MR. H. J. H. OKEY, M.H.R.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 28 May 1907, Page 3

MR. H. J. H. OKEY, M.H.R.

COMPLIMEXTAK V SOCIAL. 1-IIAXKLEV I'.OAD RE-JOICIXUS. Despite a night of wretched inclemency the J-ranklcv lload Schoulrooiu was Wl tilled last niglit, wheu a compliment-,irj social was tendered to Mr. 11. J- Ip Okcy, MUR-, l>v his neighbors, and tlie residents of the district. A good number of townspeople braved the elements, helping to swell an already fairly numerous and sociable gathering. Mr. \V. Ainburv presided. After a number of vocal and instrumental items had been pleasingly rendered, Mr. Billings, the oldest settler in the Frankley Road district, rose to move a resolution congratulatory to the truest of the evening, in the following terms: "That this meeting of residents in the Frankley Road district desires to heartily congratulate Mr. H. Okcy on his return to Parliament, and expresses the hope that he is now beginning a long and useful Parliamentary career. Mr. Billing said he had known Mr. Okey lor verv manv years, and he had noticed that everything Mr. Okey had done had l>een accomplished with success. lie had been a successful farmer. The reads of the district had, under' Mr. Okey s administration, been reclaimed from a

state of wud to that in which,they now were —metalled. Similarly with the County Council. During Mr. Okey's term of office the s,tatc of the roads had been improved, and the lmancial position had i been raised Irom one of almost bank

ruptcy. and the overdraft minced to an extent that lie believed had Mr. Okey continued to administer the county affairs would have seen the overdraft

wiped out altogether. lie believed in New Zealand being represented as largely as possible by natives-bom. and Mr Ck'ev was a Xew Zealaiuler born and | I bred", who. he believed, would not be | | many years in becoming Premier of the

colony. (Applause.) He hoped Mr Okey. when engaged on his business in Wellington, would think of his friends near ! his home on the I'rankley lload. (ApI plause.)

.Mr. J. Dnckcr seconded the motion. | The chairman, Mr. Amburv, paid hj" had first met Mr. Okey as a boy 17 years ago, and to his knowledge Mr. Okey had been winking in the interests of the community ever since. On ihe ltoail Hoard and School Committee and other local bodies, ali that had been said regarding Mr. Okty's inllnenee for their bHteiment was true. 11; had done a great deal for the district. (Hear, bear.)

Ille was one of the prime movers in getting the factory on the load, a great boon to the district. He had taken an

active part in promoting the freezing works at Moturoa, one of the best things that had. happened for Taranaki. Indeed, whatever Mr. Okey had touched, be put his heart into,' and everyone had been the better for his assgciation with them. That night, thev wrre just a little body of settlors ami neighbors met to con-

him. lie had fought two un--iui-p<-.ful fight--, and none was more pleased and proud of his success than the people of Fiaid-ley Tioad. who appreciated his good <pt and were willing to ['lit up with bis bad qualities, if he had any. They would elo-ely watch his career, which they felt would be successful.' If ihe'e were fifty men of the stamp of Mr. Okey in Parliament, the colony- would be safe. Mr. Okey was a man who. whil" working for lb" colony, -vould not forget his (nn-litueuey. He felt sure tint Mr. Ok r, y would do hi- • very best in Parliament, and he again \ assured Mr. Okey how proud his neigh-

boring settler.? v.-erc of hi.-; mi.tcw. (Applause.) In conclusion lie apologised f..r the absence of Mr. Doarc and 'Mr. Xewton King. The motion was caiyied with entlui-:-

asm, the gathering singing ''For he's a jollv goorl fellow," },< v, okev. who was warmly applaud"d. ?:;*■! 1k» felt it very hard to reply to the kind remarks of the-speakers, and

would preferably face an audience of 1H( ; !) in the Theatre Royal to make a political speech. He had .to thank tlie mover and seconder of the resolution, which he warmly appreciated, and also tlr rhairnvm and those who had provided the t.i)j<,yable entertainment. Regarding his work ou local bodies,, that

! hail boon a pleasure to liim. Ho had i grown mm il, lot' hi- own father, over i thirty years ago. lin.l 1)0011 i-lmivmn.il ot • this Roiul board. imd lie well remembered how his father mod lo puzzle over the books and accounts. Managing the affairs of a lncul body in those days was il,it the straightforward sailing of the present time, aud ho never thought tlioa that it would bo his lot to have to do the work, but he had. had to. Ho. took over the books and alfairs of the Road Hoard from Captain Hampton,, who succeeded the speaker's lather. The milliner of collecting rates was then no easy nuttier, and caused much worry, and he !i :d sat up many a night trying to balance his accounts. Continuing, he said it would be lifty years to-day since lie arrived in the district. Although lie could not remember the occasion, he had been told by early settlers that he first saw the light ill a building that had neither doors nor window's. Two years later, on account of the native trouble, his parents had io leave Frankley Road, and lived in tov.n for a period of ten years, during the greater part :it which time it was not safe to venture into the

erankley road district, and several of '.heir neighbors who had ventured nut were shot or tomahawked by the .Maoris. During that period no progress was made. After the truce, his father and mother wore amongst the iirst to return Lo the disirvl, and they had he.nl times to put up with, imt like tile early settiers they were willing to face and overcome trials, lie had had to work hard, and. like his father, believed in working hard on local bodies, for by so doing lie was also working for himself. lie believed that when a man went on to a local body he should be prepared to sacrifice himself to some extent, and not he there for what be could make out of it. In that connection ho regretted to see that the County Council, when discussing the by-laws, suggested that members should be paid for committee meetings, and mentioned that during- the ■whole time he had been a member of the County Council he had never ehargd a shilling for travelling expenses. lie felt the responsibility cast upon him by the election, but with the people behind him, lie would struggle and do his best lo succeed. The papers had not yet made up their minds that lie was properly elected. (Laughter.) Everything, however, bad been done to hold the seat for the Government candidate, and lie maintained that the loss of the seat to the Government was, to a very large extent, due to the Land Bill, which, if passed, would put their children in a worse, position than the old settlers in the matter of acquiring a freehold. He had felt the responsibility of fighting this battle for the children, and was willing to sacrifice himself for,the district. There was much work to be done, and in this connection lie referred particularly to the opening lip of the blaek-bloeks and the creation of a deep sea harbor at Moturoft. His duty would not end ill securing votes, but in seeing tl\ey were spent, lie would not be a street corner politi-. cian, but would get into the country and see that it was pushed, for the town would then benefit. At the same time, he did not object lo the spending of money in towns oil buildings, etc., for a town was known by its buildings. In conclusion he warmly thanked his neighbors for the support they had given him, and he felt that he was going to havf the assistance of the settlers in carrying out the responsible duties east on him. (Applause.) A bounteous supper was then handed round, and fully appreciated, the warmth of the gatherjng contrasting greatly with the bitter cold without.

During the evening items were splendidly rendered by the following ladies and gentlemen: Songs, Miss Olcey, Misse-' Difkinan (duet), encoiu; Mr. Ambttry (2); Mr. Mallet (encore); Mr. Binnington, comic (encore); duet, Messrs. Mallet and Binnington; recitation, Mrs. Hooker; reading, Mr. Winfiold; piano solo, Mrs. Ambtiry; pianoforte duet, Mrs and Miss Winficld. A trio of amusing fomedietta were staged by a number of local young people. The gathering broke up about halfpast ten.