New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 15, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 586, 15 March 1851, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 15, 1851.

Hie meos errare boves, ut cernis, et ipsum Ludere, quoe vellem, calamo permisit agresti.— Firyi'Z. In our present number will be found an account (which as far as lay in our power we have endeavoured to make a complete and faithful one) of the entertainment given on Thursday last by the settlers of the Hutt to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief. The entertainment originated with, and was under the entire management of the small proprietors and cultivators of land, and, except the guests invited as the suite of the Governor in-Chief andLieutenant-Governor, the tickets -were-stnctlyconfined-to. those-who. were._residents or connected by ties of property to the district. One hundred and sixty-two tickets were purchased by the settlers of the Hutt; they felt it a privilege to be there, they felt an honest pride and pleasure in giving -this expression to their sentiments, and offering a hearty welcome to him whose administration of the Government had restored peace to the colony, and whose measures had given scope to their industry, and had so materially contributed to their prosperity. It was a heart stirring sight, the men who were assembled were not of that class who, on the first passing cloud which might darken the prospects of the colony, would prepare to quit “ their adopted country they and their families had taken root in the soil, their exertions had assisted in making the colony what it had now become, and they had met, on hospitable thoughts intent, to offer the warm demonstration of their respect and regard to a tried and valued friend. The Governor s speech found a responsive echo in every heart; when in feeling and eloquent language he alluded to those times of trouble and difficulty which had existed on his arrival, when he recalled to the actors and sufferers in them those scenes of distress

which were occasioned by the native disturbances, he awakened the recollection of scenes which were indelibly engraven in their memories, and their looks, their gestures, their exclamations —“Its true, * ‘that s a fact,” &c. —shewed that he had struck a cord which strongly vibrated in every bosom. The sufferings, the difficulties of the settlers in other country districts have been of a similar character. They have all suffered more or less from the want ofmeans of communication, from those evil days (which have fortunately given place to peaceable and prosperous times) —the days of a depreciated currency and of maori disturbances —which existed on Sir George’s arrival in the colony, when the most resolute began almost to lose heart, the most patient to lose hope. The sentiments which were expressed at this entertainment mavbe taken as afair guide to the opinions and feelings of the country settlers of other districts—who are men of like affections and passions, and are ready to acknowledge the benefits that have resulted from Sir George Grey’s vigorous, humane and enlightened policy, and to bestow their confidence, on one who has shewn himself to be so justly entitled to receive it.