THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WESTLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 848, 15 April 1871, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WESTLAND.

[condensed from the west coast TIMES.] On Thursday his Excellency held a levee, visited the principal public buildings, attended the races, and patronised a bazaar in aid of the Wesleyan Church. The levee was held at the Court House, and was attended by upwards of fifty gentlemen, who paid their respects to his Excellency by taking advantage of the general invitation ; and around the Governor there were numbers of gentlemeu — officials, popular representatives, and others who had been previously or privately introduced to his Excellency. The Corporation of Hokitika presented an address, to which the Governor made the following reply — " Mb Mayor and Gentlemen, — " I thank you most sincerely for this loyal address, and for the hearty welcome, with which, surrounded by a great concourse of your fellow-citizens, you yesterday received me, as it were, on the threshold of your fair town of Hokitika. " I am aware that the public demonstrations of respect and esteem with which I have been greeted in Westland, as also during my recent tour in the neighboring Provinces, and on my previous visits to all parts of New Zealand, are due, not to any personal merit of my own, but rather to the fact that the Governor, as the representative of our beloved Queen, is regarded as a visible link of union, connecting the Colony with the Crown and with the mother country. But, supported and strengthened as I am by the Colonial Parliament and people, it would be unpardonable if I were not to labor to the best of my ability and judgment to perform the duties of my office, and thus to deserve a continuance of the sympathy of all classes of my fellow-countrymen. "I am, indeed, as you anticipated, most favorably ' impressed with the progress that Westland has made during the few years that her soil has been trodden by civilised man.' It was in February, 1865, little more that six years ago, that Mr Rolleston, now the Superintendent of Canterbury, came here as the first Government officer, and found only a few tents and huts erected on the site of this town. Already the existing revenue and trade of Westland — not to speak of your vast resources still undeveloped— entitle her, not only (in your words) 'to take a leading position as an integral portion of the Colony,' but also her high in the general list of the dependencies of Great Britain. For it is a gratifying fact, apparent from the official statistics, that this single County of New Zealand, in the seventh year of its settlement, has already a larger revenue and trade than many entire Colonies, such as Antigua, Bermuda, and Barbadoes, which have been colonised for over two hundred years. " In conclusion, Mr Mayor and Gentlemen, I cordially reciprocate your good wishes, and pray that Heaven may bless your exertions to promote the welfare and happiness of the community which you represent. I rejoice to witness around me the obvious progress alike of material industry, of mental activity, and of moral and physical wellbeing. "G. F. Bowen." An address was presented on behalf of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows, to which a suitable reply was given. The races were visited by his Excellency at about two o'clock in the afternoon. He drove up, escorted as usual, and on arrival on the ground was very heartily cheered, and respectfully received by the large crowd which had by that time been attracted to the course by the double event — the third day's racing and the Governor's presence. He was received by the Stewards, and conducted to an enclosure on the Grand Stand, which if wot exceptionally comfortable, as compared with any other portions of that humble structure, was at least attractive by the area of scarlet cloth exhibited. | Seats contiguous to those occupied by the Governor were subsequently occupied by ladies and gentlemen, and by younger members of their families whom his Excellency invited to join him at his viewpoint of the races ; and all other parts of the Grand Stand were occupied more extensively than on the previous days, the number of ladies almost predominating over the attendance of the ruder sex, who, on a racecourse, have the privilege of being more restless and animated in their conversation than their fair sisters. During one of the intervals, the Governor accepted an invitation to luncheon in the Stewards' booth, and he otherwise took part in enjoying the holiday, and the sport afforded by the races. For this enjoyment there was every facility. The weather was delightful ; the crowd was numerous; refreshments were abundant ; and the racing was an improvement upon that of the previous days, as a source of sport, simply on account of the uncertainty of results. Yesterday the Governor was to visit the Kanieri district, to-day he proceeds to Stafford and Waimea, and on Monday to Ross ; leaves Hokitika on Tuesday morning for Greymouth-