COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. D.A. TOLE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 319, 29 September 1875, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. D.A. TOLE.

! A dinner was given at the Masonic ‘ Hotel on Monday evening, last by Mr Vesey Stewart and the Katikati : Special Settlers, in honor of Air. D. ; A. Pole. Waste Land's Commissioner. ’ Mr Vesey Stewart occupied the ' Chair, supported on the right by the ! guest of the evening, and on his left by Mr E. C. Goldsmith. Tim Lev. Mr Alulgan ably sustained the position of Mice-Chairman. An excellent repast was provided by Mr Montgomery, to which ample justice having been done by those present, the usual loyal toasts of the Queen,” the “ Prince of Wales, and the rest; of the Loyal Family” were given with all the honors, Air Stewart next proposed the health of the Governor, the Marquis 'of Nonnanby and the prosperity o.t Now Zealand. Air. T. Ik AYrigley responded to the toast, and thanked the Chairman lor proposing the prosperity of .New Zealand, of which lie did not consider there could ho any doubts so long as there was a good Government and in |the Lands of such men, as Bir Julius i Vogel and Sir Donald AlcLcan, whose management of Native affairs had i brought about such satisfactory results, : that settlement could now be carried on in any part of the country; lie saw no reason to predict any than the 1 most prosperous future for Dow Zealand. There was everything in Dow Zealand to make it a great country. Iron, steel, and coal wore to be found in the North Island in large quantities, and all that was wanted was the introduction of settlers to work the resources of the country, ; Air 0. V. Stewart, in rising to propose the health of the guest of the ■ evening, regretted that it had not I fallen into more able bands to express the feelings which ho hit sure were i i.nf .-.IU-tiinc tl iov.-ur< D Mr Pole by all those present on me oma.mM.. ir<. and his fellow' settlors who had come to this country had experienced from Air Pole, in liis official capacity as AVaste Land’s Commissioner, the utmost consideration and assistance, and in acknowledgment of the services so rendered, they had mot to do honor to Air Pole at this public dinner, in some of the transactions relative to the Ivalikati special settlement, the A gent General at homo had put difficulties in the way, nor was ho afraid to state this thus‘’publicly, but any such, difficulties had been smoothed away since I their arri val in this country by the 1 honorable and just manner in which ! Air Polo had acted towards the settlers; and not only in a general way had assistance thus been rendered, but particularly in the endeavours made by Air Polo to do justice to o'voryone in the choice of the lands after lots for the selection of the 'land had boon drawn, ft was a nnit- ! tor of the greatest possible gTatillcai tion to hinUo feel that everyone was j perfectly satisfied with the solec- | tion of their lots, even those who had j drawn the last right of choice were I equally satisfied "With those had draw n the first. He had no doubt at all of the success of the settlement, but felt sure that the success would be to a great extent attributable to the assistance rendered by Air Pole to the settlers on their first settlement on their lands.

Drank with musical honors. Mr Tolo, in replying 1 to the toast of his health, said ho was taken by surprise at the position lie found himself occupying. Ho had no conception that any act of his had warranted such a _ return from the Katikati settlers. Tie was, however, deeply sensible of the honor done to him. and it naturally afforded him the utmost pride and pleasure to receive such, gratifying expressions of esteem. In the performance of his late duties as Waste Lands Commissioner ho had found Ids work a pleasure instead of a labour, and lie was sure that the manner in which the settlers had expressed their uncjiialifiod satisfaction at the quality of the Katikati lands would be received with pleasure by all who were interested in the success of the settlement. He considered the settlers were deeply indebted to Mr Stewart for the choice of land made on their behalf, and lie trusted that good use would bo made of the opportunities thus placed at their disposal, and that when he next visited the Katilcati, lie would see many prosperous homes on the block. He would take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded him

to wish the settlers good bye. as he was Paving for Auckland on tiie morrow, and would tender them all Ids sincere thanks for their kind expressions of regard. dir Stewart next proposed the health of Captain Morris, AL.P.C,, and in doing so alluded to the diliiculti.es that had to he surmounted on the first institution of the scheme. The Provincial Council of Auckland had, however, done all in its power to finally settle the difficulties, and prominent among those who had interested themselves in the matter was the gentleman whose health ho had propose- d. Ho would not enter on the political question relative to the abolition of provinces. hut would at least acknowledge the manner in which the Auckland Provincial Council, and among its members Captain Morris, had manfully stood to the settlers in their battle to secure the Katikati lands. Captain Morris was a gentleman every inch of him, and he would not detain them further than to ask them to drink with all honours Captain Morris’s very good health. Drank with musical honours.

Captain Alums, in reply, felt very much haltered at the kind terms in which his health had been proposed, but was sura that airy member for a district would only have done his duty to Ids constituents in acting as lie had to assist in the settlement of sucli a valuable block of land, .lie considered the .Katikati block of 10,000 acres as fine a block of land as could bo obtained anywhere in the country. Special settlement was a groat institution, and lie was sure that aim man who worked on as ho should must got on in the cud. Ho would thank them for the manner in which his healtKhad been drunk, and wish 1 lie settlors every success at Katikati. Air Polo, in proposing the health of Air Stewart, was sure that the mere mention of the proposal would bo sufficient to make it meet with the warmest reception. Ho would, therefore simply propose the health of Air George Vesey Bio wart, j. which was drank with all honors. Air Stewart, in acknowledging the toast, duly returned Ids thanks, and expressed his great sense 'of gratification at the success which had attended hisVfiorts up to the present time relative to the Katikati pccial settlement. Dm had naturally felt groat anxiety via lit the result had shown him that anxiety teas no longer necessary. ix>, ...... 0 - -.-P n.i. a iX*-,. having arrived at their juiirnoy’s end hopefully and happily, about to settle on (heir land. Difficulties had been in the way, bid lie would give the Government credit for having finally carried out the agreement in the most loval manner, and having given the settlers the benefit of any doubt in eases where doubts had arisen.

The Eev. Mr Mulgan informed the company that lie had hoon asked to do two tilings during lire evening’ — 0110 was to take the 'Vice-chair, and the other to propose a toast, which ho would do to the best of his ability. The toast ho was goingto propose was one which ho was sure would be well received by all present. It was the health of Mr Goldsmith, who had on their arrival tahenthem over thowhole of the Katikati block, and showed them in two days all its extent and capabilities. From his great knowledge of the lands, Mr Goldsmith had, in the short time he had mentioned, shown to the settlers all the principal features of the bloclc on which tliey had to make their choice, and on their return to Tauranga, every assistance had also been rendered by Mr Goldsmith to facilitate the settlers’ choice of selection, lie was glad to be aide to say with Mr Stewart, that all the settlers had expressed themselves wadi satisfied with their land, which was owing in a great measure, he considered, to the advice given by Mr Goldsmith and Mr Tole. He would therefore propose the health of Mr Goldsmith, and the guests of the evening. Mr Goldsmith thanked the company for drinking his health, and said that in doing what lie had to assist the Katikati settlors, ho had only done Ins duty. Ho would, however, always ho very happy to render them any assistance he could, and wished them all prosperity and happiness. The following toasts were then proposed and suitably responded to : Mho Yice-Chainnaii,” Mho Press, coupled with the name of The Bay of Plenty Times,” acknowledged by the representative of this journal, “ Air Harry Farnel,” “ Prosperity to the town of Tauranga, its people, and its trade,” i! Captain and Mas and Miss Stewart,” “ the Ladies,” i; Captain Tunks,” “Mr Fitzgibbon Louch,” “Mr Trimble,” “Mr Hoy to,” “Mr Thomson,” and “Mr Hunter.” Some good songs, interspersed between the speeches, added considerably to the enjoyment of the evening, and the toast of “ To our next merry meeting” having been given, the company separated about twelve o’clock