Welcome Home to Mr John Small.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7083, 23 January 1907, Page 2

Welcome Home to Mr John Small.

A large gathering of the farming and commercial community of the couaty took place at the Commercial Hotel last evening at a banquet tendered to Mr John on the occasion of his return from a trip Co the Old Country. The Mayor (Mr H. Davis) occupied the chair. An excellent dinner was provided by Mr Meechan, and about 150 guests were present.

After the toast of " The King" had been honoured, Mr P. H. Cox proposed the toast of the " Agricultural and Pastoral Interests."

In responding, Mr T. E. Upton said he was sorry Mr Coward, the president of the A. and P, Assooiation, was unavoidably absent. He could not speak in response to the agricultural interests without referring to Mr John Small and men of his stamp who had done so much for the county.

Mr James ? mall referred to the present drought which the county was passing through, but said that there were mitigating circumstances in that sheep and lambs were a good price, and wool was bringing a booming figure. Mr James Allen also responded.

Mr R. Fr'zzelle proposed the " Mercantile Interests," and ia replying thereto, Mr W. H. Collins said that while the farmers were the backbone of the country, if there was nothing but the baokbone there would be a good deal wanting. la regard to the products of the soil it was necessary to have the mercantile community to distribute them. A good deral had' been said about business in Ashburton lately-that it was going to the dogs, and would continue to go to the dogp, Of course these statements were occasioned in a measure by certain ohanges that had taken place. He could cay though that tha volume of business was larger now .than ever before in the history of the county. It had only been transferred from one business to anofher. Matters in the mercantile business were in a fair condition. Naturally the people who had lost their businesses bad cause to complain. These were good times now. Thirty yours ago tha county passed through very severe times, not only the agriculturist and the farmer, bat the business c mmunity also. There whs now no unemployed difficulty, no sfarvatioD, and no want—Ashburton was a progressive and thriving community.

Mr Dj,vid Thoinaa said that his first iotroduotiou to Mr Small took place forty vtars ago in the. Doyloston district, when he mat their guest mowing in the field "and he could uiow." The next time he saw him waa afc the sale when Mr Small bought the farm upon which he now resides. He liked b? do honour to whom honour w«s due and there was no doubt that to Mr *ma!l it was due. In respect to the presont dry weather the speaker saii he would like to point out that they had had bad years — years worse than this—and they had gone through them.. He had no hesitation in saying that this year would not prove so bad after all, provided they goes little rain for the turnip?. As long as cheap money continued and the frozen meat in-, dustry kept on its present basis the farmers of New Zealand had no need to fear. They should not sit there to calculate things at their worst.

The Mayor proposed the toast of the "Ghiesfcof the Evening," and in doing so referred at length of the value to the country of such men as Mr John Iri all his works Mr Small had proved himself a thorough guntlemau.

In speaking to the toast, Mr J. Loan's senior, said he knew the land which Mr Small'cultivated to such perfection. He had been over it more than twenty years ago, when it was t-othing bat crab hole? and the man that tackled it would require to have a etoat heart and plenty of plucV and eudurance. He thought Mr Small was one of the landmarks of the county, For him he had a great respect and in saying so he thought he voiced the opinion of all present. (Applause.) Mr John Hampton recited some reminipeenaw of working experiences with Mr ijcmll m the early days, and said that that se-nttemf^n .waa always very free to respond to the call of the needy. Mr Sam Brown knew Mr Small away back in the sixties, when he was a roan who " conld wheel his own barrow." He was very pleased »o be able to be present that evening. Mr <?mall was a man who h«d done good for himself and for the county. Speaking for the committee which had organised the '; wnleome Inmfi," Mr R, Cur.tie said that the gathering to to Jmve taken plac* shortly after Mr Smal ?s return, but circumstances were not favourable then. The large assemblage and the numero^a apologia received, owing to the harvesting, showed the respoo* in which Mr Small was held. As a breeds, he had had much to do with bringihg the cattle and horse? in the uounty to the tireeont hjgh standard, while in Leicester sheep ho was coiwiHgio tjio same high level. Mr Jumes Rtodrlart also pnia a frribafcs to Mr John Small who hid once saved his life

Dean O'DonneH said he desired to speak, as hc>ad of hie church hero, of one phase of Mr Small's character which.had not ba°n referred to. Ewy man, he ?sid, had respect for bis fellow man as long as that man anted up to hia prinoiplee. Fnttine aai(?e the question of belief he could testify to the sincerity with which Mr Small had noted up to his profesßion*. !To use a hackneyed phrase, Mr pmall was one of thft pillars of the Roman Catholic Churoh iv' Afihbi?rton f and he hoped he would still remain For many years to prop ifc up with his broad shoulder?. (Applause),

Ap ** ibasiness man, said Mr J. Heseltine, Mr John Small waa nu« g? the yvv beßt. Mr Heseltirie then referred to isv Small's auccess at siiows.

Following & tribute by Mr C. Ohapman, Mr D. Thomaa said that for'honesty of onrp^se, p.nd honesty in nil his cSeaHn?fi s Mr Sm>»ll wi»a one of the af-.raisrhtesfc men in Ashburton. Fe admired the moral charucfar of the man, and the name of John Small Y/m eLq Bj^onytr! for straight destline. 4 i?hite "laao, Hot iwyecrHt? of o?7rpt*?« Mr Smill at thn top cf-thej fcree. ' !

Messrs T. E. Tpton, W. Anderson {Pair.Bold), P. H. Coy, James? Allen and James

Gudsell also spoke,

Mr John Small, in reply, sai3 he had never been placed in Hnoh a position before,

find be felfc very much like a bij? boy at school. Darinsr hi<? tonr home be had met relations of vanons Ashbnrfcoa pfeopie and with them had had interesting conversations. He had viaited the bis* shows, and the show at Dublin ho regarusd ■?« the best in the world. Tteerardinsr the stock breeding of i3W !£ealand, much had been done in the early cittvs by Matthew Holqips, Rertdy-money Robinson. Kitchener op Mia Flat, W. Bosg-, John Carr, and the l»te John Grieer. whose importations should not be forgotten. Such men had been the makiug of the colony. He h^d netrer s?polren before, and wonld Booaer do a bit of mow. in? any dny. He thanked them one and all for their kindness. (Applause). Dean O'Donuell proposed " the Local Industrip?>" (responded to by Messrs H. ATc"RUrea, W, Anderson, and D. * m^a) ; -»nd Mr Artner Orr proposed the ". Local Bodies.''

A number of other tpasts were honoured and several songa and recitations contributed to the enjoyableness of the evening.