FAREWELL BANQUET TO THE GOVERNOR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1994, 12 November 1888, Page 2

FAREWELL BANQUET TO THE GOVERNOR

<♦ (PER PRES3 ASSOCIATION.) Ohbistohdrch, November 11. Hin Exoellency the Governor was entertained at a farewell banquet by the cltisuaa of Ohrlatchuroh In the Provincial Council Ohamber on Saturday night. 150 guests wore present, Inoladlng several mumbera of Parliament. The mayor (Mr 0. Loulbsou) presided In responding to the to»st of his health the Governor said thot he was sure hia successor, Lord Onalowj would make himself popular and respected In New Zealand, for he bad filled with oredlt positions he had previously been oalled upon to occupy. He e^proeaed satiafactjOjn that thu people of the colony were endeavoring to enoonruge aattlement, and referring to Imperial Federation Bald that we had already as large a measure of federation as could be expected without a oomplete ohange of the British constitution. That measure of federation was not small. The colonies were left perfectly free to manage their own affilrs, and yet were protected by the mfght of the greatnt marltlmo power m the world. He oonsldered that New Zealand In contributing £26,000 per year towards the cost of the colonial squadron, had made a very gQQd bargain, as two Strltleh men of war would bejjept continually \n New Sealand waters. He believed that the adoption of the proposal to cleat the Governor of the Qjlony would mean its oomplete severance from the mother country, and it was not worth separating merely for the sake of electing a governor. In responding to the toast of " The Ministry," Sir H, Atkinson said that the people of New Zealand should ha.ye more oontidence In themselves and their oountry which was blessed with many great advantages, and which would surely rise again to prosperity. He thought that the present Government had done one good service to Canterbury la completing the negotiations for the Midland Railway. The Hon T. Feigns, replying to the toast of " The Parliament," said that he woa sure that numbers o f people who h»d left New Zealand for Australia would Boon come bock. When In Auatralia he had been asked by several to assist them to oome bapk. After the bauqaet, the Bremiei And Mr Fergus left for Wellington.