VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2840, 22 March 1878, Page 2

VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Tar Inspection.

At about five o'clock yesterday afternoon the gaily uniformed members of our citizen soldiery were to be. seen harrying to their respective drill sheds for the purpose of attending the inspection by His Excellency the Governor, and the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, Defence Minister. The Scottish Company, Band and Cadets, and the No. 2 H.R.V. Company and Band mustered as follows at the Scottish drill shed: —Scottish (including band), 95; No. 2 (including band), 75; Scottish Cadets, 25. Before the regular inspection Colonel Whitmore passed down those two fine companies, and though he expressed no opinion, was evidently highly pleased with the splendid physique and general appearance of the men. The Scottish was under the command of Capt. Murray, Lieut. Dey and Sub-Lieut Johnston; the Cadeta under. Captain Mennie; and the No. 2 under Captain J. S. Small, Lieut. Barlow, and Sup-Lieut. Denby. The Navalt and St. George's Naval Cadets had 'in the meantime been mustering at their drill hall as follows:—Navals (with band), 70, under Captain Best and Lieut. Gavin; Cadets 30, under Lieut. Vernon; the Eangers, Natives, and No. 3 having | marched up from Shortland under the | respective commands of Capt. Mcßoberti, Lieut. Carnie, and Sub-Lieut. Farrell (20 strong), Capt. Taipari, Lieut. Baika, and Sub-Lieut. Poona (35 strong), and Capt. Macdonald (20 strong), were then, with the other companies drawn up in column, and having taken open order, awaited the inspection. In a few minutes His Excellency, accompanied by Colonel Whitmore, inspecting officer,. Capt. Mating, Major Cooper, the Hon. John Sheehan, Mr Brodie, and others were seen approaching, the splendid band of the T.S. V. playing the National Anthem. The party then passed down the ranks of the* various companies, Colonel Whitmore expressing himself pleased with the appearance of the infantry companies in general and the Scottish iv particular. Tho Naval Brigade, he said, looked perfect. The number of men wearing New Zealand war medals was a subject of remark by His Excellency, and in the medallists Colonel Whitmore noticed several old comrades in the war. In respect to the Thames Scottish Company, the gallant Colonel said that he had never seen a volunteer company look so well. More could not have been expected from a company of guards. Concerning their efficiency there was really nothing to grumble at, and if there was anything he could do for them he would do it. He referred to one or two little matters that would increase their soldierly appearance, such as uniformity in the wcariug of pouches, &c. He regretted there was not room for manoeuvring to let him see what they could do. ■ To the two companies wbicli had small musters he said that they were slightly above the number below' which it had been decided to disband 'volunteer companies. He hoped they would do what they could to increase their efficiency. The large muster and fine appearance of the No. 2 also elicited praise, and when inspecting the Native- corps Colonel Whitmore, interpreted by Mr Grace, expressed his gratification afc their appearance. Major Cooper had informed him that their number was limited to 40 men but that number would now be increased. His Excellency was informed that Sergt. Hoani Nahe M.Hif. was,a member of the corps, and went and addressed a few kindly words to him in passing. Colonel Whilmoro was also pleased at the appearance of the cadets. After the inspec-, tion the officers were called to the front and were thanked by the inspecting officer for their attendance. He regretted that they had not a belter parade ground. He asked them to march the companies past at fours by the right. Tho officers returned to their companies, which were marched past; the viceregal party, who were located. at the door of the Pacific Hotel. After the inarch past, His Excellency having expressed a wish to see the officers, of the various companies, a number of them assembled at I'ae Pacific Hotel, and were each introduced to His Excellency, who said he had asked them to attend as from the lateness of the hour he had been unable to address them on parade. He poujd npt Jet tbj» opportunity pass, however, without assuring them pf the satisfaction he felt at the appearance of the companies. It showed great exertions in a good cause, and did credit to themselves and the town, and he only wished (heir example was i

followed in other places. For his part he had great faith in volunteering if properly carried out and sustained by drill. What ho had seen convinced him that if they unfortunately would be required to act they would not bo found wanting. Where all were so good it might be invidious to particularise, but he must say that he had; seldom seen such a splendid body of men as the Thames Scottish. He wished it lo ho distinctly understood that he made no invidious comparison ; they all deserved praise. He would not have believed that there were such a fine body of men if he had not seen it. If time, and he might say space, iiad permitted he woul'i iiare addressed them on parade. He requested them to express the pleasure he felt to their respective companies. His Kxcelleney then cordially shook hands with each of the officers, who withdrew and dismissed their companies., The Banquet. ,

The citizens' banquet to His Excellency took place in the large room of the Governor Bowen Hotel at seven o'clock. The chair was occupied by Dr £i)gour, ; Mayor of the Borough, (he vice chair by Mr A. Brodie, County Chairman, while Mr W. Carpenter, Chairman Parawai Highway Board, also 'acted as a *icecbairman. On the right of the Chairman was seated His Excellency the Governor, and on the left the Hon. J. Sbeehsn, while the Hon. Colonel Whitnibre, Captain Townsend and other guests were disposed oh the right and left. There were present besides-^the following:— Captain Mating, the Governor's Private Secretary, Staff Surgeon Astley Cooper, Lieutenant Coehrahe, Paymaster W. H Whichells, Sub-Lieutenants F. E. Groube and Alan B. Leslie, Captain Eraser, Warden and 8.M., Mr A. J. Alloni, Mining Registrar, Mr J. E. Macdonald, Mr Rowe, M.H.R., Captain Goldsmith Mining Inspector, Captain Murray, a numbe? of Borough and County Councillors, mine managers and other citizens. The dinner was provided by Mr George Symington, assisted by a host of cooks and waiters, and the bill of fare was doiio full justice to. The liquors were of good brands.

The Chairman, Dr Kilgour, called npon the company to charge their glasses, and then reminded the speakers to be brief. He had the pleasure to propose the "Health of Her Majesty the Queen." Long may she reign. < Drunk with three cheers.

The Chairman next proposed "The Health of His Hoyal Highness the Prince of Wales and the rest of the. Hoyal Family. Drunk with cheer*, and a cheer for the Princess of Wales.

The Chairman asked tli© company to charge their glasses again. The toast he had now to propose was " His Excellency the Gorernor of New Zealand," their honored guest. (Cheers.) lie believed that was the first opportunity the inhabitants of that part of Hew Zealand had had of entertaining His Excellency, and they considered they were indebted for that visit to the progress of the public works scheme. They were pleased at having that opportunity, and be was sure that if the Governor should agitin Visit the district they would be pleased again to entertain him; He hoped the improve* men ts being carried out in the district would induce many other distinguished visitors io visit the district. He was sire all would join him in drinking a cordial bumper to His Excellency. Drunk with cheers in the most hearty manner.

His Excellency thanked them sincerely for the manner they had drank his health. He had a lively recollection of the kind reception he received two yeurs ago, and that assured him that he would be'accorded a cordial reception now. But* hisentertainers had dutdone themselves. They had had a 'long day, and he had.beent malting a good many speeches, so that he' need not make a long speech now. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the Volunteer inspection had taken place he had been prevented from making an address. He weuld take that opportunity, of saying how highly he thought of the parade that day, and how very agreeably surprised he had been at the splendid turn out. -■ He had been in the Army himself, and had some knowledge of military matters, and as he saw a number of Volunteer officers around him.he might say that j he regretted he bad not been able to see the parade earlier, aud where they could hare a chance of drilling, but he trusted (hat he should hare that pleasure when He come amongst them again. . ' The Vice-Chairman was sure (hey wonld driuk the next toast most enthusiastically. The toast was "The Army, Nary and Colonial Forces:" It 'afforded him tnuch gratification to propose the loast, especially when he saw so many belonging to those forces around His Excellency. It was a source of gratification to be assured that the army of England was in a state of efficiency, and able to protect British interests wherever assailed. Ho far as the Nary was concerned that was always in a slate of efficiency. The Colonial Forces comprised men who had shared the dangers of the battle field, and who would be willing to do it again should circumslauces require it. (The speaker eulogised the Colonial Forces, referring to prominent officers.) He would not take up their time any further, but commend to them the toast, coupled with the names of Colonel Whitmore and Captain Townsend. Captain Townsend, who was received with great cheering, said of all the pleasant sights he had seen that day none bad excelled the appearance of the JNaval Brigade. He was glad to be able to say that, and he hoped otlier placet in JNew Zealand would follow the example of the Thames in forming such a useful branch of the service. He had had great pleasure in being present at the ceremonies that day, and would cordially thank them for the way the to?st had been received. Colonel Wnitmore returned thanks. It was the second time he had had to do •o that day, and he would not detain them with a lon* speech.'* Every Englishman would assert that their army went to victory when they went to fight. .They mif|ht be beaten, but in the long run they would win if they had to fight the whole World. (Immense cheering.) jNo matter what odds they had to contend ngainst they must win. (Cheer*.) . They had gone into the Crimea unprepared,, but they bad gone on increasing in strength until, when peace was concluded in deference to their allies, they were in a better position for fighting than wh4n the war Vgah. Ho might say that the Colonial forces bad shown they were possessed of the same material, and would do if called upon as they had in the past. Mr J. E. Macdonald proposed—" The Ministry, with the Members of the House

of Representatives," in which he eulogised the members of the Ministry. Drunk with cheers. :

The Hon. J. Sheehan, in rising to reply, was received > with cttcora. A l, saying occurred to him It was, "What a day we've had." They had performed a lot of work tint day, and made some half-dozen speeches, lie would fellow the chairman's advice nnrl bo very brief. (The epeakrr then referred to the terms in which the toast had been proposed, and thanked them cordially for the way it war received ) ' ' "*." ■ -■•<;>-■•> w«r -■-'• Mr Kowe. M.H^lt., was rather pleased that an addition hud been made to the toast. , n Somehow the representatives had beeu bverl»nked to day. Whatever mMtakea the Pitrliument might hare made, and they w runted s >tneiinics, it was all the belter. It disturbed the current. He approved of parly Government as well as constitutional Government. He believed the prevailing motive ofnthe Parliament, hnd been thY welfare of New Zealand, however much they had differed. If those men who were now in the Ministry, and they had a good deal of ■the liiloist of lho House, did:-jwhat t wes right, they would have the support of the Hoiih.-, but not ,0! her wife: / He was con? fideui there was not an abler Parliament in any British Colony than in New Ze<-! land. He again thanked the company tut'- the way the toast had been received. ■ • , Captain Fraser proposed ".Our Local Governing Bodies." A. few months ago they had six local bodies, now they had o'.ly four. Parawai was coquetting with the Borough and County. The Harbor Bon id was itt , a chrysalis state. The Borough wits presi od over by a gentleman of education and experience; thel County by a man of practical-experience and Inrge common sense, tye hoped that in a short time 'he community would be under, on n good strong body, « union of the good sensr, colonial experience and otlier qualities peculiar to a mining community. A mining community was the most, sensible in the w0r1d.... It had been •aid by some of the narruw-rainded residents that because they had given Sir George Orejr, I heir respected member, a good reception, they could not give -a good reception to Her Majesty* repre tentative, but the good sense of the community had prevailed,, and a cordial I reception had been accorded to His Excellency. ... ..... ' „/..,, Toust drunk with cheers. '''■''''."' "" The Mayor returned thanks briefly. Although he could not look forward to the Municipal millennium no graphically described by Captain Fraser, he did not see Why the local bodies should not work well together. He thought he could say the Borough Council endeavoured to do their duty, and though they were subjected to criticism at the hands of the Press and others, in their course, of action they were actuated by an honest desire to promote the people's interests. Mr Brodie returned thauks fdr the kind mariner the toast had been receive^. The work performed by His Excellency, that day showed that the County Council were alive to their duties.

Mr Paries, Chairman of the Harbor Board also returned thanks. Although in the chrysalis stage he trusted they (the Harbor Board) would yet become an important body. They had a fine field for their- powers, and he hoped they "would prove worthy of them. He trusted when the Governor came next they would be able to bring the vessel up nearer town. ' Mr Carpenter, Chairman of the Parawai Board, responded. He was in the difficult position of representing a district described as a coquette. He thought the Borough was the farored suitor, but it remained to be seen what the County would do to secure the hand of the maiden described as a flirt.

The Hon. J. Sheehsn proposed, "The: Mining Interest!," He would say, what .was not perhaps observed by some of , theini,. that < mining was an industry; ■essentially peculiar to * the English speaking races. He need not say .much more He had only to ask them to look around and see what had been done to commend the toast to thi-m. tie- could . remember that in '18J87 when they in Auckland were burning their houses and going through the Court, the Thames ■wa . opened and bad .saried them. (The sneaker referred in happy terms to some experiences of his; in mining at (Joromandcl and at the Thames.) He thought their guests today would see that a district like the Thames, which had pushed the province so much ahead, .was not going to be rubbed out yet. They were not producing .10 much gold as before, but there were evidences of permanence and comfort, and when they had a back country they would be second to no district. in the Colony." i The speaker was frequently applauded during hit; speech.) Mr Rowe, in reply, said that the mining interest from its commencement bad had no better friend than the gentle* man who had so kindly proposed the toast. He (the speaker) was not one of those who thought the mining interest was about to be rubbed out. If they did their best the place would prosper., . „: Mr McGowan proposed "The Ladies.* He supposed it was in the eternal fitness of things that the best toast should be left to the worst speaker. He would couple the toast with the mmc of Lieut. Leslie. ■

Drunk with usual compliment, and responded to by Lieut. Leslie. " The Press " was then proposed, and as this concluded the formal list the company separated, most of them proceeding to the bell at the Academy of Music. UioßftU.

The concluding, but not the .least pleasant feature in yesterday's proceedings, was the ball given by the Native Volunteer Cdmpany and ladies to the Governor and suite and European residents of the 1 names. The arrangements for the bnll trere admirably carried out by a mixed committee of. Europeans and .Natives, and Mrs Hikorima Poutoutara Was unwearied in her exertions for several days before the ball came off. Invitations to European ladies and gentlemen were issued on a liberal scale, and were very generally accepted. The music was sap* plied by Mr it. A. R. Owen at the piano, andjMr Christiansen's string band, and gavegreatsatisfaction. Mr Curtis supplied the refreshments in the large dining hall of the Pacific Hotel. The ball was honored with the presence of the Governor* the. officers of the Nymphe, the Hon. the Ministers for Defence and Native Parposes, and by the Government, Borough and County officers, and pemberp pf the tatter body; by the officers of volunteer companies, and manj private citizens with their wives and daughters. The members of the .Native Volunteer Com-' Kny were present in force, and the tori young ladies in attendance were

remarkablo for tliei.- »ood dancing and the unexceptionable character of their bull costumes. The ball was opened by the Gorernor dancing with Mrs Kikorima PoutouUra in a quadrille, and the long programme was then proceeded with and carried out with much spirit, His Excellency remaining until eleven o'clock, when he left In go on board the tfympbe with Captain Townsend and other officers.

A cessation of daccing occurred shortly alter eleven, when supper was partaken of, after which the programme was again gone "vn with and finished- at a :fcrtrur""* early hour this morninjr- It may be w remarked that this first pnbtie rntertaJßaisßl of our Native friends did them infinite creJlt, and it served to show thal: Ac young people.amongst th« Maoris are making rapid strides in at least one of the ■ most graceful accomplishments and pops-, lar amusements of their pakeha friends. :If r * is plain that they are apt pupils where Vy their amusement Ueooeerncdf 4 aud by promoting-r these reunions, of the iw*^ peoplesihey may be rendered ra iapor- ' tant auxiliary in bringiog "about riWI JJ amalgamation, of races referred to Mot* than once yesterday-by the Governor aeil"l others as eminently desirable.