THE GOVERNORS RECEPTION

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 62, 1 April 1879, Page 2

THE GOVERNORS RECEPTION

(l»Y OUB WELLINGTON COEEESPONDENT ) Thursday last was a high day and a holiday for Wellingtonians, iv honor of the arrival of his Excellency Sir Hercules Hobinaon, our new Governor. Somehow or other, there has been a more than ordinary ado with regard to Sir Hercules' advent amongst us than we are accustomed to make on the arrival of new Governors. Poople appear to have formed extraordinary ideas about, and expectations of, the man, and yet, for the life of them, not one-half could tell you what they really think about him. Sir Hercules is a fine fellow, physically, and comes here with a good reputation as a statesman and a governor. He succeeded in making himself very popular in New South Wales, and I suppose it is this which makes him already popular here He arrived in harbor on board H.H.S. Emerald, accompanied by H.M.S. Wolverine, at about midnight on Wednesday,

and wag shortly afterwards interviewed by the CJHief Justice (\Vhp has lately' been the Actjtig-QovernorJ , and oilo or two members of tlie Ministry, when the public lauding was fixed for half 'past ten on Thursday. A special landing place had been provided for the occasion on tli3 reclaimed land, a large platform having been built near the breastwork, carpeted ovet-j aud most profinely deddrated with flags, arid having a flight df stairs' leading dovfa to the Water's edge, The a s. Tui was> the vessel to which the honorable position of Governor's Yacht for the tfip from the man-of-war to the breast work was entrusted, and she duly arrived alongside the Emerald at the appointed hour. Afcer some little delay in going over to the Wolverine to embark Commodore Wilson and staff, the little steamer arrived alongside the Hmeruld again, and embarked hu Excellency and Lady imd Miss Robinson and auite ; the Emerald manning yards, and the Wolverine firing a Vica-Regal salute of 17 guns. A very large concourse of people, numbering probably 6,000 to 7,000, was assembled to greet the distinguished party, who were officially met at the landing Btage by the Mayor end City Council, the Artillery Band playing the National Anthem the while. The Town Clerk then read the City's address to His Excellency, who briefly replied in suitable terms, and the Vice-Regal party thon drove off through the crowd to Government House, the band playing "Tommy make room for your Uncle." A very short time afterwards the swear* ing-in ceremony took place on the open verandah on the jjjast side of Government House, a considerabl s number of the elite of Wellington being assembled on the verandah, and about 5,000 people aud ever-so-many guards of honour on the lawn. The usual oath was duly administered by the Chief Justice, assisted by Mr Justice .Richmond, and his Excellency then declared to be the " Governor in and over her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand, and its dependensies, 1 ' whereupon our Volunteer Artillery fired the 'Jovernor's salute of 17 guns. A grand procession was to have terminated the proceedings but it didn't come off, probably owing to the uncertainty as to the time his Excellency would arrive precluding any definite arrangements being made ; but nevertheless the reception was a very good one, and sir Hercules expressed him* self as abundantly satisfied at the hearty welcome accorded him. By the way, some hundreds of school children were assembled on the lawn of Government House, who were to have done fitting honour to the occasion by singing " God save the Queen " just before the swearing-in, but just at the identical moment one of those " guards of honour " marched down upon them and scattered them broadcast, completely knocking all ability to sing out of the poor little youngsters The Hon Sir George Grey, K.o.B.,Premier of the Colony, and an Ex-Governer, who should have been the first to have shaken hands with the new representative of his Sovereign, was conspicaous by his absence. Sir Geoige's conduct in deliberately leaving Wellington for Kawau for the purpose of avoiding being present on the Governor's arrival, and thus at the outset offering a studied insult to the representative of the Crown, has given aiso to much comment of a very unfavourable character ; aud the '• Chronicle " (a Government paper) on Thursday evening came out with no uncertain sound, and warned the Premier that actions like these would soon estrange public confidence, ani instead engender public indignation.