Farewell to the Governor.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5207, 13 February 1892, Page 2

Farewell to the Governor.

(11Y 'l'Hl.l'.lJltArll.) Wr.t.i.tMiTiiN, February 12, The farewell banquet tendered to Inin] and the. Countess Onslow by Ihe INliiyot look place at Bellamy's lo night, Inl.lev being laid for 80. Among I hose presoiu were all the Ministers of Ihe (.'rown (ex cepl the Colonial Secretary). Chief .1 in. tiee Prcndergost, Justice Richmond, tin local inenibers of the House of lto|iiv. sentafives, the lions. C. Johnston, Grw, and llart, Captain Uourku and t lie <>llicei> of 11.M.5. Ringarooina, Sir .las. llceter, uieinbers of the City Council and llarlmr Board, heads of departments of the Civil Service, foreign Consuls, and olhet\ Among the ladies present were tin; Countess of Onslow, Lady Hector, wives of Ministers, and of hers. The ( iovcriiut arrived shortly before eight o'clock. Tlic Permanent Artillery formed a guard »[ honor. The dining-room was spcciiilly lit with (he electric light. The speech, making began much later than was ox. peeled, as the banciuet., which was tiimnl for 7. HO, did not begin till some 1 lnee. <iuart,ers of an hour after. The toast list was confined to tin 1 Hoyn! healths, the (lovernor and Lady Onslow, Her Majesty's Judges, His Excellency'* Advisers, and representatives of foreign nations. The Mayor, in proponing (lie main toast, defended the (lovernor from the charge of absenting himself too nuiili from the capital by saying it was pari .i| his duty to make himself acquainted willi all parts of the country the liml entrusted to his charge. He paid a liiijli tribute to the good qualities of both * lie Karl and the Countess. Lord Onslow, in responding, received long-continued applause. Referring l'i his successor, ho had not personal lie qunintance with liini, as he hail come inln the title since he left England. lit knew, however, that he had distinguish] himself both in the Navy and in tlic Crimea, and the Countess was a lady of ability and amiable disposition. Referring to public matters, he might say lie liml endeavored to meet. Ministers with runlidenee, and his views had been reci|ir»cated. Where differences had Inkui place between him and his advisers he liml endeavored to keep them from the public gaze, and he thanked both Sir H. Alliin son and Mr Ballance for the support extended to him. 11c reviewed briefly illn financial stale of tin* colony with app/w.i/, and expressed the opinion that there ra a great future before it, but this \m largely in the hands of the people tliemselves. After a passing allusion I o tlic dra'iiage of Wellington, of which the Mayor was a strong advocate, ho thanked them for the honor done himself anil tin Countess, and assured them that, during his stay in the colony he hail ondeavoretl to do his best: for rich and poor. The Premier, replying to the toast. "I "His Excellency's advisors'' said, Ibul, though Parliament fairly represented the people and the Government truly repru sented Parliament, he regretted the <hi partnre of the Governor, who would chit; back with him the respect of all parlies. For another reason he was almost, ijlwl that Lord Onslow was reluming lo Ktigland, -is he would be able to assure tinii'l people in the Mother Country that New Zcalanders were not a revolutionary people, and had not a revolutionary'"l- - A'.'ain he would be in a position (,n enlighten the people of England with regard to the resources uti'l condition of Ihe colony. He i:laiine<| that no colony under the sway "I Queen Victoria possessed a truer allegiance than New Zealand. They liml no desire to separate themselves from the people of the United Kingdom. Mucliit* lie regretted the departure of bora Onslow, he looked past it to thy futnru of that distinguished statesman ; and, although he would like to see a short period of Mr Gladstone in power, lie hoped they would see his Excellent')' occupy a high and important position in the Government; of England. The Premier's speech was received witli applause. After the toast of "The representative' of foreign nations" had been honored the company broke up.