THE NEW ZEALAND HONOURS. A DECORATION FOR THE GOVERNOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 27

THE NEW ZEALAND HONOURS. A DECORATION FOR THE GOVERNOR.

KNIGHTHOOD FOR MR WARD.

One of the most interesting ceremonies to-clav was the conferment of honours by H.R H. the Duke of Cornwall upon his Excellency the Governor, the Hons. J. G. Ward and W. C. Walker, and Colonel Gudgeon, British Resident at the Cook Islands. The ceremony took place in the drawing room of Government House shortly after the arrival there of the royal procession. His Royal Highness stood en a dais at the end of the room, which was also occupied by the Duche=s. of Cornwall and the Countess of Ranfurly. There were also present Ministers and their wives and the wives of the recipients of the honours, V>e■sides the Government guests from Australia. The ceremony opened with the reading of the official proclamation, conferring upon the Duke power to make the investitures. Sir Arthur Bigge then called upon Lord Ranfurly. and, with Lord Wenlock, supported him lo the front of the dais, where his Excellency knelt on a cushion. Commander Sir Charles L. Cust, Bart.. RN, M.V.0.. then handed to his Royal Highness his naval sword. With this the Duke touched the kneeli'ig eorl on each shoulder. The-n stooping, his Royal Highness placed the ribbon and star of the rank of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St George upon the shoulders of his Excellency, who on risino: was shaken by the hand by his Royal Highness, and then retired backward. Next came the Hon J. G. Ward, supported by Sir John Anderson. M.A.. K.C.M.G., and Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice), who in like manner was created a Knight of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, thus becoming entitled to be known as Sir Joseph Ward. The Hon. W. C. Walker and Colonel I Gudgeon were the next to be honoured with the distinction of Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. They were each supported by Major J H. Bor, CM G., A.D.C. (Royal Marine Artillery), and Lieutenant-colonel Byron, extra A.D O Unlike the two previous recipients, they did not kneel, but receiver) the decoration standing. In each case the recipient recei\ed a handshake from his Royal Highness, and retired backward: — Uchter John Mark Knox, fifth Earl of Ranfurly, has been Governor and Commander-m-Chief of the Colony of New Zealand since 1897. He is-a descendant of William Perm, the founder of Pennsylvania. He was born in August, 1856, and is the youngest son of the third Ea,rl. He married Lady Constance, only daughter of the seventh Viscount Charleinont. in 1880, by whom he has three children. During their sojurn in the colony both the Earl and the Countess have mixed freely among the people, and have won deserved popularity. Sir Joseph G. Ward was born in Victoria. .Mb caiua as a child with his parents to New

Zealand, and entered the Postal department at 13 ycais of age. Some seven years later lie entered into business on his own account, and though his career has r.ot been without vicissitudes he has managed to live down the worst of his troubles, and as Postmaster-general and Minster for Railways is regarded as the most progressive member of the Ministry. The Hon. W. C. Walker has been identified with New Zealand politics for a great many years, both in the Provincial Council, the House of Representative?, and latterly in the Legislati\e Council, where for some years as Minister for Education he has acted as the representative of the Government Lieutenant-colonel Gudgeon is a native of Xew Zea'ard. He is a son of the Hte Mr Thomas Wavth Gudgeon, the author of a well-known '• History' 01 the Maori War. The new C.M.G. has a thorough knowledge of the Maori language and customs, and during his occupancy of the Native Lan'T Couit Bench, which he vacated in order to take up Ins present position as British Resident at Rarotonga, he earned golden opinions for the ability which he displayed in the discharge of his duties. Prior to Ins elevation to the Native Land Court Bench he was commissioner of police. He has done excellent work in the Cook. Islands as BritishResident. FURTHER HONOURS. I learn that the Hon. John M'Kenzie (whose Kfealth would not permit of his coming to Wellington for the royal visit) is to be gazetted forthwith a K.C.M.G. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, who is absent in England, is to be gazetted a C.M.G. It will thus be seen that the forecast of honours I telegraphed you from Auckland early last week was correct in every respect, with the addition of the new honour conferred on his Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly. A TOUCHING CEREMONY. After the consular levee his Royal Highness rei iewed some 50 \cterans under the command of Captain Shannon. These had been formed up in a double line along the avenue fronting the main entrance to Government House giounds. They included old and scarred warriors who had fotight for Queen and country in many a bitter strife. His Royal Highness, accompanied by the Duchess, Lord and Lady Ranfurly, Lady Mary Ljgon, Yiscounl Criclnon, Lord Roxburghe, and other members of the staff, walked slowly down the lona: line of veterans. The Duke, with a smile here and a word there, and always with a look of interest on his face, showed that he did not forget what this seemingly uneven gathering represented, and the services its members had rendered to tl.«?ir Queen. Here and there along the line his Royal Highness would stop, and, lifting some old man's medal, would examine it, and a>k a question or two. It was touching to seft the way each weather-beaten countenance lightened up at this little act of kindness, alijo the eager, expectant look of those ahead and the almost pitiful look of disappointment on the faces of tho'e passed by apparently unnoticed. But it was impossible for his Royal Highness to sneak to ever3"one, and those passed by were not forgotten. After the inspection the Duke and party returned to the tteps of Government House, where, turning, he was greeted with such' a round of cheers as only the British soldior is capable of. Cheers were also given for H.R.H. the Duchess, his Excellency the Governor, and the Premier. Then the motIcy band of wanior? turned about and marched out of the ground^. THE VETERANS' LUNCHEON. As was the ca^e in Auckland, the luncheon to the veterans*, which took place in the central drillshed this afternoon, was one of the most interesting functions in connection with the ducal reception. Unfortunately S3 many functions had been crowded into the day that it was absolutely impossible for his Royal Highness or the Governor to attend ; but the demonstration was neverthcIrsa, a splendid one, and enthusiasm ran high. The toast of " The King" was received with ringing cheers. Subsequently the Premier proposed the toast of "His Royal Highnets the Duke of Cornwall and York, 1 ' ond the cheering started with renewed vigour. There were some 300 \ererans present, and about the same number of the younger men who had been fighting- in South Africa. The Premier, in a stirring speech, referred to the former as the veterans who had done *eiviee to the Empire in its wars throughout the world, and to the latter as +he young generation who had fought the battles of the Empire in South Africa. — (Cheer?.) The present assemblage, he "aid, v. «i° another link in the bond of of Umpire. — (Cheers.) The demonstration to-day was an indication of the feeling that existed from one end of the colony to the'other, and the welcome to the Duke and Duchess would not have been complete without some function in which these heroic old soldiers of the Empire could take part. — ;Chcer-*.) He explained that he had been commanded by his Royal Highness to express his deep regret that he was unable to be present, and at the same time to express the great pleasure it had given him to see the veterans at Government Hou'ie. — (Loud cheering.) The toast of " The Veterans " wn« received with the greatest enthuoia-m. as wai also that of " The Returned Soldiers,'' whom Mr Seddon described as chips of the old block. Mr Seddon also proposed the health of "His Excellency the Governor." Lord Ranfurly, he said, had been the first of all her Majesty's representatives who had sought out the veterans and honoured them by | bringing them together under his roof. — (Loud cheering.) Lord Ranfurly regretted that he was unable to be present, as he desired also to have an opportunity of expressing his thanks to those of our retui-ned 1 contingents who had so nobly upheld the honour of our country and its best traditions. — (Cheers.) We had, Mr Seddon added, been singularly fortunate in the representatives of the Queen and King who had been \ sent ou; \y New Zealand in the past, and I Lord Ranlurly was not any exception to the rule. — (Cheers.) He had had a \ery anxious and trying time, such as had fallen to the i lot of no other Governoi. The toast was received with enthusiastic cheering and the singing of " For he's a jolly good fellow." The scene was wildly enthusiastic when the I veterans cheered the younger men, fresh i from the wars, and the young fellowe cheered the veterans in return. The Premier referred to them as " the old blocks, and the chips of the old block." Altogether the function was a thorough success, and one that will live alike in tho memoiies of the old men and the younger generation who Eat be«ide them. THE DUKE IMPRESSED. The Duke on aniving a^ Government I House expressed his delight at all that he had seen in Wellington, and stated that he was especially impressed with the warmth of the greeting from the people.