BANQUET TO MR. NEWTON KING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 221, 28 September 1901, Page 2

BANQUET TO MR. NEWTON KING.

At the Theatre Royal on Friday night (very prettily decorated for the occasion) there was a muster of farmors, settlers, townsmen, and others who had foregathered in large numbers with one common object, namely, to do honour to Mr. Newton King. It was in every sense a representative gathering, and one that testified moat thoroughly to the high appreciation in which the honoured guest is held throughout Taranaki and beyond. At the cross | table at the top eod of the building were seated the Chairman (Mr. John Eliot), who had on his right the gueetj of the evening, and on his left his Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. Dockrill) Mr. 0. Samuel, Captain Mace and others. There were also four long tables extending down the roim all filled with guests. The menu contained a long list of eatables, to whioh ample justice was done, Messrs. Thomson and Lealand being the caterers. During tbe repast an excellent selection of music was played by Mr. D. McKinnon Bain's orchestra, thus adding materially to the pleasure of the guests. The toast list was somewhat lengthy, but full of interest to those assembled. The Chairman proposed tbe usual loyal toasts of "The King" and "The Qu'en and Royal Family," both of which were received with great enthusiasm, the former being accompanied by tbe National Anthem. Mr. Horroeks proposed " Tbe Army, Navy, Reserve Forces, and Taranaki Veterans," to which Captain Mace responded. Song, Mr. Perry, "The Lads in Navy Blue." 1 The Mayor proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand." He pud a 1 great tribute of praise to the Speaker, whom he said would be a credit to tbe 1 House of Commons. As to the members there were men on both sides of ' the House of whom the colony had I reason to be proud. Amid great ap- '• plause he referred to tbe service* of ' the late Sir Harry Atkinson. The 1 toast was drunk with musical honours. ' Mr Harkness replied, and referred to the many good representatives in 1 the pasty He considered there was no ' body of men that had the same characteristics as the members of Parliament ' except the New Plymouth Harboui ' Board. (Roars of laughter and cheers.] 1 Mr. Samuel was also called bn tc > reply to the toast. He said that aftei ' an experience of eight sessions he oon- ' sidered the representatives deserved 1 the sympathy and pity of the eleotors s After bearing with late nights and other inconveniences, members had tc return home at the close of the session j with the unpleasant conviction that 3 they had aobieved little or nothing foi i all their painß. He referred to the i services of Messrs McAndrew, Moor--3 house, Dr. Fiatherston, Sir William 3 Fitzherberl", Sir Harry Atkinson, and . other past members. At present hi f said there were men who devoted theii j time, their energies, and their wealth > to the service of their country. (Ap--9 plause, r Song: Mr. Trebilco.' 1 The Chairman then, amid great b cheering, announced that he was aboul i to propose the toast of" Our Quest,' , He felt proud that the farmers wen 1 present in suoh large numbers todc t honour to their guest. Tbey all knew i that when Mr King fint started in - business how restricted tbe soope was, I but as the district grew and their back i blocks were opened up, Mr. King exi tended his bnaineis, and was the first r to help to further the interests of the > settlers. He referred to the introduot tion of separators, and to the good i work of the Crown Dairy Company, b and mentioned that it was hugely r through Mr. Hulke's influence that r the first; two faotories were > established. At that time they ' were quite in the dark as to tbe I result of the uenture. In 1888 the r value of butter exported was £2512, > and cheese nil. Hundreds aould testify 1 that it was the guest of the evening - who put the industry on i f s feet end , he'ped those engaged in it until it had , grown to the extent of exporting butj ter to the value of £463,123, and ■ cheese £65,827. When Mr. King first ; started he was oonfined to the Waii wakaiho yards, but now h : s sales were I held anywhere, from Opunake to i Kawhia. He hoped he would be king • in the district, which oould not aflbrd [to loee such a man. (Loud and ooni tinuous cheering), The toast was drunk with mnsical i honours, and with a heartiness that made the words ring again, i Song, Mr. Gray, " Nancy Lee." Soogi H r . Rapley (Loudly enoortd). i Mr. Newton King in rising to respond, met with a tremendous ovation. He expressed great pleasure a' the f act , that there were so many of his old , schoolfellows present. In his younger days he did not evinoe any great aptitude for farming, so he was put into an office—some 21 years ago —and worked just after the Courtney era, when there were some very bad squeezes and times were hard. He was veiy proud at the gathering that evening, and as to the flattery contained in tbe speeches he would discount it, that being an operation he was used to. (Laughter). He referred to his late trip to tbe Old Country, an important element in which was the butter business, Everyone knew that for years hi& interest in butter had teen paramount. After toqohing on incidents of the journey, apd describing the'grimy appearance of the trees in London in the early spring, he gave • vera! details of his experiences, aome of which were Very At Smithfield he asked questions as to New Zealand products, and' found that our butfer was marvellously good, having improved wonderfully in the last few years, the price then being 4s or 5a above Australian. From London to Cardiff, Manchester, and Glasgow, he heard only one oomplaint, and that was from a Manchester man, who nrged that our butter should be made as white as a shirt. From another souroe he learned that the Devonshire people bought New Zealand butter, whioh they sold in pats as prime Devonshire. This in the end would work out well, as we should get Devonshire prioe, He visited a butter milling fao'oiy in London, where amongst others he saw some of his own brand of butter being ■nixed with produce of the poorest olasr, and on inquiry was told that the New Zealand butter was of such good quality that it was used to tone up ths poor stuff. As to Danish butter, it was pasteurised, all of uniform quality, absolutely texture'&s, white and tasteless, and woijld keep. He was advised that i{ the coloty turned out butter of th 9 quality now ruling, that it should not be pasteurised. He wss also told that New Zealand did not put sufficient butter on the market to kill the Dmish opposition, and it was the Danes who were our real opp menta. I French butter was undent .by good, aad oame to London fresh and pus,

fetching a better price thui ever New Zealand butter was likely to obtain. The Siberian butter was a factor that had to be rsobmsd with in tbe coming Sfce. He urged, however, that the New Zealand producers should improve, and improve. Quoting from Mr. Ruddick he showed the enormous increase in the Canadian trade. He thought tbe only nation* we had to be afraid of were Canada, f .Argentina and Siberia, but a* they all came in at tbe wrong season the danger was not so great. All our shipments after the end of January would hare to compete with trans-Siberian batter. New Zealand mutton and beef was not advertised, but lamb was everywhere and was perfect. The happiest day of his life was when he heard that STmt Zealand was sighted on bis rstora voyage. He ooncluded by returning very hearty thanks for the reoeptfab given to him. (Loud applause.) A recitation by Mr. Blythe evoked tremendous applause. Mr. Oonnett, in proposing the " Dairy Industry," said that be watf | remembered joining with the Inglewqod | people to eft a separator and ev*ot»«'ly got one himself, and this Mr. Kifcg inspected, being the fint be had seen. He referred to what had takes place in tbe put as to carriage of butter whioh ' at one time took 19 hours to Ret to : Wellington. This led to the establish* ment of the Freezing Works which be bad always advocuted being in the hands of tbe farmers, and this *"4 yy happened. Taranaki waa a paradios ' for dairying, the on'y difficulty Mag the labour question, which was settlers to reduce their dairiae by SO percent. There was nothing to pit* vent this district doubling its outfit if sufficient labour ooald be obtained, * Mr. E win replied to the tofcat Jk a ' very humourous speech. Hesponia ' high terms of Mr. Newton King* to the settlers, and ooDoladed by &- . pressing his opinion that wbeo Mr. I King's epitaph came to be writteo lt | would be, "He did good to his getf*a» L tion, and the people knew it (Aylause). Mr. H. Brown proposed "The Far- | mere' Union," to which Measrs Borgail k andTate responded. | Man That Broke tSuf Bank at ' Carlo." (Loud applause). Mr. Oock proposed "The Agri- . cutural Induatry and A. and P. | Societies," and in doing «o ref rred to the atride made in agriculture lm the district. He urged that tb« Uittitn | should all joio, and make the sooiety what it should be, and if this wcredoM : the exports would be increased. Mr King (president of the society \ in rfsponding, advocated that Wabganui, Hawera, gpad New Pljjßjjk should oombine and Mdpne ebfcw » year, in turn at eich place, aa at present the individual shows were a par* , ' feet farce, These shows should not W | lor the credit of the towns, but for the * benefit of the industry. Song, Mr Ttebiloo "Home, Bm»~ r Home." > ; . 1 Mr Samuel proposed "The CM> merce of New Zealand." The raalmov* •tig po*er whioh actuated everyeorta t their, respect and admiratiMi for fir King, was his absolute integrity aad „ straightforwardness. The leap* and bounds which oommeroe had takata ia this oountiy were due totkekMgfty > and integrity of thoie engaged in it - Mr. W. L. Newman responded. ' " i Mr. King proposed the health of Mr. • Ohew Ohong who, he said, had donees good work for tike dairy industry as ' anyone. The toast waa aeeordsd musical honours. i ! Mr. Ohew Ohong related his MMll* I . eneeain brmnesaTwee foi-tbe laSjf yean aad gave some interesting *»d ; amusing aneodotes of the early day*. [ (Laughter was oontinoosM througboot the speech.) | Song, Mr. Gray, "Simon the Oil* larer." .. ' Mr. T. S. Weston propoeed "tfcg Looal Bodies of faranakl" and com- ; plimented the membera on tbe not f work done. | Mr. H. Ok«y , responded ttt& fg. I pressed an opinion that the land wn# now bearing greater burdens ifc A should. « k Rangi, a native from Oakora, then | made a speech in Maori (whioh interpreted by Mr. W. Gray) axpreseinghiejdeaaure at bpteg present 'j, stating that it was owing to Mr. King that heoame to the taaoMt. a , s i 9 , D B> Mr. Perry, "The Seng that fi Shall Live for Kver. M < " 1 Mr. Tate proposed "The Pus*" whwh was acknowledged. * Mr. Thompson, hornpipe. Ths toMb of thi " fitiiiiy, thi * | " Of"'™ " brought a very r j | gathering to a oemoJusion ahorUy affcr all preaent joining in aiogti* Auld Ling Syne before separating. ; . lt \ *