THE MAYOR'S BANQUET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 260, 7 November 1906, Page 8

THE MAYOR'S BANQUET.

SPEECHES BY GOVERNOR AND PREMIER (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' GEEISTGBTOUCH, Tuesday. The banquet given by Sir John Hall, Mayor of Christehurch, this evening, in honour of the International Exhibition, was a brilliant affair. It was attended by about 150 guests, including his Excellency the Governor, representatives of the Ministry, foreign delegates, naval officers, members of Parliament, the Executive Committee of tie Exhibition, local public bodies, and prominent citizens. Owing to the illness of the host, the Deputy-Mayor of Christehurch (Mr. G. Payling), presided. On his rigth were his Excellency the Governor, Bishop Julius, the Hon. C. C. Bowen (Speaker of the Legislative Council), Sir R. Baker., the Hon. E. J. C. Stevens and son, and Captain Bingham, AJD.C. On the chairman's left were the Premier (Sir J. G. Ward), Sir John Gorst, Captain Brydson (H.M.S. Challenger), the Hon. A. R. Guinness (Speaker of the House of Representatives), the Hon. C. C. Louisson, Mr. Justice Denniston, and the AttorneyGeneral (the Hon. A. Pitt). The usual loyal toasts were duly honoured. His Excellency, in response, paid a tribute to Sir John Hall (for whose illness he expressed regret) and the early pioneers of Canterbury. It was gratifying to see their distinguished visitors from beyond the seas, and their brother colonists amongst them. . They were gratified for the gracious message of His Majesty, commending the splendid loyalty, noble aspirations and magnificent possibilities of their country. " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers" was proposed by the Hon. Mr. Louisson, and responded to by Captain Brydson and the Hon. Colonel Pitt. "The Parliament of New Zealand" was given b yßishop Julius in an appreciative speech. Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said there was no man in Parliament who was not anxious in his day and generation to do his best to promote' the well-being of all classes in the country. In recent times they had recognised that they were tying the bonds of Empire more closely together at the moment. "It was contemplated, at a conference to take place in England in a very short time to discuss matters of the greatest consequence to the colony, and which would have a bearing upon it in all time to come. They recognised their responsibilities in this respect, and they also recognised the splendid eharcacter of the late Mr. Rolleston and others who had graced Parliament before them. The speaker paid a tribute to the late Mr. Kirkbride as a straightforward and honourable man. This country, he said, was in a remarkably prosperous condition. In the last seven months the receipts had exceeded those of the corresponding period of last year by £391,000, a fact which spelled upon the whole prosperity for New Zealand. The bringing together of representatives of the Old Land.. Australia* Canada, and, later on, of South Africa, which the Exhibition had accomplished, was a matter of which they,- were all proud. He paid a tribute to the Canadian friends, and, in conclusion, said Parnsment wotild try and do its duty to the best of its ability, arid endeavour to improve the conditions of the affairs of people of this country. They hoped, with the help of their brethren across the sea, to make New Zealand a bright and glorious portion of the Empire of which, they were all so proud, and td see her working along in the right direction. Sir John Oorst gave tho toast of "The Exhibition." He dwelt upon the great progress the colony • had made since his last personal acquaintance with it 43 years ago. He referred to the declining birth-rate as a subject which deserved the attention of every statesman in New Zealand and the older countries. However, the colony was singular in regard to the extraordinary diminution of the death-rate. In the Mother Country 160 infants out of every 1000 died within the first year, while in New Zealand the proportion was as low as 67, which he believed was unexampled by any country in the world. He congratulated the colony on its prosperity, and on the assimilation of both races —a matter unknown in the state of warfare prevailing when he was last in the colony, and which he believed was unexampled. The present Exhibition was the outward and visible sign of the aspirations of New Zealand. Mr John Roberts C.M.G., also responded. He stated that, although the venture might involve a comparatively trifling loss, yet that was nothing when compared with its great educational advantages. He looked upon it, with careful management and proper control, and with the generous support of the people, to be the success that was hoped for. The toast of "The Visitors" was proposed in a eulogistic speech by Mr G. T. Booth, and responded to by Mr T. K. Beece" \"