THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH IN REPLY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 3 June 1899, Page 757

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH IN REPLY.

Lord Ranfurly replied as follows: — To the Executive of the Queen’s Statue Commemoration Committee: Ladies and Gentlemen,- —As the representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen I beg to acknowledge your address, and to assure you that the information therein contained is of great interest, and shall be duly conveyed to Her Majesty by me, more especially the fact of the voluntary and hearty co-operation of the children of your Auckland Educational District( children on whom so much of the future prosperity of this country must depend) and not forgetting the many other loyal subjects who have so gladly taken part in this important movement. To you all great credit is due for the way in which this work has lieen carried out. and your desire to embellish and beautify your city in itself is a most laudable one; the erection of a statue such as this should surely encourage further eflforts towards the advancement of a city already so bountifully treated by the hand of nature. I can assure you that I am proud to be present to-day, and to unveil the first statue to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in this her colony of New Zealand, a fitting memorial to a revered and beloved ruler, and a lasting testimony to the loyalty and affection of her subjects. Distant though you may here be from the great Mother Country, from whom you spring, the benign influence of cur soverign lady is ever visible amongst you. and I am persuaded that in no part of her wide dominions are hearts more loyal or more true than those who are gathered together to-day to do her honour. The influence of Her Majesty the Queen has been an ever-increasing one since C2 years ago, when England's chivalry was first aroused on behalf of a young and gentle princess on whom the heavy responsibility of the Empire so suddenly fell. Called at this early age to a sovereignty unrivalled in the past and unequalled at the present, she showed herself fully capable of wielding her sceptre to the honour of her country and to the lasting good of her people. Fortunate in the choice of a wise and accomplished prince as her consort, the queen teaches to us all the noblest lesson of domestic virtue; tried by sorrow's of the deepest, her fortitude and Christian piety have never wavered. Looking back on the long years of her life, she stands out a bright example to all that is best of royal

dignity or of loving sympathising womanhood. May she rule us long; and may that noble example be ever with us and our children, even when she whom we love and honour to-day has passed away from amongst us to inherit a yet more glorious future; and may the blessing of a grateful people be upon her now and for evermore.

His Excellency resumed his seat, and then rising, said, ‘X have much pleasure in unveiling this statue, and call for three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen. Lord Ranfurly then pulled the cord, and the Royal Standard of Great Britain quietly fell away from the draped figure, and amidst prolonged cheering the statue of Her Most Gracious Majesty was revealed to the large assemblage. The Garrison Band, and also the Maori Band from Onewhero, played ‘God Save the Queen,’ and as the last strains died away the booming of the guns from the warships announced to the city that the ceremony had been successfully performed. As the Governor and party retired three cheers were given both for Lord and Lady Ranfurly. At the gate at the Park the escort of His Excellency, the Mounted Rifles, under Captain W. Holgate, fell in behind and accompanied the party back to Government House.