QUEENSTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 695, 13 August 1875, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN.

(FROM our OWN CORRESPONDED T.)

Tlie O’Connell Centenary, Banquet and Ball proved a very great success. The speech esjwcTe not'exactly what'they might have been in-justice toThe'memory of the great Liberator,{but, this must in a great measure.be attributed to the votaries of Terpsichore becoming impatient that the divinity of the dance'should not be sufficiently worshipped. The Hall was beautifullyfdeeoratedjwith ferns and flowers and choice'gathefings of foliage from the -many really handsome native'shrubs'whioh adorn the sheltered) dittle'nooksVof the edge of Lake Wakatip. The name of O’Connell was tastefully described jin fern leaves at the upper’enddof the Hall, while at the lowe l -, the words, “ civil and religious liberty ” in fancy characters, sufficiently explained to the assembled guests that the character of the feast was one, upon which all classes of creeds and countries met upon the broad p’atform of mutual brotherly love. Added to the floral mural ornaments were a number of miniature banners emblematical of periods and events inlHrish history, while the standard of “Old Ireland’, the well known green flag, and the equally well known golden harp shone conspicuously at the rear of the President of the feast. The tables were ciowded with every delicacy in season, and laid with exceeding good taste. The spread was decidedly one of the host ever attempted in Queenstown, Host Eichardt, of Eichardt’s Hotel, having fairly excelled himself. Over eighty guests were present, Mr M. J. Mallaghan occupied theCJiair, supported on his right by the Eev. Joshua Jones, and on his left by Mr H. Manders, M.P.0.. His Worship the Mayor, Mr T. G- Betts and Mr Warden Bectham officiated as croupiers. After the usual formal toasts the Chairman in proposing that of the evening said, Ho was very sorry such an important duty had fallen into indifferent hands, but they must take the will for the deed, and if unable to express himself as lie could wish, was assured everyone present fully realised how keenly he felt upon the subject. Dan O’Connell had not only accomplished much for the cause of liberty in Ireland but for the whole of the world likewise , while a Member of the British Parliament his sympathies were always enlisted in the cause of freedom. The Great Liberator was a man who always possessed great confidence in himself, and if we desire to accomplish any great aim in this life we must have confidence. in whatever we may he engaged to do. When the man, whose memory we are assembled hero to night to celebrate made his first appearance at the Bar as a Barrister at Law until the day of his death, ho never lost confidence in the good work ho had undertaken to accomplish ; how he had succeeded, and what the world owed him was recorded in the pages of the imperishable history of our country Mr H. J. Sproulo made an excellently appropriate reply. His Worship, the Mayor, while proposing the Agricultural, Pastoral, Mining and Commercial interests of the district said, lie believed they would all heartily join in the toast, each of the four interests had its representatives present, the success of one was the success of the other, each contributing to the well being of the whole They had just experienced a season of unfortunate dullness, which he hoped was nearly at an end—brighter prospects loomed out in the future before us, and it only needed all to agree and work on amicably with each other to lead to success. Tho Wakatip possessed four very important elements of success, and they could not happily all he dull together, three out of the four might be depressed, but oue of tho number was sure to bo prosperous. Pastoral pursuits had enjoyed a season of great prosperity, ond there now existed every reason to believe that an equally satisfactory state of things would attend tho Mining, Agricultural and Commercial interests. Those had happily tided over their difficulties, while as to mining and agriculture they would in the end he found the chief industries to uphold tho district. Responded to by Messrs Johnson and M‘Bride. I Mr H. P Macklin proposed tho Press, Mr W. Warren responded.

Mr (|BettsJ;J proposed} “ our adopted country.” Mr Warden Beotlmm responded, said, 'Hint with respect to a large number ot us present at the tallies, wo hud been a long time in the country, ami the most of us appeared to lie satisfied with wliat wo hail done, therefore all ho the speaker could say vpon the advantages of living in New Zealand would be a mere work of superrogation. As an Englishman ho felt proud to be included amongst a number who had assembled nl this festive board to night to do honor to the groat man wlmso centenary they/ were celebrating. lie the speaker could quite understand why Irishmen should be grateful to the memory o and for the goodjdeeds accomplished by Daniel O’Connell. The passing of the Emancipation Bill was an honor to our country, and an achievement in which both Protestants and Catholics wero deeply interested, as it placed every British subject upon an equal footing of civil and religious liberty. Mr Bcetham who afterwards proposed tho Army and Navy very humorously remarked that, It was quite out of place to entrust him with such a toast, as Coroner for the district he was a man of peace, and were oven Prince Bismark to land with an army to take Queenstown, he would not be permitted to take up arms. The British Army and Navy were never found wanting in couragejto defend our countryjjfrom jthe foreign invader, both of these arms of tho service worked admirably together, almost equally as one, and for this organisation wo are mainly indebted to that greatest of English—lie meant Irish Generals, the Duke of Wellington. lleplied to by j, Captain Macklin. Mr Adair proposed the I Allies. Mr H. J. Finn humorously 'replied. The llost’and 1 Ilo.ste.ss'jfollowed, which concluded tho proceedings. After a brief interval commenced the Ball, to the evident satisfaction of the many ladies who were rather impatient of the long time occupied by the lords of the creation in giving vent to their oratorical displays. Dancing was kept up with much spirit until the wee hours of morning had slipped away to a pretty considerable extent.