THE NEW MINISTER.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 116, 13 November 1900, Page 2

THE NEW MINISTER.

BANQUET TO THE HON. 0. H. MILLS. A banquet to celebrate the accession of tho Hon. C. H. Milte to the Ministry, was held at the Empire Hotel last night. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. Beauchamp (Chairman of the Harbour Board), who b^ad on his right the guest of the evening, and on his left tho Premier (the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon). All tho members of the Ministry just now in Wellington were also present, besidea about 120 of tho personal friends and supporters of tho Hon. Mr. Mills. An excellent dinner was served by Host j Mandel, and the menu of many courses was dono full justice to. The toast \>f "The Queen" was proposed from the chair, and drunk with every demonstration of loyalty. Mr. M. Myers proposed "The Army, Navy and Volunteer Forces," which was drunk with much heartiness, and responded to by Lieutenant Biss (Wellington Navals) and the Hon. J. Carroll. The toast of the 'evening;- " Our Guest, tho Hon. Chas. Mi;Ls, M.TLR.," was proposed by the Chairman, and received with loud applause. Mr. Beauchamp read apologies for unavoidable absence from. Captain * Russell, Hon. W. HalT-Jones, and many 'others. Speaking to the toast he remarked thai) the character of the company present .spoke eloquently of the personal popularity of Mr. Mills. He had known Mr. Mills, he went 1 oh -to say, for some thirty years, and his acquaintance with him had been of a most cordial nature. Mr. Mills had always displayed a friendly interest in Wellington, and he hoped they would be abi&.tp look upon him as "our Minister. "^'-'(Applause.) He fully recognised ' that the]- Seddon Government had done strict justice to Wellington, but it had not given the place that share of the good things that had been given to other cities of New Zealand, which were represented by gentlemen of a different jjoiiticai colour. (Hear, hear.) He read a; brief history of Mr. Mills's cju'eer — born iif Nelson, removed to WVungton at nine, years of age, educated at Thorndon and To Aro schools, emigrated to the Sounds and Otago diggings, worked as a Sailor, finally settled in .Marlborough, took a deep interest in local affairs, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1890, in which capacity be had done valuable work, and acted as Government Whip since ,1693. Mr. Mills had been a Liberal to the Core since he entered political life, and he had now reached the goal for which he had been striving for many years past. All present would AVish' him every success. (Ap.plause.) In Parliament he had heaps .of friends, and since his accession to more responsible office' he had received something like" four hundred congratulatory telegrams from people of all shades of political opinion. (Hear, hear.)" , The Chairman asked the company to jpin Avith him in cordially drinking the new Minister's health. The toast was drunk in most cordial manner, " He's a Jolly Good Fellow" being sung with great enthusiasm. The toast was supported by Messrs. J. E. Evans, A. G. Johnson, and J. A. Plimmer, • all old schoolmates of Mr. Mills, who gave varied and interesting reminiscences illustrative of the qualities which combined to make him the " Jolly good fellow" that the gathering had just tunefully declared him to' be. The Hon. Mr. Mills, on rising to respond, met with a most cordial reception. The applause having subsided, lie said he could assure his hearers that this was a very proud moment of his life. He saw faces round him which recalled the memories of the past, and if he failed to explain < his 'real feelings it was nob the fault of the man,' but his inability to find words to express himself. As long as he lived this occasion would be green in his memory. He thanked the Premier and hTs colleagues for the confidence they had shown in him, and all those friends who had sent him congratulatory letters and telegrams. He also thanked the press of the colony, which in some instances had spoken of him in very flattering terms, while the newspapers which did not see eye to eye with him had dealt with him very leniently. (Hear, hear.) He did not deserve half the kind things that had been' said about him, because he owed a deep debt to his wife for the invaluable assistance she had rendered him throughout his 1 career. (Applause.) As a colonial speaking io colonials, he urged that for, the future they should try to prove themselves New ZeaJanders first in deed and thought, (Hear, hear.) Marlborough was as closely connected with Wellington a>s any of the suburbs, and its children were trying to climb higher , by means of the Victoria College. (Hear, hear.) He felt very proud that night, ■ and would feel the responsibility of his high position, but would make db his aim to do what was right and just, .and to work for the _ general welfare .of the colony in which he was born. Mr. Mills resumed his seat amid loud applause. , <• * In proposing the toast of "The Parliament of New Zealand," Mr. T f K. Macdonald said that whatever.- disagreement, they might have at times with the actions of Parliament, they musb all feel that during the half-century it had been in existence the men who had represented the people of tho colony had done great and noble work for New Zealand. It was impossible" to look'back on the legislation which had. resulted in such great development without realising the great debt the people owed to. the men who had taken upon themselves the burden of public life. (Applause.) The toast, which was coupled with the name of the Premier, was drunk with musical honours. The Premier, who was warmly re- | ceived, in replying to the toaat, said ho took some credit, with his colleagues, for the preferment which had been so fully justified that evening, and they might hope for good things in the future. There were many who had had strong claims on the position, and the selection was no easy task ; but he did *not believe that if earnest and sincere work in the interests of the colony ami faithful and loyal support to party was a | ground for a man being called to the Ministry, then Charles Mills was entitled to the position in which he had now been placed. (Applause.) Sonfe excejption had been taken to the appointment by our northern neighbours, but he pointed out that three members of the Executive came from the provincial district of Auckland. If anybody was entitled to a growl at the selection, it was the people of Wellington; but.instead, they had set a glorious example in tendering a banquet to. one who came from another provincial district. (Applause.) They had no need, he went on to say, to regret the work of Parliament in the past, and they could lopk to the future with confidence. The merits of Parliament were not well gauged by the people, but as to the work of last session, it would have been well spent if Hiey had qnly passed the Public' Health Act. which would fully have justified ihe drinking of the toast in the cordial manner in which it had just been drunk. 'Lha Piirliiiment of New Zea'and hnd been a credit to the colony. Had the Impec s ij authorities been as far-seeing as the Legislature of New Zealand, New Caledonia would never have been a Frenca

settlement, Hawaii would nob have been controlled by a foreign nation, Samoa would have belonged to New Zealand, and the whole of the islands of the Pacific would have been British, and controlled by colonial Parliaments. (Applause.) Greater heed must be given in tho future to the work of colonial Parliaments and of colonial statesmen ; if not, they wfluld havo further trouble. Tho Cook Islands, ho assured them, would soon be a part of New Zealand, trade would " follow the flag," and thero would be no risk whatever. (Hear, hear.) Mr. N. Reid (President of the Wellington Uliamber of Commerce) proposed "Prosperity to Mai'lborough," which wa3 responded to by Mr. Erskine, of Havelock, i. constituent of tha Hon. Mr. Mills. The toast of "The Press" was proposed by the Hon. Mr. Ward, and responded to by Mr. C. Wilson (New Zealand Mail), Mr. Ransome (London Daily Express), Mr. R. A. Loughnan (LyUelton Times), and Mr, F. K. Reeves (Evening Post). The last toast was that of " The Chairman," proposed by the Hon. Mr. Mills, and drunk with musical honours. The proceedings concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang- Syne" and " God Save the Queen." % Tho banquet had been promoted by old schoolmates of the hoh. gentleman, but had been heartily taken up by others who had warm personal regard for Mr. Mills. The result was a large gathering of leading men of .the city and, varied shades of political opinion. In every respect it was a great success and enjoyable to a degree. -The mu&io was provided by Minifies String Band; Mr. Minifie, who is an old friend of the new Minister, having offered his services' at ' the 'outset, and songs were given in excellent style by Messrs. E. J. Hill, Harry Smith, and F.. Twiss. The Meiste'rsingers had also been engaged, but the proceedings were protracted rather .more than was anticipated,, and they were unfortunately ,not called upon.