THE GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1676, 13 April 1904, Page 57

THE GOVERNOR.

FAREWELL TRIBUTES) FROM THE PEOPLE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

' E CHRISTCHURCH, ApiH7. The Governor ho-day unveiled tablets on the jubilee memorial commemorating tlxe settlement of the province arid the despatch cf contingent© to South Africa. There was a large gathering of old identities, relatives of the men, volunteers and the general public. The Mayor, Hon H. F. Wigram, was present. Goloinel Pitt represented the Ministry. Lore! Rartfurly, having unveiled the tablets, spoke very briefly in appreciative term,a regarding the work done in tho early days by the pioneers, and in more modern time by the colonial contingents to South Africa. He then, distributed the war medals to two hundred returned troopers. At* the rotunda in Victoria square a congratulatory valedictory address from the city of Christchurch was presented by the Mayor. His Excellency, in replying, expressed the warm feeling he felt towards the whole colony, and said his departure would not mean the total severance of his connection with New Zealand. The experience ho had gained during the las^.seven years would bo of value to the colony on his return to the Old Country, and no would continue to watch its progress with tho wannest interest and esteem.

'The Maoris of Kaiapod also, presented •an address; and his Excellency, replying. urged the. Maoris to cultivate their lands arm strive after education. Every post in the colony was open to them if tney chose to take advantage of then opportunities. ■ FAREWELL BANQUET. GHRISTOHURCH, April 7. The farewed banquet, to the Governor to-night was attended by a representative gathering of citizens. The Mayor (Hon H. F. Wigram) presided. Colonel Pitt represented the Government. The officers of the Antarctic expedition were also present. The Mayor, in proposing the toast of tho Governor’s health, spoke of the period of. the Governor’s office as most eventful. The colony was only now growing up, and required strong men to control its destinies. In his Excellency they had had such a strong man. New Zealand had been singularly fortunate in her Governors, and this showed that the colony was appreciated at Home. Had the policy of sending such, men to Qie British dependencies been adopted in times past, America, would still have been under the old flag. The Governor had made himself one of the people during his term of office, and no man knew more of public opinion and the details of the administration of the colony. This had made him eminently suited to advise his Home office on the requirements of the colony. The Veterans’- Home would bo a lasting record to his kindliness of heart and .desire to assist those who worked for the Empire.

His Excellency the Governor, wlio was warmly received, said he had had the remarkable good fortune to- have his term of office in the colony marked by general prosperity. That prosperity induced a contentment which made people, regard his actions with generous eyes. Us was proud to have assisted at extending the boundaries of the colony by proclaiming the annexation of certain of the Pacific islands, a valuable addition to. the Empire. Having referred to the Royal visit in appreciative terms, he touched on the prosperity of the colony, as disclosed by the returns just' published of exports and imports. The colony’s lands were wonderfully rich and fertile, and Canterbury should he proud of possessing what was probably the finest farm in the world. He had found that the Maoris were beginning to realist something of their duties, and that there was a distinctpromise of progress among them, not only in the matter of cultivation, but also in regard to education. He congratulated the city on the memorial he had unveiled that afternoon, and which he thought had no equal in New Zealand. He commended the action of the Government in establishing the Health and Tourist Departments. The last-named department was going to be a source of great wealth to the colony. He predicted a wonderful future for the colony, and saw no reason why the progress of late yeans should not he maintained. If it ever lay in his power to do anything for New Zealand or New Zealanders, he would be only too happy to exercise that power. He could only say in conclusion that he regretted extremely that his term of office was about to end. Sir John Hall, who proposed the toast “His Excellency’s Advisers,” said he was not appearing in a political capacity, but simply joining in a general God-speed to the Governor. The task was not a difficult one, for New Zealand was in a very prosperous condition... and therefore content to take a good deal on trust. The causes of that prosperity lay deeper that the political administration. The main cause was found in .the energy and industry of a population living in the finest country in the world; but his Excellency’s advisers had done a great deafl towards helping the people, never sparing labour,

thought, nor effort in helping on the general prosperity. The Ministry had also been very enterprising, ho was bound to say, and though lie looked with apprehension at .some of their measures, he must honestly confess that many of those measures had turned out, very well. Ho instanced the penny postage as a case in point. He also expressed strong approval of the railway management. Speaking of the Premier, lie said his great recommendation was that he thought Imperially. Mr Seddon had been, so far as New Zealand was concerned, the apostle of Imperialism. Ho referred generously to tho indispositron of the Premier, and added —‘’’Knowing him as we do, we know that the illness which would keep him away from a gathering of this sort mu.Su he a serious illness.” Ho thought the Premier should take a radical ’rest cure-—take twelve month-/ holiday, come up to Hcrorata and study tho land question there, and lot the other party take twelve months’ tenure of office. Ho described Colonel Pitt, who represented the Government, as a sort of Admirable Crichton,, and said the Gov* eminent could not have a more moderate, sensible, courteous, and popular representative in the Council than Colonel Pitt.

Replying to the toast, Colonel Pitt eaid that so far a© the .Government was concerned, tho fact that it was still in power after twelve years of office showed that it retained the confidence of the coilony. During the Governor's term' of office, tho political machinery had worked .smoothly, and there had been no friction. The Governor had npt been a mere figure-head, but, a vary live Viceroy, with the fullest appreciation of his rospoHisibilitiicß. No country under British rule could show a better record of trade progress than New Zealand. He particularly commended the native legislation of the Government, and the Governor’s diplomatic advice to the Maoris on his recent tour. Referring to the despatch of troops to the Boer war, he said the prediction that the colony would have a class of ’military unemployed after the war had been completely falsified, for the men had returned almost unanimously to civil pursuits. The Government wanted the youth ef the colony trained to arms as a reserve lino of defence. He concluded, with a. warm appreciation of the social and administrative qualities of the Governor. The Hour C. G. Bowen proposed “ The Antarcitio Expedition,” and this toast was replied to by CaptaiinjSeott, of the Discovery, and Gaptain Col beck, of, the Morning.