THE GOVERNOR AND LADY ONSLOW’S FAREWELL TO NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 11, 12 March 1892, Page 241

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY ONSLOW’S FAREWELL TO NEW ZEALAND.

a - yy? HE visits paid by Lord and Lady Onslow to the principal cities in this colony for the purpose of taking leave of the citizens, have, in each jJVg; case, been marked by unusual festivities. Our Auckland Society correspondent furnishes the following letter containing an account of the farewell proceedings in Auckland and Russell :— Of course the principal topic which I shall, with pen and ink, discourse to you in this letter is the departure of our late Governor, Lord Onslow, and his family. So general was the interest and excitement, so elaborate and beautiful the preparations to send off the representative of Her Majesty in due style, that many citizens in their enjoyment of tlie half holiday proclaimed on the afternoon that the Mararoa left Auckland, forgot to infuse the correct amount of regret in their too energetic speeding of the partting guests. It is rather amusing that even the most democratic of our community were not above taking advantage of the pleasure afforded by the spectacular display, which I shall attempt to describe presently. But I must pull myself together and tell you of an event which I omitted last week, when Lord and Lady Onslow honoured Mr and Mrs T. Morrin with their presence at lunch. Wellington Park, I was told, looked very pretty, and the lunch was a very good one. But I cannot undertake to give you a man’s account of what the ladies wore. Really, their ideas of gowns are too ridiculous ! But I can tell you some of those who were there. ‘lf you want the horses,’ says my informant, ‘ I can tell you their names and colours !’ Amongst the

guests then, were Mr and Mrs Jas. Russell, the Hon. E. and Mrs Mitchelson, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Moss-Davis, Mrs S. Morrin, Lieutenant Abdy, etc. In the afternoon the whole party went out to inspect the stud, Lady Onslow being asked to bestow a name on a colt (one of Frailty’s). It was to have a fighting sort of a name with a gun in it. But as the Countess couldn’t invent one on the spot, she had to promise to send it along b_y post. Afternoon tea was discussed about four o’clock to enable the Vice-regal party to return home early enough to attend divine service at St. Paul’s in the evening. I have told you about the reception held the next day at Government House. The following afternoon the Countesses of Jersey and Galloway came down by train from Rotorua, very enthusiastic over the beauties' of our Northern Wonderland. Their visit had caused quite an excitement in the neighbourhood. Amongst other visitors of note are Lady Herbert and Miss Hudson, both with their attendants.

The grand farewell luncheon given by the mayor and citizens of Auckland to the Earl and Countess of Onslow took place in the Choral Hall on the day of their departure from Auckland. It was held at two o’clock. The hall was profusely decorated with flowers, and the effect was extremely good, the walls as well as the tables receiving due floral attention. The latter were arranged d la horseshoe, the guest of the hour, His Excellency the Governor, being seated on the right of the Mayor (Mr Crowther), who occupied the state chair at the centre of the shoe. The Mayoress, in black silk, was placed on the other side of Lord Onslow, the Hon. P. A. Buckley taking charge of the Countess of Galloway in close proximity. To the left of the Mayor our smiling Countess of Onslow was seated, Captain Gertz, of the Bussard, having the honour of sitting next; then the Countess of Jersey, Mr T. Thompson (M. H.R.), and Mr C. C. McMillan in his capacity as Chairman of the Harbour Board. I must particularly mention the decorations of this table, as they were wonderfully and beautifully executed. One was an Imperial crown of green, the jewels being represented by red and white flowers. In the centre of the middle table was a magnificent shield of flowers representing the Onslow arms, with the well-known motto * Festina lente ’ inscribed below. The red and yellow colours were faithfully produced, the whole being a very handsome piece of work, carried out by Miss Speight, who also made the Prince of Wales’ feathers. The arrangements were perfect, and we took our seats in comfort and contentment. Though the three Countesses were, of course, in court halfmourning, and various ladies present also wore dark and appropriate dresses, the hall presented a sufficiently bright and attractive, not to say brilliant, appearance. For this we were largely indebted to the magnificent costumes and gold lace of the officers of the warships, especially of the German, and to the number of uniforms worn by the volunteer officers. The caterer had done well in the pretty arrangements of flowers, still better in his display of plate and glass, and reached the superlative point in the very excellent and sumptuous luncheon itself. The menu card, bearing the Onslow arms and a snitable inscription, was tasteful, and received much admiration. Hunter’s Band, conducted by Mr Eady, played the National Anthem as,

precisely at two o’clock, the vice regal party entered. Some pretty selections of music beguiled the monotony of eating. I will give you all the names of those at the luncheon as far as possible, but will reserve most of the dresses for the description of the afternoon tea on the s.s. Tauranga, which was attended by many of the ladies. I can pretend to no sort of precedence in my list, so let no one be offended at their position in it. Mr and Mrs J. H. Upton (dark costume), Colonel and Mrs Goring, Mr and Mrs H. Brett (dark costume), Mrs Garrard (Christchurch). Mr and Mrs D. B. Cruickshank (French Consul), Mr and Mrs T. W. Leys, Mr L. D. Nathan, Mrs S. Nathan (handsome gown), Mrs T. Hope Lewis, lovely heliotrope dress, hat en suite ; Mr and Mrs T. Ching (pretty grey dress) ; Mr and Mrs W. R. Bloomfield, the latter looking very charming in cream, with a cream-trimmed sailor hat of the new shape ; Mr and Mrs P. L. Dignan. whose red dress very much brightened up the other ladies' sombre-hued costumes; Mr and Mrs W. Cochrane, Mr and Mrs A. Devore, the lady wearing a very handsome black dress lightened with gold and black lace ; Mrs and Miss Kerr-Taylor, both in white, the mother’s pretty hat and dress being relieved with black velvet; the Very Rev. Mousignor McDonald, the Rev. C. M. and Mrs Nelson, Mr and Mrs T. Peacocke, Mr G. Peacocke, Mr G. L. Peacocke, Mr Jackson Palmer (M. H.R.), Mr Laver and-Miss A. Laver, the Mayor of Newmarket and Mrs Kent, Mr S. C. Brown (Mayor of Newton), Mr and Mrs W. Berry (the latter wearing a pretty dark dress), Mr Hugh and Miss Campbell, Dr. J. L. Campbell, Mr John and Miss Savage, Mrs H. Walker, Miss Lananze, Mr and Mrs John Grey, Mr and Mrs Wm. Johnston, Mrs Ella W. Gamble. Mr and Mrs A. L. Edwards, Mr and Mrs T. Cohen, Mrs J. Stanton, Mr and Mrs Charles Ranson, Miss Prosser, Mr and Mrs J. J. Holland, Mr and Mrs E. Mahoney, Mrs B. Holmwood, Miss Harris, Mrs J. H.

Smith, Mr John Briscoe, Mrs Briscoe, Mr H. Brown (German Consul), and Mrs Brown, Miss <‘oates, and the following gentlemen: — Captain Guthrie (A.D.C. to Lord Onslow), Captain Rupert Leigh (A.D.C. to Lord Jersey), Lieut. Abdy (H.M.S. Tauranga), Messrs Batger, C. Arnold, J. E. and E. Yates, James Russell, A. S. Russell, M. Niccol, Napier, W. Kelly (M.H.R.), F. Lawry (M.H.R), J. Mowbray, W. McCullough, H. Eyre, Kenny, Johansen (Danish Consul), E. W. Alison (Mayor of Devonport), C. Atkin (Chairman of Hospital and Charitable Aid Board), T. Buddle, A. S. Aldrich, J. H. Witheford, J. M. Sliera (M.H.R.), James Hardie, R. K. Garlick, H. Rees George, A. Clarke, J. D. Connolly (United States Consul), C. F. Bourne, J. M. Brigham, J. Carroll (M.H.R.), M. A. Clarke, P. A. Philips (Town Clerk), Arthur Masy (Belgian Consul), C. F. Fearing, C. A. La Roche, W. J. Courtney, L. Ehrenfried, T. Hodgson, W. Gorrie, F. W. Lawry, T. Garrard, R. F. Luks, A. Porter (Chairman of Chamber of Commerce), R. Warnock, T. Hodson, Higgins, R. Struthers, J. Trenwith, R. Udy, H. Worthington, W. S. Laurie, Skeats, Paymaster Matthias (H.M.S. Tauranga), Mr W. E. Hackett, Dr. Dawson, Colonel De Quincy, Dr. Walker, Hon J. B Whyte, Lieutenant Stuart (H.M.S. Tauranga), Dr. W. R. Erson, Dr. Bayntum, Captain H. F. Anderson, Rev. Shirley W. Baker, Inspector- Broham. Yon will see that we were well-supplied with medical men, in case our feelings proved too much for us (ladies) or the champagne, for the sterner sex. You don’t want a resume of the speeches, do you ’ As soon as women manage these things, I can assure you that the speeches will be decidedly lighter and shorter than they are at present. But I must not digress. I forgot to tell you that we presented a testimonial —I mean a handsome illuminated address to the Governor, which, unlike most illuminated addresses, possesses merits as an intrinsic work of art. The designs, which are all original, have been cariied out with extreme care and fidelity. The whole address is engrossed in colour on vellum, the golden initials of the earl’s name being very handsomely and boldly designed and illuminated in 15th century style. After the luncheon was happily disposed of, the Vice regal party made their way to Government House, which, with

the adjoining streets, was besieged by a crowd of loyal sightseers. About half-past four a grand procession was formed to proceed down to the wharf. Seventeen carriages, followed by sixty of the Grammar School boys, made an imposing spectacle, headed by the Garrison Band playing some appropriate airs, the first being, ‘ Then You’ll Remember Me.’ The hundreds of spectators closed in behind the school boys, until, when the wharf was reached, thousands of people were gathered together, the cheering en route being continuous. A strong guard of honour escorted the carriages containing His Excellency, Lady Onslow, with Lord Hnia on her knee, the Mayor and Mrs Crowther, and Ladies Jersey and Galloway, Hon. I’. A. Buckley, Captain Rupert Leigh, and the Ladies Gwendoline and Dorothy Onslow in white dresses and hats, Captain Guthrie, the Town Clerk, and the Under-Secretary, Mr G. S. Cooper, to the S.S. Mararoa lying at the end of the wharf. A carpeted gangway had been prepared, and the Mayor and Mrs Crowther escorted the travellers on board. The cheering was tremendous as the large steamer moved slowly away, and Lord and Lady Onslow repeatedly bowed their acknowledgements of the sincere compliments and good wishes showered on them. Let us now go on board the Tauranga, where a large and fashionable crowd is assembled. I see Mrs Morrin, in black ; Mrs Moss-Davis, looking charming in a handsome pink lustre, black bonnet with pink roses ; Miss Moss-Davis, simple white muslin, with a very becoming hat of white, chiffon and grapes trimming it; Mrs T. Morrin, looking unusually well in white Liberty silk prettily garnished with chiffon, black hat relieved with pink flowers; Miss Fenton with her sister, Mrs Hope-Lewis, dressed in navy serge with white spots; Miss Wilkie, in blue; Mr and Mrs Bloomfield ; Mr and Mrs James Russell, the latter in a handsome black silk dress trimmed with white, black

bonnet with white feathers ; Mr and Mrs Dignan ; Mrs Allen Kerr - Taylor and her eldest daughter; Mr Aekland (Christchurch) ; Mrs Earle, in black, accompanied by her daughter ; Miss Macdonald, who was dressed in grey, with a pink rose-bud covered bonnet ; Mrs Lewis’ dress, I forgot to tell you, had a deep cieam lace flounce round the bodice ; Messrs Clarke (who has just returned from his holidays, and looks more « la moilc than ever), Aldriger, T. Williamson, Philson, etc., etc. We greatly enjoyed the refreshing lea so liberally provided, but our first attention was due to the departing Mararoa. 1 cannot tell you, how very entrancing the spectacle was. In the centre the noble steamer moving, as conscious of its restrained power, in unusual slowness ; on its upper deck Lord and Lady Onslow, holding up the little NewZealander, Lord lluia, to bid a long faiewell to his native land ; beside them two fair little girls, intensely interested in the salute of seventeen guns with which the Tauranga notified our little world that Lord Onslow

had finally left the Queen-street wharf. Round the steamer the white-winged yachts glided gracefully like cloudlets in the blue vault of heaven, ninety of them accompanying the Mararoa to the North Head, where they skilfully turned and came back up the harbour. I cannot possibly tell you how many rowing boats there were ; they were marshalled in two lines each side of the steamer (the yachts beyond them) and kept abreast of her to the North Head. A dozen steamers filled with passengers some of them being chartered by private parties, steamers belonging to the Ferry Company, the Government torpedo launch, with various other craft, formed a unique escort on the quietly dancing) and smiling waters of our beautiful Waitemata. It might have been a welcome instead of a farewell, with the cheers, and bands, and guns, and general enthusiasm. The weather was perfect, the Westering sun no longer burning us with the heat of the middle of the day and early afternoon. The breeze was just right, the crowds on the wharves, Emily Place, and, indeed, on every coign of vantage, happy and demonstrative, and our late Governor and party very appreciative. But I must tell you the last news of Lord Onslow's NewZealand farewell. This took place at Russell, our coaling station, you know. The natives were all agog to also say-good-bye to the Governor, who, as they declared, had taken a greater personal interest in them than any other representative of the Queen. They took the party ashore, the Countesses of Jersey and Galloway accompanying them. A war dance was performed, ami very much approved of. The Maori women were charmed with little Hum, and presented him with a handsome greenstone attached to a ribbon, and a beautiful Maori mat. The chiefs sent manymessages to the Queen by Lord Onslow. Won’t it be fun when he goes home, and instead of kissing his sovereign's hand as per usual, says, * Madam, allow me to show you how we do it in Maoriland !' Then they will rub noses ! Tableau. I have no doubt since sniitl taking has gone out that the idea will be quickly followed all round. The Vice regal party had lunch on the Ringarooma, which is at Russell, and returned tothe Mararoaquite as much pleased with the black as with the white subjects' farewell.