TAURANGA. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. D. GRAHAM.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4609, 1 June 1872, Page 3

TAURANGA. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. D. GRAHAM.

On Thursday evening, May 23, a few of Mr. D. Graham's friends invited him to the Masonic Hotel to a small farewell meeting prior to his departure the following morning for Coromandel. Amongst those present were Captain Tunks, Messrs. Warbrick, Cook, Bodell, McKenna, and Little, and the Inspector of Schools, Mr. O'Sullivan. There was no regular chairman, bui; Mr. Graham in the course of a short speech said : I. have come here as a stranger, and have made many warm friends, amongst whom I would like to return. I like the distriot. It is one of the healthiest in New Zealand. In leaving it, lam not leaving it for good. - I shall be back here, if only as a visitor, to bring many people to see places which I have become acquainted with, at Rotomahana and elsewhere. 1 have no hesitation in saying that this will become one of the most popular districts in the colony. It has been visited by the Puke of Edinburgh, the Governor of New Zealand, the Chief Justice, and captains of men-of-war, all of whom can testify to itsmany attractions. As Tauranga is the outlet to the heart of the island, the expression of the natives used tome twenty years ago was that it was the u kopu" of the North Island. There have been some rumours of gold being | found at Tauranga. I have myself Been nuggets of 31b, and 41b, weight, and would like the public to have the benefit of the information. I have had a nugget of that size filled with mundio, and, from the time I •aw it, I wish I had secured it. There is the greatest silver mineral field in the world, or my judgment is wrong. From statements of the natives of the mineral formation, and the specimens I have seen, I have no hesitation in saying that it is one of the richest in minerals in the whole world, none excepted. The approach to Tauranga is a matter discuiied by the public Press, whether from Napier, Cambridge, Whanganui, -fcawhia, or Taupo. lam not acquainted with the approach from Napier or Kawhia, but from Taupo I can reach Tauranga in 24 hours or leu. I have considerable knowledge of the natives throughout New Zealand, and they are ,all favourably disposed towards the pakeha. X can give an assurance that a European travelling- through New Zealand will meet with nothing but hospitality and kihdneis. I wi«h to express to the people of Tauranga my warm feelings towards them, and to assure them that, though I may be temporarily absent, I hare a warm interest in'tne district ; and from my knowledge of the country, both in it« grandeur and mineral capacities^ believe ib is bound to be a great country. The time is not far distant wl^eri' the* r diggers how : employed at the Thames and Coromandel will be prospectiffg over the ranges which, lie at the back of our rich agricultural distriot. We are- a, small community, hot possessed of much means, bu,t we are- dow sending out a party to prospect the district, which we hope will be successful. (Applause.) — Mr. Warbrick spoke j regretfully of Mr.~ Graham'a'intended depar- ; ture, and, in eulogistic "terms, of his energy j -anil'erithusiasmou; behalf of, the interests of $he. cotony. —Messrs. * Bpdell, f CJook,' Little," Infl. Captain" Tunks followed in a similar strain. — The meeting afterwards took a con- , veraational character,! and terminated at an eaily hoar.— [Correspondent, j.

I V A ,■! ll'i l-i: £ " • • iMlt'a an ill wind that blow nobody gQpd,"— B7 thtl , w»ime»nthat »6inebodyl«benefite<ibroTery cnrrent let ou« of tbwio aephyn vrttb you to the door of Baktr, jeweller, Victorl»-*treet, oppoiiU the Royal Mattfiotel ; jcvl will not regttfc lt.—(ADr.)