PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3394, 2 June 1868, Page 8

PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS.

Captain Hamilton read the following addres ;— 11 To his Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Crou of the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-iii-Chief in and over her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. "May it pleaae your Excellency,— Wo, the in* habitant* of Otahuhu and the surrounding districts, Welcome you as Governor of New Zealand. " In cordially welcoming you on this your visit to VI, we earnestly with you health to enable you to suooe-smlly perform your arduous duties, "We offer our welcome to Lady Bowen, and congratulate ourselves that we have the honour and pleasure of her presence on tbis occasion, wishing Tounelf, Lady Bowen, and family, health and happiness, and that we may be favoured by long and frequent re-diloooo amongst us, " We sincerely hope that, under your Excellency's rule, the agricultural interests of our distriot will be prosperous. " S tfned for and on behalf of the inhabitants of Otahuhu and surrounding distriot by i '«W, Buokland, J. Styak, B. Maclean, Jameu Kobertson, W. Hay, S. Luke, T. K. Claude, E. Constable, W. Kerr, H. S. Andrews, W. T. Busett, J. Aunoiman. C. Shipherd, A. Martin. R. Robertson." His ExocLKKNOrread the following reply :— u Gentlemen,— l thank you sincerely for this Address, and for the hearty welcome which you have accorded to Lady Bowen and myself on our first oeremonial visit to your prosperous settlements, which have now covered with happy homesteads and onltivated fields a district that, in the memory of many of you, was a wilderness still untrodden by the foot of civilised man. "1 congratulate you on the advantages which you already en joy in the fertility of your soil, in the beauty of your scenery, and in the healthiness and Amenity of your climate. I trust that the agricultural progress already achieved here will prove to be only the germ and infant promise of what the future, Under the blessing of Providence, and with the aid of your energy and perseverance, has in store for your dirtriot. «G. F. Bo\nßff. "Otahuhu, May 13, 1868." ' Bis Excellency then shook hands with the gentlemen surrounding the carriage ; and Mr. Naugbton called for three cheers for his Excellency, which was •ordiafly responded to. Three cheers were then called for Lady Bowen, and enthusiastically given.

THE INAUGUKAL CEREMONY. The oamages were then escorted to the site of the monument, where a iqiuue was again formed by the oaralry, witb the carriage! in the centre. The brethren of the various Lodges of the Iriib, Scotch tad English Constitutions then formed in open order in front of the monument. - The Rer. D. Bruok, Chaplain of St. Andrew's Lodge, then offered up an eloquent prayer. At the conclusion, the monument was unveiled. Brother A. Bivjcbidchc, R.W.P.D.G.M., then called upon the appointed office-hearers to oanse the Tarious implements to be applied to the pedestal, and proye that it had been completed, according to the rule* of architecture, which was done. ' After an address from Brother A. Bitwudgb, the Eer. D. Bsuoi pronounced the benediction. Tile following address was then read by Captain *• MAOLiilt.'Cbairman of the Nixon Memorial Comfclttee. r^<." ' J ,- " VTo his Exoellenoy Sir George Ferguson Bowen, „ Grand CroMOfthe most distinguished 'Ordit of St. Michael apd^t. Georg-e, Gdrerhor and CommanderVin-Chief in and' 6rer her „ Majesty's Colony of If ewZaaland and its dependsnoles, and Yioe-Adnural of the same. "Maytt please your Excellenoy,--'W"*,the underVJPm* M a & * 4^: »ppointed by the' SubjCi«iriJ^r>iend», ynd2atr^ire W of tHe"K«e' Colonel Hiibn.-Wg MspeoWuliy t» Inform yoWEk^ell^noy Ihafc filk monument has biwri<ereote<i by the Settlers

tribute of respeob for the private worth and distinguished publio services of their lat* lamented friend Colonel Marmaduke George Nixon, late Major of B.M. 39th. Regiment, and Colonel of the Boyal Cavalry Volunteer*, Flying. Column, and Colonial Defence Force of the province, and member for Franklin in the General Assembly, who, when called upon, nobly offered his«ervioes, forsaking his agricultural and pastoral pursuits, to suppress rebellion, and fell mortally wounded at BangiawhU, on the 21st February, 1864. i "That this committee, whilst acknowledging the kind donations of thoie friends and subscribers who have assisted in the erection of this memorial, are mindful that they would be failing in duty were they not to express their gratitude for the generous gift of the site upon which this monument stands, which, by conveyance, has been granted by Mr. Edmund Foley to Mr, Albin Martin and hi* heirs for ever ; they are also indebted to Mr. Edward Rumsey, the architect, whose competitive drawing was finally accepted and approved of. " That in the auspioiout ceremonial of this day the committee are in hopes that the settlers and colonists will keep in remembrance the worth of their departed friend, aiming in their respective walks in life to achieve something by which their own names and memories may be endeared to future generations* "We beg most sincerely to thank Lady Bowen for this kindly visit to our township, and to wish heiy yourself, and family, long life and great happiness. •* We have the honour to be your Excellency's most respectful and obedient servant*. " Signed on behalf of the inhabitants of Otahuhu and the surrounding districts." His ExoBLUtNOY then read tht following reply :— " Gentlemen,— l have listened with deep interest to the address whioh has just been read, and whioh oontains an outline of the character and career of a gallant soldier and patriotio colonist. " Her Majesty's 39th Regiment, in which Colonel Nixon served for so many years, bears on its colours thewunenf <P]»uey ' and the proud motto 'Primus in India' — for it was the first English regiment ever sent to the East, and took the most prominent part in the celebrated battle whioh laid the foundation of the British empire in India ; and so Colonel Nixon, as a < member of the colonial legislature, as commander of an important division of the colonial forces, and as a settler of energy and high character, has earned no mean share of the honour due to the early promoters of that ' heroic work* — the colonisation of the Great Britain of the southern hemisphere. He crowned his long and honourable oareer in the military and civil service of his Queen and country by a glorious deatb. The monument to be inaugurated this day is an appropriate tribute of respeottohis memory ; and I earnestly trust, with you, that all "those who have taken part in this auspicious ceremony ' will keep in remembrance the worth of their departed friend, aiming in their respective walks in life to aohieve something by whioh their own names and memories may be endeared to future generations.' " In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to assure you that Lady Bowen and I thank yon sinoetely for your good wishes, and for kindly inviting us to be present on this very interesting ocoasion. " G. F. Bowkt. "May 13, 186 a" This terminated the ceremony.