SIR H. ROBINSON'S VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5491, 23 June 1879, Page 6

SIR H. ROBINSON'S VISIT.

VvEB since Sir Hercules Eobinson reaohed New Zoalan J to assume the office of Governor an earnest desire has been manifested by the people of this province that he should Ba y a visit to the Queen City of the North and its environs. The time devoted by him to visiting the Southern provinces, and the near approach of a Parliamentary sitting, rendered it somewhat problematical whether fca would bo able to come to Auckland before the close of tbe next seesion of Parliament in September or October, and the announcement, therefore, that he would visit this placo for a brief period, although affording little time for preparation, gave full and general satisfaction. The citizens were, of course, somewhat disappointed that he should land at the Manukau instead of at theQu:cn-street Wharf, paiticnlarly as the Recept'-on Committee had made all their preparatif ns in view of his coming by the Eaat Coast; but when it became known that tbe landing was to take place at Onehunga, they changed their dispositions, so to make the best of circumstancea. We have already detailed the public preparations in the city in the way of a triutr>x>'ial arch and a dais, for the public reception at the end of Qucenstreet, but the hearty response on behalf of the citizens in festooning the streets was aomewhat unexpfcted. Flags, bannors, festoous of flags, and evergreens were displayed with unwonted liberality. It wag a thorough holiday and Queen's weather, so that every person who could do so joined in the reception, either in a public or a private capacity. Horses, carriages, cabs, buggies, vrsEgonuettcs, &c, were at a premium. Every horse that could be turned into service had to do duty. .ARRIVAL AT ONEHUNGA: RECEPTION. The ninemoa, Captain Fairchild, left Wellington at nine o'clock on Saturday evening, for the Manukau. Tho passage up was I'cry rough, as a strong westerly wind was blowing, and had been blowing for some days. Sea-eickness was the order of the day and night, and even some of those who have been on board for years, felt overcome. The engines were slowed about 3 o'clock on Monday morning, at which time the vessel was off the Mannkau bar. Captain Fairchild, however, thought it best to wait (or a streak or two of daylight, and did not cross till 6.30 o'clock. The sail up the harbour wss exceedingly pleasant, the wharf having been reached at nine o'clock. There were on board—His Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson Miss Robinson, Master Kobin?sn, Captain St. John, -4.D.C., Mrs. St. John (vvbo is a daughter of Hi-. Excellency), Miss St. John, Hon. H. S. Littleton, Rev. C. Meysey-Thompson. Mr. Littleton was His Excellency's Private Secretary, but lias just vacated the office, which is to be occupied by Mr. Thompson. There were also the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and his secretary, Mr. Uaunsell. Previous intimation had been received that the official landing would not take place until 10 o'clock. A number of carriages arrived from Auckland in time for the reception, amongst others one containing the Hon. J. Sheelian and the chiefs Rewi, Kerei ilangonui, and Hitirc te Pairata, and another containing Mr. Justice Gillies and Mrs. Gillies. These went on board and ■were introduced to His Excellency, Lady Eobiuson, family, and suite, and were cordially received. Amongst others who arrived were Mr. J. C. Frith and family, Mr. \V. Swanson, M.H.R., and Mr. J. S. Macfarlane, M.H.R. In the meantime the preparations for the landing were made, and the inhabitants of Onehunga and surrounding districts erowded towards the wharf in large numbers. An open carriage, with four fine bays, was brought out for the conveyance of His Excellency to Auckland. An escort of Armed Constabulary (mounted men), in charge of Sergeant Clarke, were drawn up to secom- ' pany the carriage, and by special train the Constabulary, to the number of abont. 40, arrived, under the command of Superintendent Thomson, Sub-Inspector Pardy, and Sergeant-Major Mason. The school children of the public schools of Onehunga were marched down, under Mr. Grant and the assiatant-teachera. When the time for landing arrived, the police were drawn up in line in, front of the gangway at the tee, and the school children, to the number of about 220, were ranged along each side—the boys on one side and the girls on the other—on the main wharf with joined hands. On Mr. Sheeban's arrival, he introduced to His Excellency Rewi, Hitire te Pairata, and Kerei Mangonui, who had accompanied him from Auckland. While His Excellency was standing on the deck, Rewi took him by the arm, and facing the wharf said, " I want all the Europeans to see that I have taken the Governor by the arm." His Excellency said he hoped they would always continue friends. Rewi tben expressed a desire to ride in the same carriage with His Excellency, but it was explained that the arrangements made would not admit of that. His Excellency remarked that the whole country around was very beautiful. The vice-regal party was scanned with eager eyes from the wharf prior to the landing of the ladies. Lady Robinson was dressed in a velvet cloak, trimmed deeply with brown fur; black silk or eatinette dress, with deep seaweed fringe, and black bonnet. As the viceregal party came down the gangway, those assembled cheered heartily, the police forming on both sides of the procession. There was no demonstration made during the march down the wharf, bnt on arrival at the end of ifc, His Excellency and the vice-regal party were met by llr. Thoma3 G. Blakey, Mayor of the Borough of OoehuDga, and the Councillors, and Mr. Hutchinson, Town Clerk. The latter presented to the Mayor Ji very chaste and elegantly-designed address, illuminated by Mr. Palmer. It was read by his Worship the Mayor, as follows:—"To his Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Eobinson, K.C.IIG : May it please your Excellency,—The Mayor and Councillors of the Borongh of Onehunga are glad to avail themselves of the opportunity of your Excellency's landing at this port to offer you a hearty and sincere welcome on the occasion of your Excellency's first visit to this Provincial district. We tmst that tbe period of your Excellency's rule over this colony may be blessed by tho cementing of permanent friendship, and good-will between Her Majesty's "British subjects and the Maori race—a matter S3 desirable and necessary for the prosperity, especially of the Provincial District of Auckland, and of this town in particular. We wish your Excellency, Lady Robinson and family, all health and prosperity and special gratification during your present sojourn amongst us.—Thomas ft. JJlakey, Mayor ; Joils Geokge Hutchison, Town Clerk. Oneßunga, June 16, 1879." His Excellency, in reply, said: Mr. Mayor and Councillors of the Borongh of OnehnDga,—l thank you very sincerely for your address, and for the cordial welcome you have afforded to me on this my first visit to this portion of New Zealand. I cordially reciprocate the hope expressed in your address, that, during the period of my rule in New Zealand, friendly relations and good will may be maintained between the two races. On behalf of Lady Eobioeoa, I thank you heartily for your good wishes, and assure you that I look forward with great pleasure to our vi3it to your delightful and interesting portion of the colony. (Cheers). Three hearty cheers were then given for His Excellency tho Governor, three more for Lady Robinson, and another cheer for Rewi. The presentation, we may add, was made tinder an evergreen arch, bearing a motto of "Welcome," and at the back was a line of flags. The members of the Foresters Order mustered in regalia, and lined the Toad to the carriages at each side of the Borongh Council. The vice-regal party then entered the carriages prepared for them, the firet being occupied by His Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson, tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and the Hon. H. S. Littleton. The Mounted Constabulary assumed their positions, and the party set off at a rapid pace through the Borough, followed by the other carnages, thirteen in number. THE RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND. Turning suddcnlj into Queen-street, under' the archway between the Auckland and Waitemata hotels, the vice-regal party were received with loud cheering. The streets were densely thronged ; every window, verandah, or any place affording Btanding-room, oven the roofs of the houses, were thronged by , people eager to witness the reception or assist ul welcoming His Excellency and Lady Kobmson. Mr. Crowther, marshal of the procession, had a difficult task in maintain-

ing order, even though be was assisted by the police force under Superintendent Thomson, who, in the meantime, had just arrived from Onehunga by epecial train, bo intense was the desire to crush forward, especially on the part of horsemen, who could hardly be persuaded that their place m the procession was behind, not alongside of, th» carriages. The Volunteers, under the command of Major Withers and Major Derrom, mustered in full force, and lined the etreeta on both sides as far as Shortland-street, the Friendly Sooieties continning the line up tothe dais and, on the whole, very good order was maintained. The Governor arrived at the Qaeen-street Wharf a few minutes before 11 o'clock. He was not expected to arrive until nearly twelve. The drive from Onehunga, however, was very rapid, and no delay of any kind took place. The carriage pas3ed through the arch, and Sir Hercules and Lady Robinson having alighted, were conducted by the Mayor to the dais prepared to receive them. His Worship the Mayor, in presenting the address, said: Your Excellency, I feel honoured in being the means of conveying to yon and to Lady Robinson the hearty congratulations of the people of Auckland on the occasion of this, your first visit to their fair city. I would ask your forbearance while 1 read the address, which embodies their sentiments of respect and good-will. The Mayor then read the address agreed to by the Corporation, as follows : —'' To Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G.—May it please your Excellency,—We, the Mayor, Councillors, and citizens of the city of Auckland, avail ourselves o£ your Excellency's visit to this part of the colony to assure you of our loyalty and devotion our sovereign lady, Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and to express our satisfaction that she has been pleased to appoint your Excellency to the Governorship of this colony. We heartily bid your Excellency, Lady Robinson, and family welcome to our city and province, and we trust your stay with us will be a long and pleasant one, and that we shall often be honoured by your presence and residence with us.—On behalf of the citizens of the citizens of the city of Auckland, T. Peacock, Mayor; P. A. Phillips, Town Clerk.—Auckland, New Zealand, June IC, 1379." His Excellency replied as follows : Mr. Mayor and Councillors,—l acknowledge with satisfaction tho expression of loyalty to the Queen contained in this address. I feel much gratified in the confidence which you are so good as to express toward me as the representative of Her Majesty. I thank yon for the cordial welcomo which you offer to Lady Robinson, my family, and myself, upon our first visit to Auckland. I look forward -with great pleasure not only to this visit, but to" our returning for a more lengthened stay among you upon some future occasion. Sir Hercnles and Lady Robinson entered the carriage. The pressure of the crowd was very great during the reading of the addresses, and the City Council acteS wisely in having stont barriers erected around the dais inside the arch, where the ceremony took place. When the procession again started, the crowd steadily directeu its way towards Government House. Here upwards of 2400 children of the public schools assembled to sing the National Anthem upon the arrival of Sir Hercules and Lidy Robinson. There must at one time have been 6000 or 7000 people present on the ground. It was rather unfortunate that there was not a stronger force to distribute the great crowd which was converging on this spot. The main body of the Volunteers had gone along -with, the procession, but the carriaces, after parting company, moved so rapidly by Grey-street, Karangahape Road, Symonda-street and New Princes-street (the old Albert barracks), that they entered the gates almost at the same time with some of the corps. The terrace of Government House was so crowded that, once there, a person became packed into the throng, and further locomotion was impossible. The sun was unusually brilliant and warm for midwinter weather. The want of regulation or control on this point was sorely felt. MAORI WELCOME AND ADDRESS. At the entrance to Government House lawn a large number of influential native chiefs had . assembled, near the gateway. Amongst them were Paul, of Orakei, Retireti Tapsell, Te Hemara, Hona Te Hanate, To Hira, Whititera, and a great many representative chiefs of the various tribes of the island. They were joined by Rewi, who had decked his hat with feathers. The address was presented by Paul, and translated by Mr. J. O. "Xoung, land-purchase agent, as follows :—"To Governor Robinson, —Welcome to Auckland, in order that you may see these tribes of ours who are resident at this end of New Zealand, namely, Ngatiwhatua, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngatipaoa, Waikato, Ngaiterangi, Te Arawa, together with other tribes and'flivisions of tribes, also tha chiefs. We welcome yon, as is onr custom when strangers visit us. Our welcome to you is similar to the welcome accorded to those who occupied the position you now hold, before you assumed the administration of the affairs of this colony. We repeat the welcome. Come to Auckland and reside permanently ; also, let the Parliament be at this end of the colony, where the work is of most importance. Do you return here; you and the whole Government. May you and Queen Victoria live long, in order that the inhabitants of those portions of the globs over which you have the power of administration may be benefitted. —Signed, Paora TtTKAERE, on behalf of the whole of the tribes of these islands.—Auckland, June 16, 1879." After the proceedings terminated, his Excellency intimated that he would return a reply to the native address in writing. Presently the procession entered Government House gate—the Constabulary and Volunteers, the crowd cheering lustily—and drew up in front of the principal entrance. PRESENTATION BY" THE AUCKLAND LADIES. His Excellency, having alighted, presented Mre, Peacock to Lady Robinson. Mrs. Peacock, presented a very beautifal banquet of choice flowers, selected with great taste and judgment, alike in respect to the kind of flowers as well as to colour. This bouquet was in a silver holder of very elegant workmanship, by Messrs. Kohn Brothers, of Queen-etreet. The cup was of open silver work, burnished and frosted, the handle tastefully engraved. On either aide of the cup were two gold shields, with. the word " Welcome" in raised letters, forming a band across each. In the centre of the shield were fronds of New Zealand fern, also in raised work. From the edge of the cup were supports of silver work, representing several examples of fern. The whole thing was unique, appropriate, and elegant. Mrs. Peacock (the Mayoress) said, in presenting the bouquet: —" Lady Robinson,— Allow me, in the name of the ladies of Auckland, to bid you a most cordial welcome. We hope you will enjoy this visit, and that we may frequently have the pleasure of seeing you amongst as. We beg your ladyship's acceptance of this bouquet." Lady Robinson received the bouquet, and thanked Mre. Peacock and the ladies of Auckland for their kindness. THE JUVENILE ANTHEM. The choir-master, (Mr. Cranwell), gave the musical key to the juvenile vocalists, who sang the liret few bars very correctly, but the sounds of _ the last notes were much mixed. They" acquitted themselves much more creditably in the second verse. Taken as a whole, this part of the National Anthem was correctly sung. The fresh voices of 80 many children, the fine weather, the hearty interest felt in the occasion, imparted an effebtiveness to tho demonstration, which was perhaps worth ir.ore to those for whom it was intended, than precision or absolnte correctness. When the children had concluded the Anthom, the choir-master called for three cheers for His Excellency the Governor, which were enthusiastically given. The Mayor next called for three cheers for Lady Robinson, which was responded to with one loud continuous cheer, that did not subside for some seconds. His Excellency , , upon entering Government House, said to the Mayor : lam very much pleased with tho reception which I have met with, and equally gratified by the display of loyalty which people of Auckland have manifested The aspect of Government House grounds at this moment was somewhat unique. The young lads, who form so large a proportion of the resident inhabitants of colonial towns, were not content with tho view from terra firma. Mounting the trees like the original progenitors of the race, according to Mr. Darwin, the boughs of the handsome Norfolk Island pines were borne down by groups of these aspiring youthe. Indeed, when the display was over, it took a very long time to get the children from the grounds. Until they had got out into the road, .such was the congestion of the crowd that nobody conld stir. Openings were made in the direction of the several entrances, through which the children marohed by twos. Gradually all the large crowd appeared to thin.

THE AUCKLAND DECORATIONS. The decoration displays in Auckland were of a striking character. The handsome arch ereoted at the foot of Queen-street by Mr. Kelly, was designed by Mr. Sharp, architect, employed in Mr. Herepaths office, and the flags over it and around it wore arranged artistically, under the instructions of Mr. 0. Kowe, of the Customs Department. Mr. Kelly carried the designs which he obtained into fnll execution, and the resnlt was a very excellent combination. The" arch in front bore the motto, " Welcome to Auckland." The City Council cat of arms was placed at each end, with the Royal arms in the centre. On the reverse side was the inscription, "To His Excalleney and Family, health and happiness." The monogram "V.K."was at both ends. The design and construction of this work was much admired. Another display worthy of specific notice was that which extended from Mr. G. Von der Heyde's (the German Council) office across Queen-street, to the South British Insurance buildioga. The flags were obtained from Captain Mensing, of the German gun-boat now in dock, and were erected in accordance with his instructions. The Imperial (lag of Germany occupied the central position, and the artistic arrangement attracted much attention. The two sids arches were also inscribed with mottos. The main buildings in Lower Queen-street had their own flags extended across the street, and one of these contained the words, " Cead mille failthe," a hundred thousand welcomes. The New Zealand Insurance buildings was a perfect decoration in itself. Lines of flags chained the sides of the etreet from top to bottom, and in many instances men were placed in position to dip the colours a=i the cortege passed. Amongst the prettiest designs which we noticed, was that which extended from the Thistle Hotel. There is a flag polo on the roof of the hotel, and upon this flow the British ensign. Across the street was stretched a striug of evergreens, bearing the motto welcome, in the centre, and above it from the roof flew a line of flags across the street. By a neat eontrivance a handsome bouquet of flowers, with a silver scissors attached, was affix-ed to the centre in such a way that it could be lowered at will by any person holding a string ia the upstairs window of the Thistle Hotel. During the procession Mrs. J. G. Little, wife of the proprietor, held the string, and cleverly dropped the bouquet into Lady Robinson's lap as the vice-regal carriage passed under the arch. At first her Ladyship was surprised, but Hia Excellency, on trying to extricate the bouquet, perceived at the same time the sciaßors and the desigu, and showed his approval by acknowledging bows, while Lady Robinson gracefully showed her appreciation by kissing the bouquet toward the wiudow from which the string led, where, it is needless to add, there were a number of eager female faces peering forth to witness the result of the strategic movement. THE HARBOOR. As usual, the various vessels were prettily dressed with bunting, and as there was a large number of steamers, &c, in the port, the effect was very grand, as the breeze was just sufficient to keep the flags from coiling round the lines. Every vessel, from H.M.s. Emerald to the smallest firewood carrier, hoisted a flag of some description at the mast-head, each contributing to their utmost to make the display as brilliant as possible. The wharf during the day was the most froquented promenade, aud at times there must have been over a thousand people enjoying the nice tempering breeze that was springing up from the N. Is.