RECEPTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4286, 15 December 1874, Page 3

RECEPTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

According to arrangement and punctually to the time fixed his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby landed at the Queen's wharf at noon yesterday. The Luna, with the vice-regal party on board, left Auckland on Saturdaymorning, and made a very rapid trip down the coast, but the rapidity had its disadvantages, for the vessel came into port on Sunday evening at an hour when it was impossible to arrange any form of reception. His Excellency, therefore, determined to remain on board for the night, and the Luna was anchored off Hadfield's wharf. In the meantime it was ascertained that his Excellency's views as to what form the reception should take had been greatly misunderstood or misrepresented. A rumor had got abroad that he desired to ba*"received in a formal or merely official manner by the members of the Corporation. This impression was speedily corrected as soon as it found its way into print, but the explanatory telegram of Captain Maling, private secretary, which appeared in yesterday's issue, was received too late for publication on Saturday. The week was therefore allowed to pass away without any arrangement for a public reception being made. Nevertheless, the welcome yesterday was none the less hearty. The misconception referred to having been cleared away, Ministers, City Councillors, leading citizens, heads of public organisations, captains of volunteers, in fact, persons of influence in all grades of society set to work early in the morning to secure a reception worthy of the noble Marquis. So far there was complete unity of action, but the public as a body had had their minds unsettled by the erroneous statements set afloat, and the day was not kept as a general holiday, as originally intended. The General and Provincial Government offices were closed, and the banks and large mercantile houses suspended business for the day, but their example was not uniformly followed. But that mattered little. The object was to give the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby a warm-hearted welcome to the Seat of Government, and in this respect the demonstration wa3 eminently successful. Every vessel in the harbor exhausted its stock of bunting in the effort to lend -cheerfulness and gaiety to the scene ; the wharf itself was lavishly dressed in flags of all colors and all nations, which were suspended from side to side, so that the vice-regal party should pass beneath them; and the principal buildings in the town were similarly decorated. The Armed Constabulary, the Veterans, and the Highland Corps, forming the guard of honor,-were drawn up in single file on each side of the wharf ; and the general effect was heightened by the attractive appearance of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade, who were stationed about half way up the wharf. The Artillery, in command of Captain Pearce, took up their position on the reclaimed land at Thorndon-quay, in readiness to fire the salute as soon as his Excellency landed. Up to this point the arrangements were commendable for their excellence and completeness, but an agreeable surprise had been prepared for Lady Normanby and her husband, by placing at the end of the wharf an indefinite number of prettilydressed little girls to strew their path with flowers. The carrying out of these arrangements occupied some time, but they were all completed before the Luna was brought alongside the wharf. The demonstration, viewed simply as a demonstration, was most creditable to Wellington. The actual time for preparation was really limited to a few hours, for up to Sunday - evening nothing whatever had been done beyond the preparation of the City Council address. Intimation of the personal popularity of the Marquis and Lady Normanby, and the favorable opinion entertained of his Excellency by public men in Queensland, had, however, preceded him to these shores ; and it needed but the announce- - ment that his Excellency disclaimed the idea which had been attributed to him as to the manner of his reception to ensure a hearty welcome. In the aggregate there were about 2000 people present on the wharf. The number was not large, but it is beyond doubt that no previous assemblage in Wellington upon the arrival or departure of a Governor was so enthusiastic as that yesterday. From the time his Excellency landed until he stepped into the carriage in waiting at Grey- street, the cheering was continuous and hearty, and was of course gracefully acknowledged by the Marquis and Lady Normanby. To come back to the initial ceremony, it should be mentioned that his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, and the Mayor and members of the City Council were introduced to his Excellency by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, Colonial Secretary, who, with the Hon. Mr. Richardson and the Hon. Major Atkinson, were the only members of the Ministry present. His Excellency and Lady Normanby then stepped on to the wharf, and proceeded on their way to their carriage, attended by a large number of ladies and gentlemen, who welcomed them upon landing. The word of command being given by Colonel Eeader, the guard presented arms, and, upon a signal previously arranged, the Artillery fired a salute of seventeen guns. Passing along* the wharf, which was lined on both sides by crowds of spectators, the vice-regal party were loudly cheered, their efforts in this direction being greatly aided by the stentorian lungs of the ships' crews, who were stationed on the forecastles of their respective vessels. Arrived at the end of the wharf, the airily-dressed girls signified their expression of welcome by strewing flowers on the ground as the vice-regal party passed along ; and when his Excellency reached the carriage, his Worship the Mayor read the following address : _ To his Excellency the Most Noble the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of New Zealand, &c, &c. We, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Wellington, desire, on behalf of the citizens, whom we represent, to welcome your Excellency ana Lady Normanby on your arrival at the Seat of Government. We are aware of tho services you have rendered, and of the high appreciation in which you have been held while acting as representative of her Majesty. Whatever the citizens of Wellington can do to show their loyalty and devotion to her Majesty In assisting your endeavors for maintaining the peace, order, and good government of this country, you may confidently rely upon. „. We hope that your Excellency and Lady Normanby may during your residence in New Zealand enjoy tho blessings of health and happiness. Given under the common seal of the City Council of Wellington, this 14th day of December, 1874. C. B. Borlask, Mayor. His Excellency replied in the following terms : Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, I thank you kindly for the cordial and very hearty welcome you have given me upon my arrival on your shores, and I also thank yon for the very flattering terms in which the address is couched. I can only assure you that any abilities 1 may possess will be sincerely and heartily devoted to promote, as far as in me lies, the happiness, wellbeing, and prosperity of the colony of New Zealand. 1 have also to thank yon on behalf of Lady Normanby for the welcome you have given us, and to assure you that we feel confident our stay among you will bo a happy ono. I again thank you for your kind reception. His Excellency and Lady Normanby then got into the carriage in waiting for them, and drove away to Government House. In such a hurriedly-prepared reception there were, of course, some slight shortcomings. There was an undefined idea that tho reception was to be succeeded by a procession, and with this view the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade had all their engines and other apparatus ready in

Grey-street, but the volunteers were dismissed at the conclusion of his Excellency's remarks, and the Constabulary were marched back to Motint Cook Barracks. Had the matter been taken in hand promptly, a procession might have been formed, although not on. the list of arrangements, which would have given to the proceedings a completeness they did not possess. Both bands were on the spot, and availing themselves of one of them, the W. V.F.B. did march as far as Government House, but the rain, which set in about this- time, put an end to further parade, and the people and the fire-" men dispersed. His Excellency will hold a levee at Government House to-day or to-morrow. - IN THE EVENING, the vessels at the wharf sent up a number of rockets of various kinds and burnt blue lights at the yard-arms, the pyrotechnic display being very effective.' The Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade again formed procession, and with torchlights proceeded along Lambton-quay, up Bowen-street, and through the grounds attached to Government House. Several places of business on the quay were illuminated with gas-fed stars, and the streets were thronged by pedestrians, although the evening was rather damp and unpleasant. The display of loyalty has not been exceeded in Wellington on any previous occasion.