[FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.]
At Gulgong.
GULGONG was reached by Sir Henry Parkes at half-past 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon, and though a drizzling rain, which had set in during the early morning, interfered much with the comfort of everybody, a very hearty welcome was accorded him. Two miles outside the town, near the crossing-place of Reedy Creek, which forms one of the municipal boundaries, the Mayor (Mr. Richard Rouse) and the aldermen of the borough met the hon. gentleman and, after greeting him in a very cordial manner, followed him in some buggies to the town. The shops in the principal street (Mayne-street) were dressed with bushes, and across the street, opposite Selff's Oddfellows' Hotel, was a string of flags. At this spot the inhabitants of the town had assembled in a crowd, and along with them were the members of the Gulgong Fire Brigade, dressed in a uniform of bright red, with shining tin and brass helmets, and the school children of the place drawn up in ranks. As Sir Henry Parkes and those who accompanied him drove up to Selff's Hotel, the people cheered heartily, and when, after leaving his buggy, he made his appearance on the balcony of the hotel to address the assemblage, who, notwithstanding the rain, remained on the street, the cheering was renewed. He thanked them very much for the expression of kind feeling exhibited towards him on coming to their town. He had expected nothing of the kind. His only object in the journey he was making was, he said, to visit part of the country he had never seen before, and to make himself better acquainted with the character of the country and the progress of settlement. He could not say that Gulgong was a part of the country he had never before seen, for he had a lively recollection of that very balcony. He remembered having to pass backwards and forwards from one end of the balcony to the other, somewhat in the way of a wild beast, except that he did it to escape the roaring of wild beasts. But that was past, and if the fifty or sixty persons who created that uproar were there that day, he had no doubt they would join in welcoming him to the town. He felt really overpowered to see that in this inhospitable weather they should assemble there to do what? It could not be in order to get any vote for a bridge from him, because he was not in a position to give them votes; he was simply a private person with no means of gratifying any object they might have beyond his means as a member of Parliament; and, therefore, there was no ground for supposing that they had any other object than in a generous spirit to testify their approval of his public life. These remarks were received with much satisfaction—the allusion to the incidents of an exciting political contest some while ago eliciting great good humour, and the close of the short address loud cheering. The children then sang the national Anthem, and were subsequently entertained with cakes and lollies. The adult male portion of the crowd made their way to a large room at Hunter's Albion Hotel, where Sir Henry Parkes went, accompanied by the Mayor and the Aldermen. The room, which was decorated with flags and a large "Welcome" worked in white letters on a pink ground, was crowded, and the Mayor presided.
The Chairman said the inhabitants of Gulgong, hearing of the approaching arrival of Sir Henry Parkes, determined in some way to do him honour, knowing so much of him, and having an intense respect for him all through his poliical career. One or two meetings were held, and it was determined to present him with two addresses, one of which was his (the chairman's) duty, as Mayor, to present as an address from the Mayor and Aldermen of the borough of Gulgong. It was as follows:
"Address of Welcome to Sir Henry Parkes. K.C.M.G.,M.L.A., &c, &c.—Sir,—The Mayor and Aldermen of the Gulgong municipality bid you a hearty welcome to the town and gold-field. We wish to express to you our respect and admiration for the eminent services you have rendered to the colony of New South Wales, as one of its most prominent and patriotic statesmen. On behalf of the inhabitants, whose representatives we are, we heartily thank you for your visit, we wish you every prosperity, health, happiness, and success in your future political career.We remain, your most obedient servants, R. Rouse (Mayor), Alderman Charles Zimmler, Alderman John Scully, Alderman John Tuxford, Alderman John H. Cogdon, Alderman William Selff, Alderman Robert W. Heard, Alderman Matthew Homer, Alderman Alfred Blanchard. Gulgong, July 26th, 1878."
Sir Henry Parkes read the following in reply:
"To the Mayor and Aldermen, Gulgong. Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, I thank you very heartily for your address of welcome, and for the expression of your good wishes for my future welfare. I hope I shall yet be privileged to render some service to our common country, which may in some measure justify the good opinion you have formed of me; Henry Parkes. Gulgong, 1878."
Mr. R. N. Collins and Mr. James F. Plunkett then presented the following address from the inhabitants:
"To Sir Henry Parkes, K.C.M.G., M.L.A., &c., &c.—Sir,—We the undersigned residents desire, on behalf of the inhabitants of the town and district of Gulgong on this occasion of your presence in our vicinity, to offer you a most cordial welcome. We trust that you will permit us to express the high sense we have ever entertained, in common with our fellow-citizens in every portion of the colony, of your valuable political services and consistently patriotic career. Holding in remembrance the fact of your having been our member on a former occasion, we confidently express a hope that you will long consent to strengthen and elevate representative institutions by your pretence in the Legislature of the land. We have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servants, R. N. Collins, Chairman of Meeting; James F. Plunkett, Hon. Secretary."
Sir Henry Parkes read the following in reply:—
"Mr. R. N. Collins, Mr. James F. Plunkett, J.P. Gentlemen, —I thank you for the address you have presented to me on behalf of the inhabitants of Gulgong. I feel amply rewarded for any labours of my past life by the warm and generous expressions of confidence in my public character which your address contains. As long as I live, I hope no act of mine will have the effect of weakening or depressing the free institutions we possess; but the healthful vigour and purity of our system of government must largely depend upon the independent and patriotic exercise of their electoral rights by the people. I wish the inhabitants of Gulgong every possible prosperity, and happiness. HENRY PARKES. Gulgong, July 26,1878."
The addresses having been presented and replied to, and the people being desirous of hearing something more, Sir Henry Parkes addressed them at considerable length, and the proceedings connected with the reception given to him on his arriving in the town then terminated with cheering.
