VITIT OF LORD ONSLOW TO MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3194, 2 May 1889, Page 2

VITIT OF LORD ONSLOW TO MASTERTON.

: Lord and Lady Onslow and plr'ly arrived in Masterton by special train at half past 7 o'clock last night, A private carriage which was m waiting at the station conveyed them to the Club Hotel, where a suite of rooms had been prepared for them. The Masterton Rifle Yoluiufcs under Captain A. Donald, ofTeatherston, formed a guard of honor, and when Lordship alighted, presented arms. the part of the' public, they evidently not realising that His Lordship had arrived until it was too late, In con. quence of the lateness of hour of their arrival and after the fatigues of the days travelling, His Midship intimated that he would bTuaable to.visit the Theatre Royal ot'.DMHall, where entertainments wure going on. Members of the Masonic Wternity from all parts of the Valley had assembled to the number of fifty at the Masonio Hall, Bannisterstreet; and an invitation was;-sent i to his 'Lordshhnifo. attend Unfortunately':■ for ; - the I MaswrHii: Lordship in declining the invitation' ffbmihe Ladies Committee to the^children's:dance ■ had •signifiel tliatl ; nofc jgoiiigVout i|pk evening, as: : he" !wd!

of Emergency convened for bis reception, lie could not stultify himself by accepting the invitation to attend. This morning, according to arrangements, tlio Mayor and Council accompanied by the Town Olerk, waited upon his Lordship and presented an address of Wolcomo. The presentation was made on the balcony pt the Club Hotel, Lady Onslow and suite being present. The Mayor and Council-having been duly introduced, His Worship, in a briof that His Lordship would honor them by accepting an address expressive of the good feelings of the peoplo of Masterton to His Lordship and family. The address, he said, like His Excellency's visit, was a short one. He hoped His Excellency would, on a futuro occasion, favor them with a longer visib|hen he would have time to apprefflkto the high state of culture to which this laud, which but a few years sinco was a comparative wilderness, had been brought. They were indebted to Sir George Grey, a iormer Governor, for what they saw around them. He would not detain His Excellency with any further remarks, •knowing his time was Bhort,

The Town Clork, (Mr B.Brown) read the following address: - To His Lordship the Eight Honorable the Earl of Onslow, K.0.M.6., Governor of New Zealand,

May it please your Lordship. The inhabitants of the Borough of Masterton desire respectfully to welcome your Lordship to this part of New Zealand, They trust that your term of office as the representative of Her Majesty Queen Victoria in New Zealand may be a prosperous and happy one for both the Governor and the people. They also tender a most respectful welcome to the Countess of Onslow and family, with the sincere hopo that all good may attond them during their residence in the Colony, They likewise beg to assure your Lordship of a most hearty welcome upon every future visit you may be pleased to make to this district.

Signed on klwlf of the inhabitants 1 of Masterton, A, W. Benall, Mayor, 11, Brown, Town Clerk, Masterton, 2nd May, 1889.

His Lordship, in responso, said,— The address which you havo, on behalf of tho people of Mastetton, just presented to mo, and tho expressions of cordiality towards Lady Onslow ami myself contained in it, have greo tly pleased and flattered me. Our chief regret is that the imperiitive duty of presenting myself 'with the least possible delay at tho capital, in order to he clothed with the full authority for tho administration of the government of New Zealand, renders our present visit to Uastevion unsatisfactorily brief. This feeling of : regret, however, is tempered by the knowledge that your town is distant but a short journey by rail from Wellington, and that another visit to your town (should you desire it) is not likely to bo delayed. I cordially reciprocate that portion of your address which expresses a hopo that my term of office as a humble

representative of Her Majesty the Queen may he coincident with a! happy period in tho history of this colony. The marked revival in your trade and credit which has taken place within tho last few month sseems to augur favorably for such a result, and I shall watch with anxiety the progress of a community with whose interests my fortunes are for a period indissolubly to be connected. His Exoellenoy and Lady Onslow cordially shook hands with Ml present ond the deputation withdrew. Lord Onslow and party afterwards paid a visit-to the fishponds and other points of interest, and left by special train lor Wellington, .at 10:55 a.m.