RECEPTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4988, 23 April 1889, Page 2

RECEPTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

(By Telegraph.) AUCKLAND, Apktl 22. The public reception of the Governor this morning was a great success. 1 he people assembled in Queen street at the hour fired, half-past 9 o’clock. A platform was erected for the speakers, and nt the end of Queen street an extremely handsome triumphal arch was placed. The platform was adorned with evergreens and flowers, and had a very pretty appearance. It was thronged with leading citizens. The guard of honour consisted of 100 Naval Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Dignan and Captain Levoy being in charge. When the Govern or and Lady Onslow arrived they were attended by the Mayor, Mr Devore, and Mrs Devore, and as they ascended the platform the guard of honour presented arms, whilst the baud played the National Anthem. Mr Devore presented an address on behalf of the citizens of Auckland, and ho also referred to tho brightening prospects of tho colony. He said that the selection of Auckland as the jfort of Lord Onslow’s arrival was most appropriate, as Auckland was one of tho first settled towns in tho colony. Lord Onslow, in tho course of his reply, said : —“ I feel that I am bore in a somewhat anomalous position. I have in my pocket a commission from Her Majesty tho Queen, appointing me to bo Governor and Commander in Chief over the Colony of Now Zealand and its Depojjdencieg,

yet that commission does not supersede one appointing Sir William Jervois to be Governor, until such timo as I have been sworn in at the seat of Government. Therefore I accept the address as a tribute of personal regard rather than as a sign of the loyal welcome which I am sure you all feel towards the representative of Her Majesty, and which I have no doubt I shall experience when I return at a future date, when I come amongst you as Her Majesty’s Representative. (Applause.) You may perhaps be surprised that I should have landed at Auckland rather than at the seat of Government, but when I was first appointed to the office which I have the honour to hold, I desired at once to act in the spirit of a constitutional Governor. I looked about for advice from the colonial representative and received it from one of the most popular and highly esteemed men in England, your Agent-General, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who advised me to take the largest ship and to follow the precedent set by that veteran colonial Governor, the Marquis of Normanby who landed at Auckland, on December 3rd, 1874.” An address was presented on behalf of the Maoris by the Chief Paul, of Orakei. His Excellency briefly replied, and said that the Queen had told him that she took a greater interest in her Maori subjects than almost in any other people over whom she ruled. The Governor and Lady Onslow then drove to Government House, where they were received by the Masons, including Sir Frederick Whitaker. Two addresses were presented by the Freemasons and Mark Masons, and a reply by the Governor concluded the ceremony.