THE GOVERNOR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 140, 26 March 1930, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR

TO VISIT CHRISTCHURCH. ARRIVAL ON APRIL 8. to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) and Lady Bledisloe, will pay their first official visit to Christchurch earlv next month. They will arrive from Wellington on Tuesday, April 8, and will leave for Dunedin by the first express on Thursday, April 10. As the visit will be such a short one, it is not proposed to arrange many engagements for their Excellencies on this occasion. The Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer) stated to-day that probably he would take the Vine-Regal party for a motor drive round the city on the morning of their arrival, and accord to them a civic welcome in the City Council Chamber at noon. In the afternoon he proposed to take them on a drive further afield in order that they should have a good opportunity of seeing the city and its environs. On the Wednesday morning he proposed to take their Excellencies on a visit to the Christchurch Hospital, and in the afternoon to take them to orphanages and the sanitoria, leaving the evening free. It was probable that her Excellency would be invited' by the local Cambrian Society to meet its members as she was of Welsh birth The following letter was received by the Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville) from Mr A. C. Day, official secretary to his Excellency, this morning:— "I am desired by the GovernorGeneral to let you know for the information of his Worship the Mayor that their Excellencies are anxious to avail themselves of the earliest opportunity of making the acquaintance of his Worship, the councillors and the citizens of Christchurch. "With this object in view, thenExcellencies propose paying their first official visit to Christchurch early next month, arriving at Christchurch on Tuesday, April 8, should his Worship see no reason to advise to the contrary, and leaving for Dunedin by the morning train on Thursday, April 10. If it is proposed to "ive their Excellencies a civic reception ■on the Tuesday evening perhaps vou would be kind enougii to send me, in advance, a copy oi any formal address which it may be the intention to present. His Lxcellency would be obliged also tor advice as to his engagements on the Wednesday, which it is hoped will not be made too strenuous and arduous, in view of their long journey next day. Possibly visits to the hospital or similar institutions might be included. , ~ . "Their Excellencies regret that their stay in the City will be a short one on this occasion, but they hope to have many other opportunities ol visiting Christchurch and of becoming more fully acquainted with its inhabitants and its institutions and social and industrial activities.