VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1422, 5 September 1878, Page 3

VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR.

ARRIVAL AT LYTTELTON. Hi* Excellency tho Governor arrived in H.M.B. Nyrnphe at 1 p.m. yesterday, but did not land till 2.45 p.m., when he was met at the steps by the member for Lyttelton (Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley), His Worship the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr Allwright), Dr. Rouse, Major Lean, and Mr W. Conyers. Accompanied by his Private Secretary, he left per special train for Christchurch at 3 p.m. The town and shipping were gaily decorated with bunting iu honor of his Excellency's arrivi-.1, and a detachment of the Christchurch Artillery, under Lieutenant Strange's charge, fired a vice-regal salute aa the party lauded. ARRIVAL IX CHRISTCHUHOII. A very large number of persons gathered at the railway station to welcome the Governor on his arrival. A guard of honor, composed of tho Engineers, under Captain Warner and Sub-Lieutenant Leslie Radcliffe, and City Guards, under Captain Hawkes and Lieut. Wolfe, formed an avenue from the archway lending from the platform to the street. Here the Mayor and City Councillors, with the City Recorder (Dr. Foster), in his robes, were placed, together with his Honor Judge Johnston and other gentlemen. The buildings in tho vicinity were gaily dressed with flags, and a good many also were displayed in tho streets. An escort of the Yeomanry Cavalry under Lieutenant Slater, was drawn up in front of the station.

Shortly after three o'clock the special train conveying His Excellency and party arrived at the Christchurch station. His Excellency, who was accompanied by the officers of H.M.S. Nymphe, Captain LePatourel, A.D.0., Major Lean, Messrs fl P. Murray-Aynsley, M.H.R., W. Oonyers, Commissioner of Railways, and Frederick Back, General Manager, was received by the Guard of Honor at the salute, tho C.Y.C. band playing the National Anthem.

The Mayor and Councillors then stepped forward, and his Worship welcomed His Excellency to Christchurch. Dr. Foster then read the following address:

To i-'iii Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, (vc., —May it please your Excellency : We, the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Christchurch, have great pleasure in again welcoming you on your visit to tho city, 'the progressive successful development of the large public works of the colony must be a source of much satisfaction to your Excellency. There can bo few amongst those works so important as the, line of railway which your Excellency purposes to open during your viait. Wo look upon direct communication between this city and Dunedin as one of those works destined to produce mort beneficial results on the social and commercial welfare of this important portion of your Government, and wo most cordially congratulate you upon the now accomplishment of tho event. '\Ve trast that during the remaining portion of your Excellency's term of office in i\ r ew Zealand you may be enabled to celebrate other important events of this nature, and so leave to us a perpetual and pleasing remembrance) of the valuable services which you have rendered to the colony. His Excellency replied aa follows : Mr Mayor and Gentlemen —I have to thank you very sincerely for the address you have this day presented me with. It is, laf sur a you, a source of great gratification to myself that I am privileged to be present on an occasion of such importance to the colony. The gradual development of the great public works policy initiated in 1871 is conferring great benefits upon and extending the prosperity of this part of the colony, and I tako it as a very great privilege to bo present on this occasion to perform as it wero tho first act of this great work. I trust during my term of offico that I may, as you state, be permitted to take part in many occasions of tho same kind. Gentlemen, I thank you very heartily for your cordial reception. Thi-co cheers wero then called for for his Excellency, and given with much enthusiasm, and the party proceeded to the carriages which wero in waiting, and were driven to the club, escorted by the cavalry. At noon to-day his Excellency will re-open the Museum, and in the evening he will attend the Mayor's banquet at the Provincial Council Chamber.