THE SUBSCRIPTION BALL. HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3367, 1 May 1868, Page 3

THE SUBSCRIPTION BALL. HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH.

Jn our impression of yesterday we were enabled jto publish, a brief outline of his Excellency's jSpeech at the subscription ball supper, in response to the toast " The health of Sir George land Lady Bowen," proposed by his Honor the ! Superintendent. We now append a full report. [ His Excellency, on rising to respond, was 'greeted with loud and continued applause. He [cordially thanked them for the flattering I manner- in which his health and that of Lady j Bowen had been proposed and responded jto, and for the magnificent reception jhe._, had .received from „ the people of Auckland. He could not help referring to the ! day of his landing, and again expressing the gratitude he felt at the very hospitable and kind way in whichheand Lady Bowen had been received. It had given him great pleasure to [write to her Majesty's Government, expressing' 1 his sense of the satisfaction he experienced at 1 the loyal and enthusiastic manner in which he I had been welcomed. (Cheers.) The hearty reception accorded throughout New Zealand to the representative of the Queen was most satisfactory on public grounds ; for it was an additional proqf of the devoted loyalty of all classes of the community to their Sovereign, and of their patriotic attachment to the mother country. (Loud cheers.) With reference to the remarks that had fallen from his Honor the (Superintendent,- and to the kind wishes generally expressed to the effect that the Governor and his family should spend a portion of each year in Auckland, he would be most happy to do so as far as- a Constitutional Governor could safely make any promise whatsoever for the future. (Loud and continued cheering.) He regretted that none of his responsible advisers were present on that occasion, but he had no doubt they were working hard for the general benefit of the colony at large eke where. (Cheers.) He thought that, he, might mention, without any breach of official etiquette, that his Ministers fully admitted that it would be in the highest degree unconstitutional and contrary to Imperial interests if they were to advise the Governor to spend elsewhere than in Auckland the first month of pheasant-shooting. (Loud laughter and prolonged applause.) The position of Lady Bowen and himself was indeed most enviable. On the one side they were wooed by the fair city of Auckland, with her soft Italian climate and scenery, with her bay recalling the general features of the Bay of Naples, with her miniature Vesuvius in Eangitoto. (Cheers.) And on the other side, they were wooed by the fair city of Wellington, with her Swiss climate and scenery, with her harbour resembling the Lake of Lucerne, with her invigorating mountain breezes. (Cheers.) Though he must say, after his experience of the regatta on that day, that Auckland could quite rival Wellington in the strength of her gales. (Renewed laughter and | cheers.) Some persons in their position, so flattered and courted by two rival beauties, might be inclined to sing with a certain famous character on the stage, " How happy could I be with either were t'other dear charmer away." (Laughter and cheers.) But Lady Bowen and he, on the contrary, said, "How happy we shall be with both at different seasons or the year." (Prolonged applause.) With regard to the kind remarks of the Superintendent respecting Lady Bowen, she would be always happy to unite with the other ladies of New Zealand, not only in social festivities, but also in promoting all good works of charity and benevolence.' (Cheers.) He agreed with the Superintendent in thinking that , the extraordinary development of the goldfield at the Thames, and of the coalfields at the Bay of Island, would renovate the trade and commerce of Auckland. (Loud cheers.) His Excellency further expressed the hope that he would be able, with the assistance and support of the Colonial Ministers and Parliament, to emulate his able and accomplished predecessor Sir George Grey in devoting all his faculties to the service of New Zealand, in rendering equal justice to both races of her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, and in thus preserving the inestimable blessing of internal peace. (Loud and continued cheers.) After some further remarks on the present condition and future prospects of the colony, the Governor concluded by proposing " The health i of his Honor the Superintendent," which wa* received with all the honours.