MR MITCHELL'S RETURN TO RAGLAN.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 31, 19 September 1896, Page 3

MR MITCHELL'S RETURN TO RAGLAN.

A COMPLIMENTARY dinner to Mr TllO'l as Mitchell, J.l'., took place in ih • 1! y.il Hotel Hall (Mr O. F. Pilling) W.dl sstre. t, on Friday e.vinng, September 11th, when Mr Mitchell, wh'J bad just returned by the s.s. lonic, from a visit to Scfit!a".d after an absence of more than forty years, was entertained by a company if Irs numerous fiends. The hall was most beautifully decorated, the walls bi i:>g cov. red with nik-U fens, mil other bush gicer.cry, and ligh'cued up with large lillics, pcs'iiting nn appeal* anccof a veritable " Fairy 11.-wer." The tdjle wa> most tastefully arranged, and the art'stte skill displayed was very creditable to Mrs Pilling and her lady fritnds, Ch'.iec flowers with ferns, etc.. fiom the "aniens rf To Akau and Ivnrioi gave a gay effect to the other decorations. fjetween twenty and thirty fat down to a most excellent repast ci nsisting of all the deludes of the season. The following was the menu :—Soups : Oyster, Macaroni. Joint, Poultry, etc. : Tiukey, spun-' chicken, ox tongue, bam, sirloin of beef, roast niuttn:-.. .Sweets: lVillui-, j lly, fruit salad, peach pie and bailed custard, plum pie, jam tort, cheese. Desert : Figs, oranges, bananas, raVns, etc The preparation of the various good things was all that could be desir'd, iiinl great endit in due to Mr mil Mrs I'iring, who catered is so excellent a manner, a hitter spriud never having bet n prepared in Raglan. Mr K. 0. Mathias, County Chairman, occupied the chair, and Mr Langley acted as vice-chairman. After the usual loyal and patrio'ic toasts has been disposed of Mr T. H. Hill, in a most hearty manner, proposed tin; health of their guest. Mr T. Mitchell. J.P. He said he was right g'ad to see their old fellow settler looking so well, and he was pleased to know that the trip had done him good, as he believed now MiMitchell could manage to travel to the top of Karioi. a thing which he could not do before his journey Home. He would first speak of their friend in a domestic way, as a kind husband and a good father ami grandfather, which gave a man a real stake in the country, more so than l«nd and stock and property. Although he could not lay claim to such a stake as our oldest settler here, whose descendants numbered nearly ninety, yet lie had done well. As a settler they could hold Mr Mitchell up as an example, as he had made one of the best farms in the place, and he (the speaker) only wished there were one hundred more l'ke it, then Raglan would toon be a different place. As a public ir.un Mr Mitchell had always responded to the calls of his fellow settlers, and had tilled pretty we'l every local public office, both in the Raglan Highway, Karioi Highway, School Committees, and recently as Chairman of the Raglan County Council, and as a Justice of the Peace. He hoped their guest would be spared to see his district connected with the town of Riglan by a good bridge, and a road through Karioi to Aote.i, ami all the lands now so long idle filled with settlers. He then called en those present to drink the health of the guest ot the evening, Mr Thomas Mitchell. The t'ast was drunk with full nilis'cal honours. Ere Mr Mitchell could reply, the Chairman called upon Mr George Moon ai the oldest friend of Mr Mitchell then present. He stated that in all his relations with their guest in the vai ions local l.odi. s, etc, he had always found him a gentleman, and he trust.d he would give them that evening some account of those thugs he had seen in the Old Land, Mr Peg'er being cal'ed upon, slid .that it gave, him great pleasure to b; present on this happy occasion, and hn should Fpcnk of Mr Mitchell as a neighbour and fiiend ; he bad found him always a good neighbour and a ti uc fri.-i d. Rev. C. A Lyon, then spoke of .Mr M tchcH's hospitality, and the 'ess n that all should learn fiotu lis ind< stty ; ho alway- found Mr Mitchell hard at work when he vi i ed lis firm, which was one of the best hi the d stiiet. Mr Mitchell expressed hnisolf as most grateful for this very kind expression of their friendship and esteem towards one so insignificant as himself, and his heart was too full to express what he felt, therefore he asked them to be content with a relation of his trip to and sojourn in the Old Lund. Mr M tchell described the voya, e, and his stay at home, the sights he S'W there, the Agricultural Shows, and industrial works, and factories visited. Amongst these latter was that of Dick's great Hoot Factory, Glasgow, where he found that nearly all the bides ui.'d came from New Zealand. Great complaints were made as to injuiy to the hides by branding, many tons being wasted per year. He then again thanked the company. 'J he Company then rising, sang '" Auld L'ligSyne" Mr Lascelles proposed the Press in a neat speech. The Correspondent of Tin: Waikato Annus, in retiming tlrinks staled that he d (1 to not on his own port, but mote for Mr Edgccun.be, his chief, who was always anxious to do all he could to further and promote the social we'hire of the various districts through which his paper circulated. Mr Henry on behalf of the .Star, also responded and spoke of the high character of his paper and the influence of the press apart from political views. Mr Geoi'ge Rastrick in a very neat speech responded on hi half of the lad cs" The Chairman proposed the toast :>f the Host and Hostess. He had known Mr Pilling for many years, and he complimented him and his wife upon 111 '_• excellent manner they had carc-ed for them that evening, this being one of the best spreads he had been present at. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr I'ilbug, on behalf of himself and wife, heartily thanked them, and said it gave them gnat pleasure to know that their efforts were so much appreciated. Mr Langley then proposed the he..lth of their excellent Chairman, who had shown that evening as he did (.11 all like occasions, all the issentials that make a good 'rliairtnim. This was drunk with full iiiusic.il honours. T'r.e Chairman n plied in feeling terms to the pleasure it gave him to preside on their coming together to welcome their fiiend Mr Mitchell, whom he always found a good fellow. He thanked them for their kind recognition of his services as chairman. Letters were rece'ved from Mr J. K. McDonald, J. P.. Mr i uTrobe, and Mr J. P. Cogswell, J. P., regretting their not being able to be present. During the evening several I'cntlemen favoured the company with a choice selection of songs and music, and a very pleas:ur. social evening was spent.