THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 47, 16 December 1871, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WANGANUI.

(from our Special Beporter) volunteer hospitality.

During their stay at VVunganui the Wellington Artillery Volunteers were most hospitably and kindly treated by the inhabitants. The peoplo of Wanganui vied with each other in entertaining their Wellington comrades and in rendering their visit a happy one. Everywhere our volunteers made themselves favorites, and by the cordial way in which they contributed towards the success of the ceremonies attendant on the opening of the bridge earned the thanks of the Wanganui people. Besides firing salutes at the opening of the bridge the Artillery were engaged in shell practice with the guns, showing an amount of efficiency that would do credit to regular troops. One of the most pleasant affairs that our volunteers participated in took place at Kangitikei, whither they were invited by Captain Richardson. They left Wanganui at 3 o'clock on Friday, in two lour-horse coaches, and were received with volunteer honors by the members of the Albert Troop, Ilangit.ikei, who were drawn up at Bull's. Every comfort and accommodation had been provided, and the volunteers were entertained at a sumptuous dinner. Afterwards the room was cleared, and the mazy dance was indulged in in until the small hours. The Artillery returned to Wanganui on Saturday morning, being entertained on the way by Mr Gleeson, of the Ban Nevis, Turakina. A VOLUNTEER DINNER. A dinner was also given on the Saturday evening by the militia and volunteer officers of Wanganui to the Wellington Volunteer Artillery. The affair was a great gut-cess, a very excellent dinner having been furnished by hostess Atkinson. And here I think it only right ' to give credit where it is due. Nothing could exceed the kindness of Mrs Atkinson and her i assistants in making their Wellington guests comfortable. Indeed, there is no more comfortable hotel in New Zealand, than the Wanganui, and the visitors from Wellington were unanimous in praise of it. For the information of hypercritical and ill-natured people, I may remark that I have no interest in the Wanganui Hotel. But to return to the supper. In the course of the evening the toast of the Ministry was proposed by Mr Thomas Powell, and enthusiastically drunk. The Hon. D. M'Lean, in responding, said —On behalf of the Ministry I offer you my hearty thanks for the kind and cordial way in which you have received that toast. My lion colleague, the Premier, is not present, but he would have been truly glad to see the kind manner, and to hear the kindly expressions that have been uttered, and to see 60 many old friends as are now seated around me. (Cheers.) The events of the past week have carried me to a period very far back. I refer to the time when our hold upon this district was very slight indeed. When the natives surrounding and residing in it were in a state of open warfare, and when the few fearless and hardy settlers who were then living here suffered by their property being destroyed and their lives placed in imminent danger by bands of marauding natives from the interior. (Cheers'. I refer to as fur as back as 1848. Then it was that I obtained the cession of the territory known as the Wanganui district (Cheers'. Being thus in some degree connected with the destinies of the district, I derived much pleasure being present at the opening of the Wanganui bridge (hear, hear), as 1 look upon that work as a mark of

the sure progress that is being made throughout the country. It is very gratifying to fiud that the policy of the Government is so well appreciated in such an important town as Wanganui. (Cheers). It is a policy that may be summed up in two words 4' Peace and Progress." (Cheers). I see around me one element of war in the presence of the guests of the evening, and another element of peace in the presence of the civilians who have invited them. When the district of Wanganui was denuded of Imperial assistance the inhabitants adopted self reliance as their policy, and in pursuance of that have formed volunteer corps who are well able to repel any attack that may be made upon the settlement. (Loud cheers). I waspresenton a festive occasion when his Honor the Superintendent in speaking of the colony said that we were like hens scratching on the surface. Thtr simile was homely, bnt to the point, and I quite agree with him. When we see from a small piece of land, about three and a half acres in extent, gold extracted to the value of nearly half a million sterling, does it not give us hope of countless riches being discovered in the millions of acres yet unprospected. (Hear, hear). I was especially glad to uotice the extremely loval feeling exhibited by the inhabitants of Wanganui during the late festivities, and I take this occasion of saying that Wanganui has every reason to be proud of the reception that has been given to its guests, as it also has reason to be proud of its noble bridge. The magnificent body of cavalry which attended on the day of the opening was a very pleasing sight to me as Defence Minister, and clearly proved that this and the sister district of Eangitikei have plenty of able and willing hands for the purposes of defence. (Loud cheers.) I beg again to thank you yery cor- | dially for the kind manner in which you have I received the toast of the Ministry.' (Loud aud ! prolonged cheering.) Major Finnimoke proposed the health of his Honor the Superintendent, which was drank with cheers. llis Honor, in responding to the toast, said he felt much gratified at the honor conferred upon him by drinking his health so cordially, and he thanked Major Finn iin ore for the complimentary manner in which he had proposed the toast. In proposing the toast Major Finnimore had displayed an unusual amount of kindliness—for it was not every defeated candidate that would deal so magnanimously in proposing the health of a successful opponent as Major Finnimore had done. Therefore, it was doubly gratifying to meet with so cordial a reception on this his first officii'.l visit to Wanganui. (Cheers.) He trusted it was the beginning of a better understanding between Wanganui and Wellington, an understanding that would lead to something being done for their mutual advantage. (Hear, hear.) By friendly intercourse the rugged and objectionable points in the character of each would be toned down. It was gratifying to him to have made this visit in company with his Excellency the Governor and the Hon the Defence Minister, as it would be seen that Loth governments i could work harmoniously together. Some of I his friends had expressed to him their (Surprise ■ that he should have chosen this occasion to visit Wanganui, thinking he would have preI ferred coming alone so as to occupy the chief position, but he was proud to occupy the humble position. (Cheers.) He was glad to see the Defence Minister present on this occasion. He (Mr Fitzherbert) and the other Wellington members had supported the Government in carrying out their policy, in the belief that they were acting in the right way to secure the ultimate advancement and good of the colony, but he could reiterate all that his friend Mr Powell had stated with regard to the wisdom of the policy of the Native Minister. No one was more able to conduct intricate native affairs and to secure the peace of the country than Mr M'Lean. That gentleman in his speech had referred to the self-reliant policy of the Wanganui. settlers, but he (Mr Fitzherbert) could say that he had belonged to the Ministry that had unfurled ihe banner of self-reliance. They went in upon that policy, and though the spirit of that policy was not sympathised in by the great majority at that time, yet it had since become the spirit of the whole colony. (Cheers) He had seen since his arrival in Wanganui fine stalwart men in the ranks of their little volunteer army that had assisted in the ceremonies-at the opening of the bridge. A finer body of men could not possibly bo found in the colony. (Cheers.) Ihey had shown themselves to be not merely parade soldiers, but a considerable number of them had seen active service in the field, and the whole of them were no doubt able and willing to defend their hearths and homes. (Cheers.) Encouragement to the volunteer movement was the mainspring of the native policy of the present Government,-for while being unwilling to take up arms without just cause, they should, when provoked beyond all bearing, show that in defence of the right they arc prepared to vindicate the law and to suppress rebellion. (Cheers) It was precisely in accordance with this policy that one of the greatest miscreants that had ever debased human nature by determined pursuit had been brought to justice, and the whole colony would expect that the Government would allow the law to take its course. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr Fitzherbert) would more frequently visit Wanganui in future than he had hitherto been able to do, and would enunciate his views on the government of the province and of the colony. He might say that his efforts to promote the welfare of the province had been most diligently and ably supported by the Provincial Secretary. (Loud cheers) Major Edwards proposed the health of Lieut Pilcher and the Wellington Artillery Volunteers.

Lieutenant Pilcher responded in appropriate terms, referring to the kindness and

hospitality they had experienced during tbeir visit to Wanganui. The festivities were continued until a late hour, when the company dispersed. liETUBN. His Excellency the Governor left Wanganui early on Monday, accompanied by Lady Bowen, Miss Bowen, Miss 2/oe Bowen, and Captains Pitt and Machell,A.P.C's , proceeding overland, and the remainder of the party returned to Wellington in the Luna and the s.B. Wanganui. A lasting record of the principal scenes connected with the opening of the bridge has been very faithiully photographed by Mr Peyman of Wanganui, whose enterprise and skill deserves to be adequately rewarded. In conclusion I may say .that the entire trip was one of the pleasantest within my exexperiei«ce. Not the slightest hitch occurred to mar the proceedings, and the excursionists to Wanganui will long hold the place and its inhabitants in grateful remembrance.