Breezes from the Empire City.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2975, 13 August 1888, Page 2

Breezes from the Empire City.

The Protection Banquet. A monster banquet and exhibition of New Zealand food, products was given in the, Drill ■■ Shed, Wellington, on Saturday; evening last, by the Industrial Associations of tlio colony, over a thousand persons-, being present by invitation. From a protectionist point of view the affair was a decided success, There wis no doubt but.that those who I had been careful to cultivatetheir, ulimentivo propensities were' at - anadvantage, as were also those who, .with'forethought, had postponed their hour for dinner- until 7 p.m. Mr Seddon,'M.H.R., saidwell in reply to a certain toast, that if; Protection had done'nothing more for the citizens of Wellington it had provided them with a "cheap feed." This exclamation was received with loud applause from the vast assemblage. There \ma representations of colonial manufactured foods Iroui Auckland, Blenheim, Canterbury, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Wanganui, and Wellington, in the shape of flour, oatiueal, sugars, fruits, confestionery, sauces, pepper, coffee, farinaceous food, vinegar, pickles, rated waters, ales, sheep tongues, ic., die. About thirty* members of the " House of Proteationists" were present, whilst it is needless to say that the Freetrade party, although favored with invitations, were conspicuous by their absence, They were to be found extending a helping hand to the various retail warehouses of the city, which were raising loud complaints that' through this "banquet" a large pro. portion of their Saturday evening's trade had been destroyed, The chair was occupied by the indefatigable President of the League, Mr T. K. Macdonald, who must, with tho managing Committee, be congratulated upon the success of the so-called' triumph. 1 Whatever niay have been tho opinions of those present upon the subject under consideration of the meeting, it to quite evident from tho mannor in which, the goods were disappearing that they protected the interests of their health very' little, but encouraged a continual " Freetrade" of (he unfortunate edibles. Gray's band performed a selection from " lolanthe," after whicli the chairman proposed the health of Her Majesty tho Queen, which was drunk amidst great enthusiasm.' This was followed by that of the Prince of Wales and Koyal Family, and His Excellency tho Governor. At the conclusion of the latter '.the band very generously struck up. "King of the Cannibal Islands." The following toasts were then proposed and responded to in a suitable manner, the excitement at timeß being that intense that the various speakers could not be heard; —" The Ministry," proposed by Mr J. Dransfield, responded to by Hon G. Fisher, M.H.R, " The Parliament," proposed by Mr 0. W. Luke, responded to by Sir Maurice O'Rot'ke, M.H.R,, and Sir (1. Whitmoro, K.O.M.G. "The Pastoral and Agricultural interests ot New Zealand," proposed by Hon John Ballance M.H.R,, responded to by Messrs Lance and Walker, M.H.R.'s " The mining interests of Now Zaaland," proposed by Mr W. McLean, responded to by Mr Seddon, M.H.R. "The manufactures of Now Zealand," proposed by Dr Fitchctt, M.H.R., responded lo by llr Fish, M.H.R. " The Industrial 'Associations of .Now Zealand," proposed by Mr Moss, M.H.R., responded toby the Chairman. "The press," proposed by Mr Guinness, M.H.R., responded to by Mr Reeves, M.H.R., and Mr Ellis. The band played suitable selections after each toast, and Messrs Prouse, Munt, Kilner, and Benchcroft rendered songs. The meeting dispersed at 11.15, after Mr Seddon had culled for three cheers tor Mr Macdonald, and led.with his stentorian voice, the singing of" He's a jollygood fellow."

The remaining loaves and fishes are to be distributed amongst the poor of tho City, and the Benevolent Society anticipates a temporary relief.