LORD RANFURLY'S FAREWELL.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10974, 14 March 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

LORD RANFURLY'S FAREWELL.

. V PUBLIC RECEPTIQ I. .From" Colonist," Feb, fi&ih. The welcome of the Nelson citizens to {Lord Ranfurly on his fare veil visit , toCNelson, was marked by c .rdiahty, and though nothing extens; ye m the j way of display was attemp'ad, went to show that the popularity of the I departing Governor is no nore fleeting phase*-. Shortly before nine o\ lock the Mayor (Mr H. Baigent) ' r.nd City Councilors, Mr John Graham I M. H.R. i Hons. ,-R. Reeves and F. j Ti#9k Ms.L. O. r r were in: wniting at the wharf, and the party from the Hi nemoa, which was lyins outside I the harbor,landed punctually to time from the steamer's oil launch and whaleboat. Lord Ranfurly was accompanied by his son, Lo ; d i Northland, aide-de-camp, and M;:jor Alexander, private secretary, the Rt. Hon. Mr Seddon, the Hon. Colonel Pitt, Mr R. McKenzie, M.H.R., Captain Seddon, Colonel Wolfe, Mr Wiatt (Mayor of Motueka), and Mr Seddon's private secretaries. The Garrison Band played a few bars of the National Anthem as his ; Excellency ascended the steps, and he was then informally welcomed by the Mayor. The party, accompanied by the Mayor and Councilors and members of the Legislature, was then driven to the Council Chambers, headed by the Garrison Band, and attended by theWakatu Mounted Rifles, who furnished the Governor's escort. •Bunting was displayed from most of.the business premises, and lines of bunting W6re stretched across the street from the Post Office and other public buildings, where also some decorations were carried out with ferns and evergreens, a transparency on the Post Office bearing the rather off-hand but well - meant greeting ' Ranfurly— Kia-Ora. ' ' The town school children were massed on the Church steps, and presented a pretty sight, and there was a fairly large crowd of citizens. His Excellency, who displayed great interest in the children, remarked to the Mayor that there did not appear to be as many as at his first welcome at which the country children as well were present. " The Governor and party took their stand on the balcony of the Council . Building, this by the way being the first public use of same, where Mr G. A. Edmonds, assistant Town Clerk, read the following address, which was presented to his Excellency by the Mayor: — ■ "To His Excelleny the Earl of '■'■ Ranfurly, K. CM. G., Governor of New. Zealand. "Your Excellency,— "We, the undersigned, Mayor and, Councilors of the City of Nelson, wish, on behalf of the citizens of Nelson, to extend to your Excellency a most hearty welcome to our fair City. "We recognise with grateful appreciation the noble and high-minded spirit in which all efforts for the advancement of our Colony have been received by your Excellency, and the kind and sympathetic manner in which you have always administered the powers vested in you by your high office as the Representative in this part of his Dominions of His Most Gracious Majesty the King. By your tolerance and fair-mindeduess, you have been enabled to rightly estimate and appreciate the public opinion of this land, and your actions consequent thereon have done much to cement the ties existing between us and the Motherland, and have won the esteem and confidence of us all. The keen interest displayed, and the active steps taken by you in connection with the Veterans' Home are regarded with special gratitude. "Your approaching departure from New Zealand isa source of deep regret to every one of its inhabitants, and we of this City wish to assure you that we are in no wise lacking in the feelings of respect and esteem in which you are held by the rest of the Colony generally. ' ' W© P^y that Lady Ranfurly and yourself may be granted long life, and that the memories of your stay in these Islands may be amongst the happiest of your experience, and that your short stay in Nelson may not be the least pleasant of your, reminiscences. "In conclusion, we wish to assure you of our abiding loyalty to the Throne and Empire of which we are so proud to form a part. We are watching keenly the struggle at present taking place in the Far East, and should it unfortunately become necessary in defence of the traditions of our glorious Empire, or of freedom for the oppressed, that the Motherland should be once more compelled to resort to the force of arms the sons of Nelson, will be among the first to come to her aid. "We have the honor to be, "Your Excelleny 's most obedient servants, "H. Baigejnt, Mayor, "J. Piper, Martin Lightband, J. Berkeley Harrison, James Hudson, Thomas Neale, Fred. W. Fairey, \ Thomas Pettit, J. C. Mercer, J. A. Orsman, E. Webley, Chas. Haggitt, A. W. Tatton, Councilors. "George A. Edmonds, Acting Town Clerk. "25th Februay, 1904." Lord Ranfurly in his reply tendered his sincere thanks for the kindly way in which the address had been worded. From the first day he landed in New Zealand he had taken an interest in both the people and the prosperity of the Colony. In Nelson he felt there had been continual progress throughout the years he had been in the Colony, though possibly not very rapid. He had been some seven years in the Colony, and naturally one felt anxious to get back to one's relations, one's friends, and one's home interests, he therefore should leave the Colony with very mingled feelings, Feelings of deep regret at leaving so many whom he could call friends, and at having to put on one side the interests of the past few years, because holding the position he had the honor to hold, of necessity he followed with deep interest everything that tended to the welfare or improvement of the inhabitants of the Colony. As regarded the loyalty of Nelson or any one part of the Colony indeed he could safely assert that if wanted there would be no difficulty in obtaining the able-bodied youth of the Colony [for service anywhere (hear, hear). Thank God, however, this was not a time that we need, at present, fear that war was upon us. The war in South Africa was over, and he trusted that by keeping our house in order, by keeping the Navy and Army efficient, we should be able to go for many years without being engaged in active warfare. He was a great believer in being prepared, as he firmly . believed being prepared meant sP eace (hear, hear). He thanked the Mayor and Council for the reference to the Veterans' Home. He could assure them that if they could see it they would agree that it was a fitting memorial to the 267 New Zealanders who fell in South Africa, there were all the records there ancj the Home was making the de-

I dining yearg happy of some forty old soldiers and sailors who had rendered years of good service, and at the same time had lived creditable lives ■ \in New Zealand. The Home was rendering these men happy, they might die there in peace, and when the end came they would receive an I honored funeral. (Hear, hear). In conclusion, his Excellency again expressed thanks for the reception accorded, and his regret at leaving Nelson. (Applause.) ! The Mayor then called for three ! cheers for Lord Kanfurly, and these i were followed by a cheer for Lad. ! Eanfurly. , , I The National Anthem was then ! sung by the children accompanied by the Garrison Band. His Excellency, attended by his suite and the Premier, then went amongst the children and teachers, and after some conversation announced that he had been able to secure a second day's holiday, an announcement that was greeted with repeated cheers. » •• The children were then marched past as his Excellency stood in front of the Council buildings, and the function came to an end. The Governor's party, members of the Legislature, Maydr and Councilors, and some prominent citizens then adjourned to the residence of the Hon. F. Trask, and half an hour later Mr Seddon, his son and secretaries, left for the Hinemoa to proceed to Wellington, Mr Seddon having to be in Palme rstou North tonight, where a banquet in his honor is being tendered. The Hinemoa will return to -Nelson, and be available to convey the Governor to Motueka to-day, and will leave there for Wellington, calling off this port to-night. After the reception yesterday morning the Governor was driven to Stoke, and visited the Stoke Orphan a^e, where he was received by the Rev. Father George Mahony, the boys being drawn up as a guard of honor. Having seen the whole of the boys, and spoken with some of them, his Excellency remarked on their healthy appearance. He expressed agreeable surprise at. all he saw, and remarked upon the excellent temporary accommodation. He t was shown the plans of the new building, and inspected the work already done, and indicated approval of the design, remarking that the building would be the first of its kind in the Colony. He then gave the boys a holiday, and as he departed the boys cheered lustily. His Excellency also had an opportunity of witnessing hop-picking at Mr Trask's large garden, and displayed much interest in what he saw.