FAREWELL DINNER TO F.R CLAUDE, ESQ.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 869, 15 January 1878, Page 2

FAREWELL DINNER TO F. R CLAUDE, ESQ.

A farewell dinner was given to F. R. Claude, Ft-q., last night, at the Hamilton Hotel, at which between forty and fifty gentlemen were present. Mr James Hume occupied the chair, the vice-chair being occupied by Mr Kenned} - * ill. The room had been tastefully decoi'Hted, and the dinner was laid I out m Host Gwynne's usually excellent style. After the cloth was removed, the Chairman, Janios Hume, Esq., announced that he had received iwitera from the Rev V r Calder, Mr Cos, M.H.R, Dr Waddingron and Mr Vialou, explaining that it was impossible for them to attend, The tOHSt of " The Q een and Koyal Family '' was then proposed and drank with the usual honors. The Chairman then proposed the health of the Governor and ministry of the Colouy,

The toast of the A my, l<avyand "Vol unteers then to) lowed. - : Captain Macpherson, amid loud cheers, rose to respond for %\u? Army and Navy. He had bmtl going to say that the Army hlip! a ways done itp duty, and always be found .doing \t, |>tit T^cf Brown had sngtresteci that; the idjwjj w.i a not a novel one. UMe|r iM 1 ' circumstances, tfiel thread*^of speech having been* cut, he ■woulti simply return his thanks <fgr}. tin honor done to both branches oi the seivice. "" '" ■ -..=*.^isi Mr J. K. McDonald returned i hanks for the Volunteers. Ho bad been himself engaged -•* with- th^> Vi>lunteerß more than once, and had always found them ready to do theii duty. I'he Vice-Chairman rose to pro pose the health oi the guesC of th«evening—F. Jl. Claude^ Esq. Thi. toast he had to propose needed little introduction at' his^ hands.- AD; would acknowledge their guest t< be a good husband and father, a good farmer, a good sportsman, anc a good all-round man. (Lou<i cheers.) All hoped to see him bad: ho m for his loss would be deep'^ felt m the 'district. None woul* have been more missed. The toas was drunk with loud and continued rtpplause, and three cheers more fVn VI rs CiautJe and the little Claudes. Mr Claude, m reply said. I have to tba* k yon for the kind way you ha\ c drank my health, and that, vi my family. For the last thre years I have lived here permanently and the more I see of the Waikat> settlers the more I like them. 1 have always been kindly receiv<» by them and boih privately ami as a public man my motived have never been misconstrued. I believe every man should as far us he can take an interest L the local government of the countr, 1 have been ailuded to as a kee< sportsman. I do indeod. take a interest m sport, m racing, pigeoi. shuotin^, aud other amusement-, and I shall look forward wit pleasure to my visits to the Wai kato on such occasions m the future. Mr Claude, before sitting down, proposed — " Prosperity to the Wai-* kato ; its agricultural and cdramer-ci-il interests." Capt tin Steele, m response, said he was one of the first here, awl mean: to see it out. There was a great future before the district. Hi hail travelled as a visitor m tin other colonies m the South Island and m America, but no. place to him seemed so suitable for an energetic man as the Waiknto. I ; A voise : "If he will put hitshoulder to the wheel." \ , Captain Sieele : Aye, if he goer . to sleep half his time. Mr J. D. Hill replied for the • Commercial interests, and Messr> I T. Jolly and W. Martyn for th. agricultural interests*. Mr Claude then proposed th< Borough of Harriltoti. He«houghi the step takeu was a right one, annot on y advhntagsous to the townships of Hamilton, but to Waikato as a district, showing as it did »o the ' ontside world that as an agricultural district it possessed a centre ot population of sufficient important to be created into a municipality. < The CWrman briefly responded. ' The toasts of the Press, the lauies ' and the host and hostess were then duly proposed and responded to, and t he formal portion of the entettain- ' ment was brought to a close