PUBLIC DINNER TO FERGUSON.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 112, 25 July 1885, Page 2

PUBLIC DINNER TO FERGUSON.

The persistence and energy with which Mr Ferguson lias followed up his resolve of having additional crushing power on this » old field, has gained for him many new friends who, although differing from his views o.i many important subjects, nevertheless could not but admire the spirited manner in which In has refused to be turned aside from his purpose, although having had so much, and bitter opposition to coutend against. As stated in our last issue a movement was lately set on foot to accord him a public reception on ' his return from Wellington. A committee was therefore formed, and it was resolved that the reception should take the form of a dinner. Tue public generally evinced a warm sympathy with the movement, and subscriptions readily flowed in. The event came off on Thursday evening last at Lawless'a Hotel, Waiorongomai. The weather was all that could be desired for the occasion, and quite a number of Te Aroha friends were present. The chair was taken at 8 o'clock by Mr Jas. Mills, the guest .of the evening occupying the seat on his right ; Mr Robinson occupying the vice-chair. About sixty sat down to the dinner (three courses) which was served in really excellent style, and reflected much credit on the host. Alter full justice had been done to the mauy good things provided, the Chairman proceeded to propose the first toast of the evening by remarking that it was customary in every part of the British possessions, on public occasions such as the present, to firstpropose the health of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and ri^h'ly too, for she had proved herself ?i true mother of tne people over whom she reigns, and whoso. ' be.st. iuterests sue had e\er sought to ! promote, an 1 noi.nug could ever be proved against her <l<>inest<e virtues. Sue w.is deserving of tue respect and affection of her people. The toast having been duly honoured, Mr Kubuisou (vice-chairman) vms callupon to rej>pond, an I in complying, roui irked : He was glad to the imi thusinsm vrilh which tne toast had been received. We British colonists in these di^tanta parts were a.i tr«<- nn-1 loyal to our {Sovereign as thode at h >me. An instance. j»n»vi>ii: this hud lately occurred wisen New South Wales eaini for\var« with both men ami money to assist her the seat of \uir, and hud it leeu re quired Z^ew Zealand would, he belie>e.<l, without doubt have followed the example set by ISow South Wales. The vice-Ohairnifin next- proposed the health of the " House of Representatives," and in doing bo reuiark£&: He. was sure all those present would confially respond to the same. He hojfcii (the members would always behave as well as they had on the recent occasion when those in this district had sent Mr Ferguson to tueui. He considered they ought to try and get the Upper House made an elective house, and take out of the hands of the Ministry the power of creating, what Sir George Grey hail termed colonial life peerages. The election of nine hew members to this Houa« in one season, was rather too much of a good thing ; probably Vogel had an sxe to grind, but it was without doubt too big a dose of Vogelism. The Chairman, in proposing the next toast, said : you are all aware we are .net together to night for the purpose of welcoming back Mr Ferguson from Wellington. You all know also how the progress of this district has been rela.ded by the existing batlery. The amount of opposition, direct and indirect, that hag been thrown in the way of the oreotio'i of a second battery, has been enough to daunt a hero. It is to be hoped many more will follow the example set by Mr Ferguson in the in* terests of this place. For myself I can say I have never once lost faith in the district, believe there is a good future before it, and have made up my mind to stick to it. The only best way in which the capabilities of the field can be tested is by the election of additional crushing power. Mr Ferguson, in fulGling the r.asv he "had sat himself, had shown an amount of perseverance we could hardly have credite I bin with. He believed the machinery shortly to be tested would be u great improvement ou any yet in the district He would say to those engaged in prospecting — prospect - for other minerals as well as gold, for the discovery of such in largequantities might prove of even greater value than gold. He was sure they all heartily congratulated Mr Ferguson on the succesful issue, on his trip to Wellington. The toast was drank amidst great and'j prolonged applauded, and cheera for Mrs Ferguson. Mr Ferguson in rising to respond said : He felt k a diifiyult mutter to express

fifia heartfelt feelings at ' the h6nor: ; atf T4 ( <reat pleasure they hail, done'-liiiff^lvjtj .Wording him sucii a warm ahfl' 'hearty -i reception on hig return, H«s\w<)uli| J ,v however, wish to say that much- of ''the* prai.se and credit being heriped upon him} was deserved by others. They must 'iiptV forget fchafc when lie wont to Wellington he was armed with such a well signed petition ; also that Messrs . Larnach, Ofldmnn, and others had been here,** and any one who had any conversation with Vl r Larnach, whilst amongst us, could not fail to notice the very pertinent questions put ly him, and could not fail to' be convinced he was the right man in the right place. He would Add < farther that if any of those present had any ground for complaint, and as good a cause as he himself had they might, in bringing it under the notice of those who had acted so well in his case, rely upon being- accorded a patinent hearing and of having justice done them. lit his own case the members ofj the Goldfields Committee could not have framed a stronger recommendation in his favour than they did. The gentlemen composing that committee were all of the right sort, and appeared to take as much interest in one gold fMd as another, ami in each case brought before them, as if it were their own. In conclusion he remarked it would bn his endeavom in to always deserve the good will and the honor they had heaped upon him. It was out of his power to express all he would like to. The next toast on the programme was that of " The Press," and in proposing it the Chairman remarked : Every town nowadays, and almost every little village had a newsjmper of its own, and we here had ours. It was a good thing that this was the case, in fact he did not know how they would manage to get on without such a means of exchanging ideas, ventillating our grievances, and looking after our interests generally. They had present with them to night a representative of the Te Aroha Nbws, anil also of the Thames Advertiser. The toast was warmly received, sthe company rising and singing " For they are right good fellows," etc. The Chairman first called upon Mr Ilott, as representing the local p»[-e , to respond. In complying, Mr Ilott said : Ho desire' l lo thank tue Chairman fur tue mauner in which he had proposed the toast of the Pleas, and the kindly utterances he had given expiession to in ucuuuciioii therewith, mid the gentlemen present for the very hearty manner in wuich they hud received the BAiue. He w>u sure it would be readily admitted by all that, especially in the prMst'Ut am* of progress und rapid advaiueiuetU, tne JL'reos possessed a mighty power, Wiiich could be »ned for good or ill. Tho ■uii'-s devolving upon pivss rejneseiitamc* were by no means light oi tuwal, (mi 011 (he contmr) weie <-F a il.u piy important character. They were too ofien liable to iuv.« their actions mi<"ii)dci>ioo 1 aiul misiirerpre'ed. The b *t e<itii>*\ he belii*v"d, fur tlu-tn to persue was, U> ilo what they believed was t >■* ritfht under all circumstances, and Imo th«- rest- to lime. He hoped that ii would m-oii !•<> lih j)l«'}i«.iri-.' duty to recor ■ tut- suru; s-«f ul comule-io ■ of tlie undertaking theii friend Mr Ferguson ha I set abmil are >nij>lis iimr, and "nad cairied ■> . in *pite of s<» much to diso\rag ;in fact 1 i- o, position t.iat he ha 1 duv.cUj and <>irectly met. with would nave completely <lis.i<';»rt<>iied the majority oE men, and caused them to have left the district in dis^tut lou^ since. In conclusion, he hoped that the silver lining tnat had already begun to appear from underneath the cloud of depression that hail too lorn? hung over the district, would soon tully dcv.-lope into the full -unshine of prosperity once more, that eie long hundreds of miners would again ue happily aud usefullj employed on our gold field, depression and monopoly beloii^ to the past, and that Liie returns from Mr Feigusou's battery would far exceed their highe* t exj>ectations. Mr Ahier, in rising, said: He was quite taken abaciv when the Chairman coupled his name witu the Advertiser in connection with the toast just drantr, although it was true he was tuere to-night on behalf of the Thames Advertiser, beiug anxious that they should know of this reception accorded Mr Ferguson, and so long as he continued to write for the Press he should seek to do so for the good of the district,^ The tonst of the " Host and Hostess" was next proposed by the Cnairman, who, n doing so, remained upon the really first-class manner in which they had been entertained. The toast was drank with cheers and suitably responded to by Mr Lawless. The health of the " Chairmin" vas proposed by Mr Kobinson, who said : He was sure they would all agree with him that their chairman was an acquisition to any community. The toast was drank amidst , mucji I applause. In responding, Mr Mills said : He sincerely thauked them for the manner in which tuey had drunk his health. So long as he remained in the community lie would always be most happy to do anything he could to forward its interests. The Chairman proposed the " Health of tlie vice- Chairman," and remarked upon the able manner in which he had filled the position allotted to him. Mr Robinson responded in suitable terms. The proceedings were enlivened at intervals during the evening by,, songs, contributed by several -of. amongst whom we might Messrs G. Taylor, Frazerj .Sanipaon, ' Ellery, Jamieson, vEmni6t ( t,>- Wallace, Foreman, Hart, Young, Heathcpte t/ J. Hawkins, cto. « Tue gulneßng broke up^J-