THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Evening Star, Issue 5042, 2 May 1879, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

—. *—. THE CITIZENS' BALL.^ The b-ill tendered t j the v'ce-regal party by the citizens of Duncdin was a fitting conclusion to the U io, and was Hire most of the arrange menta connected there.vith a thorough mccessThe attendance was very sarge—close on 200 couples-and the fine floor enabled the dance's to enjoy thfcmseivcs to the too of tlieir bent. When tome notxeabUun> v of the 11 01ing are 80100'h<rd away, the hall will innke 0110 if the best ballrooms ia the cou try. Its commodioumees and the convenient ar angemeut of the ante and retiring- v.e.e last night the subject of universal approval. The decoiatims we.e nearly nil, the newness of th<? lihll nut calling for any ; but in the sdes of the gallery, which formed a semi prorvenade, and from whivhan excellent view of tV.e dancing was obtained, bunting was hung. The only break in the squareuess of the floor wbb caused bv the dais. The stairc vses and outer halt wore nicely carpeted; and nothing was Jcft undone by the stewards thar.could add to the comfort of thecorojmiDy. Shortly after nine o'clock the vice-regil party ai lived, find were met at the enhance by tbe Mayor and Mayoress and the tbe Naval ttrigadi's guard if In nor, under the commmd of I'.O. Jnnieaon, preienting arms, whilst th-i ovcjesua r-truck up the National Anthem as t'io Governor tntered the ballroom. The City Council were conspicuous by their absence, Or. Webb being the solitary lepresentativo of that body. Hi* Excellency opened the ball with the Mayor* hs, the set be'ng formed as follows :—His fclxeellency and the Mnyorfss vis a-vis with His Worship the Mayor and Lady. Eobinson, Judge Williams arid Mrs St. ■Tohn rira-ris with Major Stavely and Miss I<obins»m, •- on. Mr Littelton and Mrs Wiliiam< ri'-rr-via vyith tho Hon. Mr Cndojun and Mi'h .Job>> iUrj;ill, Hen Mr >'shtrand Mis Koy--1 old< •'<•< ii-i'ii vitli '''aplain Nt J»hn and 1 trs Stave I). Tjao<vn.£ was bprlttdly entailed till 230 thi* mornLg to n.us c s .pplifd by Mes: c* I>ech and . Anderjo-i [\ ioiins), M'-us (piano), Buckingham (c traet), M ems (cla-ionet), Martin (flute), Wfst (bass), Ward (violincello). Geome (trombone), and. fchmter (drums). The viceregal party btayed till nearly one o'clock. Mr V. T. Water, of the Prince of "Wales Hotel, catered,

THE DEPARTURE The Governor and suite left Dunedin by special train at nine this morning, acco-npanied by tho Postmftster-General and Mr G. M'Lean. the Artillery formed a guard of honor on ths pi a for:n, and amongst those present were the Mayor and several of the City Councillors, tho Attorney - General, {superintendent Weldon, Lieutenaut-Colonel Stavely. and Mnjor Wale . Ab tho train moved off there was much hearty chcerillg, THE JOURNEY NORTHW \BDS. At Waikoua ; ti the school children and wero druvn up on tho p afcfonn, an 1 thechildr. n sing the JSational Anthem. On behalf of the Sohool Committee the Rev Mr ( hj istie welcomed Hl« Kxc. llency and Lady Rohinß m to the tiwn aidtheUtter was present dwKnabaslefcof g-apesaudabouqne^ofchoiceflowe'sby th pup!lteachers. The Mayor and Council of We t HawksV.urypr.aentel An address of welcome, snd the Governor r-p'ied, assuring the Council that he had been groatly pleased with what ho had seEtt in the southern Is'and. He hoped ou a future accasion to make a longer stay there. At Palm w.on the Town OouneP presented aa -j a v The GoVer »">r, in replving to it, Biid that he felt thankful m be associated with ft people bo loyal a B he had found the inhabitants of New Zealand. At Oimaru the platform and station wero nicely decorated, and a> the train cam* nl-rog side the .Artillery fire>l a salute. !he May r (Mr Stewart) rtad tne followiog address : - To Hig Excellency Sir Hercules George Robe; t Robinson. May it please your Excellency— ■ We, the Major and Councillors of the incorporated town of Oamaru, in the name and on behair of the citizens, cordially we'eome your Excellency on the occasion of this your fir a visit to our town. We desire to assure your Excellency of our loyal devotion to Her Mi. t Gracious Majest', of whom we receive your ExcelUncy as the representative, and congratulate our elves as co'onists of New Zealand on the evideut desire of your Exco'leney on assuming the reins of Government to thoroughly identify yourself with the interest of the Culeny as shown by vour taking the earliest opportunity to acquaint yourself by a personal visit with the position and requirements of the various centres of population. We trust that during the term of your offico thus auspiciously begun the Colony will continue to "progress and prosper, and that your sojourn among us will be a nource of mutual benefit and satisfaction.

We.desiro respectfully to tender a like hearly welcome to Lady Robinson, and to express our best wishes for tho health and happiness of Her Ladyship and family. .

His Excellency raplied as follows: "Mr Mayor and Gentlemen—The expressions of loyalty to Her Most Graoious Majesty the Queen, presentative. which are contained in the and cf welcome to myce f a* her readdre s which has jut been road, are indeed most gratifying to me. lam glad to have been able, ho ioon ivf tor my appointment to the government of this Colony to visit the Southern Jslmd, as it is my desire to make myself acquainted with the features and the varied resources of this part of the Colony, -which I have been led to believe i 3 of surpassing interest. I cordially accede to . your .hoje that this Colony may prosper during my term of office; aid' lady KobiLßon unites with me thanHng you for your kind wish for our welf *re." A move waß then made for the breakwater, where tho Ha bor Board- presented tho : r ess, as follows :'—

We, the undersigned, membors of the Oamaru Harbor Board, have great pleasure in welcoming your Excellency on your visit of inspection of the harbor works, and to thank you for having 1 so speedily after accession to your high office honored us with your presence

We venture to express a hopo that the works will both interest your Excellency and meet with your approbation. For your Excellency's information we may state that the works wore commenced in 1871, and have now assumed some magnitude, having attained the length of 900 ft, at a cost of L 142.000, and that contracts have just been entered into for an addition of 700 ft. We bog to assure your Excellency of our attachment to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and also to express our giatffication at being privileged to meet your Excellency on this occasion. (Here follow the signatures.) His ExcJlenoy acknowledged tk* pleasure it afforded him to vii.it the harbor works, a d said he would inspect with great interest works on which the Board were now engaged, aud which, under its able supervision, could scarcely fail to prove of great advantage not nly 1 1 the district of Oamaru, but also to the Colony at large. The vioe-rt-g-.il party leave for Timaru to- ujht, where a ball ;s to be held. To-morrow His Kxcellency stays a coup'e of hj uis at A*hburtoa ia order to turn the first sod of tho Fork line there. The weather has been simply delightful.