FAIRWELL DINNER TO MAJOR GEORGE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 834, 20 October 1877, Page 2

FAIRWELL DINNER TO MAJOR GEORGE.

A Farewell diuuer was given by the Piako aad Waiioa sefcoler<», to Major George, at the Nottingham Castle Hotel. Watto*, at. 6 o'clock ou Wednesday last* An excellent diouer was laid on two tables, ooe m the hall and the other m the long diniag-roona, and about fifty gentlemen sac down to *a excellent a repMt as coold be prepared iv any country hotoL The whole get up reflected great 01 edit on the host aad aost^su, Mr and Mrs John Wood. Mr i.hepniell occupied the ouair m the centre of the Übie m the loiig loom, and on his rignc baud was the guest of tne evoniug, Major George, rfutn of them were up^oaite the door, and could be aeen by an tbe occupants of eitber table. Cautaia Soeele occupied the viee-ciiair at tne end of the other table opposite to Major George, and Mr Cnepineil. Among cha visitors Mr Kenuedy Hill, aud Cap mv Dawson represented Hamilton ; Messrs A. A. Fautiiaiu, ITergaoou, KirßWootl, and Joan Kunciman, CLmjriage; jlr Hatri*, waa tae reproductive ol JNgaruawatiia ; and Mr Graham, 01 Taniauere. After full j istiue uad be^n done to the riandd, tuu Unau mau proposed cue usual loyal Wats. UajjtaiK csteuie ihtn proposed th«. *' Army and Navy aad Voluutoera". Captain JdoJdurdo responded for the i Army and Mr F. Piliiug for tneVolun* uer*. ■, I'hal of the General Assembly" then I followed, and was re ponded to by Mr Jlurr«>, a uepaew of tae non. Member of tha lioaae, of (bat name. Tjw Chairman then ruse to propose the loasC of the evening, whiou ha lequeated all tbe gentlemeu preseat to dnuk m bumpers. Iv propodiug this to->Bt>, he cnew they all viewed Wiih regret the depurtuie of Maj >r Goor^e irom amoag fchem. M-ij >r Gejrge uad always takeu a. lively aud active lateress ia all the public affciro of the district ; he nad laboured disinterestedly aud energetically for its advancement. A.a a social friend aud esteemed neighbour Major George would be missed m tbe du trice tto was known and regarded by all with cordial feelings. Ha therefore called upon all to fill tneir glasses, and drink heartily to Major George, wishing him health and sucoess wherever he might go. It is needless to say tbe toast was enthusiastically drank with musical hsnors. Major George then rose to respond. He tuaaked the gencl^meu for the hearty manner with w&ich they had drank his health. He felt very grateful for tbe . expression of kindly feeling that he had received and honor done to him. Ho was very mmoh gratilied at the confidence they appeared to have m him, and at the appreciatiom m which he was held. Me had a toast to propose— the welfare and advancement of the Waikato, and Waitoa Highway District iv particular. In this district they had some la id wbich would be some of the primest and best m JNew Zealand. When he looked around him, and remembered thab when he came to the district there were no roads and scarcely any bridges, aad the place where they now were was an impassable swamp, where now they have a nandßome and well kept hotel, and a store, and a school aud a post-office, aud they would soon have a poiioo man and a gaol (after he had left the district), wben he regarded the rapidity with which the district was advancing towards civilization, he could not bat tuiuk that a great future was before it. He would propose a toast " Ihe welfare and advancement of the Waikaco Discriot, and of the VVaitoa Higbway District m particular, and with it. he would couple the uama of Mr J. P. Campbell." Mr Campbell responded, and proposed m a most eloquent panegyric " The Press, and the Waikato Times ia particular." He laid great stress on the benefits this paper had conferred oa the Waikato. It had shown fcnot only to this colony, but to sister colonies the importance and the fertility of the district. It was a paper which laboured for the advancement: of the whole district, and thab it was one of no mean status was proved by the fact that ib was quoted by She leading journal of the Australian Colonies— the 'Austral, asiau.' Tiie toast was drunk enthusiastically*

and ' was "duly "Tresp'onWcr to Aehwell. „ ... Mr Hunt proposear " The Visitors." Messrs H. A, C. Feigusson, A> A. Fantnnm;and C. N.^c^urdo responded. Mr McMurdo said/he wished, jfoaslfea, to respond to this toast, as he thought he was competent to. say that ,sbere was no other district m ' We "■; Colony making such rapid stride* -Hi 1 the 1 WaikaW. v An a Government Agept, he had visited a large number of districts m different parts of the colony; but nowhere^ had heVnet; with such apparent universal prosperity and hospitality. As a visitor, he wished to thank' theW for the loast.O W .;•;' Mr Gould proposed, "The Ladies," with the usual eugolistic dond^lihients. Drunk with musical honours. * Messrs Cholmondeley and Charles Gould responded. '.- ' .-..:/■ Mr Cholraondeley then proposed, "The Chairman, Mr Ghepmell, the Pilgrim Father' of- the Piako." Mr Chepmell responded, and > proposed Capt. Steele, " The maker of the Piako." Mr Ticklepenny proposed, f The Host and Hostess.?' <> Mr ' Wood responded. Other toasts followed, after which a few song's were sludg, and the Chairman rose from the tab'e. ; The tout ensemlle reflected very great , credit on Mr and Mrs Wood, who did everything m the;r |&wer. to make everyone enjoy himself^The quality and-, variety • 6& -iti& cmsW^tre excellent. Indeed, the Nottingham Castto is oneof the best kept Hotels. i%tbg 'tyaikato. 1 'Abnni i 6 6'ciodkj 1 s ßenfflemen>¥egan ; .to disperse, after a most enjoyablVevenfng.. ; The only drawbacki3Wkßj{tliafe we, w^re not all m one room (there not being one, large enpugh;to,en,terMn Bucb a number on the premises) and the. only gentlemen who were .privileged to. se.e. all the company Were,' MW* Chairman and Major George. ...