THE BANQUET.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 128, 14 November 1885, Page 4

THE BANQUET.

At 6.30 o'clock on Nov, 9 about 80 mem« bers of the Association gathered at the Royal Mail Hotel, Victoria street, to partake of the customary annual dinner. A plentiful supply of good things bad been provided, and received ample jubtice at the bands of those present Shortly after 8 o'clock the work of drinking the toasts commenced. The Chairman firat proposed "The Health of the Queen, Prince of Wales, and the Royal Family." He next proposed "His Excellency the Governor." He considered that they were fortunate in having a practical man in the Government of New Zealand. He was pertain that they owed to him their port* being put into a state of defence since the Russian scare. Mr F. Lawry next moved, " The Army, Navy, and Volunte?rs." He said that whilst speaking on this subject he could not but feel that it was a matter of extreme regret that the parade had been held upon their Show day. He believed that the Volunteers of Auckland,if they were not fine fellows.at least looked as if they thought they were. Captain Walmsley replied. He said that whenever he was called upon to respond to the toast of Her Majesty's forces he felt his blood thrill again. As an old soldier he felt highly pleased at the appearance presented by the Auckland Volunteers that day as they marched out. Mr F. Lawry noxt proposed "The Assembly." They often heard invidious comparisons drawn between the present and the past. For himself, he believed that the present Assembly would compare favourably with any in the past, as far as general honesty was concerned. Mr Buckland, in reply, said that as far as the general honesty of the Assembly went, perhaps the Vice- President was perpetrating another joke. He might state that when at Wellington he had appealed to Mr Ballance not to have the review on the 9th of November, and had received the promise that it would be held on Saturday, and now they saw what the word of people in high places was worth. He thanked them heartily for the toast, and hoped that the Assembly might never be worse than it was at the present time. Mr Chas. Atkin then proposed "The Agricultural Interest." iJe did not wish to make an excuse, so he would go straight ahead with his speech. He considered that those who were engaged in agricultural pursuits had an important part to play in the country. He had been reared in Lincolnshire, an agricultural district, and therefore felt great interest in the progress of agriculture. He must confess that the agriculturist had a great deal to fight against, more especially with pests and low prices, but they must remember that there had been a tide of low prices all over the world. They must bear in hopes of better times. Why even in manufactures they had really no ( profits. * < ■ > _ Mr Donald, in reply, said that ever einco he had been a boy of 17, he had been connected with the Agricultural. Associations

of Wairarapa. Ho had been a frequent exhibitor. He advised all to go in for firstclass stock. He would like to sco more exhibit at the Auckland Shows. In hia districts over £100 was given in prizes by the farmers alone. This made the shows more popular. Mr K. Reynolds expressed sorrow at the low state of the agricultural iuterests, and said that it would continue 80 until the agricultural and com' mercial iuterests went hand in hand. They saw the towns spreading, and the country really giving back. He believed Mr Vaile's scheme of railway reform would yet reduce the carriage rates. Mr Hocking maved "The Commercial Interest, coupled with the names of Messrs Wallace and Hotham, and Dunwoodie and Pond." Mr Dunwoodie briefly returned thanks, during which he regretted that farming interests were in rather a bad state. He was sorry to say that if farmers could get a plough 53 cheaper, then they would purchase an imported article. Mr Wallace responded on behalf of Messrs Wallace and Hotham He st ted that they had done the best to produce their articles as cheaply as possible, bub they must not forget that wages were higher h< re Mr Charles Atkin also responded. He believed that this competition with imported articles, did after all, do them good. A etrange thing was that imported articleb often brought higher prices than local manu • factures. Th3y must educate the public ia economy, and keep their money within the family circle of the colony* He would impress them with the idea that all should work hand in hand. Then they would command success. Mr Suiter also briefly responded. Though now a brewer, he had previously been a farmer. He reverted to the amount of beer imported from Dunedin. The Southern people did all they could to drag everything from the North. Instead of this they should be all one family, assisting one another. Mr J. W. Wallace next proposed " The Health of the Judges." He believed that they had done their duty, whatever the public might think. Mr Harris, in reply, thanked them for the manner in which the toast had been drunk. He felt very proud that day when he saw the fine cattle and sheep. He felt that he was at home again. Mr Neville also spoke. Mr W. J. Suiter (Mayor of Newmarket) next moved "The Successful Competitors at the late Show." In going round the various pens he noticed that there were few unsuccessful competitors. Still he was thankful that there were some unsuccessful competitors, as that was a guarantee that all would be spurred on to greater efforts next time. Mr Richard Reynolds moved " The Unsuccessful Competitors." Mr Bainbridge next proposed "The DonatorB of the Special Prizes," coupled with the name of Mr Jowitt. Mr Jowitt, in reply, said he ccnBidered the Association was one of the most important institutions in the country. He had once been a farmer himself, and he would tell them that farmers, though not good speakers, were often deep thinkers. He was aorry to see such jealousy between the North and South, lie could see that the railway charges wera not in favour of the farmer. Mr J. A. Pond moved "The President of the Association." With regard to testing the milk, he might 3ay that he had made many thousands of analyses of milk, and yesterday, strange to say, he had obtained 2ilb3 of butter and the 20th part of a lb from the various samples, at once the highest and lowe3t he had ever obtained. This proved the advantage of chemical tests to the farmer, both with regard to grasses, manure, and soils. Of all things taken from the soil, those that least impoverished it were butter and sugar. From New Zealand, in the future, butter would be exported to other colonies. The farmer* needed education on some points ; for instance, not long ago, he had seen a farmer driving six horses to cut chaff, whilst a stream ran close by with a fall that would givo 40> horse power. In conclusion, he hoped to seethe Presidential chair occupied by Mr Buckland. Mr Bucklano briefly responded. Mr E Coaxes proposed the health of the Managing Committee. He said that he was compelled to make a road to his own place for eight or nine miles, although paying £20 per annum rates. He had been called a fool for settling in the Kaipara instead of the Waikato, but he had brought sheep to the Show which he considered were no disgrace to the North, and they were raised on land that had never received bone dust. There wa3 another thing, he had paid 3£d a lb for feed for his dogs, and then sold first-class mutton at 2d per lb, and this was all on accoant of the heavy freights. He would like to have seeii more ladies present the Show — mothers instilling the love of animals into their children. Mr Bainbridge, in responding, said that he was the oldest member on the Committee. The farmers worked hard, but the landlords and the banks did not seem to see it. He hoped that the Association would be successful in the future Mr Bainbridge proposed the health of the Vice-President, responded to by Mr La wry, who spoke upon the necessity of a skilled scientist being appointed to deal with the insect peats. He also referred to the death of Musket, which he conceived was really a national loss. Captain Walmsley returned thanks for the expression of sympathy on the death of Musket, and stated that the Stud Company hoped at next year's Show to exhibit a fitting successor to that noble stallion. Mr Dunwoodie proposed "The Secretary," responded to by Mr Percival. Mr McMurdo next proposed "The Jiadies," and Mr Wallace responded. &§|Mr C. Atkin proposed "The Pre3s," which was responded to by the representatives present.