YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 647, 26 October 1909, Page 7

YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL DINNER. SPEECHES BY THE GOVERNOR, PREMIER, AND MR MASSEY 'Bore's to us all, and all on us, Mav wo ne'er need riowt, nooan on us', Nawihor thee, nor mo, nor nobody elEc; All on us h Nooan on usl" Tho hearty spint of the quaint old toast pervaded the annual dinner of the Yorkshiro Society, held in Godbor's Rooms, Cuba Street, last ovoning.' The " Ydrkshor lads" wore many and "fit to split wi' fun" Mr. T. M Wilford, MP, president of the societj, presided, and his Excellency the Governor, tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the Hon Georgo Powlds, tho Hon A R Guinness, and Mr W F Ma=t,ey, Leader of the Opposition, it ere guests ot honour Honiclj Yorkshiro mottbs adorned tho walls, and most of tho " tykes " smoked " churchwardens " 'ihe chairman, in proposing tho toast of the Governor, paid a, tributo to the humanitarian work of Lady Plunkct, and said it would bo a good thing for New Zealand if Lord Plunkers stay could bo prolonged Ills Excellency, in replying, said he thought that tho greatest service of the Yorkshiro and kindred societies lay in tho nay in which they kept up in combination with their lfiyalty to a new country their dovotion to tho old When he left the Dominion he would visit Yorkshire, and he would be glad to tell of tho affection for their old home which m spired Yorkshiremen in New Zealand Tho toa6t of " The Dominion " was proposed by Mr J H Holhwell, who recalled that the virtual discoverer of Now Zealand, Cook, its first missionary, Marsden, and chief coloniser, Wakefioldi were Yorkshiremen The beauty, fertility, and loyalty of New Zealand were tho ohief texts of Mr Hclliwell's tpcech Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said ho thought that tho services of Edward Gibbon Wakehold should be commemorated in a publio manner Ho also felt it a great pnvilego to have sat in the samo House;, with tho Into Mr. William Rolleston, another 1 Yorkshiroman As regards tho advantages and prosponty of New Zealand, he did not think that anjono could realise the great futuro in store foj this country A recent drive which ho had taken frdm To Kuiti, when it was hard to credit that tho vehicle was on terra firma, and not swimming in ''.water,' recalled' 'the difficulties which had been surmounted in the old days In England tho othor day 80D New Zcaland»rs assembled, o>ery one of whom would have liked to be back in this country. Though we had not here the arts artd literature of tho Old Country, wo had a freedom which went to make us indepohdont men in whatever position of life wb occupied. The pcoplo of New Zealand would take t"ieir part at whatever cost in making tho Emprro one great and insoluble Empuo, which would not ho beaten so long as its Dominions had men ard money to demote to its protection. The most British community outside tho United Kingdom was New Zealand Ho was proud Of this Dominion, confident that its ortward progress was secure, though there might bo fluctuations from time to time, and sure that all its people, whatever differences of opinion they might hold, were one in their dotormination to make this a greatei Dominion than it was at the presont day (Applause) Mr W I\ Mos-sey, Loader of the Opposition, Said that if Sir Joseph Ward would,movo in Parliament this session for recognition of tho servitos of Edward Gibbon Wakehold ho would have the greatest plcasuro in supporting him During tho lost two years thoro had been many changes, but, on the whole, we had been able to hold our own Perhaps tho greatest change had boon in tho development of the Empire Mr Mossqy referred to tho growth of tho Imperial sentiment, and said ho looked forward to the tinio when the Dominions of Now Ztialand,,. and. Canada, and the Commonwealth."-' of .'Australia'would be able to. keep the, British ensign flying in tho Pacific l against any :foo' that might find :. Jiis way', into, those waters. .The Prime-Minister and'himself. might hotvagroo/'with regard' to details and methods, but-they'v.were-both: Imperialists,- and' both anxious to' do the 'best' they 1 could ffir the Empire to which they belonged. hear.) This Dominion wasVeolonised by-, the very pick bf the.'Britishjracb, and:thoir. descendants and successors infendod -that - it; 'should; be ' their: duty and privilegoto keep it, British as it was handed.down to them.V.There were people to-day.'-in New'Zealahd who;were putting.up with ■As : many- difficulties, ' as:,the '■'pioneers of.forty, aild'fifty years''ago.''Mr. told howV only-a-month ago, a-buggy in which,he was riding, stuck-fast' and. had to be dug out of the mud on-'the maiti-roadbetweeii 'Auckland and: Wei' lingtpin 'It ;.wns r our ■: duty 'to ,do: ; ' everything: 'we .could to-extend:the benefits of civilisation'to'thosoi pioneers: in: the jhackblocksiwhb; were • doing -so- much'vfof-'New, Zealand.v, We. had had:a touch.of adversity,-during the'last fow months,: but -he .<'thought/that-on,, the whole the: little adversity which' had been experienced frfluld'prdhably'.do-us'hiore good- than harm!Ho thought rthero.wore: Signs that the. commercial and financial ..conditions would soon: resumo their 6tate. Wo had practically, a hew Parliament,:which ho believed .was'anxious; todo its duty, and he vontui-ed to .predict-that when its term-came to an, end it would.bo Said; of this Parliament that it left:the country bettor than it found it. , (Applauso.)';'-. \ •'-.' '■ The; KeVi:J.,.Sykes; iti. prbpbsing' :"■ Onf, Native Country," detailed a long, list- of - distinguished Yorkshire-men.' not forgetting PJiil Mfty and' Guy Fawkes. ( Mr/W. S.Bedford repliedto; tho'- toast. ■.'''..■';, :;.-, : , •: - T-"' ; ■'■; W : ''. ■■,'■■'■' ■':.■' -': Mr. C. Wilson .pfdpbsed .the 'toast':of. *,' Our Guests/' to which, the Hon. Georgfi Fowlds responded,''arid Professor Easterfield .proposed and Trade,".'responded to, by Mr, T. Kennedy Mncdohald..Mri E. H. Parkes, Mr. Rowland-Hobertsbn, Mr. Brown (smoke sketch), and Mr. Cttrf contributed to the entertainment ■portion of the.programme.';;' ;