DINNER TO MR. RIBET.

( Communicaifd.) A banquet was given to John Ribet, our Cornty member, at Mr S. Oxnam's, Fern Flat, Central Buller, on April 28th, on the occasion of his selling the " Five River Farm," Hampden, to Mr John Rait. The large room was crowded, and side tables had to be provide "".. The catering 1 was all that could be desired, and all appeared pleased and gratified. Mr John Clinton presided, and was supported on his right by the guest of the evening, Mr John Ribet. M.C.C., and on his left by Mr John Rait. The vice-chair was occupied by Mr Owen Lynch, supportr 1 on his right by Mr Thomas M^y and on his left by Mr Hunter. After the cloth was removed, the chairman rose and proposed the be-lth of our guest, coupled with the name of Mis Ribet whom they all knew and respected. He was a settler of fifteen years standing, during which time be had endeared himself to all who came in contact with him. He had been hit (the chairman's) neighbor during the last eight years, and a kinder or a more wavm-hearted man did not exist from one end of New Zealand to the other, and as such he exceedingly regretted hi 3 departure, and he was sure all present ■bared the same feeling's. As Mr Ribet bad jnst purchased the Hope Junction Hotel, he sincerely hoped he would prosper in his new enterprise ; that bo man would pass his house hungry they might all feel assured. In conclusion, he said it was his pleasant duty to present him in the name of himself and those present with a handsome English lever watch, and he hoped his life would be long 1 spared to look on it as a frsble token of the high estimation formed of him by his fellow citizens. The to^st was drunk in flowing bumpers of champagne. — Mr John Ribet, on rising to respond, said he knew not how to find -words to thank them or express his feelings of gratitude. He would prize their gift ta the end of his life. The whole thing was so unexpected and undeserved on his part [" No, no."] that he scarcely knew how to reply, and the difficulty was greater in that he was a Frenchman and therefore not master of the language. He would therefore conclude by saying, " I feel this the mo»t happy moment of my life.' {Song : "For he's a jolly good fellow.")— Mr John O'Day proposed the incoming landlord, Mr Rait,Qand said that some one had said there was only " one ounce of common sense in the world," so that very little comes to any one man's share, and a great many were lei t onfc in the cold altogether. It was always a pleasant thing to talk to a clever fellow. Napoleon I used to put the question, " What has he done?" Solomon was said to have been the wisest man that ever lived. Now what had he done? Erected one of the greatest structures the world ever saw. , What bad John Rait done? Through energy, intelligence, and applied labor he had purchased one of the finest properties in the Hampden district, or within a radius of 100 miles--r-Mr Rait responded, and said when he came down the Buller 15 years ago they were all scratching for gold, and there was only one acre and a half of grass in the d'ti&nct;. ISeWi'be jpsb ispp7 "to say, fegrej 'were several thousands, and the day was nat far distant ■when, thousands of tons of prodace would leave it, as they had the best land in New Zealand.— {Song by Mr Trower: "I cannot leave my spinning wheel.") — Mr Lyach proposed " The Agricultural, coupled with the Mining, Interest." — Mr Keogban responded, and said he was one of the oldest pioneers of the district, and he could assure them the mining interest was only in its infancy, and a grand future was before the Boiler district.— (Song by Mr John O'Day: ""When the Bwallows homeward fly.") The next toast was, the County Council oonpled with the name of Mr Gurvan, Conntjjr Engineer, who in returning thanks went into a mmostj t elaborate statement of facts and figures, and appealed to Mr Ribet our member to bear him out, which he did and endorsed all that was said of, them, moreover observing that the gentlemen composing the Council were the most honorable body of men. he ever mefe.— The toast of '•Tbeit^aieaj'r^aajjxoposedjaml: drank and Mr John Cullen responded, and^Bajd that was a duty alwaya given, into hia charge, hi supposed it was because i bis admiration was most intense and diffuse .'or the fair sex. All he regretted was fchattlfey were not here to enjoy themselves, but he knew they were dying outside for the "light fantastic" and he wished from his heart that he could kiss all thedear creatures together. The whole wound up with a dance, and thus ended the greatest social gathering that ever took place in the Hampden district.