Dinner and Presentation to Mr. M. J. Gannon.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1039, 21 February 1882, Page 2

Dinner and Presentation to Mr. M. J. Gannon.

On Saturday ever ing last Air Al. -T. Gannon, one of the dtTvaled candidates at the late election for the representation of the East Coast District in Parliament, v\ as entertained at a public dinner at De very’s Doted, provided by his friends and supporters in the late contest. On arriving ar the Hotel it was seen al once that ir was determined to make the ceremony of as ph tisi ng and compliment ary a character las possible. 'The hotel and the large • corrugated iron building close by were I illuminated with Chinese lanterns suspended. Ihe store, which had been specially fitted up for the occa-ion, wa* tnsiefully decorated, and festooned wi Ii flags and cvergrev’iis ?d r Hebert Mcßrelney prim'ded over the festivi ius. Mr AV. F. Crawford occupying the vice-chair. About liftv n: lumen sat down to a sumptuous dinner pro vi 'ed by Host Duvery. Ihe and attendance were excellent, and rullt c cd great credit upon the good t is e and judgment of the L'eni.il host. Alter amjilr jus*ice bad been done bv all present to the good things vviih which the table was laden, and the usual loyal ’oasts disposed of, the Chairman, Air Hobert Air Bret nev, rose, and gave tie reasons that had brought them together tli.it evening He spike in eulogistic terms of Air Gatinon’s public utterances upon the land q icstiiHi during tile Lite election contest. He (Mr Alcßrutney) had heard other speakers deal with ihe >a - ne question, but al ways more or less from a party point of view. 'I hr amendments so urgently advocated by Mr Gannon in the Na. ive fjaml and o her land laws were not for the benefit of one class ns against :niolhrr. b it for the benefit of all classes, rich and poor, and for the general progress of the whole community. Those who had worked so lard to secure Mr Gannon's return were ac'ua rd solely upon public grounds ; and in appreciation of (he views hr had entincia rd and in ide so clear to all the people. As his opponents in the la’r rlrc’ion had kept such a icrttch upon Mr Gannon during the campaign, hi* supporters made up their minds that there should be a u'ttfeh on him after it was over The Chairman then called upon Mr .Montague Smith in a few and appropria’e words remarking upon the pleasing d ty that devolved upon him. presented Air Gannon with a beautiful gold watch, after having first rend rhe trs imonial accompanying it. ami also the inscription on the vva'ch, the trstimouial bring a- here'imlrr : — “ To M. .1. Ganuon. I'Nq , Gi'borne : A’oiir friends and supporters brgyo'tr acrejt’ancr of t he accoinpativing wa’ch ami chain, n-* a slight recognition of vour services in standing as a candi date in our interests at the late contest for the House of Representatives, and as a token of our appreciation of your talent. AVe trust that you will not regard (he intrinsic value of the gift, but the feelings which have promp’ed its presentation, and sincere! v hope that you mav be given many years of health and prosperity to live and work in our midst. — Feb. 18, 188’2.”

Upon the watch was the following engraving: —“Presented lo M. .1 G inuo’i, E-q.. from his suppor tu’s in the late contest for represen' ing the E.i-t Const Electorate in Parliament, to show the : r appreciation of his great a’)ili'v and z al in advoe.iting the wants of the di.s'ruT, ami the reforms so urgently required in the Native Land Laws. —New Zealand, January, 1882.” In replying, Air Gannon stated that

he felt keenly the highly flattering niannerhis friends and supporters were pleased to look upon the efforts he put forth in the hue c-mrest. He thanked them all heartily for the kindness and goodwill they had shown him. He thought that he had been more than trebly paid for any trouble he had taken in regard to the Lind question in this district by the hardworkers who so earnestly backed up the views that he believed were for the common good of all. Many of his supporters, to whom a day’s wage was a matter of considera iun, freely left t icir work, and night and day, without the .slightest ice or hope of lew.’ird other than gaining the object they all strove for, worked in his behalf. What they had done would remain long fresh in bis memory, without any other aid. Il would be gratifying to bis supporters to see that the views they so heartily approved of w< re now being worked out by the I'ast Coast Assoc a'ion, and he hoped that by ihe earnest co-operation of all classes of the community the result we all desired, namely, the settlement of the land titles, and the settlement of the people on the land, would be speedily brought about. In conclitson he ajain thanked bis friends and supporters for their marked appreciation of and confidence in him. A number of healths were drunk during (he even ng, toasts propo-cd, and songs s' ng, until about 12 o’clock when the mo.'-t harmonious gathering tha : has taken place for a longtime, terminated with the utmost goodlellowsbip on all sides.