Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/161

Rh with in Hokitika, and will thereafter furnish his own description of the Sounds, as delivered by him in an address to the New Zealand Institute.

The public demonstrations on this occasion fell far short of those which were organised on the occasion of the visit of Sir George Grey. The population of the town was not, either numerically or in respect to its wealth or its extravagance, what it was in 1867. The journey overland was made in one of Cobb & Co.’s large coaches, drawn by six handsome horses, and driven by one of the proprietors, Mr Burton. His Excellency’s fellow-passengers on the road were his aide-de-camp, Captain Pitt, and Mr Rolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury. A large procession met His Excellency at the north end of Revell Street, headed by the Hokitika, Ross, and Stafford brass bands. Three hearty cheers were given for His Excellency, who addressed the assemblage, and was afterwards escorted to Government House. In the evening the town was illuminated. The building best illuminated was the Bank of New Zealand. In front of these premises there was a large transparency representing a New Zealand scene, with a Maori in the foreground. There were several others bearing inscriptions, “Success to Mining,” “Prosperity to New Zealand,” “Welcome, Sir George,” and “Advance, Westland.” At the Royal Mail Hotel there was a representation of Neptune as the centre figure, round which were inscribed the words, “Welcome, Sir George Bowen.” Mr Holmes, Revell Street, exhibited a transparency bearing the words “Advance, Westland,” and another, typical of Britannia. Red and blue fire and rockets were the order of the night. Next day the Governor held a levee, visited several parts of the town and principal public buildings, attended the races, and patronised a bazaar in aid of the Wesleyan Church. Before starting for the races, he was presented with addresses from the several public bodies. The address from the Borough Council was signed by the Mayor (Mr Higgin) and the members of the Council. In acknowledging this address, the Governor, amongst other things, pointed to the gratifying fact, apparent from the official statistics, that this single county of New Zealand, in the seventh year of its settlement, had already a larger revenue and trade than many entire colonies, such as Antigua, Bermuda, and Barbadoes, which had been colonised for over two hundred years. It is also worthy of mention that His Excellency received one other address — a poet’s welcome, or, as it was printed, “The Poet's Welcome”—a politico-poetic production by Mr John Cross, the recognised Poet Laureate of Westland. The afternoon was spent by His Excellency on the grand stand of the race-course. The weather was delightful, the crowd numerous, refreshments abundant, and the racing good. Next day His Excellency visited the Kanieri district, and attended a banquet and ball in the Town Hall, Hokitika, in the evening. Subsequently he visited Totara, Stafford, Waimea, and Greymouth, from whence he took his departure by the steamer “Luna.” I was nearly omitting to mention that Mr Lahman (now the Hon. H. H. Lahman, M.L.C.) was County Chairman during the time of Sir George Bowen’s visit, and accompanied His Excellency to the several districts within the county. At Greymouth, Mr E. Wickes did the honours in his capacity of Mayor of the Borough. Four hundred