THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 494, 10 August 1871, Page 2

THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.

NO. XVIII.

Having received the latest and most authentic news from Wellington by way of the great submarine telegraph, I am enabled to lay before join- readers some account of the arrival of ilis Most Gracious Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen. I may say that some o:/ the particulars to which 1 hore refer have not yet reached the public ear generally, as the only patent submarine wire between this and the great capital is in my pay and keeping, aud dare not forward news to any other part of the colonies on paiD of a very heavy fine. The following is the telegraphic summary referred to : —"Wellington, 3rd A ugust. — About nine o'clock this morning the Major Domo (equal to your Major Gordon) sounded the assembly throughout the deserted streets of this gueat city. Immediately there was a display of bunting from tbo different houses and Government buildings, and the numerous Volunteers of tho place went mad with delight at the thought of the panoply of peace iv which they were so soon to take part in welcoming the Governor. At an early hour, three of the members of the Armed Constabulary.marched to the end of the wharf, and fell-in in two very imposing-looking ranks, through which it was designed that the carriage of the Governor should be driven. To maker this part of the programme more effective, the pewter buttons of the men had been polished with great assiduity, and their belts had received an extra allowance of elbow-grease. But this was not all. Fro to every direction soon came trooping the bold defenders of Wellington, who, to the number of eleven, drew up ou the grass of Lamb ton Quay, in the following order. The extreme right was composed of two of the Whyraper Cavalry, mounted on bullocks, the extreme left fi.ee of the Veterans in an itnpo.-ing suit of yellow, which had been judiciously divided between tlin three, and in tbo centre four of the Wellington Cadets taken at a minus's notice from their studies at the principal nine schools of the oily, and with the marks of i*cd and black ink still upon their hands and faces. To m>ike the guard of honor more imposing, linlf-a dozen horse marines wore landed from H.jVE.S. Obelisk, and we mcd not say that the sight presented by the entire lorce* w;is one of unsurpassed brilliancy. There were also a large number of the leading citizens present, including the Board of Education School of orators,and other public institutions, the whole uudi-r tho command of tho senior officer of the House. At length the smoke of the long-lookod for steamer was seen without the' Heads. In' a very few minutes it was seen by the eyes in the heads —of ihe assembled multitude, and a great cry of joy was heard. On the Luuar coming alongside the wharf, the artillery force of one man and a boy stationed on the extensive fortifications of this place at once fired off a royal salute ol three guns and a miss-fire with Brown Besses, which had the effect of instantly bringing down the rain upon tho bare heads of those assembled. It not pleasant, Ibis was at least refreshing, and salubrious, and the oldest inhabitant was heard to say Unit' his head hadn't bad such a washing since the days when ho was a boy, and went to the seaside once a year.' 1 lie ministers and chiefs in olfieo went on board tho Lunar and partook of some good Auckland provender with great delight. On disembarking, the Governor was met by the Mayor and Town Coun cillors, who presented to him the following address of welcome :—" Wo, tho loyal aud loving inhabitants of this magnificent city, bid you welcome to the capital, and congratulate you ou your escape from the emells and scrip of our fallen sister Auckland. W"e desire to assure you of our profound respect for your position and for the sums of ' ready ' which you will no doubt lavishly expend iv our midst, and we look forward with willingness—nay, even anxiety—to the first public dinner at; which your Excellency will give as a ' house-warming' on taking possession of your new palace on the mud flat. You will find that palace a great improvement on the dingy struc turo in Auckland, where no doubt your Excellency must have passed the greater part of your time in tho most intense disgust." In reply, the Governor made one of his grand coups from tho heart— delivered, too, extemporaneously. He said how delighted he was to return to that peerless city, but he was so taken by surprise at "the welcome given to him that he was unable to give a suitable reply, His Excellency was then affected oven unto tears, and it was said that at this time there was a strong exudation as of the genus onion. Having partially recovered himself, lie congratulated the Volunteers upon their military appearance, aud tho manner iv which they had turned out was a credit to the colony in general, and Wellington in particular. His Excellency then said he would forward a suitable reply to the address of the Mayor alter he had taken a look round and composed himself. Lady Boweu did not appear in the least affectioned, and looked curiously and inquiringly upon the display as something to which she was wholly unused; andJl believe this was the case. Subsequently His Excellency forwarded the following official reply to' the Mayor and Corporation :—"I received your address with great pleasure while on the very threshold, as it were, of this great and glorious ciiy. thin jc.vel of Ihe Southern Seas, which you so well and worthily represent. The concourso of people who welcomed mo will not soon bo forgotten, nothiug having been seen like it since my reception in Onchungn, the day boforo yestorday. Indeed this place much reminds me of that delightful old city, —both are of tho same Conservative turn of mind, and both are analogous to the far-famed city of Sleepy Hollow. As you may imagine, I shook the dust of Auckland irom my feet with great pleasure, for my Caledonians proved a failure, and the smells, .balls, routs, and concerts were too much for me ; besides, I was asked to patronise everything and everybody, till it began to get insufferably low, and paying for so many tickets becamo expensive — that is, it would hare been if I had been allowed to pay ; but I will give the peoplo tbo credit to say, that I- oifcen had free orders sent for myself and suite. However, that is now among the things of the past.

"We arc-in Wellington, the fair city of these isles, where neither smells, balls, routs, or scrip, ever penetrate. In saying this, I must except my own hospitalities, which will be wide spread and universally admired; and the magnificent shed you have erected for ran will, T Iru i. see us many a time over a bottle of convivial old port. In a colony where we have been so welcome, I could'nt do loss, and I think 1 may even venture to promise an occasional oyster supper, when a return feed is required. I enclo.se a cheque for £1000, which please forward to the Decayed Politicians Almhouscs, with my compliments. I did the handsome on leaving Auckland, and I cannot do less on my arrival here. lam glad to hear you have a Mayor and Corporation, and I anticipate a great many pleasing reunions in the future. I hear that upon your election you gave a most hsindsomo spread to the whole of the councillors. Mayor Fillip of Auckland will, it is said, do tho same on his re-elec-tion, if the Council will pay half the co.it. But this is beside the question, and 1 again, on behalf of myself, wife aud family, thank you for the cordiality evinced towards us, and the roomy shed prepared for our reception.—Bowen." This was the whole telegram, aud I give it in its entirety. It has iaketi up so much space that several other matter*; which 1 wished to touch upon —not least among them being the approaching marriage of Dick—must be held over for a future occasion.

Nathaniel Beeswing.