TELEGRAPHIC.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1562, 20 February 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

NEW ZEALAND. [PEE PEH9S AGENCY.] Auckland, February 20. Mr H. B. Sterndale, of Suvarrow celebrity, has died at San Francisco. The roll of the City West is said to be in an unsatisfactory state. The names of several qualified electors have disappeared, while three hundred absentees remain on it ; Robert Graham is mentioned as a possible candidate. The insurance companies manifest a disposition to do as little business as possible at the present low rates, anticipating that they will not be permanent. The grocers have convened a meeting to arrange for a uniform price for produce. The Auckland Timber Company’s Works are nearly completed. They will give employment in the manufactory for two hundred and twenty Lauds, and will manipulate 250,000 ft. timber weekly. LORD NORMANBT AT DUNEDIN. [feom cue own correspondent.] Dunedin, February 19. The Marquis of Normanby arrived to-day, and at Port Chalmers was presented with an address on behalf of the Corporation. The special train from the port arrived at the Dunedin station shortly after two o’clock, and his Excellency was received by Messrs E. Oliver, M.H.R., G. Maclean, M.H.8., M. Pym, G. W. Geddes, and other members of the demonstration committee; the Mayor, Crs. Woodland, Pish, Doughty, Leary, Thomson, Gore, Isaac, Carroll, and McKinnon, Judge Williams, Judge Bathgate, Sir F. D. 8011, Messrs. E. B. Cargill, H. Towsley, Green, M.H.R., and others, and a large number of Volunteers, representing the different city corps, were drawn up outside the station, and the Naval Cadets’ band, winch was stationed on the platform, played the National Anthem, as the Governor and Lady Normanby alighted. At the same time the Artillery Company fired a salute of seventeen guns No demonstration beyond hearty cheering took place here, bait his Excellency was escorted to the new Vo unteer Hall, where a guard of honour, formed by members of the City Guards, and the railway band, received him. His Excellency was then presented with an address by the Mayor of Dunedin, which contained, inter alia, the following extracts — “We consider the people of Victoria fortunate in having your Excellency to preside over the Government of that colony, and venture to predict that our fellow subjects in that portion of her Majesty’s dominions will have the same feelings of personal respect for your Excellency, and high esteem for your distinguished qualities, as are entertained by the people of this colony. The manner in which your Excellency has upheld the dignity of your high office, often under circumstances of considerable difficulty, has, we venture to say, won the admiration and respect of the people of New Zealand.” His Excellency, in reply, having made a few introductory remarks, proceeded to speak as follows :—“Thirty-five years ago this country was little more than a desert, but now, if one looks round and sees towns like Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland and the smiling homesteads s ‘altered over the country districts, he cannot fail to recognise that this land must become a great and prosperous country. A bountiful Providence has placed in your hands a capability of great things, and it is your duty to utilise and improve to the utmost the goods that God has given you. You have a constitution moulded on that of the old country, which is, I may say, the admiration of the world, and the veneration of those who live under it. It may be susceptible of improvement, bat in making any necessary changes, I beg of you to do so with a gentle and cautious hand. It is easy to demolish and destroy, but it is not always so easy to rebuild. Therefore, I advise yon to adopt the course of the old country, and when changes are deemed necessary, ponder well before i you destroy what exists and institute what you ' know not With the power of self-government which you possess, I feel confident that in the end all will go right, for I have the most unbounded confidence in the general good sense of any well-educated country. It is my dnty to eschew anything of a controversial or part/ character. But there is one point on which I had determined, if opportunity 1 offered, to make a few remarks before leaving the colony, and I know of no occasion on which it could be done so fitly as this when I see this large assemblage around me. Since I came to New Zealand I have traversed its shores from end to end, have visited its principal towns and rural districts, and in all parts have met with a loyal reception, combined with an expression of veneration for the Old Country. Well, I place implicit reliance on the heartfelt expressions, and I venture to believe that the advocates for Separation from the Mother Country will receive scant approval. I have heard with regret that of late it has been advocated that it would bo to the advancement of New Zealand to have instead of a representative of her Majesty to preside over it, an elective Governor. [Loud cries of “No! No!”] I am glad to hear those exclamations. 1 know that the subject has been mooted, and consider I am justified in mentioning it, because it is not only of local but also of imperial intcest. I am not going to enter into the argument as to whether an elective Governor is a good or bad thing. Intelligent Americans, of whom I have met many, have told mo that they consider the one difficulty in the working of their constitution is that the head of the Government of their country is elective. But I want to put it plainly. What is the meauing of this idea of an elective Governor? Simply separation from England. If this wore put plainly before the people, they would not entertain it for a moment; but under such a covering as is now assumed, it is possible that it might become a political cry, and once started, the people might be carried away by it, and mischief arise. I am not now speaking as your Governor, and you can simply take my words for what they are worth. Of this yon may rest assure!, neither the Government, Parliament, nor people of England would over think of recognising a colony that would refuse to receive Her Majesty’s representative. [Cheers.] I have spoken warmly on this subject because I feel strongly on it, and I should grieve to see anything occur to weaken the tie now existing between this colony and England. In conclusion, I must again express my gratitude for tho reception I have teen accorded hero today, as I consider the greatest reward I can receive is to feol that I have gained the respect and esteem of the inhabitants of is T cw Zealand. [Loud and prolonged cheers.] The undress levee was held at the Supreme Court Buildings at four o’clock this afternoon. About fifty gentlemen were formally introduced. He |dines at the Pern lull Club this evening.