BANQUET TO THE HON. J. BUDDO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10066, 6 February 1909, Page 4

BANQUET TO THE HON. J. BUDDO.

(Special to the Oajiabtt Mail.) By Telegraph. Ghristchurch, February 6. The outstanding features of last night' 6 function at Kaiapoi were the lengthy speeches and the heartiness of the reception accorded to the Hon. T. Mackenzie, who made an exceedingly effective speech.' The guest of the evening spoke modestly, considering the warmth of the reception and! the general approval of his selection for ministerial rank. The ex-member for Hurunui even warmly eulogised Sir J. G. Ward's choice, prophesying that a Ministry containing so much Scottish blood must prove cautious in the use of public moneys. Mr Laurenson, though inclined to be poetical, was magnanimous in praising Air Buddo for his tactfulness and assiduity, which had brought their reward 1 ; while he himself had failed to get there, because he was too fond of treading on people's favorite corns. The Hon. G. Jones raised' the standard of leasehold in a vigorous fashion, saying that the Legislative Council as now constituted were the real defenders of the liberties of the people. The Council would, he affirmed, have nationalised the nineteen million acres with enthusiasm, hoping by that means that future generations would be enabled to come in for their rightful heritage. The people's representatives were afraid to take so bold a plunge, while many Liberals had gone back on their pledges and supported the freehold. Mr G. W. Russell indicated that he means to be a stomy petrel in politics. He is dissatisfied with the administration of the Lands for Settlement policy, about which they had heard 60 much that evening. How many of those present had received the slightest benefit from the expenditure of the six millions for acquiring estates? He was very dissatisfied with what had been going on for' the last 15 years./ He wanted to see the Land Settlement Act administered, not for the benefit of the few, but for the greatest possible number of colonists who require land. He meant to watch very closely the recent purchase of the Kauroo estate, near Oamaru. If that was going to be a repetition of what happened at Culverden he meant to have something to say about it on the floor of the House. It was eleven o'clock before the trippers of the light fantastic got possession of the floor, but they enjoyed themselves greatly until the small hours once dancing started. The whole proceedings were marked■ J»y much heartiness, and the gathering was thoroughly representative of all classes of the constituency. Last night the Ministerial party were entertained at tea by the Mayor of Kaiapoi, who took them in a launch down to the river mouth, explaining the steps the local harbor board: intend taking to improve the navigation of the river. The party stayed at the Mandeville hotel, tin; proprietor of which is the son of the former member for Blenheim m the House of Representatives.