COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AND PRESENTATION TO HORACE BASTINGS, Esq., J.P., M.P.C.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AND PRESENTATION TO HORACE BASTINGS, Esq., J.P., M.P.C.

H. Bastings, Esq., having retired from the Mayoralty of Lawrence, which position he has filled, for the last six years, a number of citizens resolved to show their appreciation of his public conduct by entertaining him at a public dinner and presenting him thereat with a substantial testimonial. The dinner took place at the Commercial Hotel, on the night of Thursday, the 26th ult., and was in every respect a complete success. About seventy gentlemen, comprising residents of all parts of the Tuapeka district, -sat down. The tables were liberally provided with excellent viands temptingly laid out by Mr. Armstrong's able lieutenant, Mr. Thomas Carr. Those present testified in a practical form to their appreciation of Mr. Armstrong's purveyance, Mr. Peter Robertson occupied the chair, and Mr. Richard Williams officiated as vice-chairman . When the cloth had been drawn, the usual loyal and patriotio toasts were given and duly honored. The Chairman then rose to propose the toast of the evening. He was sure he was expressing the sentiments of all present when he said that Lawrence was deeply indebted to Mr. Bastings. It was nearly seven years ago since he first met that gentleman. (The Chairman here gave a humorous account of the .first interview between himself and Mr. Bastings.) He had always found him square and up to the mark Not only had Mr. Bastings endeavored to better his own position, but he had also lent a helping hand •to many struggling individuals. ' The merits of gentlemen like these ought to be recognised by the community ; and he felt that by assembling that night to do honor to Mr. Bastings they were only doing 1 what was right, and according him a compliment which he ! well deserved. He did not think it necessary to say more, as everyone present was well aware of the valuable services rendered by the gentleman he had been speaking of. He proposed the " Health and prosperity of Mr. Bastings." The toast was drunk enthusiastically, with musical honors. j The Chairman then said he felt he was privileged in having the honor conferred on him of- presenting their guest with a token of the esteem and regard entertained towards him by 'his fellow citizens. It must be satisfactory to him to find that his services during his occupation of the Mayoralty chair had been appreciated. He hoped that both Mr. and Mrs. Bastings might be long spared to enjoy a cup of tea at their own fireside, which would be sure to be good out of such " braw" things, and lie he hoped the blessing of God would accompany the deed. The Chairmanherehanded Mr Bastings a handsome silver service, consisting of a silver tea and coffee pot, cream jug, and sugar basin.. The salver bore the following inscription :— " Presented to Horace Bastings, Esq., J.P., by the Citizens of Lawrenco, Otago, on his retirement from the Mayoralty Chair, having occupied that position for six consecutive years. 26th ?e t rt,, 1872. " ' The Mayor said he had been that day waited upon by the Councillors and exCouncillors to present a testimonial to the late Mayor. ' The address he was about to present was a very beautiful work of art, but the expression of feeling it * contained, far transcended any inHrinsic value it might possess. (lie read the address passed by the Council.) . Mr. Bastings had occupied public positions in Victoria, Dunedin, and Lawrence, and always on his retirement he had received marks of the approval <of his conduct. He hoped that -Mi?. Basting's descendants would be animated by the example of their, father to endeavor to. achieve a position in the world, in which they would be similarly honored. . , The $faypr handed to Mr. Bastings .the address' passed by the Town Council,^ ; beautifully iUmnhiated and framed!, ' Mr. Bastings', who on rising was re:ceiVes wltli : loiuVand continued' cheer-' iri}& sswhif there, was one' thing more'i difficult than another in speech making, it was responding to a toast of this description. He was not going to repeat the stereotyped remark that' the present moment was the happiest one of his life, for in passing through life all have many

happy moments, as well as the reverse ; and he was inclined to think the world is not Buch a vale of tears as some people would wish to make out. Happiness to a great extent depended upon individuals, the school to follow op -under this head should be that of- Mark Tapley. He wished them to believe him when he said he felt honored by the expression of good feeling evinced towards himself by the residents of this district. He had heard men exclaim that they were indifferent to the estimafion in which they were held by their neighbours. But he pleaded to having always been desirious wherever his lot was cast, to endeavour to win and retain the respect and good-will of the community ; and he thoTight he might congratulate himself by the demonstration of that evening, that his endeavours had been successful, and he thought he might ever regulate his conduct so as never to forfeit that good opinion. But he could not lay claim to all the credit that has been given to him by the worthy Chairman. It is true he had taken a very prominent part in connection with all public matters for the last seven years, and may have been instrumental at the time in forming the town into a Municipality. He need not dwell upon the strong opposition to the movement at the time, though he saw many of those who opposed him in his endeavours, willing to admit now that they were wrong. The many advantages that have accrued to the district, and the advancement that it had made as a community, spoke for themselves. Most of those present remembered Lawrence seven years ago, no streets, fno roads or footpaths, and not a creditable building in the place ; and now it will bear favorable comparison with any town in Ofcago outside Dunedin. It has good buildings — four churches, three schools, three parsonages, one manse, and one athenaeum ; shops, stores, and places of business that would not disgrace even Dunedin itself. He did not wish to arrogate to himself too much craditf cr the present position of Lawrence. Many gentlemen had devoted their time and energy to bring about the results mentioned — those gentlemen had acted with him as councillors during the six years he had filled the civic choir. And they had always had a hard working representative who spared neither time nor trouble in furthering the interests of the district. He alluded to Mr. J. C. Brown, and he was sure they would give him credit for his manifold exertions on behalf of their interests. He had only done in his position, or endeavoured to do, his duty, for he considered it is every man's duty in this life to try and do something in his time — to leave the world in a better position than he found it. A man, in his opinion, does not fulfil his mission in this world if he i 3 content to live and accumulate wealth. He should endeavor to render some service towards furthering the'interests of the community where his lot may be cast. He had always contended that the advancement of any district that had the vast resources within itself as Tuapeka had, depended in a great measure upon the energy and public spirit displayed. These being his convictions, if in carrying them out he been able to give satisfaction to a large majority of his fellow townsmen, and he thought, by the demonstration this evening, he might take the credit to himself of having done so, he was amply repaid. In accepting this presentation at their hands, he could only tender his heart felt thanks. He would hand it down to his sons as an heirloom, that when he had shuffled of this mortal coil and gone to that bourne from whence no traveller returns, it might be an incentive to them to fulfil their positions and pass through life with credit, and never be guilty of any action to disgrace themselves or the | memory of their father. In reply to the | Mayor, he could only return lus heartful thanks for the handsome presentation that had been made. When he (Mr. Bastings) was Mayor, in the discharge of his sometimes unpleasant- duties, he always met with courtesy from Coun- , cillora, " although they sometimes evinced i a disposition to kick the traces over. He trusted that the gentleman who had succeeded him would guide the civic coach safely through the roads and lanes of the bye-laws, and at the end of his term of office be as good friends with the Councillors as he (Mr. Bastings) was. — (Cheers). The Chairman gave the toast, of the " General Assembly and Provincial Council, coupled with the name of Mr. Bastings, M.P.C." He had no doubt the bodies he had mentioned would spend an amount • equal to the National Debt of England if they had the chance. However, if they ha<l not done well in the past, he hoped they would do so in the future. Mr. Bastings, in responding, said on such an occasion he would not enter into politics, but expressed a hope that at no distant date, insular separation would be an accomplished fact. Mr. Williams gave the " Mayor and Town Council." He alluded to the beneficial influence of the Council in the past, and trusted it would continue to go on and do well in the future. The Mayor,' in responding, said he felt himself in a position of difficulty and responsibility in succeeding a gentleman of the experience, ability, and energy of Mr. Bastiiigs, but he 'hoped to learn how to handle the Municipal team properly. He also mentioned several matters that would have to be attended to by the Council, and "intimated his 1 intention of endeavoring to get- justice done to the town and district in the future, especially in the direction of having a fair proportion of the land revenue expended in the construction and maintenance of roads in the localities where it was raised. Councillors' Walker, Hayes, Hill, Hay, and Coverlid were called upon, and also responded to the toast. Mr. Pyke, proposed, "The Mining Interest," said that gold discoveries seemed to be the feature of this century. They made new countries, in a very short ,space of time, old countries by attracting taen to them, and giving them capital to settle' down on the soil. He instanced the 1 West Coast of America, Australia, .and New Zealand, wliich were unkuown 'wildernesses- 'until gold was discovered |and the,, miners came and made them settled countries. , The secret of the success of Tuapeka was the 90,000 acres of latid thrown ojien." Gold was the AliC of civilization, and- if gold discoveries did'lnbt bring ' settlement and civilization

in their tuiTi, a country was better without them.

Mr. Morrison, in responding, agreed with a great deal of what had fallen from Mr. Pyke, but considered he had somewhat overrated the part that agriculture had contributed to the success of Tuapeka. lie concurred with Mr. Pyke that gold discoveries were an introduction to a locality ; and said that taking fro«n the time of Gabriel Read, if the land laws had been liberal, large numbers who had gone away, would have become farmers. In reference to the question of shutting up the lands, Mr. Morrison said the miners did not wish to prevent settlement, but they wished to have the privilege of extracting the gold, which if granted, would tend largely to promote the prosperity both of the farmers and miners.

Mr. Hay gave the "Agricultural and Pastoral interests." He deprecated the action of the Government in not allowing the people on the land, and regretted the decision of His Honor Judge Chapman in the Bellamy Run case. If that run continued to be locked against settlement, he considered it would have very prejudicial effect on the prosperity of Tuapeka, aud hoped all would put their shoulders to the wheel to get land thrown open.

Mr. Darton, in responding, said that the 90,000 acres of land which had been spoken of as being the cause of the success of Tuapeka was thrown open ten years ago ; and no further land had been rendered available for settlement, although there was any quantity at their very doors. Fifteen years ago, when he came to this country, the land laws were liberal, but they had been changed to suit the moneyed interests. He considered that the throwing open of the whole or a portion of the Bellamy Run absolutely essential to the progress of the district, and that it was time the people took the matter in their own hands. The pastoral and agricultural interests were intimately connected. In Victoria, he noticed that two-lifths of the wool exported was produced by small settlers. If privileges equal to those in Victoria existed in this country, it would enter on a career of prosperity which, under the present illiberal land law, it never can.

"The Ladies," "The Press," "The Host and Hostess," and " The Chairman" were given and responded to.

During the evening, the proceedings were enlivened by songs given by Messrs. Muirhead, Downes, Lumsderf, Harrop, Armstrong, Pyke, and King, all of which evoked marks of approbation. The company separated shortly after 12, all expressing themselves well pleased with the management and harmony of the proceedings. The feeling was general that the affair was one of the most successful that has even taken place in Tuapeka.