THE RETURN TO HOKITIKA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1666, 6 December 1873, Page 2

THE RETURN TO HOKITIKA.

of Friday) the lights of -'the? iTitati'wet'e' i seen fast approaching, and almost before" ithe foumerous* eager spectators 'could faiipjF settle themselves. , she; .was alongside raffwharf. The 1 higlit brilliantly fine, and the spectacle^ as Hhe 1 firemen lit their torches, was exceedingly animated. CAsj his Excellency stepped., ashore the band struck up " God Save the Queen," on the conclusion of which, : preceded ; by "twenty- -. four firemen;- with flaming' torches, and snrrounded by a Volunteer guard of honor, the Governor r proceeded on fobt-tpi tlie Government House, the' -band pi&yin&'i a - lively march: — The—Y-olunteerr-ao^" cpmpanied his Excellency to thTeVdoorr6t| Government House, where they remained* drawiv; up; .under! -the- command' foHSub-^ Lieutenant Linstrom, •', to whom the Governor apoke a few words. After this, hia Excellency advancing from the grounds of the Government House, into the midst

of the firemen and the crowd of spectators, said he thanked them and the people of Hokitika for the kind and warm reception they had given him. It would not be the last time they should mcct — indeed he hoped; before long to be again amongst them. Repeating his thanks, he withdrew amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd, who repeated them in favor of the County Chairman. A considerable number of rockets were fired, as was also a gun from the Waipara, at short intervals. Colored lights were seen burning from the Fire Brigade Tower and other localities, and altogether the concluding scene of Governors visit waa as brilliant as the termination of a successful extravaganza. The Committee are also indebted, on more than one occasion, to the complaisance of Mr R. Walker, who allowed his musicians to contribute their services to the musical part of the arrangement. Among some gubernatorial gossip the Begtster has the following :— As Mr Burton was driving the Governor rapidly along the Christchurch road, the coach overtook a traveller (miner apparently) laden with a swag. The way-worn man evinced some inclination to get " a lift," which after some demur Mr Burton agreed to give to the swag. This attracted Sir James's attention, who, exclaiming that " the swag was no good without the man,"' insisted upon his sharing his travelling conveyance. The Governor is not entirely unknown in Hokitika, and several of our fellowcitizens may boast of being his compatriots. We have mentioned Mr Fjndlay and Sir James as having on a former occasion enjoyed a chat over old times, and at the levee Councillor Jack was honored with a i significant recognition of clanship, so to Bpeak. Mr Cumming, of the Kokatihi, remembers the Fergusson family in the old country, and our Governor in particular. These ties, which count for little at home, become strong claims to more than acquaintanceship, when existing at 16,000 miles distance. One gentleman who, in his exuberant loyalty was anxious to touch the Governor's clothes, was so -pressing in his attentions that the police felt it to be their duty to interfere, and remove him from the cT<y»d — we pTevome to a place of safety. As characteristic of the Governor's habit, we are told that six horses being sent on io the Kawhaka for his use, he resolutely refused to allow more than fonr to bb harnessed to his carriage, saying that " four were enough for any man. '' Some of his. travelling companions speak of him as possessing the power of putting -tbfl^e around him completely at their ease by his non-assumption of any of those aira ; which so many in his high station think themselves entitled to assume.

His -Excellency^ the Governor, accompanied by his suite, and Bishop Harper, Primate of New Zealand, took their departnre by the coach from Hokitika for Christchurch on.Friday morning. tFor.coiitmtiatiori of Aewssee4t7ipage)