THE BROOKLYN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 126, 29 May 1901, Page 2

THE BROOKLYN.

DINNER TO THE OFFICERS

The officers of the American cruiser Brooklyn were entertained at dinner at the Star Hotel last evening by Mr J. H. Witheford. -M.H.11. The host was supported on the right, by Rear-Admiral G. ('. Remey and on the left by Captain V. \V. Dickens, the other officers present being Pay Inspector H.T.B. Harris Lieut-Commander .1. K. Barton, Lieuts. .1. K. Shipley, K. R. Bel knap, Captain [>. S. Brown, Ensigns M. H. Brown, Brinsod, Hellweg, Ellis, Torvcll, Steele, and Train. There were also present Mr DilImgharn, American Consul: Mr Warnock, Mayor of Grey Lynn; Mr Caldwell, President of the Chamber of Commerce; Mr S. Vaile. An excellent dinner was provided by Mr Keith, proprietor of the hotel, and the viands wore done full justice to. At the invitation of Mr Witheford the whole of the guests of the hotel joined in the toasts of the evening. The toast of "The King" was duly honoured, and the, chairman then proposed that of "President McKinley." Jn doing so he sai.d that as regards Edward VII. he believed that his reign would be of great benefit to the whole Knglish-speaking race. When Prince of Wales he sent a friendly message to America at the time when the two nations were supposed to be very near war. and this, he believed, had done much to preserve peace. The English were now in the deepest sympathy with America, "and this feeling had been strengthened in many ways. Mr Joseph Chamberlain had shown his appreciation of the American people by marrying an American woman. lie asked if a man could belter show His appreciation of a people than by marrying one of their number. ((Laughter.) He expressed his parti ficat ion thai they had been, called together the previous evening by Dr. Campbell, the Mayor of Auckland, and made acquainted one with the other. When they saw a man of 84 years of age able to take, an active and energetic part in public affairs it showed what the climate, waft, and lie hoped that when they were done with the service they would come back to Auckland and settle down here. (Laughter.) They had a most eloqueni illustration of the benefits of the Auckland climate in Dr. Campbell, and lie again expressed appreciation at. the service done Auckland by the Mayor in entertaining the distinguished visitors to the port.

The next toast given was that of "The Representatives of the American Navy," coupled with the name of Captain Dickens. Mr Witheford, in proposing the toast, said he was glad to 'see visitors present representing many parts of the world. There were people from Australia, America, and from all parts of the Southern Hemisphere. Personally, he hoped that the gathering would have the effect of furthering- trade in the Pacific. He would like to see peace resting- over the world, and instead of warships going about, he would like to see merchantmen voyaging up ajid down and extending commerce. Americans were now finding out that there were other markets for their goods outside their own lands, and were extending' their oversea trade. If there had been dry land between New Zealand and America there would be about fifteen lines of railways running. In the past the trade had been carried out by side-wheel steamers, and all this time t.Jie American Government had done little towards increasing the trade, but lately they had seen that there was another market in the Pacific. In Washington some sixteen years aero he saw. Olney and Gresham, and pointed out to them the markets for American products and manufactures in Australasia. An enormous population of English-speaking people lined the shores of the American continent, and the same tongue was spoken by the inhabitants of Australia, and if there was to, be any other people doing business with the latter, he would much rather have the people of the same race than strangers. He represented this matter in San Francisco when there, and the press and politicians took it up, and in travelling- through the States he had I brought the matter into prominence. The subsidy on the mail steamers between -San Francisco and Australia had been advanced by. the American Government to £28,000, and this was a step in the right direction. The fastest mail service between here and America was now run by an American, Mr Spreckels. He thought that Great Britain had not been active enough in the matter of securing coaling stations in the Pacific. Germany had obtained Samoa, and France Tahiti. New Zealand would look to America as a factor in her future progress and prosperity. It w.as situated right in the line of route to Australia through the Nicaragua Canal, and when that work was completed the vessels engaged in the trade would have to ca.U in at Auckland. Mr Witheford went on to refer to the hurricane at Samoa, when the British warship-Calliope steamed out of harbour, the American and German vessels being wrecked. On that occasion the crew of the doomed American cruiser had lined their yards and cheered the Calliope as she slowly steamed past them. This was an illustration of the cordial feeling between the two nations. Reference to the hurricane brought up the question of coal, for it was owing to the fact of the Calliope having Westport coal that she was able to keep up sufficient steam to battle throxigh the teeth of the hurricane. Seeing that we had the best coal in the world in New Zealand, he wondered that a warship should leave our waters and go to Australia to take in coal. (One of the officers then informed the speaker that the required quantity of coal could not be got in New Zealand, owing to the amounts already ordered.) He would do his best to welcome Americans to this city, and he hoped that when the Admiral returned to America he would point out. to the American Government that New Zealand contained all the necessaries of life required by the Americans. Captain Dickens, responding to the toast, said that after listening to the eloquent remarks of the chairman he felt that the. wind had been taken out of his sails and that there was nothing left for him to say. He felt very much like the. Irishman who. M'hen asked if be knew how to heave, the lead., said that he (lid. He let out fathom after fathom, singing "Heave away'1 meanwhile, but when asked -the depth replied that be did not know. He knew the tune to heave the lead to, but not the way. The speaker felt much like that. He"knew the tune, bat not what to say. He felt since he had been in New Zea-, land that the American navy could do an immense amcrat of good.

not in the way of increasing trade, for the United Stales was splendidly represented here by its Consul Mr Frank DilUnghatn. He thought that the development, of New Zealand was m some respects a repetition of the development of their own country. _ He then told how years ago he was m a ship chandler's store in Rio, and saw things there corning from all parts ot the world, but few from the United States. tfeein" a bag of potatoes he said that those°at least, came from the United States But no. they were from ixew Zealand the ship chandler telling him that the freight from New Zealand was less than from the United States. He reported this matter on his return, but hoped that the trade of New Zealand had not Buffered in consequence.. Mr Witheford then proposed "The Commercial Relations Between America and New Zealand,"' coupled with the name of Mr Caldwell. President of the, Auckland Chamber of Commerce. If the Imericans extended their commercial enterprise here he did not think it was going to do anything to the injury of New Zealand, but rather that it would result greatly to the benefit of the colony. When it was considered that American mail steamers left this port with about two thousand tons of measurement cargo space vacant, it would be seen that the extension of enterprise which would result in the filling of these vessels would greatly benefit the colony. This was the fastest, mail service between New Zealand and London, and there was only one point of variance, and that was that the British vessels formerly employed in the trade had to be taken oft' owing to the annexation of Honolulu by the United States, preventing her trading between those ports. Of course the maritime laws in America had existed in their present form for many years, but they had only recently pressed on this colony. An alteration in the law could not be expected, but since New Zealand had -in the past liberally subsidised the side-wheel steamers, and the later mail boats, he did not think it too much to ask Hie American Government to admit colonial wool free of duty. Our wool was admittedly better than the American, and. they needed the Australasian product. In "America there were forty millions of sheep, while in Australia there were about 55 millions. He thought it would be a graceful act on the part of the American Government to admit our wool free of duty, and it. would make up for the losing of Honolulu. H America got into trouble, and wanted assistance New Zealand would be the first to go to her aid, and they knew what manner of fighters the Maorilanders were from their conduct at the. Boer war.

Mr. Caldwe.il briefly replied to the (oast, and Mr. F. Dillingham then proposed the health of the host. He said that during his several years' residence in Auckland lift had received nothing but. the greatest kindness, and he would like to make public recognition of the many courtesies received here. None had done more in this respect than Mr. Witheford. When Captain Tilley, of the Abarenda, came here he was received with open arms by the people, and especially by Mr. Witheford, whose health it gave him great pleasure to propose. The toast was received with musical honours.

Responding. Mr. Witheford said that it gave him greater pleasure to entertain them than it- did for them to be entertained, this remark being received with sounds of dissent. He said that no one had done more of late years to promote the good feeling between the English-speaking peoples of America and Australia than Mr. Dillingham, the American Consul. He referred to the cable, sent by Mr. Dillingham to the United States Consul at Pretoria, which had the effect of putting an end to the indignities and privations under which the New Zealand prisoners were suffering in the earlier stages of the Boer war. The many kindnesses he himself received in America, when it was known that he was a New Zealander, had made him deeply grateful, and he would always do his best to return those courtesies. He concluded by proposing the toast of "The Press," which was duly honoured.

The party were then driven to the Opera House, where they witnessed the production of the opera "Wang." Mr. Witheford did not forget the crew, reserving 100 seats for the "jackies" in the downstairs portion of the house.