THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10415, 30 March 1910, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR.

HEARTY RECEPTION AT NGAPARA. Lord Plunkot continued his farewell tour through North Otn.no yesterday. motoring up the Wa'iareka \ alley to Ngapara. The popular little tovyi ship rose to the occasion, and did Hill justice to the first Governor ol the Dominion who had accorded the townspeople the honor of a visit. Certainly the attendance of fanners was not large, but at ;.t busy agricultural season a farmer would not be a farmer did he allow even the enjoyment of welcoming a Governor to interfere with whatever important work he had on hand. Hut thev sent their wives and their children healthy-looking representatives all of them of the bracing air ol the Ngapara tableland,—and the presence or the ladies appealed to his Excelleucv no less than a large concourse of men would have done. The day was beautifully line —perfect Kings weather—and the vice-regal party must have thoroughly enjoyed the motor trip from Qamaru. An energetic committee, had the arrangements for his Excellency's reception complete. The Public Hall juul been gaily decorated inside with flags and evergreens, the stage especially having a very inviting appearance. Stretched down'the whole length of the hall was a table laden with heaped-up dishes of sandwiches, cakesj .and fruit. And what fruit 1 , Rosy-cheeked apples, apples large and apples small, everyone of them a worthy exhibit 'of what the district can produce. Outside the hall, too, extensive preparations had been made just in case there should be too large a number present for the hall to accommodate. . , .'Precisely at three o'clock the viceregal party arrived. His Excellency was accompanied by his aide-de-camp (Captain Gathorne-Hardy) and private secretary (Mr Waterfield), the Hon. D. suddo '(Minister accompanying), the ; ;Hon. T. Y. Duncan, and.Sir W. J. Steward, M's.P., Messrs C. Nicho s, N. Gilchrist, and "C W. Kent. Mr D. Sutherland was also; amongst the number to represent tho County Council, whose guest his Excellency was throughout the county ■tour. i A number of residents were u.tiv. duced to his Excellency, and the hitler was received by a guard of lion ir ■•' the school cadets as'he entered the J, a 11. (After the Governor and his party lad become seated oil the platform the audience sang tho National Anthem, and Mr Sutherland 'briefly welcomed his Excellency and called on Mr J. R. M'Culloch to say a few words. _ iMr M'Culloch, addressing Ins Excellency, spoke as follows :—"Your Excellency,—On behalf of the residents ol this "portion of the .district, I have to offer you a very heartv and cordial welcome to Ngapara, and also to try and express our pleasure and appreciation of your visit. It is a very great pleasure, a very great privilege, and an honor for us to havo the opportunity of meeting with and welcoming tlie representative of our gracious Sovereign, whose loyal and devoted subjects we are proud to be. It is also a very great pleasure, sir, for us to meet with you personally, for during your term of: office in New Zealand you have won the respect and esteem of all classes in the community and, if I may be permitted to say so, you have come nearer to the hearts of tlie people, and you occupy a'larger place in the. hearts of the people than perhaps any of your predecessors have ever done. You are the first Governor of New Zealand who has evjer visited Ngapara, and, indeed, I believe you are the first Governor,of New Zealand that a large number of the people present here to-day have ever seen, and it is easy to understand that it is a red-letter day amongst us; a day we -"ill remember as long as 'we live: a day our children will remember as long as they live—a day, in fact, which we will date events from. So far as I am aware you are the first Governor of New Zealand who has ever travelled so far into the interior of this district, anfl it is a good district and fairly large, but rather sparsely populated. We need more people, but I have no doubt time will:remedy that defect. "We have been told by good authorities that ours is one of the* best agricultural districts in the Dominion. Anyway, we are rather proud of our district and, wc arc pleased you have come to sec it.' 1 think I may add that we are fairly contented and fairly prosperous, and I' believe also that wc realise perhaps in a dim, articulate way, but. still realise, the "many . privileges which we enjoy as subjects of our noble King, and as free citizens of the greatest Empire that the world has ever seen; and in loyalty to the Throne and in pride of the Empire and of the glorious traditions of our race I do not think that we would care to take second place to any other community that ever your Excellency has visited. I do not think it would be wise on my part, sir, nor doi I think it-is necessary to detain you with any lengthened remarks. Indeed I cannot hut feel that. I was selected for the position of spokesman to-day because it is well known that I aim" a man of very few words, and in any case the number of people who have assembled to meet you and to welcome you, in this, as 1 say, rather sparsely populated district and at this busy season' of the year, is a'far more eloquent testimony to their pleasure and appreciation of your visit than any words of mine can express. "Wc all regret that this is a farewell visit and that your term of office is so nearly expired and that you are about to leave us. "Wo could have wished that you had been staying, with us for a much longer period. Of course that.is a matter over which we have ho control, and in conclusion I can only wish that you, sir, and all those that are dear to you, may have niany long, happy, healthy, and prosperous days. I again bid you a very ."hearty welcome to Ngapara." The presentation of the address if welcome by'the County Chairman followed. The address, which was neatly printed on velluiii, backed with silk and mounted on rollers,, read as follows: — :"To his Excellency the Right Hon. William" Lee/ Baron Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C., V.0., Governor :• and Commander-in-Chief in N.Z "May it please your Excellency: "In welcoming you to the County of Waitaki, on your visit to Ngapara, we desire to assure you of our continued loyalty to our Sovereign, his Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII., -i:i 1 to our gratification at the universal prosperity of the great Enipi. e over which he rules.

"We esteem it a great privilege to have the honor of receiving his Ma jesty's repreresentative, and highly appreciate your' desire to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the whole of the Dominion, and only regret that .yuir visit to the interior- of the country has been deferred until the eve of your departure. "We sincerely believe that thi •v.timate knowledge of the Dominio i which you have acquired during your residence in New Zealand will prove mil tually advantageous in cementing the ties which connect the Dominion with the Motherland. "We feel sure than when you leave New Zealand you can look hack wifh pleasure on your long successful term of office as Governor and that von will cherish the remembrance of the pleasant land and the personal associate.i:s you have formed with its people "We also highly appreciate the very active part that" Lady Plunk't cv-r took in the social lite of the people air; the nxent success that has crowne'l her efforts." .

The address was signed on behalf of the Waitaki County Council l.v Mr Duncan Sutherland (Chairman) an.l .Mr James Martin (Comity Clerk). His Excellency was warmly applaud ed when lie rose Lo reply. lie e\ pressed his thanks for the address, of welcome and for the heartiness of the reception. Secondly, bo ..thanked jMr ' M'Cullocli for his speech and the kind words used. '1 only wish," said his Excellency,' "that, I could transfer Mr M'Cullocli back with me to the (Id Country—to' Buckingham Palace, wiere he could deliver thesame speech before his Majesty. If Mr M'Cullocli were to say those same, words in the presence of' his Majesty, they would couvico he, Majesty better than any words of miiuj of the lo.yalfy.-of his people." llis Excellency .went on to say that it ;.*.ave him great pleasure to he at N>: iparu, and he only wished that he had reaased M>onei that it was to bu his fn ■>♦■ .•>••.! hist \ihi ( . He the icsulcii'-. most suieereh for turning up n> numbers, and he especially thanked the l.uhes, not only tor their preseniv, t'lit because he could see their touch mi the rice decorations. He vras also glad to the ca- - *'■■''

pnrtanco of tin- cadet movement, .-tum the Hov Seoul movement:, and the tn-v. Defence Act. Concluding liis remarks Hie Governor s:iid there was one thin: ho might venture to do, and Hint u;i . ■the practical one ol congratulating the people on tlic nmiilier of children Hint -reeled itiiu wherever lie went. H. lllllv appreciated Hie value tlic in,' live production. It this country \\ato !>e renllv Millicii-ntlv stroll); for it-, own delene'r and to lie absolutely sell retaining, a great many more i>eo|,l - were neerssan , even if they had to lie got from the' Old (.'mint ry. Hut. h ■ ventured lo say there was nothing lv Ler than the home-made article. Afternoon tea was alteruards serve : hv the ladies of the district, and lie Excellency spent about t of an hour in social intercourse with the residents. The Count v Chairman Hioii an nounccd that his Kxcellouey was dee], lv grateful for the reception which had been accorded him. The Goyorno. afterwards, midst hearty cheers, jell in his motor'for a lour over the lughei portions of the district.