PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2569, 12 May 1871, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS.

DINNER TO THE OFFICERS OF THE NEVADA.

Last evening, at Dodson’s Provincial Hotel, the inhabitants of Port Chalmers cntained Capt. J. H. Blethen, of the Nevada, and Mr Marshall Webb, of New York, who has accompanied him from San Francisco. His Honor the Superintendent presided Messrs Driver, Galbraith, and Reynolds, M.P.C.s, with several gentlemen from Dunedin, were present, The dinner was prepared by Mr Dodson in excellent style. The room was decorated with banner?, the Eng fish Union Jack being tastefully intermingled with the Stars and Striper, of the United States.

After dinner, the health of “ Tier Majesty ” was proposed by his Honor, who made some pertinent remarks upon the freedom from Avar Avhich lias characterised her rule during the recent troubles in Europe. The next toast Avas “ The President of the United States.”

In proposing “ The Captain and Officers of the Nevada,”

His Honor said although those gentlemen were strangers to most present, he hoped as months rolled on they Avould be hailed as friends. He might be pardoned exoressing his gratificat : on in seeing the Newada in our Avaters. Although the honor of arranging the postal service Avas undoubtedly due to the Hon. J. Vogel, it Avas on his (the Superintendent’s) motion, as a member of the Legislature of the Colony, that the contract was obtained. He felt gratified at seeing the Nevada, as so much had been Avrittcn and said in opposition to the service. He looked upon the sendee as more advantageous commercially than as a postal arrangement ; and he considered it impossible to overestimate the advantages to trade likely to accrue from direct steam communication with America. Ncav Zealand Avas the youngest brother of the family of which the United States Avas the eldest; and although small compared Avith America, all must admit it Avas a country of boundless Avealth. N t cav Zealand by this line avouUl be brought into immediate communication with the people avlio, in au incredible short time had constructed a line of railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific—a country attracting hundreds and thousands of immigrants. The arriwal of the Nevada Avas the beginning of dcav enterprise. It was the link which completed the chain of steam communication round the globe. By its means a little of the Yankee element would be brought amongst us (Mr. De Carle “ common sense.”) Well, a higher compliment could not be paid than to designate it “ common sense.” In order to realise the benefits, it would he necessary to exert ourselves to pro vide cargo for the vessels, and, to do this, attention should be given to production and export of dairy produce, Hax, avool, and the products of the country, and he would like to see Ncav Zealand supplying them with coal at the same rate as Ncav -South Wales. All that was needed Avas mining skill, and he hoped to see a number of practical miners brought under the immigration scheme. He trusted the Captain and officers of the Nevada Avould he long spared to bring the vessel to the port, and that her voyages would he prosperous and proli table in future.

Captain Blethen regretted that neither by tab nt nor education could he make a speech, but lie heartily thanked those present for the kind reception accorded to himself and officers.

Mr Dk Carle proposed the health of Mr. Driver, the American Consul. Mr Dkiver. felt proud of the occasion on which those assembled Wi re met. He was one of perhaps not more thm dalf-a-dozen American citizens in Dunedin. He had during ten years of his residence in Dunedin filled various positions, he trusted, with credit to himself. He felt proud, as connected with the politics of New Zealand, that he had assisted His Honor the Superintendent in the General Assembly. He (Mr. D.) as well as other members of the Province supported the measure. Although there had been a large share of common sense displayed, in initiating the service, there had also been a large share of ignorance and jealousy shown in opposition to it. He believed there were men in the Province who did not believe there was such a vessel as the Nevada. He had actually to tell some that he had been on board. Such a vessel had only to be seen in New Zealand and New South Wales to receive support. Mr Webb, the owner of the Nevada, had a fleet of such vessels, and had pledged himself to the service, and would carry it through. Some persons occupying influential positions had deliberately stated the present would be the last voyage of the Nevada to this Port. 15y those misrepresentations they were doing all they could to prevent the Colony obtaining the support of the owners and the legislature. But Mr AVebb had intimated his intention to continue the lino of steamers. The second vessel would go to Sydney, and the Nevada would be here the month aTer.

Mr De Carle proposed the health of Mr AVebb, juur., which that gentleman briefly aekuo a lodged.

Mr D. K. Main, m returning thanks for his health having been drunk, claimed, as late representative of the Port, to have taken part iu establishing the m-rvico. It was, thereforo, gratifying to his foe lings to see it inaugurated. lie Ir.ste.l the Nevada was onl} r the precursor of vessels of equal celebrity. Commercially speaking, the visit of such vessels must be of advantage to the Port—an advantage claimed iu the legislature by bia Honor, on behalf of the Port, as

due to the chief port of New Zealand. He claimed that it should he made the terminus of the line of the American steamers. It was only a fair and proper measure. The products of the Province justified such a claim. I[e hoped the Nevada would not be the last steamer of the line that would visit the Port. He trusted every effort would be ma le to treat them properly and give (he amount of support required. The interprovincial trade would be sufficient to enable them to ply between the different poi’uS ; American produce would be introduced, a-d the interchange of products would be beneficial to both count)ies. hi conclusion he proposed “Prosperity to Port Chalmers.” Mr Ta\ i.kxi said of those inhabitants present, be was the oldest, having been twenty-three years in the Colony, and, with two exceptions, had never bien twenty miles from the Port. He was in a position to observe the difference that twenty years had made. Formerly even butcher’s meat could only be obtained when a neighbor killed a bullock and distributed here and there a I ump. There was no road to Dunedin at that time, and he never expected to see one. But during the last tw'elve or fifteen years the Port had rapidly progressed, and he thought ihe first impulse was given by his Honor the Superintendent. He used his knowledge, and projected many schemes that had been successfully carried out. When he first proposed the Panama line, it was ridiculed, but was ultimately adopted His Honor proposed telegraphic communication, and he (Mr fayler) proposed it to Council, when he w: s laughed at; but the question now was not what could th y do with it, but how could it be done without? Then his Honor proposed the graving dock, and one had been constructed that could not be equalled at the same cost, in spite of the trifling ern r that caused a temporary leak. Mr°Vogel had assisted in carrying out that work, and it was duo to that gentleman to acknow'fedge in. The crowning work was now achieved in the arrival of the Nevada, which, as she could not go into Oamaru, Timaru, and the smaller ports, would leave that servi o to the smaller class of steamers, He anticipated such results from communication with America, as to provide traffic enough for all.

Mr Reynolds’s health as Lloyd’s agent w-s drunk, and briefly acknowledged by that gentleman.

“ His Honor the Superintendent,” proposed by Mr Maksfobd, was briefly acknowledged.

Cap'ain Bletitek proposed—“ The plucky little Colony of New Zealand, nhich has taken the initiation in enabling New Zealand and Amerca to shake hands. May they reap the reward they ro richly deserve.” The toast was drunk enthusiastically. Mr Vogel’s health, proposed by Mr Galbraith, was enthusiastically drunk. Messrs Rolfe, Galbraith, Bell, and Dodson proposed or responded to different toasts, and Mr M. Webb returned thanks on behalf of his father.