AN OLD CHARTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1939, Page 8

AN OLD CHARTER

KING & HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY PRESENTATION OF ELK & BEAVER RECEPTION OF EMPIRE GREETINGS. NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA HEARD WELL. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) WINNIPEG, May 24. The Australian Associated Press special correspondent says that under the terms of a charter granted by Charles the Second, Mr Patrick Ashley, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, today knelt before the King and humbly presented two massive elk Heads and two glistening

black beaver skins. The picturesque ceremony, which Queen Eliabeth witnessed, took-place before the sole remaining gate of Upper Fort Garry, once the great fur trade centre. Under the charter granted in 1670 to Prince Ruppert as Governor, the “Company of Adventurers of England” trading into Hudson’s Bay, was required “to yield and pay yearly two elks and two black beavers whensoever and often as wee and our heires successors shall happen to enter into the countryes and territoryes hereby granted.” The obligation was first met in 1927, when the Prince of Wales visited Canada. Earlier their Majesties listened with the greatest interest to the Empire’s moving greetings by radio. Reception from the Eastern hemisphere was poor, but Australia and New Zealand came in strongly. Every word of the Flying Doctor, a New Zealand schoolgirl and a Maori was heard clearly. Only the King’s Private Secretary was present when his Majesty broadcast, the Queen listening in from an adjoining sitting room, with the ladies-in-waiting grouped with her round a receiving set. The King spoke into two gold microphones set on. a table, at which he was seated. A small indicator warned him to stand by and then gave “On the Air.” His- Majesty acknowledged from the Royal train the reception of Empire Day greetings from President Lebrun.

NAZI FLAG CAUSES DEMONSTRATION IN WINNIPEG. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) WINNIPEG, May 24. Prior to the Royal procession through the city, a crowd demonstrated against a Nazi flag flying from the German Consulate. The Mayor asked the Consul to pull down the* flag. He refused and the :rowd demonstrated until their Maj • ■■sties approached, when the boos turned into cheers.