THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2197, 11 March 1881, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

ARRIVAL IN LYTTELTON. His Excellency the Governor Sir Arthur H. Gordon and suite arrived at Lyttelton this morning from Wellington in the Government steamer Hinemoa. The steamer reached the wharf afc ten o’clock, and was immediately boarded by the Mayor and Councillors of Lyttelton, and by the members of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, and a cordial welcome was extended to his Excellency. The Governor was accompanied by the Premier, the Hoa. John Hall. His Excellency’s suite comprised Captain Knollys, A.D.U., a Fijian titled personage, the Roko Tui of Thakamdrovi, and Messrs Murray, Brown, Williamson and Bromley. Simultaneously with his Excellency’s landing a detachment of the Christchurch Artillery Volunteers, under Lieut. Strange, fired a salute of seventeen guns (in3osecs time), and a guard of honor, composed of the Lyttelton Naval Brigade, formed and saluted the distinguished visitor. Col. Pnoke and Major Lean were present, as representatives of the colonial forces, and paid their respects to his Excellency upon his arrival. His Excellency went from the wharf to the Colonists’ Hall, passing under a very tastefully formed triumphal arch of evergreens, erected by the borough. In front of the hall the following address from the Mayor and Councillors was road by the Town Clerk : “ To His Excellency the Honorable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George Her Majesty’s High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, Governor and Commnnder-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, and ViceAdmiral of the same. “ May it please your Excellency,— “We, the Mayor and Councillors of the borough of Lyttelton, desire on behalf of our solves and onr fellow townsmen, to tender ourconiial welcome to your Excellency on this the occasion of your first arrival at this port. Wo trust that your visit to this portion of the colony will produce a favorable impression on your Excellency as regards the advancement made since its colonisation in the development of its resources and the progress of its various institutions.

This colony has, in common with the rest of her Majesty’s dominions, recently passed through a period of severe depression, from which, we hope, it is now gradually but surely rcovenng. and wo trust that your Excellency’s Government will do all in their power to foster and encourage the development of local industries, so that your Excellency may, before your term of office has expired, have cause to congratulate yourself ana the colony on its having attained a more prosperous and sounder position than it has ever hitherto hold. We trust that the term of your office hero will he one of health, happiness, and satisfaction, and wishing yon long life we beg to subscribe ourselves your Excellency s most obedient servants.” f Signed by H. AUwright, Mayor, and Councillors ] , „ His Excellency replied : Mr Mayor and Gentlemen, —I thank you for your address, and for tho welcome it contains. The sight of this harbour, and the improvements which have been effected in it, and the shipping which it contains, cannot! fail to produce on every visitor that favorable impression which you express your wish that I should derive from my visit to your port. I rejoice to believe that considerable progress has already been made in recovering from the depression under which the colony lately suffered, and to which you refer; that such depression can only bo of a temporary character must be manifest to anyone who regards the vast resources wnich yet remain undeveloped in this magnificent country.” An address from the Friendly Societies was presented and read by R.P.G.M. Bro. Sowden, and his Excellency thanked them for the kind and friendly feeling expressed therein. The school children, numbering some five hundred, and standing immediately in front of the hall, sang the National Anthem, after which three hearty cheers were given for his Excellency. According to previous arrangement, tho Governor went at once to look at the handsome local Public School buildings, accompanied by his Worship tho Mayor. Ho seemed to bo much pleased with the provision there made for educating the young idea, and expressed his approbation of the very commodious accommodation which that institution affords. His Excellency next went to the wharf, and,[accompanied by tho Hon. Edward .Richardson, 0.M.G., chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, the members of the Board, tho Mayor of Lyttelton and Councillors, embarked by tho steam-launch Lyttelton and visited the Lyttelton graving dock. Bis Excellency descended into the dock to the floor, from which position he was enabled to obtain a first-rate idea of its proportions. Ho expressed his surprise at the extent of tho work, hoped the day was not to be long delayed when he would have an opportunity to open it, and said he would have great satisfaction in doing so. He bad no idea that a dock 15ft longer than any graving dock in the Australian colonies was so near completion. , . .. After leaving the dock he was driven to the Canterbury Orphanage, the Hon. tho Premier and the Mayor of Lyttelton accompanying him. The children sang " Home, Sweet Home ” as his Excellency entered. He inspected the institution in its various departments, and said he would have to know and see more of it to be able to form a fair judgment of the extent of its ueeiuluess. His Excelletcy was then driven to the railway station, where a special was in attendance to convey him to Christchurch.

ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. Shortly after half-paat eleven the special convejing his Excellency and suite was in sight. A guard of honor furnished by the Christchurch City Guards, under Lieutenant Wolfe and SnbLieuteuant Francis, formed up in two lines from the pls,tform of the arrival station to the gate On theplatform also were his Worship the Mayor, the Primate, his Honor Judge Johston, the members of the Reception Committee, the City Council, and the members of the Selwyn County Council. On arriving, the train, which was driven by Mr Dickenson, drew up opposite the space reserved for his Excellency. In addition to his suite, his Excellency was accompanied by the Hon. E Richardson, 0.M.G., and the members of the Harbor Board. On his Excellency’s stepping out of the carriage, the guard presented arms, and the band played the National Anthem. The Premier, the Hon. John Hall, having introduced his Worship the Mayor, the Primate, his Honor Judge Johnston, Mr E. J. Lee (Chairman of the County Council', &o , His Worship the Mayor read the following address:— “ To His Excellency the Honorable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St, Michael and St. George, Her Majesty’s High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. ** May it please your Excellency—- “ We, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Christchurch, desire to approach your Excellency with the assurance of our devoted loyalty to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, of whom you are the distinguished representative. “ We also, on behalf of the citizens, tender your Excellency a hearty welcome on this your first visit to oar city and province, and trust that at an early opportunity you will be able to make a longer stay amongst us, and become fully acquainted with the past progress and present condition of this part of the colony. “ We are assured, from your past career as her Majesty’s representative, that under your administration no effort will be spared to advance the progress and permanent good of this colony, and that on the occasion of another visit from your Excellency the present temporary depression will have passed away, and former prosperity be fully restored. “ Wishing your Excellency long life and happiness, " We have the honor to be, &0.,” [Signed by the Mayor and Councillors.] His Excellency said :—Mr Mayor and gentlemen, 1 thank you for your address, and acknowledge with satisfaction your assurance that you share those feelings of loyalty to her Majesty, which I am happy to believe pervade all parts of her wide dominions. Owing to a combination of circumstances my present visit to this province is necessarily a very hurried one, but I can assure you with much sincerity that there is no part of the colony in which I should more desire to make a lengthened stay, and I hope the day may not be far distant when I shall be able, together with my family, to revisit a district in which, from the time of its first settlement, I have, on account of those who promoted it, felt a lively interest. lam grateful to yon for your cordial welcome to me, and for tbe confidence yon express in my desire to promote the welfare of the colony over which her Majesty has appointed me to preside. Mr E. J. Lee, the chairman of the County Council, read an address from that body, as follows : “To His Excellency the Honorable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, K.C.M.G., Her Majesty’s High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Governor and Com-mander-In-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. “ May it please your Excellency—- " The Council of the county of Selwyn, of the province of Canterbury, crave leave,_ on the occasion of your Excellency’s first visit to this district of the colony, to approach your Excellency with a fervent assurance of the profound loyalty to Her Most Gracious Majesty of the inhabitants of this most favored and populous county. We derive much gratification from your thus so early visiting us after the appointment of your Excellency ns Governor of Now Zealand, and we trust that your Excellency will see cause to be satisfied with the enterprise the people of this country display in forwarding the great work of colonisation. While recognising that an equitable settlement of difficulties existing between the two races is a subject that demands earnest attentisn, and also believing in the entire immunity of this Middle Island from any attendant danger, we not only desire to give our hearty sympathy and support to our fellow colonists of the North Island, but also to thank our Most Gracious sovereign that Her Majesty has been pleased to grant as a Governor at this stage of our history one so well versed as your Excellency is in the control and management of natives of British rependencies. The prudence, energy, and sound judgment your Excellency has displayed elsewhere give us every confidence that this colony will derive lusting benefit from your Excellency’s guidance. We, the members of the Council of the county of Selwyn trust that your Excellency will frequently visit this our Province of Canterbury, in which the representative of our Most Gracious Sovereign has always met with a respectful and most cordial welcome. “ Signed on behalf of the Selwyn County Council. “ Edw, J. Lee, Chairman.” His Excellency said, in reply—Gentlemen, it is with much satisfaction that I find myself in personal relation with a community in the original formation of which I took the warmest interest, and with more than one of the first founders of which I was myself acquainted. I acknowledge, with satisfaction, your expressions of loyalty to the Queen, a sentiment for which the people of this district have ever been conspicuous, and am grateful to you for your kind expressions towards myself, as well as for your reference to my past career. It is my earnest hope that the period of my connection with the colony may be one of prosperity and peace, and I trust that the wisdom of the Legislature and the efforts of my responsible advisers may long preserve the enjoyment of those blessings to all classes of her Majesty’s subjects in these islands. Should life and health ho spared me it will afford me the liveliest pleasure to make mvself hereafter better acquainted with a district with which by repute I am already familiar, and in which there is so much to bring to miud the mother country from which we spring.

Mr C. B. Tajlor, the president of the Sunday School Union, read the address from the Union, as follows: _ _ “ To his Excellency Sir H. Gordon, K My-, Ac., Governor of New Zealand and High Commissioner of Polynesia, Ac. “ May it please yonr Excellency,— “ We, the president and officers of the Canterbury Sunday-school Union, desire to approach your Excellency with the assurance of our loyalty to the throne and person of our beloved Queen, whose representative yon are. Behoving that you take a deep interest in all classes ot the people over whom you are appointed to rule, we desire to acquaint your Excellency that onr Union comprises seventyfour Sunday Schools of various denominations, representing about 800 teachers and 9000 scholars, and in their name we most respectfully offer your Excellency sincere and hearty welcome on this your first visit to Canterbury. ~ ... _ , “ We pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your Government ot this colony, and that He may be present in all your councils to guide and direct. _ , “ Your Excellency’s obedient servants, [Signed by the president, treasurer, and sscreUis Excellency replied as follows : Gentlemen, —I thank you for your address, and acknowledge with pleasure y nr expressions of devotion to her Majesty’s person and throne, trust that the results of your labors may be in all respects such as you most desire, and 1 ask you to accept the assurance of my high sense . the energy and devotion shown by you in their pursuit. . On leaving the station His Excelency was greet’d with three cheers. A carriage and four, tooled by Mr E. W. Millet, had been placed at His Excellency’s disposal, and he, together with the Premier and the Mayor, having taken their seats, the Cavalry escort, under Lieut. Wilkin, formed up, and the Governor was driven through the streets ot the city. In Cathedral Square the school children, who had been assembled, sang the National Anthem, which, however, was not ft success. His Excellency was then driven to Coker’s Hotel, where he will reside during his stay. To-night ha will visit the theatre.