VISIT OF THE PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 2408, 21 May 1884, Page 2

VISIT OF THE PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND.

The tea meeting and entertainment on Monday evening at the Theatre Royal to his Lordship the Most Rev. H. J. C. Harper, D.D., Bishop of Christchurch and Primate of New Zealand, on the eve of his departure homewards was in all respects a very successful affair, excepting in the attendance. But this was owing, no doubt, to the very unpropitious state of the weather all that day, as it was raining almost continuously until nine or ten o’clock in the evening; but there were as many or perhaps more persona present than were expected under such circumstances. The tea-tables, which, besides excellent tea, were loaded with delicacies to suit the most fastidious taste, were provided respectively by No. I—Mesdames Way, Evenden, Barnett, and W. Davidson, assisted by the Misses Pollard and Evenden ; No. 2—Mesdames Holland and Monckton (although we are sorry to say Mrs Monckton was prevented from attending her table by the sad accident which lately happened to her), and Mesdames Metcalfe and Paterson, assisted by Mrs Gibson ; No. 3—Mrs J. Davidson, assisted by Mrs Fairbairn and Mrs Heller; No 4 Mesdames Poldi, T. M. Jones, and Vortb, assisted by the Misses Butler and Toms ; No, s—Mesdames Reynolds and T. M. J ones, assisted by the Misses C. and A. Rugg, Stenhouse, and Upham; No. 6—Mesdames Wilby, Foreman, and Howe, assisted by the Misses Foreman and Howe. The entertainment commenced at about eight o’clock, and opened with an overture by the Kumara String Band, which, under the leadership of Mr A. Miller, rendered good service at certain intervals* Miss Toms was the first lady vocalist introduced to the audience by the manager, the Rev. Mr Holland. She sang with a powerful and good voice, “Whip poor Will,” which met with the decided approval of the audience.

His lordship the Bishop, who, on ascending the stage, was greeted with much applause, addressing himself to the ladies and gentlemen, said—lt was not the first time that he had had the pleasure of addressing them here, and he could not tell whether ha should have another opportunity of doing so, and some of them were friends whom he had known for a longer period than Kumara had been founded. It might have been a more pleasant meeting if the weather had been more favourable. But there was no harm in that; he knew the rain was a matter of thankfulness to most of them ; and on that account it was gratifying to him. After many years visiting them, he would like to tell them what others thought of the inhabitants of the goldfields. °They had curious ideas in the Home country ; many had an idea that the miners were a gambling and a lawless people; but they were very different from that. Certainly he had somewhat similar impressions when first he visited the goldfields in Otago; and he must say that the character of the men was very different then to what it is now. Many of those present knew the kind of men who flocked to the first goldfields in Australia; and there were many of the same character who came very early to Hokitika; they were mostly persons wholly unfit for goldmining ; men, in fact, who were totally unfit for work, whose ideas were that they had only to come to the fields, and pick up the gold, or wait for something to turn up. It was very different now; they had men here now who could work, and work uprightly—men who can work honestly lor their own living. Ho doubt there were some black sheep; there were always some who depreciated the character of others. But the mining now, he contended, was not more gambling or speculative than other trades or professions. The merchant

imports large quantities of merchandise in the hope of selling at a good profit; so with the farmer, who sows the seed abundantly in the hope of profiting by it to a great extent—they. are both speculations. Bat gambling truly is where a man simply applies himself to a game of chance; if he gains be deprives someone else of that which he gained. One can never go round these goldfields without being assured of what an immense quantity of work has been done by the miners ; and though it be said that it is too much of a speculative occupation, it is not like that of the gambler: the gold-miner, by his labour, does not rob anyone of their employment,—[Applause.] They, his friends, laid themselves out to a speculative employment, but they robbed no one of that which they got by hard work. So that the charge which has sometimes been advanced that goldmining is a spirit of gambling is a mistake. Ho mentioned this because it had been said that mining was gambling ; but the fact is we are all aiming at the same purpose. That which is gained from the earth is an honest, gain. He (the Bishop) hoped they would all progress in mining. There was no class of men whom he could feel greater pleasure in meeting than those who were making an honest living. You (addressing the miners) are not understood; even on the other side they had these erroneous ideas of mining being associated with gambling : it is a libel. It was a matter of great satisfaction to him to be able to visit them from time to time. He could not tell whether he would have the pleasure of visiting them again ; but if his health continued good, he thought he might. At his time of life he dare not look so far forward ; but if he had health and strength, he hoped to visit them again and once more renew their acquaintance.—[Loud applause.] He was very thankful of this opportunity of saying these few words, and hoped to labour as many of them were labouring on this goldfield.—[Applause.] The entertainment was then continued by “an Old Lady,” in character (Mrs Wilby), who sang “ A drop of good milk to your Tea,” which provoked much merriment. Still more amusing perhaps was our popular friend Mr Wilby, who related an amusing anecdote of a “a Disturbance in Church,” and how the whole service was frustrated by commotions made in an endeavour to expel the mother of a feathered brood from the precincts of the hallowed building. He received many tokens from the audience of pleasure and satisfaction. Mrs Harris and Mrs Spyer then favoured the audience with a vocal duet, <( Pulaski’s Banner,” their voices harmonising well in the pathetic music and words, and the audience testifying its appreciation by much applause! After this Miss Howe sang “ The Good-bye at the Door,” and received well-merited approbation. The vocal part of the entertainment was concluded by Mr Wilby singing “ Branigan’s Band.” His jovial and happy, yet unassuming, style always elicits from his audience marked expressions of approval. Then followed what was announced to be “A Vaudeville,” but which many would recognise as the old favourite farce of “ The Loan of a Lover,” Mrs G. B, Way sustaining the principal character of Gertrude; Mr Shrives that of Peter Spyk; Mrs Wilby, Ernestine Rosendale; Mr M'Keegan, Captain Amersfort; Mr J. White, Swyzel; and Mr Keller, Delve. It was exceedingly well played, Gertrude in particular receiving bursts of approval from the audience. They were most, if not all, members of our local Amateur Dramatic Club, whose reputation may be considered to have been enhanced by this amusing little farce, as rendered on. Monday evening. Miss Skilton played the pianoforte accompaniments to the songs, with good effect; also the music iucidental to the force.

The Eev. Mr Holland took the opportunity of thanking the ladies who had given the tea, those who had kindly assisted at the entertainment, and the public for their patronage on so inclement a night; and the proceedings then closed by the Band playing the “National Anthem.”