THE GOVERNOR at CHRISTCHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 22 February 1883, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR at CHRISTCHURCH.

Christchurch, This day. His Excellency the Governor yesterday visited the Lyttelton Borough schools-, gaol, and orphanage. He was entertained at luncheon on board the p.s. Lyttelton by the Harbor Board, and subsequently made a tour of inspection of the harbor. In the evening the Governor was entertained by the Mayor of Christchurch at a banquet in the Academy of Music, therebeing about eighty persons present. In replying- to the toast of his health the Governor said that his first visit to Christchurch had been a source of unbounded pleasure to him, and was only one, he trusted, of many visits he should pay it. In the town he saw much that brought to his mind many associations relating to a much earlier period of his history. In Cathedralsquare he saw the statue of an old colleague in the War Office, John Robert Godloy, whose sterling qualities he well remembered. Another man lie remembered was James Edward FitzGerald, whom he knew in boyhood. He (the Governor) was delighted and astonished at the great strides that had been taken by the place within half of the period of his life. Thirty-six years ago it did not exist, now it was a thriving city, with a thriving port, and reminded him more than any other place in tho world of Old England. The energy shown here was the same as was shown by the Anglo-Saxon race in America and Australia, and in all parts of the world, which should give them all reason to be proud of the race and the empire to which they belonged. He ventured to predict that ere long, though not perhaps in his clay, the question of federation of the British Empire would become a question in practical politics. The part the colony had to play in this great scheme was simply to go on developing its resources. He regarded its debt as a thing that could be easily borne. A country like New Zealand, which could support a population of ten times the size of the present number, would have very little difficulty in paying off its debt. If he were able to do anything to advance the development of the colony he would be proud and happy to do so. He believed that the colony would y'O on making* railways and opening up new country, and would become a nation numbered by millions and a great factor in the British community. Replying to the toast of the Parliament, the Hon. J. T. Peacock expressed the opinion that the Legislative Council had the confidence of the country, and he hoped the constitution of the colony would remain intact. Mr W. Montgomery said that every man in the House felt that the colony should become, as his Excellency said, the home of millions. They might differ as to the means of advancing the prosperity of the colony, but if they did not adopt some means it would be stagnation. The colony had many important things to maintain and advance, such as public works and education, and he was sure that all members of Parliament were anxious to treat these in a manner calculated to advance the interests of the colony.