BANQUET TO MR BRYCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2166, 27 May 1886, Page 4

BANQUET TO MR BRYCE.

IBY TELEGRAPH.— PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday. The banquet to Mr Bryce took jilace this afternoon in the Drill-shed. About 140" guests were present, including some two ;";sfcore of ladies. The Mayor was in the chair. Messrs Stout and Ballunce represented the Ministry, and besides tbe.sß the two Speakers, Major Atkinson, Colonels Whitmore and Brett, Mr Rolleston, and, a largo number of members of both Houses were present. The lecal toasts wero first on the li3t, followed by "The Army, Na\ y "and Colonial Forces," " Parliament of New Zealand," and "The Ministry." The principal speakers connected with thee cwere Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Sir W. Fitzherbert, SirG, Whitmore. Mr Stout, Messrs McDonald, Duthio, and Pearce. The Mayor (Mr A. W. Brown) then proposed " The Health of tho Guest of tho Day. In doing so he said that when Mrßryce left New Zealand to prosecute his action ho took with him the hearty flood will of every colonist. (Applaiwe.) There were some 'who were doubtful of the result, for the accusation was so graye — nothing less than murder — and the greater credit was due to Mr Bryce for the readinesss with which he confronted his accuser. The slander reflected not only on Mr Bryce but on the people of New Zealand, and they owed him their gratitude for his action. The men most {vilified in Mr Rusden's book were justthose who had faithfully served their country, and in many cases had been honoured by the Queen for il-,.i 1 -,. Everyone, therefore, would be glad if they shnnld find that in the next'Birthdav honours the name of Mr Bryce, who had likewise boon slandered, and had triumphantly refuted the calumny, also appeared. (Applause.) Mr Bryce, on rising, was received with lengthened applause. Ho said, the first thins; he had to do was to acknowledge the heartiness with which he had been welcomed on t his return by everyone, which, Ije was • bound t«> say, had been «,' surprise to him He adverted to the presence of ladies as particularly appropriate when the honour of a public -man waß concerned. He was gratified at the presence there that day of members of the Ministry and political " opponents, and he paid a graceful compliment to the Premier's broad and sympathe- . tic cast of mind. H« could not find words to express his thanks to the friends who had stuck to him through thick and thin. He was advised from the fir»t by able lawyers that his opponents hid no possible ground of defence at law, and, as he knew in his own heart he had never slaughtered women and ' ' children, he felt he had right and confidence on his side. Yet there was one point, and one only, on which diuiger lay. The 'colonists of New Zealand had been charged ■ with treating the natives unjustly, and knowing there was a prejudice against them in some quarters the defence was solely conducted from the Exeter Hall point of view. Sjr John Unvst tried to impress dn the jury that the native hiit;iry of New ■ Zealand was •• one tragedy," aiid this was the view that by some people had bpen persistently urged in England, and which i in places had found belief. If they really had treated the Maoris like that they certainly would deservo tho execration of their couutrymon at home, but actually there was no instance in all history of subject races being treated with the same kindness and generosity as in our own case. Mr Brycs, in support of his statement^ alluded to tho quantity of land left in the' possession of the Maori*, to the reserves made for tribes, \Yho;i had" ,once bouie arms against in, and to their reprdsentfttion in Parliament. They had equal representation 'vitjh tho Europeans, and even now the Miui'stry were considering the propriety of giving the Maoris another seat in the Legislative Council. Yet the treatment of the Earopeaus was' made a point against him, asd was'an element of danger in the case to which he bad never shut his eyes. He bad two things to be proud of— v the reception and confidencctshown in hjm by the colonists, and the Knowledge that while the defence relied on the prejudices of certain classes in England, and particularly in London, he had put his trust in the justice of an English judge and jury, and it had not failed him. (Applause.) After the Ivetdict had been given in hia favour ,4ie had felt great degression for several days, even after he had stepped Oloe more aboard tho steamer,' and ho could not account for it. It was, per- ' haps, because he felt bitterly towards certain opponents who had struck him as he thought, below the belt. He had not nierftioned them before, and he did not intend to do so now, further than was <nexsuary to vindicate the character and /memory of'- Dr. Featherirtone. 1 A man whose defective memory must be a curse to him had professed to repeat a conversation ;vwith Dr. p Featheratone, which had occurred eighteen years ago, to his (Mr Bryce'a) disadvantage. Though not always on the same side as ths doctor, they respected and had regard for one another, and the latter was not the man to go behind his back if he had anything to say, Ibut4n ths contrary, would have been,thei first ' to come boldly to his face and censure him openly. He wished to avow' that he did not believe one word of the story with which Dr. Featherston's name has been connected, '" and he was satisfied he had never «aid anything of the sort. (Applause). In conclusion lie would say that the welcome he had received on his return to New Zealand, and the gathering that day, showed that the fame of its public men was dear to the colony. (Great applause.)

Wheat screenings and damaged' wheat makes a good tood for fowls. „ The Bad and Worthless are nover imitated or counterfeited. This is especial'y true of a family medicine, and it is positive proof that the remedy imitated is of the highest value. As soon as it had been tested and proved by the whole world that Hop Bitters was the purest, best and the most valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations ■prunp up and began to steal the notices i yin which the press and the poople of the $oP?try had expressed the merits of H. ' 8., and in every way trying to induce suffering invalids to use their stuff instead, expecting to make money on the' credit and good name of H. B. Many others started nostrums put up in similar style to H. 8., with variously devised names in which the word " Hop" or " Hops" were used in a way to induce people to believe they were the same as Hop Bitters. All such pretended remedies or cures, aio matter what their style or name Is and especially those with the word "Hop" or " Hops" in their name or intny way con- • • nected with them or their ' name, are imitations or counterfeits. Beware of them, louch none of them.' Use op--' thint; but genuine American Hop Bitters, with » cluster of green Hops on the white label, and Dr Sonle's name 1 blown in the glass. ' Trust nothing felse. Druggists and (Jheinists are warned against dealing in imitations or countorfeitl.