WEST COASTERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 6

WEST COASTERS.

■; ■~,-.1 ■; -:,,;■ ■ '■ 'REUIn'ION VAT' 'DRUIDS' HALL,

■ West Coasters and tlio .descendants of those, who; saw..more or.less stirring times on 'the-'.western, watershed' of the South Island foregathered' at-thp/Druids'-Hall 'last evening to'resume..friendships, make new ones, and exchange, memories, of ...'by-gone i days. 'Between-9 arid 10 p;iri; Messrs R. M'Kenzic and T. Y. Scddon.M.H.Ri.fs, the Hons. R.H.J. Reeves and J. Marshall, M.L.C.'s, mado an appearance, and under tlio.able chairmanship or Air.- S. .J..' l Fitzgibboiis there was a brief interval of oratory '.V-'brief '.because those 'gentlemen had, to hurry" back'to the'Houso to assist'in the funeral rites of the session of 1907. '/;••. >■<:>•:? . .'.'■ •■■•■"

Mr. Fitzgibbons welcomed tho party in a few well-chosoin remarks.;/Mr; R. M'Kenzie, M.H.R., said .the session just closing was ■one.of the..,iriost\inipoVtint. that, had ever : taken pla'c6 : .in".thd Dominion. He apologised . for '. the .a bsen'co, of;. the Hon.' James Carroll aji'd'tho Hon'. Mr. Guinness, whom'lib had ; left'iri the)chair"; Tho Hon. Mr., Reeyes,. who remarked, that,, with ; the exception,' perhaps, of'Mr..'-J.'Mandl, ho.was the oldest CoasW' ; preiiSht, \also wished the Association well. • ■'.","'■'"."'" ' Mr.,T,'.y.';3«ddon, Sl.H.Rij'.for Wcstland, who received, a great recepticin, said, tho gathering and jts' heartywblcorno' rominded nim of bis mcotings oh'the'Coast.' Tho old industries'were' : being supplanted with now ones.' :th'e'"gold industry, which"w.as'.latigUlsbiiig.'" - 'At Dilmanstawn he saw. them,; i'on";thq'. old tailings. But there 'wcrp;, now'-.industries' springing up; There was a formed at Ross (in the. southern', part .of his 'electorate) with a capital' : bf'.£Bo,fioo,'';that : .was' to revive gold mining there';', there Was .'the', dock, scheme at Grey'mputli that was to'.cost. £200,000, and there" was the. contract let. for tho tunnel that is to connect Canterbury;'with the West ;Cdast,. .which, he believed';rwOttld be the salvation of tlio place. (A : pplauso.) He hoped it. would always be his fortune to "bo 'connected wjtb( tlioso ' .present"'"and tho West Coast. (Prolonged applause?!) ; '' " Mr. P. J. O'Regan. Dancing, songs, etc., filled in' a "Very happy evening.