DEPARTURE OF DR. FEATHERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 17, 20 May 1871, Page 6

DEPARTURE OF DR. FEATHERSTON.

FAREWELL DEJEUNER. The dejeuner given to Dr Featherston at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Wednesay was the heartiest and most successful demonstration over made in the City of Wellington. All the available space in the hall was occupied by tables and seats, and every seat was filled The body of the hall contained three tables extending from the stage to the entrance of the hall. On the stage were three more tables, one stretching across the proscenium at which were seated the parting guest Dr Featherston, his Honor the Superintendent W. Fitzherbert (in the chair) the Hon the Premier, the Hon W. Gisborne, the Hon Dillon Bell, Captain Blethen of the Nevada, and several ladies. Over 400 people sat down to the repast, including a large number of ladies. In the gallery, where a great many assembled as onlookers, were placed the Artillery Band, who played appropriate music. The guests having been seated. His Honor the Superintendent proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen, which was honored in the usual manner. His Honor the Superintendent then said : Ladies and gentlemen the next toast I have the honor to propose is, like the toast we have just drunk, one that is always given in British dependencies. The toast is “ His Excellency the Governor.” There is an Oriental saying which I have frequently admired, and is intended as highly complimentary, and I may not inaptly refer to it on the present occasion. It is one of the greatest antiquity—“ May his presence never grow less!” (Prolonged applause.) This toast having been duly honored, His Honor the Superintendent, said: —Ladies and Gentlemen, the toast I am about to propose to you is one which in fact comprises the raison d'etre—the reason why you are here; you therefore already know who I am about to propose. I am not not going to make a speech, and afterwards let you down with announcing the name of the person whose health is to be drunk; you all know that it is the health of your late Superintendent. (Applause.) I have a difficult task to perform. Difficult as it would be under anj circumstances, it becomes still more difficult because of the anomaly of the circumstances in conformity with which I have to propose at once a toast and an address. I have already therefore secured, I hope, your sympathy for any shortcomings on my part, when, as you will perceive, I have two opposite, if not unusual duties to perform. These are, the reading of a formal address, the result of the deliberate opinion of a great number of the inhabitants of this province, and at the same time to perform the festive and convivial duty of proposing a toast. I shall, however, to the best of my ability, conform with both those contradictory requirements. The address embodies the deliberate testimony of a numerous body of Dr. Featherston’s friends prior to his departure. (Applause.) Before reading this address, allow me to say of this production that I am glad it has been the work of a native artist, for the term artist is deservedly applicable to one who produced a work so full of good taste, as far as artistic performances are concerned; and don’t let it be thought that the observation is out of place in a meeting of this kind. Anything which gives an earnest of the future of this country should at all times be interesting to us. (His Honor the Superintendent then read the address.) It would be quite impossible for me to offer in your behalf the address, which expresses your sentiments towards Dr Featherston, without adding a few words, and they will be very few, that I will offer you on this occasion. They will be few, but not because I deny the usually accepted truth that “ out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,” but because I believe that, on certain occasions, the eloquence consists in speaking the fewest words. No one can have lived to a certain time of life, and have experienced those deep passages which Btir the innermost emotions of a man’s soul, without knowing that on such occasions words are as wind—nothing, and that the greatest eloquence consists, perhaps, in a broken, halfuttered expression—“ God bless you, adieu!” And yet I could not, in the discharge of the duty which I am called on to perform, do otherwise than say the reason why there is such an assemblage to-day an assemblage consisting not merely of gentlemen of high position and citizens in holiday costume, but also adorned and graced by the other sex—a sex which I -hope in this country will learn not only to exercise the vast influence they have exercised in older communities, but also exercise that more active power which is inherent in them, and which I believe they will yet exercise for the great benefit of the human race. Why is this assemblage graced by the other sex ? Is it because they have known Dr. Featherston, of whom we are now about to take leave, and in him they have recognised the very beau ideal of a gentleman, one who is at once open, kind in heart, and courageous as a man (applause). There are scores of people of both sexes in this province on whom Dr. Featherston has tended unweariedly with the greatest kind-, ness. His skill was ever ready, his ear ever open, and his sympathy knew no distinctions, and was given unsolicited. That is the reason why he is now surrounded by such a body of true friends, who would go far to serve him j because he has ever shown himself a true man, a man imbued with the lore of his fellow* creatures—which is one of the highest attri-

butes, I take it, combined with bravery, that any man can lay claim to. The toast was drunk with deafening applause, three cheers being given for Dr. Featherston and one for his family. Dr Featherrston, who on rising was greeted with tumultuous applause, said: — Ladies and gentlemen I scarcely dare trust myself to utter a few, a very few, words in acknowledgment, in tendering my thanks for the kindness shown by those around me, and to you, sir, for the manner in which you have proposed my health. I feel assured when looking around the assemblage, representing all classes of society, embracing all parties, and graced as you justly said, by so large a portion of the fair and gentler sex —whose approval we men of all other things most prize, whose sympathy with our efforts we regard as the greatest encouragement, the strongest incentive, —I say I feel assured that you will recognise the difficulty and the strangeness of the position in which I am at present placed. But my friends, I doubt whether there is a single individual in this gathering who can in any degree enter fully, or in any degree whatever, enter into the feelings which I experience on the present occasion, or of the recollections and emotions which I must stifle within me. While I shared many of the dangers and difficulties by which we have been surrounded for many years —dangers, as you justly observed, which have oftentimes wrought us great ruin and jeopardised the very existence of the settlement —and although I am free to confess that I have never shrunk from encountering any danger or any personal risk, however great or imminent it might be; yet to day, and in your presence, I am bound to confess myself a coward —I am appalled, and would willingly have avoided such a demonstration as this. Sir, I confess that I have been almost unnerved and unmanned, but the feeling is banished ; it has melted before your generous and glowing words of praise and the sentiments in the address. Yet, Btrange as it may appear, I am not discouraged ; for I have thought that sometimes defeat is as glorious as success. This reflect ion will therefore encourage me to persevere in endeavoring to promote, by my best exertions, humble though they may be, the true interests of the whole colony, and of those persons who this day have so fully acknowledged, so cordially appreciated, my past services. It is true also that I have resided amongst you some thirty years, and during that period I have filled the highest office which the province can confer ; but it must be remembered that while I have taken an active part in all your public affairs, I have ever done it at the request, and by the instructions, of the settlers ; and that although I am prepared to hold myself alone responsible for all errors and shortcomings—and I admit that they have been neither few nor far between —still, it must not be forgotten that whatever good was achieved during my administration, whatever dangers have been surmounted, whatever difficulties overcome, or foundations laid for the future advancement of this province, they must, one and all, be attributed to the settlers for the generous confidence, the implicit and unwavering trust, which they have so long reposed in me—a confidence which, for strength and duration, could scarcely be equalled. I have been reminded by the words of my friend that there are very many among you who have differed, and probably will continue to differ, from my political convictions ; but that very fact affords me the very highest gratification. Sir, I trust the day may never arrive when there shall be no difference of opinion (applause). When this or any other community Bhall be of the same mind, or when any subject shall not have the most full, the most searching discussion—such a state of things must be looked upon as political death, the moral and intellectual degradation of the whole community, an effectual bar to all progress and advancement, and antagonistic to the spirit of the age. But, my friends, when I bear in mind the many important questions which we have had before us, and on the wise and proper solution of which so much has depended —when I remember, also, the hot and tiring discussions to which they have given rise, and when I remember the fierce party contests which have at times raged, I cannot refrain from conveying to you the feelings of pride and satisfaction which I derive from knowing now that those differences of opinion, those stormy discussions, those hard fought party contests have left behind not the slightest irritation or anger. I do feel proud to-day that you can all join in assuring methatl shall bearaway with me theregard and best wishes of my fellow-colonists. No higher tribute could be paid to any man, whether in a public or private capacity—no higher tribute could be possibly desired. But, my friends, however magnificent or chaste may be the testimonial which I understand is to accompany this affectionate address, I hope you will not deem it ungracious in me if I venture to say that the testimonial, which will ever be mqst cherished by myself, ever remembered by my family, and ever have an abiding place in our hearts’ affections, will be the good wishes of those amongst whom I have so long dwelt, which have been so kindly given expression to. I simply now beg you to accept my most cordial thanks for the kind expressions you have used towards the members of my family ; and I assure you that we shall all look forward with great anxiety to that day when we may avail ourselves of that kind and cordial welcome which you have promised us on our return. (Loud and continued applause). Mr Gisborne said that a toast had been placed in his hands which he had great pleasure in proposing, and to which he knew all present would heartily respond. It was the health of his Honor the Superintendent of the province of Wellington, who had so appropriately and ably acted as chairman. The essence of all courtesy was held to be to speed

the parting, and to welcome the coming guest. We had already regretfully wished God speed to the parting guest, and we should now hopefully welcome the coming one. This was neither the occasion nor the time to refer to party politics, but this much he might say, that while party politics necessarily to some extent divided communities, they were, a 3 Dr. Featherston said, essential to popular freedom, and that gatherings like this, where party contests were laid aside, and honor was paid to whom honor due, tended more closely to unite those communities, and better fitted them to perform their important duties. It was these centrifugal and centripetal forces, characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race, which secured cosmical order and harmony in our constitutional systems, just as similar forces do throughout the vast universe of nature. It must be a great satisfaction to Dr. Featherston to he able to transfer the priceless trust so long confided to him into the charge of one worthy to succeed him —one who has so long fought by his side the battle of constitutional freedom, and who now reaps the reward of victory in his unsolicited promotion to the highest honor —and it is indeed a high honor—which the electors of a province are able to confer. Mr Fitzherbert has an arduous task before him. He has to draw the bow of Ulysses. _ But there was no one more qualified by eminent ability and great political experience for the arduous task than Mr Fitzherbert, whose health, as Superintendent of Wellington, he now proposed. The toast was received with hearty cheers. His Honor the Superintendent said he should be insensible indeed if he did not feel the honor of the way in which his health had been drunk. To say that the recollection that he was Superintendent almost deprived him of a certain facility of speech would not he exaggerating the feeling of responsibility which awed him. The very fact that he was following such a predecessor as their former Superintendent he regarded as a disadvantage. As Mr Gisborne had been pleased to say, the position he was placed in was wholly unsolicited, and, under those circumstances, he claimed their sympathy and co-operation, for if that was not accorded to him he must make a most signal failure, and it was his desire to do what good he could. If he had the opportunity of selecting his career in life, or being placed in office and power, he would not select the appointment to an office which had been filled by a prudent and careful man ; he would rather go after a dummy. But no Buch fortune had fallen to him now ; it could not be said of him that his lines had fallen in pleasant places. Before referring to another subject, he might say that at the end of his brief career, which was not likely to be a very lengthened period, when compared with the time the office was held by Dr Featherston, he hoped he would receive the good wishes of the community in an equal proportion with his predecessor. He hoped they would not think him presumptuous in passing thus lightly to another matter.. He was not one who despised small beginnings, and they had high authority for comparing small towns with the great city of Rome, or as it was sometimes expressed that “ the. cat can look at the king therefore, considering that we belonged to a plucky country—for he claimed that as a characteristic of New Zealand, small as it is—for it had shown a good deal of energy and courage and pluck during its career of thirty years—and notwithstanding that there was as wide a difference between the offices of Superintendent and President as existed between the two countries, he would propose “ The health of the President of the United States of America.” (Applause.) He had learned one lesson in life, and that was not to despise the day of small beginnings, which he regretted was a common and a fatal mistake made by very many. He saw no reason why they should not drink the health of the President of the United States. We were not so big as the United States certainly, but they were no bigger than us once. He had often found that on looking at a little boy whose lower extremities were growing faster than his tailor’s investments, and thought of the future when that boy would grow to be a great strong lusty man—as a man should be, both physically and morally—and he had been, in consequence, inclined to approach his young friend with a greater degree of respect, and could listen to his boyish extravagance with more forbearance than he might otherwise have done. Therefore, looking at his toast in that spirit, he hoped his boldness would be accepted by those who lived under the glorious “ Stars and Stripes.” New Zealand would one day have a President of its own. How soon, or how long distant that day might be, was not within his prophetic ken j but the day would come ; and there was not a single person who did not see it.

The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr MTntyre, United States Consul, briefly acknowledged the toast. This brought the proceedings to a close, and the guests left the hall. A great many however remained and accompanied Dr. Featherston on board the Nevada.