THE GOVERNOR AT MILTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 260, 23 January 1873, Page 6

THE GOVERNOR AT MILTON.

(Fro7n a Correspondent.) His Excellency the G-overnor, Lady .Bowen, the Misses Bowen, and suite arrived at Milton about 2 o'clock on Eriday, the 10th instant. They were received at the town boundary by the' Mayor — the volunteers, under Major Jones, forming a guard of honor. Several houses were ornamented in honor of the occasion, the- Commercial Hotel,- where the vice-regal party stayed, being especially noticeable for tasteful decoration. At the door of the hotel, Lady Bowen was preseuted with a bouquet of flowers by the Mayoress, which she acknowledged with her own inimitable courtesy. A luncheon had been prepared in the large hall of the Commercial Hotel, to which the vice-regal, party and a number of prominent citizens sat down. The Mayor occupied the chair, beinsj supported' on his right by His Excellency, and on his left by His Honor the Superintendent ; Major Jones was vice-chairuvm, having on his right Lady • Bowen, and on his left Captain Pitt. Grace having haying been said by the Ilev. Mr. Chisholin, the viands were attacked, and after that part of the ceremony was over, The Chairman gave the "Health of the Queen and .Royal Family." He said ; — Gentlemen, [ have no doubt but that you will agree with me in saying that Victoria is the best queeu that ever ruled the ' British Empire, wheih, I may state, is the best empire the world hns ever seen ; au empire whose sons have done more for the regeneration, enlijxhtarnent and diffusion of liberal laws and institutions and literature, and the real good of mankind than all the kingdoms and empires of the world put together ; and our heaifc's desire is that her reigu may last till knowledge and brotherhood be so increased that men will learn the ait of war no more, but will study only the ends of peace ; and that men everywhere will only strive who will be the most good and useful. The'" Queen, " and long may she reigu over a prosperous, happy, and loyal people. The Chairman gave the " Health of Governor and Lady Bowen:" He said the company would agree with him in stating that they had .great pleasure in

again, welcoming' ; the 'Governor arid Lady Boweu to Milton. • On his first visit he , had made such a good impression thatLevery; one who saw him or had conversation with him were highly-pleased/ As had been said by a former • speaker,-, that, like our good Queen, he Was the most constitutional Governor ever we had: He ' had no -hesitation; in saying- that, if appearances make a 'constitutional Gbvernor, he is the most constitutional Governor ever we had, or are likely to have; and his affable and agreeable manner, and his easy way of making everyone happy around him make' us think that' he is the best sample of a, good old English gentleman of the good olden time that has ever ueen seen in these colonies. All regreted very much that- he is leaving and going to another colony j but they fondly hoped hewouldnot forgetthem ; thathe will'try in his new sphere to foster that free trade and social intercourse amidst all Australian and other southern colonies which will tend to the general benefit of the whole ; and that some day he mtiy be spared to come back and see them in spite of them all; and that he may have great happiness, him and Lady Bowen, in the new sphere of usefulness is the wish of all the good folks of Milton and the plain of Toko maiviro, and their wishes were that every good may attend them. The Governor on rising to reply, said : — Mr. Mayor, Corporation' of Milton, and Q-entlemen — I may say that I thank you most heartily for the kind way in which you have drunk my health ; and I certainly thank every one of you for your good wishes towards me and Lady Bowen. You may depend ""upon it it will be a long time before I forget you. Everywhere in New Zealand I have been well received and well treated, and ifc is most, agreeable to mo to come and have such j a happy meeting with you ; and I must congratulate you upon having your poetical Mayor. You have elected j him for the third time, and rijjht you were ; who could be better fitted for your Mayor thau a poet for your poet named town. The greatest statesmen in the world have been poofs, and I have no doubt but in the administration department and every other department ho will bo found to be the ! best you can get, and who can guide and guard your literature like a poet. Long may he be spared amousc you, prosperity to the town of Milton, all members of the Corporation, and the worthy Mayor. The Mayor, in returning thanks, said: — Your Excellency Sir Q-sorge, and gentlemen, I return my best thanks for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health, and your good wishes for the corporation aud town of Milton. I may state that since His Excellency's visit about two years-, ago .w t e have gone on steadily increasing, and a few new buildings have been erected, and some additions made to our members ; and the corporation are always makiug some new improvements, and we hope that our trade and prosperity will likewise increase. Being surrounded with such a fine agricultural plaiu, I may say that we are destined to go ahead ; and for myself, I daresay no man could have a greater desire than I have for the prosperity of Tokomairiro. I hope that we will all live to sco tbe town of Milton as broad as it is long. Our worthy Governor has said some happy things about the poets. I may state that he is allied by the sweetest ties to a noble lady t'iat bails from a blessed land where Homer, the father of poetry, first saw the light of day, and Where burning S.ippho loved and sung. Where grew the arts of war and peace, * And Pallas rose and Phoebus sprung ; And'iny warmest wish is that she may be long spared as a blessing and a comfort to him and his family. I again thank His Excellency and you, gentlemen, for your kind wishes for me and the Corporation and town of Milton. ' ' i The Chairman next gave the health of the' Superintendent. He said :—: — Gentlemen, I have much pleasure^ in proposing the health of our worthy friend the Superintendent. He is so well known to you all that I need not say much to takeup our short time. I may say that I fervently believe that lio man has the good of Otago more at heart than he has' — whether you agree with his policy or not. I think this great scheme of Public Works has been in his "minU for years, and if it can be carried out satisfactorily that will be his greatest pleasure. L have no doubt gentlemeu, that the present prosperous state of tho colony is mainly indebted to him in trying his utmost to get work in working order, and we will all live 'to see in the prosperity of the colony that his policy \va& ritcht. His health was drank with all the honors. The Superintendent in returning thanks said: — Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for the kind way you have drunk my health. I may state that from the first day I came into the colony till now, I have done all I could as an individual for tho good of tho colony— Especially the province of Otago, and in whatever capacity I am placed 1 will still continue to do the s&me. I hare" great pleasure in seeing the present prosperity, and I fondly hope it will long continue. Gentlemen, lam not going to detain you as the time is short,, but retam jrou' again r&y- warmest? • <fckan.ks.-