THE MOTHERLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 95, 19 May 1909, Page 4

THE MOTHERLAND.

WHAT '•HOME" MEANT TO TIIF NEW ZEALAND CHILI)

After the Bar Point-to-point StecpleSwfNA^ 1 3 |sa J* 9 fte *-»«*» JJauy Mail) the members of the Pegasus Club held their annual dinner M the Grand Hotel, London, where about seventy members and friends assembled ] under the presidency of Mr. Justice orantham.

Mr. Butcher, K.C.. proposed the health of the High Commissioner in a stirring speech, referring to the .'rent patriotism shown by the daughter Mate to the Motiier country. When tl, e uo- • vernment ofi the Mother Country said 1 that under the alleged burden ot taxation they could BOt afford to do what tho-country demanded for its safetv one of her youngest and poorest off' spring, came forward and olicrcd no. out of/ her abundance and wealth, b<. what might almost be called out of her poverty, the grand gift of one of the lincst battleships the world could pro " • duct.

He also referred to her patriotism at the time of the South African war, when she was the first to offer a contingent of Volunteers, and in the end sent more , men in proportion to her population than any other of our Colonies, ail of whom did so much for the Mother- , country in her hour of need. The High Commissioner, in an eloquent speech, spoke of the great atfecstance ofNew Zealand's feelings towards Mother-QOuntry. , Though ifarthest off of all her Colonies, yet she felt nearest to her heart. He gave a pretty instance of Sew Zealand's feelings towards the Jtother-country liy quoting a remark of his grandchild, aged four, who was born in New Zealand. She told him

when he left last January ! to take up his of High Commissioner that, as she was going "home" next year she should see him there in England. Come weal qr woe, his country woul 1 spend her last farthing if it were wanted to assist, the Mother-country in any of the difficulties iu which she might be ' placed.: