THE DINNER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2025, 25 June 1885, Page 2

THE DINNER.

In the evening about 45 sat down to a dinner in the Club Hotel, the Mayor presiding. Whon the tables had been cleared, The Mayor said he must congratulate tlie winners, and sympathise with those who were not winners. He could only repeat to them the old adge, " Try, try again," Perhaps next year they would do better. He then proposed the toast of the Queen and the Royal family, the Governor and the Government of New Zealand, both' of which were duly honored. The Chairman then proposed " The Farmers' Club," and said that he had mnch pleasure in coupling withit the name of his old friend Mr Dagg, the President. As yet the Club had not dono much, but it was capable of doing a great deal, and would no doubt do it too. Mr Dagg thanked the Chairman for tho flattering toast • In giving it, the Chairman had, no doubt, kept in mind a very old adage againt self-praise, seeing that he himself was a prominent member of tho Club. There was a very great futuro before the Club, and if successful they would have no reason to blow their own trumpets, as others would do it for them. Ho thanked them for the cordial manner in which they had drank tho toast.

Mr Lowes said it appeared to l\im that they were carrying out a programme of surprises. So far as he was concerned he was surprised that he should have to propose: a toast. ■ He had the honor to proposo the toast, of the day—the sucessful ploughmen. He was surprised that there were no entries of young men; Probably the. reason was that ploughing matches in the Wairarapa were not inaug-' urated with any degree of spirit. They had often tried in a spasmodjo fashion to get up these matches, but they were never veiy successful, He hoped that now the farmers' Club had taken the matter in hand, it would bo a permanency and a success. When he looked round he saw many men who had been farmers in the district for years, all of whom would be very glad tq see the match a permanency. Ho lipped that the young men would take the hint and compete in future. He was surprised to see so few entries, They had now brought them together and had made it a fair success, and he hoped that they would, in years to come, make it a greater success. . The toast waa received with loud applause. ' Mr F. Winter said he was pleased to ■ have been successful that day, but hoped those who were unsuccessful would not be disheartened, and try again, (Applause). Mr \V. Morrison said on that occasion he had to take a back seat, but was game to go again. He also had been surprised to see no young men competing. More encouragement should be given. The work he had seen that day was as good as any he had seen in the, district. Mr T. Chamberlain proposed the toast of" The Judges," To mako a match a success they must have old. ploughmen as judges, and in that respect they had been very successful that day. He coupled

tho toast with the names of Messrs Harding, Cave, Morris, and Lowes. a Mr Lowes briefly responded,; ,\ ; Mrßuick proposed "The Committee" coupled with the names of Messrs Edward Chamberlain and Heron. The Committee lie thought,, had fulfilled it* duties to the J letter. •>.<.. y\ . Cr Heron briefly replied, Mr Lowes proposed " The commercial interests of the district." The farming and commercial interests of the-district woro most intimately connected, and a ■ very good understanding existed between the farmers and commercial men. He would couple the toast with the name of! the Chairman, who had been connected with the commerce of the district from ' its infancy. The Chairman said he had no intention of doing speechmaking, and hardly knew how to reply to such anumportant toast ontheßpur oftlje moment. He fully concurred with all the proposer had said. ■ He saw a great many new faces and also a great many old ones. Ten years ago Masterton was a very small place indeed, and Greytown was the centre of the district. . Now they saw what rapid strides Masterton had made. They had a large ■ town, well laid out, good business houses* and it had a leading position in trade. There was, as Mr Lowes had said, afeeling of fellowship between- them—one' l jj of "liveand lefcjlive." They had every f reason to be proud of Masterton. There was one thing which had been a.reproach'' for a longtime—they'were not in debt. Now, he was happy to tell them, that they had a debt of £IO,OOO, and could,, therefore, no longer be reproached., (Loud laughter.) ' MrLowes moved a cordial voteof thanks; to Mr Carman for the use of his paddock. 'Mr Carman returned' thanks, and said.. he would always do his best to assist in such matters,- . > ■• Mr Dagg proposed "the Mayor and ■Borough Council" to which the Mayor shortly, but appropriately responded. The Mayor proposed the toaßt of "the Press," which was duly responded to, Mr Dagg proposed "the Secretary, Mr'. Fitton." ' " - The toast.was drunk with loudapplauso, the-, company singing''He's a jolly good; fellow.!' Mr Fitton, in replying, said the remark had been made that the success of tho. ploughing match' depended on the niimH, ber of entries; but he thought theattendp •ancß was of far greater importance. Ho was dissapointed to see so few on tho ground that day. He did not like to be connected; with anything that was a ; failure, and though the match that day was not a failure from ntherpoints of view, he hoped that the next one would be more successful, especially in attendance, Tho prizes were then presented to the succesful competitors. Tho toasts of "The Chairman," and " Our Host and Hostess" broughttheproceedings to a close.