ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 850, 23 June 1910, Page 8

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

THE CIVIC WELCOME AND THE -MAYOR'S ADDRESS.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY.

. , INTERESTING CEREMONY; AT PARLIAMENT i GROUNDS. :

:..' "Spring in Winter"—that was at -|once the natural setting.of.New Zealand's welcome to her newly-appointed and tho note that ran (through the wholo of yesterday's ceremonial proceedings and popular demonstrations.' The gales and storms iof the preceding days had ceased, and > t learly risers breathed .a fresher, softer lair, and looked out from their hillsides .'upon rosy skies and gently-rippling hvaters; It was a fit beginning for a ' j day of high promise. Out in midharjbour' lay the steamer Ulimaroa, and as ithe colours of dawn lost themselves in - |the light of the new day, it was natural ,!to .surmise that Baron Islington might he casting inquiring glances upon the .'grassy slopes, the terraced hills, the . crowded roofs, the mast-beset wharves ■W the city, that is to bo tho centre V»f bis new career. He could not but hlook, and he saw Port Nicholson at its 'fairest. It was 1 indeed one of those , mornings of promise—of Spring in Win-\ter—-when heaven is blue and .-'earth jreenor than at ordinary times.

The programme of the day was pub'iished beforehand, arid the details .given below will show how it was carried put. While the Prime Minister .and his Cabinet colleagues accompanied lord Islington on a harbour cruise in the Tutanekai, the final touches were ■•being given, to the preparations for the welcome on shore. Flag after flag was run up until.every Government office, every consulate, all tho hanks, the municipal and Harbour Board offices, most of the mercantile houses, and many private, residences were appropriately bedecked. The shipping , also was made gay with ensigns and lines of signal' flags. Sunshine and breeze, as if' -to co-operate' with the loyal subjects of tho King, brightened the colours of the flags and kept them ripjpling and displayed.

The landing, the civic welcome at the Queen's Statue, tho procession, and' the swearing-in. ceremony at the Old Parliament Buildings were , managed, on the whole, very successfully, and tho proceedings which, in their official . character, were widely representative, received a thoroughly popular tone from'the "thousands of onlookers who had gathered in Post Office Square, along the. route of the procession and at the Parliamentary, grounds. Tho crowds wore thoroughly well-behaved, ■and though never.very noisy in their i demonstrations, they seemed to feel a I deeper interest in the proceedings than that of mere sightseers.

was accorded a very hearty, cheer by the passengers on board tho TTlimaroa.

That pcrvatSng note of Spring in Winter emerged clearly in his Excellency's extempore reply to the Mayor's address. He reminded his hearers of .the Empire's cloud of .sorrow, but spoke in terms of hope and confidence of the new reign and of his own opening career as Governor of New Zealand. His pleasant natural smile, as seen yesterday again and again, seemed to mean that he was sure he would like New Zealand and New Zcalandors, and those who merely saw and cheered, as well as those who were, privileged to grasp his hand, evidently reciprocated the anticipation.