OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

Southern Cross, Volume 12, Issue 45, 4 February 1905, Page 9

OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

FIRST VISIT TO SOUTHLAND.

“ What a glorious day !” These were almost the first words that fell from Lord Plunket as he stepped from his carriage on Monday afternoon, and stood on the carpeted platform under a floral archway of maple, fern, and rata blossom that was not only a thing of beauty but a grateful shelter from the glare of the brilliant sunshine. Sir J. G. Ward, the Minister in attendance, quickly introduced His Worship the Mayor (W. B. Soandrett, Esq.) and other citizens, and the party were soon seated in the carnages waiting outside the station, the front of which was a mass of foliage trucked from Oolao Bay, and surmounted by flags not a few. As the vice-regal party stepped from the vestibule, the Garrison Band struck up the National Anthem, and then the volunteers and onlookers made for the rotunda, where there were more introductions, and where an address of welcome was read by the town clerk (Mr W. Young.) His Excellency’s reply was happily phrased, and closed with a humorous expression of gladness that for ome he had arrived in a town in New Zealand where he did not bring bad weather with him

Three cheers for His Excellency !” cried the Mayor, and they were given with a will. Then seme one was the subject of a happy thought. It was not in the programme, but why not give His Excellency an opportunity of seeing the Bluff F No sooner said than done, and at 4.20 p.m. Lord Plunket and Sir J. G. Ward, His Worship the Mayor, Mr Feldwick, M.L.0,, Mr Hanan, M.H.R., and several other townspeople were speeding Bluffward on board a special, under the supervision of Mr Piper, Traffic Manager. A run of thirty minutes brought Southland’s port before the eyes of the visitors. It was looking its best as they boarded the tug, which Captain McDonald had in readiness. Speeding seaward, the Union Co.’s Waikare, but a few hours back from the Sounds, was seen steaming for Dunedin, and when the tug turned homeward after running out to the vicinity of Dog Island lighthouse, the same company’s Moeraki was passed on her way to Melbourne. At the wharf lay the steamer Mokoia, nut long in from Melbourne. Hillside and town were seen under the most favourable conditions, and after the new and handsome railway station had been inspected, and some introductions made, the special left at 6.5 p.m., to the accompaniment of three rousing cheers for King Edward’s genial representative, and 28 minutes later Invercargill was reached, one and all delighted with the unofficial outing. At 11 a.m, on Tuesday a levee was held in the Athenaeum, when 104 town and country residents paid their respects to the Governor, A noteworthy feature of the occasion was the fact that the guard of honour was composed of members of the Veterans’ Association and Cadets—the wearers of medals and those who have yet to win them. In the afternoon the Governor, escorted by the Southland Mounted

Rifles, under Lieut. Colonel Hawkins, drove out to Mr Fleming’s homestead at Rakahouka, where the party was entertained by Mr and Mrs Fleming, and spent a pleasant time in sightseeing. Leaving here, the visitors drove over to Lome Farm, Makarewa, and were received by the chairman of the H, and C.A. Board (Mr A. Bain), and Mr and Mrs Guswoith, master and matron. The children from the public school at Makarewa (which is attended by the little ones from the Farm) were present under their teacher, Mr Mackay, and sang the National Anthem as the visitors drove aWay to Invercargill. The evening was devoted to a social —conversazione the learned it call, but the shorter word better expresses the conditions under which His Worship the Mayor and citizens entertained their distinguished guest. The spacious building has been frequently decorated, but never more tastefully and with better effect, elegance without heaviness predominating. A wellplayed selection by the Garrison Band prefaced a choice musical programme, to which an orchestra under Mr F. J. Lillicrap, and Messrs G. R. George, A. S. Cookson, A. le H. Hoyles, R. Prentice, H. L. Hay, A. S. Mockridge, J. B. Taylor, and G. Black contributed. Mr Q. A. Carr played the accompaniments. The Municipal Band also played “ The Smithy in the Wood,” in which the twittering of birds and other sounds peculiar to forest life were represented with charming effect. Mr J.R. Webb’s spiritedly given recitation, “ Plymouth Hoe,” furnished the needed patriotic element. Mention should have been made sooner of the Mayor’s short but interesting introductory speech, with its pleasant flavour of old identity days, when the she of Zealandia Hall was dense bush, and the countryside largely in a state of nature.

A corps of young ladies, members of the Musical Union, dispensed the refreshments provided by Messrs Kingsland and Son, and as the chairs were arranged in groups, allowing freedom of movement, one and all were soon enjoying a dainty repast. Before ' leaving, Lord Plunket thanked the Mayor and people of Invroargill for the way in which they had received His Majesty’s representative, and then, in lighter vein, referred to his impressions of Invercargill, the first being that the town possessed a magnificent collection of babies—(laughter)—being a family man the fact interested him—-and the second, the air of prosperity and happiness noticeable. Every man went about as if he could easily lay his hands on a thousand pounds or so, and he (Lord Plunket) as a brokendown Irish Landlord, bad felt tempted to negotiate a small loan from some of them. (Laughter). His Excellency added that be had not intended to indulge in any refreshments, having had several afternoon teas and one or two lunches, but the young ladies who waited on him were so charming, so fascinating, that he had to accept further refreshments. During the evening the Mayor introduced Mr G. Froggatt, Mr J. W. Mitchell, Mr W. Todd, Dr Hodgkinson, Mr A. F. Hawke, and a number of other citizens to His Excellency. Wednesday forenoon was devoted to visiting the schools end other public institutions of the town. While the Governor was thus engaged volunteers, cadets and adults, with a goodly number of holiday - makers, were Crowding in from the country, eager to witness the great event of the day —the laying of the foundation stone of the new hall and theatre. The volunteers, between 600 and 700 strong, assembled in the Western Reserve, and shortly after 1 p.ra. marched away with the Garrison Band,and took up positions from the Club Hotel (the Governor’s quarters during his stay) to the town hall site in Tay stiest, forming an avenue for the procession. This consisted of the Fire Brigade, the Mayor and Councillors, members of the Shamrock, Rose and Thistle, and St. George Lodges of Oddfellows, the Municipal, the Pipe, and the Salvation Army

( Bands, and representatives of the Foresters of Court Star of the South, with members from the juvenile branch. Mounted and uniformed, this part of the cavalcade made a very good display. The procession reached the town hall site soon aftertwo p.m., and selections were played by the bands till 2.30 p.m., when His Excellency arrived and was escorted within the main entrance by His "Worship the Mayor. The improvised seats to the north were packed, while the street in front and from Conon street to the Orescent was packed with people save where the volunteers kept guard. Windows and roofs were thronged with sight-seers, and flags fluttered in the breeze, while the bright dresses of the ladies, and the uniforms of the citizen soldiers, here the once popular kharki, there the dark green of the Mounted Rifles, and the scarlet reminiscent of the famous “ thin red line,” combined to make a brilliant picture. His Worship the Mayor addressed the throng, and read a telegram from the Hon. Mr t?eddon, who stated that the ceremony marked an epoch in the history of Invercargill, and was in keeping with the enterprise and progress of the most southerly town south of the Equa or.

The town clerk next read the scroll containing a history of the town to date, to be deposited with other articles under the memorial stone, and His Excellency then performed the all-important ceremony, saying—“l declare this stone well and truly laid.’ In the speech which followed he expressed regret that be had not been able to visit the town sooner, and lay the stone when building operations began, “ but then,” he continued, ‘in the case of an Irishman there would be nothing incongruous even in his laying the foundation stone on the roof.’ (Laughter). In his subsequent remarks the Governor said that in no place in the colony had he noticed greater signs of prosperity than in Invercargill and its neighbourhood. The Mayor : “ Give three of your loudest cheers for the Governor,” and the response was prompt and ample. Sir J. G. Ward, who was received with cheers, made out a strong case for a ‘ Greater Invercargill ’ policy, urging the fact that electric tram cars and a comprehensive system of drainage would be secured sooner by a united borough than by isolated effort. He humourously took exception to Mr Seddon’s description of Invercargill as the most southerly city, but concluded that he was anticipating the time when Dee and Clyde streets would extend to the Bluff. Sir Joseph made special reference to the fact that the architect, Mr E. H. Wilson, was an Invercargill boy, and said that the best proof of his ability was the fact that the architects whose competitive designs had been placed below Mr Wilson’s were the readiest to acknowledge that he deserved the distinction. Sir Joseph also referred to the fact that the member for Invercargill (Mr Hanan) was a native of the town. Addresses were also given by Messrs Eeldwick and Hanan, and after the Mayor had thanked the spectators for their attendance, the National Anthem was played, and His Excellency drove off amid cheers. The volunteers then reformed and engaged in a march past, the saluting point being the Club hotel. At 4.30 p.m. His Excellency and Sir J. G. Ward left for Dunedin, where they arrived at 9.20 p.m.