Patriotic Meeting.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 99, 23 January 1900, Page 3

Patriotic Meeting.

The meeting held at Maklkihi on Friday evening wab in every way a great success. The large sjr.Tin store, loudly lent for the oqcasiou by Mr Jas. iVlcohan, was beautifully decorated with flags and evrr greens. The build ing was ciovvdsd, ovor 200 people boing present. The first put ot the meeting was devoted to speeches, the latter partaking of the nature of a social. The Waimate Brass Band wore present and helped with the music, and as did several other Waimate residents. " God Save the Queen" was sung by the audience. Mr T. Teschemaker (chairman) give a short outline of the state of things before the first Boer War. Since the abolition of slavery, a bad feeling had existed between the English and the Boors. Kruger was fighting for hn pocket, not ior the good of his country, and many of his people kaew that when the British were victorious the country would be prosperous, better than under Kruger's rule. People complain of the slowness of the war preparations, but; England had held back to the last to get peace, but war was forced upon her. If ever there was a ]ust and righteous cause it wai the cause they were assembled to further, and New Zealand had nevei been more pleased thai she was uo'.v to be able to help it. It was for the widjws and orphans sulfermg through tha war that the money was going. — (Applause ) The Rev. G. Barclay sn,id he did not intend to speok at the meeting, but had been prevailed upon. He made a very, humorous speech, in the course of which he said the war had been baid to be an unrighteous one. He was not an advocate of war, but he considered in this case it was justifiable, as the Boers forced the British into tho conflict. The Uitlanders were estimated at two or three to tha Boer. They had discovered the mines and worked them, only to be taxed and down trodden most outrageously by the Boers. The Uitlanders petitioned the Queen. The franchise would be granted at five years on condition that the suzerainty was withdrawn. On the 9bh the EngUsh gave their answer and on the 11th tho war commenced. So far Britain has met some reverses, but things were looking better, and he hud no doubt as to the ultimate victory of the British. The Australian colonies had thrown their loyalty to their Em pire by their contingents. It would not bo long before the flag oi Old England would be waving on ths^veldt, and it would hz for the good of people of every nationality. Mx Hawley sang (> Soldiers of the Queen," the audience joining in the chorus. Rev. Fowler also had not intended to speak. It was very pleasing to him, a new chum, to see such loyalty in Now Zealand. It must Be very gratifying to the Queen and ho was sure she needed it now in her great age. It would be a great war, but Kruger was fighting a great nation, and that nation must win. The Boers had not the strength of the British. In a time like the present especially, the federation of the Empire was most apparent, as the whole nation was seen united and fighting shoulder to shoulder. He thought it was no more than the duty of the people to provide for the sufferers by the war. The war had raised a spirit of manliness in the colony, as witnessed by "the volunteers for the contingents. He was sure that when annexation came everyone — Dutch or British — could trade without restriction, as was always allowed in British possessions. Dr, Barclay said he had been a,sked to be present at the meeting as Mayor oi Waimate. He congratulated them on the arrangements of the evening and the business-like Way in which everything was managed and thanked them ou behalf of the Waimate committee for haudiDg over the funds collected to that body. The Waimate district had donejvery well, having .6400 m hand, atod £50 promised. The money would flot be immediately forwarded Home. £t was being raised for the widows and orphans of those killed and the wounded in the war, but which fund it was to bo sent to was not yet decided. The chairman introduced Mr Chas v who has lately returned from the Transvaal. Mr Akhursk ufa£s3£ few very interesting remarks about tfeef

war, assuring his heavers that thos* who said the war was an "unjust o"t>e7 and that tbo Uitlanders had in* grievances, wera not to be believed. He gave & number of instances of oppression by the Boers, although the UitlandGrs paid 19 20ths of the taxes» and had no representatives on th-i Volksvaad. Then Uitlanders paid nve millions yeaily into the treasury » this paid the Secret Service, bribery and corruption which tho Boers employed! It'al-?o enabled the Boers to import vast quantities of arms and ammunition to tight tha Britisli with.' It .was, known 'thnt these munitions of wai? wore being imported, but corruption was Ab work here also, and it was nevei? fully reeoßuised by the Cape Government. The Transvaal was the riches!} mineral country in the world, but its* wealth could not be worked because of Lhe monopolies which existed, and which made the workings rights Only to be purchased at an exorbitant pricei Flour was subjected to extra duty and cost 3d per pound in ordinary times. Englishmen were treated worae than dogs and they could get no redrsss in tha law cotufcs. Tha refugees who left; when the war broke out were treated in an a vful manner. There wa3 only one end to the war, the Boer reign in the Transvaal and in tho Gapa would ba overthrown and m this way and this way only would peace ba. secured. Mrs Arthur Jones (Waimate) sang " The Bed, White, and Blue," which was well rendered and received. Mr lioare (Timaru)" recited "Tha Absent minded Beggar," and four little girla carried round a Union Jack, the sum of £± Is 7d being collected. Mr W. Simmons then added a cheque for £1 Is to this. Lifcble flower girte wearing tho national colours had been busy during the evening selling button holes, aad thoy handed in as tha result of their efforts the sum of 2s. The concert itself brought in £25. VOLO3 of thanks to the chairman and pertormers closed the first part of tho entertainment. Dancing was then started and kept up to the music of 1 Messrs Jackson (piano) and Mr 0. Jackson (violin) till an early hour. 1 Mr F. Child* acted as M.C. Between the dances songs ware rendered by 1 Misses M. Mclhviifk and B. Martin, and Messrs Buchanan and Hawley. ! Mr (Jr. Kodgers danced a sailor's hom1 pipe, and' Mr Fleming contributed | several recitations. — Hook. — A meet1 ing in aid of the Patriotic Fund was ■ held in tha Hook School*, oom last ! evening, 18 persons being present. > Mr Geo. Miller occupied the chair, - and explained the object of the meeting J was to decide the best means of eon- ■' tributiag a few -pounds to the Patriotic 3 Fund. After a short discussion, it was : proposed that the money be raised by 1 a concert and da. ice to be held on >■ Friday evening, Jan. 261h, thn first 3 P'irfc to consist of songs and speeches, ' the second part of dancing, with songs j> interspersed. It v/as stated that Mr 1 E J. AtwJl would lend a marquee, r the School Committee had promised s free lights, Mr G. Miller would lend 1 his piano, and a number of "Waimate • performers had promised their services* A programme was drawn up and a k committee appointed to arrange details. 1 A very enjoyable night should ba a spent.