NEW COUNTY CHAMBERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 280, 27 July 1910, Page 2

NEW COUNTY CHAMBERS.

On Monday evening, on the invitation of the members of the Waitomo County Council, a large gathering of representatives of local bodies and old residents of the King Country, assembled at a banquet in the new County Chambers, Te Kuiti, to commemorate the opening of the new offices. A most substantial and varied repast had been provided, and nearly fifty gentlemen sat down to dinner, including the chairmen of the Kawhia and Waitomo County Councils, the Mayor of Te Kuiti and members of the Borough Council, the chairman of Taumarunui Town Board, and Messrs W. T. Jennings and Frank Lawry, M.P's.

Mr A. Seholes (chairman) briefly welcomed those present and after the dinner was cleared away asked the gathering to drink the health of the King which was enthusiastically responded to. The next toast given by the chairman was the "Members of Parliament," coupled with the names of Messrs Jennings and Lawry. Mr Jennings briefly responded and said that in a large constituency like that of Taumarunui, if a member wished to leave footprints behind him he could not loiter on the way. Amidst loud laughter he related the story of Cincinnatus—the refuser of honours. Mr Lawry said his was the smallest constituency in point of area, but the largest in point of intelligence, in that it had returned him as its represen-tative-daughter). He hoped the day was not far distant when Parliament would be something more than a P.oard of Works. He had been 23 years in Parliament and hoped to remain until the changes in administration had been brought about. As chairman of the A. and P. committee in the House he had never been absent or late and hoped he had done useful work. Some of his friends asked whyhe supported the Government and he replied by telling the story of Sam Weller, who, when Pickwick asked him if he was satisfied with his situation, replied that before he could consider that he would want to know whether he was to be provided with a better one. He hoped the impending legislation would soon be an accomplished fact, and Te Kuiti then be the Chicago of the North Island. Mr F. I-I. Sims gave the toast of the "Army and Navy," responded to by Major Lusk, who said young men have yet to learn how to defend their country; and Captain Berry, who said the officers must be capable if the new system was to be a success, and referred to the old battlefield of Orakau where no trace of the old pah now remained. He hoped something would be done to preserve the site. Only one man (Major Lusk) knew where it was.

Mr James Boiklie proposed the toast of the "Local Bodies," and said that when in Wellington the other day Mr La wry was the only member besides Mr Jennings to raise his voice in their interests. He had known Mr La wry for many years, and he had only made one mistake—he ought to be representing a country constituency instead of a town one. Parliament represented the whole Dominion, but it had not the necessary local knowledge. The district was growing very rapidly and that afterr.oo:) they had had more applications for metalling roads than at any previous county meeting in the past twelve months. In a few years they would look back, he thought, and say not that so little had been done, but so much accomplished, lie coupled the toast with the names of Mr Shaw, chairman of the Kawhia County Council, and Mr Winter, chairman Taumarunui Town Board. Mr Shaw said it was not all beer and skittles belonging to a local body, but personally it was a great privilege to serve the district in which he lived. Mr Winter cordially joined in complimenting Messrs Jennings and Lawry on the work they had done on behalf of the local bodies in Wellington recently, and referred to the proposals for raising nearly two millions of money for public developmental works, saying that, just as a farmer was justified in investing more money in his farm, so was the Slate, provided there was sufficient justification in developmental works. Mr Gregg proposed the toast of the "Farmers' Union," duly responded to by Major Lusk and Mr Win, Vicary. Mr Jennings proposed the "Agricultural and Pastoral Industries," to which Messrs Rowntree and Foy responded. Mr John Ormsby proposed the "Progress of the District," recalling the birth of To Kniti 22 years ago, and comparing it with what it is today. The Ongarue-Stratford line was wanted and our waterways should be utilised. Ho held that Otorohanga was going to be the centre of the district because it had the agricultural land round it. From To Kuiti down the Waipa Valley was one of the ■most prosperous places in the country long before the Kuropoans came into it. To Kuiti could not keep its progress to itself. It must have an effect on the whole district. Mr Sims responded and said that .],'! years ago there were very few buildings in the place. Ho did not say that the old hands were responsible for the progress of the place, but that we have to thank those who came later. Mr Johnston proposed the ''Borough Council," responded to by Mr James Boddie and Mr C. Stevens. ''Local Industries" were proposed by Mr O'Dwyer, who grew reminiscent, as he recalled old times and old doings. The "New Chambers" was proposed by Mr Jennings, Mr A. Scholes responding. Mr Scholes mentioned that the contract fur the new buildings had been undertaken by Mr G. Keynolds, of Otorohanga, at an inclusive price of ,V2S:'. It had been very satisfactorily completed and he paid a high tribute to both builder and workme.i.

Furing the evening, interspersed with the toasts, songs and recitations and violin sides were given by Messrs .Johnson, Tingloy, I). L. Young, Lawry, I 1!' l'axlon and Ilerr Moiler. Mrliawry elicited roars of laughter with "Holy Haldol's l'rayer" and responded with "Jim Illudso." Pr I'axton has a dry Scotch humour, anil shook the room with the Tale of the candidate's Wife, the candidate's sore throat and the directions for cure sent from the gallery, "Gae hame and cut it." The gathering dispersed sliortly before ' - .m., having been pxtpndeil 'o thi<\ b-nir to fill up the jnteryaj of vvniij; ( < for the expresses.