THE MAYOR'S BICNIC TO NIHOTUPU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10082, 18 March 1896, Page 5

THE MAYOR'S BICNIC TO NIHOTUPU.

The picnic given yesterday by His Worship tho Mayor (Mr. J, J. Holland) to His Excellency the Governor and His Excelloncy the Naval Commander in-Chief was most)

successful in every respect). The drags were at) tho wharf at nine o'clock, where tho officers of the Squadron who wore going assembled with the gentlemen who had been invited to meet them. They went up by Government House, where the Earl of Glasgow, Admiral Bridge, and Major Elliot joined. The following wore thoothor officers presentfrom the Squadron: —Orlando: Flag-Liotitenanb Duff, Fleet) Surgeon Irvine, Assistant • Paymaster Franklin, Midshipman Davis. Wallaroo: Surgeon McSherry, Clork Murray. Katooinba: Captain Meryone, AssistantPaymaster Craddock, Clerk Roffey. Ringarooma: Paymaster Moore. The following wore the other guests :—Councillor Trenwith, chairman Finance Committee; Councillor Kidd, chairman Streets Committee; Mr. P. A. Philips, Town Clerk; Mr. Crowther, M.H.R.; Mr. C. Seegner, German Consul; Mr. Connolly, United States Consul; Mr. Johansen, Danish Consul; Mr, Rees Georgo, Portuguese Consul; Mr. J. J. Calvert, Clerk of Parliaments, New South Wales; Mr. M. Niccol, chairman Navy Lague; Mr. Kont, chairman Chamber of Commerco; Mr. Cotter, city solicitor; Mr. Duthie, managor National Bank; Rov.

Scotb West, Mr. W. Berry. The Nihotupu stream was reached about one o'clock, when ib was found that) ft marquee had been erected, surrounded by graceful pillars of troe-ferns. These had been cut and placed in position by the survey party who, under Mr. J. Phillips, aro laying off tho reserves lately handed over to tho city by the Government in this locality. Tho party proceeded first aboub half a mile into the bush, where they inspected a sawmill which has been in work for some time cutting the kauri of tho neighbouring forest. Then they went some distance further into the bush to

see a kauri tree which has been reserved. It is a fairly good specimen of our noblo kauri pino, being botween 12 and 13 feet through. Here the party were photographed by Mr. Hibbs, of Waikomiti. Returning to tho marquee the party sat down to a plentiful and elegant lunch, which had been arranged by Mr. Cassells, who was aided by a good staff. His Worship presided, having on one side His Excellency the Governor, and on the other His Excellency the Admiral. The Chairman proposed the toast of the Queen, which was cordially responded to. In proposing the toast of the Governor, His Worship said that the Earl of Glasgow hail endeared himself to the whole people of New Zealand.

The toast was drunk with cheers.

His Excellency tub Governor, in replying, snid that he and his family had always receivod great kindness in Auckland, and this kindness and the beauty of the district had always made his residence hero very pleasant. The Chairman then proposed the toast of His Excellency Admiral Bridge. He said that it was twelve months since the Admiral with his ship had left Auckland, and during that time events had occurred which threat-

ened the peace of Europe, t The attitude taken up by the British Government and people had shown to the world that the old British spirit still animated them. The rapid way in which the navy had been strengthened and fitted for war prorod that

the Empire was ready to meet any emergency, and that the officers and seamen of the Royal Navy were as ready to remember that England expected every man to do his duty as in the days of Nelson and Trafalgar. The crisis, too, had proved the loyalty of the colonies to the Mother Country, and their readiness to aesist in defenco of the rights of the Empire. In the New Zealand Herald of that morning they would have seen Admiral Bridge's opinions on the defence of tho Empire and the colonies. He thought theso opinions would recommend themselves on consideration to the colonies, aud that they would como to the conclusion that) their first duty was to see thoroughly to their own defence.

Tho toast was drunk with hearty cheering. Admiral Bridge said that, as many of them wished to visit the Falls, he would make his reply a brief one. He had to acknowledge the kindness and courtesy which had on all occasion" been shown to his brother officers and himself. It waa one of the advantages of the naval service, that those in it had an opportunity of visiting interesting places. Everywhere they were received with groat kindness, and nowhere more than in Auckland. In addition to visiting the most beautiful spots, they had an opportunity of coming into contact with many people, of meeting the leading men of the colonies, and of making the acquaintance of tho official of foreign countries. On the South Sea station they found white men amongst large numbers of aborigines, but as captain and as admiral wherever he had met Frenchmen, or Germans, or Americans, he had always had tho most pleasanb associations with them. Ho had always had tho most agreeable relations with the consuls of those nations. Ho looked forward to continuing thoße pleasant associations during the time ho might remain in his present position. He believed that there was a unanimous wish on the part of the four nations to do their best to preserve peace and good ordor amongst tho islands of tho Pacific. (Cheers.) Most of the party then went down to what is called the Sevenby-foot Fall, where many bathed in tho pool. On roturnlng, tea wa« served, and a start was made for

town, where the breaks arrlvod bobween six and sovon o'clock. The weather was exceedingly pleasant , and thero was not the slightest hitch in the arrangements. Bofora leaving, three hearty cheers were givon for His Worship the Mayor, who had been assiduous during the day in attending to the comfort of his guests.