COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2003, 26 July 1880, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

On Thursday evening last a complimentary dinner wag given to the Rev. A. P. O'Oallaghac, at the Perthshire Arms, Lincoln, on the occasion of his leaving the district. There were about fifty persons present, the ohair being filled by Mr John Murray, and the vicechairs by Messrs J. Ghmmaok and J. Rovell. A capital spread was provided, to which ample justice was done. Among the guests were several of Mr O'Callaghan's personal friends, who had come from a distance expressly to be present on the occasion. After the dinner was concluded several toasts wore given and responded to, and numerous songs were contributed by the guests. Mr Murray proposed the toast of the evening, "The Health of the Rev. A. P. O'Oallaghan," and spoke very highly of Mr O'Callaghan's worth as a resident, his untiring zeal on behalf of the district, hie public services voluntarily rendered during the past eleven years, and his regret that those services were about to terminate. He then, on behalf of a large number of contributors, presented Mr O'Oallaghan wilh a gold watch and a purse containing fifty-eight sovereigns ; and, on behalf of the junior members of the Lincoln Oricket Olub, a bat. Mr O'Oallaghan, in acknowledging the testimonial, spoke with deep emotion, and expressed his gratitude to his friends for the honor they had done him that evening in recognising in such a substantial manner the services he had endeavored to render as a citizen and resident among them—services whioh he felt were only the duty of all to give for the benefit of the community among whom they dwelt. He spoke at some length of the many acts of kindness and assistance he had received, and mentioned several who had been his associates in his public duties. He admitted that in some matters he had been unpopular, but averred that he had always been guided by a sense of right and wrong, without favor or prejudice to anybody, to do that which was for the best. Ho spoke for some time on the work of the Lake Trust, and the benefits whioh will ultimately accrue te the district from the labors of that body; also of the line of policy adopted by the Springs Road Board during the seven years he had been connected with it, and the success of that polioy, which caused the Board to possess at the present time tho sum of £II,OOO, and in conclusion expressed his feeling of an overpowering sense that the testimonial was uadeserred.

Several gentlemen present, during the course of the evening, concurred in the chairman's expressions of Mr O'Callaghan's services, and the loss the district will sustain by his removal. The watch was a plain gold English lever, supplied by Mr Sandstein, Christohurch, and bore the following inscription :—" Presented to A. P. O'Oallaghan on his leaving Lincoln, in recognition of his many public services. Canterbury, Few Zealand, July, 1880." Mr Ivey, in responding to the toast, " The health of Mr Ivey as director of the School of Agrioulture," made some very sensible remarks on the present system of farming, and the work which it was intended should form the purpose of the School of Agrioulture. He admitted that a diversity of opinion existed as to the usefulness of the school, and the benefits which would accrue to the country by the scheme, and he also deprecated strongly the present system of stripping and cropping, which would eventually render the land too poor to cultivate, notwithstanding that for magnificent climate and soil New Zealand was almost unrivalled in the world. The School of Agrioulture was destined to train a new generation of farmers, who would, by careful instruction, both in theory and practioe, be taught how to apply to farming the principles of scientific knowledge. He denounced in strong language the books whioh have been writton for the purpose of teaching agriculture, as being evidently the work of men who had but little practical knowledge. He conoluded by inviting farmers and ethers to visit the college, and stated that be was not above taking a hint if any one could suggest an improvement, only begging them to tell him straight to his face and not resort to anonymous letter writing. The company jkept up joviality in songs, toasts, and speeches, till a lite hour, and broke up with " Auld Lang Syro " and the National Anthem.