Railway Demonstration.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3075, 23 December 1878, Page 2

Railway Demonstration.

TUEEi IHG of the PIEST SOD.

THE LUNCHEON.

The following is the conclusion of our report of the luncheon oa Saturday :—

Mr Peacock responded for the Volunteers. He bad once served as a full private. He thought some .more.distin-. guished volunteer than himself should be (■-lied on to respond. However, he was sure the volunteers, if called upon, would do th 'ir daty as they had done in the past. Major Murray also responded for)the Volunteers. He hoped this evening the Thames Volunteers would show what they were. The present Ministry have done all in their power to foster the volunteer mov?.nent in this district, especially Col. Whit-no^e. r '■■ %'

Col. Fraser aloo responded

Tan Chairman then proposed the health, of " Oi'r Illustrious Guest, Sir George Grey," in highly complimentary terms. 3'his to«iat was most enthusiastically received, tie whole company standing up anct applauding vociferously. (Musical hopoi7^) "'. ■' .':,; '^'f ' \ \ Sir' 'Georpe'Grey, in responding, sa:.d he on^ht to be, and was, a ji'oud m-»n, tkmgh not in the ordinary sense. ; lie was J^ /proud and thai.ktul to see a vision realised which he bed seeu many years ago, a vision he had L3en many years back. It was i35 yeavs si ace he first visited the Thames:-' lie came down in a little schooner belonging to the late Pishop of Lichfield, who b«'oi ghi; him down and left him here a few dajrsl He. was "liihial greatly:iim rpfce9Bed: w'th the future prospects of the district,! asd now realised the impressions which he tuen foraied. (Cheers.) He now law a fci'cat city rblng here. It was not his business on an occasion like this to make apolitical Speech or allude to politics. He mitfht tell th3m that he had heard it said "Sir George Grey will make a speech to you, and that is all." Now, he would tell them that he was the first man who introduced tbi Public Works Policy into the British Colonies. (Cheers.) He was the firrt man who even proposed <hct a change should be established—the 6,' st rx>pn who recommended the British Goverrment to establish a system whhh should be cm'ied out in all Her Majesty's doin'nions—Jind he, upon his own recomd eoda^ion anct bis own advice, pointed out the PrJ Y,e \^orks Policy which was afterW o-.,i« introduced into this colony. The n??a who irtrodured the policy into the count:y bad a difficulty to persuade the people to cdopt it, end therefore deserved cred:i. They had made a thing called " c/ed.t," and it was as much their C'V.lj >o make use of it to ertend their t ii'Lc works as it was their duty to grind i je'r doin. Well, that subject, introduced h-r him, raised great discussion. (The speaker here related an, anecdote of a oiscussion between a number of learned men- iicluding Lord Macaulay, Sir! G. Cornewall Lewis, Lord Bussell, and Mr Gladstone on his policy, when only Lord •Macaulay; had been ,in fevxrur of it.) In conclusion the «peatef said—" Do jnot be led astray by the glittering temptation of wealth held up beforeji^ouii /vVhate'ver the temptation may be, let nothing induce you o part with large blocks of land to tipople who will make no use of them. the Thames people will not do, this. They want to employ themselves, not to be ieTaployed by others. The power rests with themselves. When what is necessary for your own wants has been taken, let the whole world have a chance and not the water drinkers only^ < way,jtonmake men' sober was ndt festricfaVe laws. The true way, he believed to make sober 1; thoughtful, temperate, and, he believed, religious men was to give tbem the opportunity of making homes for themselves ; to give them a chance. One word more on tbe work in which we have this day been engaged. May the point at which we have been working be the starting point of a railway connecting this and!the other islaad." (Cheers.) |

The Vice-Cha rman, Mr J. Brown, pro* nosed " Our Visitors."" He said they were much indebted Jto the gentlemen who bad come from Auckland, Waikato pid elsewhere to assist them, .'.nd Irs, boned in accord with Mr McMinn's wish they would hare the pleasure of going to Waikato to assist them in carrying out the ceremony at their end, and alad of goin*» toCoromandelfor'helamepurppse. (Cheers). He briefly'refeifed to the advantages of the railway.' ''% ■*> TLe toast w^s exceedingly well received. . . ■ . .•;

Mr T. Peacock rose to respond to t!ie toe-jt. He assured them he appreciated the hospitality that hrd been extended to himself and the othtr visitors. The endertaking inaugurated that day was pregnant with results most beneficial to this community. He briefly referred to the excellent way .'things were carried out on the Thames, referring to the Volunteers and Fire Brigades,, .and complimented the Borough and County, officials for their energy and enterprise, and for the manner they looked after the interests of the Thames people. (Cheers.) He had heard theie was a jealous tendency between Auckland *He Thames) but he thought they did not want to let that ar/se, as the interests of the two places were identical. He hoped the cordiality between the two communities would not diminish but grow on and.on. (Applause.) He concluded by thanking, them for the manner they had received the toast. Mr J. W. Melton, ex-Mayor of Parnell, and Mr J. A. Cadman, Chairman of the Coromandel County Council, also responded briefly. The Chairman in felicitous terras proposed "The health of Mr W. Kowe, M.H.R. our representative, end also that of Mr McMinn, M.H.E., and the other members of the House present." (Loud applause.) ■ ' , Mr Howe, M.H.8., on rising was received with loud cheers. He said for himself he had not felt a happier day for a long time past. He saw .those near him who had assisted to push the work of the railway forward years ago, He referred to Messrs Bewy and C. A.jKobertson, two pioneers of the movement. (Cheers.) They might have heaid of differences betwist the Premier and. himself, but this was a day when all old uoeei could b ■ healed. (Cheers.)., He bad differed with Sir Geor&e on some 'caslons,, but might say he had always found him desirous to promote the welfare of the Thames com munity. (Cheers.) He always endea*' vored to tell Sir George of any measure he wes going to bJng forward for the Thames, and the Picmier's answer invari ably was, " Very well, it is good, and I

'will support it." In conclusion he referred to the respect he <elt for the Pr3mier, but sa;d he would not sacrifice any political opinion of his own in that respect. ' TiieHon. Hone Nahe, interpreted by Mr I W. Puekey, referred to the pleasure he felt, at being present on such an occasion. The railway would be good for the native race as weU as 'be Kuropean, and he was pleased at the pioceedings which inaugurated its commencement. (Ap vlaase.) Mr E. McMinn, M.H.B <br Waipa, also responded, lefcrinp; to the pleasurehe felt at b?'ng piesent, and .apologised for a number of Waikato peonle who could not a;tnnd., :He was pleased li>isee so many present, as they reminded him of the large body of consumers in this district which the railway would open a luakefcfor from the Waikato, although he did not say so in any selfish way. (Cheers.) He felt sure the settlers of the Waikato would take the same view, and say the same. (Cheers.) He was glad to see that those entrusted with the arrangements for the day had shown their good sense in inviting the presence of the ladies. There was one hon. member of the House, who, if he were present, would be' rrjoiced to see them —he referred to the ladies' champion, Dr Wallis. (Laughter). Before he sat down (he said) he would ask. permission to propose a toast, viz., " The health of Mr A. Brodie, County Chairman," whom he had met at Wellington. He said that there was not a person present at the County Conference held there so well versed in the County system as Mr Brodie. He thought he was somewhat proficie at in that respect; himself, but he was a mere child in these matters in the presence of Mr Brodie, and there' were others who also felt they had their match on that occasion when.Mr Brodie was present. , v „-.'„< The toast was received most enthusiastically, after, which Mr Brodie briefly responded for the unexpected honor. Mr Eobert Graham then in felicitous terms pro} ssed " The L'dies," which was well received. '-",

Captain Souter then in a brhf speech proposed the " Mining, Commercial and Agricultural Interests," after which the proceedings terminated about 5 o'clock, with three enthusiastic cheers for the Premier.