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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 16, 17 October 1861, Page 2

By the Fancy which arrived in harbor yesterday morning, we are in possession of Auckland papers to the sth inst. By this opportunity we have intelligence of the departure of our late Governor Colonel Browne and family for Sydney. The demonstration, on his leaving, must have been extremely gratifying to him, and it will be seen, on reading the particulars attending his departure, reprinted below, that however some may have disapproved of him as a statesman, there was none but what testified in the most anxious manner their testimony to his worth and integrity on the occasion. It appears that, notwithstanding the late decidedly unfavorable accounts from the Otago gold fields, the “ fever” had not yet subsided in Auckland. Seven vessels were advertised to sail for the Southern El Dorado, and the public were beginning to feel the effects of the drain upon the working popU<* lation. The Southern Cross gives the following account of the DEPARTURE of GOVERNOR BROWNE Sir George Grey arrived hi Auckland on the 26th September. Long and anxiously waited for had his excellency been, and it was with a feeling akin to relief that early on that day our fellow citizens looked down on HAL steam corvette “Cossack,” when the announcement was made that the successor of Colonel Gore Browne, as governor of New Zealand, was on board. Uncertainty had passed into certainty. The man in whose hands the destinies of this great country has been placed, was at the seat of Government at last, and the fate of the Northern island, for many years to come, would bo known in a brief space. The landing took place at a quarter to three o’clock at the Queen-street wharf. Business was suspended 1 ; and as the

\ sun shone out brilliantly the good citizens of • Auckland made a gala day of it. Sir George ' Grey was received with the pomp and mili- > tary parade usual on such occasions ; and the ■ inhabitants of Auckland paid the respect due ;to the representative of her Majesty in this , colony. His excellency was partially cheer- ; ed—those who knew him personally being in i a small minority; while Colonel Gore Browne i was welcomed by a ringing cheer on stepping | from his carriage, to receive his successor on I the wharf. i But New Zealand weather is uncertain at i this season; and the day after Sir George j Grey arrived was as wet and dreary as that i of his landing was bright and cheerful, i It was not publicly known, until last Tues- | day, that the late Governor of New Zealand, 1 Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C. 8., would j leave the colony for Sydney on the following I day (Wednesday), Oct.'2nd. Short as the ■notice was, preparations were made, on an ; extensive scale, to give his excellency a fave- ! well equal to the respect in which he was ! held by this community. The rain poured jin torrents during the greater part of Tuesi day, and nothing could be done in consequence | out of doors. Wednesday was more favorable ; jand at an early hour a triumphal arch was •erected at the Queen-street end of the wharf, 'which spanned the woodwork. This arch 'wasfestooued with evergreens andflowers,xrad Lore the motto in blue on a white ground,— “ True to the Queen and to the Colony.” At the extreme end of the wharf, where his .'excellency must descend into the barge which [would convey him on board the “ Henry Fcrnie ,” the gentlemen who had the management of the display showed their respect for , Colonel and Mrs. Browne by having the steps ’carpeted to the writer’s edge, and a crimson covered hand-rail erected to assist in the descent. ' Looking up from the wharf the scene’was unusually gay, with the arch and flags in the- fore-ground ; while as far as the view extended on either side of Queen-street, flags ; fk a ted from private residences, or having been suspended on ropes, hung at intervals across the thouroughfare. Between Mr. Strickland’s office and the premises occupied by Messrs. Lillewall and Rattray a second motto was suspended —“He did maintain the eight •while those who descended Shortland crescent saw the mottoes,- — Our heartiest wishes follow thee and thine ; and “ Honored and regretted,” occupy conspicuous places on the William Denny Hotel, and adjoining premises. Shortland Crescent and Piincesstreet were decorated with a profusion of flags ; and the ships- in the harbor were cover- ' ed with bunting. : Every business establishment was closed, and the citizens turned out in greater numbers [than we have yet seen in Auckland. At two ;o’clock an undress farewell levee was held in Government house, which was attended more ■numerously than any previous levee that has been held in the Colony. Those who wished his excellency farewell on that occasion were 'sincere in their expressions of esteem for himself, and'regret at his departure.

I The leave-taking over, Colonel Gore Browne and his amiable wife were escorted ito the carriage in waiting, and accompanied 'by his excellency Sir George Grey, K. G. B. and Major General Cameron, C. 8., drove • out of the grounds of government house. But They had not proceeded far when the dense concourse of spectators impeded their progress, while the cavalry escort looked good humOredly on. The horses were removed, and two ropes attached as traces, one of which ;was manned by Maories and the other by Europeans, and thus drawn by men, and suriroiindcd by several thousand citizens hi their holiday attire, the late Governor of-New Zealand made his final progress through our 'streets.. Every window was crowded, and the thoroughfares were lined throughout by citizens. Any eminence which commanded a near view of the procession or harbor was occupied; and the sea wall of the iiew intake was lined with spectators throughout its entire length. The cheering was continuous on the whole route. ! The wharf was occupied, as at the landing of Sir George Grey, by the 65th regt., detachments of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, the Auckland Rifle Volunteers, jand the Coast Guard Volunteers, while the approach to the wharf was guarded by a troop pf the Auckland Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by Captain Fitzgerald. When the

Carriage containing their excellencies and party was drawn on to the wharf, the pressure of the people was so great as to break through the military guard, and before the line could be again formed, several hundreds had secured a pass to the end of the -wharf, through the double line of bayonets. Soon afterwards the deck and rigging of the Breadalbane was crowded with spectators; and as Ids excedency took leave of Sir George Grey

and’ General Cameron the guns of Fort Britomart fired a salute. 11.M.5. Cossack, Pchr■ous, and Miranda manned yards ; and after the barge containing Colonel and Mrs. Browne had swept past the Commodore’s shiir, the Pelorous fired a salute from her guns. And thus the public display terminated ; but no business was transacted in town during the remainder of the evening. The flags and arches were afterwards removed ; and at sunset our. streets wore their wonted appearance.

On the arrival of the Commodore’s barge alongside the Henry Fcrnie, Colonel and Mrs. Gore Browne were received at the foot of the ladder by Mr. Strickland, the agent of the vessel, and on deck by Captain Hamilton. A guard of honor, consisting of fifty men of the 12tli Eegt., under command of Captain Leeson, was also stationed on deck, and presented arras upon Colonel Gore Browne stepping aboard; Everything being in readiness and every officer of the ship, at his post, Mr. Burgess, the pilot, gave the word “ trip anchor,” and swiftly the good ship glided from her anchorage, and with every stitch of canvas set, rounded the North Head' shortly after 4 o’clock. The New Zialander savs—

On Wednesday last Governor Gore Browne took his departue for Sydney. A farewell Undress Levee was hold at 2 o’clock on that day, at which a larger number of Colonists presented themselves than we remembec to have seen on any former occasion at Government House. The unvarying kindliness and courtesy which have marked the intercourse of Colonel Gore Browne with the Colonists dining bis six. years’ tenure of office have secured to him the personal regard even of those who felt compelled to oppose themselves to the political course of-his government; the gentle and unostentatious charity of his family, the frank and generous hospitality which was exercised unceasingly, and which, by bringing the people of this place together, and making them better acquainted each with the other has done so much to extinguish the old unsocial spirit which Governor Browne found abroad on his arrival,deserved, and have secured general respect aud good will. These sentiments found expression on the occasion of Colonel Browne’s departure, and his own sense of them may bo gathered from the following n r to addressed to Mr. Wi ! 1 ianison, the Snpcriulendentof the Province.

The Sh’p “ If envy Fcrnie,” Oct. 2, ICGI. My Dear Sir, —I have not words to express my grateful sense of the kindness and good will shown me by the inhabitants of Auckland and its neighbourhood, on my departure from the Colony. I cannot flatter myself so far as to believe that 1 have deserved such a demonstration of attachment ; but I feci it most deeply, and shall remember it while I live.

Wherever I may be, my atticlimcnt to this Colony and the many friends I leave behind me will remain unaltered ; and I shall watch their progress, aud rejoice in their prosperity, as much as if my lot had been cast in permanently with theirs.

Believe me, my dear sir, you.”s smcerelv, T. Gore Browne Hi's" Honor the Superintendent.