THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 166, 14 January 1873, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR'S TOUR.

A telegram was received by the Mayor on I Saturday afternoon last from Hiß Honor the Superintendent, conveying the information that his Excellency Sir George Bowen would pass through Cromwell on Tuesday morning. A meeting of the Town Council was convened for yesterday (Monday) afternoon, at two o'clock, with a view to making some arrangements to give His Excellency the public reception due to him from all loyal subjects a3 the representative in this Colony of Her | Majesty Queen Victoria. But at the time i appointed, the only members of Council present were his Worship the Mayor and Councillor Dawkins. Thus no quorum being constituted, the meeting lapsed ; and with it all i chance of anything in the shape of a public I welcome to His Excellency. The Mayor thereupon telegraphed to the Superintendent | that, owing to the shortness of the notice I given, no demonstration could he attempted. I At Clyde, where His Excellency arrived j about 7 o'clock yesterday evening, and where I he stayed for the night, a very enthusiastic I demonstration of welcome was accorded to I him. Festoons of evergreens and flowers j crossed the main street in several places ; j emblems, flags, and mottoes were shown in j some profusion ; and the town made a very gay appearance. Under the portico of the Town-hall, an address was presented by his Worship the Mayor to Sir George, who briefly replied. At Alexandra, also, we are told that a very creditable expression of loyalty was rendered to His Excellency. Shortly before twelve o'clock to-day, the coach containing the vice-regal party arrived at Cromwell bridge, on the farther end of which the Governor and the Superintendent alighted and walked into the town. The coach halted for about ten minutes opposite the Kawarau Hotel, where several prominent citizens, including the Mayor and Councillor Wright, were introduced to His Excellency. Then another start was made, and they proceeded on their journey to the Lakes. Some signs of loyalty were exhibited in the shape of a few flags on private buildings ; and a rather straggling round of cheers was raised among the fifty or sixty people who congregated on the arrival of the coach. Beyond these, there were no evidences of an appreciation of the honour of the visit. Perhaps Sir George was glad enough that things were so, and that no "fuss" was made ; but whether Cromwell has any reason to be proud on that account is open to question. His Excellency proceeded hence to Lake Wakatip, where he will spend two days. The residence of B. Hallenstein, Esq., at Speargrass Flat, has been placed at the disposal of the party during their stay. Sir George will then proceed on Friday, by way of Cromwell, to Lake Wanaka ; and is, we hear, to be entertained on that night by Henry Campbell, Esq., at Wanaka Station. A night is also to be spent at Morven Hills homestead ; after which, Sir George will go on through the Lindis Pass to Timaru, Avhere he is to be met by the Superintendent of Canterbury, who will accompany him to Mount Cook. Mere, of course, some time will be spent in viewing the glaciers. His Excellency had meant to have devoted two months to Otago, but his | time has been curtailed by the necessity of i proceeding to Melbourne in March. As the | health of Lady Bowen would not enable her to bear the fatigue of so rapid a journey, she and the Misses Bowen will proceed from Lake Wakatip to Sir F. Dillon Bell's station in Shag Valley, and thence return to Dunedin in time to sail for Wellington by the Rangitoto, or some other steamer, about the 23rd instant.