Landing of the Governor.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4384, 22 January 1883, Page 2

Landing of the Governor.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, Saturday,

The formal lafiding of the new Governor (His Excellency Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois) took place at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The affair was attended with the utmost success. The bunting on the shipping and throughout the town was on the most extensive scale. Two very imposing and triumphal arches were also erected ; the first of these was at the entrance to the Queen's Wharf, to which it formed a handsome adornment; it consisted of three bays, and was constructed of natural foliage of New Zealand, including the nikau palms and* different kinds of shrubs. The structure was decorated with five stars, surmounted with the New Zealand ensign, flags of different nations, and the Corporation coat of arms, while over the principal arch appeared the word " Welcome." The other triumphal was placed at the entrance to Government House, and had only one arch, but was decorated in a similar manner,, with the exception that it was surmounted with the Boyal Arms. At 2.o'clock Sir Wm. Jervois made his , appearance on board the Wakotipu, which was lying at the end of the wharf, and was received with unbounded enthusiasm, the. band striking up a national anthem, and a concourse of spectators giving vent to their feeliDgs in a series of hearty cheers. Sir William was followed from the steamer to the wharf by the Hon. the Premier and the members of Government at present in Wellington. Among those present on the wharf to re*, ceive His Excellency was his Worship the Mayor, Bishops Hadfield and Red wood, Sir Wm Fitzherbert. Sir G. Whitmore, Archdeacon Stock, Father Kerrigan, several members of both Houses of the Lpgislature, the Mayors of Wanganui, Masterton, Greytown, and Palmerston North, and the following consuls :—F. A. •Krull (German), 0. J. Toxward (Den mark), and J. B. George (Portugal).

After a few preliminary matters had been disposed of, His Excellency was presented with the following address on behalf of the Corporation: "To His Excellency Sir Wm. Jervois, C.M.G., G.C.8., Governor of New Zealand, etc. We, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Wellington, desire on behalf of the citizens whom we represent to welcome Your Excellency, Lady Jervois, and family, on your arrival in New Zealand, and at the seat of Government, and gladly hail this opportunity of expressing to Your Excellency our feelings of loyalty and devotion to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and of respect to yourself as her representative. • Awarp, as we are, of the valuable and distinguished services you have rendered in other portions of Her Majesty's dominions, and of the high estimation in which you have been held while acting as Her Majesty's representative in other important colonies, we have great pleasure in seeing you assume the Governorship of New Zealand. We beg to assure your Excellency that you may ever confidently rely on the citizens of Wellington being ready to assist your endeavors for maintaining peace, order, and the good government of this colony, and promoting the welfare of the people. We earnestly trust that your Excellency, Lady Jervois, and family may during your residence in New Zealand enjoy the blessings of health and happiness. Given under the common seal of the Borough of the City of Wellington, this 19th day of January, 1883.—Geo. Fisher, Mayor ; Chas. C. Gbaham, Town Clerk.

His Excellency replied as follows :— Gentlemen, —I thank you heartily for your address, and for the sentiments of loyalty and devotion to her most gracious Majesty the Queen therein contained; and for the kind expressions which you hare been pleased to make use of with respect to myself. On my own part, as also on behalf of Lady Jervois and family, I return you the warmest thanks for the cordial welcome with which you have greeted us. I sincerely appreciate your assurances of support in promoting; peace, order and good government. Your allusion to my previous career leads me to fear that you may overrate the services which I have performed in other parts or Her Majesty' dominions ; and while I look back with the utmost pleasure on the last five years, during which I have had the good fortune to maintain the most cordial relations with the community over which I had the honor to preside as representative of Her Majesty, in one of the Australian colonies, I cannot but feel in assuni ing the Government of this important dominion " that he who putteth his harness on should not boast himself as he that putteth ifc off." At the' same time, gentlemen, it shall be my earnest desire, as far as in me lies, and with due regard to my constitufional position, to do all in my power to advance the progress and prosperity of Hew Zealend. When His Excellency had finished speaking the crowd cheered again, and added three more cheers for Lady Jervois.

An address was also presented on behalf of the Oddfellows.

His Excellency was introduced to the members of the City Council and others. The Governor's vehicle had attached to it four greys, ridden by postilions, and attracted a good deal of attention. The procession was then formed and moved in the direction of Government House. It was headed by the local bands, and consisted of Ministers, City Councillors, the Foreign Consuls, members of the Legislature, Harbor Board, <fee, the Fire Brigade, Salvage Corps, members of the Working Men's Club, Druids, Protestant Allianw, Hibernians, Templars, Becha.

bites, Shepherds, Foresters, and Odd fellows. The course pursued was through the principal streets in the town. Shortly after his arrival at Government House, Sir William was sworn in as Governor of New Zealand, Sir James Prendergast administering the oath, Justice Richmond also being present.

The D Battery of Artillery fired on the Governor's landing, and also immediately he had beens worn in. It is estimated that fully 7000 persons witnessed the proceedings. A supplementary Gazette, issued tonight, contains the proclamation of Sir W. Jervois*. assumption of the Governorship of New Zealand.