THE GOVERNOR’S BANQUET.

Evening Star, Issue 3595, 31 August 1874, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR’S BANQUET.

[Bv Telegraph.] Wellington, August 29. The Governor was entertained at a dinner last night in the Chamber of the Home of Representative, Major Richardson occupying the chair. He proposed the Governor’s health in a very happy speech, which confollows : —*■ Having had opportunities. as it were, of travelling from Dan to •Beersjieba in xvew Zealand, and having lived amongst pepp’e ipf every class, I am quite sure that his Excellency will agiee Wifh pae that, while he found people who would have nothin* fa dp with aristocratic excluriyeuess, he found a people who would not subject themselves to the demoralising influence of ultra-democracy.—(Loud cheers J If what I have said be true—aud it is, lam sure—you will agree with me in this, that when his Excellency returns to Eng and, we may lose our Governor, but we shall find an advocate, ” —(Enthusiastic cheering.) The toast was diuuk with marked enthusiasm.

His Excellency, referring to the cause of his departure, said he had misgivings as to whether he was doing right; and though his early retirement from the Qoyernorship of the Colony might seem ambiguous to tho.-e who took au interest in his career, yet those around him who had found a parliamentary career so attractive as to cause them to devote their best energies to it would understand him giving up a position of dignity and case to return to a life of political activity. Had he thought any interest would suffer from this step, no pevsonal consideration would have induced him to take it. \V bellier he regained his seat in the House of Commons or not, ho would always Jiave an anxious desire to serve Hie Colonies, with which he had been connected f *i r. i 6 ' X ears lleferring to (he policy v Colony, he predicted a great future for j>ew Zealand, and quoted the words of the Coveruor of Tasmania, who saw a great deal of the Colony in a shopt time, and who said he could not doubt, from what he had seen of New Zealand, that it would justify almost oujr expenditure oa works of intercommunication. Comparing the relative advantages possessed by the various Australasian Colohle's as to thu quality of their land, ho

considered the land of v ew Zealand cheaper ind more valuable than any. He said he hongut, at no remote period, the pco.-pecta of rhe North Island would be brighter than those of the Adverting to the early struggles uf the Colonv, when two races were in collision, he said : “ You have been aways equal to the occasion ; and since war and bloodshed have passed away, wo hope and bedeve, for ever (cheers) —you have matured measures tor the development of your country. and to repair your oast los.-es, •which struck us elsewhere with astonishment by their boldness and magnitude. You are sustaining those efforts, and determined to carry out yout ro.-oluti u, which shows that you look to certain results for your justification Gentlemen, it is evident that the cask you have before ym will call for efforts compared with which those you have already made are perhaps trifling. Sums which at first seem alarming to a new community, seem small when that cammunity has doubled its extent, and has reaped the advantages which that expenditure has o ic fly achieved. Who, in 1835, could have thought of the expenditure on -railways in ngland of a cum comparing with the national debt withou: alarm and di.-quietude? And yet we, who now look upon these things so much as a matter of course, cannot estimate the alarm which even a portion of that expenditure caused to the last generation. Anyone who watches the public proceedings of this Colony with a candid spirit must look to this Pari ament with respict and hope. 1 say in this Parliament business is done with despatch, with dignity, and yet with due deliberation. there is an absence of all language w'hich could cause regret te those who wish well to New Zealand, or which cquld ridicule in communities beyond seai No one can can compare a new-comer to this country with a working man roing and returning in his working clothes to and from his daily toil, with- >ut seeing the great change that is coming upon men of ihe same race and class since their arrival in the country, f here is an abundance of spirit and of dignity of manner ; the e is ease iu circumstances ; there may be often self-indulgence, but I say there is very excels ; and I am not certain that the same amount of work is not done m a few hours at a higher rate of pay. I have no doubt the progress of the country is cheeked to a certain extent by a dearth of labor, but of this I am sure, that on the whole you will build up a na ion, and have i he coming generation of a character far higher and more sensible of their responsibilities, because not crushed down by poverty. Here tne working man leaves his daily toil unexhausted in mind, with energy still sufficient to enjoy, it may be, the family circle, or it may be social amusements or mental improvement; but at all events be has some , thing left in him to take a pride in. He has a dwelling j and, more than that, lie is hot e6 tempted to resort to undue stimulants as the hard-worked aud broken operative of other days. We should not scrutinise too severely those who come to pur shores.” His < JfcelIcncy concluded by saying that he had seen ma.iy of a miserable class, who had turped over a new leaf in this new country, and become substantial men, who carped daily wages, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than a deputation of haudioom weavers, who waited upon him at Invercargill, to tell him of their prosperity. He said our gaols, asylums, and hospitas were inferior to chose of Australia. He referred to the paramount importauce of education, and Said wa must mauui actum teachers for ourselves, aud, by making the profession one of honor, attract to it a f.dr share of our best men, making payment contingent upon results. He believed that among an educated population, no matter how far the franchise extended, they might look for the only true panacea against class jealousy, and safeguard against national corruption, Hia Excellency was greeted with repeated ap. plausrf during hir'speeeli, : ■! : V'W-;