Lord Ranfurly's Visit to Palmerston.

Manawatu Herald, 26 August 1897, Page 2

Lord Ranfurly's Visit to Palmerston.

»■ From early morning (yesterday) the town had commenced to wear a holiday aspect, and by the time the express from Wellington became due, the streets were crowded with pedestrian?, all converging to the Railway Station intent on catching a glimpse of the ° new Governor." The scene at the station was an animated one says the Standard, and brought forth recollections of another Record Reign Day on a slightly smaller scale. The Mounted Rifles und9r Captain Dunk and the Palmerston Rifles under Captain Hall were drawn up in strong force. On the station, in rddition to the Mayor, the member for the district, and members of the Palmerston Borough Council, and the chairmen of the various local bodies, there were also representatives present from the Feiiding and Foxton Borough Counoils. Immediately on the arrival of the train His Excellency was met by the Mayor and Messrs F. Pirani, M.H.R , and H. S. Fitzherbert. After they ware presented to His Excellency by the Hon. T. Thompson, Minister of Justice, the Mayor also presented the members of the Palmerston North Borough Council and Mr Keeling, Town Clerk, Chairmen of the various local bodies, Mr Bailey and Ors Goodbehere and Haybittle, of the Feilding Borough Council, and Mr Stansell, Mayor of Foxton. The Town and Excelsior Bands were also present, and considerably enhanced the attractiveness of the reception. The Town Clerk of Palmerston ■ read an address of welcome, which was officially replied to in the ' Institute building. Mr J. R. Stansell, Mayor of Foxton, read the following : — May it

please your Excellency, on behalf of the councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Foxton, it gives me the greatest pleasure to have the honor to extend a mo3t hearty welcome to Her Most Gracious Majesty's representative. That we are loyal subjects has been proved by the recent Jubilee demonstrations, and it now remains for us td prove to yotl that not only are we loyal, bat that we ire loving And greatfdl also. We ask for the sympathy of your Excellency and your noble wife, whom we look forward to seeing at some future date, and do no doubt that our country and climate will please you— few have the temerity to deny the beauty and healtbfulness of them. And we trust they may in some Measure compensate for the home you have left behind you. Once more weloome.— l have, &c, J. B. Stanseli,, Mayor. In reply, His Excellency said : — Mr Mayor, I thank you for the kind welcome you have extended to me, which has coma as a great surprise, and I feel that I cannot reply in fitting terms. From what little I have seen of your beautiful country, I am looking forward to my sojourn here as amongst the mo9t pleasant days of my life. As to the expres* sions of loyalty contained in your address, I may say that in coming to New Zealand I travelled by what is known as the " All red " line, nad the time spent in Canada was the week or ten days during which the celebrations of the Queen's Jubilee were taking place, and throughnut (bat dominion everyone seemed to be using their utmost endeavours to show their loyalty and respect for Her Majesty. In the colonies there was on that occasion, if possible, i yen more loyalty shown than wai manifested in the British Isles themselves. Mr Geo. Grant, the Hon. Bee. of the Youths' Institute, read the address from that body which was also replied to by the Governor. On the Governor concluding, Mr Fred. Piraci, addressing the gathering, said that he felt sure it was only necessary for him to ask them to again assist in assuring His Excellency, by satisfactory evidence, of the cordiality of their weloome. Mr Pirani, in calling for cheers for Lord and Lady Banfurly, expressed a hope that the auspicious opening of the Youths Institute would be the commencing of a prosperous career. Very hearty cheers were then given for both Lord and Lady Banfurly, after which the party, descending from the platform, re-entered the carriages and proceeded to the Royal Hotel, wbere a hurried luncheon was partaken of. The party then returned to their carriages, and the procession wended its way to the railway station. After a few minutes' chatting, the train moved off amidst the heartiest cheers from the dense crowd, and the inspiring strains of the band.