LUNCH ON BOARD THE HAWEA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4457, 2 July 1875, Page 2

LUNCH ON BOARD THE HAWEA

In response to the invitations issued by tbe directory of tbe Union Steam Ship Company, nearly a hundred gentlemen sat down to luncheon on board the new steamer Hawea. Amongst those present were his Honor the Superintendent of Wellington, W. Fitzherhert,' Esq. ; Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs ; Hon. 0. O. Bowen, Minister of Justice ; and several members of the House of Representatives, Provincial Council, &c. The company haring partaken of the good things provided, Mr. George McLean, one of the directors, who occupied the chair, gave the “ Queen and Royal Family,” “ The Prince and Princess of Wales,” and “His Excellency the Governor.” In regard to the latter toast, he spoke of the great popularity his Excellency and the Marchioness of Normauby bad gained wherever they bad as yet visited, whether in the North or Sbuth. The toasts were duly honored. The Chairman then proposed, “ His Excellency’s Responsible Advisers.” In doing so he said many gentlemen present wished to, get away quickly, and that must be his excuse for making his remarks brief. He hoped his Excellency’s advisers would give him good advice on one subject, namely, to tiavel in the Hawea and leave the Luna at home. (Cheers and laughter.) The Hon. Mr. Reynolds said : Gentlemen, —When I came here, I did not expect to be called upon to respond to a toast, in fact, I came here to get my luncheon—(laughter)— and I think, sir, you have shown a very good example in maldng your speech so short, an example which I quite intend to follow, for I cannot see that very much is to he said. But there isoue thing which stikes me in connection with this occasion, viz, that day by day and year by year the colony is advancing to a very great extent. I remember my first visit to New Zealand I was detained here for eight weeks before I could get an opportunity of going to Dunedin, and then I had to = go in a little craft which is still plying in the harbor here, I refer to the Shepherd. (A laugh.) Since then, we have advanced 'wonderfully, gradually improving our steamers, till now we have in this harbor so handsome and capacious a steamer as the Hawea. With regard to the suggestion -which has fallen from you, sir, that his Excellency’s responsible advisers should advise his Excellency to take advantage of the splendid accommodation of the Hawea, and avail himself of her on his trips North and South, I think it is scarcely necessary for us to advise him on that point. No doubt he will take the best boat he can find upon the coast, and if he should visit the Hawea, I think he will have but one opinion on the subject. I may say that for my own part I shall always look fertile best boat, and so far as I can see just now, the Hawea will suit mo amazingly. (Laughter.) I have to thank yon gentlemen, for myself and on behalf of my colleagues, for the manner in which you have drank the health of his Excellency’s Responsible Advisers. The Chairman gave “ His Honor the Superintendent, William Fitzherhert, Esq.” From his (the chairman’s) experience, Mr. Fitzherhert had been a good Superintendent for the province of Wellington ; indeed, although he was not going to meddle with political affairs, if he were speaking' as the representative of another part of the colony, he should say that gentleman had been too good a Superintendent for Wellington ; but possibly very few of those present would agree with him on that point. Still ho was very glad to see the Superintendent of any-province doing the best he could for the interest of the community he represented ; and although he might politically disagree with Mr. Fitzherbert, ho honored him for the earnest manner in which ho worked for his province. With their fine wharf and other conveniences the shipping interest could not but feel indebted to tho Superintendent, and therefore it was with pleasure he called upon" the company to drink his Honor’s health.

His Honor thanked the company tor the kind manner in which the toast had been received, and referred to the satisfaction which must be felt by old residents when they saw their splendid harbor graced by the presence of so fine a vessel as the Hawea. After some bantering remarks on the New Zealand Company having now to cope with a rival #ho wished to share in its profits, he said, seriouipy speaking, most persons must be pleased to witness new competitors enter the field, and this not because they were dissatisfied with the- New Zealand Company’s services, but formally other reasons, principal amongst which was the idea that free trade in all tilings was good (hear, hear). And again, they liked to have plenty of shipping in their port. We have nothing particular to dispose of, for we have not the thousands of bushels of wheat which some of the richer provinces produced ; but we have our wants, and claimed to be attended to. In fact, Wellington was a kind of corner shop—(a laugh!—which ooukl not be passed by. There was plenty of accommodation, but there was notliing particular to sell to-day, though there might be some day ; yet the corner shop must be attended to. In conclusion, he proposed “Success to the Union Steam Ship Company,” coupling with it the name of Mr. George McLean. The Chairman, as representative of the company, desired to return thanks for the maimer in which the toast had been received, also for the compliment paid to the company by the visit of so many of the business men of the city. He would go a little further than the Superintendent, and express the opinion that Wellington was sure to become a great port. The East Coast and the West Coast were already

drawing supplies from here, and so soon as railway communication with adjacent districts became more general, Wellington muse become a port of great importance. He bad not lately come to bold that opinion, for his Honor knew be bad expressed the same sentiments years ago, and now be held the opinion more firmly than ever. With regard to the company which he represented, he might say it was fully alive to the progressiveness of Hew Zealand, and that was the reason they came before the colonists with the new steamer. They saw that the expansion of Hew Zealand trade required more carrying power. They did not desire to interfere'with other companies, hut they believed there was sufficient room for them and others too. (Hear, hear.) Of course,, they had produced a vessel superior to others on the coast, but nothing could be said against other companies for not having better supplied the wants of the trade. The vessels hitherto in use had been procured when they were suited to the trade, and had done good service, though it was only fair to say these vessels were not equal to the new boat, seeing that she was provided with all the latest improvements. But the other company, doubtless, would soon improve its fleet, and he trusted there would be room for all. That there was room for both he was convinced, from the large quantity of freight which had been offered, part of which had to he refused. (Hear, hear.) The Union Copipany was anxious to extend its trade, and to pay good dividends to its shareholders ; and they were also anxious that the company should not be merely an Otago company but a Hew Zealand company, and that there _ would 'he shareholders in every port. He then referred to the good qualities of the vessel, but admitted that a mess had been made of the trip from Lyttelton. This had been occasioned by injudicious loading ; and it was reasonable enough that with her screw out of water the vessel should have travelled slowly. But this would not be done again, and the Hawea would soon prove she was a really good boat. He would now propose “ Success to Other Steamship Companies,” and expressed the hope that all would work amicably together. (Cheers.) Mr. Burns (of theH.Z.S.S. Co.) said he had much pleasure in responding to the toast, and on behalf of his company offering a welcome to the Hawea in the trade. The company which he represented had worked very hard for a number of years, and doubtless with some success, not extraordinary success perhaps, but still they had made headway. However, they were not sufficiently selfish to think they should not be met by competition—(cheers) —and they offered the Hawea a friendly welcome into "Wellington waters. Their boats were not equal to the Hawea, but nevertheless they - had done exceedingly well for many years, and while he was glad to see a better boat had now come in, he hoped the Hew Zealand Company wouid 1 “fore long be equal with the Union Compa in respect to the quality of boats. (Cheers.) • Mr. Bishop (agent for McMeckan and Blackwood) also responded. He hoped the Union Company would have success, and trusted the Melbourne Company would still be able to hold its own along the coast. Ho doubt the new steamer would prove a benefit to the Hew Zealand people, and he trusted all companies would work together amicably. (Applause.) Mr. Edward Pearce then proposed the health of Captain Malcolm. He was quite sure everyone would receive the toast well, for all who had had the pleasure of travelling with that gentleman spoke very highly of his genial manner ; not that this was his only claim to their esteem, for he commanded respect by his ability, none being better up in the duties of his profession than he. Captain Malcolm responded. “Success to the Hawea,” proposed by Mr. Fitzgerald ; “ The Agents of the Union Company,” proposed by Mr. Dransfield and responded to by Mr. Levin; and “ Captain Wheeler,” proposed by Mr. Duncan, having been duly honored, the company separated. We may mention that the luncheon was got up in first-class style by Mr. Bennett, providore of the boat.