DINNER TO MR. TAVENDER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 1671, 19 July 1892, Page 2

DINNER TO MR. TAVENDER.

Mr Tavender, for years past a resident at Little River, is about to leave that district, and the numerous friends he has acquired during his stay determined not to let him go without some mark of their esteem. Consequently on Saturday night they invited him to a dinner ac Mr Nutt's hotel which was exceedingly well attended, the large double room being filled. The table was a credit to Mr and Mrs Nutt, a most excellent repast being provided that would have done honor to a metropolitan caterer. Mr Coop occupied the Chair and Mr Buchanan the Vice-chair, and after dinner had been thoroughly enjored the health of Her Majesty was given. Mr J. H. Parkinson then proposed the ' Pastoral Interests,' to which Mr H. White responded. That gentleman alluded to the fact of the good prices stock realised, instancing sheep bringiug 365, and said that owing to the freezing industry breeders could look with confidence to the future if they sent Home sheep of really good quality. Song, Mr Sydney Harris. The Chairman then called on all to fill their glasses to the brim as he was about to proposo the toast of the evening, the health of their guest, Mr Tavender. During the time he had known him he had found him a gentleman in deeds and morals, a man who spoke the truth and was willing and ready to give his assistance in any matter that would redound to the pleasure and interest of the residents of Little River, (cheers). He would be much missed as he could always be relied on to give good advice, and what was more was prepared to take it. He was sure they would all unite with him in wishing their friend, Mr Tavender, and his estimable wife and family a pleasant and prosperous future, (cheers). The toast was then drunk , with musical honours. Song, Mr Jacobson. Mr Tavender said that the way in which Mr Coop had spoken, and the manner in which those present had drunk his health was enough to make his brain dance with pleasure. It had ever been his ambition to make personal friends, and he was proud of having made so many during the ten long years he had spent in Little River. Of one thing he was sure, that if a man could not fiud genuine souls in Little River he could find them in no other part of the universe. He was happy to say he was not leaving the district altogether, but should be back there occasionally, and, as they knew, should be most happy to join in any of their little gatherings, and should take an interest in any matter that affected tbe welfare of the locality, (applause). Before sitting down he again begged to thank them for the splendid honour they had shown him in drinking his health as they had, (loud applause). Song, Mr Myers. Mr Montgomery then proposed the toast of < Old Settlers,' after humorously comparing his position to that of Daniel in the lions' den, when the lions were complacent from having had a good dinner. He said he felt he was not competent to do such a toast justice, not having lived amongst them during their early struggles. Many had passed away, and could only be judged by the work they had done, and the sons they had left behind them. Who were these old settlers? They were principally enterprising men not satisfied with life in the Old Country, who came out resolved to conquer a new land. They were not like the submerged tenth that it was proposed to import, but were men full of energy and power, and those who came out in the first four ships had made their mark in the land. Did they not all know that in each bay there was some early settler, who had not only succeeded himself, but secured the success of all around by his spirit and energy, and was now in a position to be envied by his friends at Home. (Applause). The name with which he was about to couple the toast was one they all knew and valued. He had been thirty years in the River, and had worked hard till he had secured a place and position, and was looked up to by all who lived in his neighborhood, and by the Peninsula generally. He need hardly say the gentleman he referred to was Mr Coop. (Cheers). He thought no one could be more typical of those who had secured the foundation of New Zealand's prosperity. He was one of those who had indeed done hard work, and borne the heat and burden of the day, That was the time when the roads were first made to open up the country, and now they were able,in their present comfort, to appreciate the work that had been done for them in the past. He hoped Mi-

Coop and his compeers would long live to devote their energies to further progress (applause), and if New-Zealand

became a great country, it would be to these hard working men she would owe it, for they being men with plenty of spirit, the descendants of the old settlers * were sure to inherit some, and he sincerely hoped the young men of New Zealand would follow iv their father's footsteps, and so secure the happiness* and prosperity of the Colony. (applause). The toast was drunk with musical honours. Song, Mr John Coop.

Mr Coop, in replying to the toast, said it had been proposed in a very flattering way as far as he was concerned, but Mr Montgomery had evidently grasped the subject in all its branches. The old settlers had had to settle in the virgin forests, and they had met their difficulties—and they were many—with pluck, energy and honesty. With the right and truth on their side, they had faced all and succeeded. (Applause.) The old settlers were fast dwindling away, and in the course of a few years none would be left on the Peninsula, for the newspapers constantly recorded another had gone. Mr Montgomery had not exaggerated the energy* shown in the early days when the roads were made, the country cleared, and the land stocked with sheep and cattle. H8 begged to return his thanks for the*' enthusiasm the toast had elicited. (Applause)" Song, Mr Chapman. Mr Tavender proposed the toast of the Canterbury Yeoman Cavalry. They wero a very old corps, established 25 years ago. They had started in a very modest way, but twelve or thirteeen years ago they had come to the front, and any unprejudiced person would allow that they were now a body that would not disgrace any country in the world. (Applause). He would couple the name of Sergeant Buchanan with the toast (Cheers). Song, Mr D. Foley. Mr Buchanan thanked them for the way in which the toast had been received. Some unbelievers had said that when an enemy came in at one end of the Colony they would go out at tho other, but he would never believe that. (Applause). The toast came appro-* priately after that of the old settlers, for the C.V.C. were the oldest corps in the Colony, and some ot the oldest members were from the Little River district*. They were tho only coips who had the honor of a right to wear gold lace out of Ureafc Britain. The C.V.C. were, he considered, an honor to the Colony, and members joining were sure to get their angles rubbed off, and become better men through the association, (applause). Mr Dydney Harris had much pleasure in proposing ' The Wairewa Boating Club.' (Applause.) As they knew, ifc had only been recently formed, but in its first attempt had made a good show. The members were able-bodied fellows, full of energy, aud with such a Captain as they possessed he believed the Club would make a name for themselves. He proposed the toast coupled with the name of Captain Montgomery. Toast drunk with musical honors, and here we may say all the toasts were most enthusiastically drunk in the same manner. •* Song, Mr Coop. Mr Montgomery said it made him. melancholy to see so many drinking the toast, as it showed how few members of the Club were present. Next time the toast was drunk he hoped there would be no one to propose it because all were members. (Laughter.) The Club was only formed last year, and only had six weeks or two months to prepare for the regatta, and had done wonders under the circumstances. (Applause.) This year they would have a longer time to train, and might do something that would make it worth while to drink their health. (Applause.) Little River was a small village, and the members were hardworking men who could not easily find time to practice. He hoped next year to tell of what the Club had done, and not merely record their existence. (Applause.) The Chairman read a letter from Mr Wm. Birdling regretting his inability to be present. * Song, Mr Geo. Birdling. Mr Buchanan proposed ' Athletics,' coupled with the name of Mr Tavender, in whom they had a warm friend. All of them were interested in boating, cricket, and all sports, and had done well in most. They had not been so successful with football as the others, they had Btarted it .one year, but tho weather had been against them.

Song, Mr Jno Parkinson. Mr Tavender said he was a warm believer in athletics, and referred to the New Zealand representatives at Home, one of whom, Batger, had broken a record in an important match against the best athletes in the world, and this in the face of the fact that he had to train in a strange climate. As far as the Little Rirer athletics were concerned they had * as good an annual meeting as any outside Christchurch. He was a special enthusiast in football and should like to see it more developed in Little River, f (applause). Song, Mr D. Foley. Mr Quealy proposed 'The Preßß, saying they were generally there when wanted and sometimes when they were not.

Mr Jacobson responded. Songa wero sung by Messrs Sefton and Jas. Coop. Mr Jno. Parkinson proposed lha Ladies' in a neat little speech, which was responded to very pleasantly by the youngest bachelor, and songs were sung * by Messrs S. Harris anrl John Coop. Mr Jacobson then proposed 'The .

Dairy Industry', pointing out the advantages of the establishment of factories, which he hoped they would combine to erect with their own capital. Song, Mr Myers.

Mr Buchanan responded. He had never made a chee c in his life, bat he had lately been making enquiries into the matter, in his own interest. From ■what he had learnt, he was of opinion that it would pay owners of land better to let their lower and rich lands as dairy farms, than to have them stocked with sheep, and besides thnt, by getting men to occupy dairy farms who would be busy in the summer time, there would be winter labor available—labor that one knew, and could depend upon. He had written for, and received many returns, and had he known anything would have been said on the subject, he should have brought letters and plans with him. The best breturn ho had received recorded a return of £6 10s per cow. It would pay better to divide some land into small farms, put a dozen or two cows on each, and give a third of the profit than to run sheep. A man looking after 100 cows would receive over £200 a year, and all he would have to do would be to milk, as the cheese or butter would be made in a factory. The capitalist would make over £400, and both would be weil paid, for £200 a year was a good income for a working man. Little River land would run a cow profitably on acres, and if a factory were established, a farmer could depend on making at least £6 per cow on that area of land for his labor, or £4 per acre. None of them made anything like this at present. They only got from 20s to 30s clear per acre for cocksfoot ; and cheese could not be made to realise anything like the amount per acre he had mentioned. They could do nothing better than establish the factory system, for the demand for dairy produce was without limit, and in a few years ho expected to see the Peninsula covered with dairy factories. It was a misfortune the trains only ran three times a week as it put them out of touch with the central factory, and he feared there was no hope of a daily train for the present. Their best plan, therefore, was to start a factory of their own, for though they made good cheese and butter at Little River, yet factory made was more easily disposed of than any other, because the whole output could be judged from one sample. On the other side the hill he noticed they were taking advantage of foreign capital. He deprecated this course, considering it better not to start unless they were their own capitalists ; and the best coarse would be for all to take shares in proportion to their cows. When capitalists started factories they were apt to wring the last penny out of the producer, aud then he refused to supply, and the result was that factories were left idle, as was tho case iv many instances in Australia. He was sure it would pay anyone better to let all suitable land to dairy farmers than to keep sheep, and it paid better also as he had before said, to keep cows than to grow cocksfoot. He was sorry he had not his papers, but it could not do harm to discuss the matter. Owners of large areas were sure to take the matter up because it would pay them better to let the suitable land for dairying, and some of these days he would ask them to meet him, and instances could then be giveu of the wisdom of changing cocksfoot and sheep into dairying. He knew that many of them had good plants, for which they had paid dearly, and in the event of the establishment of a factory these plants would be comparatively unsaleable ; but the other advantages gained would much more than counter balance this, and he firmly believed that the factory system would be established in the Peninsula before many years were past. (Applause.) Song, Mr Chapman. The Chairman then proposed ' The host and hostess,' Mr and Mrs Nutt, paying a high compliment to the admirable way in which the dinner had been provided, and saying it was a pity indeed the Little River residents did not gather together oftener when such a capital spread could be provided. Song, Mr Jno. Coop. Mr Nutt, in replying, said he was glad to see so many present, and thanked them for the high compliment they had paid Mrs Nutt and himself. He was sorry, however, tbe occasion was to say farewell to Mr Tavender, whom he had always found an honorable gentleman, and honest and upright neighbour Three cheers were then given for Mrs Nutt and the children. Song, Mr Fergusson. Mr Jno. Coop then proposed ' The Bifle Club.' It had once been most efficient, and would soon again take a lead if members would only roll up and practise. Mr 8. Harris returned thanks on behalf of the Club, and said that matters in connection with it had got a little bit stale ; but he hoped members would rally, and if they did he believed they could hold their own with auy Kifle Club in the Country. (Applause.) He hoped the competition would be keen at their

annual firing, and believed there would be many and good prizes. At one time they had 1 been most efficient, but cartridges rose in price and practise fell off. He intended to do his best in the interests of the Club. (Applause.) A recitation was given by Mr Montgomery, a song by Mr Geo. Mason, and then Mr Buchanan proposed ' The local guardian of the peace,' a toast which was * warmly honored, and amusingly responded to. Mr Sefton then proposed ' The Chairman' Mr Coop, staging that it was of little use his speaking in that gentleman's praise, for they all knew he was ready to help in everything, (applause). Song, Mr Rankin. The Chairman thanked those present for the kind way in which they had drunk his health, and said he hoped he should always be ready to assist in local gatherings of this sort when they met together to wish a friend good-bye and God speed. The singing of ' Auld Lang Syne' with great enthusiasm brought a capital meeting to a very pleasant finish.