Wi Broughton.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5388, 29 November 1888, Page 3

Wi Broughton.

HIS BEOEPTION AT HASTINGS

[OWN COBBESFONDENT.]

Last night Mr William Broughton and party arrived by tlio eight o'clock train. Long before the train was due crowds were assembled in the vicinity of the station. On the platform the people were packed in a solid mass. A number of carriages were m waiting, together with the Hastings Band and a number of torch bearers. On tho trainsteaminginto tbestation the excitement was intense, and cheer after cheer whs given by lusty throats, Numbers pressed forward to welcome Mr. Broughton and his party, so that several minutes lapsed before he could be conducted to the open carriage, drawn by greys, that was in waiting. The procession was headed by torchbearera, who burnt colored lights; then came tho Band, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Broughton, and Mrs. Roarden, in an open carnage, after which came a string of carriages, a fourhorse coach from Napier and hundreds on foot formed a long line of procession, which proceeded to tho town Hall, and thonco to the Albert Hotel, which was hung with bunting and otherwise decorated. Here tho crowd, which by this time had increased to an enormous number, waited until Mr. Broughton had alighted from the carriage and proceeded to tho balcony of the Albert Hotel, where n number of Napier residents and native chiefs had assembled to welcome him, and to listen to his address. Mr. Broughton briefly thanked those present in the following words: '• I thank you all heartily for the kind reception you have given me, and for your congratulation on my victory. 1 believed 1 should win, and I did so. (Cheers). Again I thank you on behalf of myself, and Mr Coates and my other solicitors who are not present, for your hearty welcome. May you livelong." The address was spoken in Maori, and was interpreted by Mr. J. P. Hamlin. At its conclusion loud and prolonged cheers were given, and tho crowd proceeded to moisten their throats, which were parched from the continuous cheering. A number of rockets were sent aloft during the evening, and helped to make the proceedings m..re interesting. During tho evening Mr. Broughton's health was drunk in bumpers at the various hotels, but everything was quiet and orderly, and no disturbance of any kind occurred. Taking the demonstration on the whole, it W at a most creditable affair, and the w-lcomo was tho most hearty and cn4husia*tio one ever accorded to a single individual in this district, and one that Mr. Wi Broughton cannot help to remember with pride and gratitude. j