ARRIVAL OF TFTTC GOVERNOR.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 28 March 1879, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF TFTTC GOVERNOR.

Wellington, March 27. The Emerald and Wolverine with the Governor, Lady Robinson, and suite, arrived in the harbor during last night, and although it waa long after midnight, the Chief Justice and othei'B went on board, and the landing was arranged for 10,30 this morning. The morning was dry, but there was a heavy gale blowing. It waa arranged that the s.s. Tui should bring the Governor ashore, and at 10 o'clock she went off with Ministers Whitmore, Fisher, Macandrew, Ballance, and Sheehan on board. The ships and the city were gaily dressed with bunting, and f ully 5000 people were grouped around the landing place. The Artillery formed a guard of honor, lining the way from the landing place at the breastwork to the platform, and at the other side of the platform the City Rifles, Friendly Societies, &c, were drawn up. It was after 11 o'clock before the Tui left the Emerald under a salute frotn the Wolverine, the Emerald Bimply manning her yards. Hia Excellency, on landing, was welcomed by the Mayor, and heartily cheered by the crowd. He was in ordinary walking costume, and Lady Robinson and Mrs St. John and children were very plainly dressed ; the commodore and a number of naval officers were in full uinform. 011 the platform were the members of the City Council, Reception Committee, foreign consuls, clergy, and ladies. The Town Clerk read the following address : — " To his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New Zealand. — We, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Wellington, desire, on behalf of the citizens whom we represent, to welcome your Excellency and Lady Robinson on your arrival in New Zealand, and gladly take this opportunity to express our loyalty to her most gracious Majesty the Queen, and our respect for yourself, as her representative. Being aware of the valuable service you have rendered, and of the high estimation in which you have been held while acting as her Majesty's representative in other important Colonies, we hava greater pleasure in seeing you assume the Governorship of New Zealand. We beg to assure your Excellency that you may confidently rely on the citizens of Wellington being ever ready to assist, your endeavors for maintaining the peace, order, and good government of this country, and promoting the welfare of the people. We trust that your Excellency and Lady Robinson may, during your residence in New Zealand, enjoy the blessings of health and happiness. — J. Dransfield, Mayor ; C, C. Graham, Town Clerk. His Excellency replied briefly as follows :— " Mr Mayor and Councillors of the City of Wellington, — I thank you sincerely for your loyal address, and for the warm welcome you have been so good as to offer to Lady Robinson and myself on our first arrival in New Zeland. I assure you that both of us have come prepared, from what we have heard, to like both the place and the people, and I can only hope that the favorable estimate you have formed of my own capabilities will not be lessened when we become, as I hope we soon shall be, better acquainted." This short speech was received with cheers, which were acknowledged by his Excellency, and then the Vice-Regal party, accompanied by the members of the Ministry, the Mayor, and others, drove to Government House, where the oaths of office were administered by the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond. On Lady Robinson taking her seat on the verandah, two little girls —Kate Mowbray, representing the Thorndon School, and Kate Holmes, from the Te Aro School — came forward, and each presented her Ladyship with a handsome bouquet. Very great indignation and dissatisfaction was expressed at the bad arrangements throughout for preserving order. A strong body of police were present, but did nothing. They allowed the platform to be rushed by a crowd of persons who had no right there, and Governor and Lady Robinson and suite had hard work to elbow their way to the carriages. The crowd was allowed to close in, and prevented the Friendly Societies, as arranged, forming a procession to Government House. On the lawn there were several hundred school children assembled to sing the National Anthem ; but just as they were going to do so, a body of constabulary marched right through, scattering them on all sides, and the singing therefore did not come off. The whole arrangements were in marked contrast to all previous public demonstrations in Wellington. The day was observed as a close holiday, and in the afternoon the Governor and party strolled through the city. ,