ON BOARD THE TUTANEKAI.

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

ON BOARD THE TUTANEKAI.

LUNCH WITH THE MINISTRY,

"AN ARDENT IMPERIALIST." ■ Shortly after 9 a.m. the Government steamer Tutauekai went out into the stream to take Lord Islington off the Ulimaroa. This was iu accordance with tho arrangement that ho should not officially land until 2 p.m. On. board the Tutauekai was the Prime, Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), together with all ■the other members of tho. Government. Within a few minutes bis Excellency was ready to transfer to the Tutauekai. He was accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Captain M'Gill Maitland, of the Crrenadior Guards, and his private secretary, Mr. Kerr-Clark. As tho Tutauekai steamed awaj a Lord Islington,

• Lord .Islington-was. warmly welcomed by the Prime Minister, oh .behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand. -Of more than medium height, he has a fine, soldierly appearance, and what is more is of strongly optimistic temperament. He had thoroughly enjoyed his trip across' the Tasman Sea, and looked the picture.,of health as he hurried down •' the gangway to board the Tutanekai. Indeed, one could not have failed to have been impressed with'the alertness - and energy which is characteristic of his Excellency. Counting by years, however, Lord Islington is h.o longer a young man, but this circumstance is betokened only by tho fact that his hair and moustacho have turned grey—or rather nearly white. Apparently he had been looking forward to' the day when he should reach New Zealand, for he seemed very pleased that his long journey had come- to an'end. Soon he was chatting entertainingly with the Prime Minister and the other members of tho. Ministerial party. First Official Salute.. As the Tutanekai steamed round to her appointed anchorage, the various places of interest in and around the citjr were pointed out to his Excellency. It is worthy of note that' he expressed himself as being charmed with tho beauty of both the harbour and the city, whilst the weather also, came in for his highest praise. As regards the new vice-regal residence, of which a fairly good view could be obtained, Lord Islington remarked that the site appeared ,to have been well chosen. When the Tutanekai. steamed past' tho Amokura, his Excellency was honoured ■■with a salute of 17 guns —his first official salute in the Dominion —and a boat put off from the training ship to 'make the Tutanekai fast to a buoy in the vicinity. Lord' Islington lunched .with the members of the Government on board, and then, as had been arranged, made his official landing at 2 p.m. ,

By' the courtesy of the Prime. Minister a contingent of pressmen and photographers went out with, the Ministerial party on the Tutanekai. Would his Excellency oblige the photographers by sitting for . them? "Only too pleased-," came the reply. Although the photographers had declared that they would not take up more than a minute or two r the operations, lasted ha" an hour! Not only did his Excellency agree to be "taken" alone, and .with, the members of his staff, but he also consented to form the central figure of quite a number of groups

which • included the Ministers of the Crown. As there were half a dozen photographers on board, and each had his own ideas as to which was the best spot at which to take the photographs, Lord Islington was put to a great deal of trouble, but he did not seem to mind in the slightest degree. A Word to the Reporters. The press representatives next engaged his Excellency's attention, but* naturally, they were not able to elicit a great deal for publication, as, by virtue of the high office which he, was about to fill, the range of matters upon which he could speak was very restricted. As his Excellency led the way to the saloon, he remarked: — "I am afraid you will find me very barren of ' copy' for a little while. But if there is anything that I can tell you I shall ho glad to do so." "I hope," he added, "to be more useful to yon as timo goes on." In the course of a very pleasant conversation with tho reporters he mentioned that he had bedn so taken up with politics at Home in tho past that he had not been nblo to plan a trip to the colonies. He went on to say that ho knew n good deal about Now Zealand for a visitor, becauso be had read practically all that was to be read on the Dominion with a view of furnishing his mind as to the affairs of the country of which ho had been appointed Governor. "Of course, now I am here," ho added, "I shall be able to pick up a good deal about New Zealand which T could never have acquired from books."

Speaking in regard to the feeling at Homo with reference to the Dominion, Lord Islington said that it was very warm and cordial indeed. There could be no doubt whatever but that the people of the Old Country had a very great admiration for all the Dominion had done. Tho way in which the people of New Zealand had pushed themselves to the front in such a comparatively short period was considered to bo greatly to their credit. Another thing in particular which impressed the people of the Old Land was the way in which New Zealand had not allowed the great distance which separated it from tho Mother Country to interfere with their communication. An interesting fact mentioned by Lord Islington at this stage was that he had never previously been offered a colonial Governorship. That ho would enjoy his residonco in New Zealand ho felt certain. As to his plans whilst in New ■ Zealand he could not say; ho would have to wait until ho had gained a closer'acquaintance with the Dominion.

In conclusion, his Excellency re marked:—

"As one who is an ardent, believer in-tho Imperial system, it is a great pleasure to mo to find myself - in the position of being. Governor over a Dominion which has proved itself on so many occasions by its loyal actions, equally keen on fostering and increasing that connection. Therefore,. I. feel that whatever work I may have to do in that connection as an Imperial Governor I shall bo working with a community with which I am in complete harmony." Waiting for the Covernor. Shortly after one. o'clock in tho afternoon, Post Office Square and tho precincts of tho Queen's Wharf presented an animated scene. Flags fluttered gaily in tho breeze, and tho old clock lace' in the tower of the Post Office looked benignly down upon the crowd which invaded hi ever-increasing density thq area which, on ordinary occasions, is one of the most commonplace work-a-day spots in-the-city. Tho outward and visible signs of the impending ceremonial wore the scarlet dais, tho roped-in enclosure, .mounted marshals in uniform doing their best to be in half-a-dozen places at once, mounted constables, a force of police,arid various anxious-eyed civilian' officials. The burdens of the Empire could not well have rested more heavily upon them. Then came the 'tread of disciplined feet, and tho guard of honour,' the, Wellington College senior cadets battalion (Major Mathieson), stepped into view, and proceeded ,to the outer tee of the wharf, there to receive his Excellency tho Governor with appropriate ceremonial. 'A clatter- of hoofs announced the approach of tho mounted escort,, and - presently tho Eoyal New Zealand Artillery detachment (Lieutenant Standish), detailed for that honour, trotted smartly up. They wore splendidly mounted, neat .and. trim,, and though small numerically, gave the imprcssionof being the smartest and best disciplined escort yet furnished for attendance upon a Governor. Then camo the tread of more feet, heralding the arrival of. the bluejackets... from H.M..S. Pioneer, detailed for duty on the wharf, the gunners of the Wellington Field Artillery (L) ; battery) under Major Petherick, and marshalled into position with sharp, clear-cut' words of command, these wheeled, faced about, and lined the approaches, uncompromising walls of khaki,' behind which the populace heaved and surged after tho manner of crowds. Beyond the gunners were tho'garrison artillery (Major Courtney) walls of blue extending from tho human barriers of khaki, and so on, along the route of tho procession to be, as far as Parliament Buildings. And all this time^. tho little grey Tutanekai, with her illustrious passengers on board, bobbed up arid down off Somes Island, waiting for the auspicious moment. ..-.,. -.',' . His Excellency Lands. There presently arrived at the outer tete the staff officers of the Wellington district command (Liout.-Colonol A. Bauchop, C.M.G., 0.C., and Captain

R. 0. Chesney, D.A.A.G.), the officer cormuanding the . Garrison Artillery (Lietit.-Coloiiel G. F. C. Campbell), and staff, and Colonel J. R. Purdy (Director of Medical Services). Inspector Ellison and Sub-Inspector Norwood wero also in attendance. At the same time .'the" Tutanekai pointed her grey noso in tJho direction of the wharves, steamed slowly in; and was brought alongside with neatness and dispatch. Immediately to the right of the- gangway ladder was the Guard of Honour, and beyond these- stood the Garrison Band, standing a.t attention. After a brief interval, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), in Court dress, and followed,by the members of the Executive—the 'lions. J. A. Millar, T. Mackenzie, D. Buddo, R. M'Kenzio, Dr. Findlay, G. Fowlds, and James Carroll—came ashore, and stood at the. foot of the gangway... Then camo his Excellency's aides and private secretary (Captain' Shannon, 'Captain Maitland, and Mr. Kerr-Clark), and, lastly, Ms Excellency himself. As he stopped from the gangway, tho guard presented .wins,, the hand played the National Anthem, while the bronze throats of the guns at the saluting battery ait Rpitca Point roared their stern welcome. Words of Welcome. Addressing his Excellency, the Primo Minister said: —"Upon your landing in the Dominion I desire in the name of New Zealand to extend to you a hearty welcomo and to express the hope that your term of office iii the high position . to .which j;ou have been called yah bo

in every way successful." Sir Joseph said that he felt coniident, from tho wido experience Lord Islington had had in the various positions he had successfully filled in public/ lifo in tho Old Land, that tho knowledge gained in, those capacities would enable him to discharge the important duties attaching to his office to tho satisfaction of his Majesty tho King, and the people of this. country.

Lord Islington thanked the Prime Minister for the warm, welcome that he had, on the behalf of the people of New Zealand, extended to him. He felt proud to be tho Governor of a portion of tho British Empire that had shown itself thoroughly loyal to tho British Crown. He would endeavour to discharge the duties attaching to his office to the best of his ability. He took a

deep interest in the people of the Dominion, and had read a great deal about tho country generally. He hoped, however, from personal experience, to gain a. still wider knowledge, his anxious desire being to promote tho best interests of the people of this remarkable country. . After being introduced to the staff officers of the forces, Lord Islington, • preceded by his aides, inspected the' band and the guard, aid was then escorted to his carriage. Tho escort wheeled into fours, land tho official procession, headed by. the Garrison Band, .proceeded to the dais in Post Office. Square, iih© Governor's arrival being heralded with hearty cheers. from the orowd, and tho civic reception commenced.