BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3071, 21 December 1872, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(From the New Zealand Press Association.) Cromwell, December 21. The crushing from the Nil Desperandum claim for the last fortnight, resulted in a cake of gold weighing 35 ounces. Pout Chalmers, December 21. The Luna arrived at 2.30. The Governor was brought ashore in the Dido’s boat, and inspected the Dock" The Dido will be open for inspection 10-morrow. All the ships in harbor were decorated.

VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR AND LADY BOWEN TO DUNEDIN. The visit of Sir George and Lady Bowen to Otago, apart from any political sense, has been looked forward to with considerable interest, as an event likely to give zest to the festivities of the approaching season. The prospect of balls, parties, flower-shows, and other recreations, patronised by ViceRoyalty, filled many with pleasurable excitement, while others looked for more solid results. The community, therefore, were prepared to give His Excellency and Lady a

hearty welcome. The servants of the Corporation have been engaged for some days past in the erection of a triumphal arch at the junction of Rattray and High streets, near to the Cargill Monument. It was designed by Mr Mirams, City Surveyor, and the result is pleasing and effective, and surpasses anything of the kind yet attempted in Dunedin. it was compos dof one principal, with two minor arches on either side, surmounted by turrets, and clothed throughout with evergreens. On the jetty side were the words, in illuminated letters, “ Welcome .Sir George and Lady Bowen,” “Honour,” “Loyalty,” with the monograms of Her Majesty and his Excellency. Gu the apex <»f the centre arch was placed a transparency showing toe Imperial i oat of arms, surmounted by a crown, while from the various turrets flags were unfurled. Conspicuous among these were the Union Jack, the St George, and other ensigns. On the Rattray street side of the arch were written the mottoes, “ Honor to our Queen and ountry,” “Fidelity,” and “Liberty,” together with monograms similar to those on the reverse side. A platform was erected on the south side of Rattray street, for the accominoda ion of lady spectat rs During the early miming the citizms manifested their loyalty by a display of flags and other means, while the streets became thronged with people in holiday attire, many of whom were visitors from the c inntry. 'I he shipping al-ngsidc the various jetties was profusely dressed with bunting, and, the weather being line, bright, and cheerful, contributed much to the general effect.. ' As the day advanced the various business places were closed. Meanwhile, the children belonging to the difl'.rmit Bauds of Hope mastered at the Drill Shed At three o’clock they formed in pro cssion, to the number of about 500, and, headed by the fife and drum band in uniform, marched through Princes street to Fern Hill house. As the hour of debarkation approached the Artillery were formed up witli their guns in Crawford street. .No, 1 Comp my C ity Guards composed the Guard of Honor, and took up ther position on the wharf opposite the landing shed; while the North Dunedin Rifles and Cadets were thrown out along Princes street to keep off the press of the people. About this time the press became excessive, every available syaco adjacent to the scene of demonstration being occupied, 's the Luna steamed up the Bay, the Golden Age, under a blaze of Hags, went down to meet her. The former was received with hearty and prolonged cheers as she approached the wharf. Owing, however, to the tide not being full, she touched ground, and some little, delay was occasioned in coming alongside. "When made fast, his Worship the Mayor went on board, and welcomed -irGeorgeand Lady Bowen to the city. Soon after, Sir George, Lady Bowen, and suite landed and were received by the members of the Provincial Government, the guard of honor, under command of Captain Wales, presenting arms, and the Artillery meanwhile firing a salute of seventeen gun*. His Excellency proceeded up the Wharf towards the carriage, the Artillery Band playing the National Anthem. The chorus and other demonstrations of welcome at this time were deafening, and continued until the Viceroyal party reached the triumphal arch. On arriving at the arch, bis Excellency, Lady Bowen, and suite alighte I, and were received on the platform by the Mayor and City < ounc llors. His Worship then advanced, and presented a very tastefully prepared address, the work of Mr Weston, and of winch the following is a copy : We, the Mayor ami Councillors of -fcßc City of Dunedin, on behalf of the citizens, most cordially welcome you on this your second official visit to our City as the representative of our beloved Queen. The pleasure we feel in meeting your Excellency is much increased on this occasion, because you are accompanied by Lady Bowen, who will now have an opportunity of seeing our City and Province, and of sharing with you our hospitality. We congratulate your Excellency on the prosperity that has accrued to the Colony since your last visit—prosperity which we believe to have been greatly induced by the measures adopted by your Excellency, in conceit with your confidential advisers. We much regret that New Zealand is about to be deprived of your Excellency’s services ; but as we cannot have the privilege of retaining them, we congratulate you upon the evidence of the continued confidence of Her Majesty in placing in your hands the Government of so important a Colony as Victoria, and hope that your accession to so high a position will enable you to suggest such measures as will result in mutually beneficial relations between New Zealand and that Colony. We trust that to whatever new duties your Excellency is called, you will bear this Colony in kindly remembrance, and that the consciousness of tlie success that has attended your efforts to promote our welfare will add to the happiness of yourself and Lady Boweu through your future lives.

His Excellency replied as follows : Mk. Mayor and Gentlemen, On bebalf of Lady Bowen and myself, I thank you with my whole heart for this address of welcome with which you hj ivc met us, so to speak, on the threshhold of your fair City. A quarter of a ccutury has not elapsed since the 23rd of March, 1848, when the little band of Scotch emigrants til st landed on the site of what is now a populous and well-built town, but which was then silent and uninhabited, and covered with a thick forest. But the c ugle Province of Otago, of which those hono'ed men were the founders, already far surpasses in revenue, in trade, in all the elements of national wealth, many entire Colonies, such as Jamaica, Barbadoes, aud Antigua, which have been settled for above two centuries.

I congratulate you ou the remarkable progress which Dunedin in particular lias achieved—on its rapidly increasing material prosperity, and on the noble provision which has been made here for education in all its branches, and for industrial and charitable institutions. My family and I rejoice at the prospect of becoming, for a time, your fellow citizens. With you, Mr Mayor and gentlemen, I trust that my accession to the Government of the great neighboring Colony of Victoria may enable me to assist in strengthening the many ties which connect it with New Zealand, and especially with the Province of Otago. I shall continue to devote myself to the peformancc of this and of my other duties with all the energy and activity compatible with the constitutional limits of the office of the representative of the Queen in Colonies possess.ing Parliamentary government, and I assure you that wherever Lady Bowen and I may be hereafter, we shall always look back with affectionate interest to New Zealand, in which we have spent five of the best ami happiest years of our lives, and with the history of which my name, as that of the Governor during an important and critical period, must be for ever associated. His Honor the Superintendent asked the large assemblage to put the cope-stone to their loyalty by giving three cheers for the Queen, which were enthusiastically given; and at his Worship the Mayors request, three more were as heartily given for Sir George and Lady Bowen. Sir George next called for three cheers for Dunedin, and the call was cheerfully responded to. Lady Bowen was presented, by the Mayor’s daughter, with a very handsome bouquet made by Mr Scott, Mr Allan’s gardener. The vice-regal party then entered the carriage amidst the cheering of the crowd, and the procession was formed and marched to Fern Hill, where, as his Excellency entered the gates, some 200 Band of Hope and Sunday children, under the leadership of Mr G. K. West, sang the National Antbcra with excellent vffect. The reception of Sir George

and Lady Bowen all along the line of route by the thousands who lined the streets was cordial in the extreme.