The Governor at Auckland.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3186, 23 April 1889, Page 3

The Governor at Auckland.

Auckuhd, April 22. The public reception of. tho Governor this morning; was a great 6UCOOSB. During tho movning frotifeent showers of drizzling raiu fell, fortunately, the weathor continued fine from 8 o'clock onward ■. The portion of Queon-street adjacent to the platform and triumphal arch was gradually filling up with crowds of people in holiday attire, and by 9 o'clock there must have beclrsome thousands of people in the thoroughfare awaiting the appearance of the I vice-regal party, 'i'ho triumphal arch was an qjtiemcly handsome one, and contained Iho royal arms and the word " welcome," while on each column were the shields of the City Council and Harbor Hoard. The platform for the reception of tlio .Vv> Governor was erected at the entrance ■s> to tlio railway station in Qiuen-street ; 1 . and was prettily adorned with evergrtens, uikau, flowers, etc. About 250 of tho leading citizens occupied seats here. The guard of honor'at the reception consisted of 100 Naval Volunteers, who arrived in town last night shortly before 11 o'clock from the Hamilton Encampment. They were dfahnder the command of Lieut-Colonel **a)ignan, Captain Leroy aud other officers. About half past nine Lord and Lady Onslow and party, accompanied by the.Mayor(MrDevore) and Mrs Dovore, drove from the Grand Hotel into Queen-street, and, as tho party ascended the dais, the guard of honor presented arms, and the Garrison Jiand struck up the National Antktin, The Mayor presented on behalf of citizens of Auckland an address to lord Onslow. In the course of his reply the Governor said: 11 As jou have presented this address to ine with a few

introductory words, you will perhaps, Mr Mayor, allow me to say a few ; i words beyond the reply to the formal ft< expressions contained in the reply to your address, I feel that lam here in a somewhat anomalous position, because, although I havo in my pocket a commission from Her Majesty the Queen appointing me as . Governor and Commander-in-Chief over the Colony of Now Zealand «ind its dependencies, yet that iqmmission does not supersede the one appointing Sir William Jervois to be Governor until such time as I have been sworn in (it the Beat of Government. Therefore I accept the address ns a tribute of personal regard rather limn as an earnest loyal welcome, which I feel sore you all feel towards the repre- . sentative of Her Majesty, and I have no doubt I shall experience when I return at a future dats, when I ome amongst you as Her Majesty's representative. You may perhap? be surprised that I should have landed at Auckland rathor than at the Seat of Government; but when I was first appointed to the office which I have the honor to hold, I desired at once to act in the spirit of a constitutional governor, I looked about for advice from the colonial representatives, and received it from one of the most popular and highly esteemed , ■■if "men iu England, your Agent General ft, (Sir Francis Dillon Bell), who ■madvised mo to take tho largest ship Wnd to follow the precedent set by that veteran colonial govoruor, the Marquis of Normauby, who landed at Auckland on December 8, 1874. 1 must ask you to excuse me if I reserve any remarks on what may have occurred to me or to those I havo just left as to the immediate prospects ol New Zealand; and if I also defer any remarks upon the duties which I apprehend to belong to the office of Governor, or the efforts which I hope to briug to bear in their discharge, till I have had an opportunity of speaking as Governor, after the due assumption of that office, contenting myself with the observation that it is my ambition h serve the Queen faithfully, and to emulate her noble example m the discharge of constitutional functions, and to win the esteem of the people of New Zealand by an impartial exercise of the duties of Governor." , chief Paul Tuhaere, of Grakei, also presented an address on behalf of the Maoris, in which occurred the following:—" The great desiro of the of this Island is that you live wmongst your Maori people.' Our ''■ wish with regard to the House of is that it may be brought back to Auckland again. We pray that your Excellency will give your regard to your Maori tribes; that you will protect them under your Government as we trust those who come after your Excellency Bhall do." The Earl briefly replied, stating that the Queen had stated to him that she took a greater interest in her Maori subjects than iu almost any other of the people over whom she ruled. The Governor and party then returned to the carriages and drove to Government House, whore two addresses wore (presented, one i.im the Freemasons of all constitution?, and one from the Mark Masons, There was a large assembly of the brethren of the craft. ■ Another Case of ArsonBlenheim, Tuesday. An evident attempt to burn down the master's house at the public jiyichool occurred at midnight. The originated in the dining room at : the back of the house. The wall just under the window was burned, and the flames spread round the sill?, The family wasabscnt at Nelson, only • __ Mr Lucas' brother being on the t"' premises. He slates ho beard a iieavy body fall, and running out of his bedroom he found the apartment in flames, An alarm was given and the fire quickly subdued. Two hours • later the building was discovered on ire'in two other places, While young Lucas and a neighbor.were running out the former foil down in a fit. This time the building was destroyed, only some furniture being saved. It is a clear case of arson.