"Waiting for the Train.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 36, 13 February 1915, Page 5

"Waiting for the Train.”

AFTER-DINNER SPEECHES. ENTERTAINMENT OF VISITORS FROM OHURA.

There was a gathering of close on forty in the Foresters’ Hall last evening, when a complimentary dinner vas tendered to the party of Oliura ifsidents who are on a visit to the Stiatford district.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr .1. 1L Richards) presided over a very congenial compiiNN, and the proceedings terminated sluutIv after 11 o’clock.

An apology for absence was received from Air H. E. Abraham (Stratford manager for Air Newton Ring). After the loyal toast of “The King” had been honored, Air Rudd spint'diy rendered “Aly Old Shako " TRADE AND COMMERCE. The Mayor (Mr AV. P. Kirkwood) ir, proposing “Trade and Commerce,” said the subject matter was one winch concerned all peop'es. Trade was the nation’s wealth in mor n ways tl nu one. Some of the ablest statesmen ve have had in our own nation had ißen from the ranks of trade. In this direction he mentioned Afr Joseph Chamberlain as only one instance. When Napoleon made the jibe abo it the “nation ol shopkeepers” it was a truism, bit there was no ; a Hon which was more conversant with matters of .trade than the French. Reee.it events had shown that a nation cf shopkeepers could be good fighters. The question ot ic-ci-procity had claimed the attention of statesmen. There ivne many reasons why we should have irciproclty with, countries under our owe flag. It wa - not the countries which were most favored by nature which were the greatest, but the instinct of trade made them great nations. Ju connection with the war, he said that the trade of Great Britain and her colonies was going on as usual, which meant a good deal. Germany’s trade was practically non est. If the trade of a nation was stopped, then the well-being of a nation ended. Our trade few the ia«t year was £26,000,000, which was a very large amount, and we mignt veiy well feel proud of the proportion that Taranaki had given. As far as trade and commerce were concerned, we were very fortunate in having a good railway system. The party had been over many good roads that day, and in his opinion the tarring and sanding were the great factors in modern road building. The port of New Plymouth would he the chief one in Taranaki for trade, in the near future there would be big steamers taking away our products. In regard to roads, it was due to every district to get support from Parliament. Although the Government wag • strenuously pushing the railway through from the other end, lie thought that the railway should be pushed from both ends, when it would be finished in a very few years. This was one of the most important lines being built to-day, and it could be completed in five years. He had no doubt that Ohura people would see that it was to their advantage to have move work done on the Stratford end, as the route was So miles shorter than tc Auckland. (Applause). Air Douglas sang “The Zuyder Zee,” in fine style. Air G. C. Stevenson, replying, spokt of the pleasant memories associated with the trip twelve months ago, upon which he enlarged. He referred to the riso iu prices of the necessaries of life, and mentioned as a reason the influx of gold to London. Foreign nations, unable to pay in goods, had to pay in gold, and therefore the price of goods had risen. “OUR GUESTS.” The Chairman said it gave him great pleasure to propose the toast. A fnendsnip had sprung up and prospered dur. mg tlie past uionuis, which was a matter giving very great satisfaction to cue btranord Chamber of Commerce, particularly, and to the people or ocrattorcl and district generally. As to the trip twelve mouths ago, they thought tuey would go and spy out the land ana see what manner oi country it was and what manner of people they were. It was called “Uur Huiter. land”—at least that was what the newspapers put in the heading. At any rate, when the very hearty invitation came from Air Meredith to consider themselves the guests oi' Ohura. it was a great pleasure to them to accept and go out to see Ohura. To call it a township was rather uncompli-mentary—-the position was not in legal status, but undoubtedly it was above the position of a township. It was rather a nice town, and it was going to be a better one. AVell, they were taken round the district, and they thoroughly enjoyed the inspection of the good country. He did not know it much money had been made in Ohura, hut he would say that if money had been made, there was going to be much more. (Hear, hear). “That is what 1 think of the district,” said Air Richards. “It has great possibilities. It is at the tail ol Taranaki. They are on the Ohura Road and so are we! But we call it ‘Regan Street’ and ‘East Road!” Still it is the Ohura Road. (Applause). We are at this end of it. i That road is opened up, and Our .Guests are a sort of envoy, looking forJward, and seeing what the other part lof Taranaki is like. It is for our mutual benefit, for theirs as well as ours,

that we should work hand in hand. We have done all we can to get the means of communication with Ohura Improved. This road is not good enough, a.s it is the main arterial road of this province. A few pounds, comparatively, would enable the road to be widened and improved so that we could

travel at something under thirty ml es an hour, in a motor car. Then, there is the case of the telephone communication between 'lahora am, Tutu. .1 miffing from the replies from the authorities, one would think they did mu realise the position. We had keen told it would cost £15,000 to connect the two districts. This trouble did not refer specially to the present Government. as we had the same trouble for years. We want to impress upon the Government the necessity ol expenditure of public* money, as it would ho a good national investment. Jhe people in the Ohura deserved its expenditure. They want to get out. Then, I spy, they should have the mail convenience's, and the country should see that they have it. It is a reasonable extension of that business of ours—the Postal and Telegraph Department. Ihe mail goes to Tatu and it goes to Tahora ; still,, there is the inevitable break in the chain. They have been waiting for years asking lor improvements, and they are growing old and grey and bald waiting for them. Deferred hope maketh the heart sick. That is why .we want to he in closer touch with Ohura. We want to meet as we are doing to-night, and on further occasions, to discuss questions of mutual benefit to us, and to take such action as is deemed advisable. It is the desire of the Chamber of Commerce that there should ho sincere friendship

between tlio people of Ohura and 0 is part of Taranaki. I am not dealing with material benefit, but friendship in the abstract. If, as between individuals.friendships is an extremely valuable possession, then as between communities it is equally advantageous. The more -strongly, wo can cement the bonds of friendship, the I totter it will be for them and for us. As we and the Ohura people have promoted the friendship up to a certain stage, we want it to flourish to such an extent that we will lie able to discuss all matters which affect us in a friendly manner. If. then, we are able to see that

our principals interests lie along the same path, wo can joyfully join hands and follow that path together. But I want to say that iu such a friendship we would lie able to discuss other matters, where, maybe, there is a diversity of opinion, and where, ultimately, the two districts may decide that their interests are antagonistic to each other, and that one must go ulio path and the other must go another path. In

these particular matters we cannoi join hands, but, nevertheless we want to see the friendship between the two districts stand that test. (Applause). 1 referred to Ohura as ‘Our JH’"' land.’ Ido not know what it me.

but it is ‘out there.’ It is not so long ago since the same term was used to denote a place at the foot of the Mountain ; yet now ail that is past. S,» 1 iiope that in the near future we will see the railway through to Ohura, and that we will be able to step on the train here and go out and come back when it suits us. If they do as they

did twelve months ago, then, 1 say, wr

jjuill not be back soon. 1 want to see everything done that will he for the benefit- of Ohura, as. that will also be lor our benefit. The Ohura people are

good sorts. We like our Ohura guests. (Loud applause). Mr Sandison, in reply, thanked them for their beartv welcome. He referred

to the hospitality of the New Plymouth people, which was very liberal, but Stratford had surpassed it. “Hut

you seem to lie more in touch with us,” said Mr Sandison, “you are more like us—mostly young.” Laughter and applause). He felt great confi-

dence in being united with Stratford. “Do what you like, we want young men at the head of affairs.”—(Ap--1 plauso). That was the position in Ohura and here. The Stratford district must develop, he said. Now they had to trade with Auckland, and it was said they would have to do so till the

railway was through ; then they would

;go south. If Stratford got in early it j would be to their interests. As to

means of communication, they knew that settlers had to get a certain amount out of their sections, and if they did not it was no good to them or to Stratford. They had been holding on in the hope of the railway being linked up in the south, and the produce off the sections had to be taken away, and what they wanted was the railway so as to get the benefit of the deep sea port at New Plymouth.— (Hoar, hear). It was well worth fighting for. It had given him great pleasure to see the possibilities of the Stratford district, and what business might develop if freezing works were established. “Stratford is going to be the distributing centre,” he said, amidst applause. la had been an eye-opener to most of them. They were hoping to the railway through in five or six years.—(Hear, hear). It could be done, he was sure. There was only one big heavy work which could be done in three years, and in five or six years the line ought to bo completed. “It will benefit you,” said Mr Sandison, “but it will lie of greater benefit to us.” On his return, he said, ho would try to get the people of Ohura to take an interest in the Stratford district and to come out and visit them.—(Loud applause). “THE PIONEERS.” Mr P. Thomson, in proposing the toast of “The Pioneers,” said that when wo spoke of pioneers we generally spoke of them as men and women who bad passed away. There were, however, many districts in New Zea-

land whole there were still pioneers. We had heard a great deal during late years of New Zealand as “God’s own Country.” We had a good rainfall and a plentiful water supply, without the storms and bli/.zards of so many other countries. One of the main factors in making the land what it was, was the pioneers. When we contrast-

od the conditions in New Zealand today with the conditions when the pioi ueei's were here, it meant that those 'pioneers had had groat courage, fortitude and hops to put the country in its present condition. That day they had been travelling over beautiful roads in the richest part of Taranaki, and had passed man\ homes and dairy factories. A great deal of our pros perity relied on the ease with which we could get our products out. In the early days there were also fewer schools, and children had greater educational difficulties. those who were

at present carrying on pioneer work had left the advantages of a city life and were carving out homes in the xirgin forest. xxe sometimes heard of unearned increment, but when we spoke of pioneers we knew that there was no unearned increment on their property. The pioneers were worthy of the hearty co-operation of every Chamber of Commerce. We could do a great deal to facilitate the means of getting the products of these pioneers from the back blocks. They had none of the benefits of civilisation which we had. Wo had good streets, uid excellent kerbing and channelling, whether “Golden Hay,” “Star,” or “Crown” brand cement was used.— (Laughter). And now we were enjoying the rewards of the work done by he pioneers..—(Applause). Mr Build sang a comic song, which Aas greatly appreciated, and as an eii■orc gave “Tipperary.” Air Hope, in reply, said that since he had been in the Olmra ho had been noro and more convinced of the difli■ultios which the pioneers Jived under in the back blocks. They were so few in number that they had not been able to make much headway. Ho was struck with the possibilities of the district, but had found that they got very little help from people well served with '•nails. Ho fully realised that the Chamber of Commerce could assist them materially.—(Applause). Mr Ilomayne sang “Where the Silvod Colorado Flows.” “THE ARMY AND NAVY.” Mr W. K. Williams (TJTiura), in proposing the “Army and Navy,” referred to remarks made by the chairman concerning the railway, and stated chat it would be an excellent idea to nave the line through to Stratford so that in the event of an attack by the enemy, the Churn Bille Club, of fourteen strong, could co-operate with the Stratford men.—(Applause). The men in the Navy in its infancy were more or loss freebooters and plunderers. As time went on, however, there devolved iovmi the Navy many other duties, such putting down the slave trade, and ulieir co-operation with the army. Our nation thought it wise to protect a weak nation when it was in danger of ippression. The Home Parliament thought it was right that we should ■mild up a fleet equal to any other two nations. In the past, some had disagreed with this vicwylint it has been proved to be wise -to-day, Wc had a fleet that could equal, and, he hoped/ more than equal, the/fleets of any two nations in the world. Within a few hours after the declaration of war, that fleet had sailed out to shut in a wild cat, and it would be a hard day for the cat when it attempted to get out again. The Kaiser, when he spoke of our Army as “a contemptible little army,” did not know what that army vas made of. Military training should no started in the schools, and every man in the Dominion who was able, to near arms should be compelled to drill. Unless men were efficient in these days they were of little value. Here we have sent to the front 12,000 men. England had so far only sent four polecat of her population, which was little to compare with what we were doing, it would be Parliament’s duty to provide for those men who returned from the front, and we should not see them begging on the streets. At the conclusion of a passionate patriotic speech Mr Williams was heartily applauded. .Mr Douglas, 'as an encore to one ol his stirring songs, gave “The Midshipmite.”

Mr E. Waiter (Douglas) in replying, said that he had the greatest honor of the evening put upon him, the toast being, in his opinion, the most important. The last reply he had heard to this toast was by Colonel Malone, and lie hoped soon to see the Colonel and all his men back from the front. If it wore not for the army and navy, mu trade and commerce would have ceased to exist. At times we were apt to forget that the greatest war was going' on, and if it was not for the newspapers some of thorn would the war was in progress. At the contusion of his reply, Mr Walter asked -ho company to honor the toast again, with the alteration in the musical roi rain : “They are Jolly Brave Fellows.”

Alter an impromptu speech hy Mr J. McClenaghan, one of the visitors, who was in good form, his remarks being highly amusing and appropriate to the nature of the trip they were undergoing, a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation, and the proceedings closed with the hearty singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Mrs Brooking’s style of catering for the evening was up to her usual high standard, which in no small manner contributed to the enjoyment of the evening.