THE MAYORAL BANQUET.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1423, 6 September 1878, Page 3

THE MAYORAL BANQUET.

The Mayor's banquet took place last evening, in tho Provincial Council Chamber, which, when the tables were laid, presented a very pretty appearance. Covers were laid for about 300 guests, and all tho available space was taken up. The gathering was a thoroughly representative one, including, aB it did, in addition to his Excellency and his Ministers, the members of both Houses, representatives of the various Municipal bodies and County Councils, and the representatives of the various public bodies and mercantile interests in Christchurch.

Mr J. W. Morton was the caterer, and discharged his duties admirably. The strangers' gallery, which was sot apart for ladies, was well filled from an early hour. The reporters' gallery was reserved for the local and visiting members of the Fourth Estate, and an excellent band, under the leadership of Mr Charles Coombes, occupied the Speaker's gallery, and played several selections during the evoning excellently. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the officers of tho Nymphe and Captain Le Patourel, A.D.C., arrived about eight o'clock, and was received by His Worship the Mayor. His Worship occupied the chair, having on his right His Excellency the Governor, Captain La Patourel, A.D.C., tho officers of the Nymphe, and the Hon. John Hall; and on the left the Hon. E. Stout and Hon. J. T. Fisher. Mr J. Ollivier occupied the vice-chair. The Mayors of Dunedin, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Akaroa were also present. The Dunedin and Chriatchurch Councils were placed vis a vis at table. His Worship said that he had received a largo number of apologies from gentlemen who were obliged to be absent. He might read a telegram from Sir George Grey, who stated that he felt tho deepest regret that tho stale of his health prevented him from being present on so important an occasion. Tho next was from Sir W. Fitzherbert, who, while regret ting his inability to be present, desired to offer liia congratulations on the completion of communication between Christchurch and Dunedin. Ho had also received a telegram from Sir John Richardson, who regretted ho could not bo present. His Worship then gave tho health of " The Queen." Band—•' National Anthem." His Worship then rose to give the health of " H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales." Band—" Gud bless tho Prince of Walo*' His Worship then rose to give tho "£r ,*}: "His Excellency the Goverr>~- . J f e * eJ [' sure they would all f.Y drink that toast. [Loud and continued cheering.] Ever since his i** cw Zealand, his Excel/•are of the colony, and had always taken a very keen interest in matters of education. In Christchurch his name was connected with one of tho largest schools, perhaps, in the colony—the East Christchurch school —and he had also, he believed, opened tho Museum twice. [Laughter.] His prcsonco on the occasion of tho completion of the grea.t work of the communication between Christchurch and Dunedin was an evidence of tho deep interest he had always evinced in the public works of the colony. [Cheers.] He asked them to drink tho toast with enthusiasm. [Loud cheers.] His Excellency, who on rising was received with loud cheers, said that he thanked them lor the kind and cordial manner in which his health had been proposed and responded to. The Mayor only did him justice when ho said that lie "took a deep interest in tlo welfare of the colony. No one could tak) a deeper. [Cheers.] Therefore they could understand how much he prized th> privilege which was accorded to him, to tike part in a ceremony which marked an epocl in the hisI tory of the colony. It was, as ie might say ' the first act in the programmed : tho Public i

Works policy introduced by Sir Julius Vogel. [Cheers.] It was a bold policy, but looking back to what tho colony was in 1871 and is now, no one could say but that it was a wise one. [Cheers.] The carrying out of such a policy had been productive of great benefit to tne colony, and it was not worth while looking back to see whether mistakes had or had not been mado. They had to do with the present and tho future. There was about 1050 miles of lino open for traffic, and to-morrow it would bo their pleasing duty to open the through lino between Christchureh and Dunedin, and in a few weeks he hoped to see the gap between Dunedin and Invercargill bridged ovor. Thoy would then have GBO miles straight on of line open. Was that nothing to loek to. [Cheers.] It was a fact that they had more miles of railway opou to tho population than any other country in tho world. Elsewhere it was about half a mile to the 1000 of population. Hero it was about 2} miles to the 1000. [Cheers.] Well, this was very satisfactory, but still they should go with caution. They had been reminded by their friends on tho other side that their debt was large, but though this was so their assets wero also large. [Cheers.] The success of tho last loan had astonished all, and he believed somo portion of tho credit of this was due to the gentleman to whom tho credit was due of the public works policy. It was true that their debt was largo, perhaps larger in proportion to population than that of England, but when they came to compare it with their annual incomo they found it was very much smaller. It was really marvellous to see the vast Btrides which the colony was making, notably in agricultural produce; who would have believed that they could have had in this year 250,000 tons of produce for export. Ho thought that they might rest secure in the industry and enterprise of their people, that their debt was but small as compared with their resources. As to their railways, he understood that they were now paying 2£ per cent. If this was so when they were only partially open, he thought they might fairly look forward to their railways at no distant date, so far from being a burden, bocoming a source of revenue. He congratulated thorn most sincerely on the occasion which they were met that evening to celebrate. He trusted that tho colony would in the future as it had in the past go on increasing in prosperity. [Cheers.] His Excellency resumed his seat amid loud applause. The Mayor said it had been suggested to him that some recognition should bo made of the services rendered by Sir Julius Vogel to the colony. He had therefore prepared the following telegram, which would be sent off to Sir Julius Vogel:—" To Sir Julius Vogel. Tho representatives assembled at a banquet to celebrate tho completion of through communication between Christchureh and Dunedin, congratulate you on the completion of the great work, for which New Zealand is so much indebted to your exertions." [Cheers.] Mr G. G. Stead then proposed " His Excellency's advisers," coupled with the name of the'Hon. Mr Stout.

Band—" The Vicar of Bray." Hon. E. Stout said that he supposed that he was called upon to respond to the toast of Ministers, because he was the youngest in the Ministry. The gathering was one of a totally non-political nature, but it was very hard to disassosiate the toast from politics, more particularly when ho looked round that hall and remembered for what purpose it was built. He believed it was understood that the G-cneral Assembly would meet in Christchurch, but that now would be little short of treason. The way in which the toast had been received that evening showed him that whoever were his Excellency's advisers, while they commanded the support of a majority of the Assembly, would receive hearty co-opera-tion. This occasion transcended politics, it was one which was far abovo them. He might call their attention to a strange coincidence which had occurred that evening. While waiting for the cab ho turned over a bound volume of the " Lyttelton Times," and there found, under date of September, 1853, that Mr Valpy had made the journey from Ohristchurch to Dunedin, overland, in twelve days, which the paper thought showed conclusively that communication would be established. [Cheers.] Now let them look at the difference which had taken place in twenty-iive years. But whilst they had done honor to Sir Julius Vogel, whoee efforts they all recognised, it must not be forgotten that he only carried out the policy, the lines of which had been laid down by eminent men before him. Ho said this, that even if this nation was to rise to a far greater height of prosperity than even the most sanguine could have anticipated, they would never forget the name of Moorhouse. [Loud and prolonged cheers.] There was a sort of feeling that the people of Canterbury looked down on the people of Otagp—["No, no"]—but he did not think this was so. They were all working together to the one great end, the colonization and prosperity of the colony, and he trusted they would all join heartily and with noble emulation in this work. If the Opposition let them remain in office so long, he looked forward to another banquet ere long to celebrate the opening of a line between the East and West Coasts. He trusted that they would in the future so carry on their works with caution and yet enterprise that they would be enabled to do good for the whole. He thanked them heartily for the way in which the toast had been drunk. [Cheers.] Hon. Mr Fisher, who was loudly called for, said it gave him great pleasure to be present on the occasion of the celebration of so important a work as the joining together of the old provincial districts of Otago and Canterbury. His hon. colleague had, in returning thanks for the cordial way in which the toast had been responded, expressed his sentiments so thoroughly that he need not detain them longer. [Cheers.] The Hon. H. B. G-resson, who proposed the next toast, said he had no doubt that the volunteers, had there been a war with Russia, would have distinguished themselves as the two other branches of the service had ever done. Though they had not had the same chance of distinguishing themselves as had the army and navy, a general confidence was felfc that they would do their duty when called upon. Ho had great pleasure in proposing the "Army, Navy, and Volunteers," couplod with the names of Captain Townsend, Colonel Brett, and Major Lean. Captain Townsend returned thanks for tho navy. He said this was the iron ago, and its railways had abolished tho high roads, while its ironclads had superseded the "wooden walls of Old England." Still, England would do her part in maintaining tho freedom of tho nations of the world.

Mujor Lean felt himself highly honored by having to return thanks for the volunteers. The volunteer system was not on its trial. Its usefulness had been thoroughly proved, and it w<" acknowledged that every volunteer p»vC3 the expense of a soldier. The y( %jiinteers of Canterbury, if required, would, fie trusted, not bo found wanting in their duty. Dr Turnbull could scarcely realise the boldness which had led him to undertake the task of proposing the next toast—" The Members of the General Assembly of New Zealand." The Assembly had carried on the regular working of a great colony: but one of the greatest achievements it had performed was the acquiring for New Zealand a place among the nations of the earth. We could boast of revolution, Governments crumbled into duet., and extinct provincialism. [Laughter.] They Bat there in a " kitchen midden" filled with the relicsjof past Governments. [Laughter.] The performance of the General Assembly in their raising a young colony into the ranks of nations was great, but it had done more ; it had projected them forward in tho race for prosperity. The members would be welcomed, he was sure, wherever they went along the line. The devotion, pluck, and wisdom of the Assembly deserved tho highest praise. Without ignoring the claim of Mr Moorhouse to tho initiation of the public works policy, ho could not but say that in his opinion the credit was due to Sir Julius Vogel. The members might take to themselves tho inspiriting thought that they had a country to work upon worthy of their best efforts. He would propose the toast, coupled with tho names of the Hon. Mr Miller, of Napier, and Mr Horace Bastings. : The Hon. Mr Miller regretted, that tho •

Speaker of the Council was absent, who could do greater justice than himself to the acknowledgement of f the compliment just paid the Legislature. Ho could assure those present that the Council were as deeply interested in opening the country, developing its resources, and settling a happy population on it as the Assembly. As to criticism he believed it to be salutary, as no excellence could be arrived at without it. Iu the Council there was greater opportunity for calm consideration than in the other House, because the members had moro timo at their disposal, and were les3 immediately connected with tho people. That body would, however, always be actuated by tho beat wish for the welfare of the colony. On this occasion, when the two emporiums of commerce, Dunedin and Christchurch, were about to bfc united, he was happy to have that opportunity for congratulating the Assembly on what they had done, and trusted that their efforts would be no less successful in tho future.

Mr O'Eorko had never expected that he would be called upon to respond. He had noticed that Wellington appeared to be jealous of the event of the day, for the members had had a rough passage at the start, but on nearing Canterbury the elements had become propitious. They had had an opportunity of examining tho museum, public library, and Government offices, and he must compliment Christchurch on them, as they would do honour to cities of the old country. There had been a time when to make a railway from here to Dunedin was looked upon as moonshine; yet they now saw it accomplished. He hoped on some future day an opportunity would be afforded to many there present to celebrate the union of two great cities of the North. The only claim the House of Eepresentatives had upon a meeting like that was its public works policy, and the present occasion was, therefore, not inappropriate for the drinking of the toast to which he had the honour to respond. The Hon. Mr Bastings was an old Provincial politician, though only an infant in the General Assembly. He supposed that his name had been coupled with the toast because ho had moved that tho Assembly take a holiday for tho purpose of celebrating the opening of the railway. He had felt that it was necessary that the members of the North and South should make themselves acquainted with local wants. The absent members of the Ministry regretted they could not be presont. He hoped that tho Southern members would now visit the North. The Hinemoa would be placed at their disposal for the purpose. Some of tho Canterbury gentlemen had stated that they did not intend to visit Dunedin. Such men were not to be credited with public spirit if they would not thoroughly celebrate a day which was worthy to be a red letter day for the whole colony. His Excellency the Governor, who, on rising, was loudly cheered, said he had asked to be allowed to propose the next toast, because, after participating in the hospitality of tho evening, ho felt he would not be doing his duty were he not to take that opportunity of thanking their host. They had all heard of tho liberality of the Lord Mayors of London, and had heard anticipations of New Zealand becoming tho Britain of tho South. Howover that might be, ono thing had struck him, the Lord Mayor of London would have to be careful that his hospitality was not surpassed by his younger brethren in New Zealand. Such civic hospitalities did much good. They brought all parties] together, and engendered an appreciation of one another. It had given him sincere pleasure to be present, and he felt confident that he could, on behalf of all present, return thanks to tho host of theeveuing. If he performed all his duties as mayor as well as ho had performed them as host ho must bo a model.

The Mayor found words fail him to express his feelings for the kind remarks made by the Q-overnor, and for the cordial manner in which the toast had been drunk. This evening would be a green spot in his memory. He had never expected that his year of office would be marked by so groat an event. He would take that opportunity to apologise for the overcrowding which they had been subjected to —["No, no "j—but he knew that there would be so many anxious to take part in the demonstration that lie did not like to exclude one more than absolutely necessary. They had already been reminded by a previous speaker that time and the railway would wait for no man. Ho would therefore not detain them any longer, lest they should lose the train. He would again thank them for the kind manner in which they had drunk his health.

Mr Ollivicr did not think it desirable to occupy much time, aB he had in mind fire o'clock in the morning. It would be twenty years on the 18th of October next since he had the honor, with Mr Moorhouse, to propose the construction of a railway in Canterbury. It should not be forgotten that Mr Moorhouse had proposed to "railroad" the whole province, but the Council rejected the proposal, and was content to have the Ljttelton and Christchurch line only. Sir Julius Vogel at a dinner at tho close of a Provincial Council, when his health was drunk, had disclaimed all credit for his railway policy, and had given it to Mr Moorhouse. A more honorable admission had never fallen from a statesman. But he had to propose the toast of the evening. They were about to celebrate a marriage ceremony between Canterbury's eldest daughter, Miss Christchurch, and Otago's eldest son, Mr Dunedin. The worst thing of the past was the neglect to join the two. He rejoiced to know that the stalwart Mr Dunedin had come to claim his bride—Mies Christchurch! They who had carefully educated this daughter would feel confident that Mr Dunedin would treat her kindly, and gladly accept her with all her landed estate. The brido would be represented by the Mayor, and the bridesmaids by the councillors of Christchurch ; the bridegroom by tho Mayor of Dunedin, and the groomsmen by tho councillors of that city. Do would propose "The health of the Bride and Bridegroom of to-morrow —Prosperity to Christchurch and Dunedin." The Mayor of Dunedin had not expected to be called upon to respond to so amusing a toast. It gave him and his groomsmen the greatest pleasure to bo present, and he trusted the union referred to by the last speaker would cause the petty jealousies between the districts to be trampled under tho feet of the iron horse. It was a singular thing that tho English town of Christchurch should have a Scotch Mayor, whilo the Scotch town of Dunedin had now an English Mayor, who had been preceded in office by an Irishman. On behalf of Dunedin, he congratulated the citizens of Christchurch on the event celebrated that ovening, and thanked his host for his Bplendid hospitality. The Mayor of Christchurch thought the bride should not be called upon to make a speech just before marriage. He could, however cordially reciprocate the good wishes of the last speaker. lion. John Hall had the honor to propose a toast, without which tho evening would have been very incomplete, " The Inauguration of Railway Enterprise in New Zealand," coupled with the name of William Sefton Moorhouse. He considered lie had been unfairly treated by Mr Ollivicr, inasmuch as that gentleman had taken the wind out of his soils. He might, however, say that the value of railways could not be thoroughly understood by those who had not known tho colony in the early days. The wise and prudent men of that day considered the undertaking of a tunnel 1, ( miles in length to pierce tho Port Hills was Utopian, but Mr Moorhouse hammered away until he induced the representatives of the people to undertake it. The representatives of an English engineering firm had abandoned tho effort, but Mr Moorhouse brought, engineers from Victoria, who achieved the work. From that day a new era of prosperity had dawned upon thi? province. Tho man to whom they were indebted for this would ever bo considered one of tho greatest benefactors of the province. He could not say much upon the event of to-morrow, because he himself had taken part in forging the first link in tho chain which was to connect Canterbury with O.tago. It had at one time been thought, that so grand a scheme should be left to a future generation, but Sir Julius Vogel had pointed out how it could bo done in the present generation. Tho extent to which the prosperity of tho colony had been promoted by Sir Julius Vogel removed

his name from the sphere of ordinary politics, and therefore he could well be mentioned on that occasion. That gentleman had always been in the front when the interests of the colony were concerned, and had lost no opportunity for bringing before the people at home the resources of New Zealand. He (Mr Hall) would propose the toast, coupled with the names of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Moor« house.

Mr Moorhouse (who on rising was greeted with prolonged applause) thought it not necessary to express his happiness at finding himself so well remembered. He felt honored by having his name associated with that of Sir Julius Vogel, who, compared with himself, was a mountain to a molehill. Sir Julius ought to be dealt with faithfully and tenderly. He was no longer a popular politician. After having contributed groat benefit to the colony he was now the faithful agent of the colony. The claims earned here were eclipsed by his conduct in England. From all sources it could be gathered that he was the earnest advocate of the colony. His pen had proved that New Zealand was pre-eminent among the other colonies, certainly commercially, and the commercial test was the only real one. He (Mr Moorhouse) was equally sanguine with others who had spoken that evening that New Zealand could be morally supreme in the Australasian colonies. He concluded by sharing the credit which had been given to him among those gentlemen who had formed his Executive in the early days of railway difficulties. The colony also owed a deep debt of gratitude to the engineers and contractors for the Lyttelton railway, and to the gentlemen who succeeded him (tho speaker) in the Provincial Governments. The Mayor, though tho hour was late, would call upon Mr Inglis to propose another toast.

Mr Inglis proposed "The Visitors." Ho could not consider the glory of those halls had departed when he saw so brilliant an assemblage gathered there. He was sure they" would drink the toast enthusiastically, coupled with the names of the Mayors of Wellington and Hokitika. The Mayor of Wellington, in responding, thought the event they were celebrating was one of which every inhabitant of New Zealand might well be proud. Within a few days he hoped that the North Island would celebrate a similar happy event. He would detain them no longer, but thank them for the toast just drunk. The Mayor of Hokitika [looked, forward to the time when the West Coast would be able to issue invitations to celebrate the opening of its own railway. The Coast had not received its fair share of public expenditure, but he was happy to see that the present Government were about to do something by way of a small instalment. Ho thanked them for the kind manner in which the toast had been received.

At the conclusion of this speech, the proceedings terminated, and the company rapidly separated.