COMING OF AGE OF MR JOHN DEANS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 59, 7 August 1874, Page 3

COMING OF AGE OF MR JOHN DEANS.

Most of our readers will recollect the Art Onion of London issuing a picture, some few years back, of the coming of age of the heir of an ancestral estate in England in olden times. The painter has chosen the time

when the heir, on the day of his majority, stands on the steps of the old mansion surrounded by his friends, his parents and others, addressing the assembled tenautry. The pride which is shown in the features of the old couple, the flush of expectancy, of dreams of happy days in store, which mantles on the face of the youug man just entering life under the happiest auspices, all go to make this picture a perfect gem in its way. Yesterday, on perhaps a smaller scale, but none the less interesting to us as colonists, and more particularly as residents in this province, the majority of the representative of a name long honored amongst us—a name which lives green in the memories of those who came here amongst the band of pilgrims, was celebrated with all due honor. The bearer of that name, whose hospitality and kindness to many now prosperous and wealthy, extended with an ungrudging hand at a time when it was worth ten times what it would be now, has, alas, passed away from amongst us, Yesterday would have been to him, as it was to the honored lady who has so worthily filled the place of him who has gone, a proud and happy day, and with the joyousness of the celebration there mingled a shade of regret that he who had toiled to secure the fair heritage was not amongst his kindred and friends.

Invitations had been issued to about 200 guests, comprising all classes of the community, and extensive preparations had been made to celebrate the occasion with all due

honor. At the boundary of the Riccarton estate, opposite the Plough Inn, a string of flags was suspended across the road, the hotel itself also being gailj decorated. The lliccarton Mill, and several private residences along the line of road, also displayed a goodly show of bunting. Luncheon was laid in a large marquee, the catering being under the supervision of Mr J. W. Morton, who, it is needless to say, discharged the very onerous duties of this department most efHciently. The chair was occupied by Mr J. W. Deans, brother to the late Messrs John and William Deans, who has come out from Scotland specially to be present on the occasion, having on his right Mr John Deans, the heir, and on the left Mrs Deans. The vice-chairs were filled by Messrs W. Lyon (one of the trustees), and Mr Thomas S. Duncan. Grace was said by the Rev Charles Fraser, and ample justice having been done to the dejeuner, The Chairman rose and gave the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk heartily. In proposing the Royal Family, the Chairman remarked that special interest attached to the day as regarded the Duke of Connaught (Prince Alfred), it being also his birthday. The toast of '• The Army, Navy, and Volunteers" was then proposed by the Chairman, coupled with the name of Captain Dugald Macfarlaue, who briefly responded. The Chairman then proposed " The health of his Honor the (Superintendent and the Provincial Council, coupled with the name of his Honor the Deputy-Superintendent, Mr R. J. S. Harman." The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

His Honor the Deputy Superintendent said he regretted very much that his Honor the Superintendent was unable to be present on that occasion, to do honor to the coming of age of the representative of a family 60 widely known and so universally respected as the Deans' of Riccarton. He however, could claim the advantage over his Honor, in that he (Mr Harman) had come to Riccarton in the early days of the settlement. His acquaintance with the hospitality of Riccarton extended back to 1850, when with a friend who he saw near him (Mr

Inwood) he had made the acquaintance of the brothers Deans. He felt sure from what he knew of the present representative of the name, that he would do honor to it, and would worthily sustain its reputation amongst them. [Cheers.] In those early days to which he had referred, they, the first colonists,

had come there unable—not from lack of means, but simply from the fact thatitcould not begot—to obtain provisions, and he recollected that some had complained that though they had been supplied with a sheep, they had not got it ready skinned and dressed—[laughter]—This was a very different state of things to what they saw around them that day. [Hear, hear.] He would again express the pleasure he felt at being present thai day, and thank them on behalf of his Honor and the Provincial Council.

Mr W. Lyon then rose to propose the toast of the day, " Long Life and Prosperity to Mr John Deans." He said that he regretted the special toast of that day's gathering had not been entrusted to abler hands than his.

Forty years ago he had first made the acquaintance of William Deans, the uncle of their young friend. At this time England was in a state of what had been called uneasiness, the attention of the great body of the people was turned towards the colonisation of other lands. In conjunction with himself Mr William Deans was a disciple of Mr Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who with all

hia faults, took a broad and statesmanlike view of matters. The time would come, he believed, when the labors of this gentleman would be appreciated at their full value. Himself and Mr William Deans left England for New Zealand, in 1839, a swarm having already gone off to Adelaide, and they landed in Wellington, in 1840. Shortly after this Mr John Deans arrived. They took a survey of the Northern Island, but the turbulence of the natives and the dense forests of this portion of the colony did not favorably impress them. They came further South and landed in Canterbury, where the v saw the vast plains and at once resolved that this was the place to pitch their tent. Shortly after this the Messrs Deans brought down all their belongings, and founded the flocks which now covered the rich pastures around them—this was thirty years ago that month. He (Mr Lyon) came to visit them, and found them toiling on happily and contented. Their farm they named after a parish in their native county—Eiccarton—and the stream running through it was named—not as was generally supposed, after England's immortal bard—but after the silver stream which ran through their native county by the ducal palace of Hamilton, along whose green banks the brothers had spent many happy days. Time passed on, and John Kobert Godley, with the Canterbury Pilgrims, came down, climbed the rugged hills, and entered into the promised land. William Deans, soon after this, left for Sydney to obtain stock to improve his possessions. They all knew what followed. He was lost on the stormy shores of Cook's Straits, and New Zealand lost an energetic colonist, and he ("Mr Lyon) a dear friend. Mr John Deans went home to the old country, and, like the Patriarchs of old, chose a wife from amongst his own people. Alas, he was not long spared to them. He was cut off in the prime of his life and usefulness. He would not touch on the character of the widowed mother. The way in which she had brought up her sod, his character formed by her, proved her worth. That day Mr John Deans assumed the control of his own affairs, worthily and ably conducted during his minority by those entrusted with the task, and all he would say was to express a hope that he would follow in the footsteps of his father and his uncle. He knew from the way in which he had borne himself that he would do bo, and he would now give them " The health of Mr John Deans, and might he live long and prosperously." (Loud cheers). The toast was drunk with loud cheers. Mr John Deans said he thanked them very much for the way they had drunk his health. All he could say was that he hoped to follow worthily in the steps of his father and uncle. The Eev C. Fraser, in an eloquent and feeling speech, proposed " The Health of Mrs Deans," which was heartily responded to. Mr J.W. Deans responded on behalf of his sister-in-law. Mr Duncan then proposed " The Health of the Trustees of the Biccarton Estate," coupled with Mr Lyon, who responded. The other toasts proposed were—" Mr T. 8. Duncan, the legal adviser of the trustees," by Mr J. Anderson; "Mr Mcllraith, the manager of the estate," proposed by Dr Turntull; "Mr J. W. Deans," by Mr R. Wilkin; "Mrs Douglas Graham," by the Rev Chas. Fraser, and " Mr Lyon," by Dr Turnbull. The company then dispersed. The festivities will, we understand, be kept up to-day, when a dinner will be given to the tenantry of the estate. We may mention that the marquee in which the dejeuner took place was beautifully decorated with evergreens, flags, &c, and over the chairman's seat was a large motto " Welcome."