H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 August 1919, Page 5

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

SPEECH BY LORD JELLICOE. ' ‘ WELLINGTON, Aug. 2-’.'. "Speaking at a civic reception to; day, Lord Jellicoe made it plain that while‘ not unappreeiative of the hospitality’ which he knew would be :0 freely lavished on them, the visit of the “New Zealand” was essentially a business visit. While. not seeking to diminish the pleasure which the citizens of the Dominion would be good enough to confer upon" them, all the time at the back of his mind, and at the back of the minds of his staff, would be the fact that there was work to be done here. Oflicers and men of the ship would be grateful indeel for any hospitality shown them, and he only asked that he, and the nienibers of his staff beleft certain days to carry out the work they had been sent to undertake. He did not forget that New Zealand was the first overseas portion of the British lixnpire which had :11 navy of its own. He did not then refer to H.M.S_ New Zealund, 7!‘.-ut to the four little cargo steamer-s which had been fitted out and made bulletproof by -the New Zealand Government in 1863. - Then, again, in 1.909, New Zealand had led the ‘my with the gift of H.M.S. New Zealand. {Loud applause). I\'ew Zealand had a. great, long and lasting connection wvith the Royal Navy from the days of Captain Cool: to its first Lieutenant.-Governor and its second G-overno':_ who xvere both naval men. 'l‘hose on I—I.M S. New Zealand felt that in coming to New Zealand they were coming home_ (Applause). They all had deep appreciation of the interest ';\'leV\' Zealand had always taken in matters naval, always appreciating the vital necessity for British sea supremacy. The men of the Royal Navy had had an intimate association with the heroes of the New Zealand army in the early days of Gallipoli and in those days between the two branches of the service there had grown up a spirit of comrades-hip which would never die. “In coming to New Zealand we are coming home. We are coming to our comrades.” (Applause). The men of the Royal Navy sympathised with those in the Dominion who had lost their loved ones, but there were words which appealed to him as the very best ‘which could be used under such circumstances. They were “the glory does not die; the grief is past. (Loud and prolonged applause).

The reception concluded by the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for. Admiral Lord Jellicoe, -his officers and men. V