FUNCTIONS IN TOWN

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 22 May 1907, Page 2

FUNCTIONS IN TOWN

ADDRESSES OF WELCOME,

The Hon. Captain Tucker opened tlie proceedings by reading tho address of welcome from tho County Council, which was as follows: —To His Excellency the Governor of tlie Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency.—The County Council for the inhabitants of tlio County of Cook humbly welcomes Your Excellency on this your first visit-to Cook County. We trust it is almost superfluous for us to assure Your Excellency of our devotion, together with tho rest of New Zealand, to His Most Gracious Majesty the King, and we beg to offer our profound respect to you, his representative. As the laws of a country exercise so powerful an

influence on its history and destinies.

we venture to hope that those laws to which Your Excellency has given tho Royal assent, may operate, as intended, for the benefit, advancement and happiness of the people; and that all future laws, conceived and framed with the same intent, may receive the same gracious confirmation. The fact that Your Excellency lias already visited the uttermost parts of the land, and even tlie outlying islands of this colony, affords most gratifyiugrfiroof of tlio interest taken by you in tlie land over which you now rule. Finally, we hope that the visit with which you now so greatly honor us may not be unpleasing to you, and that it is the precursor of other like events, and with the deepest respect for Your Excellency personally, We are, The inhabitants of the County of Cook by their representatives, W. H. Tucker, M.L.C., Chairman Cook County Council. The Governor' replied as follows : “It is with much satisfaction that I receive your hearty expressions of loyalty towards our Sovereign the King which you tender to me asliis representative. I earnestly join with you in tlie hope that the laws passed by the Parliament of this colony may prove of lasting benefit to its inliabitaij*<rr Tlie greatest gift which tlie Mother Country has given her daughters is the British Constitution, with its consequent system of Parliamentary government, and it is, under Providence, upon the wise use of this free and well-ordered form of govern-

ment that New Zealand’s place in the future nations of the world will be decided. I can assure you that the visits which I have been able to make to all parts of the colony have jbeen of deep interest and pleasure) to n’|j, and my only regret is that time lias

so frequently compelled me to continue my journey, leaving much of interest unseen. In conclusion, I thank you sincerely for your personal

good wishes towards myself, and I hope it may not be long before' I am able to pay another visit to Gisborne and the County of Cook.f—Plunkett, Governor.”

The Town Clerk, Mr. R. D. B

Robinson followed with tlie welcome from the Borough Council: —To His Excellency the Right Honorable William Lee, Baron Plunket, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand: May it please Your Excellency.—On behalf of tlie residents of Gisborne and Poverty Bay, I desire to tender a most hearty welcome to you as the Representative of His Majesty tlie King on this tlie occasion of your first visit. I beg to assure you of our Bleep loyalty to His Majesty, and of our 10/ve for the groat Empire of which we form a part, and trust we shall never be found wanting in renewed proofs of this loyalty and devotion. I shall be pleased to afford Yojir IJDxJieillency

opportunities of observing the beauty and fertility of our district. Its climate and productiveness are matters of colonial repute. I desire to remind Your Excellency of tlie historic interest attached to our port, as be-

ing the first landing place of the great navigator and discoverer, Captain Cook. I trust that Your Excellency will enjoy your short visit in our midst, and that you may be induced to visit Poverty Bay again accompanied by Lady Plunket, whom our residents would be delighted to see and welcome. Again assuring you of our respect and loyalty.— Signed on behalf of tlie residents of Gisborne and Poverty Bay, J. Townley, Mayor. His Excellency, in reply, said:

“I tliauk you for this address which you have presented to me on behalf of the people of your town and county, and as tlio representative of His Majesty the King, it affords me deep satisfaction to be assured of your loyalty and devotion to the Sovereign and the Empire. That loyalty to the Crown and love for the Empire to which you have referred, has been exhibited in no uncertain manner at the Colonial Conference, which lias just closed. Although, no doubt, many subjects of great importance to tlio British race had to be left unsettled, that, in my opinion, was bound to occur for the reorganisation of the Empire to suit modern needs must .and, I venture to say, ought to be a gradual and deliberately considered process. But the work accomplished, the free discussion of vital topics and the enthusiastic reception of the colonial delegates, must have advanced by several stages that perfect understanding and concrete unity which we all desire. I am extremely pleased at last to have this opportunity of paying an official visit to Gisborne, of meeting some of your inhabitants, and of seeing wliat I can in the brief period at my disposal, of this part of the colony. I shall look forward to again visiting your town, and am sure it w r ould give Lady Plunket much pleasure, should circumstances permit, to be with nie on that occasion.—PLUNKET, Governor.

His Excellency, in making a personal reply, said he regretted appearing before them in a most unbecoming way, without a tall liat, etc. Tho good ship Victoria had carried his belongings on to Auckland, and had also taken moro important tilings. 11l the short time at his disposal lie hoped to see as much of the neighborhood as he possibly could. His journey had not been without excitement, and it had given him opportunities of seeing how the sturdy backblocks settlers encountered greater difficulties than tlie Governor was ever likely to. If the Governor’s weather was not as it ought to have been, he had brought it with him for the morning.

The Hon. Captain Tucker spoke highly of the manner in which His Excellency had overcome the difficulties, not to say dangers in his way, and could by bis example kneourago

and hearten the back-blocks settlors who could form some idea of tho extreme discomfort His Excellency iui experienced. Mr. Townley also referred to the difficulties in the Governor’s journey, and ouid that tho majority ol people present did not expect to see liis Excellency present. Ho was pleased the people had turned up in such numbers'to welcome tlieir visitor. He hoped it would not bo the 1 only occasion on which they wou <- see him. This district was a great 1 one, and he trusted His {Excellency I would seo at least a portion of 1 • c | was sure the inhabitants were p oas ! Od to see His Excellency, and it did not make any difference that he was deprived of liis luggage. Ifc ' vas ]y on special occasions that the o people would bring all their attire out, and this was one of them. H proposed three cheers for the visi ors, which were heartily responded to. ...

GISBORNE RIFLES P liIZE ®

His Excellency tlien proceeded present the folio win prizes to members of the Gisborne Rifles ™th the assistance of Captain eeie. -Lance-Corporal Bait, Company Champion Belt, Poverty Bay Rifle Association Aggregate prize preson ed by Hon. J. Carroll; Corporal Breingan, Company Handicap Cup, Private Nelson, biscuit barrel presented by J. Townley, Esq; foc f6f" Somervell, field glasses presented by W. Miller, Esq; Private Ibbotson, photograph presented by ' v - • Crawford, Esq; Private Kingston, field glasses presented by Messrs L D. Nathan and Co.; Color-Sergeant Mackerras, Service Cup presented by Captain Beere; Corporal Lyford, Ist prize Makauri Match Rifle Association meeting presented by Hon. Captain Tucker, M.L.C.; Captain Beere, Sergeant Taylor, Corporal Breingan, Lance-Corporal Rait, and Private Hingston, Poverty Bay Rifle Association champion team; Sergeant Taylor, section competition, Ist prize; Sergeant Somervell, section competition, 2nd prize. The Gisborne Rifles, upon returning to the drillshed, were complimented by Captain Warren, the veteran soldier, who had donned his uniform to do honor to His Excellency the Governor, on the good muster and spick and span appearance of the corps. He was very pleased to be with them on such an important occasion as the present one. It reflected great credit on Capt. Beere and on the whole corps, and showed that they took a real interest in their work, Capt. Warren, in the course of his remarks, endeavored to impress upon the minds of the men the importance of accurate niarkniansliip. Some time ago he had offered for competition a trophy in the shape of a silver luncheon caslcet ; but owing to some slight misunderstanding, the trophy was still in his possession. He again offered it to the corps to be disposed of at the discretion of the officers.

In reply Capt. Beere thanked Capt. Warren for being present at the welcoming ceremony, and also for the handsome trophy he had presented for competition. He hoped that Capt. Warren would be able to spare the time to give them an occasional visit, and he could rest assured that a hearty welcome would be extended to him by the officers and men.

THE LEVEE.

At His Majesty’s Theatre at II a.m. the levee was held, the hall being crowded with interested spectators. His Excellency took his seat on an improvised dais surrounded by

the Councillors and officers, etc., of the various corps. A considerable number of townspeople were presented to His Excellency, and keen interest was taken in the ceremony.

AT TE KARAKA

At 2 p.m. the special train convey-

ed His Excellency to Te Karaka for the opening of the Te Puha extension, left Gisborne station. Upon arrival

at Te Puha, the party alighted and the Mayor in a few words explained that the formal ceremony would take place at Te Karaka upon the return of the train. It was the first train the train came so far inland from Gisborne. He was Very glad to De present on such an occasion to wtiness the line gradually creeping onward. Miles and miles of country wanted opening up and the only way was to continue the line. Speaking on behalf of the Gisborne Railway League, ho hoped the Government would carry on the lino quicker than they had done in the past. He was very pleased to have the representative of the King present in the district. Gisborne -was almost an island, cut off from the rest of the country. They must agitate with the Northern Leagues until the line was completed. He called for three cheers for the Govenor which were heartily given. His Excellency offered his congratulations on the progress of-the line and hoped it would continue. The Te Kara'ka station was neatly decorated wtih foliage and ferns and looked very pretty. ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

'When tlie visitors alighted Mr. W. D. S. McDonald then read the address of welcome from the Karaka people, which was to the ffect that the residents of Te Karaka and surrounding districts desired to humbly assure His Excellency of their loyalty to His Majesty the King, and respectfully welcomed him on his first visit for the opening of the line to Te Pulia. Reference as also made to the extreme discomfort experienced by His Excellency on his - journey to Gisborne. His Excellency, in reply, thanked the people sincerely for their assurances of loyalty to tho King. . He congratulated them on tho progress made by the line. In regard to his coming to Gisborne, if there were any discomforts, they were not very great, while he had had an exceedingly interesting time: The people who had suffered were not the Governor and liis party, but- those who had been working at tlie roads and washouts, turning out in tlio pouring rain and showing real loyalty. Mr. Elliott (Motu), said lie bad been asked by the Motu settlers to thank the Governor and people present for tlie interest they had taken. They were sorry that only such a small section had been opened; hut the back country settlers could appreciate it. He thanked His Excellency for tho trouble lie had taken, and for his pluck and perseverance on the Wairoa roads. Ho hoped that when the next section was to be opened. His Excellency would come again to perform the ceremony. He extended the Governor an invitation to visit Motu and assured him of the hearty welcome lie would receive when he got there.

OPENING THE RAILWAY LINE. The Governor then formally declared tho section open to Te Puha. He said the real person who oiught to have been there for the purpose was the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, who was seriously ill. Ho did not.think anyone would accuse him of talking politics (which .was a tiling fortunately barred to tlie Governor)! when jhe said that tho Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones’ illness was certainly due to the energy, perseverance,'self-sacrifice, and devotion to his public duties. If he were prosout, they would have had the opportunity of bombarding him. with requests to carry the line further. He (the speaker) was not able to make any promises, and was thus more favorably situated than Mr. Hall-Jones would he. A Minister of the Crown generally broke down, and then died from overwork. In Mr. Hall-Jones’ case there was hope for a speedy recovery. Should this sort of thing go on, a return to the early palmy days would be advisable, when: the Governor himself was in charge,

and if ho were put thoro ho would not offer them muelr more now legislation, but they coultSdiyieiid upon having a very quiet timo/'' ! '-”Ho offered his congratulations upoj?>: the railway getting along over such \ood country, and hoped it would advahcb. as rapidly as possible. It was nob .often his privilege to see country where the grass grew just as well on the top of hills us on the plains. Ho would like to show other people wanting railways how things wore hero.

Mr. Townloy read a telegram io the Hon. Hall-Jones, Wellington, stating that Te l’ulia extension ws.s declared opon by his Exccllenjcy yesterday afternoon, and regretted his absence. Wishes were also telegraphed for bis speedy restoration bo health. Another telegram was sent to tho Hon. J. Carroll, Wellington, stating that the extension had been opened in brilliant sunshine. The Governor’s rough trip overland was regretted, and his sympathies for the reading of the hack blocks was aroused:. Continuing his speech, his Worship said the only method of opening this country was by means of the railway. , From Napier to Wailii there was. a vast expanse of country railless. Previously their numbers were small, but now tho time had como for action, and if they worked steadfastly with the northern railway leagues, they would get better attention. When the Main Trunk line was completed hopes could be entertained for more expeditious construction. He knew of no district in New Zealand that could show at this time the greenness of this district. Those green hills could carry two and three sheep to the acre, and it was tho more necessary that the railway should bo extended.. He called for three British cheers for his Excellency in opening the railway, and Ihey ’ were heartily given.

AFTERNOON TEA.

The Governor and party then adjourned to the Karaka Hotel for afternoon tea, and were met by a party of fifty Maoris performing a haka.

WI PERE INCIDENT.

At the conclusion of the haka, Wi Pere stepped forward in the mud, and desired to present his Excellency with a beautiful mat he had on his shoulders.

His Excellency, however, politely , but firmly declined. Wi Pere said, through the Hon. Captain Tucker, who acted as inter- I - preter, that he supposed the Gover- ;|| nor might have accepted it and sent it home to a museum. He difl| not v suppose there was any law against that, although the present had been refused. He was dreadfully ashamed • because the Governor had refused his --; ! present. Ho did not understand - ■ why it was done. His Excellency said he would explain. As Governor, he could not ac- . cept a present of any value or for a :>'4 museum. . .. >

Wi Pere: I am not acquainted with the laws, customs, or regulations of England, but I know those of New Zealand, and here it is the custom to bestow gifts to those we hold in verygreat consideration. If his Excellency still refuses to receive these; gifts, I must only throw them ill the dirt and tramp on them. (Suiting the action to the word, he threwdown the mat in the mud, in anger, but did not tread upon it. His Excellency said he wished to extend the hand of friendship to him.;' If he would give a feather from the mat as an emblem of loyalty to the King, then it would be well. He (the Governor) could not break the law which the King had given him. Wi Tere: Accept my gifts. Tomorrow I will give you one featherI did not come to see you ill Gisborne, because the Mayor and Council did not properly decorate the roads.

His Excellency suggested that Wi Pore give the presents to someone for him. He would speak to the Hon. Mr. Carroll, who understood the native customs. There was not time to decide the matter at present. Wi Pore: These are for you. Mr. Townley stepped forward and * took the mat, amidst the roars and cheers of the onlookers. The party then partook of afternoon tea. At 5.10 p.m., the return journey was commenced aiid town was reached exactly an hour later.

MAYORAL DINNER.

In the evening an official dinner was given to Ilis Excellency at the Mayoral residence by the Mayor and Councillors.

After the loyal toast had been hon- ! ored, Mr. Townley proposed the toast of the Governor. Mr. Townley. ree ferred to the very difficult journey His Excellency had just undergone. In acknowledging the toast His Exj eellency made a humorous speech of good quality. Ho bore testimony to . the excellent manner in which the j settlers of the district had shown tlieir loyalty by turning out when they heard the Governor was in difficulties. He was very pleased indeed to have opened the section of 3 railway that day. He could assure ' them that there were railways in Ireland far rougher than the one from ’ Gisborne to Te Karaka. He referred to one near his place in Ireland, oil which there was a bend which could not be traversed at full speed. On one occasion there was an old lady in the train who expressed vague wishes to her fellow-travellers to bo elsewhere. One of the passengers thinking the poor lady had got into a first-class carriage in mistake for a second-class one, told her she could ; oasll - v change at the next station; ’ but the old lady explained that her soil Patsy who was driving the ongino ‘ had “a few taken” and in his elevated state would drive round the dangerous bend at tho best speed the ’ engine could give. (Laughter.) 4s Gisoorno was the last place ho had visited on his first tour of the colony be hoped rt would be the first place 1 ic uould call at on his second tour. Un that occasion he hoped to sco the back country to better advantage 1 than ,le l>ad on this occasion. Mr W. h. Rees proposed “Tlio Legislature’ in a very eloquent speech. Ho referred in passing to ■ rd 1 lunket’s ancestors, and tl'i>, part, they had taken in tho political life ° f the British Isles. He compaied the Houses of Parliament of . Great Britain and New Zealand, emphasising the fact that the colonial House was very new and of company lively mushroom growth. Mr. Rees apjn ,\ ikened the town’s public men vmTl ' I* 0 ■^•'"'liamentariaus—they "me ligislators in a local way. Gaptain Tucker, in reply,' said lio ;>PPrec,ated the honor very ££ • to t I 3 ' fclt eutitlcd to answer the toast. Ho was certainly a but" Iml 7 th ° I ' e Sislativo Council-:-ut ho had not yet taken lus sea* and his wm-1 "° °W JOrtunit y of showing ins north as a legislator. “The Nov" Cra "'f°id proposed the Navy, Army, and Volunteers.” the r l?V eemed a characteristic of Zf ' ,Sk " atlon that the - v always uent to war unprepared, tho soldiers and sailors having to suffer. Ho c[uo ed a number of reminiscences of ins own experiences in the volunteers. He had not much experience of The navy, but remembered being a pow-der-boy on a warship in Sir Hercules Bobinson’s time. There were two warships ’in the harbor at tho time, and tho captains when firing salutes for tho Govornor were anxious that they should fire in turns, and they got so mixed in endeavoring to firto in turns that they frequently did not know after they had been firing for a time whether they had finished the 2 whole salute of twenty-one guns or not. Ho - boro, testimony to the lo’y- .. . ~ ■ ■■ : L . • '. :L ': ■:

alty oLcolouials to tho Old Laud, and as jirhof of this ho stated that tho ,&fst thing colonials did when they became prosperous was to loavo on a trip to Groat Britain. Colonel Porter replied in felicitous terms. Mr. C. A. do Luutour (proposed “Tho Commercial Interests of Poverty Bay.” Ho spoko of tho Imperial Conference and of tho manifested desire of the colonies for preference. This desire for preferential trade within the Empire was) not actuated by any selfish motive, but ra- ' tlier by an intense loyal desiro to prevent foreign goods being introduced into the colonies and tho Empire, supplanting Imperial manufactures purely by artificial moans. England had depended for a long time on tho shibboleth of Free trade, \vud it would take a long time to bring her to any other way of thinking. Tho moving spirit of tho Conference was that tlio Empire should! stand With a unito3”"front, not only in defence but in all brandies of 'commerce throughout tho Empire. He had been long onough in politics not to bo alarmed at tho overthrow of the advocates of preference in the Old Country, and he had sufficient confidence in tho virility of tlio race that ultimately they would find a solution for the fiscal difficulties in the Empire, which practically "meant preference. There were groat conimercial interests in Poverty Bay and tho progress made during the past thirty years was simply surprising. The augmentation of tho district’s exports was a sufficient indication of the probable great prosperity in the future. There was one problem which statesmen would have to grapple with if the district was to progress as well in the future as it had in the past, and that was in finding ways and moans of developing the country. Tho first thing to bo tackled would have to be the roads. As metal was so scarce, roads must always be expensive; and tho sam. thing applied to railways. It would need some thought to give the settlers decent moans of communication with markets without unduly rating them. Mr. J. W. Bright replied. He said that anybody who looked around could seo the progress the district had made from the early days, when the town was merely a collection ol hovels and the whole of the shipping consisted of a few timber scows. He also pointed to the increase of the rateable area in the country as a sure sign of progress. Ten years ago Gisborne was the eighth port in value of exports and it was now fifth. In agricultural and pastoral products Gisborne accounted for a third of the colony’s exports. The increase of the export of frozen mutton during the past ten years had been phenomenal, and in that time the export of lamb had multiplied a hundredfold. The Rev. H. Williams proposed the toast of 1 “The Press,” which was; responded to by Mr. A. L. Muir in suitable terms. Judge Jones proposed the toast of “Gisborne,” coupled with the name of the first Mayor of Gisboiine !(Mr. IV. F. Crawford) and other old residents, including Mr. W. L. Rees and Captain Tucker. Mr. Crawford, in reply, gave a few reminiscences of the early l municipal life of the town. Mr. Townley also replied. Selections were played during the evening by the City Band. After tho dinner the company proceeded to His Majesty’s Theatre to witness the performance of “The, Midnight Wedding.”

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME

This morning His Excellency wi be driven round the town, vis^ n ° Te Rau College, the District Hig School, the Technical School, the Hospital and the Old Men’s Home. After lunch the Governor will go for a drive in the country, visiting Te Aral and inspecting the Native Church there Afternoon tea will be taken with Mrs. P. Barker; Makauri, In the evening His Excellency wil lattend a Masonic function, leaving later by steamer for Napier.