THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2195, 9 March 1881, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT.

A meeting of citizens, convened by the Mayor, was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Present— His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Rev. H. C. M, Watson, Messrs W. R. Mitchell, O. W. Turner, C. P. Hulbert, O. B. Taylor, Weston, R. O. Bishop, Oherrill, H. Thomson, A. Cuff, Vincent, Walkden, Hiorns, Lambert, Treleaven, B. O. J. Stevens, J. A. Bird, Dr. Prins and Major Bamfield. His Worship said that on the advice of the Council he had requested the citizens to meet him here to consider the best means of entertaining the Governor during his short stay here. He had suggested that a lumehoon should be provided, and, of course, an address presented; but the Council thought they should go further than that, hence the meeting that afternoon. If any gentleman could suggest any course to bo pursued he should be grateful. Mr C. W. Turner suggested that a public luncheon should be arranged, to which the Governor should be invited. It was quite out of the power of the Mayor himself to give a luncheon which would enable all to be present. Mr Weston supported the proposal of Mr Turner, and would suggest that the luncheon be held on Saturday. Mr Hiorns was of opinion that the luncheon should be held on Friday, Mr Stevens said he understood that there was to be an undress levee on Saturday. Mr Turner asked whether any representatives of the ladies were present, it there were, perhaps it might bo arranged that a ball should take place in the evening. Mr Cuff thought if people had to pay for their tickets to the luncheon there would not bo such an attendance as they would like to see.

Kov, H. O. M. Watson said that if the tickets were fixed at half a guinea the fear expressed by Mr Cuff would not have any weight. Mr Thomson said that he had not yet made up his mind on the question, hut he still thought that a dinner could bo got up in the evening on Friday. The Council voted £3OO to the Mayor for official expenses, and he could not see why the Mayor could not come out and spend say £2OO for a dinner to the Governor, inviting the citizens of Christchurch to it. When the time came to vote a salary to the Mayor, he should speak in a different way, but he now thought that as the money had been voted for occasions of this kind, that the Mayor should give a dinner and invite the principal citizens. He moved—“ That the Mayor give a dinner to his Excellency, and invite the principal citizens.” Cr. Cuff seconded the motion. He thought that this would be an opportunity for the Mayor to come out and show what he could do. Dr. Prins asked whether the Governor was a ladies’ man—whether they could not get a ball up. Mr Thomson said that the lime was too short. Mr 0. W. Turner said that the honorarium voted to the Mayor went in charity and other things which 'did not meet the public gaze. They were now proposing to make the Mayor responsible for the whole proceedings, and by the course proposed by Mr Thomson they would exclude a number who would probably like to bo present. Mr Hiorns thought that the proposal of Mr Turner was the best, and if they could only get up a ball he should support it. Mr Weston also supported Mr Turner’s proposal. What they wanted was that there should be a large attendance, so as to show respect to the Governor and the Queen. Mr Thomson said that, as the proposal ho had made had not met the response he had expected, he would, with the consent of the seconder, withdraw it.

The Mayor said he was much obliged to Mr Thomson for withdrawing the amendment. Had he had cast upon him tho responsibility of inviting, say, two hundred citizens of Christchurch, he should have, he felt sure, offended a thousand; therefore for this reason, and that only, he was very much obliged to Mr Thomson for withdrawing his resolution.

The motion for a citizens’ public luncheon was then put and carried. Mr Hiorns said he still felt that it would be far better to have a dinner in the evening than a cold luncheon in the middle of tho day. Mr Mitchell was of tho same opinion. Mr Lambert said that ho thought that perhaps the beet way would bo to re open the whole question. Mr Turner said what was wanted was that the citizens should meet the Governor, and that he should speak to them, and that they should be enabled to judge of the Governor apart from the gossip of newspapers. Mr Hulbert said that tho reason why the present meeting was called was that the Council felt that the reception should partake of a far wider character than merely the invitation of the Mayor to a few. What was wanted was that the public should join in the demonstration.

Mr Stevens suggestsd that, as there was nothing before the meeting, he would ask the Mayor to put the question whether the resolution should bo rescinded.

The question of the rescinding was then put and agreed to. Mr O. W. Turner said that’he found that there was an opinion that the Mayor should take the initiative, and ask a committee of the citizens to assist him in the invitations. If the cost should exceed the amount, then tho City Council, or the citizens, would be ready to vote the money. They spent £2OO or £3OO over a race meeting or cricket match, then why should they hesitate about it.

Mr Hulbert said that the amount voted to the Mayor was for such occasions as this, and ho thought that the Mayor should come to the front and make arrangements for the reception of the Governor. Mr Taylor thought that the Council ought to come to the point and vote the sum necessary to give a banquet to the Governor. Ho therefore moved—“ That a banquet be given to the Governor on Friday evening at seven o’clock, the cost to be defrayed by the City Council.” Mr Hiorns seconded the motion.

Mr Oherrill said that at the City Council on the previous evening it was put pretty broadly to the Mayor that it was expected that he should come to the fore and do what was needful for the honour of tho city on the occasion of the visit of the Governor. That opinion had been expressed still more broadly that day, but ns the Meyer did not seem to agree with tho idea, or to respond to the hints thrown out, there was no room loft for the pushing forward of the matter. He therefore begged to move as an amendment —“That, a public dinner be given to his Excellency the Governor on Friday next, and that tho following gentlemen be a committee to carry out the arrangements and to assist tho Mayor and Council, viz. Messrs E. O. J. Stevens, O. W. Turner, Weston, Mitchell, Prins, Ick, Coster, Cunningham, Stead, and Day, together with the Mayor and City Council.” Mr Cuff seconded tho amendment, which was carried on the voices.

Bov. Mr Watson suggested that tho com. mittee thus appointed should be a reception committee. Mr Mitchell suggested that a sub-committee should be selected to be a reception committee.

Mr Turner suggested that if the general committee met that evening they could arrange whether the Mayor was prepared to place any part of the honorarium at the disposal of the committee, and whether the dinner should he by ticket or by invitation. Mr Stevens wished it to be stated whether admission to the proposed dinner was to be by tickets purchasable by any one or by invitation.

It wag resolved that this and other subjects should be discussed and decided at a meeting of the committee, at 8 p.m. At a meeting of the committee held in the evening it was decided to hold tho banquet on Saturday evening, in the Oddfellows’ Hall.