Banquet on the TONGARIRO.

Evening Star, Issue 6479, 21 December 1883, Page 2

Banquet on the TONGARIRO.

Some seventy-five gehtlettlefi bhlortamcd by Mr directors of the New Zealand Shipping; Company last evening at a on the s.s. Tongariro, opportunity neiny taken of the occasion to celebrate the hWi'-tU or the first specially-built vessel for the direct steam trade between Great Britain and Now Zealand. The banquet was held in the grand saloon, Mr Hudson, of Dunedin, providing a splendid repast. Mr MurrayAynslcy presided, and the following Canterbury directors of f ho Company were also present,Mo'srs J. Anderson, Tailored, A Cracroft Wilson, 11. Wilkin, John A riders'mi, and lion. R. Richardson. Among the visitors were i.ho Hons. H. J. Miller, W. 11. Rey* nolds, and G. M'Reiui, M.L.C.s, Messrs 11. Driver, K. S. Fish, J. Green, M W. Green, and T. Bracket), M.H.R.s, W. l\ Street (Mayor of Dunedin), G. Bell (chairman of the Chamber of Commerce),, Rider, and Mil! (representing the OtAko haibur Board). Tlib usual, .formal and loyal toasts having been honored, “.The Army, Navy, and Volunteers” was proposed. In returning thanks for the navy, Captain IlAimnrr, of the Tongariro, said that should the occasion arise the naval officers would be found ready, as they always had been, to shed blood (or “ England, home, ami beauty.” Captain SruoNACi! (Dunedin Hussars) returned thanks on behalf of the Volunteers. Our Volunteers were perhaps not so numerous since the now regulations bad been ii.lnduced, but he believed they were more efficient, ami as loyrU ,as any Volunteers m the world.- (lien*-.) A "Volunteer officer, especially a oftvalrjr man, c.ould not be expected to do Mubh duty on board ship. —(Laughter.) In t ( lm pact, When their services had been required, f'-.c , oluuteera of New Zealand bad J one We u an d if wanted they would do tho“ r j,ftl } n the future. , ktCTTARDson said that the toast he ll:l “ ~o pV6)i6se was one which placed him in a sObiewhat awkward position, because at a gathering of this sort it was absolutely necessary that politics juristbe religiously eschewed. As bis toast involved the drinking of tiro healths of the two principal political bodies in the country, he thought those present would agree with him that he would have to he pretty careful to .void politics. In the first place ho wished to say that he expressed his own regret, as well as the iegret of his brother directors, that, owing to the shortness of the notice given concerning this entertainment, there wore less morn hers of the Assembly present than they expected to sec. And amongst those absent was one he would particularly have wished to see there—one who had taken, from almost the settlement of the Colony, a wonderful amount of interest in tiro question of steam. He need hardly say he alluded to Air James MaCand tew,—(Cheers.) They were all a ware better than ho was that it was owing to MV Macandrew’s exertions that a steamer Iro’M Australia first came here; and since ho (the speaker) had known anything about New Zealand, a period of twenty-two years, Mr Macaudrcw’s name had keen foremost whenever the question of steam communication with Australia or the Home Country had arisen, and therefore it was a matter of extreme regret that he found himself unable to bo present that evening. As to the Legislative Council, he thought that all present would agree with him that that body, although at times a little arbitrary, bad been of the greatest service to the Colony ; and that, whether the Council were re-constituted as at present or in some other form, the members would always be looked up to to do their duty in the same fearless way as they now did for the benefit of the Colony.—(Hoar.) The members of the House of Representatives had pleasing little meetings with their constituents to look forward to in order that they might answer (or the votes they had given. -(Laughter.) With regard to the particular interest, which now brought them here, he (the speaker) might say that certainly he felt during the last session of Parliament that it was the representtivos of this particular part of the Colony which had placed difficulties in the way of the initiation of this direct steam service—difficulties which were being rapidly removed by the exertions of that splendid body, the Otago Harbor Board He felt it was somewhat peculiar that almost the whole of the representatives of Otago should have felt it their duty to have voted as they did.—(Loud applause.) No doubt the members had good grounds for voting as they did—and far be it from him to hint otherwise—but he could only hope that whenever this question came up again, in whatever form it might come up, they would exercise the same amount of care and devote the same amount of attention to it as they did last year ; and ho was quite sure that both himself and his brother directors, as well as every shareholder, would be perfectly satisfied that any result arrived at would bo according to the members’ consciences and their belief that they were acting for the good of the Colony.—(Hear.) He proposed the health of “The General Assemoly of New Zealand,” and with it he coupled the names of the Hon W. H. Reynolds, a member of the Legislative Council, and of Mr Driver, for the House of Representatives.

The Hon. Mr Reynolds said, with regard to the Legislative Council, that he was lately at a private entertainment and had to reply to the toast. After he had sat down he was told that that was the last chance he would have of responding to that particular toast, as they were going to be extinguished. He was prepared to say that it would take a great deal to extinguish him—he was resolved to die very hard, and he believed the Legislative Council would not be extinguished as rapidly as some people imagined. The fact was he did not think the Colony could get on without them. lie was satisfied they were the pivot on which the whole machinery of the Colony had to revolve.—(“ Oh,” and laughter.) If no one else would stand up for the Legislative Council, it was quite right that he, as a member, should do so. He thanked them most heartily for the way the toast had been received.

Mr Drivjjk, M.H.R., said that since the vote taken last sei siou had been alluded to he felt himself placed in an awkward position. He felt that he had been invited there to have coals of fire heaped on him. lie was now before one of those meetings which the proposer of the toast had alluded to—the constituency he was before was the New Zealand Shipping Company.—(Laughter.) lie regretted the absence of Mr Macandrew, who had brought before the Legislature all questions connected with steam service to New Zealand. In the part he took during the last session of Parliament he had the support and co-operation of Mr Macandrew. It was on his motion that the question of direct communication was left to public competition ; and if the motion had brought about the magnificent structure in which they now found themselves ho was justified in the course he took.—(Hear and laughter.) The visit to New Zealand ports of the Doric, lonic, and the other “ ics” further justified his vote. He felt a little humiliated at being brought there and treated in the magnificent manner he had been to have coals of fire heaped on his head for the action he took. He had voted without feeling as to his commercial interest; and as showing this, he might mention that he had sent no wool Homo except through the New Zealand Shipping Company. His vote had been exercised conscientiously, he believed for the good of the country, and without any feeling. The directors of the Company were friends of his, and he wished them every success ; and if all the members of the Legislature were present they could not but admire the energy and enterprise of the Company. He hoped they might fill their ships and make profits without being indebted to the Legislative Assembly for any subsidy whatever.—(Applause). Mr A. C. Wilson said that from his point of view the toast which had been entrusted tc him was the most important toast of the evening—it was “ The Commercial Interests of Otago.” What Great Britain would do in the event of her having to do without the commercial seal and activity of her sons, and more especially of those sons resident in the colonics, it was difficult to state. The speaker furnished statistics in order to show the importance of the colonial trade with England. The colonial empire of England was the life of England, and he looked forward to seeing that empire extended over the islands of the Pacific. Ho did not propose to allude to the establishment of organisations in Otago, but thought he was justified in referring to the Union Steam Ship Company and the conduct of its service in order to show the commercial, zeal and activity of Otago.— (Hear.) The commercial activity of the merchants of Otago having been established, it was only for him to speak concerning the commercial supremacy of Otago, A very few words would decide that point. From 1870 to 1882— from the time of the initiation of the public works policy—the total aggregate of the imports and exports of the four principal ports of the Colony were :—Auckland, L 21,000,000 ; Wellington, L 25,000,000 ; Lyttelton, L 32,000,000; and Dunedin, L 40,000,00 showing the trade of Dunedin exceeded the trade of the port next on the list by no less anamountthanLl7,ooo,ooosterling. The vessel in which they found themselves that night was simply another link in consolidating them with the British Empire. At present ho admitted that trade was somewhat dull, but a better day must dawn ; and when the clouds of this depression shall have passed away, the trade of the country would resume its accustomed course.— (Applause.) Mr Bell said he had to thank the Company on behalf oi i.he merchants of the City for the very bandsome manner in whiah their health and success had been proposed by the last speaker. That gentleman had given statistics oi the very large amount of trade transacted in the various principal ports of the Colony, am! while they felt glad to find that their own district was prospering, he (the speaker) felt that ho ought, as the mouth-piece of the merchants of Otago, to express his conviction that they must rise or fall according to the success of the other parts of the Colony.— (Applau-e.) For a long Dmc there appeared to have been most unworthy jealousies with regard to each provincial district. But he thought the New' Zealand Shipping Company appeared to have solved the difficulty they had shown that if any part were to prosper, the whole must prosper together.—(Hear.) Now, none of the districts could have carried out the system of direct steam navigation alone.. They must take into consideration the manner in wtiich the Colony had been peopled. They were not like Melbourne or Sydney, each of which might bo considered to bo the port of the colonies of Victoria and Now South Wales. Here they wore divided. There wore several ports at several hundreds of miles distance from each other, and each one of these ports had a district surrounding it. The New Zealand

Company gathered cargo from each port. It would be bettor it there were mouths enough to eat all the products of the place—if the country were better peopled j bbt ab that wcU not the case, it tyos with great gratification that he looked upon the large trade of exporting frozen meat and Cereals which had grown up within the lost few years. He did not think that any country in the world could give the same return for labor as New Zealand, and it was because there was that large return that the country was able to produce considerably more than the population osuld consume; and it therefore oehoved them, so far as they could, to bring themselves into rapid communication with the largo centres of population in Europe. The speaker went on to say that it had been his good fortune, in tho course of a long life, to see a groat many changes in shipping. He recollected that when a boy he hod seen a vessel then 140 years old belonging to the British Navy, Her tonnage was about 250, and she was a very different Vessel from that In which they now mot.—(Laughter.) On another occasion his father took him on board a vessel of 1,000 ton 0 , ond told him that it was probably the largest vessel he would ever see. Now, in the magnificent structure in which they were seated they were surrounded with luxuries and conveniences that kings in those days could not command. -(Applause.) It was a most pleasing sight to look round tho vessel and to see her internal arrangements, The electric light, and the other luxuries that had been enjoyed that night were due to the enterprise of a private company, and that company not eubsidlaed by the Dogwlativfe Assembly.—(.Cheers.) they might loHk ftjrwdra to the tiietths of intet-oom-rMmcation as tending to a greater state of narmohy than ever existed among tho population of New Zealand before. Without detaining tho company further he would heartily thank them for tho manner In which they had wished success to the merchants of Otago. ‘ ... Captain HaixßM had great pleasure in proposing " Tho Otago Harbor Board,’ 1 because he looked for* Ward tro due tliue whoti even ships thin the tonic of the TwngVrih) vVould Visit this port, HO had no doubt thar, the bat collld bfe made irinch deeper And the,channel 4 little straighteii.—(Laiigtlter.’l Wheh he first cable here in charge or ini lotfid lie had helm told ol the difficulties ho would meet with, but he had but round himself so terrified as people in the North had told him he would be. He had merely looked over the channel once for about an hour and then brought the ship in himself. Tho bar could not be very dangerous or surrounded by many difficulties when a stranger could do that.—(Great cheering.) Then when the Tongarlfo came here, drawing 21ft, the vessel crossed tho bar and dame up without the slightest anxiety On his part. Ho was told that the Otago Unrbot Board were in tho habit of receiving a great deal of Valuable advice. He was not going to give the members advice j ho was content that they Would do their best to promote the prosperity of the port of Dunedin. Mr A. H. Ross was not going to enumerate the difficulties the Board had had to contend with, nor to state what they had accomplished, but would merely thank the Company for the manner in which they had responded to the toast So kindly proposed by Commander H,Hiatt. , But f(W thl Harhot Board the directors o* thl New KcdlanU r<hihpii>jf Company could not have invited those present, nor vvoillu It have been in their power to accept the invitation, because had it not been for the success which had attended tho Board's efforts, tho Tongariro could not have been alongside the wharf at Port Chalmers.— (Hoar.) He expressed his gratitude to the New Zealand Shipping Company for the way in which they had always aviated to the utmost of their power tho exertions of the Harbor Board, and he would mention that Captain Boyd, who so ably represented that Company, had intimated to him that, the Matauro would come up to Dunedin wharf.-(Applause.) It would bo at once cone ded that there was no Intention on the part of tho Company to thwart the Board in the efforts they had made, and which they intended to continue to make, towards bringing the Homo ships up to Dpnediff., Tbp Hon, H. J. MiLtilsit said that d toast had bfeen plit into his hands which ho was sure all trUe colonists in New Zealand would mo’t cordially join in drinking—'" BWCP?? (o the New Zealand Shipping Company.” By the establishment of a direct steam service with England enormous advantages—both commercial and political—had been conferred on the Colony. With regard to the commercial advantasjes, it was quite sufficient for him to say that he bad just been reminded that they had the privilege of dining on the top of 0,000 sheep. As to the political advantages, the establishment P f this rer-jee Would add aubtllkif link In uniting them more closely with tho Mother Country. Some fourteen or fifteen years ago they were told by the late Mr Sewell, a distinguished member of the New Zealand Parliament, that the time was not so very far distant when the colonies would have to look out for themselves. That speech was made in the Legislative Council, and members were somewhat taken aback when Mr Sewell told them that the opinion came with the authority of no icss a personage than Mr Gladstone himself. Whether that was the case or not—whether Mr Gladstone expressed that opinion or not—he (tho speaker) did not know ; but if lie had ever entertained such an opinion, he must altogether have changed it. Tho establishment of a service such as this would tend to cement the union of tho colonies with the Mother Country more closely than ever. The energy and enterprise of the Company in establishing such a service must have excited the admiration of all men throughout the Colony, and he was certain that there was no true colonist in New Zealand who did not wish success to tho venture.—(Applause.) When the Panama Canal was completed the trip to New Zealand from England would be regarded in almost the sable light as a trip to tho States from Groat Britain now was. All honor was duo to those gentlemen who had established such a service, and afforded to the colonists of New Zealand tho means of exporting their produce end finding a market which few could have believed would be found in so short a time.

Mr Murrav-Atnslby, in responding to tho toast, which was drunk with enthusiasm, said that it remained with tho colonists to carry out tlm wishes ot the last speaker. The Company had started from small beginnings, and now that they had large vessels they hoped to supply a steam service which would be a credit to tho Colony. In order that they might commence at tho right end they had put on powerful steamers so that the public might make the passages Homo and back in ’such a time as it would formerly take to do the one voyage. The progress of the country had been so great that the people were not satisfied to go on with ninety days’ passages; but they must have, according to Mr Macandrew, thirty days’ passages. This Company have not been able to come up to that yet, and he was sure it would he a long number of years before they saw that.—(Laughter.) But under Captain Hallett’s management they had been brought within a few hours of forty days’ steaming time from the English shore. The speaker alluded with regret to tho absence of Mr Macandrew, who had been instrumental in getting steam communication to this Colony. He was always on the push, and it might be said of him that he was the father of steamers to Now Zealand.—(Applause.) The directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company looked to the people of Otago to give them freight out when they Drought their steamers here. Before Captain Ilalletn brought his first ship here there was apparently a certain feeling of jealousy that the Company never intended to visit Port Chalmers, and_ that the port would not get its fair share of the direct steamers. Their intention was to bring their steamers to this port if they could possibly do so. They inquired of the Harbor Board whether there was sufficient draught of water on the bar, and when they pot an answer that there was sufficient water and a few inches more than was required, down came the steamer and landed alongside Port Chalmers pier. —(Cheers.) If the merchants would only support the Company, steamers would bring thoir goods from England*in the quickest time; and these would be distributed throughout New Zealand by the Union Company. The New Zealand Shipping Company hoped that before the end of tho year five steamers would bo running under their flag direct to New Zealand.—(Hear.) Mr Boss had alluded to the Mataura going to Dunedin. The Company were prepared to send their ships up to Dunedin whenever cargo could be got, so long as there was sufficient water and the underwrilers raised no question. The Company did not care so long as they were assured that the ships could go up safely, and the underwriters believed it.—(Laughter.) So long as the steamers got full freight the Company were satisfied. To the meat-freezing process they looked for largo aid. In one newspaper, the question had been asked, where was tho money to come from to pay for this service ? That was a question for the Company; but so long as the merchants would import their poods by their steamers the directors and shareholders would be content. Mr Bell had alluded to jealousies between the different ports; but they, as a shipping company, had nothing to do with that—so long as they got freights from one place or another they had only those places to deal with. They did not mind wliat petty feelings existed so long as the merchants gave the Company what they wanted ; they would bo thankful for it.—(Laughter.) He thanked those present for the way in which they had received tho toast.

Mr J. Akdrkson proposed “ The Union Steam Ship Compa iy,” and alluded to tho advantages conferred by the Company. He referred to the class of coastal and intercolonial steamers which formerly were used in our ports, and said that the steamers now used were not to bn surpassed in any part of tho world. The Hon. G. M’Lkan responded. The Company had grown from infancy to a healthy body, with vigorous arms and a fair head on its shoulders. — (Hear ) They had endeavored to meet the public in a spirit which he thought had been appreciated. Like other bodies they had had difficulties to contend with in initiation, but their shareholders had not been grasping, and had been content in endeavoring to look to tho future and not to immediate gain. The Company had received groat consideration at the hands of the public, and he asked that tho same consideration he extended to the New Zealand' Shipping Company, Tho public should hear a little more with this Company in initiating this new service. They had difficulties to contend with, and were entitled to a little more sympathy and to less kicks.—(Hear.) Mr K. Wilkin proposed “ The Shaw, Savill • Albion Company.” Mr E. 13. Cargill replied. lie referred to the enterprise of tho people of Canterbury in starting the New Zealand Shipping Company. The time had come about when to a large extent steamers must displace sailing vessels, and tho Tongariro was the pioneer of the new order of things. The enterprise of building five or six large steamers was a serious one, and showed tho Company had no small degree of faith in the future of the Colony. The Company whose healths had just been proposed was a rival institution to tho New Zealand Shipping Company, although their interests were identical. The Albion Company were building two large steamers, and had also chartered for the New Zealand trade the Doric, lonic, and Coptic. Mr J. Mills proposed the health of “Captain Hallett." That gentleman had made two visits to this port, and before ho came here had won his spurs —both ns a naval officer in the Imperial service, and in the White Star Lino. Colonis's might well congratulate themselves on the New Zealand Shipping Company having in their service a man of Captain Hallctt’s stamp. Ho regretted that Captain Hallett had boon subjected to very unfair criticism. Captain Hallett said that ho felt pained at the untruthful statements made concerning him by a writer in the * Morning Herald.’ Tho man who wrote that article seemed to bo of a poetical turn of mind, but he would quote for his benefit the following lines from the Immortal Bard ; “ Who steals my purse steals trash ; but ho who filches from mo my good name robs me of that which not enriches him, but makes me poor indeed.”—(Loud applause.) In responding for “The Press” Mr Bracken said ho regretted that Captain Hallett’s feelings had been wounded. The writer of the article in question did not profess much of the poetic faculty. Captain Hallett’s good name had not been filched by the writer, but by the 117 passengers who had protested against his arbitrary conduct.—(Cries of “Shut up !”) He would not “shut up” if he was charged, as Captain Hallett had falsely charged him, with being the writer of the article referred to. Captain Hallett : I emphatically deny that I brought any charge whatever against you. Mr Bracken : You did by implication. Captain Hallktt denied this emphatically, and the prccecdings closed amid some confusion.