FAREWELLING THE GOVERNOR

Temuka Leader, Issue 2318, 13 February 1892, Page 3

FAREWELLING THE GOVERNOR

Christchurch, Feb, 11. Tlie citizens’ banquet to the Governor and the Countess of Onslow took place to-day at the Tuam street hall. About 200 were present, and the Mayor of Christchurch occupied the chair, supported on his right by .die Governor and on his left br the Countess of Onslow. The chairman proposed the toast of the Governor, and in doing so said that tine Governor was regarded here as something more than a mere inanimate object. We had had many Governors, none of whom had advanced the position more than the Earl of Onslow, who had made himself familiar with all our institutions and industries, and had governed the colony with marked ability and impartiality. He alluded in graceful terms to the Countess of Onslow, who had endeared herself to all in the colony, and bid them and the family God-speed, with a special regard for their future. The Governor was received with loud and continued applause. He said that ivia first duty was to offer an apology.

When the citizens were good enough to pretend to them an invitation he never ■bntemplated the possibility of breaking it. It was a lesson on humility that it is possible from time to time to be unable to fulfil our engagements. He did his best to combat Avith. the elements, but they were one too many for him. He fully appreciated the kindness shown to him and the Countess, and which had been carried out excellently. The form of the invitation led him to think that the people of Christchurch agreed with bim as said elseAvherc —that when a new Governor is appointed they are not curious to know his antecedents hut they wanted to know what his wife was like. (Loud applause). The duties of the Governor carried great re aponsibilities. He represented the Queen and the Imperial Government, and he the Ambassador, he Avas the envoy, Rxfthe whole of the British Parliament and people, the interpreter of thought and action, and the guest of one of the branches of the Imperial Family. Speaking of the founder of Canterbury, he said that Mr Robert Godley was one of the pioneers, of Avhora few remain, and Avhom it wag an honor to know. A debt of

| gratitude was owed to them for every step taken in their interests. All honour to those who had done their best to render the lands of this colony productive. Here was a flourishing community exporting meat and so forth, and importing from England, which took the liberty of imposing upon them a heavy import duty, which presses heavily on our colonists, diminishes a little the quantities which might otherwise be disposed of, but furnishes the means wherewithal to pay the debt of the English capitalists. Speaking of the relations between the Old Country and the colonies he regretted the Home Goveimment made a failure when they endeavored to force Foreign Governments to abandon the practice of giving bounties on the export of sugar. Of the

successes of the Government nothing was more auspicious than the colonial conference of 1877, and no proposal attracted greater attention than that of Mr Hoffmeyer to use for tho common purposes of defence a universal 2 per cent, duty imposed for the purpose on all goods coming from foreign countries. But that was not discussed and tho other side had yet to be heard. He believed that a reciprocal tariff with the colonies would no doubt do good, but looking at the position of the imnorts and exports it meant that if England was not to suffer, the imports and exports from the colony must materially increase. He said that there was a necessary desire on the part of the English people to make a sacrifice for the colonies, and were it not that the state of things was for one party to propose it and the other to discuss it, ho would have more faith in the

consummation of that desire. But if that were not possible he had hopes that something would be done in other ways, and an opportunity was about to arise when the voice of the colonies should be heard, as in a short time the consideration of the treaties with some of the leading countries in Europe would be dealt with. They had reason to feel proud that there was such a sagacious politician at the head of the Foreign Office as Lord Salisbury, in whose hands the welfare of the colonies and the Old Country might well be left. Much had been heard of the detractors of Australia, but when all had been said and done, was much said against Now Zealand ? Who then were these detractors who had to be answered ! They were found among the antipodeans themselves. He had received a large number of letters and if he said there was no expression of doubt as to the colony, he would be misleading them. This uneasiness was explained by the fact that the people had not much time to carefully read the colonial papers, and the doubts were raised by one or another, stating that they had received letters stating so and so. It was not only damaging to a country, but it was damaging to their own individual interests. To the correspondents he had always answered that the people of New Zealand had not the slightest desire to drive away capital, but they had made it pretty clear that the land of New Zealand should belong to the people of New Zealand The people were justified in discouraging the acquisition of large areas. With the future all that was necessary to reassure capital was to show that it was intended to throw the burden on the shoulders of those best able to bear it, that there should be no accumulation of

areas, and leaving internal causes ru wunv out the cures of the present diseases. Referring to his departure, he said that a farewell was always hard to say, and more especially after three years of pleasant security. But there was one consolation, that if it pleased God that trouble should befall them in the Old Country they would remember that they had sympathetic friends in the colony, and on their part they would always wish the colonies success, and that never might be slipped the stout cable which joined New Zealand to the great and glorious British Empire. Councillor Bonnington proposed the toast of “ His Excellency’s Advisers, which was responded to by the Postmaster General, who expressed regret on his own and on behalf of the Government at the departure of a Governor than whom none had endeared themselves more to the colony and the people. Mr Louisson, ex-mayor of Christchurch, proposed the toast of -t The Countess of Onslow.” He would not be accused of flattery if he said that from her arrival in the colony her name had been a household word. She had endeared herself to the people of New Zealand. His Excellency the Governor responded on behalf of the Countess of Onslow. He

said that the wife of a Governor was no mean help in the discharge of his duties, which were mostly social, and it had been Lady Onslow’s endeavour to treat all those with whom she came in contract as equal subjects of Her Majesty the Queen. Even could she forget the name of the place where she spent three happy years, she would have someone to remind her of it and its beauties in the one who was born to her in the colony. It would be their pleasure to bring that son up so that when he arrived at years of discretion, he would wish, as they expected, to visit the the land of his birth, associated with so much happiness. ('Lond applause). The toast of “ The Ladies ” was pro-

posed and honoured, atter which the proceedings closed. The public demonstration in Latimer Square to bid farewell to the Governor was a great succes. Seven thousand persons congregated, and the proceedings were marked with much enthusiasm. The Mayor, who presided, expressed the sincere regret felt by the citizens at His Excellency’s approaching departure. Mr G. W. Russell presented an address on behalf of the people and provincial district, and Mr Douglas one from the , ■Knights of Labor. Lady Onslow was made the recipient of an album of views of scenery in and about Christchurch. The ladies Gwendoline and Dorothy were presented with handkerchief boxes made of New Zealand woods, a third box being given to the Countess for her latest born. The Hon. J. G. Ward, on behalf of the Government, joined with the people of i Canterbury in regret at the departure of , the Governor, ; ' His Excellency on rising to respond ■ was warmly received. He said that a ! formal acknowledgment was not commensurate with the manner in which Lady l Onslow' and himself had been received, s They were never likely to forgot the kindl ness and hospitality with which they bad t been received in Christchurch, and he had

'to heartily thank them for _ the most appropriate presents given to his children. He felt that it’ the progress of the colony for the last fifty years was a criterion of i the progress which it would make in the future, no man living could tell how great, how glorious, New Zealand would become in another half century. When he looked round on the assemblage before him he could not help flunking that there was a large representation of labor and of the party at present predominant in the State. The majority of them present were associated with the advance party. When in political life he was associated with tho other party, and the flattering reception which he had met with went to show that they approved of his actions and gave him credit for impartially holding the scale between parties, and his last sentences io them would be to express his firm conviction that progress can be assured only by union between capital and labour,one regarding the rights of the other. He would suggest to those now in possession of power to exercise it with justice and fairness to all. He would always look on the colony with interest, and hope and pray for its prosperity, and ho would consider it a priviege to speak well of it in the Old Country. As His Excellency and Lady Onslow were driven, away, three ringing cheers were given. A large crowd assembled at the railway station to see them oil, and cheered heartily.