The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 4, 6 January 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868.

Ant doubt which might have existed with regard to the probability that H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh would honor this city with a visit during his sojourn in New Zealand may now be dispelled. In the despatch forwarded to the Governors of the various colonies which the Prince intended to visit, it was distinctly stated that in making his present cruise the Duke aimed at obtaining, by personal inspection, a correct estimate of the extent and value of the colonial dependencies of the British Crown, and to this end he placed himself in the hands of the respective Governors for their direction as to the various localities he should visit in each colony. It would have beeu passing strange, if, after such an announcement, the royal visit to the colony had partaken of such a cursory and partial character as our Wellington and Auckland contemporaries would have had us believe.

We have already been informed, "on the best authority," that any statements that had hitheto found their way into the public prints as to the probable arrangements for the Prince's visit were entirely groundless, and had their origin simply in the fertile imagination of those who concocted them. The arrival, however, of our Sydney files plaees us iu possession of the first authentic intimation of the Prince's intentions as regards his visit to this colony. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the Prince would leave Melbourne on the 28th ult., for Tasmania, that he would reach Sydney on the 14th of the present month, would thence proceed to Queensland, and leaving the Galatea to be overhauled at Sydney, would visit New Zealand in another warsteamer, reaching Wellington on the Bth March, and adds that his visit to this colony would extend over six weeks. Judging, as we have already said, from the evident desire which the Duke has shown to carry out his original intention of making himself thoroughly acquainted with every part of the colonies he is now visiting, and also resting on the strong probability that the original programme drawn out by Sir George Grey and his Executive, (of which it is well known that a visit of two or three days to Nelson formed a part), W'H be gladly adopted by the new Governor, Sir George Bowen, a stranger to. the colony and its several points of attraction, it is plain that no doubt can be reasonably entertained that our picturesque little city will be honored by the Prince's presence amongst us, the more especially as the seaboard in its immediate vicinity is so intimately connected with the history of one of England's most distinguished explorers, whose heroic me-

mory is so dear to the naval profession generally. In* prospect, therefore, of this event, we would remind our citizens to be be up and stirring, that we may not prove ourselves behind our follow-colo-nists in our efforts to afford the Prince the best reception in our power. It is, we understand, proposed that our annual race meeting, which ordinarily takes place in March, shall be so timed as to take place during the Royal visit, and if the subscriptions be sufficiently liberal, we may hope to induce the owners of racehorses in Canterbury, Auckland, and the other provinces, to combine with our own local racing stables in rendering the meet worthy of so august a presence, and thus enable us to set before the Prince such a programme as may convince him that the vaunted superiority of the New Zealand stock is not a mere myth of the past.

The public opening of the new Waterworks, an undertaking of paramount importance to the city, might also well be delayed until the Prince's visit, and the work would unquestionably receive immense eclat from the fact of its inauguration by royal hands. Allowing, for a visit to the Waimeas, these two events, combined with a levee, a public ball, and visits to our fewlocal institutions, would probably occupy all the time which the Duke's arrangements will allow him to spend amongst us. At all events we shall have enough to do to make the necessary preparations for the royal visit, and to give the Queen's son such a welcome as shall prove that, although we may be unable to offer him the splendid reception which has been accorded to him in the Australian capitals, it shall, at least, not be wanting in these most essential features in every welcome, be it to prince or peasant — openhanded liberality and heartiness. There is no time to be lost, and both the Provincial Government and the public should at once look to it. It is not to be imagined that, aa on the occasion of the Governor's visit last year, the Government wilt provide all the funds for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh,* but we have no misgivings as to the liberality of the loyal people of this province. They will, we feel convinced, engage in a generous emulation, both by individual labor and means, and by combined effort to render the Duke's welcome to Nelson a demonstration which shall not be unworthy either the acceptance even of Royalty, or the growing importance of the province itself.

Since writing the above we have received our Auckland files by the Taranaki, and it will be seen that the following paragraph from the Southern Cross of the 4th inst. completely corroborates the views we have already expressed with reference to the strong probability that the Prince would visit this city, and moreover announces an act of consideration towards Sir George Grey on the part of the Home Government which will cause much gratification to the colony at large. The following is the paragraph alluded to : —

It appears after all that Sir George Grey is to remain in the colony, to receive and suitably entertain the Duke of Edinburgh during his stay in New Zealand, and that his Excellency will not vacate office in favor of his successor unti his Royal Highness has left these shores. The despatches forwarded to his Excellency by the last Panama mail are, we believe, to this effect, and the intelligence will, no doubt, be as acceptable to Sir George Grey as it will be to the people of this colony. The Home Government,, we are informed, have adopted this change in regard to the immediate recall of Sir George Grey, consequent upon the action of the General Assembly when last in session in resenting the affront cast upon the Governor. Sir George Bowen is expected to arrive in the colony by the ' Rakaia,' on the Sth inst. ; but to get over the difficulty of having two Governors at one and the same time, the commission appointing Sir George Bowen Governor will not be sent out until the May mail. The originally projected tour through the interior of the country, with visits to the most remarkable places in the lake districts, will now in all probability be carried out ; and the Prince, under the guidance of Sir George Grey, will have the advantage of inspecting the many remarkable and beatiful places in that highly interesting tract of country.