THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 2771, 24 April 1907, Page 33

THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR

VISIT TO OTAGO CFKTKAL.

A COKDIAL WELCOME.

(Bt Our Special Repokteb.)

ALEXANDRA SOUTH,

April 17,

His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Hon. Dr Findlay (Attorney-general) and his private secretary (Mr Wateifield), left Dunedin this morning to pay an official visit to the Otago Central district. Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R. for Taieri, accompanied his Excellency to Hyde.

At Abbotsford the south express, by which his Excellency travelled as far as Wmgatui, stopped for a few minutes. The school cadets, under Captain Turner, were drawn up at tho p'atfoim, a<nd the Mayor of Green Island 'Mr Thomson) and Cis Gfeddes, Kane, and others, and Mr M'Donald (head master of the Green Island School), were presented to his Excellency. Mr Thomson expressed the pleasure it afforded th© council to welcome their distinguished vi&itcvr. His Excellency in a fewsuitable words acknowledged the warm welcome extended to him, and complimented the Cadets on their smart appearance.

RECEPTION AT WINGATUI.

Wingatui w«6 reached at 840 a.m. The railway station was decorated with flags and greenery. The display was not on an •extensive scale, but it was well arranged and adequate. Among the gathering to meet his Excellency were members of the Taieri County Council, with their chairman (Mr Charle-3 Samson) and members of the Mosgiel Borough Council, with the mayor (Mr T. Aitken), as well as a number of farmois from the district The following address, was read by the county clerk (Mr John Logan): — " May it please your Excellency. We, the chairman and councillors of Taieri* County, and the Mayor and councillors of Mosgiel, join in extending to you a hearty welcome upon your visit to this district. It is now nearly 60 years since the pioneer colonists who were the first to settle the lancl.-s in this neighbourhood left Great Britain. We believe that your Excellency cannot but be pleased to ?ce on your way through the district the material progress which have Keen made in agriculture, manufactures, and industry during these two generations. We desire to assure your Excellency that, though few of the old pioneers remain with us, their descendants of Ihe first and second generations, as woll as those of later arrival, hold a traditional affection for the land of their fathers, which is known and spoken of by them as tho Homeland, and they still retain all the loyaity for their Sovereign and country that was so char icteTi-stic of the first settlers. We beg to congratulate your Excellency upon being appointed to pres : de over tho destines of the colony during a time when peace, progress, and prosperity prevail throughout the Empire. We sincerely trust that the distinguished name whioh you. have will bo associated as Governor of this eolonv with the establishment of an Imperial Council, whose influence may lead to the federation of the English-speaking world. Wishing your Excellency a pleasant journey through Otago." (Cheers.)

His Excellency replied as follows: — "Mr Chairman and Mayor and Gentlemen,—l need hardly tell you that it is a great pleasure to me to have this opportunity of meeting so important a deputation a» the representatives of the Taieri County and the Borough of Mosgicl, and of receiving your assurances of loyalty to his Majesty the King and affection for tho Motherland. That loyalty to the Throne and love for the land of your fathers is indeed a splendid feature in the growth of your beautiful and prosperous country, and for it we may thank tho Constitution under which you live and tho absolute freedom in local legislation with which you have been endow ed I join with you in the interest you have expressed in the Conference of the Empire which is now taking place, and I feel assured that there is every roa-son to hope that it will mark a stop forward in their federaticn of our nation. The task is, however, a great one. Rome was not built in a day, and we must be satisfied with a slow, as long as it i= a steady, progress. I am looking forward with great interest to thie vieit to Central Otago and its neighbourhood, and I thank you for your courteous welcome to me on the commencement of my journey. I wish to add my personal appreciation of the kindness and loyalty that ha\e prompted you to come out here to-day for such a short opportunity of meeting me. I remember very well a pleasant visit I made to Mosgiol a little time ago, and I particularly remember that the Major at tho time (I am glad to recognise he is Mayor still) told me that I had come at the wrong time. ' Whatever you do,' lie said. ' you must come and see tho Taieri Plain when it is ablaze just before the harvest.' I am sorry I have not n anaged to do that yet, but I have not forgotten it, and some other time I may be able to do so. Again I thank >ou for juur welcome. I appreciate it as a Kindness towards myself, but much more co as an expression of loyalty to hie Majesty the King." After a chat with members of the deputation his Excellency took nib departure amid hearty cheers.

HINDON.

At Hindon the patriotism of the people was marked The station was decked with flags, the speakers' remarks were loyal, and the cheers were enthusiastic. Mr John Isbister, who acted as spokesman, read the address as follows :--

" May it plcatc your Excellency. You are the representative of his Majesty King Edward VII, ono of the best and noblest Kings that ever reigned o\er the British Empire, of which v\e arc proud to form a part. We, the resident's of Hindon, extend to you a most cordial welcome on this your first visit to Hindon. We wish you good health, good weather, and a most enjoyable tour through Central Otago. If your Excellency at any future time could "find it convenient to pay us a longer visit we would again extend to you a loyal and hearty reception." His Excellency in reply spoke ac follows : —

"I thank you most sincerely for your kindness in giving me this address, and for coming here in such numbers, particularly when I remember that it is only to $cc the Governor for not more than a

few minutes. I should like if, later on, j I could pay a m<?re extended^ visit, but I am sure you will recognise that the Governor, if he wishes to get all round | New Zealand, has a pretty busy time of i it. Therefore, I can only spend a much shorttr time than I should like to do at different places of interest- As to your reference to his Majesty the King in the ■(.arm terms of loyalty and affection in which you speak of him, it fills me with great pride and satisfaction. I can assure ycu that his Majesty takes the deepest mteiest, net only in. Great Britain, but in all colonies, including, as I know personally, New Zealand. H""s Majesty keeps himself posted up in knowledge appertaining to the welfare of New Zealand, and I think you would be astonished if you knew how closely he follows all the progress you are making in this pros- I porous country. I thank you again for | your kind welcome to myself, and I can j assure- jou T am having a most interesting and pleasurable journey in this part of thp eolonv."

Lusty cheers were raised for his Excellency as tho train moved off.

MIDDLEMARCH

The Middlemareh Band, under Mr Matheson, played '* God save th© King " on the arrival of the train, and tlw schcol children attended, making the scene very gay with a great variety of small flags. His Excellency was welcomed by Mr W. D. Mason on behalf of the people, a number of whom were presented to him. In thanking the people for their loyally, and for their kindness in meeting him, his Excellency expressed the pleasure it gavo him to visit the district. He also addressed some words to the school children.

Cheers were given for th-S King, his Excellency, and Lady Plunket, and a spoeial cheer was accorded Lord Plunkel's youngest chikl, of whose birth news came to hand recently

HYDE.

-Tho Hyde School children, under Jlr Bremner and Mi»s S'.nclair, were singing the National Anthem as the train arrived. The stay wa3 short, but the programme that had been arranged went off very well, and amid cheers his Excellency went on his way

KOKOXGA

At Kokonga Major Logan mot his Excellency, who also spoke to a number ol people on the platform.

RANFURLY.

The Ranfurly Station held a goodly array cf people, the majority of whom had con.-a from Naseby. Mr T. AY. Kirk, of Naseby, extended a hearty welcome to his Excellency, and invited him, on some future occasion, to include Naseby in his line of travel. His Excellency, replying, said that if ho had been ablo to make ariangements in time he would have had pleasure in paving a visit io Naseby. — (Mr R. Johnston* : "You will have a good time.") If the people only had patience, he hoped to spend some time in this port of the world yet. He thanked the gathering for the honour they had done his Majesty the King through his representative.

WEDDERBURN.

Tho address at Wcddcrburn, read by the R-av. Mr Harkno.'s, was as follows: — " May it please your Excellency. Wo, tho people of Wedderburn, desire to con%-oy to you as the reproscntati-ve of his Most Gracious Majesty our loyalty to our King, as head of the great British Empire, of which we form a part. We would also convey to your Excellency tho unfeigned pleasure it gives us to be able to greet your Excellency in person, believing as we do that your Excellency, by travelling through the length and breadth of the land, will foster and keep alive tho patriotic epirit becausa wo are assured that it is not for the mere pleasure of travelling that your Excellency is visiting throughout New Zealand, but from a genuine desire to know and understand the people, as also to become acquainted with this new land, of which we are all so proud, and destined to bo not only one of the most loyal ol all the many islands where waves the iia<j of freedom, but which will also become one of the brightest jewels of the British Empire. We are proud of oui- noble King and his gracioiw lady, our Queen. Y\e are proud of our Fatherland and of all the many tics that bind our hearts to ic. We are gratified that his Majrsty * representative is showing hie interret in our welfaro in such a practical manner. Though few in numbers, we can assure your Excellency that we arc not in any way lacking in our appreciation of your visit, and it is our sincere desire that your Excellency may have a pleasant and enjoyable v : sit throughout this nart of the colony. His Excellency replied in euitable terms. He was glad to say that wherever he had been in his fairly-extended travels he had rveceivod a most lojal welcome. Ihe progress that had been mado by this country was filling tho hearts of everyone in our Empire with joy, and it was pleasing to him to recognise that while the p««P l0 v.ere proud of the progress tho count ly was making, they had not lost any of their interest in the Old Country and of their lovo for their King.— (Applause.)

OMAKAU.

The loyalty of Omakau was expre~sed to -:omo extent in the supply of afternoon tea. which proved very acceptable. Mr J. Horn (chairman of tho \ incont County Council) and Mr W. Laidlaw (of Matakanui Station) and a number of the County Council joined the party here, and accompanied it to Alexandra fcouth. HEARTY WELCOME AT ALEXANDRA.

.Shortly before 5 o'clock the train drew up alongside tho platform at Alexandra. Tho band, Mider Mr W. Brmgans, the Volunteers (Captain Laidlaw), the bchool Cadets (Lieutenant Rcilly), the school cnildron and a largo crowd of people had assembled, and the welcome extended to his Exe^llcncv was cordial in the extreme. \fter a number of presenta* ions had been made by Mi- H. Schamranu (Mayor of Alexandra), a proco==ion was formed, the band leading" the way, and playing inspiriting music, and his Excellency was escorted to the Bondigo Hotel. The main street was decorated with flags, as also were a number of buildings, and the words "Welcome. to Alexandra " was conspicuously displayed in front of his Excellency's hotel.

In the evening a con\ersa,zione was held in \ the Town Hall. There was a very large as---embly of townspeople and settlor* from tho burroundii'!? district. The hall was lastefully adorned with flag', greenery, and flowors, and at the rear of th<" stage, which . was fitted up in drawing room style, there |

was a representation of his Majesty th"« King, worked in yellow silk on a re<i ground.

His Excellency the Governor reached tha hall about half-past 8. Tho Alexandra^ Rifleo formed a guard of honour at tha entrance, and the band played* appropriate music as his Excellency made his way into the hall. His Excellency was accompanied by tho Hon. Dr Findlay. Mrs Findlay, Mr H. C. Waterfiekl (private secretary to hia Excellency), Mr E. N. G. Poulton (private secretary to the Attorney-general), and! members of the Alexandra Borough Council and Vincent County Council. When hia. Fixcollency had taken his scat. Mr Laidlaw,. the town clerk, read the following address:?

"May it please your Excellency. We, the' Mayor, councillors, and burgesses of tho Borough of Alexandra most heartily extend! to you as representative of his Majesty tha King and Governor of this colony a true^ and loyal welcome to Alexandra, and beg;to assure your Excellency of onr loyal devo-, tioa to his Majesty the King and the* Throne. It is very gratifying to us, and tot Central Otago as a whole, to he honoured! by a visit from your Excellency. We trustf that, apart from the pleasure your Exce'-i lency may derive from your travels through)] this part of the colony, your Excellency may also gain, information which may be of assistance in the administration of your high* and honoured office. Since your Exoellenej\ assumed the position of Governor of this colony the interest manifested by yourselfiand Lady Plunket in social matters pertaining to the welfare of the inhabitants! of the colony, and also in movements of a.' philanthropic nature, has been closely noted, j and most heartily appreciated. We wouldL have desired that your Excellency's stay ia> Alexandra might have been of longer dura-j t»on, to permit of your Excellency being 1 , shown the potentialities of the surrounding} district ; but even in the short time at youav Excellency's disposal, should your Excel-; lency be so pleased, it will afford us th& greatest pleasure to show your Excellency, the working of one of the principal induetries of our district— namely, the produc-; tion of gold by bucket-dredging. We cam claim that the idea of producing gold by, this moans originated in this district, and? has spread to various parts of the globe, there becoming permanent industries whicbf are now bein^r managed by many of onrj young men who received their training heroJ We trust that the remainder of your Excel-, lency's tour may be fraught with much pleasure, and should your Excellency bo pleased! to visit us on some future occasion, whieht, we trust will not be far distant, we caw; assure your Excellency of a loyal and hearty, welcome, and meantime subscribe ourselves to be your Excellency's most obedient ser- , vants. 1 ' (Signed on behalf of the town and burgesses of Alexandra.) \

His Excellency, in replying, said : "Mt Mayor and Gentlemen. — As representative of the King I much appreciate yourloyal expressions of deAotion to his Majesty and the Throne, and I thank your for your kindly-worded address of we!-! ccme. I assure you that it is a continued 1 source of pleasure and interest to me, and' ol material assistance in carrying out tho duties of my office, to make roysell. acquainted, as far as possible, with tho various towns and districts of the colony, the people, their conditions, and surround-i ingt, and it is gratifying to me to have I his opportunity of travelling through: Central Otago and paying a visit to you..-, town. I only regret that my stay is necessarily so brief. I thank you for youx* kind references lo me personally and to Lady Plunket, and I can only say that anything we have attempted to do to bo I of use to this colony has been more than ( repaid in the kindness which hae been, extended to us at every placo we have» visited. It is well known to me thac i many men who acquired their training in this district have since proved their ability in tho management of important gold dredging industries elsewhciv. The system, as ycu state, i<s said to owe its inception to "this locality, where operations may, I trust, long continue to show good results. At come future time I shall look forward to another visit to Alexandra, when I hope to be accompanied by Lady Plunket."

His Excellency also expressed his thani's for iho kindness extended *r> him by the people of Alexandra, and spoke of the charming way in which the hall had been, arranged for his reception. He complimented tho district on tho large number of children it poss«s-od. The Mayor had informed him that there were lees than 1000 people in the d'strict, and that the children numbered 250— a record that tho rost of Now Zealand should be absolutely gr<-"n with envy al.— (Laughter.)

In an interval everybody in the hall was presented to his Excellency, and during the* e\oning the following musical programme was performed:- — Pianoforte, Mrs J. J. O'Kane; vctal duet, Me-srs Sydney C. Law«on and James Amor t ; Highland fling, Master*, Marclin and Nioper (piper, Mr W. Kilgour) ; vocal solo, Mr F. Williame; vocal solos, Mr Sydney C. Lawson (''Killarncy" and "The Irish Emigrant"). During a second interval a liberal supply of refreshments was handed round, and after his Excellency had retired tho hall was cleared Tor dancing.