THE DINNER.

Patea Mail, 6 November 1880, Page 3

THE DINNER.

Nearly fifty members, guests, and supporters of the Association sac down to the evening dinner at the Central Hotel. The dinner was well served and creditable, but was unfortunately late. Olr F. M. Chapman, president of the Assocration, occupied the chair, and Mr J. Gibson the vice-chair. The company was fairly representative of the district, there being fewest from the northern settlemeiw; and it is gratifying to record this as the most successful gathering ever held in the district. A spirit of good-fellowship marked the proceedings. Major Atkinson, Mr Bryce, and Mr Bnllance were unable to accept the Committee’s invitation to the dinner. The President proposed as the first toast “ the Queen.” Her Majesty’s loy-al subjects duly honored the toast. Mr Coutts proposed the mercantile interests of the Patea district. Ho said : The first time I met the residents of the district in a public maimer was some five y-ears ago, when we met at Kakaramea to decide whether a show- should bo hold or not. There were serious doubts about it, but I had seen the success of associations in the South, and took a more hopeful view of our prospects ; and w-e did have a show, and also a dinner. I cannot help noting how the circumstances of the district have changed, and how much greater wero the difficulties of the mercantile interests at that time. We had a difficulty in getting any commodities imported into the place, for probably three weeks or a month would elapse without a vessel being able to enter the Patea river, owing to the bar and the tides and tbc contrary wind. Consequently there was a very great dearth of flour in the district. My--sclf and another Canterbury- settler happened to bring a few bags of flour, and our store was nearly exhausted before a fresh supply could be got. Now we are •met under very different ciecumstanccsWe not only have a river accessible at all times, but we have a steamer trading here regularly—not one, but three. Touching on the exhibits, I as one of the judges bad a very difficult task to perform in deciding as to the best butter and bread and bacon. The butter and bread would compete favorably with any district. (Applause.) Instrumental music (not first-rate): “ For bo’s a jolly good fellow,” MyTennent, replying for the mercantile interests, said: “Wo shall one and all feel that this place depends not so much on its mercantile pursuits as on its agricultural and pastoral interests. It is a pleasure to live in a district like this ; for I may tell you that about a year ago, when New Zealand was suffering under one of the severest depressions ever seen, I travelled almost throughout both islands, and made it a point to call on almost every bank-manager connected with our corporation, and enquire as to the condition of each district. And I came hack to Patea with tins conviction, that there was not in the whole of New Zealand a sounder district than the one wc represent to-night. (Hear, hear.) You can all understand this from the fact that there has been no failure in this district during the last two years. In every- other town of the colony- we have seen many- records of insolvencies; and we may congratulate ourselves that the commercial interests rest on such a sound.foundation as the graziers of this district. You have heard that there are three steamers plying regularly to this port, and I cannot do better Jhan ask you to join in promoting of this place by assisting.the Patea Steam Shipping Company to increase the steamers to four. (Laughter, and a voice: “That is doing a little business.”) Song by Mr Pringle ; “ Lass of Richmond Hill.”

I Mr G. F. Siieiuvood proposed “ Prosperity to the Patea District Agricultural and Pastoral Association,” He said : The Association has now entered on a new era of progress, and we have the evidence of it in the excellent show held to-day, and in the still more excellent wind-np by this glorious meeting to-night. I can cast back a few years, and look not so much at the mercantile interests of the district as at the agricultural and pastoral interests as the}- were at that time. It is now some six years since Mr Gibson and myself went to Kakaramea to try and inaugurate this Association, At that time we met with considerable opposition because it was considered that the resources of the district were not sufficiently developed, to enable an agricultural display to be made creditably to the district. Notwithstanding that, the Association was formed and several shows have since been held, each one better than the last ; but this present show is I believe pre-eminently the best, and we may trace it to this, that a now wave of interest has been imparted, a new ray of light has been shed on the district, and a great many people from outside have come in and recognised that we have a really fertile district capable of producing the best that can be produced in tlie shape of animals of all descriptions. I was especially glad to-day to see the stock of the new settlers shown side by side with the stock of the old settlers, which held their own ; and that while welcoming new stock, wc still see that the old stock had points which the new stock had not and the new stock had points which the old stock did not possess. I don’t profess to understand much about stock, but I noted that. Let us hope that by combining the good points of both wo may have the acme of goodness. If the progress of our district has been slow, and I am sorry to say it has been slow, yet the district has been progressive. The beautiful country we live in, the soil wc have, and the climate wc have are highly favorable to continued progress. Whereas many parts of the colony have boon revelling in borrowed millions, our own district has had to rely upon its own resources, and has come out of the ordeal in such a manner as must be satisfactory to all of you ; and I am not prepared to say that this slow progress by self-reliance is not after all the best condition of affairs. We want our progress to bo a little more rapid, and that can be and I believe will be done, because in a recent period one great incentive to progress has been established in having secured to ourselves the local administration of land ; and with a healthy administration at the head I have no fear for the efficiency of the local administration, and may hope to see a groat deal more land thrown into the market, and that means capital brought into the district, with bone and sinew. Those who arc here will assist those who come. The district has all the elements necessary for progress, and we want members of this Association to assist in the work of development ; and if we meet annually I believe that at each succeeding period we show improvement in every way. In connection with these remarks on the Association’s progress, I cannot help saying that in Mr Eyton you have a secretary who will carefully guard and foster your interests ; and ho has proved by his energy to-day that he is able to carry out the work on a satisfactory business basis which will in a largo degree secure the prosperity- of this Association. The question comes as to which shall be the outlet of the district. You may breed the best of stock, but you must find an outlet for that stock. You don’t breed it for the purpose of showing it only, but to send it to a market ; and you want the easiest and readiest means of transport to it. You have now an easy and ready means of exporting stock to the various ports adjacent to this place, and also to the other island, without the difficulty of sending them overland a long distance either north or south. You have a port that will increase in importance, and that will be through the opening yet of the West Coast of the South Island, which at no very distant date will become the market for the main outlet of this district. That and Wellington together will take all the stock you can produce for many years in this district. The improvement of the Patea bail's at a small cost as compared with harbors in other places. I am aware that there arc very ambitious proposals attempted to bo carried out whereby ports at every few miles arc to be connected with Europe by direct steamers. I submit this to you, that in face of the fact that the colony has more ports than are sufficient for direct European trade, what we require is to improve our natural harbors to such an extent as will connect them with those

larger ports having direct trade with Europe. Having done that, I submit we need not go farther. Opening such ports as we have here in order that wc may be able to trade directly with tlie large ports of New Zealand and there transship to England—that is our work and nothing more than that. Whatever assistance wc can get above that should bo turned to the opening of the country- and putting settlers on it, and should not be spent in solving an abstruce problem in the shape of harbor works. Theline should be drawn at some particular point. Vast sums arc being expended in problematical harbor works, while people arc settling where there arc no roads, although these now sections arc rated for the purpose of working out a harbor problem. That is a paradox I cannot understand. No part of the colony- can point a linger at us and say wc have expended largo sums in solving a problem, because the problem is already- solved. 1 cannot help thinking that the success of this Association is intimately bound up with the means of outlet for its produce, and I could not help dilating to some extent on the work with which I have been connected. (Applause.)

Tlie toast of the Association, couplet] the name of tlie President, was drunk with musical honors.

Song by Mi-Texnent, “William Rufus,” excellently sung. Tlie Pubsxdext ; If the show lias been a succcs in a certain degree, I am happy to accept the fact and y-onr thanks as my reward. But I cannot lake to myself all tbc credit. There arc other members of the committee with whom I have to share these thanks ; and it is only right also to distribute fully fifty- per cent, to our worthy- Secretary-, for really it is to bis activity and courtesy- ami business habits that the success is mainly- duo. lam but a young settler, some three years in the district, and cannot compare the present show with tbc. earlier ones; but I remember that in 1878 there wore only some 40 or 50 members forming tbc society, many of them merely- nominal ones, whereas now wc number about 130. (Hear, bear.) We have a nice piece of ground to hold our show on, with fair yards and sheds ; and J. am happy to say our financial position is pretty good. Our out-goings will bo about balanced by what wc have received for entries and subscriptions received and promised. I think it has proved a change in the right direction to move our y-ardsfrom Kakaramea to a more central position near Patea, and to make them permanent there. It is so for many reasons, and particularly- that by being nearer town many- more people can come ; and having a larger attendance means a larger profit to the society, and I hope it means also a larger enjoy-ment to the people who come to the show. I have had much satisfaction in seeing so many visitors from neighboring towns and friends from a distance at the show and also at this dinner. (Applause.) Song by Mr Horner : “ Tally ho !” given with good sporting “go.” Mr C. Syme proposed the Health of the judges, whose decisions appeared to have given satisfaction.

Mr J. Handley, lNuktnnam, responded. He said : Being an unfortunate grazier where wc have not a very- good port, I hope wc shall not draw the line too soon or wo may- not got a good port. Wc mayhave to send our produce to Wanganui. Of course there are these littlepetty jealousies, but it all depends where y-ou draw the line. Apart from all that, I am much pleased to see gentlemen from the South bringing up their wares at an opportune time to put them side by r side with our little wares ; but wc have seen to-day that the North Island stock are not to be rubbed out. But if wc can only persuade the Government to go a little bit farther, we shall have a port at Patea as good as Wanganui. (“ Oh, oh !”) It was oniy- the other daythc Wakatu put in an appearance in the Patea river, but while many people went to look at it not a single shareholder in the Patea steamer went down to see the poor Wakatu, The consequence was that wc must have another steamer, and of course we should have a bigger one. I think the

lino may bo drawn at the Wakatu. (Laughter.) The success of agricultural districts is owing to agricultural associations and shows. We have had to-day gold medallist sheep from the South Island, and magnificent sheep they were, but theywere not equal to the sheep of the West Coast of the North Island, and it is all owing to agricultural and pastoral shows. If those sheep had not been shown in competition with sheep already here, those sheep from the South might have been sold for three or four times as much as they fetched at to-day’s auction ; because

having been put side by- side with our own sheep they can’t nib us out. Then look at the beautiful bulls. .1 say- why- don’t gentlemen bring them to tbc central place of the West Coast, and not into a little side place? (A Voice: “They would have stuck on the Wanganui bar.”)

Mr Horneu : I have to propose the health of the successful competitors. It is an easy- task because I am speaking for my jolly self. There is nothing like success to make the merry wine to go round. As to drawing the line, there is a very large and diicct. lino between success and non-success ; but in these shows wc generally look upon it as a jolly- competition like a cricket match ; and speaking for myself, if I saw a better animal than myown in a class, I should be sorry- to sec bis placed second. The English farmer, like the British soldier, never knows when he is beaten, and wherever he goes he does his best, and whether he is at the top of the tree or only- half way up, ho feels equally- happy- as if he were at the top. Here’s to the successful competitors, and may those who are second be first next time. I couple this toast with tbc name of Mr Barker.

Mr O. V. BaiiKEII, lately of Canterbury, said : I am only one of the successful competitors. I was able to assist a little iu adding to the number of entries to your show, and was successful at any- rate in some of the classes. I think it is only- fair to myself and to the breeders of Canterbury- to answer a remark which has fallen from my co-judge. He alluded to the stock very- pointedly-. As far as the cattle arc concerned, I am sorry there was no competition in some classes, but from what I, saw in other classes of cattle, theywould have compared favourably-. Don’t run away with the impression that I had gone to any expense, or attempted to bring what would be considered first-class stock. I considered in doing so my pocket. I was afraid to spend a large sum of money without being able to sec whether I could sell the stock. What 1 sold are thoroughly- useful. But as to the sheep shown by- me, I bad no business to have brought them into the y-ard. lam wrong entirely- in having brought them there. It was very- evident that the judges were not informed that these sheep had been obliged by-law to bo dipped and washed. 1 am not sorry- for myself because J. am not the breeder of the sheep ; but 1 saw Mr Wilson’s sheep before I went down, and thought I was able to

bring bettor sheep, not only- to improve the stock iu tlie district, which I had intended to make my- homo, but Mr Wilson had hinted that if good sheep were brought here he would bo glad to avail himself of them. If those sheep had been shown in the grease, they would have held their own. 1 never cavil at the judging. No exhibitor has a right to cavil, and I should not have said what I have it one of the judges of sheep had not made there marks that ho did. I don’t think these kind of questions should be brought up at dinners 1 think they are a mistake. I believe that for many reasons this is one of the best parts of New Zealand ; and I not only- believe it, but when 1 was in Canterbury- I stated so pretty publicly too. But y-ou want more men of capital to open up the country. You have had great drawbacks, one of the principal being the native question. I think, now that this difficulty is over, you will find many Canterbury men who will turn their eyes towards the North, and I am confident that, travel as they- will, they won’t find a better part of the North Island than the district between Wanganui and New Plymouth. Another thing has struck mo as to Wanganui. As a practical man, I believe that Patea, as far as position is concerned, is not to bo equalled in the north for markets. If yon can get the right class of boats to come into your harbor, you have got the very best position in New Zealand for markets. You have got Wellington, Nelson, the West Coast of the South Island, and Auckland. You have the pick of four markets, and if you can improve your harbour to a sufficient extent to enable boats to bo constantly- running hero,you will,in my-opinion, have the best position for markets in New Zealand. I believe you have some of the best land for grazing purposes, and I believe also good land for other purposes. I don’t mean purely wheat-growing, but I believe tlie land in this district, coupled with tbc climate, is thoroughly suitable for many purposes. There is one crop which is taking attention in the South Island, which I believe this district is wonderfully suitable for. That is the growing of linseed flax or hemp for seed purposes and for string. This district will be able to supply a want which will be felt largely in the South Island, and tnai is string for binding

purposes. There is no doubt the reapers and binders used will be string binders, and if the growth of flax wero gone into on a large scale ®n this coast, it could be successfully- carried out. One farmer in the district told me be had got land which would grow 40 bushels to the acre. That is worth at present in the English market 8s a bushel, and in Christchurch 10s, but the latter price is only temporary-. I would press on you tbc advisability of giving flax atrial. Tin's farmer said he would give it trial if I would get him tbc seed and I promised to do so. (Hear, hoar.) Mr Handley rose to explain that he was not aware but all the sheep that came before him as a judge were local sheep, until bo heard Mr Barker’s remarks on the ground. He bad no information as to sheep having been washed. Mr W. Wilson proposed “ the future success of the unsuccessful competitors.” He said it was only by comparing local stock with others from outside that settlers could improve their knowledge. The toast was drunk.

Mr W. Coweun proposed the health of the stewards, who had performed their duties satisfactorily. Mr Hawes responded. j Mr sang- Ci JJagev beer witJi a funny Dutch accent. Mr SllEttwoOD proposed “ the Army and Navy,” coupled with the name of Major Noakc.

Major Noake responded in a neat speech, regretting that be was not a successful settler instead of a soldier.

Song by Mr G. Balmfoktii. Mr W. Dali; proposed “ the Press,” which was acknowledged on behalf of the County- Mail, the Hawera Star, and the Wanganui Herald. Mr HouNEit proposed “ the ladies—God bless ’em.” The toast was drunk as a loving nightcap, to the chorus of “ All good Lasses,” and the company- separated.