THE OLD COLONISTS’ DINNER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 3

THE OLD COLONISTS’ DINNER.

lu the evening of January 22nd, the Regatta Committee, in conjunction with an influential section of old settlers, celebrated the anniversary of the colony by a dinner at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. About 200 persona sat down to the dinner, which was prepared by Mr. Doueoker with his usual excellence. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr. Seed, Mr. E. W. Mills, Mr. C. D. Barraud, Mr. R. j. Duncan, Mr. G. Hart, Mr. G. Allan, Mr. Cundy, and Mr. Parnell; amongst the company being Mr. J. Hebberley (“ Old Worser”), who piloted the first ship into the port. The vice-chairs were occupied by Mi'. J. C. Crawford, Mr. J. H. Wallace, and Mr. T. McKenzie. Letters explaining absence were received from Mr. G. Hunter, Mr. E. Pearce, and Mr. E. J. Wakefield. After the usual loyal toasts, The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of his Excellency the Governor, who had during his short residence in the colony exhibited a true, unaffected, plain and kindly sympathy toward the colonists. His Excellency did not think himself above the people he reigned over, and a man who demeaned himself in this manner could not fail to be respected. The toast was drank with great enthusiasm. The Chairman proposed “ The Army and Navy.” ■Mr. J. C. Crawford, in responding, made appropriate reference to his own services in the Navy, and to the services the colony had received from the 58th, 96th, and 99th Regiments, and from the ships Oaliope and Castor. He also referred to the courageous conduct of the Volunteers and Militia, which had maintained the security and supremacy of the colonists in times of the greatest danger and difficulty, and as a matter of fact laid the basis upon which the present prosperity was founded. His Honor, in proposing the toast “The Founders of the Colony,” said that although the honor of founding the colony had been claimed by a great many people, yet there was one name above all the honored names connected with the history of New Zealand who was entitled to the honored distinction— Edward Gibbon Wakefield. As men became freed in their minds so as to give a correct version of New Zealand history to him, par excellence, was due the undivided honor. But as a matter of fact New Zealand had been founded from a great many points. Every centre had its worthies who had done a great deal, not only for their own districts but for the colony as a whole. . Wellington had its worthies, and not only had they been the founders of this particular part—they were the germ, the beginning, the foundation, of the whole colony, and history would bear out the statement that they had to do double duty in watching the interests of their own district, and in assisting to build up a great colony. It was in no vainglorious spirit, therefore, that he claimed for the original settlers that they had maintained a heroic self-denying lead in settling the colony, and they would wield the sceptre to the end, unless they were base enough to yield their rights and liberties at a critical juncture. Although he had in mind the admonition of Trollope that they should not “ blow” too much, yet he hesitated not to say that the early colonists of New Zealand had founded one of the brightest jewels attached to the British Crown. New Zealand was undoubtedly a great country, and one for which the mother country had a great practical respect. The founders were not compelled to leave the mother country, they were not shipped from their native shores—he wished to to put that delicately—but it was from a spirit of adventure, a spirit of independence, that they left their native land to found homes in this country, and what they had done justified all that could be said of them. The quarter of a million of people who now inhabited Now Zealand were, in many respects, remarkably superior to any similar number to be found in any particular part of the United Kingdom, and he said that not because he believed the people themselves to be superior, but because the natural advantages of the country placed them in a superior position. And if that were true, how much of the credit of that success, he would ask, was due to the founders of the colony? They were heroes in the true sense of the word, and deserving of ■ all the honor that could be bestowed upon them by their fellow-colonists of the present day. It remained further to be said that the actions of the early settlers were prompted by a course of peace and justice towards the aboriginal inhabitants of the country, and that policy, he said it without affectation, had something to do with the friendly feeling which had been inculcated in the native mind. He would now propose “ The Founders of the Colony.” The toast was received with prolonged applause. Mr. J. H. Wallace, in responding said that the chairman had properly alluded to Mr. Gibbon Wakefield as the founder of the colony, but he (Mr. Wallace) went further and said that Mr. Gibbon Wakefield was the founder of Adelaide and the colonies in the Southern Ocean. There had not been sufficient consideration for the early settlers—separating the original founders of the colony from those settlers who came out to perform the practical work—the mere fact of annually sounding their praises was not enough, and he (Mr. Wallace) would like to see their services as the practical founders of the colony recognised. The Volunteers had their scrip awarded to them,. the naval and military settlers had their grants of laud ; but what he would like to see was that the early settlers should have their grants of land, and that the Legislature of the colony should be asked to consider this important subject. With regard to the Early Colonists’ Association, some explanation was due, and in tho absence of Mr. Hunter, the treasurer, he would merely state that owing to want of support the committee had not deemed it advisable to further „ proceed in the matter. He (Mr. Wallace) had, however, proposed that the society should be re-modelled upon a more liberal basis—similar to that of Victoria—where the qualification was a colonist of twenty years’ standing, and upon this basis the society could not die out. It was to be regretted that, owing to other engagements, so few of those settlers who were reaping the fruits of the of the colony were at the table ; the Anniversary Day, however, was of that national importance that it would remain a red-letter day of the colony. Mr. R. J. Ddncan proposed “the Prosperity of the Colony of New Zealand,” stating that he felt sure the meeting would agree with him, that a more appropriate or important toast could not have been chosen for so interesting an occasion. At the same time, he was painfully conscious that he was but little capable of doing that justice to the subject which it demanded. The advancement and prosperity of New Zealand deeply concerned the settlers of this city and province, for without the prosperity of the colony generally there could be no real or permanent advancement or prosperity for the people of Wellington. From this, the first settlement of the colony, several of , the most important divisions of the country were first settled. Wanganui, Taranaki, Wairarapa, and Hawke’s Bay were more or less offshoots of Wellington, whilst even wealthy Canterbury and Otago, and even Nelson, were in their early days materially benefited and assisted from Wellington. A rivalry no doubt existed amongst the politicians, the merchants, the graziers, and tho agriculturists in the endeavor to show the greatest results in production, in population, and in wealth. He hoped this rivalry would long continue. A sound and healthy public opinion was slowly yet surely being created, and nothing but good could flow therefrom. He had not yet mentioned Auckland, which he had always looked upon as one of the fairest and most important parts of tho colony. In the old days each place had no doubt good grounds of complaint against tho other, but happily these feelings no longer existed on either side, a better proof of which could not be given than what lately appeared in the Southern Cross, being a review of the position Wellington had attained to, and the vast natural advantages of tho province—and the position was ably, yet truthfully, pointed out. In speaking to such a toast he thought it might prove both, useful and interesting toj review

the condition o£ affairs twenty years ago, and contrast it with our position to-day. From official sources he gathered that the export of gold up to 30th September, 1874, was the enormous quantity of £29,222,845. No reliable statistics existed before the year 1863, when he found that the Customs revenue was £32,562. . For 1854, just twenty years ago, it was exactly £46,820. The total Customs revenue for 1874 was no less than £1,188,993, being merely the small difference of £1,142,173. The increase in last year’s Customs revenue over 1873 was no less than £223,191. Again, as respected the amount of business, the contrasts were no less remarkable. The exports in 1854 were valued at £320,890 ; in 1873, they amounted to £5,610,371. The imports in 1854 were valued at £891,200; in 1873 they amounted t0£6,464,687. Again, as respected population—in 1854 the Europeans in the colony numbered 32,562, while according to the census taken in March, 1874, they were found to number 299,385. Facts like these required no comment, and though they might not prove very interesting upon such an occasion, they would be useful as a ready means of reference on future occasions, as showing the rapid strides made in the prosperity of the colony. Captain Williams ‘spoke very forcibly in favor of maintaining the increase in the trade of the port by extending the wharf accommodation ; and following up this line of thought, Captain Williams expressed himself as strongly of opinion that Wellington must become a busy centre of commerce. Mr. J. C. Cuawforu proposed the toast, “ The Commercial, Agricultural, and Pastoral interests of the Colony.” Mr. G. Allan briefly replied, though he disclaimed any intimate connection with any of the interests enumerated in the toast. Nevertheless, the reply was rendered very interesting by some anecdotes of days gone by, Mr. Allan being one of New Zealand’s very earliest colonists. Mr. Seed proposed a toast in memory of the “Early settlers who have passed away,” making passing reference to Colonel Wakefield and Mr. G. Hunter (father of Mr. G. Hunter, M.H.R.), Captain Wakefield, R.N., and Mr. Thomson, who were killed at the Wairau, Lieut.-Golonel Nixon, Major Von Tempsky, and Captain Buck, who were killed in defence of the settlers, and to the following settlers who lost their lives by drowning ; —Mr. G. Wade, drowned in the Jewess, near Paikakariki ; Mr. G. Wallace, drowned in the Maria, at Sinclair Head; the Hon. C. A. Dillon, drowped in the Wairau ; and Mr. Drummond and Mr. Coverhill, drowned in rivers in the. Wairarapa. Mr; G. Hart responded to the toast, and alluded in graceful terms to the memory of those early colonists who had not passed away, but who were yet doing good service on behalf of the colony, foremost among whom was the present Agent-General, Dr. Featherston. “ The Press,” “ The Ladies,” “ The health of his Honor the Superintendent,” and “ The health of Mr. Ihaiah Porutu" concluded the programme, and the company broke up after singing “ Auld Lang Svne.”