ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY, LADY NORMANBY, AND SUITE.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 898, 26 March 1878, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY, LADY NORMANBY, AND SUITE.

As nearly as possible at the time anticipated the special train, conveying the vice-regal party arrived at the I lamilton station. Comparatively few persons, except those taking part in the escort", assembled at the station, it beincr well known that the reception itself would take place on arrival in the township. On descending from the railway carriage both His Excellency and Lady Normanby were received with a hearty round of cheers, and, without delay, they proceeded to occupy the carnage awaiting them, provided by the town Council, the Hamilton contingent of the Te Awamutu troop of Volunteer Cavalry forming a double Una from the platform to the carriage door. The procession then formed in the following order, Advance Guard of Hamilton Cavalry ; Carriage drawn by four bays containing His Excellency, Lady Normanby, the Aiie de-Camp, and Mrs Mulinij, and his Worship the Mayor of Hamilton, and having an officer of cavalry on either side. On either side the Governora carriage came the main body of the Hamilton contingent some thirty in number and the rear guard followed by the carriages containing the Town Councillors the carriages of Mr A. Cox M.H.R. and other gentlemen and a nnmber of settlers on horseback. A large triumphal arch had been erected by the Town Council half-way between the two hotels, across Victoria St., handsomely decorated with evergreen flowers and flags, and bearing on either side, the motto " Cod Save The Queen." Here on its arrival the procession halted amidst a large gathering not merely of the townspeople, but of settlers also, and their families who had come from a distance to witness the pageant. The natives too showed up in considerable numbers and seemed to take a lively interest in the proceedings although many of theoa seem to have got it into their heads that the Marquis of Norav-mby is the Governor of the Middle Island only and Sir George Grey of the North Island. On this point however yesterday's proceedings must have undeceived them. But not only did the old folks press forward to take part iu the proceedings. One of our chief ,ocal industries was represented in full force. Children were there, not by scores but hundreds. Those belonging to the two district schools, about 150 in number, marshaled by their teachers, Mr Murray, of the West Hamilton, and Mr and Mrs Field, of the East Hamilton schools, formed line on either side of the carriage at the arch-way, and afterwards took their share in the business. His Excellency, attended by his private secretary and aide-de-camp, then stepped down from the carriage, and standing under the arch, was met by His Worship the Mayor of Hamilton, I. R. Vialou, who read Ihe following address :

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST NOBLE, THE MARQUIS OF NORMANBY, &c. &a.

My Lord, May it please your Excellency. • We, the Mayor, Councillors anrl other inhabitants of the Borough of Hamilton, approach your Excellency with feeliinrs of loyalty, and devotion to our Sovereign Lady, the Queen, whose presence amongst us this day you represent. On your first official visit to "Waikato, we most heartily congratulate you on finding the district, once a matter of grave

Imperial concern and anxiety, now enjoying the blessings of peace and evidencing 1 every sign of a large and growing prosperity, a condition of things largely owing to the wise and temperate policy of native affairs, which has been prodaced by successive Ministries. We trust that the present occasion, though the first, may not be the last on which we may have the pleasure of welcoming yourself and Lady Normanby to Waikato. Trusting that your visit may prove as agreeable to yourselves as it <is gratifying to us. We have the honor, &c. &c. His Excellency, in reply, said : I thank you for the cordial and hearty expression of loyalty you have just shown me in the address now presented If we look back to the dark days to which you allude, we cannot help being struck, first, with a feeling of thankfulness to Almighty God that these days are past and gone—past and gone, I believe and trust, for ever, —and, in the second place, with surprise at the advance which, notwithstanding the difficulties encountered, has been accomplished in this district. I trust that it may be, for all future time, the happy home of a united, an ihdustious, and a prosperous people. Although this is my first official visit to your district, I had the pleasure of passing through it, in a hurried way, two years ago. I then promised I would take the first opportunity I could of re-visiting Waikato, and that promise I now fulfill. I trust, also, that on future occasions I may be again able to visit you. Three cheers were then given for His Excellency. An address was then presented to Lady Normanby. Mr Cox, M.H.R. led forward two young la'dies, Miss Eva Allen and Miss Susan Land, and presented them to Lady Normanby who still remained in the carriage. The address was very prettily illuminated and was presented with a bouquet to her Ladyship by Miss Allen aud was as follows : My Lady,— Following in the footsteps of our elders, we, the children of Hamilton, beg to offer our most hearty welcome to Your Ladyship on this, your first, visit to the Waikato, and to ask your acceptance of the accompanying bouquet, which is only made worthy of such an honour by the very great pleasure with which it is given.

A similar bouquet was also presented by Miss Land to Mrs Maling. Both presentations were graciously accepted by the ladies, and the Marchioness, in acknowledging that presented to her, expressed the great pleasure it gave her to receive so pretty a gift, and to see so many happy-looking children welcoming herself and husband to the "Waikato.

The children then struck up " God Save the Queen," which they sang in- good time aud tune, and, at the conclusion (amid three m o re cheers), the Cavalry hastened to form in double line, and escorted the vice-regal carriages to the private entrance to the hotel grounds, where " the cottage " is situated, in whicn they took up their quarters during their short stay in Hamilton. The Hon. Mr Sheehan did not visit Waikato with the Governor's party. Lady Normanby, who, at on e time, had intended to have been present at the banquet last evening, expressed her regret that ill health would not permit her to do so, but that, during to-day, she would be happy to receive any ladies at Hamilton who mighty wish to call upon her. Altogether, the a ff a u was a most decided success, an d, though music was wanting, the Hamilton Cavalry Corp did m ac hj to give eclat to the proceedings. The manner in which they performed their duty showed th a fc they had been capitally handled ov SergeantMajor Fraser, to whose soldierly discipline and tnoreugh knowledge of caval-y evolutions and exercise is due the high state of efficiency which characterises the Waikato Cavalry Volunteers generally, and of which the review of to-day will, doubUess, afford ample evidence.