THE GOVERNORS VISIT TO WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1091, 21 June 1879, Page 2

THE GOVERNORS VISIT TO WAIKATO.

His Excellency and party, consisting of the Hon. the Native Minister, the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 001. Whitmore, the native chief Rewi, Private Secretary, &c, started punctually from Auckland yesterday by special train at 9.30 a.m. The stations at Papakura, and Papakohe were handsomely decorated, and at Mercer the vice regal party left the carriages for a short time. They did not then stop till arrival at Hamilton at hj »lf past one o'clock, where they were met on the platform by the Mayor and Councillors of Hamilton, the Officer Commanding the District, and a number of leading citizens. The Mayor, J. B. Whyte. Esq., having been introduced to His Excellency by the Hon. the Native Minister, said that before reading the address which he had to present, he begged to assure his Excellency that although at his request, and owing to the shortness of his visit, his reception here would be very q.uiet; the people of Hnmiltou, had it been possible, would gladly have given a welcome better suitod to his official position and high personal reputation. To Sib Hebcules Robinson, G-.C.M.G-. May it please your Exoellency,—We, the Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of Hamilton, gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of welcoming you od this, your first visit to the Waikato, also of expressing our loyalty to our Sovereign Queen Victoria, and our gratification at your appointment as Her representative in New Zealand. Your stay, though necessarily short, we trust, will be enjoyable, and that on some future occasion you may be pleased to honor us with a longer visit. On behalf of the Burgesses of Hamilton, J. B. Whyte, Mayor. His Excellency briefly responded, thanking thelnhabitants heartily for their welcome and their kindly expressions. His present stay was uecessarily limited, but he hoped soon to return "and in a longer visit to make himself better acquainted with the resource 3 of the district and the people. Three- hearty cheers were then given for " the Governor," and the various parties haviug takeu to the carriages, his Excellency and friends drove to the Commercial hotel, where an excellent luncheon had been provided by Mr Pearce. After lunch, the Mayor, Mr J. B. Whyte, introduced Mr Kennedy Hill, the Hon. Secretary of the Waikato Turf Olub, to the Gover-

nor. Mi- Hill having been deputed by the Committee of the Waikato Turf Club, to request Hi* Excellency to become President of that institution. Sir Hercules expressed great pleasure in. accepting the position, and said he hoped bo have the satisfaction by-and-bye of attending the race meetings of the Club at the Ohanpo course. A deputation,consisting of Messrs. McDonald, Glsvynne, ICnox, L. O'Neil, and Captain Dawson, waited on Col. Whitinore, to ascertain what steps the-Government'..would take with respect to f jhe offer of enrollment made by some 90 members of a proposed infantry Volunteer Rifle Corp at Hamilton. Col. Whitmore stated that the Government recog. nised the duty of protecting the out-districts, and would gladly avail itself of the offer made. He should recommend to the Governor the enrollment of the company, and would arm thorn at present with Enfield rifles, replacing thesa with Sniders when a consignment of 2000 of the latter shortly expected from home should arrive. At present only the frccos for active ser vcie i n the field were being armed with Sniders, Enfields being served out to corps taking the home defence of districts. If necessity arose, the Sniders in the hands of the Middle Island Volunteers could bs at once called in, but he did not anticipate any such necessity. The people of ITew Zealand had rallied well to the defence of the country. The services of more than six hundred old comrades in arms, tried-and disciplined men, had been declined for "the present, and he might say even thousands more new recruits have offered foi service than the Government at present He thanked the people of Hamilton for coming forward, and assured the deputation that he would recommend the immediate acceptance of the offer of those volunteering. ,' The. deputation then withdrew. About 3 p.m. the Gubernatorial party left Hamilton for Cambridge.

YOUFG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, CAMBRIDGE.

A meeting of those desirous of forming a Young Men's Christian Association, was held on Wednesday evening last, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Cambridge. Nearly thirty were present. Mr John Houghton, senri, was voted to the Chair, and read the advertisement convening the meeting. ,Mr C. D. Mackintosh explained the object of such an Association, aud stated that a want was felt for- such an institution, and having spoken to a few on the subject, he had sent the advertisement to convene a meeting. The Rev. Henry Bull moved, " That in the opinion of this meeting, the formation of a Young Men's Christian Association is expedient." The Rev. Wm. Evans seconded.— Carried unanimously.

The following gentlemen were then appointed a provisional committee, to draw up proposals for the Constitution of the Association, and submit it the meeting, which was adjourned till Tuesday next, 24th inst., Revs. W. N. de L. "Willis, Henry Bull and Evans, Messrs Houghton, senr., Brooks, Mackintosh and Ashwell. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, and the meeting dispersed.