LORD PLUNKET MISSING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 281, 20 August 1908, Page 8

LORD PLUNKET MISSING.

MASTERTON COES HOME AGAIN. " HAMLET " WITHOUT THE PRINCE OF DENMARK. (BT TELEGBAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Mastorton, August 19. Owiug to a misconception regarding dates, His Excellency Lord Plunket did not arrive in Masterton to-day in connection with tho St. John Ambulance Association's'presentation, which was to have taken placo' hers to-night. Captain Gathorno Hardy, Aide-de-Camp, had previously informed Mr.- A. J. Parton, secretary of the Association, that tho Governor would arrive by to-day's express from Wellington, and in anticipation and in honour of tho event there was a great crowd gathered together at the Masterton railway station. Amongst thoso present were tho Mayor and several councillors, tho Masterton School Cadets, and the Masterton Mounted Rifles, which wero to provide the guard of honour, and also members of tho Masterton branch of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in large numbers, and tho whole force of the Wairarapa police. There must have been in all about six hundred people at tho station. In the town itself flags flew everywhere, and people lined the street by which His Excellency was to arrive. The: State scholars, had a half-holiday, and one thousand bovs and girls were distributed everywhere.,

When the train pulled up at tho station and no Governor descended, looks of blank dismay spread over the faces of the assemblage, and all sorts of rumours wero immediately in circulation. It was at first gravely reported that His. Excellency - had missed the_ train at Kaitoke, and was following on in a special. Then it was stated that his train had broken down at Taihape. Another rumour was to the effect that ho had been wrecked last night whilo coming down the Wanganui River from Tauniarunui. Then it was said that .ho would arrive this afternoon, via Palmerston. Further investigation' revealed that His Excellency's whereabouts, so far as Masterton was concerned, wero.a complete mystery. The.assemblage broke up disconsolately, arid wandered back to town, pulled down its flags; end went home.. A few:hundred persons in Queen Street had their joke by saluting a vicarious Governor in. the person of a frockcoated, top-hatted, aud woll-known Native rangatira, who bad just arrived from Wellington.

After making further inquiries- as to the Governor's whereabouts, the" secretary of:the Ambulance Association finally rang up the Wellington Club and. got into communication with Captain Gathorne Hardy, who stated that Sis Excellency was .in Wellington. When informed that Lord Phuket was to have been that day in . Mastcrton the captain said that His Excellency had been under tlie impression that to-morrow, and not today, was tho day fixed for his visit to Masterton. Captain Gathorne Har.dy expressed deep'.regret ,at the mistake, and asked if .the function could be : postponed till, tomorrow.. It was decided-to accede to tho, request, and the Governor will therefore arrive in Masterton to-morrow, make the presentation in the evening, and'return nest 'day' ; to Wellington; . . •' . ; ■ • ' 1 ' . •'

Later this afternoon, Mr. A. J. Parton, secretary of the Ambulance Association, received the following personally signed telegram from His Excellency:—"Deeply regret mistake , made. ,'in date Jand -conseqiuont jinconvenience causedto local branch and others at.'Masterton. I shall arrive - to-morrow»at .11:40' a;in.".,- > :