VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue II, 8 January 1898, Page 30

VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH. LORD RANFURLY having consented to lay the foundation stone of the Whiteley Memorial Church (a new building the Wesleyan body intern! erecting in New Plymouth). His Excellency. accompanied by Lady Ranfurly. Captain Alexander. Private Secretary, the Hon. Hill - Trevor. A.D.C.. and the Hon. T. Thompson. Minister of Justice, made his first official visit to Taranaki on December 9. I'he \ ice-Regal party came from Wellington in a sjiecial train, fitted up with sleeping apartments, etc., and as Lord Ranfurlv is an enthusiastic

disciple of Izaak Walton, and hearing that some gotxi trout fishing was to I»e obtained in the river near Inglewood, decided to stop a night in that l<M*ality for the purpose of having a little sport. The train accordingly arrived at Norfolk Road Station, ill Mint twenty miles from New Plymouth. the day previous to his visit to the town, and the travellers went on an angling excursion, cooking their own food in the open air. and return-

ing to the carriage of the train at night to sleep. As the weather was fine and warm the members of the party thoroughly enjoyed their novel picnic. The Vice-Regal party arrived at New Plymouth at about twenty minutes I»ast eleven, and were received at the

railway station by the Mayor and Borough Councillors, Mr H. Brown. M.H.R.. Mr Stanford. S.M.. members of the various local bodies. Mr F. A. Carrington, the father of the settlement who is ninety years of age. and Mr and Mrs Standish. A formal intro-

duction having taken place. His Excellency was presented with an address from the Mayor anil Councillors, heartily welcoming Lord and Lady Ranfurlv to New Plymouth, which His Lordship replied to. his remarks l>eing received with hearty cheers. Lady Ranfurly was then presented by Miss Gladys Roy. the youngest daughter of the Mayor, with a handsome Ixnupiet. fastened with green silk ribbon. Miss Muriel Roy at the

same time handing- a pretty buttonhole to His Excellency. The party then entered carriages, and a procession being formed, a move was made for the Criterion Hotel, where the official luncheon was to take place. The Hawera Mounted Hides, in command of Captain Davis. the Taranaki

Rides, under Captain N. Okey. and the Town Band, under Bandmaster Garry, also took part in the procession, which went by way of Queen-street into Devon-street, the sides of the streets on the route being lined with people, whilst a dense crowd had collected

in front of the Criterion Hotel to receive the distinguished visitors. Whilst His Excellency was being ■banqueted’ by the Mayor and Municipal authorities. Mr and Mrs Standish were entertaining Lady Ranfurly and Captain Hill-Trevor at their residence, the Mayor’s wife being in ill-health. Mr Keith, the new proprietor of the Criterion Hotel, provided an excellent collation, and that having been partaken of and a few toasts drunk, a

move was made, as the time for laying the foundation stone of the Whiteley Memorial Church was drawing near. A large concourse of people assembled at the site of the new church between one and two o’clock, and. ou the arrival of the Vice-Regal party, the two bands of the town accom-

His Excellency, the Hon. T. Thompson and the Mayor had seats on a platform facing where the stone was to be laid. The ceremony commenced by the Rev. C. H. Garland presenting an address to the Governor from the Wesleyan body, to which a suitable reply was made. His Excellency saying that a ’no more fitting memorial could have been erected to the memory of Mr Whiteley, who gave his best endeavours to the advancement of Christianity and of peace : even giving his life for the splendid work in which he was engaged.’ After the bands had played a few selections the Treasurer of the church. Mr E. Okey, presented His Excellency with a trowel and mallet, the former being made from ironsand from the beach and the latter from the wood of the first English oak grown in New Plymouth. The usual procedure of adjusting the stone witli the spirit level having been performed. Lord Ranfurly tapped it with the mallet and declared the stone as being well and truly laid. Further hymns having been sung and speeches made, the ceremony was brought to a conclusion by the singing of the Doxology and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. W. L. Balmires. of Victoria. His Excellency. Lady Ranfurly. and party, escorted by the Taranaki Rifles and Hawera Mounted Rifles, then were driven to the Theatre Royal, where an Industrial Exhibition was being held. The Governor was welcomed by the Mayor, and Lady Ranfurly was presented with a bouquet and a paperknife made from puriri wood. His Excellency then replied to an address presented to him, and the Hon. T. Thompson having made a few remarks. in which he said he had the pleasure of knowing the late Rev. John Whiteley, the Vice-Regal party partook of refreshments, and shortly afterwards took their departure amidst the hearty cheering from the large concourse of people who had assembled. His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly were afterwards driven to the Recreation Grounds, through which they walked. They then went to the Mayor’s residence, where they were entertained at an afternoon tea. At five o’clock the members of the jxirty took their departure by the special train, which pr«»eeeded as far as the Norfolk Road Station. His Excellency being desirous of putting in another

morning's fishing at that most picturesque locality. Our illustrations show the arrival of the Vice-Regal party at the railway station. New Plymouth. where the Governor was received by the Mayor ami Municipal body : the reception they received at the Criterion Hotel : and His Excellency laying the foundation stone of the Whiteley Memorial Church.