FAREWELL VISIT OF LORD RANFURLY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 44, 23 February 1904, Page 2

FAREWELL VISIT OF LORD RANFURLY.

ARftANfiEATENTS FOX WELCOME.

A public mooting o£ citizens was held in tho Council Chamber last evening for the purpose of considering what steps shall be taken to fitly receive and enters tain uiß Excellency the Governor during j hin brief and farewell stay in Nelson. The Mayor occupied the chair. Tho aiayor mentioned to thoso prosont that Lord Ranfurly would arrive hero on Thursday morning at 9 o'clock and re« mai in the city until Saturday morning whon ho would proceed overland to Blenhoim. It wonld be the last visit of tbe Governor to Nelson, and he thought something Bhould be done so as to heartily welcome his Excellency ou arrival. He further stated that the Council had decided to prosont Lord Kanfurly with an address, and afterwards have tho war medals presented to tho members of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Contingents. In concluding ho asked thos3 present to decide on some suitable an anjyemonts. Mr F. Trask, M.L.C . in referring to Lord tfanfurly, said that he had been a general favourite since he had been in thß colony, and was very much respected. Tho speaker said it was very good and kind of him to pay Nel-ona visit, and I the least they could do was to show a I patriotic feeling to tho Governor who had boon so popular. In his opinion tho Governor was showing an act of patriotI ism in saying Good-bye, aud he tiu3ted ' thai tho citizens of Nelson would roll up ' and givo his Excellency a hearty and a ' warm reception. That was the speaker'3 I feeling as a loyal citizen and a loyal supporter of the British Crown.

.After much discussion the following programme was .adopted :— Public receptiou of tlio Govornor at tho wharf at nine o'clock on Thursday morning ; prosenta-

tion of address of welcome at the Municipal Chambers at ton o'clock ; public luncheon at one o'clock ; presentation of war medals at the Botanical Reserve at three o'clock. On Friday his Excellency to be the guest of the Mayor, and taken

for a whole day's dri re into the country, should that meet Lord Banfurly'a wishes.

1 It was decided that the luncheon should ho held in the Council Chauiboia, the \ tickots to be 5a each, and tho following Commit too was set up to oarry out the ' various arrangements deoldod upon : — The Mayor and City Councillors, Messrs P. Trask and U. Keeves, M.LC, Me3srs J. j Graham, M.H.8., Cock, Bannehr, J. A. ' Harley, Rev J. P. Kompthorne, and Capt. Trask; Secretary, Mr Edmonds, Assistant ' Town Clerk (in the absence of Mr Oully, ] Town Clerk.) " ! I The Committee afterwards met, and a ' sub-CoiuTD.ttoe was appointed to make inquiries^as to catering,, with the result that Mr H Saunders was appointed to provide the luncheon. j It was decided that the Mayors of Richmond and Motueka and the Chair- ' man of the Waimea County Council be . 1 added to the General Commit toe. : | A subcommittee to arrange do tails of ' luncheon, etc., waa alao elected, as follows —The Mayor, Mr. F. Trask, Crs ; Garrison and Hudson, Messrs Bannehr and Cock I It was resolved to ask the Mayor to ' proclaim a whole-day holiday on'ihursday in place of the vVednooday halfholiday. I The Committee then adjourned, and the sub-committee will meet at four o'clock i this afternoon. In all probability the school children will be paraded and sing the National Anthem on the arrival of his Excellency. , The Volunteers will notpaialo in the morning, but a guard of honour will be seloctod from the Wakatu Mountod Kiflea. ! It is Uider3tood that it is intended to dacordte the Government Buildings in Nolson on the occasion of the farewell visit of the Governor to Nolson. LJuuting is bling procured fro u Wellington. and will arrive to morrow by tho Tasman, Captain 'f rnak received a telegram bliia aftertoon st t ng ih it the Governor will i leavo Greymouth at, 10 o'clock to-ni ht in ike Himmoa f'tr Weatport His Exi cellency maj therefore be e^pccUd in Nelsou by Thursday mornings tide . j 'lho Wakabu Mounted liifles are requested to parado opposite the Police Station cm Tlinfsday at 8 30 a.m. and prcce. d to t k i Port and escort IJis Excellency to the City. Tho corps will also parade tho same day at 2.15 p in,, anJ act as a guard of honour to His Excellency. Members of the corpi an; requested to appear in full dnss. Tho members of tho E ghtli, Ninlli, and Tjnth Coutins gouts aro requested to pirodo :it the Drillshed at '£ p.m o:i Thursday and proceed to tho liouiuical Gardens to receive their me.lata frciu the (iovernor. All returned soldieis f.o.u Scut'i Africa aro requested to atcui I this parado. All volunteer corps in the district including the Garrison Band aro also notifi d to attend on parado at the same time a3 tho Contingentera. Pull particulars will bo found in our advertising columns.