DINNER TO MR A. J. BURNS.

Evening Star, Issue 3504, 16 May 1874, Page 2

DINNER TO MR A. J. BURNS.

Between sixty and seventy gentlemen assembled at the Shamrock Hotel last evening to do honor to Mr Burns, who is about leaving the Province for a time. His Honor the Superintendent presided— the vice-chair being tilled by his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin. The Provincial Council was largely represented, all the members of the Executive and the leading members of both the Government and Opposition being present. An apology was made for Mr Stout, who regretted being unable to attend. The toast of “The Queen and Royal Family” was proposed by the Chairman, and drunk enthusiastically ; then followed “ The Army, JSavy, and Volunteers,” which was responded to by Captain Daniel, of the Riverton Rifles. The toast of “The Guest of the Evening ” was then given by his Honor, who paid a high compliment to Mr Burns for his energy and perseverance during his career in Otago. Prom his intimate connection with Mr Burns in many capacities he could testify to his zeal in promoting the progress of the Province. He might state that Mr Burns was mainly instrumental in initiating the eight hours’ system here j he also had been the first farmer on an extensive scale, and one of the first to introduce a steam threshingmachine. The Mosgiel Woollen Factory would never have been started but for the energy and perseverance of Mr Burns ; and in this he (Mr Burns) had shown an example worthy of imitation. Me regretted that owing to the state of Mr Burns’s health, it was absolutely necessary he should go Home in order to recruit bis exhausted energies, and he had no doubt but that, from that gentleman’s intimate connection with the requirements of the Province, he would be enabled to induce) immigrants of the right stamp to come amongst us ; for if we cannot get the genuine article, it would be infinitely better to go without, than to have an undue mixture of the shoddy and devil-dust,thrust upon us. His Honor's remarks were received with loud and prolonged applause. Mr Burns, in reply to the toast of his health, which was drunk with all > he honors expressed his sincere gratification at the manifestations of regard and esteem shewn

to him by those present, and he felt all the more gratified, as the meeting represented every cla-sin society, and he therefore looked up >n it as a representative one. The speaker then took a retrospective view of the d’fficoltiesjthe early settlers of Otago had to encounter on their arrival here; and referred to the starting of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, which be considered the great achievement of his life. Although he was going Home, it. was not for good, and he trusted he would be able to return in about two years. If, dur-, ing his stay in the old country, he could induce suitable emigrants tv come to Otago, he would do so. He begged to tender the meeting his grateful acknowledgements for the manner in which the toast of his health was received. —{Loud applause.) His Worship the Mayor proposed the toast of “The Trade and Commerce of.New Zea’nad,” contrasting the early days of the Province with the prosperous state of affairs atithe present time. Mr Prosser, in responding, said he had no doubt but that Otago would maintain the lead in commercial matters in New Zealand, and instanced the formation of t h e New Zealand Shipping Company, which ho had no doubt would prove a great success. The toast of “The Ladies” was proposed by the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, and responded to by Mr Campbell. Mr Gotten, in a very humorous speech, gave the toast of “ The Press,” and stated that during his connection with the Press of Otago he had to do everything from editing his paper to printing the copies off. He had actually been obliged to curtail the fair proportions of his leading article in order to make room' for a half-crown advertisement. Mr De Latodb {‘Mount Ida Chronicle’) replied to the toast, in a few well-chosen words. ' A few toasts not laid down in the programme were then given :—“The Provincial Council,” proposed by Mr Ramsay, responded to by the Speaker,,Mr?J. L.fGillies. ‘‘ The Corporation of the City of Dunedin,” by Dr Webster, reponded to by his Worship the Mayor ; after which the meeting broke up, terminating one of the most enjoyable evenings we have been present at in this City. The worthy host, Mr Hetherington, surpassed all bis former efforts in catering for his numerous guests, and must be commended for his assiduity and attention throughout the evening.