Reception In Wellington.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7998, 21 June 1904, Page 2

Reception In Wellington.

A IWasping Sky

Public Enthusiasm

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington. Last Night. Lord Plunket and party boarded the Hinemoft in Ktiraka Bay and had luncheon with Lord Ranfurly. Farewells having lieon taken, the Hinemod steamed off to Lyttelton, and tho Gothic weighed anchor »t 1.40 p.m. and stoamedup to the Queen's Wharf.

Sufficient steamors accompanied the ocean liner to innku a seiubinnco of a marine procession, but very low excursionists were on hoard.

The official landing n.l '2.30 was delayed for a few Uiinutes by a heavy downpour of rain. On stepping off the gangway Lord and Lady Plunket and party were met by the Picmicr and his col'i-iigues.

.Mr .S-.'.ildon briefly wnlcrtmed llwm, aid aspired th.-m that si.reniioiis efforts w.mld bv> inndj to make tin ir Bt.'iy in tin: colony .-i very happy mie. L;ml P.unkul, in r. ; ply, thunk-d the Promiui- for his warm words of w leome, an<] for Jiis royal seiitimciHd towaids

tho lung,

The p.irly 'hen moved off to ;i dins in Ihe Post O.i'iue square, whore a very Irgo crow,1, under umbreHns, had gathered. A notable foutur- of tho arrangements in the afternoon w;is tho substitution of school cadytrt for the iVnniuuni Artillery an.l volunteers who had formed a guard of honor at tho morning's ceremony. The proceedings at tho dais took plnce amidst steady rain. Lord Plunknt reached the platform at 3.50 p.ra and was accorded a hearty.. welcome, and addresses of welcome wero presented from the c:nzens of Wellington, Friendly iSocietioa, .a\d Salvation Army.

His Excellency's Speech.

Replying to the citizens address Lord Plunket said: "Mr Mayor and Coun- " cillors of tho City of Wellington, I beg " to thank you and citizens of this town " for your loyal address and for the "' hospitable welcome with which you •' have today greeted Lady Plunket and " myself on our arrival in Now Zealand. " Tho unfailing loyalty of this colony to " the Throne and devotion of its in- •' habitants to the best interests of the " Empires, which have been" so con- " spicuously demonstrated during recent " years, are well known throughout " tho world, and it affords me the " greatest pleasure to experience this " proof of your devotion tc his Majesty " tho King, as shown by the kind wel- " come to me his representative. In " entering upon my new and important " duties, 1 am fully conscious of the " grave responsibilities which lie before " me. I can only hope that aa time " goes on I may be enabled to prove to " you that the interests and welfare of " the New Zealand people and of this " prosperous and growing city are as " dear to me as they are to you." His Excellency also appropriately replied to the other addresses.

The gathering, at the call of Mr Seddon, then gave three ringing cheers for the new Governor, and three more for Lady Plunket.

The) Swearing In.

A long procession of carriages, volunteers, friendly societies, etc. moved off to Parliament Buildings, tho whole being thickly lined with spectators. The 6wearing in ceremony took place in front of tho Government Buildings in the presence of thousands of people. The oaths were administered by Mr Justice Williams, who was attended by Mr Justice Chapman. The ceremony was only a short one, and at its close his Excellency drove away to Government House.

Tho Decorations

The illuminatioes to-night in honour of the new Governor are not on so elaborate and general a scale as sef>n at the time of the Duke of York's viaiu and the coronation festivities. The display is confined to Parliament Buildings, Government House, Government Buildings, and Post Office, and they make a very fine show. The front of Parliament Buildings is a blaze of colour, and the tower of Government House is picked out in many-coloured lights, while the Government Buildings,: in addition to many festoons of lights, boaralong tho>r front the words " Welcome to New Zealand," with an enormous vari-coloure.d star at each end! The most striking illuminations are those on the Goneral Post Office. On the top. of the; flagstaff over the dome are two stars of electric bulbs of various colours, and the dome, itself ii outlined with strings and curves of lamps. The front of the dome is lit by a huge representation in green and eiectric lamps of a fourUeaved shamrock set between the letters '• E.R.," and below this "Welcome" appoars in large letters. The front of tho building is covered with festoons in l.imps which glow in the national colours, and on the two front topmost corners of the structure appear upright representations of a harp and lyre respectively. Emblems of a patriotic and national character are displayed in the many, windows of the building. The slushy streets are thronged with thousands of sightseers.