Visit of the Premier.

Manawatu Herald, 20 February 1894, Page 2

Visit of the Premier.

THE BANQUET. After the meeting on Friday evening His Worship the Mayor entertained the Premier at a banquet at Whyte's hotel, which was a distinct success, both for pleasantness and catering. The Mayor occupied the head of the table having his distinguished guest on his right, and Mr Thynne took the vice-chair. All " colours " were represented both right and wrong. "When the good things had been done justice to, the Mayor proposed the health of the Queen, and then quickly followed with that of the Premier, in proposing this toast The Mayor said that it was with the greatest pleasure that he welcomed the Hon. Mr Scddon to Foxton, and thanked him for having fulfilled the promise made some time ago of delivering a political address. He was not prepared to make a long speech but only trusted that their guest had enjoyed his visit. Before sitting down he de sired to apologise for the nonattendance of the Borough Councillors, but they were absent owing to business calls necessitated by the late fire or by absence from the district. He then called upon those present to drink to the health of the Premier. (Applause). This was enthusiastically done after singing " For he's a jolly good fellow." Mr Ennis favoured the company with a song. The Premier then rose to reply and said that he was very much reminded of the goldfields by the manner he had been received, as there it was always warm and hearty, and in no place away from the goldfield 3 had he met with such a hearty reception as here, and he felt amply rewarded for his visit. He had been treated in the afternoon to a sort of garden party and picnic and had enjoyed the pleasure of meeting a number of ladies and gentlemen. He recognised it was the duty of the Government to ascertain the requirements of the district but what struck him as such a contrast, was that though he had been so well treated be had been asked for nothing in return. Evidently the people of Foxton were of the right i sort for though they had fmffaml ' from fire and depression .they were 1 veritable " Mark T»pky'» " ready to

be jolly under all circumstaftcel; Ho was very pleased with the meeting, especially with' the large attend, ance of the ladies, and he bad addressed no more attentive and . earnest audience. Ministers con- c sidered themselves everybody's ser- J vants and sought to meet all classes, as otherwise the Government of a country drifted into a dictatorship. He laughingly suggested that it wag probably a more fortunate tinle tO have visited them than during the elections, as possibly he might apt have been so well treated i He assured them that whenever ail opportunity arose the Goverhnietit would willingly help the district. He desired them to remember that though holding the position he did, .^ he was the same in feeling as when h>. lifst left K'nin.uv», »n<l ho. v.-mild not hold oflice longer than he thought he could be of use to the people. He desired his friends to know that he would leave Foxton. much impressed with the kindness shown him. (Applause). Mr Seddou was then called upon for a song which he kindly responded to by singing " Hard times come again no more." Mr Thynne proposed the health and prosperity of the sister township Shannon, coupled with the names of Messrs Nation and Gascoigne. He said that he understood that the Burgesses had no intention of getting the Premier to visit them simply to worry him about their wants. The settlers had requested the Premier to deliver an address which he had. kindly complied with, and the settlers on their parfe had endeavoured to make his visit a pleasant one. It did not follow that there was nothing that the Government could do for them, but as the Premier had once incautiously referred to this town as being " an isolated place " the settlers desired that he should become better acquainted with it and them before anything Pise was done, as probably when they were better acquainted more consideration, would be given to their representations. The Premier had very properly made the amende honorable as to the " isolation " as he had paid the town the compliment of addressing the colony from the platform of its public hall, and if not previously, Foxton would now be known. He thanked the Premier for having so acted. However it was known that the Premier was about to pay a visit to Shannon nesb week and probably some of the subjects brought up would include the mention of a bridge over the river, and it might be of service to the Premier to know that could he see his way to aid our Shannon friends in this matter it^ would be desired and appreciated by Vj the settlers of Foxton. There might also something be said about getting a road line surveyed across the ranges, as a formed road went that way eight miles out of Shannon dnd also one from Eketahuna gome five miles towards Shannon thus leaving but a few raile3 unformed. If this was mentioned it could fairly be efrid that the settlers in this district would be very glad if the Government could aid, as it did not seem to be unreasonable. It was nob the in* tention of this gathering to ask for anything and it was simply the piesence of two Shannon gentlemen that had induced the saying of even so little, as our Shannon friends, were quite able to ask for themselves. The two townships had all their interests in common and therefore they could, with right good,- will !§£&£ the health proposed. (Ap'p.latisSptJMr Border gave an amusing recitation. : ; ; Mr Nation thanked them for the. manner the toast had been received . and there was no doubt but that the works mentioned by Mr. Thyme were muoh needed. ,: TftM^^aa nothing to stop Foxton and Shannon working together.. He HopjeiS'|oi|see a large dairying industry :^Bt^ the district. It was necessary for settlers to make their wants known apd r _ifitir themselves as the district, wasjj^imd to be what each of us make j£| plause). ••' '"A'^^fii Mr Gascoigne begged tp"tj^!excused for making a verycbrie|.;.ri^ply as all were up late previous night at the fire ; in fact it looked at one time as though Shannon would have been wiped outy The settlers however did not intend to let Shannon, go back and were not going to show any backwardness in asking. (Applause). ' Mr Seddon in proposing the health of the Local Bodies coupled the name of the Mayor with it. He said local Government was" a qu|st tion of paramount importance, ana the present system had broken down. Local and the general Government should work together? vyptfcigftlLbte Aid was assuming a seriotis* position and placed far too muoh power in some places and not enough in, others, and it had practically catlsejl private charity to become defunetV - He noticed there was a differe'rice* ! existing between a County and the Borough about the ferry, yet there 5 were plenty of roads to make and no money to make them with, which showed that there was too much local Government, and thai) the rates used in charges tor administration would be better spent on roads and bridges. He regretted the ab'-'Bce and tho cause of it. of the Cuuuoiilors but he admitted thfr ■ explanation given by the Mayor

was satisfactory* but the Mayor and the' vjc'e-chairnian had rendered all the h'orior possible to him. (Ap plause). Mv Tf Westwood gave a humorous recitation. /Mr Williams was sure the absent Councillors would have enjoyed the. banquet had they been at liberty to attend. He referred to what had been said about flax by the Premier iil his speech; and he hoped that the iiioney this industry had brought into the Colony at a critical pctriod Would Hot be lost sight of by the Government. The industry was deservidg of every, assistance and he would p'repare 1 figures that would warrant the Government in subsidising flax from 20s to 30s a ton "'-► He did not believe in asking the Government for impossible things, and he feared whether the benefit of a bridge would justify the outlay necessary, at anyrate he held that the road across the ranges was needed most. (Applause.) Mr T. Mitchell proposed "The Press," coupling the names of Mr Thynne (Manawatu Herald) and Mr Nation {Farmer) with it. Mr Thynne responded shortly to the toast, and . ■ . Mr Nation said that he was of the opinion it was the Opposition Press that had done a great deal of harm to the Colony, and had caused the withdrawal of capital and not the legislation of the Government. He ascribed the policy of tho Opposition Press to be an unreasoning condemnation of the Government, no matter .what they did. He, however, wished to admit that the leader in Thursday's Manawatu Herald was written in just such a cordial strain as was fitting to the occasion. The two papers would work amicably together feo forward the interests of the district. (Applause.) Mr McCloskey proposed the health of the ladies in a particularly brief manner, and Mr Seddon replied, regretting very much that th^re were none present and trusted in the future they would take part. The ladies he met at Mr Thynne's reminded him of others lie knew on the West Coast, and had impressed him with the opinion that they were good wives, good mothers, good sisters and good sweethearts. He knew that they would be glad that he had replied for them to this toast. Mr Williams proposed the ComT mercial Interests, and it was briefly acknowledged by Messrs Rhodes, Hennessy and Westwood. The Vice-Chairman proposal the health of the Host and Hostess and spoke of the very short time that was ■, given to them to prepare the feast, ; .and how exceedingly well it had j ybeen carried out. ! Mr Stansell was glad that they j had given satisfaction, but all the ! credit was due to Mrs Stansell. j Old Lang Syne, and God Save the i Queen were sung, and then, close j upon" one o'clock, the gathering was brought to a close.

Feb. 20 .. O.U a.m. lO.f, p.m. „ ''21 .. 10.2.-- n. in. 10.50 p.:n. „ 22 .. 11.10 a.m. 1J..50 p.m. '■„ 2?, .. 11.4'J a.m. p.m. „ 24 .. o.x a.m. 0/27 p.m. % pi, 2?> .. (.i5 a.m. 14 ji.ni. „ 20 .. I.IM n. in. '.-".I vi. ni.