The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1867. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO OTAGO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 42, 20 February 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1867. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO OTAGO.

The Otago Daily Times of the 15th, contains fourteen columns of the proceedings connected with the Governor's visit to Dunedin. Landing at Port Chalmers the previous day, his Excellency was met by the Mayor and corporation, the members of the Provincial Government, the clergy, volunteers, and all the public bodies that could be got together. Every jetty, ship, and hotel was gaily decorated. Five Maori chiefs accompanied the Governor. The Port Chalmers Naval Brigade fired a salute of 17 guns. The Mayor read an address, and the Governor thanked him for the flattering reception given him by the officials and public. A breakfast was provided at the Provincial Hotel. His Excellency having received the congratulations of the Maoris at the Heads, entered a carriage and drove to Dunedin amidst the acclamations of the spectators. Other carriages followed with the Mayor and corporation of Port Chalmers, the Executive, the native chiefs, the officers of the Brisk, and the members of his Excellency's suit. A number of horsemen followed the carriages, and there were groups of horsemen all the way to Dunedin. At 2 o'clock the boundary of the City of Dunedin was reached, a disof about eight miles from Port Chalmers. The anxiety of the people to see the chiefs was as great as to see the Governor, and they had frequently to say, " Haere ke te matakitaki i a te E_wana." "Go and look at the Governor." At the boundary the Mayor and corporation of Dunedin met his Excellency and welcomed him to the city. A grand procession then moved forward through the principal thoroughfares of Dunedin, streets two miles in length. Triumphal arches, flags, and decorations of every kind lined the road. The procession was in the following order: The Battalion Band; the Fire Brigade, with banners and full uniform ; the presbytery of Dunedin ; the Trades Unions ; The Caledonian Society ; the Green Island Volunteer Band ; the Odd-fellows and Foresters ; the Chamber of Commerce, bankers, legal profession, members of the Athena_um, followed by the carriages which came from Port Chalmers.

When the procession reached the Provincial Council Hall, his Excellency passed through a double line of civil and military guard, and was greeted with loud and continued cheering, until the steps of the Council Hall were reached. The Volunteers presented arms and salutes of artillery were fired. On the terrace of the Provincial Government Buildings there was a canopied dais, the hangings being of scarlet, and the royal arms being emblazoned in front. Volunteers occupied both sides as a guard of honour. Every available spot was densely crowded. His Excellency was surrounded on the dais by the members of his suite. The Mayo r congratulated his Excellency on his arrival

in Dunedin, and the Town Clerk read an address from the Corporation. Adresses were also presented from the Fire-Brigade, the Presbytery, the Operatives, the Caledonian Society, the Oddfellows, Foresters, Chamber of Commerce, and Members of the Athenaeum, to all of which suitable replies were made. The whole of the addresses having been presented, His Excellency advanced from the dais, and after there had been several rouuds of cheering, he said — I thank you all, most sincerely, for the welcome which you have this day given me. It is with great delight I have seen how loyal and attached the population of the Province of Otago are to our most gracious Sovereign the Queea. I accept this demonstration as a proof of your loyalty to her Majesty the Queen ; and it will be my pleasing duty to convey to her Majesty the intelligence of the love and attachment which you all bear to her person and to her throne. The Mayor called for " Three cheers for the Governor ;" adding, " And now, let the voice of Otago be heard." Three cheers were given " with a will ;' and " one cheer more" was more than once added.

His Excellency bowed, and, with his suite entered the building. A dejeuner was laid out in the central hall of the Government Buildings, at which the Mayor presided, and to which from 120 to 140 ladies and gentlemen sat down. On the health of the Governor being proposed, he explained the circumstances that led to his disappointing the people at the opening of the Otago Exhibition, in 1865, and said he was overpowered by the reception the people had that day given him. He then said — I feel that this is a great and solemn occasion. I feel certain, in reference to what has been done in New Zealand, and in this part of New Zealand, that, hereafter, some historian will record, that whilst the nations in Europe were levying large armies, and, in their own estimation, performing parts in the most important events, by annexing small territory after small territory to great empires, at the other end ot the world there was a people patiently.^ laboriously — surrounded by many difficulties, of native wars, of almost impassable mountains, of rapid rivers, of trying sea communication with other parts of the world — slowly building up a great empire, which, when such a history is written, will be exercising a most important influence upon the whole world. Whilst we are all taking a part in such important events, I must treat them as great events — as things worthy of being treated reverently, and with becoming speech. I will, therefore, simply say, that on my first landing here, many years ago, with the exception of a few Europeans, there was nothing but a scattered native population. I saw then hardly any Europeans. My reception was such as the rude hospitality of a semi barbaric race could afford me. I came again, a second time. A few surveyors having been sent down where the city of Dunedin now stands, I was received in the small hut of a single surveyor. That was the only welcome I had. I came again, a third time. I found what might be called a modest village rising here, but with a large number of contented and highly enterprising people. I was received then into the house of a perfect Scotch gentleman. I found myself most kindly treated in the bosom of his family, pleased to be at home, and, for the first time in my life, fully experiencing what Scotch hospitality was. Now, again, a new phase has come about ; and the man who has wandered lonelily upon these shores, has entered tins day a great and prosperous town, and amidst such sights and scenes as few men are permitted to see. You can well imagine that it is impossible for me, after meeting such a reception as I have met to-day — witnessing such sights as I have seen, and such progress as is evidenced around me — after finding what I have known as a perfect wild wilderness transformed into a large, populous, and well-built town — not to have thoughts to which it is impossible for me to give any utterance. But I will add this. Prom the first moment that Isaw the Province of Otago, I believed it had a great destiny before it. When I came back the third time, and found the population that was settled here, I felt perfectly satisfied such was the case ; and the one thought that occupied my mind was, what could be done to enable the intelligent and enterprising people I saw here, to secure their own prosperity. I felt certain that they were better able to do it for themselves, than anyone else was fitted to do it for them, and I left Otago determined to try to see a system of institutions devised, which should unite a large amount of liberty, with the perfect power of a people working out their own welfare and well-being. I believed that such a degree of liberty could exist with the most perfect loyalty, and with the most thorough order ; and in that belief, I did my best to get that system of Government established under which you all live. I feel perfectly satisfied that, whatever may be determined with regard to the future, it was by enabling Otago, as a Province, to work for her own welfare — by giving you a large province, so that, to administer the affairs of that province, it was necessary for the admi-

nistrators to raise their thoughts to great ideas, and great conceptions ; to wander away from the mere local petty details of the management of a single town, or of a few villages, to the government of a great country, the construction of great works, and the management of a large population — I am perfectly certain, I say, that it is by men having their minds elevated to that pitch, that the inhabitants of this province have been, in a great degree, led to achieve the results which they have accomplished. I will but add further, that the pleasure I have this day experienced will remain by me as long as I live ; and that I feel grateful, indeed, to Providence, to have seen so much of prosperity, welfare, happiness, and contentment, as has this day met my view.

The city was brilliantly illuminated. Since then Sir George Grey has visited the out districts of the province, where he has experienced a similarly cordial reception.