THE BANQUET.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVIII, Issue 489, 15 August 1906, Page 5

THE BANQUET.

In the evening the Hon. J. McGowan was entertained at a banquet organised by the solicitors and the Justices at Mr Halligan's Club Hotel. All the available space m the large dining room was filled. aiiAi **»" tables were most tastefully laid!/ The menu was of a most engaging character, and was as follows : —Soups, oyster soup, kidney soup. Meats, hanS and chicken pie, roast goose {seasoning)',' *oast duck, York ham, toiled fowl '(egjrsanceV turkey (bread sauce), roast beef, roast pork (apple rsauce), roast mutton. Vegetables, cabbage, turnip?, baked and boiled potatoes. Sweets, trifle, plum pudding and -custard, apple pie (whipped cream) lemon cheesfc cakes, compote of pears au cream, crumb custard, wine jellies. Dessert, Otanges, apples, bananas, almonds, muscatels. Wines. There was a full staff of waitresses, .and the wants of all present were quickly supplied. Mr Hall, M.H.R., presided, and was supported on the right by the guest of evening. The local Justices of the Peace also sat at the head of the tables. Mr R. N. Blakiston and Mr H. T. G. Lloyd occupied the vice chairs. An apology for absence was received from MrW.F.Kmght,JP. "The Guest ov the Evening. The chairman proposed this toast. He -said that the lawyers and justices were mostly interested in the new Courthouse, and they recognised that in Mr McGowan there was a sterling man in the •Cabinet in charge of the responsible portfolio of Justice. Mr Hall referred .to his knowledge of Mr McGowan during a period of twelve years, and said he wa» not surprised when a portfolio was conferred upon him. Mr McGowan always gave members a frank welcome, and was always willing to offer a willing ear and an open mind to any complaints or suggestions, and that was the sort of Minister 1 they wanted. There was no Minister held in more y respect in the House than their guest. ,Mr Hall spoke in high terms of the •new Ministers -the Hons. Messrs McNab, Millar and Fowlds, and expressed the opinion that the Ministry as now constituted was one of the strongest that had yet held office. He called upon those present to drink to the toast, which was given with musical honours Mr McGowan deprecated some of the kind things tbat the chairman had- said about him. He stated that he himself was astonished to find that he was asked <to accept a place in the Ministry, but he could affirm with truth that he had never schemed for.the position, and had always preserved his .independence. It was was not the business of a member of the Cabinet to. disclose details of the ... ' -Government's policy; That policy, he could assure them,; wpujd be the greatest good for the greatest number. It ■would be the aim of tbe. members of the Cabinet to so equalise the legislation .that the. weak .should be made strong, and that some of.' the strong should be ■ kept back a IfttieV The speaker paid a warm tribute to the two members who were not re-appoin^ed to the Cabinet, and said that the hew members would unquestionably strengthen the Ministry, particularly as some were very able debaters. For himself he did not claim to be a speaker, but he was always prepared to defend his own department " when attacked, and when he could not do that he would be pleased to make •room for someone else. Mr MeGowan referred to an impression that was apparently largely held in some quarters that every member wished to become a Minister, which, he thought, was quite an error. He claimed that the Government departments were all carefully and it was a pleasing fact in their administration that there were none of the scandals in this colony which had unfortunately taken place in some of the other colonies. Mr McGowan y said there was no man in the House held in higher esteem than their member, Mr Hall, and he was satisfied that Mr Hall wag respected in his district. Parliaments, he remarked, were just what the people made them, and the strongest party formed the Ministry. Wherever they found a good Government it was due to the people. Mr 'I' McGowan paid a warm tribute to the r press of the colony, and said that while they had the press they possessed they need hare no fear for the future. He thought the best thing ia life was. to see the people happy and contented, and this was the great aim of the Government legislation. Here the speaker referred to the great increase— ll9s- in the population of Dannevirke^shown by the last census returns, and next referred to the settlement of the lands of the colony, which had been such a prominent feature of the Government policy. Mr McGowan referred to the .pleasure it had been to him to visit the town and open the Courthouse, and he thanked them very ■cordially for the kind mauner in which the toast of himself and the Government had been received. (Applause.) OTHEE TOASTS. Mr W. Eose proposed the toast of *' Parliament," coupled with the name of Mr Hall, M.H.R, Parliament, as Mr McGowan had said, was what the people made it. The electorate had been fortunate in having good representatives for the last twenty~years, in Messrs W. O. Smith, Hunter and Hall, and these had all done their best to advance the progress of the district. He suggested that in view of the progress of the town, the name of the electorate should be "Xjphanged from Waipawa to Dannevirke. He said their best thanks were due to Mr Hall for his past services, but he thought there was more to be done yet. '"^P© pointed out that Mr Carnegie had promised £2000 for a library, and he thought the present Courthouse site would make a splendid site for the building. The Government had obtained the land for nothing, and he thought they might give the town a little of it back. (Hear, hear.) Mr Hall returned his, warm thanks for the honor he bad received. When he first entered Parliament he had given »

the people hi.s convictions. Iff had grown up in an atmosphere of Liberalism, and he had always held that the lands should be more equally distributed amongst the people. The policy of the Se.dd.on Government in tins respect had been successful, and if the Ministry departed from it their life would be a short one. Referring to the death of Mr Seddon, he said a great man had gone — a man of singular largeheartedness, and of great foresight. The deceased Premier was careful to study the speeches of members to their constituents, and so was enabled to formulate a policy that was in keeping with the wishes of the people as a whole. If the Ward Ministry departed from that policy it was doomed. They had seen how the opening of the lands in the past had benefited Dannevirke, and considering the great scope of country of which Dannevirke was the cfcntre, they might look forward to the town ultimately becoming the capital of Hawke's Bay. Parliament, however, must be progressive. Sir Joseph Ward was a most experienced man. He had proved au able lieutenant of the late Mr Seddon, and he (the speakor) bad every confidence that under Sir Joseph "Ward Parliament would continue to pass legislation in the interests of the people. He thought that with the large increase of population that had taken place in the district, Dannevirke would be the centre of the electorate when the boundaries were readjusted, and with the continued help of J the people his services would be ever given in the direction of advancing the best interests of the district as a whole. Mr Campbell Thomson, in proposing "Local Bodies," referred to the great progress made by Dannevirke, and he urged that the adjacent lands that were available should be settled as soon as possible.— Crs Benzie, Clayton, and Mr Manguson (Town Clerk) replied. Mr Giesen proposed " The legal profession and Justices," and Messrs Lloyd, A. Mackay, and W. Rose replied. • The toast of " The industrial, financial, and agricultural interests," was proposed by Mr A. Alexander, and was responded to by Messrs Lawford, : Bunny, and Tansey. The remaining toasts were "The , Chairman," and " The Host,"' and a very pleasant gathering concluded with the i singing of " Auld lang syne." During the evening songs were given by Messrs Tansley, Thomson, Russell, and Giesen, and Mr Kerr supplied the , accompaniments.