FAREWELL DINNER TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY.
His Excellency Sir George Grey being about to depart for England on leave of absence, it was resolved that, amongst other marks of respect, he should be invited to a Public Dinner in Auckland. An invitation was accordingly drawn up as follows, and within a day or two received the signatures of a large number of the most respectable an I influential settlers of all classes, including the Bishop of New Zealand, the Chief Justice, clergymen of various denominations, &c, &c. To His Excellrncv Sin Georoe Grey, K.C.8., Govsanor ok New Zealand, &C, ic e &c. Srn, —We, the undersigned, residents of Auckland and it s neighbourhood, cannot permit your Excellency to leave our city, on your proposed visit to England, without giving expression to our earnest sense of the benefits which have been conferred on New Zealand through your able, wise, and successful administration of the Government during the eight years in which you have been Her Majesty's Representative in this country. In the peace, and the rapidly advancing agricultural and commercial prosperity of New Zealand in general, end the Auckland District in particular, there is a tribute r.o your Excellency's ability, and zeal in the discharge of the duties of your high office, which has attracted the attention of surrounding Colonies, and which it especially becomes us, the immediate partakers of these advantages, to acknowledge. To your Excellency's paternal care for the Natives, who form so important a portion of the population of this Province, we attribute not a little of the advance they have made in that Christian civilization from which numerous benefits have already accrued, and from which we are warranted in anticipating increasingly happy results. In your Excellency's recent Cheap Land Regulations we recognise a boon long desired by the Settlers, and now conferred in a manner equally honourable to your Excellency's sagacity and firmness, and in accordance with the anxious wishes, and, we believe, the best interests of all classes of the community. Although differences of opinion inevitably prevailed on particular points in the policy of a Government surrounded by difficulties so great as those with which your Excellency has had to contend, yet, many who at various times did not fully concur in the measures adopted, cannot withhold on this occasion their cordial agreement in the testimony to the general results of your administration, which is so conclusively borne out by the contrast which the prosperous and tranquil condition of the country now presents to the state in which your Excellency found it on your arrival here in 1845. Our best wishes and prayers for the health and happiness of your Excellency and Lady Grey, will accompany you wherever your lot may be cast. We trust that wherever you may be, you will be gladdened by hearing of the progress of a colony, the future advancement of which impartial history will trace up in a large degree to the foundations laid under your Excellency's rule. As a favour toourselvcs and many others, which we earnestly hope your Excellency's arrangements will permit you to giant, we respectfully ask that you will honour us by your presence atn Public Dinner, which it is proposed to hold before your Excellency's departure, to afford the residents of Auckland tnd its vicinity a parting opportunity of meeting your Excellency. (Signature as in our last.) His Excellency having accepted the invitation, the Banquet took place on Monday evening last, the 2Gth inst., in the large room of the Odd Fellows lla.ll, which was decorated with great taste with the flags of various nations, flowers, branches of the rich New Zealand fern tree, and other ornaments, which, with the Hall brilliantly lighted up, and crowded, presented altogether a most attractive and impressive spectacle. The line Band of the 58th Ilegiment was in attendance, and played appropriate airs during the evening. The Company numbered about one hundred and seventy, being the utmost that the room (the most spacious in Auckland), as it was fitted for the occasion, could accommodate, and included representatives of all classes in town and country. Several well-known and respected Native Chiefs of this district were also present.
William Powditch, EsqVJ.P-i M.P.C., one of the oldest settlers, occupied the Chair. W. S. Gvahame, Esqr. J.P., a leading merchant of Auckland, was yice—Chairman; and William Mason, Esqr., J.P., also one of the oldest settlers,
a »d J. A. Gilfillan, Esqr., J.P., M.P.C, merchant, officiated as Croupiers. His Excellency, on his arrival at a few minutes after seven o'clock, was received by a Guard of Honour, the attendance of which tha Stewards had requested of the Commanding Officer of the 58th Regiment. The Stewards met the Governor at the entrance, and conducted him to the seat prepared at the right hand of the Chairman, the Company standing, and the Band playing the National Anthem. Grace w.is said by tie Bishop of New Zealand. At the conclusion of the dinner, Non noUs D amine was sung by amateurs. . The following letters were read by the Uiairinan: , Sin,—ln reply tol your kind letters t- me and to very Rev. Dr. James McDonald, my Vicar-Gffneral, ! regret that we cannot comply. On account of spiritua' duties, with the honourable invitation ufade to us to assist a.f the dinner tor honouring his Excellency Governor Grey, wh« is so very respected and beloved by Your most humble servant, [ fj. Bpt. Frs. Powpali.eir, Ap./.dm., R. C. Bishop of Auckland. To Mr. C. A. Harris/llony Sec., Dec. 2(W», 1851 \ N Taurarua, 26th Dec, 1853. My dear Sin,—l beli<y4 pat you and others of the Steward* of the Farewell Dinnej-are aware of the cause which disables me from being present this evening. But it may be better to state that I should be aith you ti night to join in bearing a public and generous testimony to £he ability and successgof our Governor Sir George Grey, but for the distressing weakuessof my eyes which makes it very aaWul and unsafe to expose them to any strong light.
I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Wm. Martin. To Mr J. A.Gilfißan.Esq.,
Sic, &c. j The Chairman rose to propose the first toast, " The Queen," He spoke nearly as follows : We must feel it a pleasing duty to give the usual expression of Loyaltv to the Sovereign of the British Empiie, who has nobly maintained the glory of" the British name. (Cheers ) The peace of the Empire, the progress of social improvement, and ol ibe arts and sciences, demand for the reign of Queen Victoria a place amongst the most brilliant and beneficial in the annals of history. The universal marks of affection shown by all classes of Her Majesty's subjects in all portions of her Empire, attest her to lie indeed called "The Mother of her Veople." Gentleimn, 1 give "The Queb.n." (Loud Cheering.) The toast wa>\drunk whh every demonstration of loyalty, the Bandf pitying the National Anthem, The Chairman next proposed"' 1 Prince Albert and the Iloyal Family." Wc cannot but rejoice in the wise and prudent choice made bv Hei-Majetty in her union with His Royal Highness Prince Albert, who is to be the Guardian of our f-iture race of Kings. We have reason in New Zealand ourselves to regard His Royal Highness with gratef'il feelings, fi.un the n collection that even in the Great Exhibition of All Nations,presided ovtrby Pnnee Albert, this infant colony was not forgotten. (Cheers.) Music,— Prince A Wert's March. The Chairman then rose to propose " Colonel Wynyard and the British Army." The eventful period of the last fifty years has filled many a page of our history with the glorious deeds accomplished by the British Anus, ii. d Europe, having learned caution, now tears to rouse the firiusli Lion Irom his lair. (Cheers.) Chobhain Camp has marked the vigilance which guards the unwalted villages of England, and distant territories ami savage lands have owned the skill and bravery displayed on former fields Our little band of gallant men, true to the spirit of the Army, lave not been wanting in all needed to maintain the fame won from admiring nations on the plains of Waterloo. You will be happy to drink " Colonel Wynyard and the British Army." (Cheer.'..; Music, — The British Grenadiers. Colonel Wynyabd, on rising to return thanks, was greeted with loud and prolonged applause He uaid, — In rising, gentlemen, to acknowledge the compliment you have just paid the service to which 1 have the honour to belong, I tn st 1 may be permitted to express my thanks to your Commits e for an invitation by which 1 have been enabled to be prestnt as your guest on this interest : ng orcision. (Cheers.) Few people have had the opportunity of knowing His Excellency Sir George Grey as I have, for I have not only had the pleasure of serving under him from his first landing in the colony (with the exception of a few months) up to the present moment in a military capacity, but 1 have for a considerable time served under him as your Lieut.-Governor: during the whole of that period I have invariably been ho.ioured with his confidence and favoured with his friendship, and I can safely assert that 1 never heard one single expression escape his lips, and I verily believe, one single thought ever flashed across his mind, but which had for its ultimate object the advancement of the interest and prospeiity of the colony entrusted by our Sovereign to his charge. (Loud and continued applause.) Permit me, gei tlemcn, again to express my thanks for the compliment you have paid the service, a compliment that must ever prove highly pleasing and acceptable to that portion of Her Majesty's troops who are and have been so long quartered a.nongst you. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman next proposed " Captain Drury, and the Royal Navy." He said, Our seagirt land will ever preserve in us a lively interest in the wooden walls of Old England; and while we remember the many daring reats and the undaunted courage or our British Tars, we cannot forget the special benefit we have received from the skill and zeal of the gentlemen who now represent here the British Navy. (Cheers). We have long needed a Coast Survey, and that has now been ably supplied by Captain Drury and the officers of the Pandora (Cheers). .I trust that ere these gentlemen leave our shores, the Province of Auckland will exhibit in a more solid form an appreciation of their valuable ser\ices. (Cheers).
Music, — Rule Britannia. Captain Drury, on rising to return thanks, was received with loud cheering He spoke to the following efl'ect: — Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —I feel much obliged to you for the honour you have done the Navy. I deeply deplore that for such an occasion my late estimable friend Sir Everard Home was not so '.red. He might here have expressed his oft repeated admiration of your great guest, and his opinions were matured by his knowledge of his Excellency under difficulties in the field and Council. (Cheers). You have drank the Royal Navy, and I can proudly bring Sir Everard's career forward as the model of an officer devoted to the Navy. (Hear, hear). His zeal in doing his duty—for with him every thing gave way, to usefulness—led him to forget even what was due to himself, so entirely was this the case, that he denied himself the common comforts of life, and his cabin was a school of science. My friends you have had proofs of his love to this portion of his naval command. Let me name one or two. He brought to your shores, as you remember, at his own expense and with much inconvenience to himself, five head of deer from Mount Edgecombe. When the warning stroke laid him prostrate at Sydney some months ago, he sent for pen and paper and bequeathed you a most valuable nuclei! i for a future library. (Cheers.) It was in Auckland he intended to await his relief from England. But I find, gentlemen, a close intimacy of twenty years, fori served under him as midshipuan, may, if I were to express all I feel, lead me beyond your patience. You have kindly given us (the officers of the Pandora) the honour of meeting Sir George Grey on his departure from the colony, and we appreciate the favour, because itgives us an opportunity of witnessing and testifying to the conduct ancl great abilities of the "pilot who weathered the storm." (Cheers).. You have met here probably with various feelings of satisfaction as to his Excellency's Government. Some of you may have entirely differed with him formerly. Some may have staked their entire dependence on his proceedings. Some, whilst honouring the man, may yet wish to see the benefits he has conferred more entirely developed before pronouncing on his government. But, gentlemen, I feel assured from all we see around us, from the infancy of his administration to the moment of his departure, that it will not need posterity to raise an eulogy upon a man whom neighbouring colonies are jealously seeking for. (Hear, hear.). I for one donothesitate to prognosticate that when the violence of partizanship shall subside, and the acrimony of Land Claimants g-tall be appeased by the genial influences of his Excellency's recent legislation, that as our brethren at home now almost universally acknowledge the wisdom of the late great statesmen Sir Robert Peel, so with the enlightened of this Colony, we shall see as' real " turning of the Tables" (Laughter).—Possibly by involuntary action, but they will turn, and the community will say of Governor Grey, " He was a man, take him for all in all. We ne'er shall look upon his like again." (Loud Cheers). The next toast on the list was the toast of the evening,—" Sir George Gret." In introducing it, the Chairman said, — Gentlemen,— When you consider that I have been twentytwo years resident in New Zealand, and for fourteen of that period shut out, I may say, from social intercourse, you can hardly expect that I should be competent to do justice to the toast of this evening or bo tapster of appropriate language for such an occasion. (Cheers). We may now properly look back on the state of the country when his Excellency Governor Grey entered on his duties. The difficulties of his position had been greatly Increased by the vacillating policy of former administrations. War existed at both extremities of the land,—political war in the North, as against the Government ; social war in the South, as against the people. There was an empty Treasury, a debased currency, a distressed and ruined people, who were abandoning the country and ready to fly away a.s it were from the land. When future historians shall review the state of affairs then, it must be with fear and trembling that they will proceed to investigate the'career of that man who was destined to encounter such difficulties; but when they come to the closing period, as we have now done, they cannot but say with us, Goveriu r Grey was not merely sent but he was born to do the work. (Loud Cheers.) Let us briefly notice some of his measures and their results. We find amongst them the introduction of a metallic currency, vigour and skill in prosecuting the war, until it was brought to a successful termination, and permanent peace established ; an outlay fiom the military crust, spent, among other things, on works of the garrison of the capital of New Zealand, which afforded a circulating medium of some £O,OOO/. fCheers). During this period, having noticed the prostrate state of the country, his Excellency solicited and obtained for us Parliamentary grants, which were expended on roads and works to open up the country; and, seeing the inability of the colony to introduce labour, he procured a supply of that want by the introduction of Pensioner capital and immigration and from this source secured the circulation amongst us of another amount of some £15,000 a-year. (Cheers). The employment of Native labour was taken advantage of by his Excellency to acquire a knowledge of the Native language, habits, and
character which, eoupled with his subsequent local acqualmjuv. with the interior, enabled him to set about the great social i* provementof the Native Race which has been effected; tad «I benefit to be derived not ctily to us, but to our future time, has been greatly promoted by the introduciwif among the Natives, of Schools .for their instroctior; ?' the English language,—the establishment of local courts, ana »k conferring upon them a mi»Of share in the administration rf justice were further steps in the same direction. Whea thk progress had been secured, although he had objected to th» Constitution offered in 1346, which would have involv** the seizure of the Native lands,"and' the probable result of plunging the country again "into wars, His Excellency nevertheless endeavoured to prepare us for free institutionby the formation of Hundreds, having Wardens who" he intended, should expend the focal revenue hi the district where it was raised. But this measure was frustrated by the demand for payment of the New Zealand Company's claim and at that period, when party opposition was at its highest', and' doubts, difficulties, and dismay prevailed—he seized for us,with a bold and determined grasp, the money from the spalltr. His next measure was that important one, the Cheap Land Regulations which he issued a* soon as he had the power to do so. Besides this in the new Constitution he extended the franchise to the operative class, a measure the wisdom of which was suftkienUy apparent,from the moderatiouwhichthat large class marufestedb* returning only one, when they had the power to return two* three; and this forbearance, and the good judgment of the'
choice was abundantly confirmed by the prudent and able condi of their representative- The benefits conferred on the Nati\ *% population I forbear to notice, as tlajjr will speak for themselves' but i must notice the great advantage accruing to Aucklar from their agricultural progress, in furnishing the merchant* ■ our city with a large consuming population for their manufactures, on the one hand, and securing them to a great extent from the ill effects of the fluctuations of immigration, ana from the same source supplied a Urge and steady export, a matter of great importance to the Province of Auckland. (Cheers). Gentlemen, there certainly are disadvantages' attending his Excellency's departure, one of which may be the want of his interposition, should the General Assembly attempt to disturb our measures. But there will be also benefits accruing to us by his absence, especially in the practical knowledge of our circumstances and ab.lity to advance our welfare, he will carry to Her Majesty's Councils, which will no doubt be turned to good account in favour of the interests of the P ovince of Auckland. And now gentlemen we will drink is r tf ought "The HiAi.ru or Sis George Grkv.*' , It would be impossible to describe the enthusiasm with which the toast was received. The hall rang with vehement cheering, continued for sortie - minutes, and accompanied with waving of handkerchiefs and every possible evidence of energetic cordiality. Music, — A Man's a Man for a' that. The enthusiasm which for a moment had subsided again broke forth with even augmented force when Sir George Grey rose to return thanks. When at length the appkuse permitted him to be heard, His ExcErxENCY spoke as follows : Mr. Chairman, your Lordship, and Gentlemen, —I feel mora grateful than I can easily express for the very cordial manner in which my health has been responded to by this large, respect* able, and intelligent company. On tha eve of my—at least temporary—departure from these happy shores, your invitation, and the warmth with which I have been received this »vening, have, indeed, gladdened my heart What affords me the highest satisfaction, however, is to witness the advanced prosperity and welfare of the colonists, and the establishment of that prosperity on a foundation sufficiently secure to warrant a firm faith in its continuance. (Cheers.) Let any who may be sceptical on this subject take a survey of the present magnificent banquet, a id look at the happy and cheerful faces around me, and then gi re a candid expression to the conclusion at which they must arrive. And it is delightful to consider that there is no poverty or misery outside these walls to contrast with the abundance and happiness within. (Cheers.) Want is absolutely unknown. (Cheers.) At one time trouble and diitress existed, but thank God they have passed away; " Want" has become a term of historical reminiscence, the reality not now existing through the length or breadth of the land. No creed is without Its Paster or place of worship; no child without the means of a competent education. (Cheers.) These facts, together with a varie;y of others to which if time permitted I might refer, are not only cheering in themselves to each individual of the community, but also highly creditable to the collective enterprise and intelligence of the country. (Cheers.) Without enlarging on these topics, however, I may take the opportunity which the present occasion appears most appropriately to afford, to mats some observations on a few points connected with ray own administration of the affairs of the Colony. (Hear hear.) 1 have heard that it has been often stated by those whose good opinion I highly value that it has been to them a matter of frequent regret that it has been my custom, when attacks have been made upon myself or upon my administration, to refrain from offering to the public those explanations which would have enabled my friends to defend my conduct. Now what I fear is, that from my having adopted the course of submitting in silence to those attacks, to which all men who govern others must invariably be subject, it may be thought that I acted thus from a haughty pride which scorned to conciliate public feeling or sympathy c and which led me to undervalue the good opinion of those amongst whnm I lived. But such I can assure you was not the case. (Applause.) On the contrary'* I *ni keenly alive to feelings of personal sympathy and regard. So strongly ia this my nature, that I believe, in every instance, those who were the friends of my boyhood, remain the friends of my middle age, (Cheers); and that all those public servants
who for many year* p° gt h-»vi».j«cn«d.«ith. me-m- wnderme, hardly know me as the Governor, but all, I believe, know me at a friend. I love many men, and I hope they love me. (Cheers.) I should not value life if I had not others to love and workfor; and it is the friendly look? and actions of others which brighten up existence for me. (Loud Cheers.) But, in truth, I could not have answered the attacks made upon me, without neglecting your interests, (Hear, hear.) Pressing cares, for the immediate moment and for the future, have engrossed all my time and all my thoughts. Had I halted in my course, to suud still and defend the past, I must have relaxed my exertions for the public good; and it appeared to me unworthy of the ruler of great countries to sit timorous as a hare eagerly listening for every sound that might menace its safety. (Loud Cheering.) My first consideration was the public welfare: if I achieved that, what signified my own safety and immediate renown ? If I had suffered, while the colony was saved, should my own individual loss of office or repute have weighed with me against the interests of the many? I was one man in a battle: what if I fell, and the victory was gained to my country?—my companions in arms would eventually have vindicated my memory. (Continued Cheering.) I believed that if I sacrificed myself for the people of this country, a grateful posterity would hereafter do me justice; and I did scorn, from any tender squeamishsiess for my own repute, to waste hours due to works of future good in childishly defending each of my past acts. —thus indirectly ever asking for applause for what I had done. (Cheers.) Yet it may be said that when the attacks upon me were violent and loud, I might, at little loss of time to myself, have caused prosecutions for libel to have been commenced against the authors or publishers of such attacks. (Loud Cheers.) But., in countries that had then so little of freedom, did it become any good citizen to try to stifle the little there was? (Cheers.) And when I, as the Governor, and guardian of public justice, was compelled to see—in the cases of others, and in those where public interests were concerned —that the law was so rigorously enforced as to terrify evil doers, was I to be denied, in my own case, the luxury of exercising kindness, forgiveness, and forbearance to their utmost limits? (Loud cheering.) Had I, during the thirteen years I have administered the government of great countries, sought upon "J 6 ** occasion when I was libelled to have my fellow citizens fined or imprisoned, what must have been my feelings now upon returning to Europe? While, on the other haud, what can have been more glorious than to have had an opportunity of forgiving so many injuries, as I have fully, frankly, and freely done ? (Great applause ) In which mode should I have, by example in my high office, benefitted yourselves and your children most, —by shewing a timorous anxiety for my repute, which led me to neglect my daily duties, and by commencing prosecutions against all those who spoke evil of myself and my measures,—or by calmly and unswervingly pursuing your interests and ray duties, thinking my own welfare as nothing compared with the public safety j and striving to show by example that public men should care little for momentary applause or disapprobation—much, for the calm and dispassionate after-judgment of impartial men. (Enthusiastic cheers). But there arise in my own case other considerations. I was at once Governor of a great country and an officer of a great Empire, with concurrent —and yet, in some, respects, varied—interests. My first duty was to preserve such an attachment between the Central Government and this portion of the Empire that I might by all means in my power strengthen the bonds of good feeling and of mutual interest which united them. Hence, if I devised any measure for the good of this country which I believed ivoiild be regarded by its inhabitants as a great boon, and which could not originate here, but could only be conceded by the mother country, it became my duty to take no steps in relation to such a subject which might induce the people here clamoiously to call for it before it had been considered by statesmen at home, or which might lead to violent disappointment had it been refused; in short, to take no steps which mijil have rendered me rather the leadei of a party here than the counsellor of my Sovereign and her advisers. (Cheers.) It was my duty rather to have the booikSO granted by the Central Government that it should com« as an act of free grace and of provident forethought, not as a concession made to popular clamour. Hence I often-A*f**"d
for long periods of time to remain apparently and neglectful of your interests, when really earnestly arf& actively wor*.- ( ing for your good. (Hear, hear.) As &s\ iqstance, I may alluds to the Constitution you have recently received, and for the proper introduction of which I have been for so many deavnuring to make all fitting preparations, which is now so generally admitted to be admirably adapted to your wants, arid which possesses many provisions far in advance of the Constitutions of other colonies ;—a Constitution the first introduction of wh.cb. always a matter of the greatest difficulty, is being soexcellently carried out by vour Representatives; —and which I fervently pray mav be tiie means of advancing to a high degree your future prosperity. (Cheers.) For a very long period after I had sketched cut that Constitution, and was using my everjf effort to induce statesmen in England to approve of it, I was* by some persons in this colony, represented as endeavouring to> deprive you entirely of representative institutions, and as b.smg; bent upon establishing a perfectly despotic system. And to. show you how completely the difficulty 1 allude to was felt By statesmen at home, I may mention that when her Majes.ty a Government had determii.ed to introduce a form of Con.siitution nearly such as 1 had recommended, and. had written W acquaint me with their intentions, a change of ministry suddenly took place; and when Sir John Pakington came into office m* first act was to write to me, apparently startled at the magnitude of the changes I proposed—to direct me upon no account to make public the intentions of Her' Majesty-s P" 5 ™ 0 "? advisers, as, if the new Government did not feel justified i > carrying them out, great discontent might probably prevail.. felt the justice and force of this argument, rigidly obeye my instructions, and still remained in silence, almost daily misrepresentations reganling my m«»v
and conduct. (Cheers). You* are all aware that Sir John Pakington, after mature consideration of my plan and arguments, in the most full and generous manner adopted my views, and that the Constitution was granted very much in the form I hadogrepared it; and I had at last the gratification of seeing my advice adopted, the satisfaction of having it made clear to all that my earnest desire had been to secure Free Institutions for this country, and the approval of my own conscience for having, in order to promote the interests of the Empire, for so long a time submitted without a murmur or reply to mis-statements regarding my motives and views whicl| were often very galling to me. (Loskkcheers). Having made these •explanations to satisfy those of my friends, who had a right to expect them from me, I turn to the subject of the Native Population, (Cheers). My remarks shall l*we be most general, j and I shall not long delay you, but my experience on this sub- ' ject will justify me in troubling you with a few words. (Cheers). I have long felt that in recent years the scope and porfpr of Chrijfllanity has been misundetstood and undervalued. It h?s appeared to me that in efforts to promote tlra welfare, the instruction, and the civilization of the .masses of mankind, it has j been the prevailing modern error too attach to much importance in these respects to the form of the Institutions and Government of a country, and too little weight to the power and influence of Christianity. It has often grieved me to see that those who have from time to time led the religious party in England have been too frequently violent reformers, who appeared s 9» much intent upon violent changes in our institutions as upon jeforms in the Church,—who appeared to hope to render men better and more awwl. "Ot by providing means for their , Christian instruction and for their mental improvement, but by npff Constitutions or by changes in their forms of Government. Now it is of the very essence of Christianity to adapt itself to all systems of government alike. That nation in which each individual could be brought to do his Christian duty to every other individual in it, would atttain a higher degree of prosperity and happiness, •whatever were its form of Government—indeed in such a country a bad form of Government would almost imperceptibly become a good one—than any nation has ifitherto attained to, and the nearer approach it made to this state of things, the more happy and prosperous would such a nation be. (Loud cheers.) I hold this to be an incontrovertible truth, applicable to every state of things, but especially applicable to a state in which a civilized and a barbarous population are mingling. Races under such circumstances would be ignorant of one another's laws and customs ; but they wauld both alike understand and appreciate charity, love, and Christian forbearance, and the simple but divine principles of Christianity would form, a code of laws, written in the hearts of each, which they could bo,th alike understand and appreciate, and bring into daily, nay, hourly, practice in their intercourse with each other. (Cheers.) My obvious duty was therefore to attempt by all means to s'ecure to Christianity the full and unrestricted use of its : powers, to aid in its practical developement, and to strive to free it froaa all fetters which might restrict its action. By adopting this principle as my ruling guide, I roused into activity the noblest energies of the noblest meh in the country. (Cheers.) AH Christian men set"earnestly to work at the task before them. Each knew his duty in his peculiar calling, and, without orders behageiven, perfectly understood what it was his duty to do undWany circumstances that irdght befall him. The natives also thoroughly comprehended, this system, as they show«d in their memorial to the Queen (Memorial of Cook's Straits Natives, Feb. 22nd, 104!)), in which they stated— , "He made us acquainted with your good intentions towards us; he joined his to the works of Christ, of his Ministers and Bishops; and now, for the first time, good works are the result.*' (Cheers.) The results of this system are before ■you all. (Loud cheers.) We, who have seen them, may, I think, question whether the masses of Europe might not be more effectually relieved by a practical development, of Christianity than by many of the mere social changes which have been adopted, or recommended for adoption. (Cheers.) In reviewing, gentlemen, the history of these colonies, we may all I think, well be proud. In no previous age have higher deeds been accomplished than we and the inhabitants of the neighbouring colonies have achieved. We have changed the appear- , ance of this portion of the world; we have carried the Christian faith, the English language, the English laws, tjie British Empire, to the remotest limits of the globe. nations have been by irs founded upon a basis of pe ce and commerce. We have given to British industry and trade an extension which a few years ago would have been regarded as marvellous. All oceans almost groan with the weight of ships freighted with goods from Great Britain for these colonies, or with the produce we are sending home. England's dockyards can hardly supply ships adequate to our wants, or her ports sailors sufficient in man them. Panting steam almost grows weary in labouring to manufacture our raw produce in such quantities as will satisfy o\ir demands. For ourselves we have built new homes in sunny, and fertile lands. (Cheers). We have opened districts to which, the' weary poor of Europe may flock in multitudes, and Heave their children trw owners of broad acres. (Cheers). Nm liave we neglected our mother country; for not only Us I ha /e just stated, given to her industry and commerce antjxtensior. which is little less than miraculous; but we have freed her shj! from, and made rich, happy, and independent, countless families of those who were regarded as paupers, and who so encumbered the land that it was ill her greatest »£atesraen could do to devisWneastires which might suffice for the wants "orthe moment, and ward off for a time the evil day which seemed inevitably io about to fall on a country over-run with an already too dense, but rapidly increasing, and almost starving population. That population is now so reduced by the openings we have stftde, that hardly as many remain as suffice to supply the increased demands we are making upon the industry of Britain. Thus we have provided for the wise and good of that country a breathing time,—a time of repose from immediately pressing difficulties, which will, if they use it we'll,, enable them to devise such measures as may prevent similar' difficulties from ever nj;ain overtaking tH«>>r eOTinUy. (Loud Cheers.) I believe that no nation ever poured forth a chivalry which accomplished greater or nobler deeds than these. To all of us it may be a matter of pride that we have borne each his share in these actions. For myself, I have lived now for sixteen years ever with those men were upon the very fiontiers of the Empire,—the leaders of the van of the great movement that was going on. (Cheers.) For the last eight years you have been my companions and fellow-labourers. (Loud Cheers.) J rejoice that I lived with such men, and in such times, and that I took my part in such deeds. And having lived so long in the front, 1 am contented to pass my life there, in no degree
desiring the rest and security which the centre of the Empire affords. (Loud Cheer*.) Can it be wondered at that I should feel these sentiments, when 1 look around me and see hare two distinguished Oilicers, who have at different times commanded the troops in New Zealand, rendering great services to their country (cheers): when 1 see here Naval Officers, who have opened new harbours to British commerce (cheers): a Bishop and Missionary Clergymen who have spread Christianity and civilization through many hitherto idolatrous and barbarous tribes," leaving imperishable footprints wherever they have trod (loud cheers): when I see high Civil Officers who have borne their part, in the devising and introducing new laws and flourishing institutions (hear hear): Seamen who have explored new seas for commerce, new lands for trade (hear hear): Merchants who have given a new impulse to British industry, and have rendered the indolent savage a diligent producer of valuable commodities, a large consumer of British goods (cheers): hardy Agriculturists', who, toiling for years, have tested and proved the capabilities of new countries,—who, fearless of solitude, and apparently hopeless difficulties, have covered the wilderness with fruitful farms. (Cheers.) No roan could contemplate such men and not feel proud indeed to have been a leader amongst them (Loud cheers.) I raust yet add a few words, (Hear, hear.) In a few days I am to depart, and he gallant Officer near me (Col. Wynyard) is to dminister the government of these Islands. (Loud cheers) Although they are now so .prosperous, the government of such gnsat countries, with such varied interests of races and settlements, must always be a task of great difficulty. Let him therefore have from all of you a generous aid ar.d support. (Hear hear.) He will repay you well for this, and he deserves it. (Ch<eri,) He has already rendered you great services, (cheers)—in the field, and as officer commanding the Troop 3, as Lieut.-Governor of a large district, (cheers,) as the Superintendent of this Province, (cheers,) and even when he was a MM»e private person amongst you, with nothing but his military rank, he always strove to promote your interests, (cheers,) to sptead a charm over your social intercourse (cheers), and performed those thousand little friendly acts, which spring naturally from a gentleman-like and courteous mind (Cheers.) He has indeed deserved vfell of the people of New Zealand, and my parting request to them is, not to forget this, and to treat him well. [His Excellency sat down amidst enthusiastic applause, which was kept: up for a considerable time.] The Chairman next, proposed " Lady Cuey," a toast which was received with the liveliest tokens of interest and respect. In introducing it, the Chairman said, — Tlie peculiar circumstances under which-we have met calls for tije early introduction of a toast by which we may pay a marked tribute of affectionate respect to the honoured Lady of our distinguished guest. (Cheers). Although the unfortunate burning of Government House deprived the community of the fuller aquaintanc» with Lady Grey, which they might otherwise have enjoyed, yet her Ladyship's quiet, unorbtrusive, and benevolent course has been known, and we may rest assured that her Ladyship has much contributed to maintain that calm and undisturbed state of 11 is Excellency's mind which has so greatly promoted the interests of New Zealand. (Cheers). It becomes us now to offer our best wishes for Lady Grey's renewed health, prosperous voyage, and happy meeting with her expecting friends in England. (Cheers). Music, — The Bonny English Rose. Jxrr Cbsc-LGE Gkey, on rising to return thanks Was again greeted with continued applause. His Excellency said,— Upon Lady Grey's behalf I thank the Chairman for the terms in which he proposed her health, and yourselves for the manner in whith you received that toast. And yet I feel that I ought to be more grateful to you than Lady Grey srlould be. (Cheers.) For what can be more pleasing to me than to have seen such a compliment paid to one who through long years has cheered and sustained me, (cheers,) —who has ever lightened my difficulties, and shared—as far as was in her power—in my .toils, (Cheers.) Woman's destiny does not permit her to perform great public actions, which are known to, and claim the applau&e of the world,—her influence ia rather felt in the .domestic circie, and, in the gentle duties of the relief of want, jytkness, and misery. In all these respects Lady Grey has inrleert done her .utmost to promote the interests of New Zealand (loud cheers): and although now about l;o leave it, she will, whe,n in England, still do her utmost, in woman's proper sphere, to promote the interests of this country. (Loud cheering.) The Vice-Chaiuman (W. S. Gralianie, Esqr.) proposed the health of the Bishop of New Zealand in ttyese :—. I have pleasure in rising to. propose the health of His Lordship the Bi.hop of Ne.v Zealand. It is fortunate- for me tbe toast requires nothing to be said by way of ensuring its b< inn cordially, mpourieti to, as His Lordship is well known to all, mid .highly respected by all. The gentlemen present are all living witnesses to the talent, (the unremitting zeal, ttic dvvotedness, and the self denial which His Lordship lias ever displayed in carrying on the great work in which he is engaged. -tCiistrs.) I regret that the cnlony is about to loose His Lui-d----~~A valuable scr\ircs lor a time; but, God willing, I hope be
mil soon return with renewed Vigour and Increased meari« of usefulness for carrying on his ImuohY of love. J shall conclude hy proposing His Lordship's health. (Cheers, i The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm. Music,— Bishop Meier's Hymn. The Bishop of New Zealand, in rising to return thanks, was received with loud cheers. His Lordship spoke as follows: Gentleman.—Before I return thanks to the whole company here assembled for the very kind manner in which they have drunk my health, I think it my duty first to thank the Stewaidsfor the honour which they conferred upon ine by inviting me to attend this dinner as their guest. I was sensible of the honour which was conferred, but I felt obliged to decline the invitation : and to take my place here as one of the private persons who concurred in the invitation to Sir George Grey, of which this meeting is the result. There need be no mistake upon this point, that this is a farewell dinner to Sir George Grey. And though I may have my own opinion as to the value of this particular mode of acknowledging the services of any public man; yet as the presiding genius of the Anglo-Saxon race seems to have determined, that no work of any kind shall be carried out without a public ainner (Laughter), I am perfectly willing to waive my own private opinion in concession to established custom, and to come here this evening, with this large assembly of my fellow colonists, to shew my respect to Sir George Grey by eating and drinking in his presence. (Cheers.) I.have been the more induced to attend this evening, because I fintl that, not only by public advertisement, but by private letters--one of which has been addressed to an iritimate friend of my ow!> —we have been cautioned against taking any part in these Now, gentlemen, 1 presume that this at least is a (joint upon which each of us is at liberty to judge for himself. v !ye are all here this evening by our own free will: and each of us, could explain, as well as I can. the reasons of his attendances My reason is simply this ; that, without minutely questioning the exact mode or form, I feel it to be my boundeu duty to give to man the honour which is due to him. This is no more r ttt«,;m common honesty, to pay our just debts, especially when the'—Payment imposes upon us no heavier burden than the public ex] iression of our thanks. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, this is my general principle, and I exclude no man from the benefit of it. Every public officer, every member of council, every faithful collector of customs, every kind-hearted gaoler, every editor of a newspaper, thall always command my meed of praise according as I believe it to be due. I even go further than this, if any man, even in the pursuit of his own private interest, has promoted the public good, 1 recognise a certain debt of gratitude even to him. If a merchant, for instance, by his commercial foresight, has "anticipated a coming war, and laid in military or naval stores in consequence, even if he has made a hundred iy»r. cent, profit under the pressure of circumstances, and ei-stiched himself by the disapteis of his country, though I c&pnnot place him in the highest iin* of public merit, yet I. v*Vfi respect the <Tmxiff!? of buvmg"""m the cheapest market and selling in the dearest, and .vill rbnk him among the benefactors of the community, because, without his forethought, self-interested though it may havf been, tha Colony might have been lost. But while I allow all due credit to all Secretaries and Treasurers who write or cypher for the public good in their own quiet offices, and to all gentlemen (if the Press, who enlighten the public mind by articles written i:> their own chairs, and to all merchants who provide for the public safety by forming arsenals within their own lucrative stores, I must reserve the first place of honour and the highest tribute of gratitude to those—of whom there are several here present besides the guest of the evening—who have gone out into the) battle-field, and have freely risked their lives in ovir defence. ,\ speak of your gallant Superintendent, with whose service* ypu are all well acquainted ; and I am glad to have this public opportunity of offering my thanks to that lion hearted veteran, Colonel Hulme, whom I have seen hastening to the post of danger at the Waimate to do his duty ; and to your Police Magistrate, whom I have seen bravely defending Kororareka; and to Captain Russell, who in conjunction with another Auckland settler, Major Richmond, saved Wel'ington by steady coolness, and wise forbearance. Nor can I omit our visitor Captain Drury, who has opened Mamskau and made Auckland the Corinth of the Southern Seas. (Cheers.) I may be partial, gentlemen, in my judgement, or it may be that the peculiar duties of my office have led me to see more of one class of public benefactors than another ; but 1 must confess that my sympathies are more enlisted in favour of that class of public benefactors whom I have .seen risking their lives ifT the battle-field for the pnbljlj, good, than of that otjier class of public benefactors JO; whom 1 have paid long bills for tjtfir private benefit. I doctor say this invidiously, far less as casting any imputation—and. if there are any here present to whom 1 have paid long bjtft I hope that they] will forgtyfe me—but merely as an argument to all g/ntlemen to whom I have shown my honesty by paying atWtheir just demands, to leave me free to acknowledge and to pay my debts to Sir George Grey, and, with their consent, 1 will pay them. (Loud Cheers). It has been my lot. gentlemen, to see something of the troubles of this country, and to have my share in them, and throughout all those, no one point has struck tie more than the singula: blessing which this colony has gjajoyed in the public spirit and zeal anil self-sacrifice which hapten shown by most, if not all, of its public officers. I enjoyed the privilege on my first arrival of a fortnight's; domestic intercourse with that honourable and upright man, Capt. Hobson. (Cheers). From his mouth I heard a. lesson, whiclfT have never forgotten, a principle upon which, I believe, he acted consistently throughout life—Never to use his public position to promote iik any way his own private gain. After his untimely death, cllcre came the temporary government of Mr. Shortland, which/ I will not scruple to call a wise and fieriest administration/ I was with him at Tauranga, when a handful of the gallantjph Regiment, since so distinguished in India, were rrst.rniifrrlTyl". piu.lence tram provoking a war, which recent events have proved, would have desolated the Knglish settlements. Warned by this threatening of coming evils, Mr. Shortland took the wise precaution of concentrating our setters by allowing those who held land at a distance, to exchange into the neighbourhood of Auckland, receiving for the government a great deal ' very worthless land, and bringing into our neighbourhood mar" very valuable settlers. A wiser step was never taken in the history of the colony of New Zealand. Next came a man whom I can never think of without sorrow and respect. For, mark me, gentlemen, I can not measure merit by success. "A good man struggling with the storms of fate,'' will cornmandmy sympathy, even more than one standing on the pinnacle of success. (Applause.) I honoured Captain Fitzßoy in his misfortunes, a? I honour you, Sir Georgt Grey, in your prosperity. Shortly after his recal I saw a letter from the Secretory for the Colonies, in which he taid :—" No one here dares say a word for poor Fitzßoy. - ' 1 aim thankful to have this opportunity of saying a word in New Zealand, which no one would say in England. I have seen that honourable man, for the sake of the public good, sacrificing his own private property, and what is even dearer to us all, his public reputation. (Hear hear.) There aremany here present who can recollect the time, so different from the present, when this colony was on the verge of bankruptcy ; I have seen my honourable friend the Colonial Treasurer, who now sits so comfortably upon his well-filled chest, reduced almost to despair; and I have seen my trusty friend Mr. Kennedy, not then as now—the officer of the Union Hank of Australia, and helping to pay the proprietary a dividend of 40 per cent., not then, as now, rejoicing in deposits to the amount of £120,000 ; but preparing at four o'clock in the afternoon to close the doors, | which at ten o'clock the next morning he had resolved not to open ! to thepublic. Then, in the faceof his instructions, at the risk of loss of office, with no possible advantage to himself, right or wrong, according to political economy, well or ill as to the result, for the sake of the public credit, and for no other cause, Captain Fitzltoy made debentures a legal tender, and lost his office in his attempt to save the colony from ruin. (Hear, hear.) One instance more, gentlemen, for I shall not weary ycti with many. I was with Captain Fitzltoy at the meeting with the native chiefi of the North, when the reinforcement of 200 men arrived from Sydney. On that occasion Thomas Walker gave the pledge, which he has since amply redeemed, that if the Governor would give the lie to Ileke's assertions, that the land was to be taken from them, by sending back the troops, he and his men would guarantee the protection of the North. It was the wisest, as well as the bravest act that was ever done by any Governor in the British Empire, It is true that the native allies were a little too late in taking the field j but when they took it they kept it. The example was set, and from North to South no British force has ever been employed without its contingent of native allies. (Great cheering.) The effect of that alliance It is for military men to state rather than for me. I simply state the fact: and, if I were to write the history of Captain Fitzßoy's administration, it would be in these words—He was the man who lost Kororareka, but who saved New Zealand. (Applause.) These, gentlemen, are the voussoirs of my arch ; now I put on the key-stone. I care not to determine which stone is the largest or which the most important—all were necessary to the completeness of the arch, each in its own place. Neither shall I attempt to measure out my testimony by any nicely calculated estimate of the merits of our various Governors. If I have to censure. any man I will censure him to his face; but, if I have to praise him, I would rather praise him behind his bark. This I will say, gentlemen, and I say it advisedly, I say it fearlessly,—the keystone of the arch of the prosperity of New Zealand, has been *he administration of Sir George Grey. (Loud Cheering.) I have no desire to waste many words in proof of this Mi quart* monumentum circumspice. Let him who wishes for further proof go round the New Zealand settlements, native villages and all, and judge for himself. (Applause.) I have been round all the settlement! of this country again and again,and have seen them in all their stages of progress, in all their various states of misfortune and prosperity. I have also seen something of other countries—of various parts of England and of the continent of Europe. In some places I have seen a conquered people groaning under the yoke of an iron despotism ; in others I have seen half-starved mechanics stinted almost of their daily bread by greedy manufacturers; in other places, I have seen labourers toiling for hardhearted farmers, and then sent to the workhouse to starve on food doled out to them by ounces; I have seen beggars, all vermin and rags, crowding at the corners of every street to ask for alms—l have seen in every country where I nave been, sone signs of misery or of injustice—but never till I coma out to n British colony did I see a land where no man, high or low, had anything really to complain of. (Applause). Produce me a single real grievance, and 1 will carry it to England, to be exhibited in the British Museum as a New Zealand curiosity. (Laughter). No, gentlemen, we all know that this is true. Look round upon the country and the town I and you see everywhere a thriving population. The men whom I employed as labourers when I first settled at Auckland, are now living on their own estates, and driving their own teams of bullocks. These are not tha signs cither of tyranny in the Government, or of misery in the subject. When I he2r of murmuring* and complaints of misgovernment, in such a state of things as the present, it reminds me of an answer which a mother made to a son who complained of bad treatment at school:—" Well, my dear, all I can say is, that you look remarkably well.'' (Laughter and applause.) The whole colony I can assure you, gentlemen, looks remarkably well; and those who complain most, look quite as well as their neighbours. (Laughter and Cheers). Having seen then something of the real distresses of the country, I can no more enter into th«se imaginary grievances, than a physician coming from a case of Asiatic cholera or delirium tremens, could sympathisefurthor than politeness required, with any gentleman's dyspepsia, or with any lady's nerves. (Laugluer). Besides,
gentlemen, one word more. (Ilea:, hear.) Allowing, for argument's sake, that there have been grievances, though I have not seen them, the game is now in your own hands. Rulers cannot be desperately bad, who abdicate, like Washington, their own Sovereignty, and leave the government in the hands of the people. Vour constant endeavour, Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, will be to hunt out every hidden grievance and to abolish it when it is found, (Laughter.) But allow me to offer one piece of advice—do not eicpeet unanimity, for the whole British Constitution has ever been, and ever will be worked by the antagonism of opposite opinions. Even the simplest form of human government is not exempt from this fatality—that, I mean, in which the husband is tto only governor, and the wife the only subject. (Laughter and applause.) I cannot therefore sympathize with the feeling, even though it be that of some of my own private friends, which, for some political difference, or some personal pique, would withhold from public men their just reward of public approbation. (Hear, hear), I can have no political differences, and 1 have no personal piques; but if I had, they would not restrain me from coming forward on this occasion, and in the most public and emphatic manner thanking Sir George Grey for his able, wise, and j impartial administration of the Government of New Zealand. (Loud Cheers). And now, gentlemen, I thank you also for the honour you have done to me; and wish you all a happy Christmas, and many years of life as prosperous as the past. (Continued applause).
J. A. Gixfiixak, Esqv., J.P., M.P.C., rose to propose "The Missionary Societies and their Aoenfs in "New Zealand." lie said,
The toast came appropriately after the health of His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand who might be regarded as one of the first Missionary Bishops of the Church of England. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubt, the compatvy there assembled united with him in the gratification of seeing at that table the representatives of all CVrtjjaan Churches. Perhaps more than any oilier Country New Zealand was under deep obligations to tlib cause of fissions. (Hear, hear.) The great problem as |o whether civilization should precede Christianity, or Christianity jfnould precede civilization, had here been solved, the two; elements now went hand in hand arTirUaughtagreat less/rr-toallsjuccCj.ding times. (Cheers.) To select any forfthe subject ,of his eulogy or that Meeting's applause, wtnVllllJn an* case bfc unworthy and invidious. On the present occasiou«it*"waS\ 'possible, for he was free to declare that he earnestly jbelievW"* l tins' Missionaries of every denomination had been a, 'd devoted in their labours ; that their only rivalry was,, "aj to which should accomplish the greatest amount of goo<)*d, tneir only emulation to work on in the service and to. the glory of their Great Master, and for the benefit of th-.ose who had been by! Him committed to their care. (Cheers.) Music, — How beautiful upon the Mountains. The Venerable Archdeacon Abraham, in returning thanks, spoke as follows : I feel quite ashamed to find myself called upon to represent the Missionary Bodies of the Church of England. I know nothing of Missionary work ; I have no scars to show like those veterans of the Church Missionary Society, who have been labouring twenty or thirty years in the service, and who bore all the brunt of the battle. They are still where we would have them be—at their several posts, and so the office has devolved upon me to acknowledge the honour you have paid to the Church Missionary Society. 1 need hardly remind you that it is owing, under God, to that society and its agents that we are here assembled to-night They were the pioneers of Christianity and civilization in this land; and the future historians of New Zealand when tracing the origin of the Colony will record with gratitude the work done by the Church Missionary Society, and hand down to lasting honour the name of Marsden. (Cheers.) Perhaps I may feel less difficulty in acknowledging the honour paid to another Church Society—to which I belong, and to which many of us here assembled, and many of our brethren in the other English settlements of the Colony have been mainly indebted for the ministrations of religion;—l mean th.j society for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. (Hear,hear,) She was the kind mother that nurtured the settlement in its infancy; and now that we are full grown, and abie to walk alone our best return to he,r witl'be to maintaiu.ourselves, which I am thankfui to say is soott'likely to be thcSse. Having said thus much} I feel that this is not an occasionifbr speaking more partjcularly'Vabout those societies, except so far as their work is connected with the great: object of this evetSpg's festivity—the .doing hondft-? to Sir (ieorge (irey. And (the speaker addressing himself to the Governor), in the name of those Socle* \{j«f; I thank your Excellency for having enabled'tjfem and their agents to fulfil most effectually the duty of preaching the Gospel, by procuring for us and preserving the great blessing of Peace. (Cheers.) For this—all Religious Bodies alike —are equally indebted to you ; and it must be a gratifying subject of reflection to you, Sir, as it is to us, to find that there are occasions, and that this is one of them, on which we can lay aside our religious differences, and meet on the ground of our common sympathies, and acknowledge that weowe the opportunity of quietly doing our duty in the fear of God, and honouring the Queen, to you, Sir, Her Majesty's Representative. (Cheers.) The Rev. J. 11. Fykes, R.C.C. Ilowick,' also teturned thanks. He begged leave to return his ben thanks on behalf of himself andtheCatholiccommunity which had been included in the toast. He regretted that their much respected and .beloved Bishop Pompallier had been prevented from being present, by reason of his spiritual duties (Hear, hear) He (Mr- Fynes) was greatly gratified to see all classes and religious denoniinat ons of the -community represented at that meeting, and to observe the harmony prevailing amongst them, (Cheers ) Our Saviour had I said"Bythis shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," and on tub principle ail should be agreed to meet on such an occasion (uJwhe present. For himself, he had necessarily been kept by his vocation al.iof from the politics and the political parlies of the day; but during the four years in which he had li\ed in this country, he had been a quiet observer of Sir Geergl lirey's policy in the administration of public affairs. That observation had led him to respect and love the man. He (Mr, Fynes) had been invited by the stewards to thit entertainment, a compliment on which he set a high value viewing it as a mark o*" respect to the Body to which he belonged. But even if he had not been invited, he would as cheerfully have given a £.snote, (Laughter) or a £)0 note, (Laughter) IS the price of the present dinner-ticket, that he might unite with the colonist/ in this farewell entertainment to His Excellency. He had gladly ridden in from Ilowick that day to be present. The pensioners had been often represented as bad colonists; hut he had been now for some time officiating amongst the-rompanies at Ilowick and Panmure, and he could sy that he believed the presence of good advisers among-.t theinjsas producing beneficial results, for he could assert that, thouglvHu"/ had been represented as intemperate and depraved, yet try the kindly advice of those they esteemed their friends they could be brought to prove themselves as weli conducted as other men. After a few further observations, the rev. gentleman concluded.
The Rev. Thomas Buodle, Wesleyan Superintendent of the AucklainLJDistrict, followed. lie said, \ I beg to acknowledge the kind manner !u which you have recognized the Missionary Societies. 1 1 wish some older Missionarywere present to do this, some of those men who have borne the burden and heat, of the day, who came to these shore- forty years ago, when New Zealand, in the minds of Englishmen, was associated with everything that is horrifying and disgusting. 1 feel it is to such men that your acknowledgements are due, and not to youngermen like myself. When I think of the hardships they endured, and the moral victories they achieved, I could wish 1 had lived some twenty or thirty years earlier; but they cast in the seed, we reap the harvest; they laboured, we entered into their labours. It is gratifying .to receive such a testimony to the beneficial results of Missionary effort. Not that the Christian Missionary looks for the honour that cometh of men, but it is a pleasure to witness the progress of public opinion. (Hear, hear,) Time was, when the Missionary element was regarded as antagonistic tol colonization and commercial enterprise, something tr> be got rid of as obstructive of the general weal. Now, Missions and colonization are indentified. Missions and commerce go ban I in hoid. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, the changes that have taken place in this country during the last forty years present the greatest moral triumphs of modern times. What was this country forty years ago, but a field bf blood, a land of. war ? What 'is it now, but a land of peace and plenty, a land literally " flowing with milk and honey ?" (Chc'ers.f What were its inhabitants but naked savages killing and devouring one another ? W hat are they now ? They have risen to be, men like ourselves, and many of them, like the demoniac found by our Saviour untamcable among the tombs, are now sittin* at his feet, clothed and in their right mind. What was theirV religion, but a religion of the darkest superstition, the cruelestVites, the most degrading vassallage ? What is it now ? Is it nyt that heaven-born religion, the motto of which is "Faith, hope, charity, these three." And what was their social condition, but one of poverty and wretchedness ? Who that Has travelled to any extent in the land is not struck with the changes that have taken place. Instead of the fern-root there is the wheat stack, instead of the tvahi tanu at the bend of the river, there is the flour mill, and you/re greeted with the ol,d music of the mill wheel, till you alm/st feel on some of the streams of the old country. Instead of the weapons of war, you see the implements of agrictiltufev-the inspired prediction has received a literal accomplishrriyW the "sword is beat into a ploughshare ;" and instead offthj wham triptt, presenting evident marks of the degradeV state ft its builders, you see the Christian's house of praye JtMiere the morning and evening devotions are presented to thß GreaLFather of all. What, Sir, has achieved all this ? Mfly we n<£|)reply in the language of a certain traveller, "It is past midnight for the Cross is bending." It is recorded that when Humboldt was crossing tha Andes, his watch on one occasion broke the silence of night exclaiming, " 'Tis past midnight for the Cross is bonding," referring to that beautiful constellation, so familiar to us all in this hemisphere, the Southern Cross, varying its position at the noon of night and bending downwards. Yes, Sir, in reference; to the land of our adoption it is past midnight, the time of lis darkness is gone. That religion of which the Cross is a symbol has changed its night into day. (Cheers.) Christianity hasoverspread thelandandis carrying in her train the blessings of an enlightened civilization. Gentlemen, you have borne public testimony to the value of Missionary institutions, and you are correct, —But for Missionary labour New Zealand would not now have been a dependency of the British Crown. Britain's sons would not have been tilling its lands, nor squaring its timber, nor digging its minerals. Britain's daughters would not have bee: l enjoying homes and comforts in its lovely valleys and beau tit u! bays. And British commerce would not here have found a market for its manufactures and employment for its shipping. With the progress of civilization in this land, you, as colonists have become identified. (Hear, hear.) Missions prepared the way, you followed and brought our arts and commerce, and they are rapidly spreading through the country. There is an immediate connection between Missions and colonization. You cannot do without Missions; Mission's cannot accomplish all the glorious objects they propose without you,—the Missionary and the Merchant, the Missionary and the Mechanic, tjie Missionary and the Agriculturist, must go baud in hand. And His very gratifying to know that this is now" very generally felt. To the eft'ect of Sir George Grey's administration in relatiorKto these changes, and the improvement of the Native race, I can bear my testimony that it has been for good and not for evil, jlis influence among the Native tribes has been very extensive, / I!is firmness on the
one hind, and hi* kindness on file other, so'in seared for him an Influence over the native mind which lias grown and strengthened yea»" ,by year. His readiness to listen to them, and to redress their grievances, the ease with which they could ( obtain access to His Excellency at all times, and above all. the institutions he has established for their benefit has ledthem to regard hinJHKia father and a frie.-.d (Cheer*.) Sir G(orge has been eminently tne friend and patron of education, and of Christian Missions j And he will carry with him the affections of many aUMaonshlart; and many a Maori mini will follow him over tbrfgrearQla'eri—and should Providence direct his steps back to thiklcoulitry, ! can safely predict that many a New Zealander yjt\\ hasten to greet his return, and the well-known Maori welcome buret from many a heart— Tauti mai ! Tauti mai! K Pa.' Tauti qmi,' (Cheers.) Dr. Bennett next rose )to propose " The Aborig'nes." He spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman, —In risipgat the desire of the Stewards to propose the health of "The Aborigines," I might excuse myself from making any lengthened remarks, on the grounds of the i lateness of the hour, and the fact 'hat much of what I might have said on the subject has already been v/u :aid by preceding speakers, whose statements are entitled to so much weight and respect that I rejoice, rather th i regret, "hat on some p i its I have been anticipated by them But I m«v be permitted to trespass on your attention for a slort time, considering the peculiar and most significant character of tl.° toast which I have been requested to bring before you. It is indeed a remarkable one,—one which I may venture to affirm has probably never been proposed in any other country than New Zealand under similar circumstances and with similar feelings. In other colonies, aboriginal races have generally been regarded and treated as being either useless and contemptible encumbrances, or actual and direct hindrances to progress,—impediments to colonization, which it would be desirable as soon and as completely as possible to sweep from off the ijjee of the land. Too many of Ihem, as thoy receded and me ted away before the advance of colonization, might have adopted language like that which a popular writer has repreiented a North American Indian Chief as having employed in his last hours, —"Our hatchets are broken; our bows ate ui,strung; our sons they are gone, and our daughters—where are they ? A little longer, and the white man shall cease to persecute us,—for we shall cease to exist!" Even now, if agreat festival of this kind were celebrated at Cape Town, does any one alppose that the health of the Caffres would be proposed ai 1 received in the cordial, friendly, and I may say fraternal, spirit in which this toast will be responded to here to night f (Cheers.) It is a happy peculiarity of New Zealand that our natives are viewed as feliow-men, fellow-subjects, a highly., important as well as deeply interesting portion of our population, a'mifsr, valuable auxiliary in forwarding the prosperity of the country. A great experiment was to be tried, a great problem, on which the eyes of philanthropists throughout the world hive been fixed, was destined to be placed at least in a fair way of solution, in New Zealand. It was not merely whether Christianity should precede civilization, or civilization go first to pr»pare the way for Christianity:—that question I regard as long ago settled in the judgment of the wisest and best men, who now entertain no misgivings as to the soundness of the conclusion that Christian civilization—the civilization which in its beginning, and its middle, and its end, is b.ised upon Christianityis lhat which will best abide the test of time, as assuredly it is that which aione will abide the ordtial of eternity. But there was the further issue to be tried—whether it would not be possible to raise, elevate, and preserve at least, a consi lerahle portion of an aboriginal race, and thus to confute the notion that colonization necessarily involves the more or less speedy destruciioti nf the aboriginal people of the country colonized. That problem is receiving, so far as experience lias hitherto gone, a solution in New Zealand, which must afford lively gratification to every benevolent mind. (Hear, hear.) There were here fine materials to work upon, in the physical and mental superiority of the Maories as compared with other aborigines; but, on the other hand, there were the difficulties presented by deep moral degradation, by superstition, love of war, cruelty, and cannibalism. Yet what a mighty and wondrous change has been effected within the memory of many around me ! I lately read an account of an exhibition, at the Polytechnic Institution in London, of a series of Dissolving Views representing, first, London as it was in the Olden Time, and then melting into a representation of London as It is,—thus bringing before the eye of the spectator an instructive as well as entertaining exposition of the contrast effected by modern improvements in theCrrat Metropolis. What a striking exhibition of an analogous character might be founded on the Past and the Present of the Aborigines of this country ! Some pictures for the purpose were strikingly suggested in the speech of the immediately preceding speaker (Itev. Mr. Buddie); and some—which none who heard the Discourse ran soon forget —in a recent sermon by his Lordship the Bishop , and some more, of a most appropriate and forcible description, may be found in the last chapter of the admirable pamphlet " Auckland and Its Neighbourhood,"— the health of the author of which I am happy to see on the list of toasts fo; this evening. (Applause.) But the materials are as abundant as the results are impressive for contrasting the rites of heathen worship, the horrors of the Native battlefield and cannibal feast, and other scenes at which humanity shudders, with the existing profession of Christianity found in such a magnificent Native Church as that at Otaki, and perhaps scarcely less ch?eringly in the humbler places of worship and the Native houses in which the morning and evening sacrifice of prayer and praise is statedly offered ;—in the dethronement of Tu, the Maori goit of war, and the general recognition of the sway of the Prince of Peace j— in the advance of the Natives in agriculture, so that their fields vie in cultivation with those of the settlers around them—in commercial pursuits, as their ownership and navigation of numerous coasting vessels as well as canoes, their horses and ploughs, their flour mills, their deposits in Savings Banks, theii business transactions in the City, and many kindred evidences prove;—and in their respect for British law, and loyalty to the British sovereign, which finds its apt exemplification in their attachment to her Majesty's representative here. In short, we may now unhesitatingly assure our friends at home, who may have still any dread of emigrating to a land of which the accounts in former years were so dreadful, — The most timid amongst you need not be deterred from coming to New Zealand by any fear of the Natives: you will find them peaceable, contented, and most valuable neighbours: if you want labour in your farms they will supply it; they will be purveyors of provisions for your household wants; if you keep shops you will find them profitable customers; so far from being terrified by the presence of so large a proportion of Natives, their numbers sh< ull operate as a powerful reason to induce you to give a preference to the districts in which they are most numerous. (Cheers.) To Sir George Grey must belong, in all time, the distinguished honour of having eminently aided in elevating the Natives to their present position, and in laying a good foundation for their rising higher arid higher still. 1 do not for a moment forget or undervalue the inestimable worth of the missionary instruction which was instrumentally the great lever by which they were lifted up. And I am convinced that his Excellency would be the last to slight it, and the first to say—Not unto me, not unto me! These be thy triumphs, oh Christianity! His abilities arid zeal, great as they were, must have failed here, had his effortsnot been accompanied, sustained, and prospered by the influence of Christian teaching. But indeed there is no rivalry on this subject between Sir George Orey'sendeavours and the exertions of the Missionaries; and it would be worse than foolish to set up an appearance of antagonism where there was really nothing but the most constant and harmonious co-operation. (Hear, hear.) It would be as irrational as if men walking through our fields to-day, and observing the rich luxuriance of the crops, weve to begin contending, whether they should ascribe the tokens of fertility to the refreshing showers that fell last night, or to the ripening sunbeams lhat shone this morning. Sir George Grey's view of the subject was clearly stated in his reply, a few days since, to the Address from the Bishop and Clergy, in which he declared that he deemed himself fortunate and happy in the extreme in having constant intercourse ar.d never-ceasing assistance from Christian men in his efforts on behalf of the Native race. But, on the other hand, the ministers and teachers of religion must, on their part, have also deemed themselves fortunate and happy in having had to do with a Governor who did not treat them with mere cold civility, apathetic formality, or frigid courtesy, but one who entered cordially into their views, sympathised in their endeavours, and W3S ever with them, hand in hand, and heart with heart. (Cheers.| And here Sir George Orey's reputation rests upon an impregnable basis. Whatever else in his policy may be assailed, his judicious and paternal regard for the Natives is unassailable. Differences of opinions may, and no doubt do, exist on other questions connected with his administration. It is needless to say that he has not achieved—what no Governor,—no Minister of the Crown—no statesman ever yet accomplished— I mean, pleasing everybody. Never was there seen under the sun so great a curiosity as a Colonial Governor who pleased everybody would be deemed! Sir George Grey will, beyond all doubt, be a centre of attraction and lively interest to very many when he reaches England; but all this would he as nothing compared to the object of wonder he would become if he had given satisfaction to all the. several parties, having frequently such conflicting interests, with whom he has had to deal during his eight years of rule in New Zealand. In a late number of Dickens's Household iVurds there is a graphic account of the first presentation to Professor Owen of some bones of the Moa, and the excitement produced in the scientific world by his subsequently being enabled to build up a skeleton of that gigantic bird ; the writer goes on to speculate on the possibility that if—as was conjectured by Sir Everard Home, (a tribute to who e character.and whose good feeling towards New Zealand, 1 was happy to hear paid so well by Captain Drury this evening)—if the species is not yet extinct, a real l'.ve dinarnit may yet be placed in the London Zoological Gardens: in that case, he adds, the. hippopotamus (then the object of most curiosity) "may accept theChiltern Hundreds, and retire from the representation of the Nile, disgusted at the lead that will be taken by the honourable member for New Zealand.'' But neither hippopotamus nor Moa would be so great a curiosity as the Colonial Governor who pleased every body ! Sightseers would flock in crowds to look at him, —while, not improbably, however, deeper thinkers would sorely doubt whether there must not have been something gravely wrong in the policy which in such a case had issued in such a result. But, I repeat, whatever contrarieties of judgment there may be on other features in his Excellency's policy, his fame as the able, wise, zealous, unwearying, and successful friend and benefactor of aboriginal races can never be called in question. And if a statue in honour of Sir George Grey should at some future day be erected in Auckland —an event which I deem it by no means improbable lhat some in this room may live to see—l trust that, whatever else may be inscribed on its pedestal, one compartment will be devoted to the words so honourable in their import, and so eminently characteristic of the man—- " The FruKND of the Aboiuginks." (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with the utmost cordiality by the entire company. Music— The Onward March,
Major Nuornt, Native Secretary, returned thanks on behalf of the Natives in a few appropriate words,, and introduced Wilmam Naylor, a Native Chief, who addressed the Company in the Maori Language. The substance of his speech was translated by the Kev. Thomas Buddie as follows : I have one word to say, just one. I remember the arrival of the goo.l things in tliia country; they found me at my place in the North. It was Christianity that raised us from our former condition and gave us light. Christianity came flipt; it was
111-ought bj the Missimi'aites; llieji came the first Governor ,- the.fl the See.mri ; then our present Governor our tfitwd that now fits anunijjst in,—but he is eoing across the Sea. (>, Frit-lid! 6, Governor 1 go, go and see otir Queen, and when vou l.ave betti her, tell her to sei.d you brick again to New Zealand. This is my word, tell her to Stud you back. This if all. (Cheers.) Patuoni, brother of the celebrated Thomas "Walker, then rose and spoke in M:iori, which Mr. Buddie also translated — In days of old I knew nothing but evil ; all our delight was in doing evil; we thought of nothing but war; we sat in darkness, mill killed each other. Then the Missionary came, and we began to see the light, and to know a little good. Then came Hie first Governor, then the second (Pithoi), then the pie-ent Governor came among us, anil our knowledge began to grow, and lie tood spread over the land. He fcave ns schools for our children, that we may be like you pakehas. O, Governor, 1 salute you ; you are going to England ; go, go, and see our Queen: then return to us. If you ret((p, to us, kapai (it will te good); and if yon should not, we must be content and remember your works when >ou aie away. That is all. (Cheers.) The Chairman proposed the health of* "His Honour the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland." He said, In His Honour we Tecognise an old acquaintance who has long at the head of his Regiment served the colony well, nisd ruled over us most satisfactorily as our Lieut -Governor. (Cheers.) And now at the people's call we find ttet he haa undertaken new and arduous duties, wh'uh are rendered even moiC so, from the want of the executive aid which has been afforded by the Councils to the Superintendents of other Provinces. (Hear, hear.) Nevertheless his Honour has undertaken the ,:ist assigned to him ; and whenever the time arrives for him to lay down his staff, I am sure, gentlemen, we all feel confident that he -ill then deserve the thanks of the community as heartily as whin he ceased to be Lieut.-Go-vernor. (Continued cheering.) The toast was dr*k with enthusiasm.
JMUisie— The Man of our Choice. The "Superintendent (Lieut.-Colonel WvNyAitn) rose to returirxnirnitw- -ir« wa s again greeted with loud and long applause. His ilouou... said,— 1 feel most deeply and sincerely, gentlemen, not only A the kind and glowing manner in which my heaJthj,,. oS been proposed as your Superintendent, but the gratifying manner in which that toast has been to by you all. Although we are assembled hereof this occasion to pay respect to Sir George Grey._JWsrfiSrTt may not be conside! Ed out of place if I \aftrtnis opportunity of thanking not only you^bui,'through you, the Province at large for the high honour" that has recently been conferred on me, —an honour that was unsolicited on my part and towards the attainment of which I was not called upon to canvass one single vote, or expend one single shilling. (Loud cheers.) Although I feel, gentlemen, this was the highest honour the inhabitants of the Province could confer on me, still it is not for this alone that I beg to return my thanks, it is not for the glowing manner the present toast has been proposed and responded to, but, gentlemen, it is for the continued and increasing kindness I have ever received from the inhabitants of Auckland that I feel and ever shall feel most deeply and sincerely grateful (Loud Cheering ) Mr. J. Simms rose to propose " The Speaker and Members of the Provincial Council." Our lessening space compels us to condense his address: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —The toast I am about to propose, is one which I fee! confident will be received with the degree of popularity it so well deserves, and will meet with a hearty response from this great assembly. (Cheers ) I am prepared to give willing evidence that the weighty and responsible duties which necessarily rest upon members of that body, and more particularly at the time of their entering upon the'legislative labours of their first session, have been undertaken by them, with as much courage, zeal, and industry, as their constituents could desire in them, they bid fair to establish the confidence of their electors. Their legislative proceedings so far, have been conducted with a degree of caution and ability sufficient io leave no room to doubt our fitness to receive the boon of Local Self-Government, and enjoy the blessings to be derived by the judicious working and management of the most liberal constitution ever granted to any country or colony in the British dominions. (Cheers ) To whom, Gentlemen, are we mainly indebted for this boon. "Who have we chiefly to thank for New Zealand being the first colony in the World to Teceive and enjoy an exteution of the freedom of Self-Govern-ment hitherto unknown, even in the Cantons of Switzerland, or the United Staies of America. We are indebted to the same man,—we are indebted to the same benefactor who came to th.» rescue of New Zealand, and snatched the Colonists from the brink of ruin in 1845 —That man is Sir George Grey. The liberty and equal rights gua ar.eed to every citizen by the liberality of the franchise, enables the operatives of this Province to be faithfully and ably represented in our Provincial Council, and I congratulate ihem on the freedom they now enjoy, and also on the choice of their present representative. They have much to thank Sir George Grey for. It would be out of the common order of things, if even such a man as Sir George Grey did not find individuals possessed of a sufficient stock of political depravity to raise the clamour of opposition and decry all, however good, that might emanate from him. That such persons (they are happily few) have exMed in New Zealand from the earliest establishment of Government in this land, is only too notorious, but they are happily now extinguished, and there remains no "beacon from thespark they bore.'' (Cheers.) After some further remarks on the character o" tion to Sir George Grey, Mr. Simms continued,—the opposiI hesitate not to state on this great occasion, as one of thegeneral electors of this Province, that our Provincial Councillors have been highly successful in trying their 'prentice hands at legislation. They have been indefatigable in _their attention to their duties, and have accomplished a great deal Many good Bills have been passed, and useful reports framed by them. The proceedings of the past augurs well of the fu-.ure, and I feel confident that the electors of the P/ovince of Auckland will have little occasion to regret their selection of men to represent them in the Provincial Council. (Cheers.) Mtisic— o iccel may the Boatie row.
The Speaker (T. 11. Bartley, Esq.,) returned thanks. The following is an outline of his speech, which was but imperfectly heard by' our reporter: — He said that the title of " Speaker" seemed a misuomer, in» asmuch as he had little occasion to speak in the Council, and even as a lawyer the peaceable state of the country was such as to prevent his having much exercise in that way, (Hear, hear.) He had not like the Bishop declined to come their as'a guesT. He was not a party man, and wished to keep aloof from everything of a paity character, but he felt that he ought to be present on that occasion, and to accept tlte invitation which the stewards had kindly forwarded to him ; but had they not invited him, he would equally have felt that he ought to he present. Though nut identified with party, he had been offered offices of emolument by Sir George Grey, which he had declined, and His Excellency had conferred honour on him. He thanked them on behalf of the Provincial Council also. He believed that the members were bent on promoting the welfare of the Province, and they gave him (the Speaker) very little trouble by any irregularities in their proceedings. (Hear, hear.)
Ilis Honour the Superintendent rose to propose the Health of "The Superintendents and Members of the Provincial Councils of the other Provinces." His Honour, said, The Chairman having kindly permitted me to propose a toast, 1 request, gentlemen, you will fill your glasses. With the generality of the gentlemen placed in similar positions with myself 1 am personally unacquainted, and with only two am I slightly acquainted, and as "'to the details of their respective Provinces I confess 1 am totally ignorant; therefore I may experience some little difficulty in introducing the toast I am about to propose to your notice. But 1 am convinced, gentlemen, I shall be only echoing your sentiments when I express a hope that they may each be as warmly and cordially supported as I am, and that their respective Provinces may, iu due course of time, become as flourishing and as prosperous as the Province of Auckland. (Loud Cheers.) Gentlemen, I propose the health of •* the Superintendents and Members of the Provincial Councils of the other Provinces. '
Music — Here's a health to them that's awa. William Mason Esq., J.P., rose to propo-e fie health of the Author of " Auckland and Its Neighbourhood." He said, Sir. I rise as the oldist inhabitant of this place to propo e a toast which 1 am sure will be gratefully responded to by all true colonists, (Hear, hear.) Other settlements require puffing, audhave taken pains to secure a good share of it—but Auckland requires no such thing—for she can afford to rest upon her own merits. (Cheeirs.) Gentlemen are probably not aware of what importance a work lately published here has been to us both in England and the neghbouring colonies. I allude gentlemen to "Auckland and its Neighbourhood" (Cheers,)—the authorship of which may be sufficient guarantee to all persons that what has been therein written are facts and not fiction. Gentlemen. I have much pleasure in proposing the health of the Author of " Auckland and its Neighbourhood."
Music— Flow on thou shining River. The Bisuor of New Zealand said he had been requested to return thanks for this toast, but he scarcely thought it necessary to do so as the Book spoke for itself. (Cheers.) James Burtt, Esq., United States Vice-Consul, rose to propose "Prosperity to the Agricultural Interests of New Zealand*' He said,
He re'retted the tfiast had not been entrusted to one of the numerous gentlemenihe saw around him, who by their longer residence in New Zealand were so much more able to do justice to it. He considered the agricultural prosperity of the colony to be' a subject with which the interest of every man present was directly or connected ; it were superfluous, therefore, in him to enlarge 'upon it. As the evening had so far advanced he would not therefore trespass upon the time of the company, but woujtl m'crely remind them that when witnessing the present projrperous state of the country they should not overlook the caW:; while rejoicing in the happy results, they should not forget the means by which those results had been attained,— anW those-tesults he attributed lrtainly to the judicious policy of ISi/seorge Grey. (Applause.) He had, however, ona very grave charge to make against His Excellency,—he had involved the Colony ui a debt to an extent from which it could never extricate itself"—that debt was a debt of gratitude. (Cheers ) Mu'siu— Speed the Plough. William Mason, Esq., returned thanks as follows : Gentlemen.—l have been suddenly called upon by a gentleman who was to respond to this toast, to be his substitute on this occasion—and when I look around me and see so many of my old fellow colonists, 1 feel that I am but one of many here who have watched the flourishing progress of the country, and who are able to contrast the present with the past, and dwell upon the progress which has been made with pleasure. (Cheers.) How very different are the circumstances in which the lately arrived settler finds himself as compared with those >n which the first pioneers of the oettten>ent were plaped. (Hear, hear.)
I Now," we find ourselves surrounded by every comfort—but I || I recollect the first public dinner given in Auckland to Cap- ■ tain Hobson. our first Governor on his departure for the I first time to Wellington, when the only goose in the colony ! was placed on the table, and the beef was furnished from the ! Bay of Islands. Mr. Mason proceeded to read statistics illustrative of the Agricultural progress of the district since the ■ arrival of Governor Grey—and concluded by stating his i firm couviction that no British Colony would advance so J rapidly in agricultural: prosperity as New Zealand—now that • the price of land had been reduced. James Carlton Hill, Esq., M.P.C., rose to propose "The Trade and Commerce of Auckland." ' The following is the substance of his brief I address:— I He felt pleasure "in rising as a country settler to propose this toast. The interests of the commercial mea in Auckland and those of the farmers were not conflicting, but one class helped forward, and, in its turn, derived benefit .from the other. Me looked with pleasure on the great and rapid progress made by the Trade and Commerce of the district, and thought there were few more beautiful sights than the ships on the waters of our harbour coming to receive the produce of the district, and carry out the objects of our enterprising exporters. How verr different is our case now from what it was at the time when an English ship once in nine months was a novelty. As a gentleman in every way competent to speak to the subject,was to follow him, he would no longer detain them, but at once propose the toast. (Cheers.) -, Music— Gloomy Winter's now awa? At this late hour, and when we are all anxious to do honour to the next toast on the list (Mrs. Wynyard and the ladies) I sha 1 not think of making any lengthened speech. I have statistics in my hand—most valuable things at all times to a Member of Council, and most gratifying on the present occasion-but I shall not attempt to give them in detail. But let me for a few moments trespass on your patience by reading a few statements respecting the Trade and Commerce of Auckland in 1852 at compared with that of the year now so near a close. (Hear, hear.) Well then, 1 find that in 1852, 48 vessels arrived here and 55 departed ; while in 1853, 96* have arrived and 92 have departed. The tonnage of vessels entering the port in 1852, was 13,592, in 1853, their tonnage is 25,725. The Customs Revenue for the Province in 1852 was £19,425, for 1853 it is £30,000 The Exports for 1852 amount to £52,065, the Exports for 1853 (including the Commodore's cargo) amount to £145,000. Thus, gentlemen, everything is jast doubled this yearas contrasted with last year. (Cheers.) Such a progress in sucli a time I will venture to say. has not been paralleled in any portion of* the Queen's dominions. With this briefs atement, I have only hereto thank you for the toast you have just drunk, and to express a hope that our progress mty I mg continue. (Cheers,) John Woodhouse, Esq., J. P., in a few appropriate words proposed the health of " Mrs Wynyard and the Ladies of Auckland.*' AVii-liam Gisbohne, Esq., J. P., in returning thnnks for tbs Ladies spoka to the following effect:— He thanked the gentlemen on behalf of a sex which ruled the world, at whose shrine the wisest and the bravest bowed, and whose influence affected man far more thin the force of diplomacy or the terrors of war. (Cheers). Life's horizon might be dark and o'ercast villi clouds, but how often before woman's smile, glimpses of a heaven beyond were disclosed to the anxious view. We owed an infinite debt to the ladies. He (Mr. G.) had long ago confessed judgment. In ancient ages several celebrated women lived,—as a Phrophetess Cassandra—as a Poetess, Sappho—as a strong minded woman. Xantippa—as a Witch, Hecate. (Laught ? sud Cheers). And there still exist lovely youfcg witches, wino, with their many charms, fascinate susceptible youths into the magic circle, of a plain gold ring. The proper influence of woman was in the sphere of every day life. (Cheers), Lightning in the sky was dangerous, but in galvanic jars useful. Who doe 3 not prefer the genial fire on his hearth to the more brilliant conflagration of his house ? Woman is the satellite of man, as the moon of :he earth ; not that her influence is moonshine, but rather the who'e ocean of the human heart—that mysterious world of mighty emotions.—ebbs and flows teneath her irresistible attraction. (Cheers). On behalf of Mrs. Wynyard and the Ladies of Auckland, some of whom he rejoieed to ste in the gallery, hereurned sincere thanksi and assured the gentleman present tha» while they were their protectors and devoted admirers, th» Ladies wo ild be happy, confiding, and secure. (Cheers). Music — The Lassie I toe Lest o' ony Mr. A. W. llansaed rose to propose "The Press." lie said,
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —I feel that It is at great disadvantage I rise to spiak immediately after the poetical and eloquenl address with which Mr Gisbo ne has ju*t delighted us. The next toast of the evening my brother Stewards have done me the honour to place in my feeble "hards. At this late hour I should not (eel it right to detain you lug in introducing to your notice a to»3t which, wherever j Englishmen e joytag the blessings of its subject meet together, is received with welcome and cordiality Tbut in circumstances as they unfortunately exist here 1 find an additional reason P«r saying little and for taking care that that little is of a \ey general character. Among the many b'essi gs wh'ci have been showered down upon this happy spot since it* affairs have been administe (d by ths ulim n vvh >dtes us (he IO Uur to sit at your right hand, Sir, as our guest—our esteemed Governor, I believe that the least has not bseu the continued existence of free and unfetteied Liberty of the Press. (Cheers). For lam not of those who think that anything less than a treasonable exercise of that freedom would render its limitation a national good. lam myself a branch of a stock which has suffered pains and penaltits, fines and imprisonments in the old eountry for over estimating the (then almost mis-named) Liberty of the Press in the days of Pitt. I thank God that my lot is cmt in a country where the grossest and vilest abuses of that liberty has been rather permitted than its existence endangered toy attempting to proscribe it. boundaries; for I am, convinced Sir, that a free Press is as necessary for tha exis ence of a free and independent State, as the breath we draw is to the life and vigour of the organs of our bodies—it is a right which all good men have ever held sacred, a>d which is the very life blood of British Liberty. That this noble tree, indigenout t> the Mother country, transplanted here by and with ourselves, may soon become altogether as pure and undefined, as it would then be only powerful for good, you will all join me in hoping, whilst we drink—The Press.
Music — The Marseillaise Hymn. Dr. Bennett, in briefly returning thanks spoke in snbstance as follows: He trusted they were all disposed to maintain the "Liberty of the Press," but it would be an unreasoi able assumption on hii part, of •* liberty of speech" also, if he were then to trespass an their time by any lengthened remarks. He would only say that the Press—everywhere an instrument of mighty power—may tsj rendered especially valuable and beneficial in young and rising communities like this. But, as the best things by alius* may bs perverted into the worr, so the Press might become a source of evil, not of good, if it were not duly regulated. It rested with the people themselves to secure its respectability and usefulness. Let them discountenance, repudiate, put their feet upon the neck of, all that was mean, false, envious, selfish, and malignant (Loud cheers) ; and let them cherish all that was of an honest, well-principled, honourable, and improving character;—thus they might render the Press a blessing to themselves, and the means of vast benefits to tills colony, (Cheers.) John Watson Bain, Esq., J.P. M.P.C., proposed " The Mercantile Marine." He said, Although this toast is the last on ihelist, yet it must not be considered the least, for the interests it embraces are of great magnitude and value. It was quite fitting that such a toast should come after those of the Aborigines, tlje Agricultural In. teresls of New Zealand, and the Trade and Commerce of Auckland, since these must be considered the parents, of which the one now proposed was the child. (Cheers.) All navigation and naval strength must spring from trade and commerce; and a mercantile marine of a country is always a true index of its internal prosperity. Our prosperity here is now a great fact; and it is difficult to say what branches of our trade a.id industry aie at present most prosperous. Without undervaluing the importance of any of them, or underrating thelamount of prosperity they are enjoying, yet from my personal acquaint, ance with those interests to which I now draw your attention, I can safely say that few, if any, other branch of our industry hj in a more flourishing condition at present than the shipping, both native and European owned. But in addition to the prosperity which is giving profitable employment to the vessels of the port, there is also another most gratifying feature of our substantial progress presented in the activity and seal with which shipbuilding is being carried on throughout the Pro. vince—not only do we see the carpenters' yards in the" immediate neighbourhood of Auckland all full, but in every bay and river of£any importance along our coast* are vessels in their different stages of completion to be found. True, the majoiity of these are small-sized vessels, but none the less important on account, when we look, at the admirable manner in which our great coasting trade is carried on by them, and the estimation they are held in by the neighbouring Colonies. But our ship, building is not confined to these small class of vessel*. Vessels of larger tonnage have been built in our port and along the gulf; and not only large vessels, but vessels that wotld do, any country credit. (Cheers,) Although, perhaps, we could not send home a living specimen of the Moa, such as Professor Owen could appreciate, yet we could send to England a V Moa'' quite as great and enviable a curiosity in its way almost as the bird itself. [Mr. Bain here alluded to the Auckland built brig Moa, which is expected shortly to sail for England.] few countries of the same age have produced the equal of the vessel of that name so well-known in the Waitemata ; and taking her as a fair sample, we may well be proud of the capabilities New Zealand possesses for shipbuilding (Loud cheers.) Now-a-days all British-built vessels are subjected to the severe and strict scrutiny of Lloyd's surveyors before they get a classification. Vessels from the. great shipbuilding colonies of North America rarely obtain a first class certificate for more than five or six years, and more frequently for four years' only Vessels now built in the Southern Countries of Europe and along the shores of the Mediterranean, the very nursrrv of civilization and commerce, do not obtain even so high classification ; nor do those from the shores of the Baltic, another great seat of shipbuilding, rank much above fo.ur or five years. When the c: s : stands thus with vessels from those quarters, it is gratifying to find that one of the first vessels sent borne from
New Zealand ranked higher tha.i them all. The Stirlingshire, built atthe Great Barrier Island, on being surveyed in London, after some years hard service in the Colonies, got a first class classification for seven years—a fact which tells its own tale ia favour of New Zealand timber and New Zealand workmanship i and so well appreciated are these in the Colonies, that the demand for our Auckland-bu.ijt coasters is greater than our shipbuilders can supply—the absence »pf labour alone checking the extension of their operations. The scarcity of labour in every department of industry has been for some time keenly felt, and we now look hopefully forward to having this inconvenience also in great part remedied, by the introduction of immigrants under the assistance which can now be gives theni from our greatly increased land fund. It is tp the wise and ger.erous policy, with reference to the waste lands, which ha» been adopted by his Excellency Sir George Grey, that we are ia (For continuation see Supplement.J
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18531231.2.9
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 805, 31 December 1853, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
18,038FAREWELL DINNER TO GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY. New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 805, 31 December 1853, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
Ngā mihi
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.
Log in