The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 11,1867.

Southland Times, Issue 642, 11 March 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1867.

The question, " When will His Excellency arrive ?" is at length answered. The Governor and suite will leave Dunedin in H.MS.S Brisk on Friday, the 15th instant, and arrive at the Bluff on the morning of Saturday the 16th inst. His stay is stated to be limited to three days, a period far too short for His Excellency to make himself fully acquainted with the various districts of the Province. However, if he cannot be induced to prolong his stay, we must endeavor to provide a programme of the most complete description. We cannot, by even a stretch of the imagination, suppose that the three days mentioned as the duration of His Excellency's stay in Southland, is the matured resolve of the Govebnok and his advisers. It is not fair to suppose that, after devoting weeks that exceed in number the days mentioned, to Canterbury and Otago, that Southland should be estimated at so low a standard. It must be granted that His Excellency has been hard worked for nearly three months, and that so long an absence from the seat of Grovernment may be a matter of inconvenience and anxiety. Still there does not appear sufficient evidence ofa necessity for his immediate return to justify him making his sojourn in Southland so short as to be denominated a "flying visit." If. the tour he is taking through the Middle Island is to prove of positive utility, justice, must be meeted out to all. The broad pastoral plains and fertile undulating slopes, the extensive and scientifically worked agricultural domains of Southland, deserve a vice-regal inspection equally as minute-as those of Canterbuiy or Otago. There can be little question that Sib Geobge Gkey will not refuse the solicitations of tbe Southland colonists to extend the time of his stay in this province, and visit the Eastern and other districts previous to his departure. If His Excellency is not pleased with his reception, it will not be the fault of the people of Southland ; it will be that the uncertainty of his movements, the • c wishfather-to-the-thought " insinuations • of the Otago press, that he would not come to this province, have kept the people in that " hope deferred" state, that naturally depresses excitement, and deadens the energies of even those who have faith in the promises of Princes and Governors. Notwithstanding the drawback of no information, and the Otago reports that he would not come, steady progress has been made in the preparations for his reception. It is true that the Decoration Committee have been over zealous, and the verdant evergreens that have been artistically planted will require retrimming on the occasion of his arrival. Still, now that it is positive that he will come, and the date fixed for his arrival, flagging energy has revived, and every effort is being made to render His Excellency's reception as creditable to the Province, and as demonstrative in proportion to its people, as he has ever received. The town and country are actively employed — the one is vicing with the other to make the reception of Sib George Gbey such as should ever be given by a loyal people to the represntative of Eoyalty. This is not the time to brood over past neglect, or to even allude to the many grievances that the Middle Island colonists have long endured. The great object now to be kept in view is to impregnate the mind of His Excellency with a truthful conception of the capabilities of Southland, its resources, cultivation, enterprise, and stability — commercial and material. To this end not a stone must be left unturned to induce him not to leave the Province without visiting the inland districts. It is not our intention to imitate our contemporaries of the north Provinces, and become maudlingly sentimental upon the occasion, and indulge in infantine ecstaticjoyousness atthe anticipated event. We cannot view the visit of His Excellency in any other than a practical light, which, to our minds, is to give him a loyal welcome, and impress him with a conviction of the growing importance of this Province. To this end every efibrt should be made to make his reception a warm and dignified demonstration; while the town should put forth great exertions, the country should not be neglected. In short, that all should strive to realise the fact that if permanent benefit to Southland is to result from the Governor's visit, he must see the country, and realise the future that is before us, provided that a comprehensive system of inland communication can be laid down. This should be. the aim and object of all. The arrangements already made all tend to this end. It has been decided that the Eeception— the presentations of addresses — takes place at the Eailway Station on Saturday-, the 16th instant, after which the procession will escort him to the Club, where the A.W«r will talMi Place. Monday.

the 18th inst., it is thought, will be decided upon as the time for His Excellency holding a levee (undress) but this is a matter that cannot be decided by the committeee. The Ball, however, is fixed to take place on the evening of that day. As far as we have been able to ascertain, addresses will be presented from the citizens, "from the Presbytery of Southland, from 'the Odd Eellows, from the Educational Institutions, and from the Chamber of Commerce. The preparations being made in the country districts are extensive, and a full week's work has beeu laid out for His Excellency. If he does not visit Eiverton, andthe Eastern and Northern districts, great disappointment will be experienced. We feel confident that he wili. It only remains for us now to hope that every effort on the part of the people will be made— from what has been done the result is scarcely doubtful — to make the demonstration a success, and stamp upon His Excellency's memory the fact that Southland, in proportion to its territory, will bear favorable comparison with any Province in New Zealand.