The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1867. DINNER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 91, 20 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1867. DINNER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

On Wednesday evening last, his Excellency was invited to a public dinner, in the Provincial Hall. About 90 sat down to dinner, which was provided by Mr. Stock. Several ladies were in the gallery. His Honor the Superintendent presided, the Governor sat at his right hand, and Captain Hope on his left. At the same table were the members of his Excellency's suite, and the Executive Council. Sir D. Monro, and Mr. F. Huddleston acted as vice-chairmen. The members of the Glee Club were present, aDd enlivened the prodeedings with singing, and a baud of music played, Mr. Oakey presiding at the pianoforte. After the cloth was removed the chairman proposed the toast, "the Queen," which was received with musical honors. The toast, "the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family" was equally well received. The "Army and Navy" having been "proposed by the chairman in very complimentary language, Captain Hope, responded for the navy, thauking the company for the kind manner in which they had received the toast, and predicting for New Zealand a brilliant future in consequence of its geographical position, and the probability that it would become a great maritime nation. Major Gray replied on behalf of the army. The Chairman in proposing the toast of the evening, eulogised Sir George Grey, who had quitted a post of higher honor and greater emolument than he previously held, to put himself at the head of affairs in New Zealand, at an important crisis in her history. The toast was received with great enthusiasm. His Excellency the Governor then rose, and was received with repeated rounds of applause, which continued some time. When this subsided, he said : It was not in Nelson that he could retui'n thanks for the compliment that had been paid him, in the language ordinarily used. It was not possible for him to forget that in former years he had been entertained in Nelson at a public banquet, or the occasion that gave rise to it. He could not look around him in that assembly without missing the faces of many that had rendered great services to individuals and the colony, or remove from his remembrance that the absent ones were the founders of the prosperity which was now witnessed on all sides, and on which foundation their successors had not unworthily built. It was difficult for a Governor in addressing a public meeting to be opeir' in his speech, but he trusted an that occasion it would be allowed him to refer in a marked manner to those who had takeu a part in the early history of the colony, those who had passed away, and to point to the noble example they had left their successors. He well remembered the first meeting that was held in London to entertain the proposition for the foundation of Nelson. Public opinion at that time, in reference to colonisation, was widely different from what it is ait present. Then the theory was propounded that war was impossible, that the nations of the world regarded peace as the perfection of human wisdom, and that the principles of love aud brotherhood would universally prevail. All the sources of discord were to be shut up, aud those of national friendship to be widely extended. The only cry in England at that time was "ships, colonies, and commerce." He well remembered the festive occasions on which such sentiments were uttered, and such arguments used to direct the public mind towards the founding of new colonies at a distance from their native land, for the purpose of making new homes for the people, opening new channels for commerce, and stimulating the industrial enterprise of men. The men who came early to Nelson were distinguished by their- high integrity, and for other admirable qualities that could not be surpassed. It was more for the advantage of others, than for themselves, that they thus sought to found new colonies, as was seen in their laying aside part of the proceeds of the sale of land for educational purposes, and thus providing for the most important wants of the future generation. [Cheers.] To this class of men Nelson owed its origin ; and to them the Colony of New Zealand was indebted

for a large measure of its prosperity. One circumstance was particularly illustrative of the tendencies of- the founders of the province, and that was they desired it should not be so much iv advance of other parts of the colony in commerce and wealth as in learning ; that Nelson should be regarded, in fact, as the Athens of New Zealand, a centre from which ihe influences of education and refinement should radiate to other parts of the colony. [Cheers .1 These men were distinguished by high and noble qualities, and although it was not the occasion to eulogise the dead, it was not easy to refrain from this passing reference to their many virtues. The first serious blow the Nelson settlement received was at the Wairau massacre, when numbers of the early settlers unhesitatingly encountered the danger that occurred, and laid down their lives in what they conceived to be the discharge of their duty, and for the benefit of thenfuture posterity. He could not, therefore help alluding on that occasion to one of those who was now away, he meant Mr. Dillon, who was a truly representative man, and in referring to him, he wa3 bound to say that after a large experience of the world as a public man, he had never met with an individual who surpassed him in gentleness, generosity, and absolute unselfishness ; it was impossible to find a gentler or finer character. [Cheers.] But he was happy to say that Mr. Dillon was only a representative man, one of a large class who sought to benefit their fellows. [Cheers.] The first colonists were indeed no ordinary men, and from them went forth many whose influence has been largely felt in promoting the prosperity of the Colony. When the West Coast was first explored, which is now such a source of profit to the Colony generally, and whose resources are looked forward to as such an important element in its material prosperity — it was to men of this Province that the country was indebted for incurring the difficulties and dangers of the early exploration. Fe was happy to say that it was a man from Nelson Province, who was one of the few who was considered to have won the distinction of the Victoria Cross. He need scarcely say that he referred to Major Heaphy, whom he took from Nelson, and it was the first time that every service in the country, laying aside all jealousies, had admitted that Major Heaphy had honorably earned, and fairly won the proud distinction. [Cheers.] It was also with great pleasure that he recently saw a notification on the part of the British Government, that the distinction of the Victoria Cross would in future be conferred for meritorious acts on other persons than those employed in the two services, it being stated that the distinction would henceforth apply to " New Zealand and other, portions of her Majesty's dominions," thus showing that a man in New Zealand had fairly won the distinction. [Cheers.] It would be seen, then, that a Nelson man had gained this great advantage for his fellow-colonists ; an advantage, it must be admitted, of no ordinary kind, for if others besides those engaged in the ordinary services could look forward to the possession of such distinctions as the reward of merit, the effect on their conduct must be highly advantageous to the country. The example set by the first colonists, therefore, was one well worthy of imitation, and he sincerely and earnestly hoped it would not be without influence on the present and succeeding generation. A debt of gratitude was due to the first founders of the colony of Nelson. It was true they had found no unworthy successors, but their successors had but built on the foundations which the early settlers had laid. [Applause.] Such were the feelings that influenced liis mind on revisiting Nelson, mingled with others of a painful kind, on witnessing scenes with which he had been familiar in former days, unaccompanied now by those with whom he had been on terms of affectionate intercourse, and who had now passed away. A blight seemed to pass over such scenes by the absence of Mr. Dillon and other colonists whom he once knew, and made him feel that he was a lonely man. He could not be unmindful on that occasion of the happiness he had experienced in Nelson in past times, and that the absent ones would have fully entered into the present enjoyment had they been here. These thoughts crowded into his mind whilst walking among the crowd of children the other day. He' saw that parents had passed away, but the children were there; and it was hard to say whether to visit Nelson under such cir-

cumstances was most to be desired or deplored. In concluding a speech characterised by deep feelings his Excellency remarked that he felt grateful for the kind reception the Nelson people had given hira. He had the most affectionate regard for Nelson from former associations, and they might rely upon his word that the new ties by which the people had bound him by their liberality and kindness, had heightened his desire to serve a place which was in so many respects entitled to his regards. [Applause.] The next toast was " the General Assembly of New Zealand," which was well received. " Sir David Monro replied. He descanted on the difficulties the Parliament of New Zealand had to contend with in legislating for two races, in dealiDg with the provinces financially, and in being subject to frequent Ministerial crises, which retarded the progress of legislation. He hoped these fluctuations would not be so frequent as they had hitherto been, and that the present Government were destined to a longer existence. He proposed the health of the present Ministry, coupling with it the name of the Hou. Major Richardson. The Hon. Major Richardson, in reply, said the present Ministry, to which he belonged, were actuated by one motive, which was to promote the good of the colony. He regretted the absence of a strong opposition, which was one of the greatest safeguards of good government. He advocated the unity of the country, and a system of local self-government by means of municipalities. Captain Hope proposed " the Colonial Forces of New Zealand, the Volunteers, and Friendly Natives." He showed, from personal observation, the great services they had rendered to the colony, and doubted not that so long as such men as Fraser, Brassey, and M'Donnell remained to lead on the Colonial Forces and Friendly Natives, the country would be able to defend itself against all enemies. He coupled the toast with the name of Major Richardson. Major Richardson eulogised the Volunteers of the colony, and said the Cadets of Nelson were promising little fellows. The means of internal defence could not be wanting when, the youth of the colony were trained to the use of arms. His Excellency the Governor then rose amidst much applause. He said he took permission to give a toast, and he proposed "the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson." [Applause.] He would not detain them long, but would only say that he had heard from many quarters of the ability displayed in the Assembly by their Superintendent which had raised him in the estimation of that body ; and he would add that great hopes were entertained by many as to his Honor's future as a politician in this colony. [Hear, hear.] He (Sir George Grey) believed he would occupy an important position in the eyes of the public. He said this because he was the people's own choice, and had been elected by a very large majority. New Zealand he thought did possess a very great privilege in the people thus having the power of conferring such an honor as that of promoting one of their citizens to be head and chief man in their province, in placing him in a position of the highest honor, a position in which he was permitted to educate himself in the science of good government, and in presiding over his fellow-colonists. [Applause.] It was a most distinguished privilege, and every mother in New Zealand might be proud to think that her son, whom she properly trained, and wisely nurtured, might be chosen to fulfil the very highest duties that fell to a citizen, and the greatest honor which the province could bestow. [Loud applause.] - His Excellency concluded by proposing the health of the Superintendent, and prosperity to the Province of Nelson. [Loud and .continued cheers.] His Honor the Superintendent, in reply, amid cheers, said he had little to say beyond thanking his Excellency and the company for the manner in which the toast was proposed, and received. He had been such a short time in office, only a few days, that he really did not feel that he could say anything. He was extremely proud and gratified that it had been his first duty to take a prominent part in the reception of so distinguished a guest as his Excellency the Governor. He was obliged to admit that his Excellency had come at a time when they were ill prepared to receive him, from the fact thafc the one Superintendent had hardly gone out of oflice, and the other had hardly go^ in. The arrangements were necessarily

-T an____-J..i ■- :. ■ ■«i_____^_ M M»t_a_n_i_B*i*«'i i i.».n i in' imperfect ; but he hope^d that on the next occasion that the Governor honored Nelson with a visit, we should be prepared to receive him with a more numerous population [applause] and more complete arrangements. [Loud applause.] Mr. Huddleston proposed "the Speaker, and Provincial Council" to which Mr. Kingdon replied. Dr. Smyth of H.M.S. Brisk, proposed "the Ladies," other toasts were proposed and his Excellency left soon after ten o'clock. ■»— — —■— ■ —