THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9880, 10 November 1897, Page 5

THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR.

Yesterday hia Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly were present at the races at Riccarton, and were the guests of the Canterbury Jockey Club at luncheon. His Excellency .the Governor gave his first small dinner last night. The following had the honour of being invited—His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Cooper, the Bishop of Chrietchurch and Mrs Julius, the Karl of Seafield, and Mr and Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes. His Excellency will give a dinner party tomorrow, also on Friday and on Sunday. To-day his Excellency the Governor will visit the Rhodes Convalescent Home at noon. At 3 p.m. he will open the. Hyman Marks ward of the Hospital, and at 4.30 he will visit the Boys' High School.

In the evening his Excellency and Lady Ranfurly will be present at the C.J.O. ball. To-morrow his Excellency and Lady Ranfnrly will be at the race meeting of the C.J.C.

His Excellency the Governor has made the following additional engagements: — To-morrow he will visit the Cathedral at 11 o'clock, and on Saturday he will visit the City Council Chambers.

The Christchurch Presbytery at its meeting yesterday decided to lorward to the Governor an address of welcome, signed by the Moderator and Clerk to the. Presbytery. The address after fully setting out the title of his Excellency proceeds :— " May it please your Excellency,—We, the ministers and elders of the Presbytery of Christuhurch, avail ourselves of the oppor-tunity-afforded by your Lordship's first visit toCanterbnry to welcome you as therepresentative of her Majesty the Queen, and to assure yon of our loyal attachment to her Majesty's person , , family and Government, We have shared with all her Majesty's subjects the sympathy that has been felt in connection with the lamented depth of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Teck, and we humbly pray that her Majesty and the Royal Family may experience the gracious upholding and consolation of the Divine Comforter. Your Excellency know* well the loyalty of the Presbyterian churches in the mother country, and their attachment to the principles of liberty and order, and we have pleasure in assuring you that these traditions and principles are earnestly cherished by the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. That your Excellency may by your high example, as well as by the wisdom and equity of your government, exert great influence so as to promote not only the material but also the moral and religious well-being of the people, and that, by the clemency of God, yourself and Lady Ranfurly may enjoy health and happiness,- and minister in every way to the peace and prosperity of the colony in your tenure of office, is the earnest prayer of the ministers and elders of the Presbytery of Christchurch."