NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3896, 17 January 1929, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

SAN FRAN CISCO GATHERING

ALL VIANDS FROM DOMINION,

A TOAST TO “OLD ENGLAND.”

A feast, was served in San Francisco on November 27, every item of which, except the water, came from New Zealand, 6200 miles away. That the dainties came “on ice” did not detract from their quality, says the San Francisco Chronicle. Oysters, prime lamb, lobsters, cheese, butter, cream, fruits, w hitebait, mint, orange marmalade, biscuits, yoffee, nuts, tobacco, all were products of New' Zealand. >\ score and one sat down to' the table as the guests ot Mr. William Browne Gray, bon-vi-vant, clubman and a naturalised Californian o'f 40 years’ standing. Mr. Gray is an cx-New Zealander, being a native of Temufca. The feast, which was served at the Union League Club, was the result of a jest, out of which there grew a feud .that was only settled when Mr. Gray carved the “Canterbury Plains prime lamb” that had come all the way from New Zealand. Three years ago Dr. H. S. Bettis, an Idaho sheep raiser, gave a dinner to a group of* friends, including Mr. Gray. Idaho lamb was lhe “piece de resistance.” Mr. Gray, to get “a rise” out of bis host, asked: “Do you call this lamb? Why, it looks like a squirrel compared to the famous lamb of my native Ne'w Zealand.” Frequent references to the taunt during the last three years bory fruit, friends of Mr. Gray in New Zealand having arranged to send the “makin’s” for the recent feast.

Tlje following toast was offered by Mr. J. T. Ryan n’his is, indeed, an unusual occasion. The rich bounty of a land half a world away is ours to enjoy to-night through the genius and the generous courtesy of a people living so far away from us that a month! has elapsed since this dinner was prepared and despatched to us. The problems of production, preservation and transportation that had to be solved to accomplish the result that we see before us constitute an intensely dramatic instance of achievement attained through a co-ordination of scientific research with industrial progress. “In appreciation of the gracious hospitality we enjoy to-night, and in recognition oif the cultural heritage that we share with our cousins beyond the seas, it seems appropriate, Mr. Toastmaster, and I suggest, that you invite our hosfa) to join us in a toast in recognition of our common ancestry: To the Mother of Nations :_old Engalnd.” 'The toast was honoured with enthusiasm. Mr. Peter B. Kyne acted as toastmaster. *

A portion 'of the Civic Square, Auckland, is g-oing to Australia. This unusual happening, the transfer of common soil from one country to another, is being made because a, large sailing ship cannot go to sea empty and earth makes good ballast. The Finnish fourmasted barque Olivebank, now at Auckland, will shortly leave for Australia, and the soil being excavated for the foundation of a new building on the Civic Square will be utilised for the Olivebank’s ballast to help her across the Tasman Sea. No cargo is available for the vessel to take from Auckland, and owing to the enormous tophamper of masts and yards, she would be unable to go to sea with empty bolds. To counteract the weight aloft, the barque will lake aboard about 1200 tons of earth as ballast, and this will be discharged in Australia while the vessel is being loaded with wheat. Earth is being taken from the Civic Square in motor-lorries and is afterwards loaded into the barque’s bold.