THE GOVERNOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 158, 6 July 1899, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR.

VISIT TO CALLIOPE DOCK.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH

His Excellency the Governor responding to the toast of his health on the occasion of his visit to Calliope Dock on June 14, said: —

'I thank you very much for having taken this 'opportunity to drink my health. As the chairman has justly remarked, I do take the deepest interest in everything that 1 consider may be for the' welfare and interest of this colony. 1 congratulate the people of Auckland on the very satisfactory bargain (if I may use that expression) they have made with the Mother Country regarding the equipment of the dock. The dock,' 1 understand, is now going to be equipped in a manner second to none in the Southern Henrisjphere, and it is ray earnest hope that the people of Auckland will meet with some recompense for what they are doing, by finding the dock thoroughly used, not only by British ships, but by ships of other nations that may come to these waters. The shipping of this country has increased largely, and the great increase in the size of the vessels coming in here is a fact worth noting. A new steamship connection has only lately been established with America, and another new steamship connection is very likely, from what 1 have heard and read, to be established with South Africa, thus openingl up a new market for the produce of this colony—(applause)—'and the more we go on bringing vessels to the colouy the. more will we increase our trade and the number of our clients. It must be a great encouragement to those interested in shipping, should any difficulty arise as regards repairs, to know that at the other end of the voyage tiiero is such a dock as we have here. (Applause.) There has been talk of building a rival dock, if I may use the term, in the rival Empire City—(laughter) — but that, as far as I know is a matter of talk only, up to the present moment. I confess I hoped, when I accepted your invitation, that when I visited the dock I would see the Perthshire either in it, or off it. 1 am extremely anxious, personally, over this matter. I believe the length of time at sea for a vessel in a broken-down condition is the greatest yet recorded, and if we hear nothing within a comparatively short time I believe some combined steps may well be taken to try and prevent loss of life and po.ssible accident. (Applause.) I tinderstand that one of the proposals is to establish a proper coaling station in Auckland. Nothing, I believe, is rnox-e necessary than the establishment of such a station. Only the other day there was the greatest difficulty in getting sufficient coal for a mau-o'-

war which had suddenly to go to Rarotonga. Then the Tutanekai was called upon to be ready to go to Samoa for a special purpose; it might, in fact, have been necessary to send her with the greatest possible speed. But there was no Westporb coal to be found in Auckland. No doubt you have excellent coal up here, but there is a commercial value to everything, and the coal that will keep in the smallest space, and steam the greatest number of milesj has the greatest commercial value for shipping, and your northern coal will not give the same speed us the Westport coal. I therefore hope to see a coaling station established in Auckland with the best coal, stocked in sufficient quantities for ordinary purposes. (Applause.) It is with the deepest regret that I find that my time in Auckland is just coming to a close. I have liked the time I have spent among you, and1" it is only the call of duty that obliges me to leave you to go to Wellington to open the next Pai-lia-mentary session. I hope, however, that it will not be for long, that T shall often be here in your midst, and that I shall reside, to a very large extent yearly at Government House, Auckland. (Applause.)