AT RICHMOND.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12738, 9 March 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

AT RICHMOND.

RECEPTION AND PRESENTATION OF AN. ADDRESS.

The formal reception of His Excellency by the Borough of Richmond took place at the recreation ground on the arrival of the vice-regal party , from Wak&field. Upon a dais specially erected for the occasion were an- ! sembled the Mayor (Mr A. Sheat) and Borough Councillors, Mr S. Fittall (Borough Clerk), leading citizens, and three old pioneers, Mrs James Bell (mother of Cr Thomas Bell), Mrs HayS, and AlrsO. baywell, aliorwhom tove lived beyond the allotted span of "three score years and ten, and are stih hale and hearty. Drawn up in front of the dais were the liichmond Brass Band, the Richmond school cadets, and the girls tiom the Richmond school, each of whom carried a flag, the whole forming Nelson's Jainous signal, "England expects -that every man will do his duty.' Ihe idea was a happy one, and the effect most striking. There were also pre«nVa number of veterans, including Messrs Ben Fairhall^ Waiter Newport, Wiesenhavcn, and W. Green. His Excellency was received at the gates by The Mayor then extended to His £S anKl^on W S Clerk to read the address, which W^y f< it O pleas; Your Excellency "In view of the fact that the time is approaching for Your Excel.cncy's departure from these shores, we, the Mayor, Councillors, and burgesses of the Borough of Richmond, would have regretted exceedingly had we not been afforded the opportunity of conveying -to Your Excellency, however briefly and imperfectly, an assurance that we warmly and heartily welcome you to our town and district. ... , ■, v "We recognise, with gratitude, tne eoi>a work fosterea and helped forward in many directions, both socia-i^a otherwise, by yourself and Lady 1 lunket, so that Your Excellency's residence amongst us has been rendered memorable, not alone for the large measure of material prosperity and progress by which it has been marked, but still more far the beneficent efforts put forth by Your Excellency and Lady Plunket for the moral and social advancement and well-being of the people. ~ , T _, "We also desire to assure Your Excellency that the people of this town and district yield to none in love and loyalty to tho person of the great King, whom your Excellency has so worthily represented, and they f ul.y recognise that their interests and destiny are bound up with those of the great Empire, of which this Dominion forms but a small part. "We in common with all others, deeply regret Your Excellency s apfU 'Sned on behalf of the Councillors and burgesses, A. Sheat, Mayor. In replying His Excellency regrettod that he had not got a iormal reply to their exceedingly charming address He assured them that he had Sued to it with very great pleasure and felt much satisfaction at K assurances of loyalty to his Majesty, whose representative he was He thai *ed them for the kindly words used in connection with tho small efforts made by Lady Plunket and himself. He deeply regretted that his time in the Sinion°wn* so short. Addressing tl, e children His Excellency's expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present, and asked them to remember •hat tho Old Country meant to them. If it had. not been for England they would not. have been living the happy .life they were in this country, nor would they have been enjoying the advantages they /id. Owing to sp.endid fight made by those at Home whose blood in many cases tedm their veins, Great Britain had obtained command of the seas, and it be-o-arne possible for New Zealand to be colonised. They ought to be always proud of belonging to the British Empire and the British race, l'hey might also be proud of the old pwneers who made this country and remember the splendid deeds they had done. His Excellency concluded by remark ng tot the children would have a ho on Monday in honour of his visit, which he said, humourously, would no doubt be the most satisfactory remark he could make to them The National Anthem was. then sung and on the call of MrH. Buttle cheers were given for the King and His Excellency and Lady Plunket. Afternoon tea, provided by the Borough Council, and dispensed by the members' wives, and assistants, was handed round, during which the band played selections. As His Excellency left the grounds th«re was further cheering, and he was accorded a hearty send-off. Tho vioe-regal party, accompanied by the Mayor, then paid a visit to Richmond Park, and His Excellency ascended to the. top of. the grand stand, from which was obtained a splendid view of the surrounding country; which he; greatly admired. The party then motored to town by way of the Rocks Road, the Masonic Hotel being reached at six o clock. Ihe long journey of nearly eighty miles was performed without the slightest hitch to mar the pleasure of the outing The Mayor and Councillors of Nelson, with the Town Clerk and City Engineer, proceeded to Richmond by the 4.30 train to take part in the func^ tion to His Excellency, but arrived at the conclusion of the proceedings.