THE LUNCHEON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 16, 13 May 1871, Page 6

THE LUNCHEON.

At half-past one o’clock the officers of the p.s. Nevada and many of the leading citizens of Wellington sat down to a cold collation at the Empire Hotel. Amongst those present we noticed his Honor the Superintendent, J. Draosfield, Mayor, A. F. Halcombe, Provincial Treasurer, Major M'Barnet, J. Johnston, M.L.C.; Captain Bhodes, Messrs Pearce, Bannatyne, Brodie, D. MTntyre, (American Consul), and several otherß. His Honor the Superintendent occupied th 9 chair, and was supported on his right by Captain Blethen of the Nevada. After the company had partaken of a cold collation, His Honor the Superintendent rose and said: I know you will respond to my call when I call your attention to the presence of Captain Blethen and the officers of the p.s. Nevada, the pioneer vessel of the line that has been so successfully inaugurated. The advantages of the line are bo manifest that I need say little on the eubject. I will only refer to the presence of Mr Webb, the son of the man who, in conjunction with the Government of this colony, has done so .much towards the commencement of this mail line, to induce you to drink this toast. lam sure that every citizen of Wellington will welcome the Nevada to our harbor, This is not the time or the occasion to make a long speech ; but I am sure that I shall only express the wishes of the people of Wellington if I, in their name, welcome the Nevada to our shores. Mr M. Webb said : Gentlemen, I can assure you we sincerely appreciate the cordial manner in which the toast has been drunk. I beg to propose the toast ol “ The citizens of Wellington.” The toast was drunk with all the honors. Capt. Bhodes said: Captain Blethen and offirers of the Nevada,—As you are strangers in Wellington, I think his Honor the Superintendent might have introduced in his speech some reference to the advantages of the new line, and might have referred a little more to the benefits to New Zealand that must result from the San Francisco mail route. Many of you, no doubt, looked forward to the advantages of the Panama mail service, but there can be no question of the superiority of the San Francisco mail route. New Zealand has long been looking forward to the advantages of a commercial connection with America. We did not look upon the Americans as countrymen, but as cousins and brothers. It may not be that our present commercial relations will lead to anything very great, but it is a well-known proverb that “ little things lead to great,” and I am sure that nothing was ever more applicable to the New San Francisco line. This will be a red letter day not only in New Zealand, but in Australia. I think it must be a subject of congratulation to New Zealand and Australia that this mail line has been successfully opened.. I think I need now conclude by proposing the health of His Honor the Superintendent. The toast was drunk with all the honors. His Honor the Superintendent, in responding to the toast, said:—l esteem very highly the compliment you have paid to me in proposing my health. I should have been very glad to comply with the wishes of my friend Mr Bhodes by referring at length to the advantages of the new line, but I think this is not the time nor the occasion on which I should do so. The fact that the steamer Nevada leaves these waters at five o’clock this evening is sufficient to excuse my not referring at length to the advantages which must result from the new line. I should have been very glad to have spoken at length on this matter, but knowing that the subject has been so well treated by Mr Bhodes, it is unnecessary for me to refer to it farther. The toast of the ladies and others were proposed and duly responded to, and the company separated.