FAREWELL DINNER TO SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 206, 31 August 1874, Page 2

FAREWELL DINNER TO SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

A dinner was given ou Friday evening by the members of both Houses of the Legislature to his Excellency the Governor, on the occasion of his resigning his appointment. -The chair was taken by the Hon. Major Richardson, Speaker of the Upper House. The following report of the speeches of the chairman and Sir J. Fergusson is abridged from the ..V. Z. Times of Saturday : — The Chairman : Gentlemen, the toast I have to submit to you on the present occasion is one that I could have wished had fallen into more capable hands. It appears to be one of the duties of the office, I may say it is one of the duties most pleasant .o me, occasionally at meetings like this to preside aud to propose the health of bis Excellency the Governor. (Cheers.) ... I may say that on an occasion of this kind, it is better to take a retrospective view of the past. I am not goiog now. to refer to that prehistoric — I might almost say preAdamite — which is known as the period connected with the Treaty of Waitaogt. I w ill only speak of tbe Governors known to me since I came to New Zealand, and I venture to say this, that in no colony of the British Crown, in any part of the world, have we been so fortunate iv our Governors as we bave been io this. (Cheers.) Those who can go back to tbe almost sacred New Zealand names of Colonel Gore Brown, Sir George Grey, aod Sir George Bo wen, will be able readily to understand what I say; but if there is one name among them which I cherish with more devoted affection than another, it is that of one whom I- have known as having given his extreme devotion to the interests of tbe Colony, who has sacrificed all (be dearest pleasures of life (o the political questions which he may have looked to with pride. If there is one name in New Zealand which would give an additional throb to my heart* it is tbe name of Sir George Grey. (Loud cheers.) Following in the line of these illustrious Governors is his Excellency on my right — whose name was not unknown on the heights of Alma — whose name was not unknown on the sth November, when the dark nnd dense masses of Russian troops assailed the British flag at Sebastopol, and at Inkerman, when the Guards with which he was connected, though almost taken aback, rushed to the strife, and kept those hordes at bny until assistance came. I say we ought to feel highly gratified that we have amongst us a chief who has been in action in such scenes. (Cheers.) These scenes at au end, his Excellency returned to England, and as he could no longer do aoy good to the State by his sword, he brought his abilities to bear in the positions of — I think the UnderSecretary of War and of tbe Home Department. When the Ministry with which be was connected retired from office, he then transferred his services to the Colony of South Australia; and after a short time entered on his career in this island. I must say but a short time has been given us to see him walking in the path illumined by preceding Governors. Suddenly, almost in a moment, before we knew anything about it, we understand tbat he has retired from office at his own request. I have oo doubt, aud I dare say His Excellency will be good enough to inform us, that when the party witb which he was intimately connected io politics—the Conservatives — came into office, he longed as a soldier always does lousr, whether in the field, or in the political strifes of the* day, to joiu in tbe fray. I hope his appetite will be satisfied, and that he will be able to go to England and join the Conservative ranks, defending the liberty and everything that was sacred which were likely to be shaken to their very foundation. (Loud Cheers ) I have only a few more words to say. When His Excellency returns Home, I dare say amidst the strife and tongues of contending parties he may find a few moments to cast a retrospective giaoceover the past; aud lam quite sure when he looks around him, and sees tbe fair form and beauteous features of her whom he has taken from the isles of the Pacific — (loud aud prolonged cheers) — it will act as a pleasing remembrance, and requiring scarcely any more, of his sojourn in these colonies. Having had opportunities, as it were, of travelling from the Dan to the Beersheba of New Zealand, and, having lived amongst people of every class, I am quite sure His Excellency will agree with me, that while he found a people who would bave nothing to do with aristocratic exclusiveness, he found a people wbo would not subject themselves to the demoralising influence of ultra-democracy. — (Loud cheers) — If what I have said be true — and true it is, I am sure — you will agree with me iv this, that when His Excellency returns to England we may lose a Governor, but we shall find an advocate. (Enthusiastic cheering ) The toast was drunk with marked enthusiasm. His Excellency the Governor who, on rising, was received with loud aud prolonged applause, said % — Mr Chairman, and Gentlemen : I assure you tbat I feel it'a very high compliment to be entertained in tbis most handsome manner by the members of tbe. two Houses of the General Assembly. When, ai you, Sir, have said, the news came very suddenly to the colony, that

at a comparatively early period of my term of office, I had resigned it, I could not have wondered had the effect beeu a feeling of great surprise, or even had it been one of disapprobation. It is, therefore, most gratifying to rae to have paid to me such a compliment as this, which would have been a high tribute of honor even had I passed through the whole term of my appointment with the highest credit and honor. Perhaps no Governor, however distinguished, has bad a higher honor paid to him. But gentlemen may I say that this compliment on your part is not only gratifying to me, aa enabling me to hope that you have given me credit for an earnest desire to do my duty faithfully to the colony — (applause) — but because, believe me, it will b«j reassuring to thoae elsewhere who take an interest in my career, and to whom so early a retirement might seem ambiguous ; but you, gentlemen, to whom a Parliamentary career has been so attractive, that you have devoted it lo your best energies, can understand bow one who has been for many years engaged in that honorable (ask, has longed to return to it, has felt in a position, full of dignity and ease, perhaps too little of an active character. I do, indeed, doubt whetbef lam doing right; I confess tbat the step I bave taken has caused me many misgivings,but there must bean account which everyone renders to his own conscience iv the 'firßt place; and I have felt a doubt whether on the whole I was usefully occupying myself. Gentlemen, I may, as I say, have made a mistake, and in great stepsin life a man must often feel a doubt — (applause) —but I assure you gentlemen had I thought that any interest whatever would suffer from my retirement, no personal consideration would have induced mo to decide upou it— (Applause) — and although wishing not to trespass too long upon your attention on tbis point, I would nevertheless plead ou my own beh^&ihat in resigning > position of muclA honor anywhere, but which io thia colony is alwaya treated with special respect, aod in returning home, where to regain a seat in the House of Commons involves, in the first glance, the gainiug of the confidence of &.cdqstituency, cannot at all events bo reckoners purely a selfish motive. («_l^ar, vi^m ) . Thus, gentlemen, I trust I may carry with me those sentimen's of friendship which I^hope I have gained, and which I trust I may always retain, .from many io the length and breadth of this colony. It is true the time I have been among you is so short, that there ara many whom I now address with whom my acquaintance wil! still be slight, but, notwithstanding, I have seen enough of New Zealand to know how many men there are ia it worthy of a high career, aod who have tbe interests of their country at heart, and of whose friendship any man might be proud. Of one thing gentlemen let me assure you, that whether it be my lot to rogain the envied position of a seat in the House of Commons or not, I hope to do my duty to tbe best of roy ability in a private position, and I shall alwnys bave a most auxious desire to serve the colonies, with which for the last six years I have been honor-" ably connected, and especially to serve this colony, in which I shall aiways take a deep interest, and for which I see so great a future (Applause). No one, ereu the least profound of observers will doubt that New Zealand is only at the commencement of its career of prosperity. As yet you have had .great difficulties to contend with— difficulties varying in their nature but of a very severe character— and even now, when so much has beeu surmounted, those who live at a short distance from the sea coast are laboring under great disadvantages; but to anyone who has visited the various quarters of this colony, it must be evident that, in proportion as means of communication are rendered /nore easy, the increase of the population and the prosperity of the colony must go on' with rapid strides. As each section of your railways, laid out, as they are, on a uniform and comprehensive plan, is opened, I am certain that great results will constantly be experienced. The settler will obtain a readier market for his industry, will procure his supplies more cheaply and readily, and trade must be enormously increased and population more readily and profitably placed upon the land. (Applause.) I believe, and I may say tbat it waa a remark made by an old friend of mine, a man not undistinguished in the world — the Governor of Tasmania— who managed in the/ short period of his visit to see a great deal of the Colony— be wrote me on the eve of his embarkation, that from what he hnd seen of New Zealand he could not doubt tbat it would justify almost any expenditure on works of intercommunication. Gentlemen, comparing this colony with the neighboring continent of Australia — and I have visited portions of nearly all (he colonies, have always felt since I have been io New Zealand, that comparing their relative advantages, land in New Zealand is ; at this moment much cheaper than land in Australia. I speak of facts well-known to most of you; and if you consider tbat average pasture land in Australia will hardly carry one sheep to three acres, while land, even when newly cleared in New Zealand, can do more than that; but with the expenditure of £2 or £3 per acre, an acre can carry four, five, or six sheep, and yet the price of land here is oot more than it is id Australia, while much greater results can readily beobtained. (Applause.) That is not

a", for in many parts of the coiony wheat can ba raised to double the extent per acre than (he best wheatgrowing colony of Australia can produce. (An Hon. Member : Treble the amount.) My hon.. friend on, the right says treble tbe amount; but I wish to be within the mark — and in this North Island, for which I believe there are prospects at no remote period, even brighter than those of they Middle Island, we have great tracts ot valuable land on which, without doubt, crops can be raised perhaps not of .he same character, but certainly of not less value than those of the other Island. We are opening out tracts which as yet bave been hardly known, and which I am sure can accommodate a population manifold larger than that which we have yet received, I need only allude to the very great resources of the colony — its valuable minerals of all kinds; its coal, which will enable tbe colony to compete with any part of the Southern hemisphere— a seaboard, on the whole, not inconvenient — a climate well fitted to develop the vigor of our race to the fullest extent — : (Hear) — I say uo one can doubt that this great country is calculated lb receive by degrees millions of our race/ ■—(Hear) — with all the happiest result/ that can flow from its natural advantages. (Cheers.) Well, gentlemen, if thia be a true and moderate picture it seems to rae that the Assembly which I have the honor to address has before it a task not less important and far more onerous than those which have already been surmounted. Gentlemen, it is evident that the tnsk you bave before you will call for efforts, compared with which those you have already made are perhaps trifling. Sums which at first seem alarming to a .new community seem small whelk. (JhjiVeornmuoity has doubled in extent; nnd has reaped the advantages which tbat expenditure bas chiefly achieved. Who, in the year 1835, could have thought of sn expenditure.o&jrailwnys iv England of a sum comparing with tbe National Debt without alarm and disquietude, and yet we who now look upon these things so much as matters of course cannot estimate the alarm which even a portion of tbat expenditure caused to the last . generation. Well, gentlemen, when we look at this great wc#k which lias to bo done, which your fellow countrymen lock to you to carry out — I gay, anyone who watches the public proceedings of this colony with a candid spirit must look to this I arliament with respect snd with hope. lam drawing no invidious comparison, but say it without fear of contradiction that New Zealand is entitled to look with respect and pride upon the conduct of the great Assembly which represents her. (Hear) I say, in this Parliament business "is done with despatch, with dignity, and yet with due deliberation There is an absence of all language which could cause regret to those who wish weil to New Zealand, or" which could cause ridicule in communities beyond the seaV/ I say it is a matter

"of great satisfaction to one who haa sat aa a spectator to observe the dignity and j»?^at business-like habits of this "'Parliament of New ; Zealand. In the years I have passed .in the Australian -. Colonies I hope I have learned much; indeed; one would be insensible if he did not learn something which would Jbp, useful, for life in witnessing the struggles and efforts of great, new and free communities, aod one reflection I shall carry Home with me— -a conviction I should rather say — which might have been longer in coming npon me, -is the great advantage which ie conferred upoti the working classes by ieasy Circumstances, by the amount of wages which they earn, and by the shortness of tbe "toil they undergo. I q think no one ' can doubt that on tbe "whole these conditions lead to the happiest results npon our population. (Cheers.) No one can compare a new<#mer tp this coup try Vith the working 'man going and returning in his working clothes, to and from bis. daily toil without seeing the great change tbat is .coming; upon men of the same race end -.ciaas since their arrival in the country. There is as independence of spirit, a .dignity of manner — there is ease in. . circumstances; there may be often selfindulgence, but I say there is very I little excess; and I am not certain that 3;the tame amount of work is not done in. ,a:few. hours at a high rate of pay ijjas with long hours and very small pay. I have no-, doubt the progress of ; the country is checked to a certain amount by the deafth 0 f labor; but of this I am sure'on the whole, yob will build up a nation, and have coming generations of •ia character far higher and more sensible of their responsibilities because not 7 crushed' down by poverty. Here, --the i-worjeiag man leaves his daily task, ui_« s ißxhan-ted in'mind,. with energy still sufficient: to enjoy, it may be tbe family .circle, or it may be social amusements t \,br raehtal.. improvement. Bnt, at all events, he bas something left in him to in his dwelling, and more . .tbaci that* he is not so tempted to resort * to undue stimulants as tbe hard- worked % and broken-down operative of other fays. These, are some of tbe causes which are . at work at home where the working men are undergoing a very great change, and *ypj_/|musl no# be surprised if your Bgenttrfind difficulty in attracting to theap'Shores great numbers of the best men of England. We do cot ~want to part with them. I can answer -*7_br.:i.,£«s; one who employs labor, that •^^^©^'••difficnlt-to get the labor we .^wiu|^t U)iy f price in the country places y* at home. Therefore — and I say H> to, yoa'riespectfuUy— Jo not scrntinise>rso "severely t^ose who come to your^ftfbr^s. - Gentlemen. you will pardonj*n_ making .^A/remark which, on thieve of my. _ departure,4 should h^rfdly venture to' remake: it ;is tha>^ome of the institu,i'.ttoes of the colony strike me as being inferior to those of Australia. (Hear.) 'Tn yotir 'gaols, asylums, and hospitals there is certainly an . inferiority to be seen to the institutions I have been accustomed to see in tbe colonies of Australia which X bave visited. Ido not undervalue your difficulties, and f^yet'i^^t think you who bave looked i-"!fttpj|^»Bitbiogß will see that, the con- ,. si dition _> of isome of these necessary in-' {1 stittftibbs is not so good aa it ought toi be. But whatever may be the course! 'fyrFdf 'eve^tp.jin s tbis colony— and I wilß «. :J : .abi t assume there will be any impprtanj 7 instiiutions— l thinH h:^.tbia--FaT--i_p^Jfit._'hu i jtbe. good o' y the country at heart, will set its mini "to make these institutions . as good- a i • .- tbey can be mader—as good as those o * t ; the colonies around you.' I do no t ktfutfd.-Tvalue the difficulties you havi f&ffi- $ bat " s only *w » Hn&^Wm O"*T iostitutions 'at ' Horn i rescued from a state not creditabl > - Id tbT" country; i-.' -7. . . Bu , I gentlemen, Tarn sure I will be excuse 1 '_ ajupooVtbb; only: occasion on which ft f ho_ior of addressing yon if v. conviction I have, Mt 'm %YsZi a W?£ J cajjne, to man's estate, ttit 7. r the d(f ty of a legislative body is to see ;: tei'thei thorough .education of the peoj \h (Cheers.) J km w £6#£' wqrfctyi- being done in seve al 7 : prbmMol New Zealand ;: and Ikm w :^l|o tb e gßcientific management of tie 7 ; ***Mh $M ■$*$*■■ & n ?&l l fr efficient &?M 9cter ' Bnfc 'twere is 'no^ doubt that te I Bfot "the case at present throughout > .New Zealand,. (Applause.) The waut^ of education and the want of zeal oh. , the part of .the people in the cause of education gi-ve rise to much anxiety in the mindsJoJJ many' thoughtful menjv and whatever be the course of event/ in the colony, I am sure^tbere isnosus- ,.,. ject of more; importance than to see tfM before manjr years '.pass over there slfail 7 be no child livibg, except those living : 7 very remote ; from centres of populadon, who hasnotreceived a Bound educafion. .(.pe%r.j^But f gentlemen, le.me remind you" witff s ,aU >respect, that it isjndt to , have a j school in ewery ; i^ ] jg not "sufficient to] set | ; ; sp'aff funds for its mainVeoande, it is yy not flufficiept.t^xjoi^p^l a -child t< > atbut Useetlmt thbseuuder v hose T^'^cfiVge ih*a children are placed, - are y^dr'oififxly 'competent 'to' teach "t iem. y It wiirnot do for loose to bedome y " scboolmasfers with whom other trhdes p have failed. ' •'• (Hear.) Education, \f it :? be nbt'real will produce but poor efffct; '^B^'i schoolmaster himself is bf a highly bonqrable, and scientific professioS. ;^_?^ tot' of ieachiog must be taughtjv i^ w. not sufficient tbat children l.«l6ouia fc^eeht trooping to school for a :7:certaib of hours every day, Parliamenteees that tbe education piWrf*giv"en^her^giyes .a fair, for t^»e, money that is oh it, S#9|I a °'® g * payment be made contingent f??7 7 7 W§: : :- ■"■ ' ' *

on results, and these results be aacer- | tamed by independent (inspection, you | cannot for a moment depend that your education will be satisfactory. But, | gentleman, to have schoolmasters, which | are absolutely necessary for the purpose, you must manufacture them for yourselves. The supply at Home is not greater than tbe demand, and you must have the means of preparing your schoolmasters in the flret place, and make the profession one of honor, so that the most important profession in the country may attract a fair share of the best men to be got. I was privileged in the Province of Canterbury to lay the foundation stone of the first Normal Bchool in New Zealand, and I was glad to know tbat it was to be erected aod maintained on a scale which might be expected to produce an adequate supply of schoolmasters, not only for that province, but also for others. I know that Qtago is doing something in tbe same direction, but alt New Zealand is not comprised in Otago and Canterbury. If I might take advantage of roy position to do ao, . I would most earnestly commend this -^übjeft to your individual attention. has/often been said that in these yoang^Lommunities one prevalent evil and danger is undisciplined youth. In some countries this has risen to be an evil of great magnitude. How, gentlemen, is this evil to be guarded against and checked, but by home and school discipline? Home discipline the State cannot supply, but school discipline it is its solemn duty to secure. . With abundant schools, with organisations such as are wholly within our means to secure, you will raise up a population to whom you may safely confide tbe destines of the country, for I firmly believe that among an educated popus station, 'no matter bow far the franchise be extended, you may look for the only true panacea against class jealousies, and the only safeguard against national corruption. (Cheers.) I will trespass no longer upon your attention; perhaps I have almost abused my advantage— (No, no)— but I hope I can carry away from New Zealand witb me, in taking leave of it, the thought that if I had done any good while here, short as my time has been, great bave been my advantages* and, gentlemen, io leaving these pleasant shores, believe me, the tie that binds us will not be severed — (Cheers) — and in many happy moments I shall be thankful to recall the proof of your esteem which you have tbis evening given me. (Lo|^|jd long-continued applause.) - bakehouse at Turvey, Bedforashire, was some years ago infested with crickets. As hot weajjher^came the nuisancei became more serious,^ for crickets were to be found in* every * possible crevice. The baker was Advised to lay some rhubarb leaves about the , place. The light of the next morning revealed nibbled leaves, and oiyrjads of dead crickets; and thia was the last of them in that bakehouse. — Garden.