LONG BUSH.

Southland Times, Issue 993, 27 July 1868, Page 2

LONG BUSH.

(I\ROM OTJB OWtf COBBESPONDENT.) DINNER TO T. SWALE, ESQ., M.P.C. A complimentary dinner was given to T. Swa.e, Esq., M.PC, by a number of his friends at Long Bush, on Friday evening, 24th July, at the "Waihopai Hotel. Thirty-three gentlemen took their seats. Mr Napier in the chair, and Mr Ross acting as croupier. The guests having done ample justice to Mr Baggots good cheer, the cloth was removed, and the Chairman, with a few appropriate remarks, proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, which were in succession enthusiastically honored. The Croupier gave His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand— Sir Q-eorge Bo wen, and remarked that though comparatively unknown to the people of Southland, His Excellency's conduct since he came to New Zealand gave fair promise of his being an able representative of Her Majesty, and a good Governor for a young Colony. His Excellency — desirous of having personal knowledge of the country he has come to rule over — had expressed his intention of visiting the several provinces of the Colony, and he (Me Ross) was confident that his name would be no less loyally received this evening than he would be himself when personally amongst us. The Chairman, (Mr Napier) then rose to propose the toast of the evening— "Mr Swale." He said that at no time in his life had he so much felt his own incapacity to do justice to the subject of which he had to speak, but having been called to the position he occupied he felt it incumbent upon him to express, in some measure, the esteem and affection entertained for Mr Swale by those who sat before him. Mr Swale from his first connection with the district had been most forward in all matters of public interest, and privately he had always been the most amiable, obliging, and constant of friends. When there was none in the district who could, without manifest loss to himself, devote his time to the public benefit as the representative in Council of the people of the locality, Mr Swale, with praiseworthy zeal for the good of his neighbors, offered his services, so that the district might be represented by one who had an interest in its prosperity, who felt the same grievances, and who cherished the same hopes as the rest of the inhabitants. Mr Swale deserved the thanks of his constituents for hia earnestness on the subjects of education, and of road construction, both of which were of the first importance to the country. He felt sure, that he spoke the sentiments of all around him when he wished Mr Swale success in his new calling, and that he might gain the same esteem and affection in town with which he was followed from the country. His absence from Long Bush would be a loss to the country j but an acquisition to the town, but his old neighbors would

Iwaya rejoice in his welfare and pros>erity. The chairman finished by ginnff he toast "Mr Swale; health and. ■ )rosperity. The enthusiasm with which, ;he toast was received would nave satisfied the most ardent lover of popuarity. Indeed it took the Chairman sometime to restore order sufficient to »ive Mr Svyale a chance of being heard fn reply. This he did shortly but neatly. ]\£r A. Brown then proposed "The Clergy," to which the Rev. T. Alexander replied- "The Educational Interest. "The Commercial Interest," "The Agricultural Interest," "The Pastoral Interest,'" " The Press," "The Ladies," « The Chairman," and ".The Croupier, followed in succession, and were dulyhonored. The toast of " The Host and Hostess" qlosed the proceedings. All present watered unreservedly into the hilarity of the evening, and unalloyed satisfactioa was to be seen in every countenance. The company dispersed about eleven o'clock, after having^ spent & most karmonius and pleasant evening.