HAMPDEN.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 11, 19 October 1878, Page 2

HAMPDEN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT;) Our host and hostess of the Savvyer*s Arms Hotel entertained their friends on the Bth instant, as announced per advertisement. The dinner was got up in a manner highly creditable to the hospitality of Mr and Mrs Ingram. The victuals as to quantity were unlimited, and the quality showed the culinary ingenuity of our hostess in a most favorable aspect. A goodly number of people from the district and several strangers were present to do justice to the “ good things of this life.” and it is not too much to say that the guests proved to a demonstration that they on their part were capable of relishing a miscellaneous “ spread.” Mr Craven, who acted as chairman, said that the progrmmc was drawn out with strict formality, and judging from its length and the names thereon, the company might prepare themselves to hear pungent wit, sound sense, and oratory of the tirst water. He then gave out a summary of the programme in the following order : 1. “The Queen.” 2. “The Prince of Wales.” 3. “The Army and Navy.” 4. “ The Colonial Parliament.” 5. “ Our Host and Hostess.” 6. “Our Local In7. a The Ladies.” 8. “ The Press.” 9. “ The Visitor.” The first three subjects on the programme were given out by the chaiunan in terms which shadowed forth sincere loyalty to the reigning dynasty and supreme confidence in the Army and Navy of England. Mr Rudd (as he himself expressed it) in the absence of a more military individual, undertook to respond on behalf of the Army. Mr Buchanan replied on behalf of tho Navy.

Mr Pemberton was then called upon for a song, which was given in right good style.

The next on the programme was our Colonial Parliament, Mr McLeod to reply. He said that the Parliament was quoted all over the world on account of its moderation and Parliamentary etiquette. There were some men in it utterly unfit to become legislators. The majority, however, ho thought were good and able men, and hence might not be inappropriately called the “ Collective Wisdoms.”

Several others spoke on this subject, but as none of the speeches had a political meaning, they need not be reported. Mr Rudd then was called upon to give the toast of the evening, our Host and Hostess. He rehearsed the history of his acquaintance with them since he had tho pleasure to see them for the first time, and in favorable terms spoke of the leading incidents in the history of Hampden, in which they played a part. He ended his remarks by pointing to their assiduity in attendance and the general order of the house.

Mr Baker briefly replied on behalf of Mr and Mrs Ingram. He did not hesitate to promise on tiieir behalf all that any house of equal pretensions in the province could supply. Mr Moore then rose to pror' e Local Industry, lie need not self in a formal way to this pleasant and gay company. He said you are all aware that I represent a branch of local industry which no man among you is prepared to The butcher can afford to stand in the back ground, for every man feels from the bottom of his stomach that his services cannot be dispensed with. (Laughter.) From the favorable state of the weather we may this season reasonably hope for the advantages which mild and beneficent rains never fail to bring to man and beast. (Hear, hear.) Mr Pemberton responded. The Ladies, proposed briefly by the chairman, and responded to in humorous and cliivalnc terms by Mr A. Pebbles, was the next toast.

rhe Press, coupled with the name of the Hampden representative, followed. Now-a-days the Press was the greatest power m the world, but it was much abused ra the hands of tyros. The momentous questions which concerned the human family were discussed tirst of all m the obscure fields of philosophy. Hotheaded and short-sighted men dragged fragments of the questions into the columns of newspapers and did much mischief to society. He spoke favorably of the local paper, the WAiPaWA Mail, as a good medium wherein to discuss local and other matters.

Mr Bureham responded at considerable length, showing how much society was indebted to the Press from the time of Oaxton to the present. The toast of The Visitors was proposed and responded to in the usual way, and this exhausted the programme. The room was then cleared for the ball which was kept on with unabated vigor -ill the small hours of the morning.