THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81862, 11 October 1906, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

SUCCESSFUL PROCEEDINGS.

The visit of His Excelloncy the Governor Lord Plunket to New Plymouth en Wednesday wa,s marked with success in every respect. The weather conditions coud not have* been better, while the arrangements utcre carried out in a manner that was creditable to all concerned. HOSPITAL AND OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

Punctually at tj.3o, the Governor with his A.D.C. (Captain Binghamj and Mr E Dockrill, Mayor of New Plymouth, and members of the Bo rough Council, proceeded to the Hospital grounds. Here the party were met by Mr G. Tisch, chairman of the Hospital Board, and Mr C. Lepper, secretary 10 the Board, Dr. Walker, 6urgeon-acting, and Dr. Wylie, who showed them over the buildings, which bore a "spick and span" appearance.

The Old People's Home was visited in turn. The outside of the building was appropriately decorated for I the occasion, the word "Welcome" occupying the pride of position. Tho o'd men were lined up in front of tiie place, and His Excellency, after a formal salutation, went amongst them enquiring of their experiences and chatting pleasantly with them, especially those who belonged to the Emerald Isle, about the doings of which he made reference for their benefit. The old gentlemen seemed to highly appreciate the bonhomie of His Excellency, and wanted to see more of him. Tho party were shown over the quarters by the custodian and his wife (Mr and Mrs Farrar), who seem to be especially suited for tho difficult work thai is theirs. His Excellency shook hands with those Oi the female inmates that were in their sitting-room, and spent several minutes chatting with {hem about "old times." Some had come from Ireland, and the quaint remarks of lltese old ladies afforded considerable amusement to the Governor and the party. Before leaving, the inmates gave three ringing cheers for His Excellency, who suitably acknowledged the compliment, PETROLEUM WORKS.

The party then proceeded to the oil works, where they were met by Mr D. Berry, chairman of the company, Mr Fair, manager, the directors, and several leading citizens. The party first visited No. 3 (Mr Samuel's) bore, where preparations are in progress for the casing of the bore. The machinery was set in motion, and Mr Fair explained ilic modus opnandi of oil boring, and the purpose, fcr which the tools and gear are used, showing His, Excellency the oil ihat is visible on the surface of the well oozing out of the pipe, which has just been cleaned out. The second well, where boring operations are in full force, was next inspected. The machinery, which is of ihe latest type, was set going, and the process of boring at a depth of 770 ft below the surface was watched with keen interest by Mis Excellency, as well as the others present. The boring gear was piece by piece brought to the surface, examined and explained, and a demonstration made of the working of the pump, a most ingenious contrivance. The party then adjourned to No. 1 well. The lap was turned on slightly, and, af.er a huge amount of g,'<s had freed'itself, the'oil flowed with great vigour, tins holding about 50 gallons being filled in the course of a few seconds. The demonstration was complete, and Mis Excellency was then shown the samples of oils, etc., extracted from the crude petroleum bv the Government analyst.

Mr Berry then, addressed His Excellency, giving an outline of the boring operations in the province, with pnnicular reference to tlm boring dune at Moturoa. He said that since th) oil was struck in the present bore, the pressure had continued, until now it was 170 II) to the square inch, or, in other words, they could throw a jet of oil over the highesl building in New Plymouth, though. Mr Berry added, it would scarcely put out a (ire, for it was a liitle l.)o rich. The company, he said, expected to reach payable oil in Nos. 2 and 3 bores before the end of the year, and when they did so, as they had no doubt limy would, a refining plant would be put down ajjej ;rpo|i;ni».l industry s.arted', the eifnets gf which t>n llw whole colony would be hard l<> estimate He handed to His Excellency a copy of the analysis of ihe oil, showing that the Taranaki product was worth '£; ill T>'x .hundred gallons against Anv:ric(i's £2 iS/. Mr Berry then went on to say that it might be necessary to ask His Excellency's Government for a measure of protection, such as the re-im-

position of the duty on kerosene c f Jut per fraPon, and to. nxcmjjl 'ffom duty l niatorfals required for oil boring;. ttw Petroleum Company had thoughtfully provided some liquid refreshment for the party. His Excellency proposed the only toast, that of '.'Success to the Oilfields of Taramki." He thanked them for being gven the opportunity of witnessing ore of the most important features cf olonial enterprise. He was not able t express an opinion as to what uiuld be the future of the TaranalciJelroleum Company or other similar (Torts, Lmt itemed to be clear that

ag're'ater measure of success than bad iieady been attained would shortly b experienced. This not only would j'e a benefit to the companies concerned, but to the whole colon;'. To it'aranaki the successful csta'b'ish-

Jnent of the industry would mean a .fi'ieat deal. Prices'of dairy produce might go down—tiie market was liable to fluctuate'—and Taranaki .would be prejudicially affected, but with the oil industry successful, m position \vou"d sti.l be one of

slreiigdi. He thanked the company for the kindness thry had extended to him, and expressed the hope that then- efforts would be attended with the success thry deserved.

The toast was duly honoured, after which the party were shown over (he freezing works and harbour works bv Mr Conneti, chairman of both institutions.

% The party then left lor town, His Excellency being entertained at dinmer at the While Hart Ilo(el by the .Mayor and members of the Borough (Council.

,y THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION

ijAT THE. RECREATION GROUND

His Excellency visited the Recrea

;iimi Grounds in t!ic afternoon, whilst 'he garden party was in progress, (he Taranaki Rifles and Guards, un>T Captain Mills, formed a guard if linnour, and came to the Rocal sa(/ule as he left his carriage and was ,/scc-rted by His Worsl.ip tho Mavor ,iiiKl Mrs Duckrill lu the canopied're--oiess j)repared for his reception on tho. /lower tenace overlooking- the sports anipitieatre. The Garrison j,. llu , Played the opening- strains of the National Anthem, and Ihen supplied (he accompaniment to the massed children s singing- of the firs, stanza, Mr -.Heiben \\h,,, e conducting. About a dozen natives gave welcome in true M;'»ri style-, dancing- a haka. . I ,' S W ! ,rshi l> t; >" Mayor the,, officially NH'lcomcd His Kxeellemv ihe I'oyernor, in Iho name of the people "! laranaki, on this his first official |'sil jo New Plymouih, and assured li'm thai m no part of the wide re.,ln, '•' i l "' J'"<u>le more loyally uphold' "King-and lac ancient constitution , h-ch they ,-cvered V dearly. lie f hanked Mis Kxeelk'ncv lor spendineu >e day with then, on ihis occasion ami misled it would not be the hs;' visit, expressing- the !,„;„. Ul;| , o]l .; u , "j'xl occasion i.adv Plunkit would be al-h lo accompany hi,,,. |„ a)nl .l m |. '"«'•,"' , nc l ll ' d "I"' His Kxcellencv »"uld lake away pleasant recollections <>f his visit to tho district, and that >;;f;;o he left ,|,is colony ,„,- the "'■'lnml he would have an'opp„rtun•l, of ascerlammg- that the Taranaki di-triol, thoug-l, perhaps ,!,,. sm: ..|..s, province ,„ ,|„, ( ~i„n v, i() polon ,; ;| |,. i "'* and |K,ss,|vlities was s.eond to ■ "»ne ,n the colonv. !

The Town Clerk then read the „fK;;' 1 »M™*«( welcome, which was I «ell worthy the occasion 11''*; ExcelVncy the Governor, in "l>,ying, said: "Mr Mavn' and g„n-tl''mon,-!Uy official visit „, Vi ,,r W town has. to my l r „n s'Mr.ewhat delayed, an-l I therefore thank you th,c more for the yoiv

hearty welcome you have given mo to-day. 1 accept with much satisfaction the assurance of New Plymouth's loyalty to His Majesty the King, which you convey to me as his representative, echoing as it does thoso sentiments of devotion to the down and Empire, which have met me in every part of New Zealand that I have visited. This town and district are to be congratulated upon the continued prosperity enjoyed in common with the colony a:\.'liarg". and I trust 1 may have other opportunities of revisiting New Plymouth during my term of office." Having completed what he termed the more official reply usual on the occasion of the presentation of an address, His Excellency said ho wished to return thanks from the bottom of his heart for the care and consideration with which the Mayor and Councillors had seen fit to prepare every anang'meni for his visit, and in providing such splendid weather for the occasion. i (Laughter.) And, as though determined to give him everything his heart could desire, tli"y had cho.cn an Irishman as his principal host (Applause.) Addressing himself to 'lie boys and girls massed before him, His Excellency said that he had hoped to visit the schools, and hoped to. do so at least once before ho left the colony. But as it was a holiday he knew he would not find anyone there, and he was not one to have the cliildicn kept at school for his convenience, so he would come again, and give them another holiday and an address. The Maoris, who had prepared for him their native welcome, | he wished to thank very much indeed, and he hoped to be able to visit the pahs in this district on some future occasion. He welcomed the knowledge that in Taranaki the Maoris had applied themselves to the stem work of dairying, which was a very promising thing for the future. He hoped that under wise laws and a careful realisation of the struggle fur existence, whether by Maoii or European, they would devote themselves closely and profitably to. that and other"useful professions. ("Kia Ora" from the Maoris, and applause.) His Excellency made jocular reference to the "American Broncho" pony that Wits rigged just below, and concluded by the reiteration of his realisation of the loyalty which emanated from every heart in this district. On the call of the Mayor, cheers wcro given for His Excellency and for His Majesty the King, after which the Mayor presented the members of the ladies' committee and many ol t'ne leading residents. The Governor, with Captain Mills, inspected the troops, and then proceeded to the ground below, where, with Captain Standisli. he inspected the veterans, evincing hearty interest in the old men, and questioning many of thoso whose breasts bore records of many engagements the world over. At the conclusion of this review, the veterans gave a salvo of cheers for the Governor. t

This ceremony over, Mr F. P. Corki'l, chairman of the Recieation Grounds Board, escorted His Excellency round the grounds, pointing out the many beauty spots. The Governor expressed unbounded admiration o," our lovely grounds. After spending a few minutes in watching the progress of the several events, His Excellency left then grounds at four o'clock, amidst cheering.

MASONIC MEETING. At four p.m. His Excellency left tiis Recreation Grounds accompanied by the Grand Superintendent of Tar anakii Mr F, IV Corkill, and drove to the Masonic Lodge room in Rob" street, where a special meeting of Lodge Ngamotu had been convened for the purpose of receiving an official visit 'from the Most Worshipful Grand Master. Owing to the sma 1-nc-sa of the hall, tho brethren of the lodge had found ii necessary to icstiict their invitations to official re presentatives of the other lodges, witli the exception of the De Burgh Adams Lodge, of the Irish Constitution, the members of which were specially inv'ncd at the express request r..f the Grand Master. On arrival a! • lie lodge room His Excellency was 1 met by the Grand and Vast-Grand offieeis resident in the Taranaki dis trict, who accompanied him upon entering the lodge. The Worshipful Master, Bro. Hugh Baily, prgajded, and delivered a very: 'appropriate address of welcome, wliieli was responded to by the Grand Master in very happy terms. An adjournment was then made to the refectory, where refreshments had been provided by a committee under the direction of Mrs Bjiiy. - Here"'all the brethren present were individually introduced to H s Excellency, after which the timehonoured toast, "The King and the Craft,' 1 was given, and the National Anthem sung. The Vrorshiphil 'Master proposed the'toast of "The Most Worshipful Grand Mu«tcr," and His Excellency, in responding, again delivered a very appropriate ''tile speech. The lodge having resumed, the Grand Master and lys accompanying officers retired. VISIT TO ST. MARY'S. After this, His Excellency, escorted by the Rev. F G. Evans, -vicar, Mi F. P. CorkHl,. arid Colonel Ellis, visited Church, and spent some time in inspecting that historic building, and the many monuments of the history of the settlement which it contains. Mr E. T. Morshead kindly gave the visitors an exemplification of the qualities of the organ. The Governor then went through the churchyard, and was much interested in the soldiers' graves and the memorials of the early settlers.

FIREWORKS DISPLAY. In the evening Mis Excellency accepted ihc invitatoin of the Recreation Ground Trustees to bo present at the fireworks fete in the grounds. The chairman (Mr V. P. Corkill) being actively engaged in connection with the proceedings, Mr C. \V. Goveil, another of the irusiccs, aeted as cicerone, and accompanied I lis Excellency to the (■■rounds, where the Viee-Rc-jf.il parly remained throughout the whole of the proceedings. This completed a very busy day. in I lie. course of which the popularity of lbs Majesty's Representative in the eoleny was frerpieivly attested by the cordial cheering and greeting of the inhabitants.

His Excellency returned to Wellington by mail train this morning.