THE GOVERNOR IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8555, 1 May 1891, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR IN THE NORTH.

DARQAVILLB EN FETE.

(BY TtSI.fcUK.U'H. —OWN COKKKSt'ONriKN'T. ) Daroaville, Thursday. On leaving the Opanaki station yesterday the vice regal party stayed a few minutes at Taita where about 100 Maoris had congregated to meet the Governor, who expressed the pleasuro he felt at meeting so so many local native subjects of the Queen. The natives said that doubtless the Governor was weary and tired from his long overland journey from the Bay of Islands, and that if convenient to His Excellency they would like to meet him at Dargaville before he left the district. The Governor approving of this arrangement it was left to a few of tho chiefs to arrange with the Hon. E. Mitchelson, M.H.R., to convene a

meeting hero which will probably take place on Saturday. The Governor expressed himself as greatly pleased with the forest scenery of the Upper Kaihu district. His Excellency, upon invitation, during the evening, paid a visit to the Lodge Room of Lodge St. Georye, 1801, E.G., and was received by Brother S. Powell, W.M., and Brother F. Beart, S.W., also by a large number of Masons who were all introduced to the Governor by the Hon. B. Mitchelson. The Governor expressed himself as* highly pleased to find such a Masonic Hall in a country district, the furniture, regalia, and appointments being complete. After remaining a short while in'the Lodge Room, His Excellency, wishing the brethren good-night, retired. The decorations in the township at the various shops deserve a word. N. Moros, fruiterer, displayed two lines of flags across the road., with a pedestal handsomely decorated, whilst the verandah and pathway were one mass of foliage. Flags were Hying from the three flagstaff's of the Wairoa Hotel; but the greatest decorations were at the Kaihu Hotel, all the verandah posts bolow and above being one mats of nikau, cabbage trees, ami ferns, each post on the top verandah having a large hunch of chrysanthemums in the centre of the foliage. At the entrance gate to Mr. pßuyne's rivate residence (kindly placed at the Governor's disposal) were two cabbage trees ; whilst over the door above the verandah was the word, "Welcome!" made up of white, old gold, and bronzecoloured chrysanthemums, on a light blue ground in the form of a crescent, and surrounded by light tfisen foliage, which had a pretty effect. The vice-regal party left here this morning in i\ wagonette, driven by the Hon. E. Mitchelson, for the Kauri Timber Company's mills, Aratapu and Te Kopuru. They will take lunch at Mr. YVeodhead's residence, the company's manager at Te Kopuru, and in the afternoon return here for dinner. His Excellency (to-morrow being the first of the season) will spend the day pheasant shooting.