OUR NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2808, 8 November 1924, Page 4

OUR NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

ENTERTAINED BY COLONIAL institute. EXPERIENCES AND ANTICIPATIONS. London, November I. The Colonial Institute gnve a luncheon to the new Governor-General of New Zealand. Sir Charles Fergnsson, and llie new Governor of Tasmania, Sir John O'Grady. The ehairrnan, Sir Godfrey Lngden, recalled Labour's repudiation of the previous Government's agreement with the Dominion, and said he hoped that never again could sueh a eonferenee lie rendered abortive and that a way would he found to avoid sueh a risk in the future. Never was there a lime when the Empire stood more in need of -being strongly united, both for its own preservation and for the preservation of the peace of the world. Tie deelared that “one drop of a good New Zealander’s blood was worth all dm hlood of all the Bolshies." (Laughter .and eheers).

Sir Charles Fergnsson, responding to the toast of his health, recalled his arriving in Adelaide in IStiS, when lie travelled in a horsedrawn railway train and admired llie red coats outside Government House. He suggested that his mililarv career had dated from that time. He proceeded in 1872 to New Zealand, with his father, who explored the New Zealand - Sounds, where he found he was unable In east anchor. Tie further recalled that his father introduced trout into New Zealand from his Scottish estate, and said he anticipated, as a fisherman, a cordial welcome from the front.

_ Sir Charles quoted a Scottish pnper of 1872 eulogising - the unflinching Rivalty of the New Zealanders in tiie face of reluill's-■ and disappointments, the princely hearing -of tin 1 natives and the potentialities of tincountry, which it was calculated, could receive millions of his fellow countrymen. He thought the same might he written to-day. He concluded hv saying he believed that on the consolidation of the Empire depended the peace and security of the world. The prospect of an honour-it-le connection for live years with New Zealand was extremely pleas- : »g. (Cheers).

Sir Charles Foiyuss.-.n was fjivcn an audience by the King, who forniallv appointed him Governor-Gen • ral of New Zealand.'

Captain O’Grady, the new Gov■rnor of Tasmania, has Ir en knighted. A special suite of rooms built on hoard the Runtime will accommodate Sir Charles Ei-rgusson and his suite. The Ruahine sailed on November (illi, and carried ISI assisted passengers. The Pakelm will carry (i-lt) assisted passengers.