A POPULAR GOVERNOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1627, 19 December 1912, Page 5

A POPULAR GOVERNOR.

LORD LIVERPOOL REPLIES XO WELCOME.

AUCKLAND LUNCHEON. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Auckland, December 18. Lord and Lady Liverpool arrived b£ the Malwa this morning. They were re- 1 ceived by the Administrator (Sir Robert' Stout), tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Massey), and other Ministers, and were cheered on landing, and then drove to Government House.

The Governor created a good impression and was very popular on'the steamer, parJ ticipating in games and other ajnuse< ments. . ;

Lord Liverpool was entertained at luiw cheon this' afternoon by the Mayor and members of the City Council at the' Town Hall. Those present included the Prime, Minister, the Minister for Marine, Mr. Justice Cooper, Bishop. Crossley, Captain Shawe (Assistant-Military Secretary), Colonel Boscaweh (hon. A.D.C.), Sir Maurice O'Borke, Colonel Logan, the Hons. J. A. Tole, Major Harris, G. Fowlds, W. Bee.han, T. Thompson, S. T. Georee, and Messrs. A. M. Myers, J. H. Bradney, J. S. Dickson, M.P.'s, the Consuls, the Mayors of suburban boroughs, and the chairman of tho local bodies.

( The Mayor, in proposing the toast of "The Governor-designate," said it was a happy augury that his Lordship had first placed his foot in Auckland. Prom tho newspaper press they knew that while Lord Liverpool had in the Old Land attained some reputation in affairs of State, he had as a Britisher not overlooked eood British sport, and Aucklanders looked' forward to pleasant times in Jhe future when they offered him the best that they had in yachting, cricket, football, golf, tennis, and other sports which Auckland loved so well. The Mayor apologised for the absence of the Administrator of Government, Sir Robert Stout, who was unavoidably absent. The Prime Minister congratulated hia Lordship and people of Auckland on the favourable auspices under which the new Governor was gaining his first introduction to the Dominion. Since leaving Auckland a fortnight ago he (Mr. Massey) had travelled right through to Southern, Otago, and New Zealand never lookedtetter. In fact the country -was looking its very best, and he believed that Lord Liverpool could not be anything else bnfc favourably impressed. While the people wero genuinely eorry to lose Lord and •H y A slm Ston, they would heartily join with the peoplo of Auckland in extend- ">£. a T T «ry warm welcome to Lord and i.ady Liverpool. They were now withia a JT ¥** °. f - tlie Christmas holidays and he knew it must be difficult for anyone from the . Old Land to appreciate Christmas under blue skies and warm bright weather conditions, but he supposed that Lord Liverpool would nnd that ho'-could onjoy himself just aa much under the altered conditions as he would have done in England. It was re-i gre table that, tiey would, on route to! Wellington, pass through some of the' most interesting country in the dark, bnfc lator his Excellency would have ample opportunity of seeing all that this won* derful country would have to offer. Mr,! Massey concluded by extending, on behalfl of the people of New Zealand, the hearU lest of welcomes to Lord and Lady'Livew pool. . ■ ; . O. Lord Liverpool, upon rising, was greeted with cheers. Hβ has a resonant voice nnd dchborato style, well adapted to public speaking. Ho said ho had come into the room feeling a great nervousness—in fact, the feeling was somewhat similar to that; which he experienced when he had moved! an Address-in-Eeply to a gracious epeecli from tho Tlirono in tho Honse of Lords, On that occasion there had been huw dreds of upturned faces, watching to how he would come through the ordeal, To-day ho felt that those present were moro kindly and less critical. Theil, kindly words of welcome filled him with less trepidation and less fear. ;Ho felt, that in coming amongst the people of-New Zealand ho was not ■ coming amongst strangers. What he was saying was quite spontaneous, it was, not an occasion foi< a set speech, and he wanted to say how deeply he appreciated the warm welcome that had been extended to him by the people of Auckland. In the old days he had heard his father speak of the great pleasure ho had derived from a visit to this country. Before leaving, London some of his old brother officers had entertained him to. dinner, and , the sentiments ■ then expressed had' appealed to him most forcibly, and ho agreed with the speakers at that gathering that tho highest honour that any citizen of tho Empire could earn to be called upon to serve his King in some capacity, no matter how grea.t or how. small that ser- : vice might bo. '(Applause.) Speakingfor Lady himself ho could fay that they would do their best to carry out successfully their duties. Ideals wero not easy to live up to, but to do something for the Empire, no matter how small, was something worth while to achieve. That would , be his watch-., word, and to have accomplished comething of the kind would indeed bo an epitaph worth having when one had pass, ed away. The gathering concluded with cheeri . for Lord and Lady Liverpool.

A PERSONAL IMPRESSION. LORD LIVERPOOL'S CHARACTER. ISTICS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, December 18. Tho "Star" Rives the following character sketch of Lord Liverpool:—Of middle height with a well-knit figure, and dark hair, turning grey at the temples, a closocroppod moustache, the sunburnt face that speaks of much time spent out of doors, .& slight pucker at the corners of the tyo

that is always -found,; in. people with a keen ssnse of humour, Lord Liverpool at once impresses you' as being just tne eort of man likely to make.a success of theimportant post which he has come.out to fill.' He.has the heartiest laugh of any Governor; we have had, for many years.; When you combine ; this with ability and dignity.you have the ideal occupant for. Government House. .A perfectly.natural manner, a steady gaze, and a quickness 'of perception tha.at onee places him fJi-rapport.wih fresh stations and'people, .are ■ at tnbu es, 'that stand a Governor; ]n ? ood stead. Loul Liverpool has them all. There is a refreshing absence of what Wβ; aptly torn termed "starch," which is such a handicap when dealing with colonials.;