COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1839, 13 June 1918, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

MR. HENNESSY HONOURED,

Mr P. ,1. Ilennessy, chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board; was entertained in Mr Perreau’s rooms on Tuesday night, at a complimentary banquet, by the citizens of Foxton, as a mark of appreciation of his Avork, extending over a period of ten years, in connection with the acquisition of the wharf by the Foxton Harbour Board. The Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) presided, and the attendance avus over 50. Apologies for absence Avere received from (he Hons. T. M, Wilford, W. H. Berries, and D. 11. Guthrie, Sir James Wilson (Bulls), Messrs B. R. Gardener and C. Blenkhorn (Levin), G. H. Stiles (Palmerston North), A. Fraser, F. Symes, W. Bock, T. Boavc T. Rimmer, and Crs. Coley, Thompson and McMurray. After the good things provided had been done full justice to, and the toast of “The King” honoured, the chairman proposed the health of “Our Guest.” • In doing so, Mr Chrystall said he Avas pleased to see so many present to do honour to the guest of the evening. They all recognised the valuable work done by Mr Hennessy in connection Avith the Avharf acquisition question covering a period of ten years. In connection with Mr Hennessy’s Avork, the part that had impressed him (the speaker) most was the spirit of concentration shown, Mr Hennessy had Avorked throughout* the Avhole period Avith one object in view, the acquisition of the Avharf, and- had kept consistently to that, and success had at last been achieved. This should be a valuable object lesson to all, shoAving that provided sufficient energy and persistence Avere displayed, almost any obstruction could he overcome. The speaker assured Mr Hennessy that the people of Foxton appreciated very much his efforts during the past ten years, and on their behalf he asked the guest to accept a framed address expressing their appreciation. The toast Avas drunk Avith musical honours. The Avording of the address Avas as folloAvs: . To Philip J. Hennessy, Esq., Chairman Foxton Harbour Board. Dear Sir. — We, the undersigned, on behalf of the citizens of Foxton, desire to express our appreciation of your valuable Avork in connection with the acquisition of the Avharf by the Foxton Harbour Board. We recognise that, had it not been for your persistent and untiring energy daring the past ten years, the satisfactory position noAV secured by the carrying of the Harbour Loan Avould not have been attained. Since its formation, the Board has had to face, many discouragements, obstructions, and set backs from various sources, but throughout you have been determined and undismayed, and have at last bad the.satisfaction of seeing’ your efforts crowned with success. We congratulate yon on the highly gratifying result of the poll, which is an ample continuation of I lie soundness of your judgment. We hope you may bo long spared, and that the Board may have the benelit of your wisq counsel in i lie development and administration- of ■ I lit* port. Signed on helm If of the citizens, John Cbrysliill, Mayor. John ITornblow. Chairman of .School Commit tee. Mark E. Fcrreau, Chairman of Trailers’ Association. Foxton, Jane, 1918. Mr Hennessy, on rising to reply, Avas greeted witli lend and prolonged applause. Ho said if Avas very flattering to be in his position, as Avhcn he cast bis eyes around the tables be saAv (bat Capital, Tradesmen, and Labour Avas represented, and be avus indeed very pleased to be the guest of such a gathering. In eonnectiton avlHi the tight that had been put up to get possession of the wharf, lie had been ably assisted by the different members of Parliament in the district, the late Mr John Stevens and Messrs Newman Robertson and Field, and by members of the Board, and had it not been for their assistance the present satisfactory position Avould not have been attained. He traced thq progress of the agitation from the beginning, and gave full credit to all Avho had assisted. Referring to the future policy of the Board, Mr Hennessy asked the people to have patience, and not to expect too much at once. The policy of the Board wouldbe to live within its means. They Avere pledged not to collect a rate, and as far as he was concerned that pledge Avould be religiously kept. There Avould be absolutely no necessity to collect a rate if they lived within their means and "were prepared to make gradual progress. They Avere going to have a dredge, and their object Avould be to improve the bar and river a little at a time, and eventually they considered - —-an opinion that Avas backed by Sir Howarth, engineer to the Wanganui Harbour Board —that they Avould be able to give a depth of 13 feet on the bar and 14 feet right up the river to the wharf. There was no doubt that Foxton could be made a, handy port for vessels of modern ate size with very little expenditure. In the course of a year betAveen 50,000 and 60,000 tons of coal (outside of railway coal) was used in the district, and at the present time this coal carried a burden of from live to seven shillings per ton inorc than Avould be the case it it Avere brought through Foxton. There avus nothing to stop the ; by good man-.

figment, from getting this coal .through'.the port. Mr Hennessy said that already the Board had had applications from two business linns for sites on the river Cor the purpose of building stores. He thanked the citizens of Eoxton for their mark of appreciation of his efforts, and said ho was proud to have assisted in getting the wharf for the people, and thus assisting to further the progress of the district (Prolonged applause.)

Other toasts honoured were: “Parliament,” proposed by Mr J. A. Nash, and responded to by Mr W. 11. Field, M.P.; “Local ’Bodies,” proposed by Mr ITornblow, reply Mr Linklater (Kairanga County), Mr Barber (Manawntu County), Mr Gower (Moutoa Drainage Board), and Mr Chrystall (Eoxton Borough) ; “Onr Boys at the Front,” proposed by Dr. Mandl, and responded to by Private Freeman. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried bv acclamation.

The gathering Avas brought to a close by the singing of “Aidd Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.