COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR J. BRITON.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1131, 23 September 1879, Page 2

COMPLIMENTARY DIN NER TO MR J. BRITON.

Despite the wet weathev and the distance from Hamilton, some five and twenty gentlemen sat dswn to table, last night, at James' Railway Hotel, • Frankton. The Chair was taken by Captain Steele, and the Vice -Chair by James Hume, Esq., the guest of the evening, 'Mr Briton, sitting ou the right of Captain Steele. Of the dinner, itself, we cannot speak too highly, though, from old acquaintance with Mr James, of Q.C.E. celebrity, we were quite prepared for something out of the common, and we found, as avo expected, not a cold " spread," but a well considered, well served well cooked dinner, comprising 'a variety of n/fnrs, one, m fact, calculated to please the palate of" the gourmet rather than satisfy the mere cravinsrs of the uniinintinl. Green peas, early potatoes, asparagus and whitebait were amongst many other delicacies present m abundance. After the cloth had been removed, the Chairman proposed, severally, the toasts of " The Queen," the " Prince of Wales," and "The Governor," all of which were drank with the usual demonstrations, more especially that of the Governor, the few remarks introducing Avhich were received with cheers, and the toast was drank with honors. " The Army and Navy" followed, and the Chairman, Captain Steele, rising, soid : — I have now to propose the toast of the evening, which I am sure you will drink right 'heartily with three time three. I allude to our guest, Mr John Briton. Eor the last four or five weeks we have heard of lots of things, liberal measures, immigration policies, free breakfast tables, babes unborn, Public Works Policies and policies too numerous to mention. I shall tackle Mr Public Works Policy. I had always understood that a certain party, not now m the colony, was the father of it. Now, however, two or three others claim its paternity. The truth was Public Works Policy was a good old boy, and deserved to have more than one father. It was a grand scheme, but to have it well carried out, you must have good men, engineers of ability, and able and faithfull contractors. They had nil these m Waikato. ' The gentleman whom they had now met to honor, had shown great ability and intelligence m the performance of his duties m this district ; and not the least among the works which he has carried out, is the Narrows Bridge, which was both designed and built by him, and built at a cost, the lowness of which they had never dreamed of. With permission of the Waikato settlers, he (Captain Steele) would propose that they fh> night re-christen the bridge, and call it Briton's Bridge, for, but for Mr- Briton, tljey wquld have had no bridge at the Narrows. He hoped all present would wish that Mr Briton would #et a full share of the five millions about to be borrowed and expended, for, if he did, it was certain the country, so far, would got full value for its. money. He hoped Mr Briton would live long to. carry gut many important works. That just dqne, the extension railway into Hamilton, was one of great iinportanco to the Borough. He asked them to drink to a good man, a true man, and one who was a credit to any country. The toast having been drank with great enthusiasm. Mr Briton said: He thanked thosp present much, fqr' the hearty reception \\\Qf had given him. He waa happy to, taeet so many there to-night, but more happy still at being their guost^ nor lea* *

so, that he thought the work just finished of too little importance fur so kind a demonstration towards him. The Narrows bridge was certainly a more important and difficult work. He had, however, iv the matter of the extension, done his best, under adverse circumstance, a long and severe winter, but he sometimes felt ashamed that it had been s» long about. It was a pleasure to receive, to-night, so warm an assurance of their kind approciation of his desire to do his duty. Ho trusted Hamilton would progress and. flourish, and that, some day, lie might meet them, to commemorate the completion of more important undertakings than the present one. The Vice- CLair then proposed the health of Mr Hope, the inspector of the line, eulogising that gentleman m high terms, for his ability m the performance of his duties, and generally for his social good qualities. The toast was warmly responded to, and feelingly replied to by Mr Hope. The "Borough Council," the "Host and Hostess," tho " Commercial and Agricultural Interests," and other toasts, were duly proposed and replied to, and the company separated at a late hour.