COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR E. WILKIN.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1302, 22 May 1878, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR E. WILKIN.

So soon as it became known that Mr R. Wilkin intended paying a visit to the old country a number of his co-workers in the cause of agriculture felt that it would not be the proper thing to allow a gentleman who had done so much for the cause of the agritural and pastoral interests to leave without giving public expression to the respect he had earned for himself as a colonist. It waß therefore determined, as might be expected in a colony of Englishmen, that the testimony of appreciation of Mr Wilkin's many good Sualities [should take the form of a dinney. t was also settled that a more tangible expression of good will should be made to Mr Wilkin in the shape of a testimonial. In furtherance of these objects a committee, comprising Messrs Mann, Bruce, Aynsley, Anderson, junr., and Sutherland, was appointed to carry out the details, and last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall was selected for the dinner. About 150 gentlemen, representing every class in the community, sat down to ajvery excellent dinner, served in first class style by the caterers Messrs J. Oram Sheppard and E. Oookson. The hall was nicely decorated with flags, and a pretty selection of flowers and pot plants was distributed over the tables. A band was placed in the gallery and played several selections during the evening. The chair was occupied by the Hon. John Hall, having on his right the guest of the evening, Mr E. Wilkin, Messrs W. Eeeves, T. M. Hassal, E. H. Ehodes, and Hon. E. Richardson; and on his left Messrs W. Eolleston, W. Montgomery, M.H.E., J. Palmer, J. Anderson, and H. P. Murray-Aynsley, M.H.E. The vice-chair was filled by Mr John Ollivier, and amongst those present were Eev. 0. Fraser, Hon. Ernest Gray, Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.E., F. J. Garrick, H. H. Hennah, C. W. Turner. J. Deans, C. C. Bowen, G. Harper, Pavitt, D. Craig, A. Duncan, J. Anderson, junr., J. Inglis, W. Norman (President Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association), J. C. Wason, M.H.E., Saunders, M.H.E., Bullock, S. Bealey, &c, &c. The Chairman said that he had received apologies from His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, expressing regret that, as he had to be at the Court of Appeal, he could not be present to participate in a tribute of respect so worthily earned by Mr Wilkin. He had also received an apology from Sir Cracroft Wilson for non-attendance, as he had that day driven seventy-three miles in from Culverden, As Sir Cracroft that day celebrated his 71st birthday, he thought that his excuse was admissible. [Cheers.] He had also received apologies from Messrs John McFarlane, J. R. Hill, and G. L. Melliah, regretting that they were unable to at'end, but expressing warm sympathy with the object of the gathering. The chairman next gave the usual loyal toasts, the band playing appropriate airs. The chairman then rose to give the health of the Governor of New Zealand and the Ministry, which he felt was a very delicate task. Perhaps, the best way would be to separate the toasts. [Hear, hear.] As regarded the Governor, he felt sure that they would honor the toast as one of the great connecting links to the Empire, and he also felt sure that the people of Canterbury would not care to have that link with the Empire severed. [Hear, hear.] It was for the best interests of the colony that they had amongst them an Imperial officer capable of discharging the dutieß of his office, and carrying out the government of the colony in a way which would reflect credit on the Empire. In Lord Normanby they had a nobleman who had shown that he wis able to

to discharge his various duties and to hold the scale between parties, uninfluenced by any. [Hear, hear.] As regarded the Ministry, he felt sure that toast too would commend itself„to them. They were entering upon a very arduous task, inasmuch as they proposed to reform everything, and he felt sure the people of Canterbury would wish them health and strength, as such a task would require sound body and mind. [Laughter.] He did not know what they were laughing at. It was a fact that a Ministry to do what was proposed would find that they would require health and strength. He had been for many years connected with public life, and he mußt say that he had never found the Canterbury members offering factious opposition to the Government, and the people of Canterbury would, he felt sure, be only too ready to assist the Government to carry out any measures which would be for the interest of the colony at large. [Cheers.] The toast was drank with enthusiasm.

Mr Murray-Aynsley, in the stead of Sir Cracroft Wilson, rose to propose " The Army Navy, and Volunteers," paying a tribute of praise to the latter body, and coupling the names of Captain Hawkes (Infantry), Strouts (Cavalry), and Craig (Artillery.) The toast was drank amid loud cheers.

Captain Hawkes said that he could wish most heartily that the toast had fallen into abler hands, so that those present might know the slights to which they had been subjected as volunteers. Only just a few days ago the people of Canterbury wishing to defend themselves in case of war, forwarded a request to the Government, offering their services to the country, and how were they received ? Why the gentleman who made offer of tho services of the people was simply snubbed. [Oh, oh ] He reiterated, the gentleman was snubbed. Now he said this that the volunteer force had been snubbed and looked down upon, and yet they had stuck to their colours. He could tell them this that there was now but eightythree rounds of ammunition in the whole of Canterbury, and yet the Government were not in any way ready to help them. Captain Craig said that, badly as the volunteers had been treated, they were prepared to lay their bones on the hills in defence of Canterbury. [Cheers.] Though some people were afraid of the scare of war they were not, and it showed that the old spirit still existed when we had daily to refuse recruits. He hoped that, in future, those in power would put their shoulders to the wheel and help the volunteers. [Cheers.] Mr Reeves said he had a very difficult task to perform, because he had to propose the toast of "The Assembly," and yet politics were forbidden at such a festive gathering as the one now met. How was one to propose the toast of the Assembly without trenching on politios. He should only be enabled to escape the difficulty by speaking of tho Assembly as a whole. The toast was always received with due honour in Canterbury, and most properly so because the members of that body and the body as a whole were such as they had reason to be proud of. The members of the Assembly discharged a most onerous duty, and they owed them their thanks. He gave them "The Assembly," coupled with the names of the Hon. Ernest Gray and Mr Montgomery. The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. The Hon. Ernest Grey Baid that whatever blots might be discovered in the general character of the House, yet he believed that it was sound at the core. He must say that he desired to see grow up a more conservative feeling amongst the members of the House. [Cheers.] Mr Montgomery said, though shut out from reference to politics, there were a few words which he wished to say. It had been said that the speeches in the Assembly were too many and too long. But they must remember that the Assembly was the convincing ground, where the most important matters were discussed. Hence they had to speak at some length. Again, it was necessary to find out who were and who were not fit persons to take up the Government of the colony, and this was only to be found out by hearing what they had to say on the great questions of the day. It must also be recollected that members were required to be to a great extent the reflex of their constituents, and if they were so it was necessary for the constituencies themselves to take more interest in political matters and speak out their minds, so that their representatives might know what they desired. He was glad to see that now more political activity was apparent amongst the people, and he trusted that it would long continue to be so, and that it would yet further increase. [Hear, hear.] He thanked them very sincerely for the honor they had done him in associating his name with so important a toast as that of the General Assembly of New Zealand. [Cheers.]

The Chairman said that he now rose to give them a toast which he felt sure would receive from them the heartiest and most enthusiastic reception. It was his privilege and pleasure that evening to be entrusted with the honor of proposing to them the toast of the evening. [Loud cheering.] That was the " Health of their honored guest, his friend on his right, Robert Wilkin." [Loud and continued cheers.] In doing this he felt considerable difficulty on two grounds. The first was because Mr Wilkin was present, and the second was that there was such abundant material for the well-deserved eulogy of their guest of that night that he was perfectly at a loss how to begin. He felt that, perhaps, the best way for him to do would be not to dwell at any great length upon the toast not that the subjoct did not afford ample material — becauso their presence in such numbers there that evening, representative as they were of all classes of the community, and the hearty and onthußiastic manner in which the mention of the toast had been received, would show Mr Wilkin far more than any poor words of his how he was respected amongst them. [Cheers.] In briefly referring to the public career of Mr Wilkin, they found that his first entrance into public life was as a member of the Provincial Council. This was in the day of small things, before they had attained to the great amount of prosperity they have now around them. But still he could not help reflecting that, to a very large extent, tne foundations of that very prosperity which they were now enjoying was laid by these very institutions. So much had really been done by them and under them that, though it was perhaps treading upon forbidden ground on occasions like the present, he might say that they could now almost regret having lost them. [Cheers.] This it must, however, considering the embargo very wisely laid on politics, be looked upon as spoken in a parenthesis. Mr Wilkin, as a member of tho Provincial Council, spoke but seldom,|but when he did do so he evinced that thorough knowledge of the subject and that keen common-sense which characterised him in all his] dealings. Whenever he did speak he always had something to say and was always listened to with respect. [Cheers.] They next found Mr Wilkin as a member of the Government of the province. In this position he brought to his duties that high character and sound business ability ho had displayed in connection with the many institutions of which he was a part. Mr Wilkin was connected with the Government of Mr William Seftoh Moorhouse, and it was under their aiispices thut the great outlet for the produce of the province, that work without which they would e c ireely have achieved the success they had, viz., the tunnel, had been devised and commeneed. [Loud cheers.] Passing from the field of politics as confined to the province, they then found Mr Wilkin as a member of the Parliament of the colony, in which he (the Chairman) had had tho pleasure of sitting by his side. Here also their honoured guest of that evening had displayed the rare faculty of speaking but little, and then only when he had something to say. In this respect Mr Wilkin belonged to a raco which was even at tho time he was referring to exceedingly rare, and which of late years, to all appearance, had become totally extinct. [Laughter and cheers.] As a member of the Colonial Legislature, Mr Wilkin's opinions had always been looked up to and respected as those of a man who had carefully and thoughtfully considered the subjeot brought before him. [Cheers.] Then, coining to what he might call the moro domestic career of their friend, they all here knew as well as he (the Chairman) what Mr Wilkin's merits were. He

was the trusted friend and adviser of many, and those who sought his help or advice were sure of receiving it. [Cheers.] Who was more looked up to, who more renowned for honesty of purpose and probity of dealing than their old friend Robert Wilkin. In every institution which had for its object the prosperity of Canterbury, or the welfare of his fellow settlers, Mr Wilkin took a deep and absorbing interest, and was most zealous in his endeavors to promote by his individual efforts the success of such associations. He felt sure that, looking round him that evening, he need hardly refer to the untiring energy, the zeal and hard work displayed by their friend in connection with the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. [Loud cheers.] He had been to that somewhat of a paradox, inasmuch as he had been its father and its nursing mother. [Loud cheers.] Ho had stood by its cradle, he had helped in no small degree to pilot it through those vicissitudes to which everything in the colonies was more or less subject, and he had had the grand satisfaction of seeing it reach the haven of safety, and take a premier position amongst associations of a kindred character in the colony. Associations such as the one referred to, and which, as he had said, owed a great deal of its prosperity to the efforts of their friend, were the mainspring of prosperity in a colony such as this. By the improvement in the breed of stock its operations induced, the superior farming it brought out, it tended to developo the great interests of the province to an extent of which they were 'even hardly aware. [Cheers.] The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with which their friend was most intimately associated, had achieved a position second to none in the colony, and to this they were in a very large degree indebted to Mr Wilkin. [Loud cheers.] But it had not always been fine weather with their friend. When the wind was fair and the weather fine, it needed but little seamanship to navigate successfully, but it was when danger threatened thjJt the true quality of the man stood forth. It was a lesson for the young men who were growing up around them to see the manner in which Mr Wilkin, despite the dangers which beset him, stuck manfully to his task, and at last brought his bark safe into haven. [Cheers.] He could go on for a long time dilating upon the many good qualities of their friend, but they all knew him as well as he did. The gathering that evening, representing as it did not only all classes of the community, but persons from all parts of the province, showed the widespread feeling of respect and esteem which Mr Wilkin had inspired in the hearts of his fellow settlers. This feeling moreover was not confined to Canterbury, but it extended to other parts of the colony, where though not having the same advantage of becoming acquainted fully with all hiß good qualities as they had, the residents held Mr Wilkin in high respect. [Cheers.] In doing honor that night to Mr Wilkin's worth they intended that not alone this generation should know that Robert Wilkin had been deemed worthy the laudations of his fellow colonists. [Cheers.] They intended to present him with a testimonial, which wonld show to future generations the esteem which Mr Wilkin's worth and probity had inspired. [Cheers.]. He felt sure he expressed the feelings not only of the large assemblage of gentlemen now present before him, but of many scattered through various parts of the colony, when he said that they hoped ere long to see Mr Wilkin once more back amongst them. They trusted that though he might see much to delight him in revisiting the land of his birth, he would yet make his home amongst them. [Cheers.] When his visit to the old country was concluded they hoped that Mr Wilkin would again return to the colony and spend with them an honored old age, lengthened to very many years. [Loud cheer3.] He gave them the health of their honored guest Mr Robert Wilkin, a safe and pleasant/voyage, and speedy return. [Loud cheers.] The toast was drank amid loud and continued cheering. Mr Wilkin, who was loudly cheered on rising, said—Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, — You will, I am sure, make due allowance for the diffidence with which I stand up to return thanks for the great honor done me in asking me to meet you on this occasion. [Cheers.] But if I fail from lack of language to give expression to my feelings, you will, I trust, attribute it to that cause, and not from any lack of appreciation on my part of the great honor done me this evening. [Cheers.] I have mixed with my fellow colonists in Canterbury and elsewhere for the last nineteen years, and in doing this it was impossible not to feel that the men I came in contact with had a feeling of respect for me, as I had for them. Mr Hall has alluded in very flattering terms to what he called my public services. I am not entitled to much credit on that score. All I had to do and did was to bring what little judgment I had to bear on the various questions brought before me. [Cheers.] With regard to the great work referred to by the chairman—the tunnel. I may say that the first words Mr Moorhouse said to me after my being introduced to him was " What do yon think of the tunnel?" My reply was that I considered that it must be done. [Cheers.] I said I felt that it was just as necessary to the progress of the province as the making of a road to an estate without which access oould not be gained. Supposing the tunnel had not been taken in hand until eight or ten years after it was, what a pretty mess we" should be in to get our grain away. [Cheers.] It was a work of necessity, and therefore my idea was that the sooner it was done the better. [Cheers.] My theory through life has been that no man was ever destined to play a lone hand in the world, and this has been my theory with regard to the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, on the principle that it is the duty of every man to help each other. Mr Hall has alluded in a very delicate manner to the difficulties which I have experienced in my career in Canterbury ; but I think they have done me good, as they have brought out points in my character whioh, but for them, would in all probability have remained dormant. [Cheers.] In reference to this subject, I cannot help mentioning the name of a gentleman with whom I have been associated in business, and who acted as a friend to me. I allude to Mr Robert Rhodes. [Cheers.] That gentleman could, had he chose to exercise the power over me which he might have done, have prevented my getting into the position in the world that I have done since. [Cheers.] I was not afraid of having to work, gentlomen; I have been a working man all my life, but I could not then have looked forward as I do now. With regard to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with which J. have had much to do since its formation, I can bear my testimony to the zeal and energy displayed by the committee in carrying out the work of the association. I have been connected with many public bodies in various capacities, but I never met a committee or a Board of Directors who have done so much, and that too gratuitously, for any institution as tho committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association —[hear, hear], —and the gentleman who occupies the chair this evening is no exception to the rule. I look around me and I see Hon. Ernest Gray, Mr Aynsley—well, there is Mr Norman, but we all know what he has done and how hard he has worked, —and many others who have worked most jealously to further the interests of the association. I am glad to see it take the position of the leading association in New Zealand, but though it has reached this point I would counsel you not to slacken your efforts to keep it up to tho standard of excellence, because when you do this then you begin to go back, and we must not go back by any means in connection with so important an adjunct to the prosperity of the country as the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. [Cheers.] I have very little more to say, gentlemen, but I think we may congratulate ourselves on our lot being cast in such a colony, and more porticularly in such a'province as Canterbury. [Cheers.] Many years ago—l think it was at a dinner given to Mr Cookson—l said that, looking at the boundless plains of Canterbury, covered with tussocks, I saw them covered with homesteads, with their fences and rows of trees. Q-entlemen, that is now some eighteen years ago. I have lived to see my small attempt in the way of prophecy come true. [Cheers.] But while I say this we must not suppose that that the whole of tho country is taken up yet, there is plenty of room j but I hope, at the ratio at which population has increased

during the past few years, to see the whole of the Canterbury plains taken up, and a very large increase in our exports. [Cheers.] Mr Hall has been good enough to say that you wish to see me back. I am only going to England on a visit, as I look on this as my homo. [Cheers.] My children know no other home, and when I return I hope I shall find the country as prosperous as I now leave it, and that you will be glad to see mo when I come back. [Loud cheers.] Mr Ollivier gave the toast of " Trade and Commerce," coupled with the names of Messrs T. M. Hasßal and C. W. Turner.

Mr Haßsal responded, pointing out that the trade of New Zealand, more especially that of Canterbury, had increased beyond their most sanguine expectation, and it was strange that more British capital was not employed here instead of being locked up in Turkish, Egyptian, and other bonds. There was ample room for the employment of capital in the development of their resources, and they only wanted this to make them a still greater country. [Cheers.] No doubt reverses might come in trade, but still by having their businesses well in hand he hoped they woxxld be able to meet these reverses. [Cheers.] Mr Turner said he had every faith in the future of the colony in general, and tho future of Canterbury in particular. Ho looked forward to the day when the commerce of Canterbury would be, not doubled, but quadrupled, and their ships sailing to all parts of the world. He believed the timo would come when they would havo to seek fresh outlets for their produce, and find that their prosperity, whioh was settled on[a sound and firm basis, was assured.

Mr Rolleston, who was warmly received on rising, said he had to propose a toast which was intimately connected with their greatest interests. It was "Prosperity to the Agricultural and Pastoral interests. " They found that in this direction vast strides had been made in Canterbury. When they saw that the year before the yield of grain had been a million bushels over that of the preceding one, and that this year, despite the dry season, it had been a million bushels over the last, there seemed to him to be great cause for congratulation. [Cheers.] Every day they saw that the population of tho country was getting a hold on the soil, which was a very important matter; and besides this, there had been the introduction amongst them of those great labor-saving machines, the reapers and binders, which would give a still further impetus to agriculture amongst them. Whon ho told them that the exports of this province in wheat and oats would amount this year to a 'million sterling, he thought they had a guarantee that their prosperity was assured. [Cheers.] He would couple the toast with the namos of Messrs J. T. Ford and John Grigg. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

Mr Ford, in responding, pointed out the great strides made by the agricultural and pastoral interests of the province. A result whioh he attributed mainly to the work done by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the success of which the unselfish and zealous aid rendered by their respected guest that evening had greatly conduced. He had every faith in the future of the province, and the introduction of those great labor saving machines, the reapers and binders, marked a new era in the history of agriculture in Canterbury. Mr John Grigg also responded, dwelling at some length on the vast improvement noticeable in the plains of Canterbury, which from vast tracts of tussock grass had been changed to smiling homesteads and farms. Mr A. Duncan proposed " Colonial manufactures." Mr Turner had referred to their ships going to all parts of the world, but he thought they might congratulate themselves that in these days of competition their manufacturers and producers of colonial industries were able to compete successfully with importers. It was a great thing to see that theso industries were fast assuming importance amongst them, and all those who desired to see the progress of the colony could not but congratulate themselves upon this being the fact. He would connect the toast with the name of a representative man—Mr John Anderson. [Choers.J The toast was drunk with loud cheers.

Mr J. Anderson said he felt highly honored at having his name associated with so important a toast as that of Colonial Industries. There was no doubt that industries such Jas those referred to by Mr Duncan were the source of great prosperity to any country, and he was glad to see springing up in their midst manufactures which he hoped would ere long take the same position here that they did in the home country. New Zealand had peculiar advantages in regard to many industries—advantages of which the enterprise of many of their settlers had availed themselves. There was one industry, viz., that of the manufacture of boots and shoes, to which he would especially refer, as having very largely developed here. There was now in their midst very important [manufactories in this branch of industry, and they not only supplied their local trade but also provided for export. He looked forward to a very great future for their manufactories, which was one essential point in tho prosperity of any oountry. [Cheers.]

The other toasts proposed were " Mrs Wilkin and the Ladies," responded to by Mr Wilkin, junr., and Mr John Deans. " The Press," responded to by Mr W. Reeves and "Tho Chairman."