THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1186, 26 June 1874, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO NELSON.

His Excellency's visit to Nelson, has not given perfect satisfaction to the Nelsonians. The Colonist ventures to say '' there is not a man in the place who is satisfied with either the mode or the result of the visit," and further remarks that, " Had the Governor come with all due formality, and had the Superintendent emulated the example of the Mayor, the people would quickly have taken fire, and the reception of the Queen's Representative would have been of a very different kind, and have produced very different results. As it is, healthy arid loyal feelings willing to be aroused have been met by incapacity, and will probably, in consequence, go home aud sulk over the abortive attempts which have been made to give them their proper play."

The Mail, on the other side, says : "It is fair to suppose that the Governor likes quietness, and appreciates being free to do as ho pleases without the uncomfortable sensation that tho eyes of tho populace are upon him, and to go where ho likes without having to raise his hat in acknowledgement of frequent, if forced, cheering. If this be so, he must have thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Nelson. There was no crowd to meet him, no volunteers to receive him on tho wharf, no salute on his landing—the gunpowder for the big gun, it is said, is in Wellington —no carriage and six greys, as at Ilokitika, to drive him up to town, no procession, no cheers, aud no waving of handkerchiefs. Indeed, if it were not for the passing of tho Municipal Corporations Act in IS6S, he would have had nowhere to lay his head, but fortunately a bed was found for him,little dinner parties wore given to him every evening of his stay by the Mayor, and he rode out hero one day, and drove out there the next, and visited the cloth works, of which, as he said, Nelson has reason to be proud, and drank a glass of NXX in the cellars of tho oldest of our breweries, and went to a ball, where he had an op. portuuity of dancing with some of the prettiest girls that Nelson can produce, and on the following da}' ho walked down to the port unaccompanied by anyone but his host, the Superintendent not having ascertained the hour of his departure, got on board his yacht, nearly ran into the Claud Hamilton, but eventually got safely out of tho harbor, and was then met bv a furious south-easter, which did not care one rap more for the B'ancho than it did for tho Planet or Sisters, or any other little craft, but with utter indifference to her viee-re< T al freight, blew her over to Astrolabe, where, like any other boat, she had to lie at anchor for the night. So, if Sir James Fergusson's professed dislike to parade and display be really genuine, he must have thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Nelson, where ho certainly was not bored with too much attention,!' The Colonist also remarks that on the whole, " his Kxcolloncy appeared to entertain favorable views of this place, and its quiet comfort, and so far flattered us that he expressed to our Mayor his wish and intention, during the ensuing summer, to pass a longer period in Nelson." The address of tho Mayor and Conncil, and his Excellency's reply, were as follows : Tin; .vtjmiKya. To His Excellency tho Right Honorable Si a James Feuoussok, Baronet, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over t'.io Colony of New Zealand, &c, &c, &c. Vlo, the Mayor and Councillors of the Corporation of tho City of Nelson, desire to offer to your Excellency the expression of our hearty welcouio upon your visit to our city.

As the Representative of our be loved Sovereign Queen Victoria, and as Governor of the Islands of JS T ow Zealand, we feel that the present visit of your Excellency is an earnest indication of the real interest which you take in the welfare of tho Colony and of this Province. Trusting that your Excellency may enjoy your visit, we beg to subscribe ourselves, Your most obedient, Humble servants, J. B. Dodson, Mayor, J. Percy, Town Clerk (Acting). THE REPLY. To the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Nelson, Gentlemen, —I thank you for your loyal and kindly address. I regret that circumstances havo postponed my first visit to your city so long after my arrival in tho Colony, for a year has passed since I touched at your port on my way to the seat of Government. But lam happy to take the present opportunity of visiting the capital of this Province, which presents many features of interest and attraction. I havo already seen at the other extremity of the Province some of its valuable mineral resources, and I trust that before long their further development may increase its prosperity and quicken its progress. Already it is gratifying to see the evidences of wealth and comfort which your City affords, and tho marks, which even at this season are not wanting, of a genial climate and productive soil, make mo augur favorably of its future. I beg you, gentlemen, to accept on behalf of your constituents, my grateful acknowledgements of the cordiality of my reception, which I * "eel to be no les3 because circumstances have prevented any public display ; aud I desire to assure you of the interest which I shall not fail to take in tho welfare of the province and of its inhabitants. James Fergvssox, Governor. Nelson, 16th June, 1874