THE MAYORAL BANQUET.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 6

THE MAYORAL BANQUET.

His W T orship the Mayor is to be congratulated on the admirable manner in which he maintained last night tho city's reputation for hospitality in the dinner which ho gave in honour of his Excellency the Governor. It gave a number of citizens and other guasts tho privilege of meeting his Excellency ■under very • agreeable circumstances, and it afforded Lord Islington an opportunity of delivering one of his inspiring speeches, in which he gave fresh proof of the sympathy and insight which he has brought to bear en the discharge of his oxalted duties. As tho Mayor remarked, in the excellent speech in which he proposed tho toast of tho evening, Lord Islington brings to this Dominion many qualifications which should render his advice and co-operation of the greatest value to the people over whom he is called to preside as tho representative of the Crown. His Excellency has not only had great experience in Parliamentary life —an experience which should be <-specially useful in the critical position into which our public affairs have suddenly been plunged—but as a member of the London County Council he has had an exceptional training in municipal government. It is weilknown, also,, that he has taken a deep interest in hospital management, and in philanthropic effort generally for tho benefit of tho least fortunate members of the community. Since his arrival in New Zealand ho has shown a keen desire to use his talente and experiencu in these dnections as a means! of en-couraging-and inspiring those who aro engaged in similar "work in this faroff portion of the King's dominion*. In this branch of Els labours he has been cordially and effectively assisted by Lady Islington, who has taken the most kindly and sympathetic interest in the-social an_ benevolent life of the community. In his many-sided character. Lord Isling- [ ton, as the Mayor pointed out, is also a soldier, wearing the Distinguished Service Order, which he gained in South Africa; and, above all, ho is a true Imperialist, full of devotion to the Motherland, of pride in her achievements in the past, and determined to do all m his power to uphold the might, influence, and unity of the Empire in the future. The interesting account which, his Excellency gave of his recent travels shows that ho is. as determined as any of his predecessors to mako himself acquainted with the resources and requirements of every part of tho Dominion, and his remarks as to the prospects for dairy farmers'* on tho West Coast of this island clearly inj dicate that he brings a very practical and observant mind to bear upon his investigations. The high, inspiring note in the concluding portion of his speech will, wo doubt not, reverberate far beyond the confines of the chamber in which it was delivered, and, as his Worship the Mayor remarked, exert an influence for good upon the community at large. Tho rest of the speeches, particularly those of the venerable Speaker of tho Legislative Council, his Honour Mr Justice Denniston, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, were admirable, both in tone and substance. The Mayor, as host on the occasion, has certainly earned the thanks of _he city for having brought about such a very interesting and successful gathering.