DINNER TO CAPTAIN SWIFT, OF THE "ANADIR."

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 607, 7 February 1852, Page 3

DINNER TO CAPTAIN SWIFT, OF THE "ANADIR."

On Wednesday evening, a dinner to Captain Swift, of the American barque Anadir, was given at the Masonic Hotel, by a number of gentlemen desirous of showing their personal respect to him, and especially their appreciation of his courtesy and general conduct on the occasion of the late Regatta. Captain Salmon presided, and Thomas Lewis, Esq., acted as vice-chairman. After dinner the following toasts were drunk, with every manifestation of good feeling: —"The Queen;" " Prince Albert and the Royal Family;" » The President of the United States;" for which Mr. Lewis, the American Consul, returned thanks; — "The Governor-in-Chief, and the LieutenantGovernor of New Ulster ;" Mr. Young returned thanks for Sir George Grey, and Captain Parratt for Colonel Wynyard. The next was the toast of the evening, " Our Guest, Captain Swis-t," which was received with continued and enthusiastic cheering. On rising to return thanks, Captain Swift said that with reference to certain remarks which had been made as to his having omitted to hoist the British Ensign on the day of the Regatta, he wished to state the fact that he had not the flag on board. He had meant no disrespect, for no man honoured the Flag of Great Britain more than he. Indeed he considered himself almost an Englishman, being only two generations removed from the parent country; and he thought there should be no distinction when Englishmen and Americans met each other in any part of the world. In conclusion he would propose as a toast, " Prosperity to the British flag!" Proposed by Mr. Kennedy, " The Armies and Navies of Great Britain and America:"—Proposed by Mr. John McFarlane, " The King of the Hawaiian Islands;" Mr. J. W. Bain, Hawaiian I Consul, returned thanks : —Mr. W. Connell proposed " Prosperity to Auckland :" —then followed, "The Mayor and Corporation of Auckland;" Alderman Dignan returned thanks : —Mr. J, A. Gilfillan proposed " The Ladies;" responded to by Mr. J. McDougall: —Captain Daldy proposed " The American Mercantile Marine." — Captain Wilson, of the Hawaiian brigantine Falmuuth, proposed " Great Britain and America, mother and daughter. May their only strife be in advancing the Arts and Sciences; —may their powers be always combined to civilise and perpetuate the peace of the world." The next toasts were " Washington Irving and the Writers of America," proposed by Mr. W. C. Wilson: —" Ocean Steam Navigation," proposed by Mr. J. W. Bain: —and " The Arctic Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin," proposed by Mr. Lewis. In addition to the toasts in the programme, the health of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Young, and Mr. Kennedy, were drunk with all warmth. The different Addresses in connexion with the Toasts were in the best taste, and heartily received. The dinner was creditable to Mr. Possenniskic's liberality and skill. The Band of the 58th Regiment played appropriate airs during the evening. In biiort the whole passed off in the most agreeable manner; the especially marked and gratifying characteristic of the evening, however, having been the mutual good feeling which prevailed through and over all.

New Zealand Company's Claim. — Public Meeting. —We have much pleasure in directing attention to the Requisition to the Mayor to call a General Meeting of the Burgesses of the Borough, for the purpose of taking steps to Petition Parliament against the infliction of the monstrous wrong threatened by the demand of the New Zealand Company, which will be found in another column,—together with His Worship's notification that, in compliance with the request, he has appointed Wednesday next, at one o'clock for such Meeting, —to be held in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, which has been granted by the Committee for this purpose, being, as 'they justly deem, not one of party politics, but one in which all classes and parties will cordially unite. The late hour at which the announcement has reached us prevents our doing more than thus briefly referring to it; but - our readers understand the matter, and will need no impulse from us to induce them to feel the liveliest interest in endeavouring to make the proposed Meeting all that it should be. Sudden Deatii. —lnquest. — An inquest was held on Wednesday at the "Osprey Inn," Highstreet, before Dr. Davies, Coroner, on the body of Michael Finnerty, a blacksmith, who had died almost suddenly on Tuesday, having been working at his trade during the early part of that day. It appeared from the evidence of Dr. Mabin, who had made a post mortem examination, that death had been caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the right lung. —Verdict accordingly.