THE HON. S. D. HASTINGS' FARE-WELL.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1893, 11 March 1876, Page 2

THE HON. S. D. HASTINGS' FAREWELL.

A gathering of the Independent Orderol,, I Good Templars was held last night in the': Temperance Hall, as a compliment to the ;• Hon. S. D. Hastings on the eve of his departure for America. Colonel Haultain took the l, chair, and there was a full attendants of y i Good Templars and the general public. ■" The ffi platform was occupied by a large numbeifo! : officers of various Lodges dressed intKeir : regalia. The proceedings having been started ' by the Binging of a Templar Ode, the Chairman delivered a few opening remarks in ; , which he dwelt upon the importance of ' maintaining kindly relations with all; and/ encouraging motives of love and faith." Some music having been pleasantly introdnced, I Mr. Hastings came forward and delivered a most interesting address, in which he drew a k panoramic picture of his New Zealand experi-J |- ence. He alluded to the kindly welcome-he .. | had received, and the anxiety evinced-every-where, thatheshouldnotfeelhimselfastranger in a strange land. He had visited most of the large and many of the small places in the colony, and had passed over to the neighbouring colonies of Victoria, New South « j Wales, Qaeensland, and Tasmania, spending | from five to ten weeks in each colony, and; he had returned to Auckland that he might | give his farewell address in the same place | where had received so kind a welcome. Mr Hastings said he had viewed with pleasnre' | in the colonies of Australasia the happy .«!■ I home life and the Christian love and refine- I ment which was everywhere exhibited. He j considered the family the basis of the state, | and happiness in the one led to the sue-: _■ cess in the other. He would gladly returnt | thanks by name to those who had shown him | kindness, but the number was so great: that!. it was useless to attempt the task. ■ Lhe concluding portion of the honorable gentleman's address was devoted to ■a, | well-spoken description of the national | characteristics of America. People baa j expressed their astonishment when ( tol4'W' | was an American. One man said". | thought all you Americans were tall s«ov sided men with your feet always about ■}&, ■■■ | inches below the bottom of your trowsers,, > | and always speaking with a strong nasai., t twang." They must pardon him for fjing; that he had heard more of that twang in «» | colonies than he had heard during thrsame , length of time in his own land, Be'him?eu k was personally not more than" •^SfnS'" I specimen of an American. :He "Mf'3 «, | behind him in the States ten ttousandn^r f :: 1 looking, cleverer, and better educated meu than himself. The speaker alluded td we i wonderful growth of the United States ttj v touched upon the reasons why thereisnoiua always be a bond of union between Amerwa and England. In his perorationV™ n **; I eloquent harangue occupying nearly an Jiour, ; | Mr Hastings urged them to continue *»? ; | work of Good Templary in a 'determine, t business-like manner : he should everteei a deep interest in themjland the coi°fV. I and should always pray for tn»J , | welfare. He bade them farewell;.;^. I Cole after some cordial expressions £ | esteem proposed the following resolution. "That this meeting desires to thanK &*.-.,,_ Hastings for his able address; to recora ».. | high appreciation of his valuable services/ ~ ; the cause of temperance in these colonies ,^ express its sincere wishes that he niay . a prosperous voyage to his native la •' onr | arrive home in renewed health and" vig » s ; | and may long live to render^Hs£ \ services to his country and to ham_am y- J Mr Mackenzie seconded the resolntl°fgS|i ' was supported in some well chosen r e .:. i by the Key. Mr Edger, and carried^wiv ; i acclamation.-Mr Hastings warm yjetnrn . , his heartfelt thanks.—The ode ' «BfS father Give Thy Blessing" having been^u^ f and a vote of thanks having efi^S >; The . I the Chairman, the meeting- sepa«ie^ jdiß■ ; I thanks of those present were due to^ia,., and gentlemen who gave tbe» w^.^.,,,,. sesvioesi, ;:; r - _ , x , :, : .'..'.'. -■■ '■'.','■■■■■;. "■■'^ !'[.;,:,; ■■: