THE MAYOR'S BANQUET.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4406, 28 September 1871, Page 3

THE MAYOR'S BANQUET.

His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, P. A. Philips, Esq., gave a banquet last evening, at St. Mango's Cafe, to the members and officers of the Borough Council and some of the most prominent men of Auckland. His Worship ihe Mayor occupied the chair, being supported on his right by the Deputy-Super-intendent, Joseph May, Esq., W. J. Hurst, Esq., and H. H. Lusk, Esq (Provincial Executive) ; and on the left by his Honor Thomas Beckhain, Esq. (District Judge), and Colonel H. C. Balnea vis (Sheriff). The vicechair was occupied by W.C.Daldy,Esq.(Ohairman of the Harbour Hoard). Amongst the guests present wero l ( . L. Bucholz, Esq. (German Consul), I) fy Cruickshank, Esq. (Chilian Consul), and Captain Dargaville (Ameiican Consular Agent). The whole of the members of the Municipal Council and officers were present, with the exception of Mr. Macready, who was absent through indisposition. Invitations had also been forwarded to the following gentlemen, who were, however, from various causes unable to be present :— Sir G. Arney, Sir G. Grey, Dr. Pollen, G. Yon der ffeyde, Esq., W. F. Lodge, Esq., Major Gordon, and J. Sheehan, Esq. The banquet was served up in Mr. Canning's most recherche" style, and was the theme of general commendation. We append the

BILL OF PARE. Soups: Potage a la reine, potago printi,niere. Fish: i filets of solo ala Nojmande, mullet a Li maitre d' hotel. Entrees: Vol-au-vent a la financier, supreme fillet's of chicken au truffles, salmi of pigeons, portwino sauce ; sweet bread au champignon. Vegetables : Green peas, cauliflower, new potatoes, mashed potatoc. Joints: Boiled turkey a U Chipolata, ham biaisee au Madiera, boiled tongue decore, boiled fowl, celery sauce; roast I.unb, mint sauce; roast chicken, water cress ; roast ducU, q eon peas ; roast sirloin of brof. Sweets: Cabinet pudding; plum pur'ding, brandy sauce: pineapple tart, apple pie and custard, goosebcny pie a la creme, meringues a la creme, trifle, gelee a. la Thames, geleo «. la rose, gelee au maraschino, cremo a la vanille, raspberry cream, lobster salad. Dessert. Tli© usual loyal toasts having been proposed, The Mayor proposed "His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen." He said everyone present was well aware of the great [interest his Excellency had always taken in the progress of the province of Auckland, and most of those present had partaken of his generous hospitality during his sUy in this city. He was aure they would all unifco with him in wishing every success to his Excellency the Governor (cheers) — and the feeling evinced on the departure of his Excellency had fully proved the esteem in which he and his family were held by the citizens of Auckland. (The toast was drunk with three cheers. ) The Mayor next proposed " The Health of the Members of the General Assembly, and the Judges of New Zealand. " It was singularly unfortunate that the whole of the members of the General Assembly were .absent at Wellington at the present moment, but perhaps, on the other hand, it was for the best, as they were fighting the battles of the province. They had also to ragret the absence of his Honor the Chief Justice, who was detained through excessive duties during the present sittings of the Supreme Court. They wero fortunato, however, in having present that evening the highly respected Judge of the District Court, who was, he was sure, deeply respected throughout the length and breadth of this province. (Hear, hear.) The Agent of the General Government, Dr. Pollen, was also unfortunately absent, having been detained at the Thames through urgent business with the natives. (The toast was drunk amidst loud applause.) His Honor the District Judge (T. Beckham, Esq ) responded, in the absence of any member of the General Assembly and the JuH «c of the Supreme Court. He waa deeply sdiry that Sir George Arney was not present to speak for himself, as he was far better able to return thanks for the handsome manner in which the toast was proposed and received. For himself he must say he felt deeply gratified at the very flattering manner in which the toast had been received. There was no doubt but the highest honour to which a man could rise was to securo the approbation of his fellow man, and he must say that the manner in which his health had been received thct night led him to believe that he had attained that proud position. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He thought New Zealand was peculiarly happy in having such a number of learned Judges in its Courts. He did believe if Sir George Arney wis unhappily removed from amongst them it would not be easy to refill his place. He was not only highly learned, but possessed all those qualities which a gentleman should possess (Applause.) He was deeply thankful for them for the manner in winch the toast had been received. Tlie Mayor proposed "The Army, Navy, Colonial, and Volunteer Forces," and alluded at some length to the services which these bodies hnd rendered to New Zealand at vaiious peuods of emergency in the history of the colony. Colonel B YLNmvis was called upon to respond. He thought it was a great mistake that the army was removed from New Zeal.md. 4s for the navy, there was a guardian in those waters, and he believed they should alw,u\s have one until the day arrived when they should have on iron ship of their own made out of Taranaki iron-sind. (Cheers.) As regarded the Volunteer forces, he had always taken the utmost interest in their movements. He had the honour oE raising the first company of the force in Auckland. He looked upon the present Cadet movement as one which would ba of tho xitmost advantage to thie this country. By this means they would, in a very short time, get a properly disciplined force, always ready to protect their hearths and homes. (Applause!) Inspector Brouam responded on behalf of the colonial forces. He was confident that whenever the men were called upon they would be found well deserving of the confidence reposed in them. (Cheers.) Captain Dakgaville responded on behalf of the Volunteers. The Mayor said he had the pleasure of entertaining tho various foreign Consuls residing in Auckland, and he had very great pleasure in asking the company to drink the. health of those gentlemen. (The toast was drunk amidst considerable cheering. ) Messrs. E. L. Bucholz, D. B. Cuuickshank, and J. M. J>akgaville responded. The Mayor proposed "The health of his Honor the Deputy-Superintendent and the Provincial Executive." Ho referred to the absence of the Superintendent, who was at Wellington fighting the battles of the province, but he had left a good representative behind him in the present Deputy-Superin-tendent, who was highly esteemed by all colonists. With regard to the Executive — and he trusted it would not be the last Executive — he might say the fullest confidence of the citizens was reposed in them. His Honor the Deputy-Superintendent in responding, related several interesting anecdotes of the early history of Auckland, and traced its progress down to ohe present day. H.H. Lusx, Esq. (Provincial Secretaiy), responded on lehalf of the Executive. He alluded to the general opinion entertained that provincial institutions were on their last legs. Whether such, were the case or not, it would always be a matter of satisfaction to himself and his colleagues that while they held office the city of Auckland had been put on its legs and enabled to run alone— that they had done some little work which might be a benefit to the community. Captain Da.ldy then: proposed the toast of the evening, "The health, of his Worship the Mayor and the Borough C uncil of Auckland." After alluding to the early history of Auckland^ he stated that he had scarcelyexpected to live to see Auckland an incorporated city, and he was glad it had fallen to the lot of the present Mayor to put the keystone in the arch. His advicn to them was to tax away (laughter), for John Bull would have a grumble, but he was sure the people of Auckland would stand ib if the Council really spent the money to the best advantage in beautifying and improving the dity. It was imperative they should also qtisend to th* subject cf drainage j when they cast their eyes abroad and saw that in two cities in America one-third of the inhabitants

f had been carried away in two weeks by pestilence, that spoke louder than any words of his. The Council had it now in their power to improve the drainage of the city, and make it a place desirable to live in, a duty which he hoped they would speedily perform. (Drunk amid ßt immense applause.) The Mayor, in replying, alluded at some length to his career in the Provincial Council, and his action in other bodies, and said it had been conclusively proved that religious tolerance was the order of the day in Auckland, a matter which had been clearly proved 'by electing him Mayor. (Cheers.) It was a most fortuuate thing for Auckland that they had a Corporation, as most of the Acts passed lately by the Provincial Council had been declared by [ the Attorney-General as invalid. If the Corporation exercised its powers with discretion, he was fully satisfied that it must tend greatly to the prosperity and advance, ment of the c»ty in every respect. He tnistecl that the day was not far distant when they would be placed in the same position as Melbourne — when they would be authorised to take cognisance of everything . that was likely to exercise any prejudicial effect throughout the city. (Applause.) Councillor George said it was a thankless position to be placed in to be a Borough Councillor. Everybody wanted improvements to be done, but they did not like to pay the rates. Under the present Act they were only permitted to borrow £20,000, and that would be a mere nothing in such a place as Auckland. As for the Harbour Board they had borrowed £100,000, and he failed to see what was done for the money— the breakwater was worse than useless. (Applause. ) Mr. Tonks did not expect that it was intended to trot out all the members of Council that evening to make speeches, inasmuch as he had been assured by the Mayor that he would not have to say a word. (Laughter.) He conld assure the gentlemen present that the Borough Council were deeply anxious to improve the town to the fullest limit possible with the amount of rates collected. The Mayor would next ask them to drink t» the health of the Harbour Board, coupling with it the health of Captain Daldy, the worthy Chairman. Captain Daldy, in responding, said he believed Auckland was blessed with one •£ the finest harbours in the world. Nature had done a vast deal for Auckland : still it was necessary for man to do a little more. He trusted that, before a few months were over, the Government of the colony would sco it in their power to devise means, in conjunction with the Harbour Board, to put the port in a better position to give the required increased facilities for discharging large vessels. (Cheers ) Captain DABGAViLLt: proposed " The Commercial and Shipping Interests of Auck. land." During the few years in which he had{ been resident in Auckland he remembered no period in which the commercial prospects of Auckland looked so nourishing. (The toast was drunk amidst loud cheers. ) Mr. Isaacs responded. His commercial relations with the place had been on the whole most satisfactory, and he was sure tbe commercial men of Auckland would bear comparison {with those of any other colonial port. He was glad to find that not only did eveiy ship new find sufficient cargo to load home, bat they had now to send South for additional bottoms. (Cheers.) Mr. Hukm 1 also responded. He was quite s atisSed that at no distant date docks and gxtensivo harbour works would be carried ut in Auckland harbour. Captain Daldy proposed "The Agricultural Interest of the Province." He regretted to find that for the past two or three years the farmers had not been so successful in their operations from some causo or other as could have been wiehed, but he believed there were hopes now entertained that their pi ospects were greatly brightening. It was true the agricultural and commercial interests were mutually dependent upon each other — for if agriculture failed, commerce must fail. lie therefore rejoiced to learn that sensible improvements were manifesting themselvcg m the farming interests. (Applause.) His Honor tbe Deputy-Superintendent fel: some pleasure in responding to the toast. Farmers it must be recollected were proverbial for grumbling. One of the greatest causes for this in New Zealand was the bad land which they had to farm. The Government it must be remembered could only obtain what land the natives were willing to sell : and these retained the best portions of the land, selling to the Government only the wot lota. Then the settlei % had much to complain of in the matter of bad roads. Exhaustion of land from over-cropping was also another cause for grumble. In Van Diemen's Land, and inAmeiica, where fine crops of win at had formerly been grown, the land was now quite profitless. To compote with other places machinery was required, and then again this would scarcely bo workable in such a hilly country as the northern portion, of the colony. To farm profitably land imi?t be got cheaper. At the present time ho know cases where persons were sti iving to raise crops f i ora land where it cost thorn more money for manure than would be iccoverod from the crops. (Cheers. ) The Mayor proposed " The Mining Interests and the Thames Distiict, coupled with the name of Mr. Hurst, Goldfields Secretary." Mr. Hurst responded at some length. Captain Daldy proposed "The Health of the Town (Jlerk and City Officials," whirh was responded to by Mr. Brodie, Mr. llahroi", and Mr. Anderson. Mr. Lu.sk proposed the toast of "The Pro°s," which was diiink with cheers. The toast was responded to by Messis. Williamson and Chapman. Captain Dargaville proposed the toast, " The Ladies of Auckland," which was responded by Inspector Broham. The Mayor next proposed the health of "The Sons of Old Colonists," and to which Mr. Hobp/3 replied. This terminated the interesting proceedings, and the party dissolved shortly after eleven o'clock.