THE GOVERNOR'S FAREWELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1892, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S FAREWELL.

BANQUET AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(by telegraph.—press association.)

Christchurch, this day.

The citizens' banquet to the Governor and Countess Onslow took place yesterday in the Tuam-streeb Hall. There were aboub 200 present. Tho Mayor of Christchurch occupied the chair, supported on the right by the Governor, and on the left by the Countess of Onslow. The Chairman proposed the toast of tho Governor, and in doing so said tho Governor was regarded here as something more than a mere inanimate object. We had had many Governors, but none who adorned the position more than the Earl of Onslow, who had made himself familiar with all our iusbitubions and indusbries, and had governed bhe colony wibh marked ability and impartiality. He alluded in graceful terms to bhe Countess of Onslow, who had endeared herself to all in the colony, and bade them and family " God-speed," with special regard for their future.

His Excellency, who was heartily received, thanked them for the manner in which they had enabled him to say farewell to the citizens of Christchurch. The inclusion of Lady Onslow in tho invitation led him to see the truth of what ho had heard, that people here were not anxious to know what kind of a man their Governor was to be, but they were anxious to know what sorb of woman his wife was bo be. He could not help thinking that the Governor should be looked on nob only as the representabive of the Queen, bub the envoy of the British Parliament and the British people ; that he should bo looked on as tho interpreter of the languages of people of both sections of the Empire. He could never come to Christchurch without thinking thab Canterbury had been founded by one of his father's oldest friends, John Robert Godley. We wero disposed to undervalue the labours of the pioneers. What must havo been the feelings of the first persons who found themselves confronted with the swamps and barren plains, with tangled supplejacks, which bound together the giants of the New Zealand forests? What was formerly uncultivated plains now supported a thriving community, who sent Home their meat and grain, took the products of the old country and imposed on them an import duty, which pressed heavily on tho people of the colony, but which provided the AgentGeneral with the wherewithal to pay interest on tho colonial debt. He would endeavour to promote closer union between England and the colonies, and though there were difficulties in the way they were nob insuperable. There was on the part of the English people a disposition to make some sacrifice for the sake of the Empire at largo, and if it were not that it was the duty of one party in the Stabe to propose measures with that intention and the duty of the other party to oppose and criticise them, ho would have better hopes that something definite would bo done in that diroction. He thought that ib was a matter for congratulation thab there was at the head of afiairs in England statesmen of such sagacity and with such enlightened views on colonial questions as the Marquis of Salisbury. No one who had not been present at the Colonial Conference could have any idea of the good done by that Conference in removing misapprehension and bringing about a better understanding between Englishmen and colonials. Much bad been heard of the debracbion of Australia, bub when all had been said and done, was there much against New Zealand? Who, then, wero these detractors who had to be answered ? They were to be found amongst Antipodeans bhemsolves. Ho received a large number of letters in which, if he said there was no expression of doubt as to the colony, he would bo misleading them. This uneasiness was explained by tho fact that people had nob much time to carefully read the colonial papers, and tho doubts wero raised by one and another saying they had ' received lebbero stating so and so. As it was not only damaging to a country, bub ib was damaging to their own interests, to the correspondence he had received he had always answered, " The people of New Zealand have not the slightest desire to drive away capital, and they have made it pretty clear that tho land of New Zealand should belong to the people of New Zealand." The people wore justified in discouraging the accumulation of large areas in the future. All that was necessary to reassure capital was to show that it was intended to throw tho burden on tho shoulders best able to j bear it, and thab there should bo no accuI mulating of areas, and leaving natural j causes to work out the cures of | present diseasea. deferring to his deparI turo, he said : "Farewell " was always hard j to cay, and more especially after three years of pleasant service. (Loud applause.) Bub bhere was one consolation, that if it pleased j God that trouble should befall them, | they would remember thab bhey had i sympathetic friends in the colony, and jon their part they would always wish the | colonies succsss, and that never might be snapped the stoub cable which joined Now j Zealand to the great and glorious/British I Empire.

Councillor Bonnington proposed the toasb of His Excellency's advisors, which was responded to by

The Postmaster-General, who expressed regret on his own behalf and the Government at the departure of tho Governor and his wife, than whom none had endeared thamselves more to chia colony and tho people.

Mr Charles Louisson, ex-Mayor of Christchurch, proposed the toasb of bhe Countess of Onslow. None bhoughb he vvould be accused of flattery when bo said thab from her arrival in the colony her name had been a household word. 81)6 had endeared herself to the hearts of the people of New Zealand, her hospitality had been unbounded, and so many present had enjoyed it thab he had no need to enlarge upon it. Hers had also beo.i the open and ready hand and kind heart to assist distress. They all knew of Lord Onslow's successes, and ho asked whether they had not been enhanced by bhe attention of his wife or by her presence on social occasions. (Very loud applause.) He concluded by wishing Lady and Lord Onslow and family every happinoss and a speedy voyage, and hoped that they had ?ponta pleasant three years in the colony. (Applause.)

His Excellency tho Governor responded on behalf of the Counttss. Ho said the wife of a Governor was no mean help in the discharge of his duties, which wire mostly social, and ib had been Lady Onslow's endeavour to treat all those whom she came in contact with as equal subjects of her Majesty tho Queen. Never could she forget the name of tho place where she spent a happy three years. She would have some one to remind her of ib and its beauties in the one who was born to her in the colony. Is would be their pleasure to bring that son up so that when he arrived ab years of discretion he could wish as they expected he would wish, to visit the land of his birth associated with so much happiness. (Loud applause.)

The toast of " The ladies " was proposed and honoured, after which the proceedings closed.