DEPARTURE OF SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 156, 3 December 1874, Page 3

DEPARTURE OF SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

We have already published a short telegraphic account of the ceremony which took place on the departure of the Governor. The following full particulars we extract from the New Zealand Herald of the 28th ult:— His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, Bart, E.C.M.G., took his departure yesterday morning by the mail steamer Mikado en route for England. The notice of his Excellency’s determination to leave by this route was so sudden as to preclude any elaborate attempt of display of loyal feelings. The brief notice, however, did not prevent a large number of citizens from assembling on the wharf to witness his Excellency’s embarkation, and to give expression to feelings of goodwill towards the departing Governor. The time fixed for the embarkation was half-past nine, the departure of the steamer being announced for ten o’clock. Precisely at the fore-mentioned time, the carriages containing his Excellency and party drove up to the wharf from Government House. Here the vice-regal party alighted, and walked down the wharf. His Excellency was accompanied by Sir G. A. Arney, the Hon Defence Minister, the Hon Dr Pollen, his Honor the Superintendent, Bishop Cowie, Colonel St John, Major Campbell, his Worship the Mayor, and the members of the corporation, Captain Daldy and the members of the Harbor IJBoard, Captains Fergusson and La Patourel taides-de-camp to his Excellency), Captain Daveney, and several other gentlemen, A number of the Volunteers, under Major Gordon, were drawn up in line on the wharf to receive his Excellency.

Arrived at the lower steps, His Excellency and Sir George Arney stepped on the raised dais, and his Worship the Mayor approached. He said—Allow me, your Excellency, on behalf of the citizens of Auckland, to express our deep regret at your sudden departure from New Zealand. We had hoped that your stay would have been prolonged for a few days, when we intended to have given a more suitable demonstration of our respect for yon. I have also to express regret on behalf of the citizens that they have not had the pleasure of enjoying the society of Lady Fergusson more than they have. We hope that you will receive these few words as an expression of our warmest feelings towards yourself and Lady Forgusson, and on your taking your departure from us we wish you God speed. His Excellency, who was received with cheers, addressing the Mayor and the assembled gentlemen, said he thanked them very much for the hearty manner in which they wished him God speed. He would always remember this expression of their good feeling towards him. His departure had been accelerated for the public convenience, He had intended to have awaited the arrival of his noble successor, and had arranged to leave the colony by another route in order to have had an opportunity of welcoming him. He found, however, unexpectedly, that by so doing he should have hindered rather than have facilitated accession to office. He therefore determined to take his departure at once. It did not require this expression of feeling on their part to show how generous they were. Since his arrival in New Zealand he had always experienced the same generous behaviour and kindness from all classes. He had been treated by their public men honorably and well, and from what he had seen of these gentlemen, he could say that New Zealand had cause to feel proud and happy in the possession of such men devoted to her welfare. In his contact with men of all classes he had received the same uniform treatment, and for which he felt grateful. In his habit of travelling about rather in an unofficial manner he had an opportunity of studying the character of the people he had met, and he had every hope that the future prosperity of New Zealand would be due to the men inhabiting it as well as the material worth with which Providence had blessed it. No man born in New Zealand wished it greater success than himself—[cheers] —and in his future career he would at all times use his best abilities to promote her welfare, and they might rest assured nothing in her interests should be neglected. [lmmense cheering.] During the delivery of this address his Excellency was visibly affected. Three hearty cheers were then given for His Excellency, who again advanced and asked the citizens assembled to give one round of cheers more for the Marquis of Normanby, his noble successor. He had known Jiim for twenty years, and had sat

with him in tho House of Commons, He had also known him as Governor of another colony, and could only say that he was an experienced, hard-working and conscientious man, and a man in which they would be well satisfied. He would ask them to give three cheers for the Marquis of Normanby, the future Governor of Now Zealand.

The cheers were heartily accorded, after which his Excellency embarked on board the Perry Go’s steamer for conveyance to the mail steamer, the volunt er band playing the National Anthem. His Excellency was accompanied to the Mikado by the gentlemen already named, and as the steamer moved away from the wharf the band struck up “ Auld Lang Syne.” A large concourse of people had assembled on the wharf and on board the vessels alongside, and round after round of cheers were given as the steamer passed out of hearing. No sooner was his Excellency on board the Mikado, than the anchor was weighed, and with a warning gun tho steamer started on her passage. At this juncture the Volunteer Artillery, stationed on the Breakwater, fired a salute. A slight mishap occurred on board the Mikado which delayed her a few minutes off the North Shore. One of the falls of her anchor parted, and the anchor dropped while the vessel was under easy steam. The order to stop the engines was speedily given, and the anchor at once hove up by means of the stearawinch, when she again started on her voyage. Considering the abruptness of the notice, the demonstration towards the departing Governor was very creditable. There was a large display of bunting from the shipping, nearly all the vessels in harbor being dressed with flags. A large number of warehouses in town had also flags flying from their flagstaffs ; one merchant in particular, by his torn and tattered ensign, displayed his grief by this emblem of sorrow and woe.