LORD JELLICOE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1920, Page 5

LORD JELLICOE.

VISIT TO TARANAKI. YESTERDAY'S TOUR. CHILDREN'S DAY AT HAVVERA. The programme in connection with the visit to Hawera of 'their E-celloncicß Viscount and Lady Jellicoe was concluded with the children's function yesterday morning. Some hundreds of scholars from the schools in the town were assembled in King Edward Par);, and there was also a large attendance of the public, business premises being closed till 10.30. Beautifully fine weather prevailed, contributing to the success of the gathering. In introducing their Excellencies to the children, the Mayor (Mr. E. Dixon) expressed the hope they would take to heart the remarks which Lord Jellicoe was about to say to them. "Boys and girls," said his Excellency, "first of all I wish to say how very pleased I am to have the opportunity of seeing you here to-day, also how much I congratulate myself on having a fine day to do it in. The future of the Empire depends upon the boys and girls of New Zealand and of the' Empire. I am sure you are all proud to belong to the British Empire. I know how strong is the feeling in New Zealand that the country shall always remain as loyal a portion of the Empire as it is to-day. I know that you are all proud of New Zealand, and I have not yet met a New Zealander who 13 not. Some of you differ as to which part of New Zealand is the best, but here in Hawera you boys a" 1 girls have every reason to be proud of this particular portion of this splendid Dominion. "What has made tho British Empire the greatest Empire that'has ever existed? It is first of all the fact that the Empire exists really for the good of those belonging to it. Wherever the British flag flies there is freedom, justice and civilisation, and that is one'reason why the British Empire ha.s gone on from one glory to another. Another reason is' the government of its people. It is the government and hard work of those who first settled in this Dominion which laid the foundations of the Dominion, and it is up to you children of New Zealand to see that the work carried out by those people who came before you is not thrown away. "What I would urge upon you is this: To work hard and to play hard. Whatever you are at do it with all your hearts. When His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales lent the Dominion he gave a few words of advice to the children in one of the best letters to children that it has been my privilege to read. He asked them to be conscientious, play the game always, and play for your side. Playing for the side means unselfishness; to think not only of yourself but of the good of the community at large. New Zealand is part of the great Empire itself to which we have the honor to belong." "I am very anxious." said His Excellency, "that those words should sink into your hearts and remain there all your lives. I am going to ask that you be given a holiday to-day in order to remember the words of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales." On behalf of the children, teachers and parents, Mr. Strack, headmaster of the Hawera school, thanked their Excellencies for visiting the assembled scholars. Cheers were given for Lord and Lady Jellicoe. The ceremony of saluting the flag was then carried out by the assemblage. Tho viee-regal party left shortly after for the station, where they were farewelled by large numbers. ELTHAM'S RECEPTION, | Eltham was reached about 11 o'clock. ! Their Excellencies were met by the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler), the Hon. W. C. F, Carncross and Miss Carneross, Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., and Mrs, Hawken. Headed by the Pipe Band, the party proceeded to the Town Hall, where there was a large gathering of townspeople. The following address was read by the Mayor:— May it please Your Excellency.—We, the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of the Borough of Eltham desire to extend to you, as representative of.His Majesty the King, a most hearty welcome to our town and district, and to assure you of the unswerving loyalty and devotion to the Throne of His Majesty's, subjects in this portion of the Dominion. We join with the whole of the people of New Zealand in testifying our very keen appreciation of the hfjrh honor conferred upon this Dominion by His Majesty the King in so graciously appointing you, the Admiral of the Fleet, as his Viceroy in the Britain of the South. We trust that your Excellency and members of your family will have an enjoyable stay in New Zealand. We regret' that your present visit is of necessity so brief. We sincerely hope you will accord us the privilege of again welcoming you, and that time will then permit of your visiting the town and neighboring (lis-, trict. In conclusion we pray that God's blessing may rest upon you in the discharge of the responsible duties of your high office." His Excellency replied:— "His Worship, councillors and burgesses of the Borough of Eltham, on behalf of his Majesty the King, whom I have the honor to represent in this Dominion, I thank you for your loyal expression of unchanging devotion to him,, the proof of which was so clearly given by all New Zealanders in their wholehearted efforts for the .Empire during the war, and by the enthusiastic demonstrations of loyalty during the recent visit of His Royal Highness ' . the Prince of Wales to this Dominion. I am greatly touched by your appreciation and by your satisfaction at my appointment, and Her Excellency and I are deeply grateful to you all for the very cordial welcome which you have given us to-day, and, for the good wishes which you express for us and for our family. I'assure you that it gives us great pleasure to make our first visit to Elthnm, though we regret very much it is so short, but we shall look forward to making a longer stay at some later date, and to seeing more both of the people and of your flourishing neighborhood. In the meantime I wish you every happiness and success in all your ventures." A visit was made to the Salvation Army Boys' Home, where the lads gave a gymnastic exhibition, and His Excellency expressed extreme pleasure in what he had seen at the Home. His Excellency accepted a suggestion made after the arrival of the train in Eltham, that the party should motor to Stratford, and they were accompanjed on the trip by a njimber of Eltham ciii- ■«•_». I

AT STRATFORD. The party reached Stratford about one o'clock, being met by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) and the Mayoress, and the members of the Borough Council and their -wives. • After lunch, the party motored to the showgrounds, arriving there at about 2 o'clock. Here the party was greeted with cheers from the huge crowd. The guard of honor, composed of cadets from No.'s 94, 95 and 112 companies of senior cadets, under the command of Lieuts. Richardson an'd Adlam, accorded his Excellency the royal salute, the band playing the Natonal Anthem. The guard of honor and a parade of returned soldiers and veterans were then inspected by Lord Jellicoe. The party then moved to the special platform on the grand stand where the civic reception was to be held. In addition to those already mentioned, there were seated on the platform, Mr. George Sangster, president of the A. and P. Association, and Mrs. Sangster, Mr. R. Masters, M.P., and Mrs. Masters, Mr. E. Walter, chairman of the Stratford County Council, and Mrs. Walter, and Mr. N. Cleland, chairman of the Whangamomona County Council. The Mayor briefly -welcomed their Excellencies to Stratford and asked their acceptance of the address of welcome from the burgesjes. The town clerk (Mr. P. Skoglund) then read the address as follows: May it please Your Excellency,—We, the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of the Borough of Stratford, desire to extend to you, as the representative of the King, a most hearty welcome to our town and district, and to assure you of the unswerving loyalty and devotion to the throne of his Majesty's subjects in this portion of the Dominion. We join with the whole jf the people of New Zealand in testifying to their keen appreciation of the high honor conferred upon this Dominion by his Majesty the King in so graciously appointing you as his viceroy in the Britain of the "south. It is singularly appropriate that at this time, following close upon the greatest war the world has even seen, during which New Zealand, in her most isolated and position, was happily saved from invasion by the magnificent and valiant services of the British Navy, there have been sent to us the Admiral of the Fleet to which all owe such an everlasting debt of gratitude for preserving and protecting us from our foes. We trust that your Excellency, Lady Jellicoe and the members of your family will have an enjoyable stay j in New Zealand, and that when the time comes for you to leave our shores you will have only the most pleasant Recollections ,of the period spent by you in New Zealand as Governor-General. In conclusion, -we pray that God's blessing may rest upon you in the discharge of the responsible duties of your high office. His Excellency's reply was as follows: Your Worship, councillors and burgesses of the Borough of Stratford: As his Majesty's representative in this Dominion I thank you very warmly for the sentiments of loyalty and devotion to the throne, to which you give expression on behalf of the people of this town and district. lam exceedingly grateful for the kind words of welcome which you have addressed to me and for the sentiment with which you have received my appointment. ' I need hardly assure you how greatly I appreciate the honor conferred upon me by the King in selecting me for the post which I now occupy, and T pray that during my term of office the prosperity and happiness of the people of the Dominion, may he continually on the increase. Your generous reference to the work of the navy during the. late war I value very highly, and on behalf of the officers and men of t,he fleet, my comrades during those years, I tender to you sincere thanks. It was the 'privilege of the navy to work in close co-operation with our great sister service to "Which New Zealand contributed so gallant and magnificent a force. Her Excellency and I thank you- also very sincerely for the good wishes you oxpress for ourselves and our children during our stay in New Zealand. We do not like even to think of departure at this stage, and we feel sure that when that time does arrive, our regrets will be at least a3 sincere as they were a year ago. In addition to the formal reply, Lord Jellicoe expressed the very real pleasure that it gave her Excellency and himself to be present at the show and meet so many of the inhabitants of the neighborhood. If he might judge by the number present that day the prosperity of Stratford and district must be very great. He hoped Stratford and its district would prosper even more and more during his stay in New Zealand and ever afterwards, and he wished the people, on his own behalf, and on behalf of Lady Jellicoe, the best of happiness and prosperity that could fall to their lot. (Applause). Mr. Sangster then tendered to their Excellencies a very hearty welcome to the show. Miss Beth Thomson, the seven-year-old daughter of Mr. Percy Thomson, at this stage presented bouquets to Lady Jellicoe and Mrs. McMillan, and the little daughter of the late Lieut. Arnold Thomson presented a button-hole to Lord Jellicoe, amidst hearty cheers. After inspecting the show and watching the jumping competitions, their Excellencies were entertained at afternoon tea. Their Excellencies were then motored to the Municipal Chambers, and after inspecting the borough Roll of Honor and signing the visitors' book, they left by train for WanganuL