Complimentary Dinnar.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3687, 16 June 1906, Page 2

Complimentary Dinnar.

A PLEASANT AND BENEFICIAL EVENING.

FOXTON AND PALMERSTON’S PROGRESS.

The complimentary dinner at Gray’s Post Office Hotel on Thursday evening, tendered by Cr E. J. Armstrong, of Palmerston North (architect for out Main street culvert) to the Foxton Borough Council was a distinct success iu every way.

In the absence of the Mayor, the ex-Mayor (B, G. Gower Esq.) took the chair, and the party sat down to partake of an extravagant and tasty bill-of-fare. The tables were profusely decorated with seasonable fruits and flowers, wines, spirits, and bottled ales, etc., iu such a manner that bespoke much taste on the part of the lady attendants. Once the good things provided received due attention, “The King” was honoured with musical accompaniment, and ever after a pleasant time was spent in toast, speech, verse, and song. In proposing “ Our Host Mr Armstrong,’’ the chairman paid that gentleman a high tribute as iO the excellence of the work fot which he had acted as architect. Mr Armstrong, in reply, thanked the Mayor foi his very kind ieraarks. It appeared to nim functions of this kind did much good, and the main reason whicn acuated him in arranging such a 1 affair was that he wished to make further association with Foxton Borough Councillors than he ha 1 before. • “Foxton Borough Council ■ was the next toast 011 the list, and in proposing same, Mr Armstrong dealt at length with Foxton’s slow progress. His remarks were to the point, and in the main were to the effect that if any town was to go ahead, it must be in itself. Foxton, iu his opinion, had not pushed itself forward enough, to prove his remarks, and, he quoted the growth of Palmerston as compared with Foxton. It was never too 'late to mend, and we must remembert that Poxton’s interests and progress was linked with Palmerston, and vice versa. All must look to their own interests, and push themselves, if success was necessary. What Foxton wanted was a Harbour Board for itself, railway improvements, and to obtain these and other forms of progress we must keep our shoulders to the wheel and push until we were rewarded. There were plenty, unfortunately, who were quite satisfied to go on as they are. That was an entirely wrong view to take of things. Either go back or go forward. He to borrowed money for town improvements, and contended that no town ever regretted borrowing money for its advancement and for recuperative works. The speaker then instanced severs’ engineering blunders as regard harbour works, and contended there was no knowledge so beneficial in the carrying out of all works as “ local knowledge.’’ Palmerston was directly interested in all Foxton’s advantages, and would strive for that end. The Manawatu Beach Health resort should be opened up by railway, the Manawatu river should be improved, and the flax industry, one of the colony’s most staple products, should always be fostered. What with flax and dairying, he looked upon the Manawatu district as likely to become the Premier district of this Colony, and there was no reason why such should not be. Our district had every facility and every advantage for immense progress, and wc should go on working to attain that end. Mr Armstrong then coupled with his toast “The Health and Prosperity of the To wn of Foxton.’’ Applause. Iu reply, the chairman thanked Mr Armstrong for his good advice. We may have a bright future before us, and he certainly felt that with the aid of Palmerston, we would improve. Unfortunately, we had endeavoured without success in many ways to improve our town, but though we had not received all we asked for, we would try again. The speaker contended, as a matter of fact, that we were going ahead, slow but sure. Foxton, he| thought, could claim to be one of the most sound todXms in the colony. With all due deference to Palraerstonians, Mr Gower thought the secret of our advancement would lie in the construction of the Levin to Greatford railway, and, although we had boon refused almost everything we asked for in the past, we would still urge on all improvements and necessary works. Mr Armstrong: Palmerston’s motto had been “ Never accept a refusal! ” “ Chamber of Commerce ” was proposed by Mr Alf, Fraser (Town

Clerk), who gave evidence of that good works done by the Chamber since its formation about 12 months ago. They had™6bdeavoured hard to bring important matters before Ministers, and he felt, sooner or later, they wouH be rewarded. The beach railway, extra wharf accommodation, river deepening, railway improvements and other important works .the Chamber were striving for, and he knew well they would keep on trying. A Chamber of Commerce can do good for the of any town, as through it wants could be made known. After instancing that our rope works and Municipal offices were evidences of slight signs of progress, Mr Fraser called upon Mr Moore (secretary of the Chamber) to respond. Cr Moore, in response, detailed at length the different works the Chamber had taken in hand. They had persevered for improvements unsuccessfully, though perhaps it was only to be expected when it was realised so many other' districts were clamouring for improvements. They could not all be satisfied, though the Foxton Chamber would keep urging in the hope of eventually doing good for the advancement of the district. The Harbour Board improvements were the first aim, and personally he would like to see the river deepened, as it was no .uncommon sight to see almost every week steamers stuck in the river. Such happenings must be , detrimental to business people generally.. He hoped for the Chambers’ continuance and its present efforts for the furtherance of the districts.

Cr Gray then briefly proposed / f 1 The Health and Prosperity of ' v Palmerston and Inhabitants,” to which Mr Jickell (Palmerston Borough Engineer) replied at length. During his remarks, in dealing with progressive measures, he asserted that Foxton seemed to be large enough to run a gasworks, and comparing electricity with gaslight, Mr- Jickell contended “No electricity in the world could be compared, light fct light, with gas-light.” Large boroughs the world over which had tried electricity, were forced to return to gas-light as being the most beneficial. Unless tQjwS push themselves,' no one else would, and Mr Jickell went so far as to say that he had never known a town to become embarassed by any loan they had made. He held the destinies ,of towns laid in their own hands. Foxton had a, great future before it, and Foxton must work for that future. The speaker then instanced many Harbour Boards in other parts that had got endowments of land set apart for themselves, from which a source of revenue aide'd them to carry out improvements, and he trusted Foxton would act likewise when opportunity permitted.

Other toasts proposed were:— “ Town Clerk,” proposed by Mr Armstrong, response by Mr Alf. Fraser; “ Hemp Industry,” proposed by Cr Stiles, response by Cr 0. Austin; ‘‘Mr and Mrs Gray,” proposed by Mr Armstrong; “The Press,” proposed by Cr Baker, response by Mr E. G. Sutherland (Herald.)

During the evening, Messrs Jickell and Sutherland (songs) and Alf. Fraser (recitation) rendered items. Mr Jickell acted as accompanist. The singing of “ Auld Laing Syne,” brought a pleasant and instructive evening to a close.