DEPARTURE OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1497, 27 November 1874, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Sir Jamb 3 Fbrgtjsson Bart., the late Governor of New Zealand left the shores of the colony this morning by the s.s. Mikado, somewhat unexpectedly. As we announced in our "extra" published at six oclock yesterday evening, the departure of his Excellency, (as we may now call him for the last time), was only determined on late in the afternoon, Captain Moore being unaware of the illustrious passenger he was to take away with him till half-past > five o'clock. When the news became public general surprise was manifested, it having been widely understood that Sir James intended awaiting the coming of his successor, the Marquis of Normanby. Although various rumours were rife as to the causa of Buch a sudden exodus, the correct solution of the puzzle appeared in our columns last night, in an article written in view 0f,"9 difficulty of two Governors being in tM colony at the same time. As soon as tfl announcement was' positively made, tt attempt was made to prepare some trifluii:^ farewell ceremony; but it was found tb« the shortness of the notice made it impossible for more to be offered than the simple expressions of the good wishes of the citizens. Notices calling upon the Volunteers to attend to grace the parting, appeared in the morning papers, but here again the notice proved insufficient to allow the men^to make the necessary arrangements f°r their work, and the attempt at » general parade was a failure. Half-])* 8* nine was named as the time of embarkation) and with commendable punctuality, »*ef minutas after that time his Excellency* carriage drew up at the entrance to the Qaeeiv street wharf, where a barrier had wf 11 erected to keep back the crowd which, gradually increasing from nine o'clock, at the appointed hour assumed very respectable proportions. We must thank the .vanoM merchant captains now in port for affordingns the oniy imposing show of the day. J nell vessels were dreused in all the glory of gay bunting and presented a very pretty aPP£ a h " auce. This decoration was very general- ab Hydaspes from her large size looked pe«W most prominent, but both the City of Auckland and the Waitangi looked extremely well. Besides these, the barques, btams/. Castle, the East Lothiam, the WiUiM?/J% ford, and the Harriet Armitage contribute to the holiday look of the wharf, w« in mid-atream the dismasted bwjj Condoren, and even the coal-huIKS w . gaily attired. The A.S.P. Company s ottj End other offices on the wharf were toppe by flags. On the east side of the wharf, « to the lower watermen's steps, bet•£" \ A.S.P. Company's T and No. ST, wa^ | structed a small carpeted platform, w^. tißg . / was arranged that the inevitable v** his speechifying should take place. ug nge Excellency leaving G°/ cf meX, B n or little demonstration took P lßoo' t iy was the enthusiasm of the PoP^Srtstirred as the two^ carriages teaveraed£ land-street and Queen-street. -TtasJ" ggg ascribed to the tarlmess of thbou* bined with the partial ot public With the fact of the leave-taW"*

■B^tbat Sir James Fergusson has ''WLMtPPlmch. for popularity, and cannot ■■■V mJ: secnred it. On arrival at the 'iKdIK JiencV, who was accompanied W^Arney, Knight, the Bishop of Mir^if Pollen, Sir Donald McLean, ■''■^ L'dent, Capt. Fergusson, A.D.C., BffTTohn, and Major Campbell, was Sf 1 i his Worship the Mayor., Mr. Wtiid "X Tewn Clerk, and several H|» I ijjg Corporation, and by Captain HK^hainnau and members of the |m,l/, Sgard. These gentlemen formed B^ 01 joffii the wharf to the B where a laige number of M^' ' representing the mercantile and B^frests of the city and province were Bffforship &c Mayor here Pepped B«1 and made a short farewell speech on •'iff the citizens of Auckland. He said V tied the suddenness of the departure, B^tcircumstances should have arisen to V t his Excellency being present at the Bt of his successor,' He regretted also BI dv Fergusson was not there to receive w parting expressions of regard. He flj the words he was uttering would not Hi ken as a mere form ; but would be B fed a8 a genera^ ebullition of good feelViod as an emD°diment °^ the public Bt at losing their late Governor. In BLjon, he wished his Excellency good Bind God-speed. (Cheers.) Bs Excellency replied that he thauked ■Ithem very much for their courtesy in Bog oQ B0 Bh°rt noti°e to in such numbers Bio honour to his departure and wish him B,mced. He regretted as well as they Boklig&tion he was under of hurrying Bf, Circumstances had arisen which made Bo»tter °* necessity that for the sake of Bpablic convenience he should leave before BW^ 1 of his successor. It had been Bgged that ne snould take leave of the B»y in Auckland in preference to any other 1»{ in order that he might be present at the Bgiiration of his successor, and contribute Hindering his advent to office easy and Bill. But he had found that instead of Bring Wm ne should hinder him by his JMjnce: henca his determination to B>t once- -^c n°t nec(i the present Bifestation to assure himself of their ■Lrosi'jy and kindness : ever since he had Bgiatiie colony he had experienced every B^eration. To the public men of the Bay he was very much indebted for the Biteo66 he* had received from them in ■piistering the duties of hi 3 office. It aßbeen a pleasure to him to watch their disjHgested efforts for the good of the country, Ui he thought New Zealand had good Imjoa to be proud of them. He had among Molasses found the same uniform kindness. Hfeedid not approve of his going about in a ISai-official way as he had done, but he B^t it was the only way of ascertaining B tme re luirements of the colony. He jKted to see a speedy development of the B>t material wealth with which Providence igliblessed New Zealand. No man born in Htcolony could have its interests more at Hart than he had, and no opportunities or B^its that he possessed should be wasted |jj|sahe had it in his power to farther their

Bnneement. mnjs Worship the Mayor here called for ;s||te cheers for his Excellency Sir James Hgasson. The call was responded to with ;;-%, and supplemented by three cheers for My Fergusson and family. 3jiir James said he had a word more to say. Wm had known his noble successor H2O years. He had sat with Hin the House of Commons, had Hfed him when Governor of another Bpny, and he could say with confidence Ht he believed him likely to prove most Hal to the advancement of the colony. Hfelfc sure that he would receive a hearty flcome. He called upon them to give He hearty cheers for the most noble the Hc[uis of Normanby. This having been Bonded to, his Excellency embarked on mki the p.s. Devonpori;, which was in Hjness to convey him to the big Mail [Bier which was already fretting, with full Hu up in the harbour. '%c volunteers made but a poor show among "jgcrowd on the wharf, only the officers insenting the various companies, and a >,«members of the Hobsons, and some halfSjpten of other corps being present. At Ueonclnsion of his Excellency's speech, the By formed a guard of honor, headed by a Huof musicians made up of the several1 Mbteer bands under the direction of BandQmter McComish, the band playing the Optional Anthem. As the steamer moved Hiyfrom the wharf the band struck up with BvSne old Scottish air of " Auld Lang Hie," which was exceedingly effective, and jHnldhave been far more so had it not been Bthe discordant strains of an old fiddle Wyed by an aged man known as "antiaPted Bob," who was most enthusiastic in mh style, and caused much amusement Htubg the crowd of spectators. ■ii large crowd of spectators on board the fydispes loudly cheered his Excellency as »moved away. As the ferry-boat drew ■fflgaide the Mikado the Artillery fired a Ke-regal salute of 18 guns from the Break«)ter. Several gentlemen, in addition !B>moßt of those already mentioned, accomhis Excellency off to the steamer. :.;j»tlu'a a few minutes of his Excel■Py and Buite being received on board, i^ognns were fired as a starting signal, and isjw Mikado began her voyage to San FranHoi and New Zealand was left for a few days JB>?nt a Governor.