PUBLIC SPIRIT IN OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1143, 27 March 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC SPIRIT IN OTAGO.

At the banquet held in celebration ol the opening of the Port Chalmers Graying , Dock, the Chairman proposed the health of her Majesty's Ministers in New Zealand, coupled with the name of the Hon. MrM'Lean. ' „, ,.., "... The Hon. Mr M'Lean, on rising to respond, was received with prolonged apV plause. He expressed his gratification at the evidence of public' spirit not only ia the construction of the Otago Graving Dock, but in reference to most of the other institutions he had'had the pleasure of inspecting in company with his Honor the Superintendent It would bewail worth the while of any of the residents 4 of the North Island to' visit Otago, if only to see the really' wonderfully progressive strides that had been made in this part 'of the Colony. Individually or collectively, there could be ho doubt the institutions of Otago reflected - very- -great credit upon the : ; past and present administration of the Province. (Applause!) He accepted the toast not on political grounds, but he wished to offer his thanks oh behalf of the Government for the co-operation and assistance received from this part of the Colony from time to time. Otago was instrumental in introducing a marine engineer j as well as a colonial geologist, and when they labored under very considerable difficulties in connection with the disturbances in\ the North Island, the Province enabled jttlje Government to inaugurate a system by which they were enabled tp effect a change in the military organisation more suitable to the requirements of the country than the arrangement which immediately Nte^. ceded it. He mentioned ■; these factero^ show that the Government were not unmindful of the very valuable assistance received in reference to various matters ; and when he returned to 'the "North Island, it would be his greatest pride and pleasure to make known to his friends there the existence of the public spirit which has been shown so unmistakeably in the construction of the Dock; christened that day. Not even in Auckland, nor in any of the other Provinces of New Zealand, had so much publicjspirit been displayed. -.■.... ,•. , ,