BANQUET AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5443, 6 September 1878, Page 2

BANQUET AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(PER PRESS AGENOrO Christchurch, Thursday. The much talked of banquet came off tonight in the Provincial Council Chambers. Altogether about 200 guests sat down' to table. The chair was occupied by the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr, Henry Thomson, who was supported on his right by his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby and the officers of H.M.S. Nymphe, and on his left by the Hon. Messsra. Stout aud Fisher. The, vice-chair was occupied by Mr, John Ollivier, and among the guests were the Mayors of Wellington and several suburban municipalities, as well as the Christchurch Councillors and many members of public 430(1168. The dinner was supplied by Mr. Morton, of Morton’s Hotel, and was in every respect worthy of the occasion. The reporters and the band were placed in the gallery, and during the evening the latter discoursed a number of musical selections in excellent style. The cloth having been removed, the Chairman read a number of apologies from gentlemen who had been invited, but who could not attend, amongst whom were Sir George Grey, Sir Wm. Fitzherberb, and Sir Jno. Richardson.

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and drunk with enthusiasm. His Worship then proposed “The Health of His Excellency the Governor,” which was received with loud and prolonged applause. ' The Mayor said that ever since his Excellency’s arrival in New Zealand he had afforded valuable services in connection with all public and beneficial institutions. (Cheers.) His presence there upon that occasion was a further manifestation of the interest he took in all our colonial undertakings. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with three times throe. His Excellency returned his sincere thanks for the cardial manner in which the toast had been responded to. It was indeed true that, he took a deep interest in the welfare of the colony, and he had great pleasure in being present on such an occasion as this, which was a most important epoch in the history of the colony. It was the close of the first act of the great Public Works policy introduced into the country by Sir Julius Vogel; and no one remembering 1870 but would admit that the policy had been a great public success. No doubt mistakes had been made iu carrying out the details, for they could not expect a policy of such vast importance to be carried through its initial stages without mistake. (Cheers.) In a few weeks ho hoped there would be complete railway communication between Amberley and Invercargill, making a stretch of line opened up of 488 miles; and was that nothing for a new country ? It was a matter of fact that in proportion.to the population there was more railway opened up in this colony than in any other country in the world, (Loud cheers.) The success of the last loan in England astonished everybody, and he believed some of the credit of that was duo to the gentleman to whom they gave credit for the rest. It had been said that the debt wm largo in proportion per head to the debt of England. That might be true ; but in proportion to the revenue it was very much less. (Cheers.) His Excellency then spoke of the marvellous strides the country had made in, overy respect during the last few years. (Cheers.) With' * the energy and resources of the people, they might rest satisfied that the

debt was one which the country could afford to:bear. '(Cheers.) He congratulated them sincerely upon the event which they had that night met to celebrate, and he could only hope that the prosperity of the colony would continue to advance year by year in the future as it had done in the past. (Cheers.) The' Chairman said it had, been suggested that some mark of approbation ought to bo given to Sir Julius Vogel, and it was proposed on the following day to send him a telegram congratulating him upon the completion of the line of railway between Christchurch arid Dunedin.

Mr; G.-Stbad proposed “His Excellency's Advisers,” coupled with the name of the Hon. Robert Stout.

Mr Stout, who was very warmly received, said that though he desired to eschew politics on this occasion, still the toast was one of a political character; indeed, the very hall in which they stood was of a political character, and when it was first built it was intended that it should bo a place of meeting for the General Assembly. Whatever side was in power ought to receive a fair co-operation at the hands of the House. The present occasion was one that transcended politics. Twentyfive years ago it took twelve days to go overland from Christchurch to Dunedin. In connection with this matter they should not forgot the name of Mr. Moorhouse, for after all Sir Julius Vogel was not the founder of the railway system. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) It was duo to the pluck of Mr. Moorhouse that Canterbury had made such vast strides in railway matters, and distanced all the other parts of New Zealand. If the Opposition would allow them to be so long in office they would give another banquet in honor of the opening of the railway between the West Coast and Christchurch. (Cheers and laughter.) , In Dunedin there was a feeling that the Canterbury people looked down upon them,—(No, no' —but he did not believe it. In making enquiries he found the majority of the Mayors had been Scotchmen, and even the present Mayor came from the north of the Tweed. The opening of this railway would bring the people of the two places still closer and nearer together, and would enable them to get rid of many of those feelings which perhaps now animated some of them. (Cheers.) He hoped that none of them would do anything that would riot tend to push ahead a nation which had so far shown her willingness to push her fortunes by her energy and her industry. The Hon. J. T. Fisher also returned thanks.

The Hon. H. B. Gresson proposed the toast of “ The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” coupled with the names of Captain Townsend (of H.M.S. Nymphe), Colonel Brett, and Major Lean. Captain Townsend and Major Lean responded. Colonel Brett was not present. Dr. Turnbull proposed “The General Assembly of New Zealand,” coupled with the name of the Hon. Mr. Miller and Messrs. OTlorke and Bastings. Ho said the Assembly had achieved for itself a name worthy of a great colony. The Hon. Mr. Miller responded. He said it was well known that public measures were subjected to severe criticism in the Upper House, and without such criticism no national excellence could be arrived at. There was much more time in the Upper House to debate all matters than in the Lower House. On the present occasion, on behalf of the Legislative Council, he congratulated the country on the completion of the line between Christchurch and Dunedin, and he hoped that the railway would cement the bonds of friendship between the two cities.

The Hon. G. M. O’Rorke responded on behalf o£ the House of Representatives, H© said they were all delighted with their visit to the South, and particularly with the rapid C'rides which the railway works had made in this part of the colony. From a little seed a gigantic tree had grown up, and would have the effect of wonderfully improving every part of the country through which they passed. He hoped on some future occasion they would have the opportunity of celebrating the junction of the two great cities of the North by the same means. (Cheers.)

Mr. Bastings said it could not be denied that they had for a long time been advocating the interests of a colony about which they knew very little. He had been one of the first to propose that the House should be adjourned in order to visit the South on this occasion, and he hoped on some future occasion the members of the So?\th would pay a visit to the North. (Cheers.) He had heard that some of the members of the House did not intend ou the next day to visit Dunedin, but if that were so, he would say that those members were utterly wanting in public spirit. The Governor proposed the next toast, which was that of “The Mayor of Christchurch.” He said it had struck him that the Lord Mayor of Loudon would very soon have to vacate the chair in the matter of hospitality if this sort of thing went on. (Loud cheers.) Such meetings as the present did a great deal of good, as they brought men from different parts of the colony together. (A.pplause.) He thought, on behalf of all in the room, he might offer his sincere thanks for the noble hospitality which had been extended to them that night. (Loud cheers.) His Worship responded, aud said he felt extremely gratified at the manner in which the toast had been responded to. It could not'be denied that this was a great occasion, which would be remembered for a very long time to come. (Cheers.) He wished to apologise to the gentlemen present for the great inconvenience which they must have felt from being overcrowded. (No, no.) But on such an occasion he had wished to have every public body present represented, and he was thoroughly well satisfied with the result. (Cheers.) Mr. John Ollivier proposed the next toast, the toast of the evening, which was “The Mayors and Councillors of Christchurch and Dunedin.” It was just twenty years since, in connection with his friend Mr. Moorhouse, he had proposed a system of railways in Canterbury, the latter proposing the same from one end to the other. He remembered the occasion when Sir Julius Vogel, then Mr. Vogel, said publicly that they owed nothing to him with regard to railways, but owed something to Mr. William Sefton Moorhouse. (Loud cheers.) They were now called upon to celebrate a marriagebetween Canterbury’s eldest daughter, Miss Christchurch, and Otago’s elder son, Mr. Dunedin—(loud cheers aud laughter)—aud the stalwart Mr. Dunediu had come to escort his beautiful bride to her home. Let them take her. There she was, richly endowed, and they hoped the union would be a happy one. He would therefore ask them to drink to the health of the bride and the bridegroom, otherwise “ The Mayors and City Councillors of Christchurch aud Dunedin.”

The Match of Dunedin first responded on behalf of himself and his brother Councillors. He said he trusted the iron-horse would have the effect of sweeping away anything of illfeeling between the two places, if such really existed.

Mr. Thomson, the Mayor o£ Christchurch, also responded. The Hon. John Hall proposed the next toast, which was “The Promoters of Railways in Christchurch,” coupled with the name of Mr. W. S. Moorhouse. (Load cheers.) He said the work of carrying a tunnel from Lyttelton to Christchurch was at first laughed at and poohpoohed, but Mr. Moorhouse hammered away at the work until it was an accomplished fact, and a great public boon to Canterbury. The .railway was the key which unlocked our great national resources,. and the day when that tunnel was opened was the inauguration of a new era for the Province of Canterbury, and particularly for the city of Christchurch. Sir Julius Vogel had shown to the people of the colouythat it would be wise to proceed with the scheme of public works, and the inauguration of that scheme which afterwards took place had dona much for the good of the country. (Cheers.) It could not be denied that the benefits to the country resulting from these works had been immense ; and, more than than that, Sir Julius Vogel had shown since leaving New Zealand that his heart was bound up with the colony for which ha had done so much. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Moorhouse responded at some length. On rising he was received with loud and prolonged cheers. He said ha could not but feel remarkably flattered at having his name associated in the way it had been with the railways and with Sir Julius Vogel, who was to him as a mountain to a molehill. That gentleman was no longer a popular politician, and ought to be dealt with tenderly ; he had for a time played a brilliant part in the colony, and at the present time lie was doing noble service for the country as Agent-General. (Loud cheers.) He was the unceasing advocate of theinterests of the colony, and at all times did his best to bring New Zealand into the very first rank among the colonies of the British Empire. Sir Julius Vogel had told the world that here we had all things present to make this a great country. (Loud cheers.) In his opinion New Zealand must give a tone, if not laws, in this part of the world, and before long he believed she would be the premier among the whole of the Australasian colonies, and her flag would sweep the seas for supremacy in the Pacific. (Cheers.) 'Before

: y 1...,!- . . i 1 1 ■■■yt'i* 1 : sitting down. Mr. Moorhouse said : “I’cofild not but pay a tribute: of praise to Mr. John Ollivier, who supported me at the time as member of the Executive.” (ApplausoJ ’ , .. .Several other toasts were proposed, and the proceedings closed about half-past 11 o'clock.