THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12722, 18 February 1910, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

RECEPTION AT COLLINGWOOD

(By Our Special Reporter.)

His Excellency Lord Plunket, ac- | companied by the Hon. R. Mckeime (Minister for Public Works) and party, arrived in Collingwood shortly betove six o'clock on Wednesday evening, having driven over from Motueka, which place was loft at eight o'clock in the morning. The Vice-Regal party was met by the school children at the corner of Elizabeth and Tasmau streets— the boys on one side and the girls on the other, and they escorted his Excellency to the Post Office, where the National Anthem was sung. The street was gaily decorated with bunting and was lined with crowds ot people on foot and in conveyances, j On a dais, specially erected tor the occasion, were members of the u>ilingwood County Council and other ] leading, citizens. ■ In addressing his Excellency, MrJN . "L Buchanan (Chairman of the Collingwood County Council) expressed the gratification they all felt at his Excellency honouring that remote part of the Dominion with a visit, and he offered him a most respectful and hearty welcome. Continuing, Mr Buchanan remarked that it might not oe. out of place to ori'er a few remarks on the history of their surroundings, i'hough some of the very earliest immigrants to JNelson found their way, in search ot" new homes, to the shores .ot Golden. Bay, these nardy pioneers ,vere tew and far between, ne said, viany of tlieir descendants, to tiie chird and fourth generation, were stm m and near tlie. old original holdings, and qurte a number responded to tue cal. ior men during tue iioer war, la which at lease two hue young men ironi this district gave their lives in the cause ox Empire. In 185/, however the scene was changed. The hist paying goldheld in New Zealand was discovered in xne valley, and the news soon brought quite a large population, io that during the first lour years oi its existence the field produced gold to the value of upwards of £160,WJ1). Li these, days the most up-to-date and luxurious method of transporting supplies was by pack-bullock, the alternative being the consumer's own back, but storekeepers and packers were equal to the occasion, and over a score of public houses, in this valley, did a roaring trade. In a very few years, however, the richest and most easily got deposits of gold were exhausted, rushes to Otago and the West Coast attracted most of the diggers, arid with the exception of a few Of the more permanent mining enterprises, some of which ara stiill paying tlieir way, the goldmining era gradually came to an end. Few severs, up to tliis time, had devoted their energies seriously to farming ; most of the land was in a state of nature, roads nonexistent, or very primitive, and there was very little market for surplus stock or farm produce generally. Nevertheless a few brave spirits there wore who determined to carve them

selves homes out of the somewhat

unpromising material at hand, and most of these, or their sons, have succeeded, persevering through a long succession of years of depression in all .-kinds of business.. The .country was gradual* cleared and kid down m grass, and improved stock and methods of farming more. m accordance with modern requirements were introduced with excellent results, -Side by side with the improvement of farming and increased fertility of the j land came a better market for prote, and the introduction of the ' dairy factory and creamery system had increased the productiveness of t he farm f. alw J the farmers' incomes vi a satisfactory manner. This, of course had reacted on the moans of »^rnal communication as improved values impl.ed more rates to Be collectod and more money available for roads 'and public works. The estab.jtahment of% eat freezing works in Nelson would enable those graziers who .will rear the right kind of stock to dwpose of their mutton and lambs at remunerative prices, and it was exPected £L^£S?2F^ Fruitgrowing also promised^ be a = ff W .nd coal for which fi unsevercd and im onX^ S S colmty ' s main Ivat ershed. Last , but not least, they had wonderM deposits of iron ore at Parapara. A. to Jhis, it might he said that "hope deferred maketh the heart sick," but "hen this ore was really worked, as l^rtstf expeXaS iSS3fS Value are illusory, there was no doijbt that a flourishing town ™uld spring up, and would provide a 1 their doors for all the foodin the district could produce, which would much enhance, J property,. and be of imP i the country as a continued.Mr Buchanan, hi Excellen^ y wouW see tthat Collmgw od J ■ Uko Jh c fabled Phoenix, ww from ash<;s of fi prosperity of the goldd wag shmi at signs of life, among which might be - m | ntionod t he young and progressive Agricultural and Pastoral Association, winch' held its second annual show t!lat day, the establishment of a thriving JJefence Bifle Club and an efficient Fire Brigade to utilise, in time of need the excellent supply of water receutl y Provided for the town. Continuing, Mr Buchanan said it would be superfluous to do more than enumerate/some of the notable public events^ which had marked His Jiixcel-vice-royalty—tho offer by the Dominion of a first-dass battleship to aid in the defence of t h e Empire ; the part taken by New Zealand in the conterence of over . seas prem iers, held in Lo - llJ j on j' and . tho -institution of oompuls'ory military training. But he i lopot i that", apart from marked events, tho great interest in the, Dominion as a wuole> j ts wants and capabilities, evinced by his Excellency's visits from i{me to timo j tj? remo test parts had been. fully appreciated. He tendered t h TOUg h his Excellency the sincere thanks' of the community to her Exce cncy n Lady Kunket for her phQanthropic, unremitting and successful - c g 01 \ s m the establishment of associations for teaching the more rational and healthy treatment of infants, and thereby lowering the rate of infant J^.^ Sorrow and suffering had been diminished from end to eaid of Dominion aDd not only this, but future generations would have reason t^ fa of Lad p ]an . k j conclusion, he hoped that his E^ el ,- wouia not allo Y the seas sQon divide them to obliterate his Excellency's kindly in- . his Dominion and tha t h h j d audience of i^ Gracious Majegty tho King,, though little Collingwood could not expect individual mention, it might still be in Jus Exce'lency's mind that his Majesty's wise and noble effort? in the interests of the peace and prosperity of the. world had no more loving and loyal appreciation than in that far corner of the earth. (Applause.) His Excellency's reply was extempore and happy. Ho thanked them for the 'warmth of their welcome, and for their expressions of loyalty to his Majesty the King, whose representative he was. He congratulated the district on its advancement (incidental'.y refering to the show which had been held that day), on their rich mineral deposits, on their agricultural and pastoral possessions, and, above all, on that most important asset, the robust, healthy, and vigorous children, which he had the pleasure of seeing before him. Rene McFarlane, Dora Marshall, and Ltfy Rily then presented his Ex™llency with a handsome bouquet. The gift was graciously, accepted, and the litle girls were heartily applauded n s they de scended the steps . of • the ' Three cheers were then given for- the King, for Mr Buchanan, and for the

Hon. R. McKenzie. The latter gentleman was pressed for a speech, but ho explained that it was not customary for a Minister of the Crown to make a speech while, in attendance on his Excellency. He would merely say, however, how proud ho was of them, as his constituents, for their really magnificent welcome to his Excellency the Governor that day. The ViceRegal visitors then retired to the Collingwood Hotel, where, they are staying during tlieir visit. The. crowd lingered about the main street, which presented a busy and ■"festive appearance, until a fairly Hate hour.