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Star (Christchurch), Issue 9919, 6 August 1910, Page 6

and loyal welcome that is characteristic of all the people of New. Zealand towards the British Crown and the Imperial connection. I can only say how gratified I am at the kindliness of your greeting and express the further hope that at 110 distant day in the future I may be again visiting you, accompanied by her Excellency Lady Islington and my daughter, who, I am sure, will enjoy visiting the scenes to lie found in this island." His Excellency was then conducted to the steps of the platform erected for the borough's reception ceremony, and was introduced to. the Mayor and a number of the Councillors, and after a few' Avords of personal greeting the Mayor road the following address, which had been prepared on. behalf of the citizens

"On behalf of the Mayor, Councillors and burgesses of the borough of Lyttelton we desire to extend to your Excellency a cordial and hearty welcome 011 the occasion of your first visit to this portion of the dominion over whose destinies you have so recently been called to preside. As the civic representatives of this, the gate of the extensive and flourishing provincial district of Canterbury, wo are pleased at the opportunity thus afforded us of expressing to your Excellency, as the distinguished representative •of our Most Gracious Sovereign, King George, our intense loyalty to the Crown and Empire, a sentiment which is heightened from the fact that many of our people retain vivid and pleasing recollections of his Majesty s visit to this far distant portion of the Empire, a sentiment, too, which is not without a keen feeling of deep sympathy when we think of the lamented death, of our late illustrious Sovereign, King Edward. Wo can. in all sincerity, assure your Excellency of the earnest desire of the ; people or this district that your Excellency's stay m New Zealand may bo a series of pleasant associations for yourself, L il <*y Islington and family. We are fully persuaded that the spread of true Imperialism will not in any degree be lessened during your Excellency s term of office as the worthy successor to a number of eminently worthy and. oistinguished representatives of our beloved Sovereign, but rather that under voitr able guidance tho bonds of kinship with the Motherland will be strengthened and even more funny established.' , . Tho Mavor, at the conclusion ot the address, exi>lained that Lyttelton, though a comparatively small town, wa3 an important- port and a progressive borough, possessing important municipal properties and up-to-date improvements, in addition to a i very fine harbour; and he expressed the earnest hope, of the Council and the people that liis Excellency would ' have time at a future occasion to iooa round the town itself. He then presented his Excellency with ah illuminated copy of the ad.1 dress. Lord Islington read the fpllowing re ply ; — " I thank you heartily for the cordial greetings tendered to me on my arrival in .the Soutn Island of Ae w Zealand. 11l the name of his Majesty King George V. I desire to thank --ou for your expressions of loyalty to tlie throne and person of his Majesty, and for your sympathetic references to our late beloved Sovereign King Edward VII. lam sure you all join with me in believing that our new King will uphold with honour and credit the traditions of his high office, and prove a i worthy successor to his great predecessor. It is my desire, equally with you, ito see the bonds of kinship with the Motherland strengthened, and T trust that the Imperial movement will pro- ; gross steadily until we reach the goal of Imperial unity." - . •. , His Excellency added a brief, informal expression of thanks for the gracious and kindly invitation extended to. him.vand for the enthusiastic reception he iM met with. He felt sure, I he said, that if Lyttelton was but small in size, that would be remedied by time, ! and the port was destined to increase very rapidly in importanceThree hearty cheers were then given for his Excellency the Governor, and three for Lady Islingtonand his Excellency, having entered his carriage to the accompaniment of lively music, started on his road to Christchurch.

HIS EXCELLENCY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

BRIGHT CEREMONY IN VICTORIA SQUARE.

His Excellency made his first entry into the city of Christchurch under very pleasant auspices. It is, of course, the' busiest day of the week, and the city, for the most part, has the work-a-dav appearance which is also associated with Saturday. As far as the weather is concerned, however, tlie conditions could hardly have been more favourable, and they certainly set off the city and its surroundings to the very best advantage. . In spite of "a thousand businesses brief in hand," largo numbers of citizens left their vocations for an hour or so aud assemblod in Victoria Square, where the official reception took place, and where a hearty, loyal and enthusiastic reception was given to the people's new Governor. As he drove through the streets, also, crowds gathered along the route. Many shops were closed for an hour, between 9.30 and 10.30, and lines of hunting across the streets at the Clock lower, the Casliel Street corner, the entranco to Cathedral Square and other places, gave colour and brightness to thesceno. His Excellency, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Captain Shannon, and private secretary, Mr R. Kerr-Clarke, travelled to Christchurch by the ordinary train from Lyttelton, which arrived at Christchurch at 9.48. Ho was received by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr C. Allison), tho Town Clerk (Mr H. R. Smith), Lieutenant-Colonel Slater, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Staff-Captain and Assistant-Adjutant-General Potter, and escorted to his carriage. A detachment of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles formed a mounted escort, and as the party appeared the escort presented arms, and a bugler sounded the royal salute.

THE FORMAL WELCOME.

AN ADDRESS FROM THE CITY

HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH

His Excellency was then driven by way of Manchester Street and Cathedral Square to Victoria Square, where there was a gathering of about two thousand persons. Two hundred cadets of the Christ's College and Clmstclrarch High School Corps, under Captain. Farthing, formed a guard of honour. The Governor was greeted with hearty cheers as his carriage drove up to the entrance to the Square, and lie was formally saluted by the guard, a, bugler sounded the royal salute, and the Garrison Band played a verse of the National Anthem. Among those present on the band rotunda, in addition to the party which met bis Excellency, were :--Bishop Julius, the Rev 1) r Kennedy (representing Bish;>p Grimes), the Rev T. 'frtit, the Hon R. F. Wigra-m, M.L.C.. Messrs J. J. Kinsoy (Consul for Belgium), T. Wallace (Consul for Italy), W. H. Cheeseman (acting-Con-sul for Sweden), Councillors W. H. Cooper, T. Gapes, Fl. J. Otley, R. B. Sorensen, C. Taylor. 11. H. Webb, 0. D. Morris, T. N. Horsley, G. W. J.