H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1919, Page 6

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following telegram has been sent by the Prime Minister to Lord Jellicoe:—"On the eve of your departure from New Zealand, I desire, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, to say with what great pleasure it has been to the Dominion to have yourself and Lady Jellicoe and also your good ship with her officers and men with us. General regret is shared by a Targe section of the community that the time and circumstances did not permit of. the New Zealand 1 -visiting more of our ports. I trust, however, that yotf have all enjoyed your stay while among us, and I send you our best wishes- for a pleasant and successful journey during the' remainder of your important voyage." The following reply has been received from Lord Jellilcoe: "We deeply appre-' date the kind 'message you transmitted on behalf of your colleages and yourself. All on board the New Zealand are most grateful for the great kindness and hospitality received whilst in the Dominion, and we can never forget either the Dominion or its warm-heart-ed inhabitants. Our only regret on leaving is that circumstances did not permit of our seeing more of New Zealand." The following telegram has been received from the captain and officers of the New Zealand:—"The captain and officers of the New Zealand thank you for your, kind message on behalf of the Government, and beg you will convey to them our heartfelt thanks for their share in making our visit one of the happiest episodes of our lives. Boa Ora."

PARTING WORDS. ( LORD JELLICOE'S TRIBUTE' TO THE DOMINION. Auckland, October 2. Speaking at Onehunga to-day after receiving a gift of a casket made of wood taken from the wreck of the H.M.S. Orpheus, Lord Jellicoe said that the wreck of that vessel was not only a great disaster, hut it was also to be remembered for behaviour of great gallantry on the part of the crew of the British man-of-war. The seamen had worthily upheld the traditions of the British race—those traditions which had been upheld during the present war to an even greater extent than ever before It was the same spirit that he saw displayed on the occasion of the sinking in the Mediterranean of the H.M.S. Victoria in ,1893, when the ship's company fell in on the upper deck, and as the vessel gradually sank-waited for the order that they knew would come, "Every man save himself," an order which was not given until the ship Was on her beam ends, but not a man stirred until that order was given. It was the same spirit that was displayed in every shipwreck- of our splendid mercantile marine, the same spirit that the officers and men of that service had shown when their vessels were torpedoed, and very often there were no boats left to save them. The men had gonp down with cheerfulness and resignation. It was the same spirit which the soldiers had displayed; it was the same spirit which had 'made the young Dominion of New Zealand what it was. A GREAT HERITAGE. ■

The people of New Zealand had a great heritage before them, and he felt quite certain that they would displav that splendid spirit of loyalty which he had witnessed wherever he' had met them. H e felt sure that the children would carry on the Dominion on the same lines as those on which their forefathers had started it—as a model to other parts of the Empire. Such a Dominion as that was-worth living for, and it was also worth fighting for. In the hour of the Empire's danger New Zealand had always come to the front. New Zealand now had an opportunity of helping the British Navy, and he had no doubt whatever that New Zealand would take advantage of that op. nortunity The safety of the British Empire meant the safety of New Zealand. They stood or fell together New Zealanders had ever been full of loyalty to King and Empire; they had ever gone to the front When the Empire needed them, and would, he was sure co-operate and support the British *avy in the future.

■LEAVING WITH A SAD HEAKT. As that was perhaps the last occasion on whiuh he would address the people of New Zealand in public, the Admiral said he would like to remark that while no one disliked public speaking more than he did, he almost regretted that it was his last occasion. His heart was sad that they were leaving tins beautiful country. Since he and Lady Jollieoe had been in New Zealand they had met with a most warm-heart-ed welcome. The people had taken Lady Jellieoe and himself to their hearts. He assured the people of their deep gratitude, and said that Lady Jelicoo and himself thanked the 'people irom the bottom of their hearts. "We love New Zealand with the greatest possible regard," .continued Lord Jellieoe, "and I am quite sure that a very large majority of us on the New Zealand would like to come back again Of all the thousands we have met in New Zealand, I think jerhaps it is the children w'lom we are most sorry to IeRW. Children are perhaps more demonstrative than thc-ir ciders, and wherever v/n have been we found the children full of enthusiasm for the Navy, and it is that enthusiasm that uppifti? very mi'oh to our hearts. ] don't say that the grown-ups are not full of the same enthusiasm, but they. didn't let tlwm'eives go in the same way that the oJ.ildr.-n did, and, the.->-f ire, vhile not Ni» me moment say:iij: tl'i ( wp are m; deeply sorry to leave you all, it is t;ii> i?hil.'-tii. as far a? T an: concerned, uhs !mvo got most deeply into my be.it. Wirh mv snd he»"t. I sr.i 'Good-bye crd kin ora.' "