DEUTSCHER VEREIN.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 11, 12 June 1874, Page 2

DEUTSCHER VEREIN.

The annual dinner of the above society was held last Thursday at Carl's Empire Hotel, when there was a very large attendance, the room being filled. The chair was occupied by Mr Nees, president of the society for 1874, who had on his right his Honor the Superintendent, the Rev Mr Lohr (German Minister),. Mr T. M. Hassall (German Consul), and "on the left by Messrs Fuhrman and D. Davis. The vice-chair was ably filled by Mr J. A. Berg. , > The room we may say was nicely decorated with flags of all nations and evergreens. Mr Carl ably discharged the duty of caterer, a capital spread being placed on the tables. Grace was said by the Rev Mr Lohr, and after a capital dessert had been served, The Chairman rose and said it was with very great pleasure that he rose to propose the first toast of the evening the " Health of Her Majesty the Queen and the .Royal family." The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and three times three. The Chairman then rose and gave the next toast.—" The Emperor.of Germany." The toast was received with loud cheers.— " Wacht an Rheim," Christehurch JLieder* tafel. •,'■- . , The Chairman proposed his Excellency the Governor. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr J. A. Berg rose to propose the next toast —" The health of his Bonor the Superintendent, the Executive; and Provincial Council." A great deal depended upon'the actiou of ;these branches of the Legislature, and he trusted; they would drink the toast with hearty good will. [Cheers.] The history of the world proved that unless the, governing powers did their duty faithfully, the interests of the people were bound to suffer. Therefore when they saw that the Government of a country was administered in a. way which conduced to the welfare of the people, such as the Govern* nient of Canterbury; they were bound, to recognise the efforts of those who gave their services for the public; " ,;.- The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. His Honor the Superintendent, who on rising was received with loud cheers, said thai he was sorry he could not reciprocate the compliment the. gentlemen present had paid to the Executive and himßelf by responding in German... As Mr Berg had said, much depended upon the ; Executive and Provincial Council and their disposition of 'he large funds now placed under their control. He regretted very much that Mr Montgomery, the president of the Executive, was unable to be present to respond for the flattering terms, in which the toast had been proposed; and received. There was no time in the history of „the province when greater responsibility rested on those entrusted with the governing powers—a responsibility which he could assure them was felc by him as well as the members of the Executive. He felt great pleasure in being present that evening amongst them as the representative of a great nation—a nation which had distinguished itself amongst the peoples Of the world as being first in what was good,and he trusted that they in Canterbury would not in this respect be found behind hand with their compatriots in the old country. [Cheer?.] Be ; thanked them very heartily for the way in which they had received the toast, and hoped that on their next anniversary they would have still more favorable report to present, [Cheers] Mr Sandstein rose to Give the next toast, «lbe German Consul gn r t, % Hassal),"

[Cheers.] He was glad to - see Mr lias-sal with them, but he hoped it would not be the last time. There could not bu a better selection for the office of German consul than Mr Hassal, as he had proved hims If a thorough good friend to the Germans, aud he hoped, now that they had Mr Loin hrre. Mr Hassal would learn German, which would facilitate his carrying out the duliis of his office. He hoped that next year when they met they would have Mr Hassal proposing a toast in German. [Cheers.] The toast was drank with musical houors. Mr Hassal said that he thanked them very heartily for the way in which they had drank his health so kindly proposed by Mr Sandstein. He might say that he did not feel the want of a knowledge of German language so much as they might think, as the Imperial Government had made his instructions so full aud complete. They were met there that evening to celebrate the anniversary of the Deutscher Verein, which was a friendly society, and also an association which would serve to remind their children of the mighty empire from which they had sprung,—an empire which had won the re=pect of the world from the conspicuous part she had played in the affairs of the world. [Cheers.] Let them look around them in all the various parts of the world and they would find that German citizens were occupying high positions of trust. [Hear, hear.] He wished the society every success, and hoped that next year when they met again they would find it largely increased, alike in the number of members and its spheres of usefulness. [Cheers.] S oU g—" My Fatherland."—Mr Behrendt. Mr Schmidt proposed " The Mayor and City Council." They were indebted to the Mayor and City Council for the great improvements which had been made in the city during the last twelve or thirteen years, and he thought that they were entitled to the very best thanks of the citizens for what they had done. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. The toast was coupled with the name of Dr Foster, city solicitor. Dr Foster said he felt somewhat at a loss at having been for the first time called upon to return thanks for a constituted body like the City Council. He was always looked upon as being such a rebel, and always at the wrong side of matters, that it somewhat staggered him when he was called upon to return thanks for so respectable a body as the City Council. If the Provincial Council only just did as much for the province as the City Council did for the city, the province would be so much the gainer. Indeed some morning, if the Provincial Council, by reason of the popular favor for City Councils and Road Boards, was found missing, the loss would not be so much felt. He believed that the City Council would acquire still larger powers, and would do much more good for the citizens at large. He belived that a measure would shortly be introduced which would give the city a larger revenue, and they all knew how very much needed more lamps and paths were, and how this additional money would give the Council the opportunity of doing so. He would not detain them longer, but would say that so long as they returned such good men as they had done to the City Council, and so long as that bcly showed their wisdom by selecting such an excellent legal adviser as they at present possessed, they might rest assured that their interests would not suffer. | Cheers.] . Mr Ruddenklau then rose to propose the next toast, " The Deutscher Verein." This toast should properly be proposed in German, but he hoped that they would excuse him. [Laughter.J When the society was first started, there was no meeting place for Germans, and from the starting of the society, they had got around them a large nnmber of members. To the working of the society they must attribute the building of their church, and the presence of their worthy pastor. [Hear, hear.] They also had their bells, which, though not yet hung, they hoped to hear in a short time. He was pleased to see that during his absence the society had prospered, and that they now had a doctor and a good fund at the Bank. [Cheers.] He hoped they would go on and prosper still more next year. # [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. Song—"Tyrolese song"—Mr Ebert. Mr Sees, president of the society, said that he felt much the honor they had done him in placing him in the distinguished position of the president of the society. He had found the society in a very flourishing state, so much so that there were very few friendly societies which could equal them. He thanked them very much for the honor they had done him, and would do all in his power to push forward the society. [Cheers.] Mr Scßwartz, secretary, said that the success of the society was almost unexampled in the history of friendly societies, and this, too, on a lower rate of contribution than the Oddfellows and Foresters. They had been established over three years, and had over sixty members, while they had about £l7O in hand.

Dr Haast, in German, proposed "The health of the Pastor of the German Church, the Rev Mr Lohr." Song—Mr Schwartz, The Rev Mr Lohr, who also spoke in German, responded to the toast, and at the close of his speech proposed " Prosperity to New Zealand.

The toast was drank amidst loud applause. Song—Mr Schwartz, Mr Mohr rose to propose "The health of Dr Campbell, surgeon to the society." Dr Camybeli was the right man in the right place, and since he had joined the society the members had very largely increased. Mr Ebert rose to propose the health of a gentleman they all knew well, who had been amongst them for years, and who had done more for the Germans in Christchurch than any other gentleman. He referred to Mr Ruddenklau. [Cheers.] He felt very highly the honor of being selected to propose the health of Mr Ruddenklau. TCheeis.] The toast was drunk amid loud cheers.

Dr Campbell said that he, as a stranger amongst them at the time of his election as SU'geon, had felt highly .honored with the position he held amongst them. ["Cheers."] He had since his connection with the German Society, always found them to be thoroughly good, and he hoped their connection would last long, f Cheers 1 Mr Ruddeuklau, who on rising was loudly cheered, said that he felt some difficulty in responding to the toast. He hoped to be able to do even more than he had Jone for the benefit of his fellow countrymen, as he held it was the duty of every one to do all they could for their country. A good deal had been done, but still more remained to do. They bad built their church, and paid a great part of the cost, but they had their bells, and had yat to hang them, which would cost money. They would have to erect; a tower for these

bells, and in view of the expense it had been moot, d to hand the bells over to the city as a nucleus of a peal of bells under certain restrictiot>s. (" No, no," and " Hear, hear.") He did uot say that he was. altogether in favor of this, but he did not feel against it. However, it would be for the Germans to say whether or no this should be done. If not, they would have to help them to build the tower in which to hang their bells, aud Le hoped that ere long they would get three more bells, and mike a nice peal. The English portion of the community was, he thought, deserving of their best thanks for the hearty manner in which on all occasions they had come forward to assist them, and he thought they should not forget this. [Cheers.] Duet—Flute and piano—Messrs Poore and Weber.

The following other toasts were proposed " The land we live in," by Dr Haast. " The Piess," by Mr Fuhrmanu. "The visitors," and "The officers of the society," and duly responded to and the company separated after spending a very jovial evening.