HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AND THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXII, 20 November 1897, Page 684

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVE RNOR AND THE COUNTESS OF RANFURLY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

IN the midst of such a hurly-burly one needs the pen of a ready writer. There is stir and excitement all day and all night. On Saturday Christchurch began to look festive; Hags floated from innumerable points, and in front of the dais in Cathedral Square erected for His Excellency the Governor the firemen had erected their arch of ladders, which was very pretty with greenery and flags, and the words. ‘Welcome. Ranfurly,’ shone out. At half-past 2 in the afternoon Lord and Lady Ranfurly arrived by train from Lyttelton, accompanied by the Hon. Hall-Jones, Colonel Pole Penton. Captains Alexander and Ward, and the Hon. Charles Hill-Trevor. I’liey were received by His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Cooper. Miss Cooper presenting the Countess of Ranfurly with a beautiful bouquet. The suburban Mayors and the City Councillors were presented to His Excellency. 'l'he City Guards formed the guard of honour, the Mounted Rifles being outside the station. The vice-regal party then drove to the Square, accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress, the City Councillors and other Mayors and about 200 Orangemen joining in the procession. Only two addresses were presented to the Governor (the Councillors and Orangemen) at the dais, where a guard of honour was formed by the College Rifles, and a merry peal rang out from the Cathedral bells as the vice-regal party alighted. Unfortunately. a slight shower of rain fell, but that was almost better than the howling nor’-wester with its clouds of dust. The ceremony was soon over, when His Excellency and party drove off to Elmwood. A message brought up from the Bluff by relay riders on bicycles was received about 3.30 p.m., when Mr J. J. Kinsey, the President of the Metropolitan Cycling Show, went to Elmwood and presented it to Lord Ranfurly. The time occupied in the ride was about 24 hours, a strong nor’west wind being experienced right across the anterbury Plains. In the evening the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly were entertained by the Liederkranzchen at an At-Home in the Art Gallery, which passed off very successfully. Mrs Julius (the President) with the Bishop and Miss Fairhurst (Vice-President) received their Excellencies and suite. Lady Ranfurly wore all black and beautiful diamond ornaments, with feathers in her hair. After the concert, Mr Wells, who conducted, was presented to His Excellency. Among those present were Professor, Mrs, and Miss Haslam. Mrs C. Cook, Mrs Wilding, Misses Julius, Mrs Arthur Rhodes, Mrs 11. Meares, Mrs G. Merton, Mrs and Miss C. Hargreaves, and many others. On Monday morning Lord and Lady Ranfurly visited Christ's College, and were received by Bishop Julius, while others present were the Head-master and Mrs Bourne. Mrs Julius, many of the Anglican clergy and members of Synod, including the Chancellor of the Diocese, the other masters of the College, the Hon. C. C. Bowen. Colonel Pole Penton. Lieut.-Col. Gordon. Major Richards, a number of the old boys, and numerous lady and other friends of the present boys. An address of welcome was presented and replied to, and the College Cadets went through some exercises under their officers. ’l'he party was then conducted ovei the College. At 4 p.m. the Governor held a lewe in the Provincial Council Chaml>ers. which was largely atttended. and at 5 o'clock presented the certificates to the successful candidates of the St. John Ambulance Association. In the evening Lord and Lady Ranfurly attended the conversazione held in their honour in the Art Gallery and the Provincial Council Chamber, which were connected by a covered way across Armagh-street. The decorations in the hands of the Horticultural Society were exceedingly well carried out. The long corridors and numerous nooks and corners, with Chinese lanterns and beautiful flowering azaleas, palms, flax, flags, were all charming to roam about. Two

concerts were l>eing carried out simultaneously, at which Mrs B. H. Burns, Mrs E. T. Robinson, the Misses Corrick. Gray. Lake. Davie. Meadows, and Smith, several gentlemen, and the Liedertafel took part. Some limelight views were shown, and the Banjo Band gave one or two selections. The Misses Jennie West and C. Lingard were accompanists. Lady Ranfurly wore black satin with long train, diamond ornaments on the bodice, black feathers and diamond combs in her hair; Mrs Julius, black satin, the bodice trimmed with green chiffon: Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, pale grey satin and cream lace: Mrs Reeves, black velvet: Mrs Ronalds, black velvet: Mrs Cooper, all black: Miss Fraser-Tytler. white brocade with silver passementerie bolero; Mesdames G. Gould. Ranald Macdonald. Boyle. Pyne. Tendall, Denniston, J. Matson: Mrs Acton-Adams wore ruby silk blouse trimmed with white: Mrs (Major) Slater, black with Oriental embroidery: Mesdames H. Bridge. W. Watson. H. Cotterill. McDougall. H. R. Webb. Henderson. Cook, IZard, Brett (Auckland). Chas. Wood (Swyncombe). Snow. Barkas, Misses Meares, Lingard. Godfrey. Connal, Way. Garsia, Garrick. Ainger. Slater. ActonAdams, Mrs Percy Adams (Nelson), Mrs Sweet (India), and many others.