The Governor's Visit.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1900, Page 2

The Governor's Visit.

Yesterday the town was honoured by a visit from His Excellency the Governor, * and the Rt. Hon. the Premier, who with the member for the district and other members of Parliament travelled from Wellington to assist in the ceremony of declaring the Wirokino bridge over the Manawatu river, open for traffic.

The day was a perfect one, and everything passed off in the most successful manner.- Everybody pbligingly turned out and the Governor had as satisfactory a tribute paid to him as could be wished. Foxton has won golden opinions all round, and has aptly illustrated the remark we have made that the townspeople by recognising the duties and responsibilities resting upon them, can help their town. A gentlemen of some position from the south of the river remarked to us that he would not have missed the day for anything. THE DECORATIONS. The Celebration Committee which consisted of the members of tha Borough Council and the Horowhenua and Manawatu Counties, with Mr E. S. Thynne, did, with the valuable assistance of Mr Alf . Fraser, the Town Cjerk, all they could to secure success. The wharf and railway station were gaily decorated with flags, and also the street from the station and the" Main street. The hotels and busin ss places had also flags, and two or three had designs. The prettiest was that over Mr Loveday's premises, which was " Welcome our Governor to Foxton " in white letters on a light green ground; Mr Alf. Fraser had on a dark blue ground in white letters " Hearty greetings to Governor and Premier," and Mr Rhodes' establishment had the one word "Welcome." The Manawatu Rowing Club, on their shed, had " Welcome our Govarnor, Premier and visitors " in white letters on a scarlet ground. THE ARRIVAL. At the railway station the school children to the number of 180 were banked against the iroos an;! were provided with hand flags. They were under the charge of Mi- Btewart

and the teachers, and the Rev. W. Woollass, the Chairman of Committee. The Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr Kearsley, was stationed close bye. On the train rounding the curve the band played "God Save the Queen," and on the

Governor appearing on the carriage platform the children sang God Save the Queen.

The Acting-Mayor, Mr Jenks, then was introduced to the Governor, and the Town Clerk was called upon to read the address, as follows : —

Foxton, 30th July, 1900. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Uchterjohn Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies.

May it please your Excellency,

We, the Mayor, Borough Councillors, and Burgesses of Foxton do extend tc your Excellency our most cordial greeting and hearty welcome on this your first visit to our town. We feel and esteem very highly the honour your Excellency has conferred in thus visiting us during the sitting of Parliament, when you have so many calls upon your most valuable time, and deem ourselves fortunate indeed to have the privilege of your presence here to-day. Twelve years have passed since the last visit of the Governor of the Colony to this district, but we trust your Excellency will be able to again visit us in the near future, and that our fine river may afford you some sport with the rod. We regret that time will not allow us to drive your Excellency round the Borough, which would give you a better opportunity of seeing the various small points of interest, but will beg your Excellency's permission to take you for a short trip on the river as far as the Wirokino Bridge in a steam launch which is now awaiting your Excellency's pleasure at the wharf. In conclusion we venture to assert that no where in the British Empire has Her Majesty more loyal and devoted subjects, nor your Excellency more sincere ad : mirers than in this Borough of Foxton. Signed, W. B. Rhodes, Mayor. (Also signed by all the Councillors and Town Clerk.) His Excellency then read the following reply : — Mr Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of Foxton. I thank you for the cordial and loyal address which you have presented to me on this my first visit to Foxton. You are all aware that though it is about three years since I landed in this Colony, I intended to visit your borough and district among my first official visits in New Zealand, and that it was by your awn request I postponed it till this important occasion. I know very well of what importance the opening of this bridge will be to the future of this.b6rough, and I trust it will largely add to your trade, and help to develop your district, and thus fulfil your most sanguine expectations. Your staple industry, the flax trade, has been most prosperous for the past year, and I hope your borough has enjoyed its full share in this prosperity. You hold out as an inducement to again visit your borough the fact that your river affords good sport with the rod, I shall hope in the future to avail myself of the pleasing opportunity suggested, but I need no such inducement to visit any spot in this colony ; in the first place I consider that it is the Governor's duty to do so, and to make himself conversant with all its possibilities, and, also, it is a pleasure to me at all times to travel amongst a people who have invariably received me with loyalty as the Representative of the Queen, and with marked kindness and cordiality as to myself. This cordiality I shall not readily forget, and should the opportunity ever arise in which I might advance any interest of the Colony, it will be my earnest endeavour to turn it to good account.

I beg to thank you for your address Ranfurly. "

The members of the local bodies were then introduced to the Governor, when the children burst forth iuto song again, and the Governor kindly walked up in front of them and spoke to Mr Stewart.

The members accompanying the Governor were the Rt. Hon. the Premier, Mr Seddon; the Hon. J. Duncan, Minister for Lands ; the Hons. F. H. Fraser, T. Kelly, and Major Harris, M L.C's ; and Messrs John Stevens, C. H. Mills, T. Pratt, R. M. Houston, J. F. Arnold, A. R. Barclay, W. H. Field, F. McGuire, and F. Lawry. The station was crowded with people, as was the wharf. The s.s. Himitangi had just arrived and she was made gay with being dressed with bunting. The s.s. Flower of Kent, which had been made particularly smart, was set apart for the Governor and some of the visitors, and the s.s. Matara for other visitors. The s.s. Planet, Florence, Nina, and Ina were also alongside filled with passengers. His Excellency and party having embarked a start was made for the bridge, the steamer being followed by the other small boats* ' ■ AT THE BBIDGB. The bridge was toade in good time and His Excellency having landed was escorted by the Acting-Mayor to the bridge, at which he was met by a very large number, both on the banks of the river and bridge, numbers on the south side being kept from crossing by the police. The Governor

having advanced to the centre, at which rows of red-white-and-blue ribbons met, joined with a padlock, the Acting-Mayor asked His Excellency to take the silver" liey and unlock the bar, and -to declare the bridge open for traffic.

His Excellency, having unfastened the padlock, said he had much pleasure in declaring the bridge open. Nothing was more necessary in open* ing up the country as bridges and roads. Nothing gave him greater pleasure tha,n to declare this big work open, as he Lad seen that the statistics showed that in this colony a man a day was lost in attempting to cross rivers, thus showing how necessary bridges are. He trusted the bridge would prove of great benefit to Foxton and the district. (Cheers.) The span was then opened and cosed and a return was made to Foxton.

THE HALL.

The Public Hall was excellently arranged and decorated, the stage being transformed into -a drawing room with heavy handsome curtains and furniture. The walla of the hall were tastefully, decorated with -flags and ferns, and in the centre of the hall, just behind the Governor's chair a large fern tree was fixed.

The tables were arranged with the . top one right across and- two long ones branching from each end' dowtr the whole length of the hall. These tables were' filledr -thero^ bek»g^(^er. one hundred present; of whoi?i the ' ladies formed a very large portion.

Mrs A. G. Stansell is highly to be congratulated on the setting the tables, which were admii>ed% everyone, and the ladies, -who -,»re good judges in such matters, deeUuetHhey r were a pretty sight. Our visitors were also surprised to see such >r.«-r rangements in a small itawn and" declared they were the best they had^seen. It is needijejw to say~<#iatosti»B eatables were in keeping with -ihe-^ whole catering, comprising, wild ducks, poultry, meats, of all kinds, and sweets of many a varied make, hue, taste, and sweetness. The desert was also of all the good things s procurable. The top table was occupied by Mr W. H. yimcox, as chairman, who had the Governor on his right hand, and the Premier on his left. Next to the Premier sat the Minister of Lands, and next to the Governor, Mr John Stevens, M.H.R. The vicechairs were filled by Messrs J. Kebbell and J. Davies.

During the luncheon Messrs Hearstey and ileid played selections on the piano and violin. The company were all in the hall prior to the Governor's arrival, and when he entered, escorted by the Chairman and others, the musicians played " God Save the Queen " and the audience rose. LUNCHEON. After the luncheon had proceeded a while the toast list had to be commenced jwing to the short time at disposal, md the Chairman propoaed the toast of the Queen. The Chairman then proposed the toast of His Excellency the Governor. In doing so he said that on the last occasion he had the honour of meeting His Excellency was when he had visited Otaki. The inhabitants entertained His Excellency, they^ arranged a programme which contained a visit to the Beach to enable him to pick up some shells, then he went to the Native Meeting House where the Natives presented an address, then a visit was paid to the State School where the Governor presetted the prizes, then the Governor had a little *alk of three miles to reach the luncheon room, there he made along speech and afterwards visited the 1 hospital and opened it, and then some.vhere else to afternoon tea. He only mentioned this to illustrate . what a clay's amusement means to the Governor. He expressed the obligation of the inhabitants at Lord Ranfnrly's visit and regretted the absence >f the Conntess. He proposed 'the iiealth of His Excellency. (Cheers.)

His Excellency on rising was heartily received and said he desired . to thank them for having so cordially drank his health. The chairman had mentioned what he termed a day's work at Otaki. It was a pleasure to him to attend such gatherings. He objected to the statement that he had made a. long speech ; he never did aftdr^pfepjpiiQp* \ •nised he was not going to do so nmv. He regretted Lady Ranfutjy- ao^bf taghere, but it would be understood in the winter the weather was'often too rough for a lady to travel and this was . the reason she was not here to-day. In a colony which measured tfioo miles in length it was too much to expect the Governor's wife ;to go everywhere he did. It was not from want of the wish to be here that Lady Ranfnrly was absent. To-day we have heard the extremely bad news of the massacre at Pekin being confirmed which however was not unexpected. Still this is a memorable year, memo table as being the first * year of a United Empire. The man to whom the credit of achieving that is due is Paul Krugerand a statue was due to him. Our flag has been banded down unsullied and with great renown and our duty is not only to keep it so but to add to its laurels. We have pnly to look back to the past and it would be impossible to find any country which has so distinguished itself, in engineering, mentioning Watt Stephenson, and Wheatstone, by which our industrial position has been secured, but in physic you have Jenner and also the antiseptic for wounds. In the time of the Mutiny in India the absolute native population did not join the Sepoys, and a captain noticed that in all the native villages the inhabitants were putting walls up, when they though England was going td be driven out of the country. The

natives wanted no* walls while England governed and this safety and freedom to all her subjects was the success of England's rule. What has England done for her colonies ? She

has not taken pounds from them but

on the contrary has supplied millions te help them to become self-governim; communities. She has been willing for them to have all and this was how the colonies and the Empire worked so yvejl together. Wherever there is dis 7ress England has always been ready to take her share in relieving it. There may be war and we have no colonial navy bat we rest secure in the knowledge that England's the strongest navy in the world, ready to guard us at all points, and I rejoice to have the honour of representing Her Majesty. (Cheers.)

Mr Kebbell, vice-chairman, proposed the toast of the Ministers and Parliament. In doing so he said he believed the position of Parlament was indebted to the strong speakers who had always presided over it. He was most happy to see the Right Hon. Mr Seddon, and thanked him for coming. He hoped his health had been benefited by his trip. He and all in the country hoped that the Local Government Bill which had been, he might say, held over their heads for some years, would be passed tyl Parliament this session so that local bodies might know how they were really situated. He proposed the toast,

The Right Hon. Mr Seddon was received with hearty applause on rising to respond. He said he expected the chairman, wherr mentioning a long speech at Otaki, was alluding to him. His Excellency, in his reply, had taken the Imperial position of our nation, and he (the speaker) as head of the Government was delighted to find so many members of Parliament; present to-day. He preferred being in Foxton to being shut up in a stuffy Cabinet room, employed in receiving deputations. The Parliament of New Zealand is entitled to the respect of every well-wisher of the EmpireJ because we are able to try experiments which are proving successful," s6 much s"6 that we find the Parliament of England is copying from us. This will be so long as the people of the Colony are true to themselves, and see that they are free and educated, and that they secure that which makes, life useful and pleasurable and placed within reach of all. Amongst the requirements of this country are roads and bridges, and the New Zealand Parliament is only doing its duty in opening up the country and ghA» the settlers a chance to get to market. We have opened the bridge, and he could assure them that when the bridge was unlocked and declared opened a load was lifted off his mind. Some one had said to him that it was a long time since he had been to Fox ton, and it was, but he was afraid to come. There was your ex- Mayor Mr Sta"n"sell (applause), who would have mentioned the bridge, and he remembered that when he had just returned from the Mother Country and met Mr Stansell he had the audacity to refer to this bridge. A pleasing feature of the opening of the bridge was the part the son of his old friend Mr Fraser (M.L.C.), had taken. He regretted that the Hon. John McKenzie was not present, and aljp the absence of the Minister for Public Works, both of whom had had to do with the bridge. The whole matter was a question of money. It was so to say " you find one half, the Government finds the other halt, and up goes the bridge." He was glad when he knew that Mr O'Connor had the contract, as he knew it would be faithfully carried out, as he was a West Coaster. He would give the local bodies a hint. Now yon have got a bridge it reminded him of seeing a " bell-topper " on a man with a tattered coat and waistcoat — you must metal the road between Foxton and Levin (applause). If the Local Government Bill is passed you will be able to raise money without much

•Rouble. It is the duty of parliament to see that happiness and content reigns supreme. The children at the railway station, reminded him of the dear Old Mother Country. People may well be proud of the rising generation. Though some here may not

have had the chances of education let

us try to smooth the paths of our '"children and we shall prove ourselves

not a source of weakness to the Empire, but we shall be able to send our sons to maintain its integrity, and and our son 9 have maintained their reputations in South Africa. Under these circumstances when parliament led the van in sending men to South Africa you have reason to be proud of the men you sent to parliament, and proud of thefgentleman who represents you and who has had a good deal to do with the bridge. He desired to thank the mover for the kind references to his health, and he might say that the kind wishesireceivwd from all had made his life worth living. On behalf of parliament and,. Ministers he most heartily thankedr^tberh for the kind manner the toast had been drunk (applause). .. . Mr John" Dayies, vice-chairman, proposed the toast 01 the Engineer and Contractor. In doing so he said that he thought it was proper and right to praise those who had used energetic efforts in their work. -Mr Fulton had designed the bridge to suit the amount available, and he could have done TX>mething better had there been more money. He had done the best iv brains and skill for the money. The contractor could not have shown greater energy. He wished to -state that without the aid of the present Government the bridge would never have been obtained. In times past deputation, after deputation had gone to Wellington and failed. Mr Stevens had, however, little difficulty in getting our wants fulfilled. Though he was not a supporter of the present Government he admitted they had done more for the developement of this West Coast than any other Government had done.

Mr Reaney, Government Inspector of the bridge, regretted Mr Fulton's abs^ice. He had asked him to come up and inspect the bridge, but had said nothing about a luncheon and a speech, had he done so he would probably not have been htre. Mr Fulton had designed the bridge and his duty was its inspection, but the' work had been so

exceedingly well carried out that his work had been li^ht. It was a good structure," well and economically designed, there being no waste of material, but the strength was where it was required. • He hoped the bridge would advance the prosperity of the district,

Mr O'Connor (the contractor), thanked all for the tor.st. The bridge work had been carried out as faithfully as it could be.

The Right Hon. Mr Seddon proposed the health of the Local Bodies. He knew what it meant to be a mem* her of a local body. It meant that a member received all the kicks and cuffs possible, but they appeared to like it, as they always stood again. Mr Jenks and the members of the local bodies pppeared to take to it very kindly and a little more cuffing will perhaps do them no harm. It is when members can show something for their work it will be slid " they are the people." In past days when no bridge was over the river people were delayed by floods, the cause of much annoyance and anxiety, and it is good such anxieties should be removed. He was in Foxton 22 years ago, rtnd he would like to see the Foxton of those days revived. The more roads and bridges and more settlement meant more population. With settlement and good roads there is a steady flow onwards, so you must look to the firm settlement of the people on the lands. Roads and bridges are the life blood of settlement and his Government had had 500 bridges and 3000 miles of roads made, which is a record to be proud of. What is wanted is for the local bodies to be the machinery, and for Parliament to find the means. He then proposed the toast of the Local Bodies, coupled with the name of Mr J. R. Stansell, exMayor.

Mr Stansell said he had had a little go at this bridge. The prospects at first appeared very remote in the opinion of the Borough Council. Not a member of that body thought it worth while to go to Wellington to interview the government about a subsidy, but Messrs Kebbell, Davies, and Bartholomew, went. He wished to thank those members for the assistance they gave. Then there was great opposition as to the site, but the government sent up an engineer who after inspecting four sites recommended the present one. In argueing the point with the other local bodies he had shown that financially the bridge must be a success as Mr Davies, or himself, would rent the bridge for the tolls collectable. Pie would like to see n free bridge as it would be a great convenience and the rates would be so small. A free bridge v/oulrl mean increased business and increased values in property. He desired to thank Mr Stevens pablicly for Ivs courtsey and attention as he had always found him willing to work at all times.

Mr John Stevens, M.H.R., desired to thank Mr Stansell most sincerely. It was his pleasure and privilege to work for a community that had worked so hard and well.

The Right Hon. Mr Seddon briefly proposed the Chairman and vice-chair-men, also the Ladies and the Press.

The Chairman thanked the caterer for the justice he had done to the committee.

The Right Hon. Mr Seddon proposed the health of the Mayor. The guests then left for the train.

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