COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1644, 8 October 1887, Page 2

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

The complimentary banquet to the newly elected members of the House of Representatives took place at Christchurch on Wednesday afternoon. From the Press we learn that about 200 gentlemen wore present. Mr Spackman occupied the chair, and on his left and right were the following members of the House : Messrs Joyce, Rhodes, Perceval, Reeves, Rnxton, Biake, W. C. Walker, Feldwick, Loughmy, Jones, Valentine, Steward, and O’CalLghan. Apologies were read from Messrs Grimmond, Turnbull, McGregor, Reeves(lnangahua), R. Seddoo, H, S. Kish, and Sir John Hull for nonattendance. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were honored, and in responding to the toast of “The Newly-Elected PapliaMant,* ...

Major Steward said they had Just gone through the strongest political contest of the past half century, and the two points fought were whether there should be differentiated taxation, that was, whether those who had the moat should pay the most; and secondly, whether the local idustties should be encouraged Canterbury had responded in the affirmative to both these questions. Then there was the question of the opening the lands to the people, and he claimed for (he Government he had aupported that they had done more for the settlement of the land than any other Government he had ever seen on the benches since ha had gone into the Hnnse. Had the Government gone back with a substantial majority they would have had a thriving population established on their lands; they would have those who could pay taking a larger share of the taxation, and i relieving those who were not able to pay' so well. But, they might also trust their members to see that justice was done, and under these circumstances it did not matter much who was the Government. For himself be would like to see tiie House select six members for the six portfolios, irrespective of party, to be removoable by a majority-vote of the House. This could not, perhaps, bo got now, but he thought it woo'd come in the near future. Mr Buxton said that he felt proud of his present position, and that he had been led to contest his elec'ion on the retrenchment principle, and he did not believe he bad .bean asked to shoot once. He thought New Zealand, as a whole, ought to honor Canterbury, because she bad done her best for the colony as a whole. Ho would stand to his promises, and would do all he could for Canterbury in general and Rangitata in particular. (Ch'-era). Mr Rhodes said that he could not, of course, agree with «•! that had fallen from the members who hail spr ken, hut he would join with them all in doing the best he could for the colony. He had worked with two gentlemen on his right (Messrs Perceval and Reeves) half his life, and be thought he should be able to get on with them. Messrs Jones, Joyce. Loughrey, BUke, Feldwick, Valentine, Reeves, Perceval and others a'so delivered speeches, and the banquet was a great snccess. Qn thf numbers leaving the hall, they "soandod h drag and we>e drawo by the people to the st 'tion. At a mooting of the Central Board of Health at Wellington on Thursday morning it was determined not la taka any extra prro intiona on account of the outbreak of sqiftllpo|, jn Tasmania,