THE GOVERNOR'S TISIT TO MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 9

THE GOVERNOR'S TISIT TO MILTON.

Thursday was quite a red-letter day in Milton, the occasion being the formal opening of the woollen mills by his Excellency the Governor, who proceeded by the southern express from Mosgiel. The Vice-regal party .consisted "of his Excellency, Lord Ranfurly, the -Hon. C. Hill Trevor, and Captain Wellesley, "A.D.C. Arrived at the Milton station, the Governor was met by the mayor and borough councillors, members of the County Ccuocil, and leading citizens. The . Milton Brass Band played the National Anthem as his Excellency - stepped on to the platform • The Town Clerk (Mr Brookes) then presented tbe following address to the Governor-: —

May it please your Excellency, — We, the mayor and councillors of Milton, on behalf of the burgessas and inhabitants of Tokomajriro district, beg your acceptance of our heartiest welcome, and, as the representative of her Most Gracious Majesty tbe Queen, the expression of our devoted . loyalty to her Majesty's Crown and person. We also desire to express out appreciatioa of youv . Excellency 'B icsolve to visit every borough and district in the colony. We fully realise the many incanv'eniences and hardships which such a pro1 ; longed journey muss entail— a journey which in • Eome-in3tance3'may prove rough, hazardous, and • fatiguing; and we feel assured that your Excellency's act in voluntarily undertaking • such a - "'trying ordeal will be as warmly ,appreqiated by Tithe people in the other parts of the colony as it is - by the loyal/paople'of Biuce. ' „ - I ."We trust your Excellency's vjsit to this portion ; of ,he South'lslaud' will be v attended-with'bene- ' fie iai" results. yßyy By personal' insptction and obser- .". vation your Excellency will be able to' form' an • opinion.as td,the natural resources of our district and its developments, as well a3 to the contentment and comparative comfort and prosperity of our settlers.

Your Excellency will be pleased to leavn that - during the past three or four years our agricultural and pastoral industries have continued profitable ; yields have beeu bounteous, prices fair, and rhat our district has steadily progressed. We feel sure your Excellency will agree with us that iis a matter for sincere congratulation that our pro ductions are steadily increasing, and that in consequence the colony is in a position to send to our kith and kin beyoisd the sea a very considerable , and yearly-increa&ing pioportioa of all kinds of - necessary food products ot most exceptional acd ■whole.-.ome quality. We trust your Excellency's extended tour will be negotiated safely and to your entire satisfaction, and sincerely wish that during your term of office in New Zealand your Excellency and Lady Ranfurly and family will enjoy the best health and every happiness. i [Here follow the names of D. Reid (mayor), nine councillors, and K. M. Brookes .(town clerk).]

His Excellency replied as follows : —

Mr Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Milton, —As the representative of her Majesty the Queen, I beg to thank you for your address, and I receive with satisfaction your assurances of loyalty and devotion' to the Throne. I also have to express to you my cordial thanks for tha kind welcome yon lisvve accorded io me to-day. It will be at all times a great pleasure to me to visit the various portions of thig colony, and my travels in New Zealand so far have been frought •with deepest, interest, and have convinced me that there is every prospect of further prosperity , and advancement when the many resources of ■ these islands' have been ..developed to .their full extent. New Zealand is a i land of promise, both mineral, agricultural, and pastoral, and it also has the advantage of much beautiful scenery, which, should attract travellers trom all parts of " the tw'orld, thus , encouraging extended railway communication of such improved accommodation as shall, meet all the requirements of modern, civilisation, and so promote the circulation of money and the general improvement of the colony. Very great credit is due to the colonists themselves and their enterprising predecessors that in so short a time Uiey should have achieved so much, and that they should be in a position to spare so many excellent food products, and that these exports should be annually increasing. I beg to thank you for your kinri expressions as to my tour being a successful one and for your good wishes to Lady Ranfurly arid my family. The Btucs Rifles were drawn up as a guard of honour in command of Captain Stewart, and his Excellency passed through their lines to a carriage, and was driven to

THE BRUCE WOOLLEN MILLS.

After a look round the mills, the Vice-regal party proceedad to the engine ropm, where his Excellency performed the ceremony of christening the eTo'gine " The Lady Ranfurly," and formally declared the Bruce Woollen Mills open. His Excellency's health was then drunk in champagne. He was then driven to the

DISTHICT HIGH SCHOOL,

where the school cadet corps was drawn up as a guard of honour to receive him. The school children were arranged in front of the school, and sang a verse of the National Anthem, ,af tor which one very small girl presented the Governor with a pretty buttonhole bouquet. His Excellency inspected the school, and the chemistry laboratory attached to it He alao caw the boys at work in the carpentry class, and expressed his satisfaction thereat.

LUNCHEON.

Tbe Governor was cexfe driven to the Commercial Hotel, whers he was entertained at , lunch by the Borough Council. After the customary loyal toasb had been j duly responded to,;

Mr.D. Reid (mayor) proposed the health of his Excellency Lord Ra.nf urly, and in doing so said that he knew he .was only expressing the opinion of the. people of Bruce when, he said they thoroughly appreciated his "Excellency's visit as a great compliment to them. One result of his Excellency's visit to every district of the colony would be to make him acquainted with its resources and the condition of the people; and another thing was that it would tend to cement the ties that bind us to the mother country. His Excellency's action would clo more to bring about the federation of the Empire than anything else. He had made a new departure, and nothing would do more to, cement the attachment ■of the people to the Empire than such visits as those of his Excellency. • After referring to the resources and industries of Bruce County, and hinting at a large new industry about to be started. Mr Reid said that when his Excellency took his seat in the House of Lords, which he was sure to do some day, he would find his accurate knowledge of New Zealand and its pedple and resources of service, as he would he in a .position to speak with authority. i /The toast was drunk with musical honors and cheers.

His Excellency thanked them very cordially for the hearty manner in whioh they had drank the toast of his health. When he intended paying them an official visit some three months ago, he regretted having to postpone it for fear - of putting .them to great inconvenience. — (Cries of no). But his. first duty was to New Zealand and to any business requiring the Governor's attention. He had, therefore, to give up his southern trip. He regretted that, as Lady Rahfurly was to have accompanied him on that occasion ; but at, the present time the season was too cold and the journey too fatiguing for her to undertake. But she was equally interested with him in the welfare of the people of New Zealand. The Mayor had said that these .official visits would cement the lies that bound the Empire. He thought it almost unnecessary to try to cement the tie— they were so strongly bound already that they could hardly be made stronger