The New Governor’s Reception.

Manawatu Herald, 23 June 1904, Page 2

The New Governor’s Reception.

On Monday last Lord Plunket and party boarded the Hinemoa in Karaka Bay and had luncheon wjth Lord Ranfurly. Farewells having been taken, the Hinemoa steamed off to Lyttelton, and the Gothic weighed anchor at 1.40 p.m. and steamed up to the Queen’s Wharf. Sufficient steamers accompanied the ocean liner to make a semblance of a marine procession, but very few excursionists were on board. The official landing at 2.30 was delayed for a few minutes by a heavy downpour of rain. On stepping off the gangway Lord and Lady Plunket and party were met by the Premier and his colleagues. - Mr Seddon briefly welcomed them, and assured them that strenuous efforts would be made to make their stay in the colony a very happy one. Lord Plunket, in reply, thanked the Premier for his warm words of welcome, and for his loyal sentiments towards the King. The party then moved off to a dais in the Post Office square, where a very large crowd, under umbrellas, had gathered. A notable feature of the arrangements in the afternoon was the substitution of school cadets for the Permanent Artillery and volunteers who had formed a guard of honour at the morning’s ceremony. The proceedings at the took place amidst steady Lord Plunket reached the platform at 3.50 p.m and was accorded a hearty welcome, and addresses of welcome were presented from the citizens of Wellington, Friendly Societies and Salvation Army.

Replying to the citizens’ addres* Lord Plunket said: -“Mr Mayor and Councillors of the City of Wellington, I beg to thank you and citizens of this town for your loyal address and for the hospitable welcome with which you have to-day greeted Lady Plunket and myself on our arrival in New Zealand. The unfailing loyalty of this colony to the Throne and devotion of its inhabitants in the best interests of the Empire, which have been so conspicuously demonstrated during recent years, are well-known throughout the world, and it affords me the greatest pleasure to experience this proof of your devotion to his Majesty the King, as shown by the kind welcome to me, his representative. In entering upon my new and important duties, I am fully conscious of the grave responsibilities which lie before me. I can only hope that as time goes on I may be enabled to prove to you that the interests and welfare of the New Zealand people and of this prosperous and growing city are as dear to me as they are to you,” His Excellency also appropriately replied to the other addresses. The gathering, at the call of Mr Seddon, then gave three ringing ' cheers for the new Governor, and three more for Lady Plunket, A long procession of carriages, volunteers, friendly societies, ®tc., moved off to Parliament Buildings, the whole being thickly lined with spectators. -The swearing-in ceremony took place in front of fch® Government Buildings in the presence of thousands of people. The oaths were administered by Mr Justice Williams, who was attended by Mr Justice Chapman. The ceremony was only a short one, and at its close his Excellency drove away to Government House. The illuminations at night in honour of the new Governor were not on so elaborate and general a scale as seen at the time of the Duke of York’s visit and the coronation festivities. The display was confined to Parliament Buildings, Government House, Government Buildings and Post-office, and they make a very fine show. The slushy streets were with thousands of sight-seers.

After .taking the oath of office Lord Plunbet said before he left Ireland to come to this beautiful country, his Majesty the King, who was then engaged in a tour of Ireland, asked him to convey his appreciation of the loyalty of the people of New Zealand, and hia deep and abiding interest in their welfare and prosperity.