THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

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

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

'—. —: » ARRIVAL AT HAMILTON. [Br TELKORAPH, PKOM aVR REPORTER.] Hamilton; June 20. In anticipation of the Governor's visit by rail to-day, many of the stations were decorated. The Pukekohe Station was particularly neat, with fronds of fern and nikau and other evergreen ornaments. A string festoon of flags crossed the line. Tuakau was also decorated with evergreens, and a motto, " Welcome to Tuakau." At Mercer the people were nnder a disadvantage, the station being the wreck of the recent fire, but they did their best to hide their baldness by means of liberal garlands of evergreens. His Excellency, accompanied by Captain Pt. John, A.D.0., the Hod. J. Sheehan, Hon. Colonel Whitmore, Kewi, Hotere, Hone Nahe, M.H.R., Mr. J. C. Young, Rev. Aleyeey-Thompson and others, arrived at tbe Hamilton railway station about twenty minutes to two o'clock. They were received by the mayor, councillors, burgesses and officials. The following were present:— The Mayor (Mr. J. B. Whyte), Councillors Beale, Dawson, Gwynne, Gaudin, Hume, Knox, McDonald, and Gelling (Town Clerk), Colonel Lyon, L. O'Neill. Rev. Calder, Mr. Von Sturmer, and Mr. R. F. Sandes. The vice-regal party was well received. The Mayor stepped forward, and address, ing the Governor, said : I wish to show 3'our Excellency that although, at your request, and owiug to the shortness of your visit, your reception here will be a quiet one, the people of Hamilton, had it been possible, would have given you a welcome better suited to your official position and high personal reputation. His Worship then read the address, as follows: —"To Sir H. Robinson, G.O.M.G. : May it please your Excellency,—We, the Mayor, councillors, and burgesses of Hamilton gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of welcoming you on this your first visit to the Waikato, also of expressing our loyalty to our sovereign, Queen "Victoria, and our gratification at your appointment as her representative in New Zealand. Your stay, though necessarily short, we truat will be enjoyable, and that on some future occasion you may be pleased to honour us with a longer visit.—On behalf of the burgesses of Hamilton, J. B. Whxte, Mayor ; J. M. Gelling, Town Clerk." His Excellency, in reply, said: Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, —I receive with pleasure your expressions of loyalty, and thank you for tbe hearty welcome you have given to me on tliia my first visit to Waikato. My time.on this visit is limited, but I hope to return and make a longer stay, and make myself acquainted with the resources of the place and the residents. Three hearty cheers were then given for Hi? Excellency, and tlie vice-regal party and suite were driven in carriages into Hamilton, where they were provided with luncheon by host Pearce, of the Commercial Hotel. DEPUTATIONS. During the stay of His Excellency at Hamilton, the Mayor and Mr. Kennedy Hill waited on His Excellency, and, at their requeet, Sir Hercules became the President of the Waikato Turf Club. A deputation, respecting the Hamilton Infantry Corps, waited on Colonel Whitmore, who said he would recommend their acceptance by the Government, and promised to arm them (some 90 members) with EnSelds at once, replacing these with Sniders in about six week's time, when a largo consignment would arrive from home. Uβ stated the Government recognised the duty of defending the settlers in the country districts, and mentioued that, so expensive had been the Volunteer spirit when called forth he had to refuse the services of aoino GOO old comrades-in-arms, and he might almost say thousands of raw recruits.