THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2525, 21 March 1871, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO PORT CHALMERS.

Yesterday, his Excellency, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent and several ladies and gentlemen, went down to Port Chalmers by the steamer Peninsula, which had been placed at his disposal by the Harbor Steam Cora ’any. Bn route, Burke’s Brewery was visit :d, and the party arrived at the Port about 1.30. In anticipation of his arrival the town was gaily decked with bunting. On landing on the jetty he was met by the Mayor and Corporation. The Mayor X’ead the following address :

“To His Excellency, Sir G. F. Bowen, K G.C.M.G.

“ May it please your Excellency—- “ We, the Mayor and Councillors of the Incorporated Town of Port Chalmers, offer you, as the representative of our beloved Queen, a cordial welcome to our town on this your first official visit. We trust that your Excellency will enjoy your tour through the Middle Island of New Zealand, and particularly your vi- it to Poit Chalmers ; and that you may be blest with longlife and happiness. “Signed on behalf of the Mayor and Councillors.

“George L. Asher, “ Town Clerk.”

His Excellency replied “ Mr Mayor .and Gentlemen—“l tender you my sincere acknowledgments for the terms iu which you have expressed your loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign, and your welcome to myself as her Majesty’s representative on the occasion of my first official visit to Port Chalmers. I congratulate you on the rapid increase of your population, and on your remarkable progress n every reject during the very few years of the existence of this town—a progress which is doubtless owing in no small degree to the energy and discretion with which the numbers of the Corporation have advanced the interests of their fellow-towns-men, I congratulate you above all in the completion of your dock : an important public work, which cmnot fail to prove of great advantage not only to this port and Province, but to the entire Colony- 1 lost no time in pressing upon the attention of the Imperial Government aud of the naval authorities that your dock should be used for the repair of her Majesty’s ships on the New Zealand station. Commodore Stirling was anxious to carry out this view, and I am confident that nothing but heavy contrary gales on the west c -ast prevented him from brnging the Clio to Port Chalmers this month. “ I will conclude by assn ing you of my earnest desire to forward your local interests to the full extent of my powers, and by again thanking you for your loyal address, aud for your hearty greeting.” The party then proceeded to inspect the graving dock, now completed, and after examining and admiring the work and the process in operation for removing the cofferdam, they p"oceded to Dodson’s Hotel, where an elegant lunch was prepared. His Honor the Superintendent presided, and the health of her Majesty and his Excellency were drank. In returning thanks, his Excellency expressed the pleasure he had felt iu looking over the works at the Port, and that he looked forward to becomin; more intimately acqra'uted with those by whom he was surrounded in time to come, as it was the i >- tention of himself aud Lady Bowen to spend the fi-st three mouths of each year in Dunedin. After the healths of his Honor tlie Superintendent and the Mayor and Corporation had been hurriedly drank and as hurriedly replied to, the party re-embarked iu the Peninsula, and proceeded to the Maori Kaik, returning to Dunedin via Poijiobello about seven o’clock.