New Irish Governor

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 268, 2 February 1928, Page 11

New Irish Governor

OATH OF OFFICE INSTALLATION IN DUBLIN British Wireless—Press Assn.—Copyright Reed. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY’, Wednesday. Mr. James Mac Neill, who succeeds Mr. Tim Healy as GovernorGeneral of the Irish Free State, took the oath of office to-day in Parliament at Dublin. Afterwards, accompanied by Mrs. Mac Neill. he drove to the Vice-Regal lodge. Before and behind the car were mounted Free State troops with rifles, while at each side rode ail officer in British uniform with a drawn sword. Though the new Governor-General was guarded by troops and the streets were patrolled and kept clear, these precautions were in striking contrast with the elaborate measures taken when Mr. Tim Healy took office upon the founding of the Irish Free State. On that occasion Mr. Healy was almost surrounded by fixed bayonets. —A. and N.Z. SHADOW OF ANXIETY The “Evening Standard” says that a shadow of anxiety hung over Dublin when Mr. McNeill was installed as Governor-General at Leinster House. Armed guards were in close attendance, but despite earlier fears, the ceremony was carried out without a hitch. It was a sombre affair, with an entire absence of decorations, which weis disquieting until it was recalled that his predecessor, Mr. Tim Healy, had to take the oath literally surrounded by bayonets. The Chief Justice administered the oath. Mr. McNeill then placed wreaths on the memorials to Griffiths and Collins. The large crowd was not allowed inside the rails on the opposite side of the road, but the two-mile route to the Vice-Regal lodge was lined with people.