ARRIVAL OF SIR GEORGE BOWEN AT WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 58, 10 February 1868, Page 35

ARRIVAL OF SIR GEORGE BOWEN AT WELLINGTON.

Oub new Governor, Sir George Bowen, arrived at the seat of Government on Tuesday last, 4th February, by the Banana Company’s s.s. Kaikoura. The Wellington Independent, 6th inst., thus notices his Excellency’s arrival in its monthly summary : —The suspense which has been for some time felt’ respecting the tune when Sir . George , Grey would be called upon to , give up the seals of office has been set at rest, and his successor, Sir George Bowen, has been duly invested with the cares of the government of the Colony. Sir George Bowen’s commission came by the last Panama mail, and his Excellency, accompanied by Lady Bowen and family, arrived from Sydney on , Tuesday evening by the.Kaikoura.- The volunteers turned out, according to instructions, with great promptitude, and a large part of the inhabitants of the tow n made their way, without Toss of time, to the Queen’s Wharf, where', it was . expected’ thait; Sir. George would land' j but after' about' an! Hour and a half -had elapeed, it; was announced' that the landiqg would; hot ; take plaoe till: the next day. At Il o’clock on Wednesday

morning his Excellency landed under salute,*,from. H.M.B. Falcon and the Volunteer Artillery,. and was received by a guard of No. 1 Volunteers, the Veteran Corps, and the Cadets. He proceeded at once to Government House, and was there sworn in by Mr Justice Johnston, in the presence of a large assemblage of the citizens. The whole display was very creditable to the place, and his Excellency 'certainly produced a favorable impression-. He and Lady Bowen drove about town during the afternoon. This was the first occasion on which the different Volunteers have acted together at a public ceremonial; and the manner in which they executed the task allotted to them was very creditable.

The following paragraph appears in the Evening Post of the 6th inst. -.—His Excellency the Governor has, it is said, expressed himself agreeably disappointed with Government House, a photograph of which, sent him by Mr Stafford, having given anything but a flattering picture of the' vice-regal residence. It is also reported that Sir George is very much pleased with the enthusiastic welcome given him by the people of Wellington, who, it appears: hewas led to believe, were so warmly attached to Sir George Grey that they looked on his successor as an interloper. The hearty reception yesterday given to the new Governor must prove to him that, though the settlers of Wellington are deservedly attached to his predecessor, they have still room in their hearts to welcome her Majesty’s representative, towards whom, when, bcuier acquainted, they will, doubtless, ._-atertain equally strong feelings of esteem and regard!'