthem, while tlie guard oame to the salute. Buhs-equently the vice-regal party and the visitors were entertained at morning tea at the library, their wants being attended to by members of the Girls' Cluh. A very pleasant half-hour was spent, their Excellencies meeting many of the residents. PELORUS BOUND. Shortly after II a.m. the party embarked, as the guest-s ^ of the Town Board. on a trip down tlie Pelorus Bound, their Excell-cncies and the official party travelling on Mr Eric Jofinson's launch, while others were accommodated on Mr Geo. W i Iso n 's launch. 4 wo or three other launches also made the trip, carrying excursionists and others. The Sound was as cairn as a millpond and with a warm sun and an entire absence of wincl, the journey \Vas a very pleasant- one, their Excellencies and the visitors generally being warm in their admiration" of tlie scenio beauties which were unfolded as the launches sped down the bay. The bush-elad hills, mirrored in the placid water, and the wonderful tone. of sea a-nd sky, with the hlue hills -of the higher country in tlie baekground made the trip like a visit to fairvland. J Nikau Bay, the residenoe of Mr R. D. Fell. was reached about 12.30 p.m., the large numher of launches at ancho-r in the bay telling that the occasion was being made one for a gathering of the sdttlers from all parts of the great waterway. There were thirty or more launches in evidence and that all had brought big numhers of people: to do honor to their Excellencies was evidenced when the party reached the shore, where there was a remarkable gathering, and where their Excellencies received a right royal welcome. As the official launch approached the wharf, their Excellencies were re-

oeived with ciioers^ and they were greeted on the wharf by Mr Fell and other prominent settlers and their ladies. An immediate- adjournment was made t.o the beautiful sheltered garclens in front of the residenoe, and th© party were filled with admiration at tlie scene- which was presented, its very unexpeetedness adding to the attraction. Tlie garden, whicli is completely enclosed by trees and native bush, is come- upon suddenly, and its trim lawns, relievecl with flowers and many shaded trees is delightful. Here the settlers and their children were assembled and weloomed their Excellencies with the National Anthem and cheers, while native pigeons, disturbed by the'unusual uproar, fluttered about the trees. Their Excellencies were accommodated upon seats in a. shady nook, and Mr P. E. Mills, chairman of the Bounds Farmers' Union, the only public body in tlie district, read the following address : — On behalf of the residents of the Pelorus Sound. I have great pleasure in extending to Yonr Excellency the heartiest greetings, both officiallv, as the representative of our- King, and personally in recognition of Your Exoeleiicy's distinguished service to the Empire. We pledge our loyal support in peace or war, the sentiments of this district having been well expressed by tlie late Right Hon. Mr Milssey in the phrase "Oue flag, oue King, oue Empire." We appreci ate mtensely Your Excellency's call on us to-day, and we tender to you and the Lady Alioe Fergusson our best wisheis for your hanDiiiess.

Captain Ne-sbit presented the following address on behalf of the Returned Soldiers: — It gives me tlie- very greatest ^pleasure to extend to yourself and Her Excellency a very sincere, hearty and cordial welcome, on he1half of the Returned Soldiers of the Pelorus Sound. Our welcome to this somewhat remote, but very beautiful corner of His Majesty's Dominion is of a twofo-ld nature. Fii'stly, we welcome you ais His Ma- ■ jesty's representative, and I can assure you, Sir, that, though a seattered communit-y, we ta-ke second p-la'ce to none in our pride in the flag and our loyalty to His Majesty. Becondly, our welcome to you and to the, Lady Alice Fer-gusso-n is a personal one. Wherever you have gone in New Zealand you have left a niemory of cordial good feeling^ mingled with regret tliat your visit-s have, of necessity, been of short duration. Your Excellency's illustrious record in France is too well known, to call for more than brief referenc© f rom me, but I can a,ssn.re you. Sir, th-at it is a record of whicli we are all justly proud, and this applies more especially to tliose of us who, like yourself, saw service in France. We are very glad that you have had an opportunity of viewing a s-mall corner of the beautiful Pelorus Sound under such ideal weather conditions, and we trust that for your own, and Her Excellency's sake, vou will find time, before leaving New Zealand, to pay a further visit to Pelorus Sound, and that time will then permit of vour visit-

ing its many and varied beaUty spots. Wo feel very honored that you should have come so- far to meet us to-day, and can assure you tliat should you and the Ladv Alioe Fergusson again visit the Pelorus, your welcome will be no less hearty and sincere than it has been today . — ( Appl ause) . H is Excellency, in reply, expressed the admiration of Her Excellency aird himself for the beautiful scenery through which they had passed on their way to Nikau Bay, and their delight with the surroundings in which they now found tbemselves. He also expressed their gratitud© to the settlers who, be understood had trayelled long distances to welcome their Excelenci-es. He spoke briefly along the lines of the earlier addresses throughout his tour, and at tlie oonclusion, as usual, had a special talk with the children, squatting down among them on tlie grass and telling them the storv of the House with Golden Windows. At tlie conclusion lie arraiige-d for a holiday for them in honor of the occasion . Oheeri n g concluded tlie ceremony and, after spending an hour or so chatting with various people, the party were entertained at a delightful al fresco luncheon hy the settlers and tlie Havelock Town Board, the Girls' Club- again filling the role of waitresses very cliarmingly. At the conclusion of tlie luncheon, Mr .White and Mr Girling proposed the health of their Excellencies and both responded, Her Exoelency stating that she had fallen in love with Nikau Bav and would like to stop there, while His Excellency again took tlie opportunity of thanking his hosts for their hospitality. Amid muc-h eheering and entliusiasm, the party re-emharked for

Havelock about 2.45 p.m. and the run ho-m@ was just as pleasant as the tr)P down had been, though, when with i n sight of Havelock there occurred a little diversion which was not upon the official programme, but which their Excellencies "appeared to thoroughly enjoy. "We would not have had it otherwise for wonlds," remarked His Excellency afterwards, "it was the one thing needed to put a fitting finish upon one of the most delightful days we have ever experienced." In a looality known locally by the deseriptive titi© of "Pull Be Damn Point,' only a few hundred yards from Havelock, the official launch.

after sticking once or twice on minor mudbanks made treacherous by the receding tide, fiually grounded hopclessly and was obviously a fixture until the tide could refloat it. Another and smaller launch happened. along at the moment and their Excellencies and staff were transferred to it, but, after covering a hundred or so yards, it also was piled up. The plight of the party was witnessed from tlie Havelock wharf an-di dinglues put off to the rescue, Mr Hutcheson having tlie honor of ferrying their Excellencies ashoi'e in his dinghy, while Mr Reid rescued the staff from a watery grave. A whole fleet of dinghies were soon,' busily engaged in tlie rescue work from tlie two launches and the visitors were speedily put ashore, all having much enjoyed the jncident. L he Havelock people in the party gen-ei ouslv remained on the mud1 banlvs to the last and it was an hour or more before the last of them reached terra firma. In the meantime, three other launches returning fiom Nikau Bay were also held by the mud, so that the flotilla of dinghies had a busy time. On returning to Havelock, His Excellency wqs presented by Mr Petef ^ hiro, of Canvastown, with an address expressing the loyalty of the Maoris and of the Ngatikuia tribe in particular, and their admiration for the part which His Excelency had taken in the war. His Excellency responded suitably, undertakiiig to for ward the loval expressions of the tribe to His Majesty. Their Excellencies left Havelock for Picton about 5 p.m. amid clieers and after clining at the Terminus ITotel, enibarked upon tlie s.s. Ngaio, hy wliich thev returned to Wellington tliat evening.