THE CIVIC WELCOME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1628, 20 December 1912, Page 5

THE CIVIC WELCOME.

AT THE RAILWAY STATION

AN ADDRESS AND A BBPLY. ~ ■•' There was a comparatively smalfr .. gathering at the railway station to welcome the Governor. It was not in any ' eense a function for the people, for a small space had been railed off on the platform at which the special tram drew- up, within which enclosure were .the Mayor and Councillors, and their wives, and the Ministers of the Crown. The Ministers present were tno £">ns. W H. Hemes, A. L. Heriman, H. D. Bell E Heaton Rhodes' and Dr. Pomare. Mr 'Gavin Hamilton, private secretary to Lord Liverpool, also awaited the arrival of his chief. Outside the barrier, and at the approaches to the station, were some hundreds of people watching tue proceedings, and greeting Lord Liverpool with their cheers. . . The party, which came by the special train, included Captain Shawe and Captain Eastwood, aides-de-camp, Missj Foliarobe (Lord Liverpool's mece), Sir Kob°i t Stout (Administrator of the, Government, the Hon. W. V. Massey (Prime Minister), and his private Eecretary, Air. i. U. When Lord Liverpool nliglited from his carriage he was introduced by the Prime Minister to the other Ministers present, and therf to the Mayor (Mr. D. MTUreri and the Mayoress. !

THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS.

ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN.

The Mayor, in the Course of a. short speech,- in extending a Welcome to Lord and Lady Liverpool, said: 'On behalf of the gentlemen of my council,, and of. the entire body of the citizens of Wellington I desire to bid Lady Liverpool and yourself a most hearty welcome to our shores and to onr city, lou come to us as another. human link in tliat chain which binds us in affectionate loyalty to the Throne, and to the great Empire of which we are.a part. From the treat throbbing city of London, the centre and heart of our Empire, you havo come to our little city, and your presence here is an honour to our city and our country. We realise that as the representative of his Majesty the King vou will have a deep. interest 'in all our'institutions, and in everything that affects the well-being of the people or this Dominion. . . ■ ~ .. , "Wo desire that you : -may. realise that in leaving tho sea-girt coast of the Mother Land—the land which our people delight to call the Motherland-you have cometo another sea-girt and maritime conntrv, which has even been.denned as the Britain of the South. Here you will meet not another people, but the fame people, the samo virile race. With the same tenacity of purpose which-you know so well belong to tho people of the Old Land. The people- of New Zealand take a healthy and live interest in all forms of sport and healthful exercises, which will- we know, receive additional stimulus from your Excellency's kindly patronage, as wo know you ore what the colonial people would 'term 'a jjood sport"-if I may use, the term with proper respect. .. . "The Imperial relationship and the duty that each part owes to' the whole is a studv we arc as a people deeply intended in. "You will recognise, I am .sure,, that New Zealand is very desirous of doing its part well. ■ The people of my citv with all the other people of our coimttv wi I be glad to co-operate with your Excellencv in tb* mighty. work of • Empirebuildin". The Motherland. Canada. South Africa."Australia, mid all other British possessions we think of as of our own countrv and your presence -in our midst will aid us to realise this. umtv. ,. c .>u more. Whilst your Excellencies are with us we trust you will see much of New Zealand. • , , . , • "Wo ask yon to considor that nnr greetin" to vour Excellency is a welcome >«h----tirelv from our heart*. At the very pnM of tii« citT I oxfrnd to your Excellency on bs'half "of nil ihe people of Wellington a heart}' welcome. I hopo that your stay will te long with us. and timt it will lo pleasant and to both Lady Liverpool and yourself." .....-,

LORD LIVERPOOL'S RESPONSE. "1 THANK YOU COKDIALLY", : 'Lord Liverpool Toplicd very briefly.,"! thank you cordially," he said, ■ "ior the warm welcome you have extended to mo as the representative of Hie Sovereign, and for your expressions of loyalty. Ton have struck a personal note also, and I cannot express. adequately how much I appreciate the spontaneous expression of goodwill and kindliness expressed in the words you havo uttered. And while expressing my deep gratitude to the citizens of Wellington for their warm welcome, I must assure you that Lady Liverpool and myself will strive our hardest to merit vour esteem, and when my term of oflice comes to an end I trust' that in some small deree I shell havo earned your goodwill, know my predecessor, Lord Islington, did (Applause.) The Mayor called for threo cheers for Lord a-nd Lndy Liverpool, and the cheers were given heartily. . After the welcome the vice-regal party went to Government House by motor-car, and, except by tho people at the station, they were not recognised in their progress through the streets.