THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 948, 2 May 1879, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

I A special train conveying his Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson, Captain St. John (A.D.C.), Miss Hohinson, Mrs. John Cargill, Mrs. St. John, the Hon. Mr. Lyttelton (Private Secretary), the | Hon. Mr. Cadogan, the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. Fisher), and Mr. George M'Lean, M. H.R., left Dunedin at nine i o'clock this morning. The Artillery ; formed a guard of honor on the platform, and as the train moved off there was much hearty cheering. On arrival at Waikouaiti the school children and cadets were drawn up Jon the railway platform, and as Us Excellency alighted the children sang the National Anthem. The Rev Mr. Christie, on behalf of the School Committee, welcomed the Governor, and the Mayor and Council of West Hawkesbury presented an addrers of welcome. His Excellency briefly replied, stating that he was much pleased with -what he had seen of the South Island, and hoped with Lady Robinson to make a longer stay on some future occasion. The ladies were each presented with a choice bouquet of flowers by the pupil teachers of the school; and Lady Robinson with a basket of grapes. At Palmerston the Town Council presented an address. His Excellency said the assurances he had everywhere met with made him feel thankful that it had been his good fortune to bp RSSQciated, in his capacity as Governor, with such loyal people as the inhabitants of Naw Zealand. . ' AT OA7.TAIIU. The preparations made for the reception 1 <if the vice-regal party at the railway < station, though not on an elaborate scale, 1 were very complete. The station had 1 been decorated with flowers and boughs, : and there was a liberal display of bunting 1 both there and at the Breakwater. For 'j some time priqr to the hour at which his Excellency was pxpected to arrive, people from all parts of the district began to . congregato at the station, but the attendance was -not nearly §o forgo as on the f | occasion of the Marquis of No?. - manby's t visit in connection with the opening of r thi' railway to Dunedin. A laage pro- o portion of those pyesent were conveyed to tho Breakwater by a special train, the F whole of the limited space on the platform t boin# roGorved for those connected with § tho various bodies taking part in the reception, motnhers of the Legislature, and the clorgy. A guard of honor was a provided at the station by the Artillery, a while another detachment of the same o corps, with the big gun, took up a position on (he vacant space near the goocla shed, n

The special train with the vice-regal party arrived a few minutes after one o'clock, and his Excellency arid party having alighted from the carriage, were met by the Mayor and Corporation,*the guard of honor presented arms, "and the customary salute was tired. His Worship the Mayor then called upon the Town Clerk (Mr. Roxby) to read the following address ; To His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and George, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of Xcw Zealand and its Depencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same : May it plea;.? your Excellency— We, the Mayor and Councillors of the Incorporated Town of Oamaru, in the name and on behalf of the citizens, cordially wel- ! come yr-ur Excellency on the occasion of this your iirsfc visit to our town. We de. ire to assure your Excellency of our loyal devotion to Her Most C.recions Majesty, of whom we receive your Excellency as the representative, and congratulate ourselves as colonists of Xew Zealand on the evident desire of your Excellency on assuming the reins of Government to thoroughly identify yourself with the interest of the Colony as shown by your taking the earliest opportunity to acquaint yourself by a personal visit with the position and requirements of the various centres of population. We trust that during the term of your office thus auspicuously the Colony will continue to progress and prosper, and tha"; your sojourn among us will be a source of mutual benefit and satisfaction. We also desire respectfully to tender a like hearty welcome to Lady Robinson, and to express our best wishes for the health and happiness of her Ladyship and family. We are, your Excellency's most obedient servants. His "Sxeelloncy replied as follows : —Mr. M:r> or and Gvniiemen, —The expressions of Joyaln to iier Most Gracious Majesty tin* Osteon, and of welcome to. myself as her il'.M>resentative, which are contained in tho tuhh'-es* which lias just been read, are indeed most gratifying to me. lam glad to have been able, so soon after my assumption of the Government of this Colony, to visit the Southern Island, as it is my anxious desire to make myself acquainted with the features and varied resources of this part of tho Colony, which I have found to be of surpassing interest. I cordially reciprocate YP U V hupc that this Colony n;ay prosper during my term of office, and Lady "Robinson unites with me in thanking you for your kindly wishes for our welfare. Three cheers for tlie Governor were called for by his Worship the Mu-Yur, and ! freely given, followed, by ohoer ior Lady RubiWoii. The party, accompanied by . tho members of the public bodies and ; others, then proceeded by train to me harbor works, where they were JHei- by the Chairman and y.neiftbQrs of tho Harbor l3oartt-

The Chairman of the Board (Mr. Sumptei) having briefly welcomed hi.-; Excellency and. Lady Robinson, called upon the Secretary- (Mr. Forrester) to read the following address : AVc, the undersigned. s of the Oainaru Harbor Board, have groat pleasure in j-oiir Excellency on yciiiv visit of inspection of the Harbor "Works, and to thank. yo,u for having so speedily after Recession to your high office honored us with your presence. Wo venture to express a liope that the works will both interest your Excellency and meet- with your approbation. For your Excellency's information we may state that the works were commenced in 1871. and have now assYtivc.il some magnitude, having attained the length of 900 ft. at a aoai; or L14'2,0'00. and that contracts have just been entered into for an addition oi 700 ft. .

We beg to assure your Excellency of otir attachment to Our Most Gracious .Majesty the Queen, and also to express our gratifi ation at being pi'ivik'yed to meet your Excellency on tills occasion. IJ is Excellency briefly replied ;—Gentlemen, —I thank you for your loyal address and for the welcome you are pleased to oftcr m,e on, the occasion of my first visit to the Oainaru harbor works. I shall inspect with groat interest the works upon which you are engaged, and which, under yonr able supervision, can scarcely fail to prove of great advantage, not- only to this district, but also to the Colony at large. Three cheers were then givep. fo.r his Excellency and Lady Robinson. Some time was spent by his Excellency and party in inspecting the works, both at the Breakwater proper and at ISfari nan by Wharf. The various matters of detail were explained by the Chairman and Secretary, his Excellency taking great interest in the work. His Excellency, during the course of the conversation which took place, expressed his satisfaction and pleasure in having been able to examine the works. He had previously seen many such works, and said the Oamaru Breakwater was a substantial piece of engineering work. His Excellency expressed surprise that the Breakwater proper was built entirely of concrete, and not of block of stone, and seemed impressed with the manner in which the blocks were laid. Altogether the Governor appeared to be thoroughly convinced of the importance of the works and .the great extent to which they would benefit the town and district.

During tho stay at the Breakwater, his Excellency held a brief interview with the Sydney Exhibition Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and inquired as to what had been done in the way of procuring exhibits. He said he had been one of the earliest movers in the matter of the exhibition, and he therefore was very anxious that it should be made entirely successful. He wished to see New Zealand well represented, for it had not been so at the Philadelphia and Paris Exhibitions. Judging by the very excellent country he had passed through,he thought the district should able, to stjud a large number of exhibits of agricultural produce. He enquired whether any wool would be sent from Oamaru, and said he thought it was desirable that the district should be well represented in this and every other class of produce. Having referred to the excellent stone obtained in the district, he said that there should be a plentiful supply of exhibits of this useful commodity. Mr. E?ans said that as the Committee were aware that his Excellency's stay in Oamaru would be very short, and that his time would be fully occupied, they had prepared a written report of what had been done.

The following is a copy of the written report from the Committee handed to his Excellency ;

Chamber of Commerce, Oamaru, May Ist, 1879. In presenting to your Exoelleney a report of the proceedings of the Oamaru Committee in connection with exhibits for the Sydney International Exhibition, they would mention that Oamaru, being the centre of a district almost entirely devoted to agriculture, the exhibits will be chiefly confined to the various samples of grain and other classes of agricultural produce. Of tl}e«e the Committee are warranted by the applications for space already received, in assuring your Excellency that there will be an abundance of exhibits, and no effort is being spared by them to make the exhibits thoroughly repre-. tentative of the capabilities of this district. Numerous samples of wool will also be fqnvardcd from this' district, many of the growers of this stable article of commerce having already notified their intention I of become exhibitovs.

Tho Committee anticipate being able to provide specimens of gold, obtained within the Waiiaki County from the Maerewhenua goldfiokl, but as yet time had not afforded them to psi'feot arrangements for obtaining suitable specimens.. These will, however, be seciiveci with as little delay as possible, arid every effort .will he made to display to advantage the mineral wealth of this portion of the Colony. Another class of exhibits which the Com* mittee have devoted considerable attention

to is the beautiful building stone with which the district is so abundantly supplied, and of which your Excellency will have noticed that the chief edifices of the town are erected. The Committee feel that the capabilities and the excellent nature of this valuable building material, the ease with which it can be worked, and the elegant devices into which it can, with very little trouble, lie turned, are not sufficiently known outside the Colony. They are therefore anxious that the e:-: hibits under this heading should be as complete as possible. To tins end. samples of ihis stone will be forwarded in its natural state, turned and carved.

Manufactured exhibits.—Those will coinprise agricultural implements, flour, oatmeal, malt, beer (wood and bottled) boot* and shoes, saddlery. Provisions.—Hams and bacon. Exhibits from our local artist?. : Photographs, wetc-r colors, and oil paintings—illustrative of Xew Zealand scenery. This Committee would reiterate the remarks made by theDunedin Committee, that the South Island should be represented at this Exhibition by some duly accredited agent. In concluding this brief report, the Oaiua.ru Committee wish to express their pleasure at your Excellency having consented to assume the presidency of the Xew Zealand commission. By order of the Committee, W. J. SIITTH. Secretary. At two o'clock a return was made to the station, and liis Excellency and party were driven to the Star and Garter Hot-el, where they partook of a private luncheon. Afterwards they were driven through the town, as far as the North Town .Boundary, and afterwards drove up Severn street and through the Hon. M. Holmes' garden,, attached- to his house, returning by way of Wansbeck and Tees street--:. (in passing through Harbor sire,:.;, o.n his v.a-y to the Railway Kr«iioii, the Governor alighted and walked through ■I. and T. Mock's and CI. W umpterV. stores, the immense stack of grain in which must have convinced his Excellency that this is a most important portion of the Colony, partioulavy as regards agricultural produce. The vice-rcgnj party left for Timarn about half-past throe o'clock', three cheers being given as the special train moved away.

TTVAItr. Great prep,".rations have been made at this place for the reception of his Excellency the Governor and suite this evening. His Excellency will arrive at live o'clock, ;i!i<l he roce-ivotl by the Mayor and councillors, members of the Harbor Board and ! Chamber of Comincrco. Ka will be presented with an address, and be driven round the town, escorted by mounted itroopoya under Major Pender and a jjuavd of Artillery Volunteers under C!;n>taiu Kamerslcy. On the arrival of the train salute of seventeen guns wi.U fee fired by the Artillery, and the public sch(«j] children will si»<r the IVari'onal Anthem. The Fire Urigadu. and V.A, Cadets will be drawn up, hi uniform on either side 01 the entrance to. tha railway station. 1j: the [evening his Excellency and party will attend a grand invitation ball at the Mechanics' Institute Hall. The decorations are on a grand scale, and as nearly 200 double tickets have been sold, the afi'air is likely to be the grandi&t thing ever held in Timaru.