SIR WM. FITZHERBERT, K.C.M.G.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 6

SIR WM. FITZHERBERT, K.C.M.G.

A large number of the leading citizens met Sir William Pitzherbert on March 27th at the Provincial Buildings to congratulate him upon his elevation to knighthood. At first it was intended that the meeting should be limited to a few of Sir William’s more immediate personal friends, but gradually the matter assumed a more important aspect, and the assemblage on Tuesday was essentially representative of all classes in the community. Champagne and a little light refreshment was laid upon the table. At the request of Mr. Hunter, M.H.R, the assembled company filled their glasses, and that gentleman thou said ; I am old-fashioned enough to think that when we meet together on social occasions of this kind the first toast to be proposed should bo that of the health of her Majesty the Queen—(hear, hear) —and more especially so to-day, as our proceedings have special reference to an act of her Majesty. The toast was duly honored. Mr. Hunter then said : It is hardly necessary to say that this meeting has been called in a hurried manner, the object being to pay a slight mark of respect to the gentleman whose great services it has pleased her Majesty to recognise. I need scarcely say that I refer to Sir William Pitzherbert. (Cheers.) I regard it as a high privilege that it has fallen to my lot to propose the toast of his health, as Sir William Pitzherbert, possibly for the first time in New Zealand, and I ask you to honor him by responding to that toast. He is a gentleman who has been essentially one of the early settlers of New Zealand—who has gone through all the ups and downs incidental to the life of a colonist—who has faithfully, manfully, and cheerfully done his part in establishing the colony of New Zealand —a colony which ultimately must become one of the great nations upon this earth. Kis merits have always been appreciated by the people of New Zealand. He has filled various high positions in the colony till, at last, after representing an important constituency for many year's, with satisfaction to those who entrusted him with their suffrages, and with infinite credit to himself, he had tire high honor to bo selected by the representatives of the people in Parliament assembled to occupy the position he now dignifies as Speaker of the House of Representatives. It must bs especially gratifying to find that one of our public men whom we have delighted to honor has been looked upon with favor by her Majesty, and accorded a distinction he so richly deserved. It is one of the

pleasing features of our connection with the great Mother Country that these distinctions are obtainable by our public men, and are awarded when deserved. You are aware that this meeting has been called very suddenly and unexpectedly, but nevertheless there is present to-day a very good representation of the people of Wellington; but had it been known that such a demonstration was to take place, ten times, twenty times, aye, a hundred times the number of th«se present would have been here. It was originally intended that the meeting should be confined to a few old friends; but during the last few hours the gathering has been noised abroad, and the result is that a large number of gentlemen have taken the opportunity of testifying their respect for him whom I may call our guest. lam sure that had one with ten times the eloquence I possess proposed this toast it would not have enhanced Sir William Fitzherbert in your estimation. (Hear - , hear.) We come here to pay our sincere respects to the newly-created knight, and congratulate him on receiving the distinction which he has so deservedly earned. Gentlemen, I call upon you to drink to the health of Sir William Fitzherbert.

The toast was heartily responded to, and three cheers called for for Lady Fitzherbert. Sir William Fitzherbert, —Mr. Hunter and Gentlemen ; I confess that I am taken by surprise. Yesterday evening, at the railway station at the Hutt, where I went to meet my wife who had been in Wellington, Mr. Bunny informed me that some few friends wished to see me and take a glass of champagne with me to-day. That was the simple intimation I received, and I had no idea that there was going to be such a demonstration as this. Mr. Hunter has been good enough, in terms perhaps too eloquent for the occasion—(No, no) —to make reference to myself, aud to the honor which has lately been conferred upon me. First of all, let me thank Mr. Hunter, himself an old colonist, the son of an old colonist, who has from the beginning been identified heart and interest with the city. I recolleet when his father became the first Mayor of Wellington. (Cheers.) It is pleasurable to recount these reminiscences, for they are fadimr away from us, as one by one old colonist pass from amongst us. Solemnly and reverently I refer to them. As I was going to say, I thank Mr. Hunter for his kindly expressions ; but it is true, nothing but true, that I have been identified with rising New Zealand, and with the town of Wellington particularly, from the earliestdays—with allits interests, allits aspirations, all its moments of depression, all its terrors, all its panics, and with its success of to-day. There is no one whose heart rejoices more with gratitude to witness the prosperity it has achieved through the efforts of the gallant men who settled it. We do not look with jealousy upon those who now are coming to our shores. On the contrary, we recognise in them those who are to carry on the work which we commenced ; but nevertheless we know we were the men who planted the seed, we were the men whose sagacious hen saw at once that this was the soil on which worthy men of the British race could raise up a great nation, and in this respect we have not failed, though at times the rains fell and the lightning smote us. It was only today that it was brought very vividly to my mind as I came along in the train what has been done in the past 35 or 36 years, and how greatly even our climate has been ameliorated under the influence of the civilising hand of man. It is a surprising and most interesting question, let the physical philosopher explain ifc as he can. You have really almost unnerved me to-day, l not because I have not been accustomed to public demonstrations, but from the fact that this meeting of to-day was unasked and unexpected; but I recognise that you take a just pride in the reward of your public men, and I think it is a great thing to be able to say in public that this honor which has been conferred upon me was never solicited, but though unasked, unprayed for, it is an honor not undeserved, and I think it should prove a great encouragement to those who come after to find that public services in a remote part of the Empire are not unobserved. I quite agree with Mr. Hunter when he states that New Zealand must become one of the greatest nations upon the face of the globe, and I think it is indeed a matter of just pride to us that we did show manhood and perseverance in difficulties, such as the British race, only give it scope, under whatever circumstances, is always sure to evince, aud it must be a source of gratification to us that we did in the early days recognise .the fertility and richness of New Zealand, and that we added to the British crown one of the brightest jewels it contains. The jewel is not yet wholly set, it is not fully cut so as to bring out its best beauties, but nevertheless there it is, and we Have only to be true to ourselves to do justice to its native worth. I have only further to say that it must be a source of encouragement to those who come after to feel that in however remote a part of the British Empire we may be there is an examination, there is observation, there is a weighing of men ; and their actiens and their career are recognised and rewarded. I thank you, in the name of my wife, Lady Fitzherbert, for the kind reference to her, and I assure you that it is a source of great gratification to me that I am enabled to place her in a position worthy of her kind and sympathetic heart. (Cheers.) Mr. John Martin : I think we ought not to disperse before drinking the health of Lady Fitzherbert. I therefore propose her ladyship’s health. (Applause.) The toast was received with all honors. Sir William Fitzherbert then said; Gentlemen, I wish you to drink another health, which I am about to propose —Mr. George Hunter. (Applause.) I say emphatically that any country or any town is happy in possessing a citizen such as Mr. Hunter. He came amongst us a young man, and he has lived to a mature age amongst us, but never has there been any deviation in his upright course. If I might refer to an illustration that was introduced, I recollect, by Mr. J. C. Richmond many years ago in the House of Representatives. When he was speaking of some Taranaki people, and there was a general remark of wonder that they did not desert their homes after so many trying difficulties, he told an anecdote with great effect upon the House to this purport. “ I met a man,” he said—“a Devonshire man of course—it was Devonshire men who settled Taranaki—and I asked him why he did not leave Taranaki and go down to Otago, the Government of which province had very liberally offered a free grant of land to any who chose to go ; or why he did not go to Nelson as others had done. The simple artless fellow’s reply was this : 1 1 be like a post. They put mo iu this spot—here I be and here I muststop,’ ” (Applause.) Nowitismuch the same with Mr. Hunter. He has stood by Wellington in all her trials, troubles, and vicissitudes—aud there have been not a few of them ; and iu asking you to drink to the health of Mr. Hunter in these few brief words, I ask you to drink to the health of a true, honest, and faithful colonist of New Zealand and Wellington, who has never swerved under any circumstances. (Cheers.) Mr. Hunter, who was visibly affected, said: Gentlemen, —I will not trust myself to speak. I will simply content myself with thanking you for the honor you have done mo. The meeting then dispersed.