THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13055, 21 December 1905, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE THAMES.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

PRESENTATION. OP, ADDRESSES. - j [FEOM our own correspondent.] v : ~ ';-.' Thames, Wednesdays : The Thames -was en fete yesterday on. the occasion of the official visit of His Excelleaoy'Hh 6' Governor (Lord Plunket). The town had been very tastefully decorated for the. occasion by an energetic committee of ladies and gentlemen, and presented a very pleasing appearainre. - . ' .-".'.* His Excellency, who was accompanied by Captain Bingham, A.D.C., and his private secretary (Mr. Waterfield), arrived in the Lady Roberts at noon, and wais received at the end of tho wharr by the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. W. Scott), who welcomed him on behalf of the Board, and expressed > his , pleasure at the visit of His' Majesty's representative. ■ The party then entered the Harbour Boultxl carriage, and drove to the shore end of the wharf, where the volunteers and cadets were drawn up in two lines. Tho Governor's party then left the Harbour Board carriage and proceeded on foot between the lines of volunteers, who received His Excellency with the. Royal salute, the band playing the National Anthem. ' • His Worship the Mayor welcomed His Excellency on behalf of the people of the Thames. The county chairman (Mr. R.W. Bagnall) and Mr. J. McEnteer (president of the Miners' Union), also joined in tho welcome. The procession then formed, and proceeded to the platform' at the Borough Chambers, where the Mayor (Mr. Archibald Burns) delivered an appropriate address, welcoming i His Excellency to the Thames. An address was then read by tho town clerk (Mr. Albert Bruce), as follows: —

We, the Mayor, corporation, and burgesses of the borough of Thames, the chairman, councillors, and inhabitants of the county of Thames, and chairman and members of the Harbour Board, desire you to accept our cordial and loyal greetings on the auspicious occasion of your visit to the Thames goldiield, and we respectfully request you to receive this address as a memento of our high esteem for you as the Governor of this important colony, and of our loyalty and love tor His Majesty King Edward V 11.,' whom you have the distinguished honour to represent. -We earnestly trust that health and every happiness may attend 'Your Excellency, Lady l'lunket, and family, and that when your vice-regal term of otlice expires you will return to the Motherland bearing with you the happiest reminiscences of your sojourn in our lovely New Zealand isles, i

The address was handsomely engrossed. and illuminated on vellum, lined with white silk, and polished rewarowa, with rollers at top and bottom. It was produced, ait the JELkk.-lLd Works, Auckland. , , , ;;, The Governor replied as follows —"Mr. . Mayor and Gentlemen, have much plea-" sine in accepting your kind address, in which you offer me so cordial a welcome to your town and country, and as the repre- ; sentative of His Majesty the King it is gratifying to receive your hearty expressions of loyalty and affection to the Sovereign. I thank you for your kindly wishes towards Lady Plunket, my .family, and myself, and can assure you it gives me much pleasure to have this opportunity of meeting some of your people and seeing something of your town and important district." His Excellency went on to refer to the assistance given by the colonies in the Boer war, and gave credit. to the volunteers present for their appearance. He also expressed pleasure at the good show made by the cadets, and complimented the veterans, of whom a goodly number where present, weaa-ing- their decorations. • ■/ A Maori address was then delivered by Hohepa Matai Teana, interpreted by the Rev. H. M. Ruarangi.. The Maoris expressed their loyalty and allegiance to the representative of His Majesty, and referred to the locking up of the native lands of the colony: '.*.; i;'i > ■;■ : .-" i-rl-. ';.*■» -^ In reply, the Governor said he regretted that none of the Ministers were present with him to go more fully into the question of native lands, but he understood that Mr. ■ Seddon intended to deal with this important question at the next session.. ■•.. a : His Excellency then inspected the volunteers and cadets, and questioned the veterans individually upon their service. • ;: The procession was then algain formed, and proceeded to Shortland and back to the Royal Hotel, where His Excellency was entertained at luncheon by the Mayor, after which he visited the principal sights of the town, among which where the Waiotahi mine, School of Mines, Messrs. Price. Bros.' foundry, the Big Pump, hospital, and library. In the evening His Excellency attended a conversazione at the Miners' tTnion Hall, which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion. His* Excellency was welcomed on arrival by the Mayor, who conducted him round the hall, introducing him to those present..' Altogether a very pleasant evening was spent. A first-claiss musical programme was gone through by Mr. Booth's orchestra, and the Misses Payne, Oates, and Baker, and Messrs. Farrow and Lester contributed to ths pleasure of "the evening by several songs, which were given in firstclass style. The day was brought to ai close by His Excellency paying a visit to Lodge Sir Walter Scott.

His Excellency the Governor and party left the Thames for Rotorua bv the tea. minutes past nine a.m. train to-day.