Vice-regal tours and duties in Rotorua. 1870-1911
The first governors were junior British
naval and army officers. From the 1860s most were professionals who had governed
other British colonies, and from the 1890s they were minor aristocrats. In 1972
the first New Zealand resident, Denis Blundell, became governor-general. Gavin
McLean, 'Governors and governors-general', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New
Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/governors-and-governors-general (accessed
8 May 2018)
1870 - Visit with H.R.H Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred, Sir George Ferguson Bowen G.C.M.G. was Governor of New Zealand at this time.
28 Jul 1874:
NZ Governor, Sir James Fergusson, Baronet P.C. visits Rotorua and Te Wairoa. His
suggestion was that the waters of the springs be analysed in Wellington. This
was at the beginning of his term in office.
15 Mar 1876
– Governor ‘Marquis of Normanby’ arrived at Ohinemutu en-route for Rotomahana.
26 January
1881 – Governor ‘Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon’ visited Ohinemutu,
Whakarewarewa & Rotomahana and Te Wairoa.
27th
March 1884 – Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois
– visited Ohinemutu for the purpose of unveiling the bust of Her Majesty Queen
Victoria. He went on to Rotomahana after the ceremony.
1887 – Lord
Onslow visited Rotorua although he was not officially the governor until 1889.
On the 28th April 1889 Lord and Lady Onslow arrived from Auckland
they were met by 300 natives who welcomed with a ‘war dance’ and the vice-regal
carriage was drawn by the natives from the Utuhina Bridge to the Lake
House. Evening Post, 29 April 1889. The
Utuhina Bridge at this time was approximately where it is now and was built in
1872 so the locals of Ohinemutu had to draw the carriage approximately 550m. Full
story here in the New Zealand Herald.
Pringle, Thomas,
1858-1931. Pringle, Thomas, 1858-1931 :[Tamatekapua meeting house, Ohinemutu].
Ref: 1/1-003714-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22362702
1891 – Lord
Onslow made a brief stop in Rotorua on his way to the Urewera’s to visit the
principal chiefs of the district. His party camped just outside Rotorua. 24th Feb 1891.
16 Mar 1891 – The Countess of Onslow, Lady Charles Scott and
Miss Gardiner accompanied Lord Onlsow on another trip through Rotorua. The party
travelled across to the Ohau Channel by steamer, once there the party got out
and walked overland to Lake Rotoiti, leaving the steamer to navigate the
channel unencumbered. The party re-joined the launch once it arrived at the
lake. This was the first time the steamer had been on Lake Rotoiti. They went
over to Ruato Bay where the men disembarked to continue their trek to Ruatoki
overland. The ladies of course returned to Rotorua via the steam launch and
stayed at the Geyser Hotel, visiting Waiotapu the next day. Press 16 March 1891. Countess Onslow also
visited Rotorua in 1905 when the Wairoa Geyser consented to play for the
visitors.
1892 - Sir George Grey K.C.B
Said to be the “first white man to see the Terraces half a
century ago” NZH 5th Dec 1892.
“Flags were flown from
the Palace Hotel and the Lake House in honour of New Zealand’s Grand Old Man,
whose arrival caused some excitement amongst Europeans and Maoris. The Rotorua
Brass Band welcomed Sir George to Rotorua as a mark of respect to the veteran
statesman”
“When visiting Mokoia
Island, Lady Glasgow expressed her sympathy in the sufferings of an aged native
Keepa Ngakau, who is afflicted with a huge carbuncle on the small of the back… before
leaving Rotorua the Countess had a case of cordials and stout made up which she
instructed Mr MacDonald to convey to the old man…” Hot Lakes Chronicle 10
June 1896.
The meeting house would have looked like this in 1896 until
c.1943.
1898 – Lord Hampden visited on his tour of NZ and pronounced
the accommodation ‘lacking’ and the
innkeepers were complaining that ‘present
charges were inadequate for their needs’
1901 – Premier Seddon along with 800 Imperial troops arrived
in Rotorua to make preparations for the visit of HRH Duke & Duchess of York
in June. 17th Feb 1901.
Premier Seddon and family were regular visitors to Rotorua for holidays
also. (See P.O. Clock)
1902 – Sir Uchter J M Ranfurly. Presented the Arawa tribes with the flag sent
by the Prince of Wales as a memento of his visit last June. While in Rotorua
Sir Ranfurly visited Waiotapu. He
returned to Rotorua in 1904 as part a farewell tour of NZ before returning home
to England.
1904 – Lord Plunket along with Lady Plunket and their
daughter the Hon. Kathleen arrived for a holiday in Ngongotaha. Lord Plunket
went trout fishing and the ladies went sightseeing. This first visit in December of 1904 was
supposedly incognito. He arrived for an
official visit as Governor in January 1905 to a Civic Reception and Guided Tour
of the town. The tour of course included
Whakarewarewa where Guide Rangi showed Lord Plunket around the sites and Mita Taupopoki
escorted Lady Plunket.
Lord Plunket returned for fishing holidays in 1908, 1909 and
1910. Lady Plunket returned for holidays with their daughter in 1904, 1905,
1906 and 1908. ** Plunket Society of NZ
is named after Lady Plunket.
1911 – Lord Islington chose to camp at Awahou on this visit
and also in 1912 so that he could go fishing.
“The camp will be of considerable
dimensions, as including the household staff, there will be over 20 people to
provide for” Auckland Star 5th January 1912.
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| Lord Islington From Sir George Grey Special Collections. AWNS 19120201-p14-i005-b |
