WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(from ottr owjst correspondent.) Saturday, Bth February, 1868. On Tuesday afternoon, about four o'clock, the signal for the Kaikoura, from Sydney, was runup, and the town was immediately on the quivive, expecting the arrival of Sir George Bowen. It had been arranged that the Volunteers should turn out, and the " assemble" was at once sounded; but as the steamer hove in sight, some doubt was felt by the general public, because the well-known Governor's flag was not flying at her mast-head. The ensign, which was flying at the main, attracted attention, principally because it was the signal for the police ; few remembering at the moment that Sir George Bowen could not "fly the usual flag, as he was not yet actually Governor. The Government had received positive assurances that Sir George Bowen would come in the Kaikoura, and Major Richardson was early on the ground, in uniform, marshalling . the Volunteers, acting for the Defence Minister, who was at Auckland. Thesteameranchored in due course, and some twenty minutes afterwards a shore boat returned with the information that the Governor was on board. All eyes were turned to the Panama Company's yacht, which Capt. Benson sent off for His Excellency's accommodation, in case he should need it ; but we could still see that there was no movement on board. Presently , after the steamer had been at anchor nearly threequarters of an hour, Mr Stafford came down to the wharf ; and the Company's store boat being about to start with the purveyor, he got on board and went off. A great crowd of people had assembled, and they were highly amused at the idea of Mr Stafford going off in a cargo boat, and began to wonder whether the Government steamer St. Kilda, lying at the wharf, would get up steam, and be sent off after him. It did not seem very likely, because while every other vessel had more or less of bunting flying, not a vestige was to be seen on her, the only Colonial i Government vessel in harbor. I was I amused at a black man on the wharf, whe was loudly impressing on the bystanders his practical knowledge of the Governor and his belongings. " You'll find him very different to Sir George Grey ; he's precious fond of pomp, and circumstance, and state : I knew him well when I was in Queensland," was the talc he told in that peculiar humorsome way which is so characteristic of negroes ; and- we could not help thinking that in the reception which was being accorded, there was plenty of room for improvement. By another boat or two from the vessel, 1 we learned that Sir George was not the best pleased with the entire want of preparation which had been evinced, and had determined not to land until the next morning. I have since heard that he was under the impression that he was regarded somewhat as an interloper, considering that the fealty of New Zealand had been irrevocably given to Sir George Grey. Looking at the want of preparation, and the undignified appearance of the Premier as the cargo boat neared the vessel, it is not to be wondered at that at the moment he was somewhat huffed ; for much as I dislike making mischief, I am bound to say that a more utter appearance of discourtesy could scarcely have been offered than that was which took place. There was no intention to be- discourteous ; bat the want of preparation was not the less blameable on that account. Early next morning, the St. Kilda got up steam, and there went on board the Kaikoura all the " high officers of state/ accompanied by their ladies. The Volunteer Rifles and Artillery paraded shortly after eight, and between nine and ten the St. Kilda left the Kaikoura ; bat as there was no demonstration from the Falcon, we could scarcely think the Governor was landing. The St. Kilda had only been sent with the Governor's two carriages, and his Private Secretary brought a request that horses might be put to them. As only one small open carriage had been hired from the livery stables to convey the Governor, Lady Bowen, four children, and suite, this looked something like snubbing the paltry arrangements that had been made, and was regarded with immense favor. At length, a little before eleven o'clock, the Falcon began to man yards, the Kaikoura did the same, and as the St. Kilda moved from the side of the latter, the usual salute was fired from the Falcon, and repeated very creditably by the Volunteer Artillery on shore. On the wharf, to receive His Excellency, were the Lieutenants of the Falcon, and as the St. Kilda, came alongside, the populace

cheered lustily/ His Excellency and JA&yBowen were accompanied from the Kai— kWra by Mr Stafford, Major Richardson^ the Judge, Captain Percival (of the Falcon), the Attorney-General, and one or two ofher chief officers, together with Mrs Stafford, Mrs Judge Johnston, Miss Fe,atherston (Dr Featherston being at Wa»ganui), and several others ; and the foregone conclusion of the previous evening: must have been dissipated by the heartiness of the cheers which greeted His Excellency as he passed along the wharf, through the .lines of the Volunteers, to the carriages, and continued until they drove off towards Government House, followed (I am ashamed to say) by sundry " sixpenny traps," in which I recognised several of the principal ladies and gentlemen who belonged to the party accompanying His Excellency ashore. 1 suppose the occupants paid their own fares ; I took, a^ seat in one and paid mine. At noon, the Commission was read on Government House verandah, and the oatlis administered by Judge Johnston ; whenthe Jack was run up and saluted from the Falcon, and again from the Artillery. The Rifles formed square, received the thanks o£ His Excellency, gave sundry cheers for Her Majesty and Her Representative,, and then marched to their respective parade grounds. The niggardly parsimony which had been so conspicuousthroughout was maintained to the last, the Volunteers being dismissed, after nearly five hours' service, without a crust of bread and cheese or a glass of beer. The only two Ministers in town were Me Stafford and Major Richardson, the latter of whom pleased everybody. Colonel Haultain and Mr Richmond were northward, and Mr Hall westward.

It was generally supposed that there would have been a levee at once, but the next day's Gazette fixed it for to-day, and explained why it did not take place immediately after the sweating in. It is tobe a dress and not an undress one, as. those of Sir George Grey used to be. Sir George Grey generally used to wear old. check trousers, or something which made him appear to be the worst- dressed, man in the room, with a view to set peopleat their ease. The Australian custom is r I think, dress, and is to be followed as fat as possible for the future. The Gazette. also contained the re-appointment of the> Executive, the appointment of Mr Algernon Lempriere to be Private Secretary, and sundry other usual notices as to the times when the Governor and Lady Bowen will be at home to visitors. On. Thursday evening the Simonsen Conceit was honored by the presence of the newarrivals, and each day they have drives about the town and its suburbs.

The Royal Reception Commission will meet on Monday, and arrangements for something like a definite programme wilt now be made. So far as can be fixed at present, the Duke will arrive at Auckland about the 20th of March, and Hist Excellency will leave here early in that month to meet His Royal Highness. L. regret to say that the vote of LSOO as a nucleus for the reception by the city, agreed to by the Town Board of Wellington, has been disallowed at a meeting o£ ratepayers.

You must excuse the peculiarly ' 'j eames" like character of the letter, but the landing is an event which I think ought to be fully noticed under the circumstances L have mentioned.

In a description of Towerville, Helens^ burgh, the residence of JRobert Henderson, Esq., the Fanner thus refers to the importation of ferns from Duneclin :—": — " Passing from the house and its proportions, we have longed to speak about the gigantic tree ferns from Dunedin. and other parts of New Zea>land, which Mr Henderson imports by ivs own vessels. Fortunate in securing the services of a captain imbued with a love for ferns, and tree ferns in particular, he was enabled to point with pride to a sj ecimen of the great tree silver fern Cyathea dvalbaia, and ask «s if we could point to a fellow of similar gigantic proportion in England. To the best of our knowledge and belief, we cannot do so, for this one in qu-. stion lias a stem as straight as a gun barrel, and of good proportions, 13ft high. Its fronds are arcliiug away oat gradually, althouprb. until the great house was finished it w.is growing in the open air, and had only the canopy of heaven for a. covering. This aad others were dug out of their native habitations in January of the present year, and at this day many of them hare regained new life and vigor in the house specially built for their reception. Specimens of Dlckaonia .•i'/uarrom, over 10ft nigh^ formed also part of the importation, and, aleng with several specimens of the samegenus, form a grand feature for any one to. inspect. Ct/ailiea SmitMi, aby no means plentiful fern, and a handsome Lomaria, were also conspicuous in the group. It affords additional pleasure to a gentleman to- ! grow plants that have been introduced by his own direction, all the more so that they are rare and of gigantic size. We afl. delight in removing successfully large choice specimens of arboriculture from one position^ of an estate to another, but to successfully transport these great tree fevns from the New World to the Old, is a greater triumphs still."