IRISH NATIONAL BANQUET

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 498, 25 March 1869, Page 4

IRISH NATIONAL BANQUET

(Specially Reported for the Greij Sivy Argus.) A grand banquet in honor qf St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, was held at M'Grath's Hotel, Greenstone, on, St. . Patrick's Day. The chair was occupied by T. Keary, Esq., the vice?chair by J,. Clune, Esq. On the right hand of the chair Bat the Rev. Father Larkin, and on the left the Rev. Father M'Taggart, both rev. gentlemen being invited guests of the Banquet Committee. The room— which i 3 a large one, measuring 60ft, by 20ft. -^ was splendidly decorated with flowers and evergreens worked into remarkably beau^ tiful designs, the decoration of the ban-, quet-room being under the supervision of the Rev. Father parkin and the Committee for two days previous. The front of M'Grath's Hotel look really grand ? the entrance-door to. the banquet-room being beautifullj^^ched with flowers. There wereals^x large transparencies covering themulding, specialty made for the occasion, four of which represented the Arms of the four Provinces of Ireland ; another having a Harp in gold, with a female figure standing beside it \ the sixth represented a lion, most tastefully executed ; towering lOQft. high over all floated a green silk banner, having a gold harp in the centre. All the designs reflect much credit on the artists, Messrs M'Donough and O'Hagan. At 5 p.m. .the Banquet Committee held a procession through the town, having a large band in front play* ing " Patrick's Day," The arrangements of the Committee were most perfect. The chair was taken at half-past 8 p.m. Grace being said by the Rev. Father MTaggart, a large number sat down to enjoy the good things provided for the occasion. And now a word about the dinner— it was really a magnificent" spread ;" all the delicacies of the season were there, fowls, and roast joints of every description were, in abundance, mountains of jellies and avalanches of ices. The wines were firstclass; and the supply far more than sufficient. Everything was arranged in the most approved style, reflecting much credit on Host M'Grath. 'the bands at intervals, during dinner, played some choice selections from Moore's Irish Melodies. When the table was cleared, the real I business of the evening commenced by the Chairman* opening address, which was eloquent and patriotic, being truly characteristic of the. man, who is well known for his liberal principles. He was enthusiastically applauded, after which he gave the first toast of -'the evening— (< The Immortal Memory of St. Patrick,. the Patron Saint of Ireland,"— at the same time remarking '"• that it -was out of the range of possibility that any one who understood the purpose for which they Were there assembled could give a political aspect to the proceedings, as to-day in every town of note in Ireland, in America, and in the Colonies, similar banquets were being held in honor of Ireland s patron Saint. True, this was the first one ever held under the frowning cliffs of Westland, but he (the Chairman) • felt certain i,t would not be the last. He then called on. the Rev. Father Larkin to respond to, {he toast. Thefilav. Father IjAEKIIT, on rising to respond to the toast of the evening, was received with great applause. When the greeting ceased, the rev. gentleman said he would not take up the time allotted to many and important toasts of that evening, by entering into a long discussion regarding the whereabouts of the birth place of the/ revered and glorious apostle of Ireland, he coi^d not think of taking a)way from those countries who claimed the honor, of his birth, the fruits of their jealous researches ; but wherever their apostle hailed from it- has' never been doubted— itcannot be doubted — thatitwas to St. Patrick, hy the interposition of the Almighty is to be attributed the planting pf the faith in Ireland ; tha,t by his zealous administrations and his labors of love the feed he so sedulously sowed throughout the length and breadth of the land has increased a hundred fold, and merited for pur dear isle the cherished name of Holy L?eland. Here the rev. gentleman deduced several conclusions both moral, logical, and instructive, as Mother Ireland, he said, is holy, so ought her sons be holy; as Mother Ireland in Holy Ireland cherishes and preserves her faith and her nationality through all the vicissitudes of hard fortune and heartless oppression, so ought her sons in 4 proud memory of their princely Menage, cherish and preserve the faith and nationality of Holy Ireland, no matter in what part of the earth's surface it may be the -will of God to place them. I know, said the rev. gentleman, that the preservation of the faith of Patrick and Holy Ireland has led to the preservatives of Irish nationality in these colonies, but -I know,, too, that the absence of education in many of the exiled sons of Ireland has been the most subversive source of destruction to i both faith and nationality.. I fear, he said, if the acts of many of us were thrown fcito the well-balanced scale " of justice to faith ans fatherland, "they would be found irf^rably -wanting. If> then, we are not u.jj> to the standard held forth for our guidance by Holy Ireland, how dare we in this remote land assume the hallowed names of .Irishmen.,' when far from being models of that perfection of which our mother was the type, we are living masses of contradiction' to the name and fame of Irishmen; The rev. gentleman, after many other instructive remarks, concluded ty exhorting all Irishmen, whether educated or uneducated, to adhere with unflinching assiduity to the faith and nationality of their gloriouu apostle and their holy mother Ireland, as it was the surest beacon to the Irish exile in the boisterous seas, of toil and adversity. The rev. gentleman sat down amidst deafening applause. The toast was drank in solemn silence— sacred music accompanied by a hymn. ' " '" "' ' . The following verses were sung by Father Larkin, selected from the writings of the Rev. Father Fab er. :— Hail ! glorious St. Patnpk, dear iSatnfc oJ| our isle, Qa us," thy dear children, bestow a sweet smile. And now thou art high, in thy mansions : above, On Erin's green valleys look down on thy tyyi ' " ' "' ' '■" "■

In the wai against sin, in the fight for the I faith, Dear $aint, may thy children resist to the death .; , . ' May their strength be in meekness, in penance, and prayer— With their banner, the crose, which they glory to bear. Thy people, now exiles, on many a shore, J Shall love and revere tb\ee while time is nq more ; And the fire thou hast kindled shall ever ! burn bright, Its warmth uudiminished, undying its light. Ever bless and defend the. dear laud of our . birth, Where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert. on earth ; And our hearts shall yet burn wheresoever we roam — For God and St. Patrick, and qur dear Native home } • V ' This was received with great applause. The second toast was given from the Vice-chair — " The National Press of Ireland," coupled with the names of Suljivan, Pigott, anq. John Martin. The Chairman was called onto respond— Mr Keary very much regretted that he was called on to respond to this toast, not being made previously aware of it, as he understood another gentleman was to do bo, who has' unfortunately declined, a,nd who he was certain would have dealt with it much better than h% could. At all events he would try and speak to the toast as well as he was able, but should deal with \t briefly. That the National Press of Ireland has been in a great measure the meajis of doing a great deal of good in exposing the misgovernment of the country, and in showing clearly and logically that Ireland was laboring under many grievances that was oppressing and crushing her down ; that it was in the power of a Liberal Government to make Ireland what she ought to be — a prosperous country, She has the resources to make her so, if properly developed, en- j couraged, and fostered. The Press of Ireland has shown to' the world that the policy of the British Government towards Ireland had not been wise nor just, and foremost among her political writers of the day stood A. .M. Sullivan — a name that should be endeared to every Irishman. Mr Pigott ranks next — not the less true to his native land ; and who that had studied the political career of Jftm Mnrtin, of Kilbroney, would not love the man? His integrity and patriotism is second to none of Ireland's greatest men. There were many names indeed might rank proudly alongside these, and all had a claim on the sympathetic Irish heart, even .though that may beat in the remotest parts of the world. He (the speaker) could trace as a result many good effects from the teachings of the National Press of Ireland. It had been the book from which foreigners learned that the British Government— a kind and benign ruler abroad — was stern, and at times harsh, to her poor sister Ireland at home. Yes, these things were learned, and more. Many of England's politicians that were conservative and unfriendly to Ireland became liberal m their opinions and finally interested themselves in her cause. Instance to-day that champion of liberty— John Bright. -See how favorably disposed the present Premier of England —Gladstone — was towards Ireland. He had found that real, not imaginary, grievances had been in existence, and that it was a wiso policy to remedy those evils. Much of this better feeling towards Ireland could be traced to the Irish Press at home and abroad. Then, if so, men who have worked so perseveringly in the good cause like Sullivan, Pigott, and John Martin, should be held iv esteem by all Irishmen over the world. (The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.) Tune—" White Cockade." Song— " Tara's Hall," by Mr Culleri. The third toast from the Chair—" The past patriots of Ireland." Mr- Aides Doyxb was called upon to respond, and said — Other lands have had their patriots, noble-minded and devoted men, but Ireland, the Land of Genius, has enlisted in her cause the noblest, bravest, and most disinterested men this world produced. Her history is the record of glory and of shame— a glory to her people and a shame to her rulers. Passing over the princely services of the O'Neils and O'Donnells with feelings of pride for the past, and of hope for the future, the name of .Patrick Sarsfield arrests the attention of *the student of Irish history, and cannot fail to impress him with the thought that of all their patriots, since the days of O'Neil to the present time, Sarsfield was the greatest. I cannot on this occasion omit to mention the names of Molyneaux, Lucas, and of these two the greater Swift, because at this period we arrive at an epoch in the history of our country when the pen of the patriot took precedence of the sword. It would be tedious to dilate on the formation, rise, progress, and utter destruction of the Society of United Irishmen, who played so great a part in the latter end of the eighteenth century. They failed, it is true ; but they have left their countrymen what may yet be of intrinsic service' — a glorious example and a pattern which Romans might follow with pride. There lived . at this time two Irishmen whose names are known all over the world, Henry Grattan and John P. Curran. Henry Grattan may have been equalled as an orator, but he. has never been excelled. His oratory, like his patriotism, was pure and impressive. The love which he bore to his native land was as glowing as his mind was exalted. Of him nature might say, " This was a man." A kindred spirit of our day has initiated a movement to havp a monument erected to the memory of Grattan, and it is because the action is above all praise that I abstain from remarking on it. Curran, the pure, wild, witty son of .Ireland, deserves all that could be said in priise of his illustrious friend. Together they lived ; together they worked for Ireland ; and together may their noble souls enjoy ail that is reserved for the virtuous in that home "where the wretched cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." Who does not remember the name of O'Connell, a spirit worthy of his mighty predecessors— the civic chieftain of the generation following that of Grattan, displayed all the intrepidity, and if not the eloquence, at least .ill the abilities requisite when the long-looked for and long-hoped for occasion arrived. O'Connell passed away, and was succeeded by a , band of young rebels, amougst whom the .names of Smith O'Brien, John Mitchell, and T. F. Meagher stand formost/ All these are scattered and dead. Another generation has sprung up since then, and has given to the gibbet and thg dungeon

hearts as brave and souls as true as ever served a nations need. (Mr Boyle was most enthusiastically cheered during the delivery of this speech.) Air — "My ' Erie's no more." Songr-r " My Emmet's, no more.'* The next toast was given by the ViceChairman— " The Present Patriots of Ireland at Etpme and Abroad," and called upon MvCvvussf to reßpoftd, who, on rising, was very warmly received. He said he regretted very much not being informed of the Vice-Cliairman's intentions of calling upon himself to this toast, as it was certainly one of as great importance and fully entitled to, as much respect and sympathy as the preceding one of Ireland. The present patriots at home and abroad was a subject of such unlimited and important history, particularly to the Irish abroad, that he felt himself unequal to the task of efficiently, and as ably as was necessary, responding for those patriots who were really the tried ones. Though there may be plenty pretenders, he claimed for those tested and now suffering in British dungeons more honor and sympathy than those ' untried and unknown. He dwelt at great length upon the hardships and miseries the tried sons of Ireland had had to contend with lately, all aiming to obtain that for Ireland which, he said, all the Irish people claimed" and labored for as their honest and just right, viz., the freedom of their native land. Then, and then only, would hostilities cease between Ireland and her oppressors. The speaker here adverted to the history of several of the prisoners now transports in Western Australia, and named some of the most prominent and best sons of Ireland as being now, he might say, within our walls pining away Tinder the hot skies of Western Australia. Some without the faintest hope of ever again obtaining another glance of the dear old land of their birth, or even mingling in the phase of the company of their fathers, mothers, wives and children, far dearer to them than life itself. The speaker said he was glad to find that difference of opinion with Irishmen was now a thing of the past, and pleased to see them improve upon their old habits, and not offer opposition "on every trial matter that may affect the interest of their country. He was glad to see that this had all given way to unity and love, and called upon all who had the interest of the country at heart to keep always in mind the old adage that "union was strength," as without unity Irishmen could never be successful in effecting its interest and progress. (The speaker resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.) Air—" Exile of Erin." Song—" Exile of Erin." Fifth toast from the Chair—" The Future Prospei^y of Ireland." The Vice-Chairman, Mr Clune, was called upon to respond, and said that it was a very important toast. He had just heard some truly national and patriotic t rasts most eloquently responded to, and he would ask what was the object of these great men whose memory they had honored and whose health they had drank : was it not the prosperity of Ireland? — was it not for that one grand object they lived and died ? — (Cheers.) The question now suggests itself — why is it Ireland is not prosperous? Providence has been as bountiful to her, if not more so, than to any other country. Her soil is as productive for the wants of mankind, her climate is unexceptionable, she possesses splendid harbors, navigable lakes and rivers, and an industrious population. Being so favored, how is it she is unhappy and discontented ? — how is it that for the last twenty-two yearsherchildrenhave been flying from her shores as they would from a plague ; and the portion that remains, instead of being a source of strength to the Throne and Constitution, actually a weakness, because they are to be kept in subjection by the sword ? Now, let any disinterested party take these facts into consideration ; will he not be forced into the conclusion, that something must be wrong. The only way I can account for it is, that some centuries past Ireland has been invaded by a foreign power, and subdued. That power holds her in subjection to the present day. She makes laws that are unsuited to her requirements — laws which only encourage an absentee landlordism, who draw annually millions of money from the toil of the labourer, to' be spent in foreign countries in luxury, and causes that labour to be one of perpetual slavery — even worse than slavery, for they are often without the means of obtaining the common necessaries of life. The speaker, after severely commenting on the unjust, unwise {because dangerous) policy used in the government of Ireland, said he would now look at the bright side of the picture : — Any man taking note of, British politics for the last two years will find an extraordinary change has taken place in the sayings, of English statesmen and press with regard -to Irish politics within that period. Wliafc was the cause of this change, is not for me to say ; but it is a significant fact. It has occurred at a time when the voice of millions of Irishmen was heard . from nearly all countries in the world declaring that the time had arrived when Ireland should be governed according to the wishes of the majority of her people. — (Cheers.) That declaration has been heard and acknowledged by the Liberal party in England who are now engaged under the leadership of Gladstone, with that champion of liberty, John Bright, in doing away with Ireland's greatest giievance, the Established Church. I hope soon to hear of a liberal land bill, freedom of suffrage, and a few other measures required to sweep away Irish discontent, and cause the Irish in other portions of the empire to be happy and prosperous. (Mr Clune sat down amid loud cheers.) ; Air— "Saint Patrick." Song, by Mr Keary — "The Irishman." The sixth toast was given from the viceI chair — "TLte Miners and Mining Interests ofWestlaud." The Chairman was called to respond, which he did in a telling speech. He being .quite at home on the subject, he highly complimented the present County Council of Westland on their endeavors to develope the mining interests, and pointed out very forcibly how necessary.it was that legislation should direct itself with energy towards the furtherance of that object;-he graphically pictured the hardships the miner had to contend with in the early days of Westland,' how he persevered and fmlly succeeded in making Westland what it now is— a home of plenty and happiness for many thousands. There were frequent bursts of applause throughout the course of his remarks, the speaker sitting down amid cheers. Tune— "Jolly Good Fellows." Song,

by Mr Cnllen— ' ' Maggy by my Side. " . Seventh toast given from the. Chair — I " The County Council of Westland." The' ! Chairman passed a high eulogium on ■ special members of the Council. The toast was responded to by Mr [ Doyx% who apologised for Mr Carreras' absence, that gentleman being invited to attend, but could not possibly do so. Mr Doyle' made SQnie eulogistic remarks on the present Gouncil, particularly on Mr Carreras, the member for the Paroa district. Air—' ' The Young May Moon." Eighth toast, given from the Vice Chair —"Our invited gueßts"Tr-to which the Rev. Father M'Taggart responded in a very able speech, which is very much to be regretted was not ftiken in full. It was at once eloquent and patriotic. The Reverend gentleman highly complimented the Banquet Committee for the splendid manner in which the whole affair was got up, stating that was the proudest night of his life, and one which he never would forget. The reverend clergyman sat down amidst applause. * Song— :" Erin, my country," by Mr I Keary. Ninth toast, given from the Chair — "The Ladies" — responded to by Mr Roche in a neat appropriate speech. " Air — "Nora Creena." Song, with music — "Molly Bawn Asthore," by Mr Roche, Tenth toast— "The Colonial Press, coupled with the Givy River Argus, the Freeman's Journal, and the Melbourne Advocate." Mr Doyle was called on to respond. Mr Aiden Doyle— The subject is above my abilities, because it is one to which censure is as much applicable in some quarters as praise is in others. My indignation at the conduct of some portions of the colonial press will not allow me to deal with it in the manner I could wish. However, to the moderation of some, and the dauntless spirit of others, the poor enconiums which are in my power to pass on them are far short of their deserts. I will mention two papers of this latter class — the Sydney Freeman's Jottmal and the Melbourne Advocate, both papers well written and ably conducted ; the principles which they advocate are liberal and fair. There is a paper even on this Coast which it would not be just to pass by in silence. It does not belong to any party in religion or politics, but is what it proclaims itself to be — the friend of both parties, when both parties are just, and laboring like itself ' ' for the greatest good of the greatest number." It has assumed a tone never unbecoming a newspaper since trouble invaded the West Coast of New Zealand, and this paper is the Grey Biver Argus. (Mr Doyle was loudly applauded, one ringing" cheer being called for the G-rey River Argus.) Tune — "Sherman's March through Georgia," sung by the whole company. Eleventh toast, from the Chair— "The Commercial Interest of Westland" — responded to by Mr Cullen, in a very able and energetic speech. Song — "Paddle your own Canoe," by the whole company. Twelfth toast, from the Chair—" Our Host and Hostess, Mr and Mrs M'Grath" — responded to by Mr M'Grath, expressing his great satisfaction in having been the recipient of their good wishes, their compliments, and their benefits, stating also that he never would forget the honor bestowed on him by the holding of the banquet in his place. It was the proudest day of his life. It was not from any pecuniary benefit that he might derive from it that he entered into the affair, but he felt proud in having his name associated as host to one of the greatest banquets ever held in honor of St. Patrick in New Zealand. (When Mr M'Grath concluded he was heartily cheered.) Tune — "Garry Owen." Song by the company — "Jolly good fellow." Thirteenth toast, from the Vice Chair — j " Our Chairman," the Vice Chairman I making some remarks highly in praise of I the Chairman, wb.9, rose, to respond, and expressed himself grateful to his countrymen for the high position in which they placed him. He felt really bashful from the many high compliments they paid him, and wound up by one of the most thrilling and sou! stirring speeches of the evening, during which he was frequently interrupted by deafening cheers. The last toast of the evening was the health of the Banquet Committee, proposed by the Rev. Father Larkin, and responded to by the Vice Chair. As far as the banquet was. concerned, it was the most successful affair of the kind ever held on the Goldfields. The room shortly after was cleared, and dancing commenced, which continued until the small hours of the morning.