COMMEMORATION of ST. ANDREW.

£ , WELLINGTON. A dinner in honor of the above day took pla"ce"~ori~Monday^ last, at Barrett's Hotel, Wellington,' and was most numerously and respectably attended. The tables were arranged in the form of a horse-shoe ; and Geo. Hunter, Esq., at the request of many gentlemen, officiated as chairman, supported on the right by Capt. Bissett and W. Guy ton, Esq., and on the left by David Scott and A. Hort, Esqrs. Robert R. Strang, Esq., acted as croupier at one table, supported on the right by J. D. Monteith Esq., and on the left by Major Durie; and Robert Park, Esq., at the other, supported on either side by Messrs. John Wade and James Smith. Amongst those present, we noticed — J. Dorset, Esq., — Ralph Esq., W. V. Brewer, Esq., Major Hornbrook, Messrs, Crawford, Partridge, G. Hunter, jun., Bethune, Waitt. George Wade, Forster, Barnes, J. Douglas, Knight, Hair, Heaphy, Moore, Johnson, Capt. Williams, &c. &c. Ample justice having been done to the good 1 cheer,, and the cloth removed, The Chairman rose to propose the fir t toast. As loyal subjects and gallant gentlemen he knew they would anticipate him, when he named the ** Qtueen." With reference to the late atrocious attempt on the life of that august personage, he was satisfied that but one feeling of detestation could animate their breasts against the author of it, and gratitnde to Divine Providence for its interposition. The Chairman then alluded in a jocular manner to ah event which had reasonably been expected by the nation at large, and concluded by giving " the Queen." (The toast was drank with 3 times 3, and " one cheer more," for the expected Prince of Wales.) Air, — National anthem by the company. " The Chairman then gave "Prince Albert, the Earl of Inverness, (Duke of Sussex,) atid the rest of the Royal Family." He alluded in complimentary terms to the Earl Of Inverness, as the true friend of civil and religious liberity, a good man, and an exalted character, whether as a prince or a subject. (Toast drank with all the honors.) „ The Chairman again rose for the purpose df proposing " Her Majesty's Ministers, reTdrmation to them, and a speedy enlightenment of their views with regard to New Zealand." (Cheers.) The settlers here had come out f with an ancient predilection for the Whigs, but they had deserted them like foundling ;. A .large, majority of the colonists — those who, *(|o use; Lord John Russell's words,) had gone ,',' a ,wi|d goose chase after land" — felt continent that Goverment would be greatly beneby an addition to their optical sense; .and he (the Chairman) therefore called upon ; do ajl. honor to the toast. !.. r Coniic song, — Mr. Marshall. jfr The ,. Chairman begged their attention to the .next toast "His Excellency Captain Hobson." He (the Chairman) wished His Excellency would come among them — that he would shew more interest about the settlei ment. He believed him to be a highly honor-s-able man; indeed he had every assurance •-from quarters which could be relied on, that .. the .character of His Excellency had not been : : .mis-stated, when he described him as a gentleman pre-eminent for rectitude and sound . heartedness. Hence their anxiety to see him — to make his acquaintance — and to shew him what kind of people the settlers in Port Nicholson were. There was one point he ■would like to be satisfied about, and that was, •. whether it was right that labour which had been imported into the Colony at the expense . .of the Company, should be taken away by : the .Government? (Hear, hear.) With this sole exception to the toast, he wished His Excellency's health and happiness, and may -- his warmest wishes be realized with regard to " J New Zealand. (Toast drank with cheers, • : -«nd "one cheer more" for Mrs. Hobson.) Song.—" Hail to the chief." JR. R. Strang, Esq., gave the "Army ' 'ami Navy." Withregardto one circumstance ' —the title of the town, it was associated with ' 'the name of one of the greatest heroes either ' " iii ancient or modern history ; and he was sure from that circumstance they would all do honor to the toast. ' ' Air, — "Rule Britannia." . ' the Chairman gave "Scotland." The aspiration of that one word was enough to touch ' ! all their heart strings, without reminding them of the land of cakes — of their sireg — of the ' mountain and the flood — as the sublime inscription, "Author of Paradise Lost," was sufficient for Milton's tomb. R. Park, Esq., had a toast to propose, and be hardly knew how to do it justice ; it was that of "the memory of St. Andrew," - — -a man he never saw in his life. He sup- .' posed, however, that as he was a Scotchman, he must have been a good man. With^efer- '* ence to the occasion of their meeting that night, hie was highly gratified that so numerous and 'respectable a party could.be brought together ; and he' hoped many such occasions would occur.

Mr. Park concluded by prdpoilng "thY memory of St. Andrew." R. R. Strano, Esq., in proposing " the health of his much respected friend the .chair-, man, said ■ it. would scarcely become him tp., speak in terms of approbation in his. presence; but they were every day witnesses of 'the* interest he took in the welfare and prosperity of the Colony ; and in after years he was sure they would call to their remembrance with feelings of veneration and pride, the name of Hunter. (Cheers.) He begged, therefore, to give them "the health of their worthy' chairman." (Toast drank with 3 times 3, and "one cheer more." Mr. Crawford gave " Col. Wakefield and the NNte tf > Zealand Company." When he (Mr. Crawford) first arrived at Port Nicholson, he found only one European here ; his occupations then called him to Sydney, and on his return he found an embryo city, a bank, a church, and all the ramifications of civilized society. For this they were indebted to the New Zealand Company, and to the judicious manner in which Col. Wakefield, as their agent, had carried out their intentions. (The toast was drank with cheers.) R. R. Strang, Esq., said the next toast he should have the pleasure to propose was one which no Scotchman could hear without' the deepest reverence, and respond to without* gratitude ; it was that of " the health of the Rev. J. M'Farlane, and the kirk of Scotland." 1 he first time he had the honor of making that gentleman's acquaintance was in the Town Hall of Glasgow, associated with those daring adventurers, who had been told, if they made their appearance in New Zealand, a land of savages, that moment they would be annihilated ; and he firmly believed that a more excellent man, a perfect scholar, and he believed a sterling and sound divine, did not exist. To yourself, Sir, (addressing the chaii man) he feels indebted for the convenience which you have afforded him ; and whilst the winds ot Heaven howled and the rain fell, he has been enabled to preach the word of GoJ in comfort. Arrangements, however, were making for the erection of a church, which he was sure would be fully supported. (The toast was responded to in a hearty manner.) Major Hornbrook gave "the Reverend. Messrs. Churton and Butler, and the Church of England." Mr. Revans in a few words proposed " the health of Michael Murphy, Esq., their resident magistrate." The Chairman in an vxcelient speech gave " the heroism of Scotland," pointing at Wallace and Bruce, and other names, as the glory, of their native land. . j Mr. Partridge gave " Capt. Smith, andi the officers of the Surveying Department; and Mr. Park acknowledged the toast. The Chairman then gave "the health of their English, Irish, and Colonial friends; who had that day honored them with their presence." W. V. Brewer, Esq., returned thanks. The Chairman proposed "the geiiius of Scotland, and especially her poesy arid romance, with a glimpse of her two brightest lumiuaries —Burns and Scott." Several other toasts (which we subjoin)were then given, but our space will not allow us to give the introductory remarks of the I speakers. : — " Dr. Dorset, and the medical strength of the settlement"; "the City of Edinburgh (auld Reekie) and one of her most distinguished sons — Henry Brougham ;" " Mr. Smith and the Union Bank of Australia;" " Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Esq., and the enlarged Board of Directors ; " "D. Scott, Esq., and the New Zealand interest;" "Capt. Bissett and Capt. Kettlewell," (accompanied by " a hearty welcome to the settlers by the * Martha Ridgway' ;" " the Croupiers ;" "Mrs. Hunter and the ladie* of Port Nicholson ;" " the liberty of the press and universal education;" "Mr. F. Johnson, a good colonist ;" &c. &c. The dinner and wines were excellent, and the general arrangements gave universal satisfaction. "\ petoni. Our friends at the opposite end of the bay followed with less humble pretensions, but certainly with not less sincerity, the example set them at Wellington. St. Andrew was not forgotten, and accordingly at an early period of the day, a numerous party assembled at Mr. Lyon's farm, a short distance on this side of Petoni, (which, by the way, was not inappropriately named " Glenlyon," from its resemblance to a place of the same name in the "land of cakes.") The proceedings of the day commenced by the planting of, it is believed, for the first time in New Zealand, the emblem of Scottish independence " the rough burr thistle," amidst three hearty cheers from the company. All present were then invited by. " laird of Glenlyon " to partake of a repast provided on the ground, not forgetting, of course, the whisky toddy and the oaten cake. At four o'clock the party adjourned ; and in the evening met again at Mr. Telford's

store,"" (kindly. given for the occasion,) where, to use the words of Scotia's own poet : — • Wl' merry aanga, and friendly cracks, I wat they did na weary ; 'And tific'o' tales and funny jokes, Their sports were cheap and cheerie ; ■ . Till butter'd Bo'.najyJ' iragrant luat, .Seta'-their gabs'B steerin ; "*""'' ' ' Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt, . — They parted off carreerin, . " . Fu' blythe that night. Scotchmen are proverbial * for a love of country, and certainly by the enthusiasm which chey manifested this day, cannot "lose caste" in the estimation of their fellow countrymen. We are gratified to remark, that at either of thn above meetings, not an event occured to mar the unanimity so abundantly manifested.