POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH REUNION.

Evening Star, Issue 8506, 4 May 1891, Page 2

POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH REUNION.

Close on fifty members of the Postal and Telegraphists' Association met at the Shamrbok Hotel on Saturday night, and celebrated by a "social." the inauguration of their organisation. Among the guests wtte Inspectors Grubb (postal) and Logan (telegraph), together with the representatives-of the local Press. The chair was oooupied by Mr W F. Young (president of the Association) and the vioe-ohair by Mr 0. May. Apologies were received from Postmaster-General Ward, Chief-Postmaster Butts, Mr Lubeoki, and Mr Downes (Port Chalmers); while the staffs at Christohuroh sent cordial greetings, and hoped the company would paßs a very happy eveaing.—(Cheers.) The Chairman said he need not tell them hew pleased he was to see so many familiar faoes present. In a department like theirs, with so many different branches, they did not often oome in contact with each other, except on occasions like this, and he hoped that this gathering would bs the forerunner of many similar ones—in fact, he did not see any reason why it should not be an annual occurrence.

In proposing the health of "The Poßt master-General," the Chairman read _a | letter of apology from Mr Ward for his inability to attend on this occasion, and also added that Mr Ward, knowing how bald written apologies usually were, had oalled Eersonally on the Committee and expressed is regret that urgent private business necessitated his immediate return to Inveroargill, otherwise he would have stayed specially to be present with them at their festivities. He did not think that anything he could say could add to the esteem in which the Post-master-General was held. The toast was drunk with musical honors and vociferous applausd. Mr Umbers, in proposing the toast of " The Press," said: The duty entrusted to him that evening was an honor of which b,e felt deeply and proudly sensible. All the world over no toast was more enthusiastically approved than that of the glorious free Press that mighty power by which, as Cowp'er said,

Religion, liberty, and laws Exert their influence, and advance their oauae. The responsibility of his doing honor to the Press hu a Bpeech was, he felt, bat feebly assumed, yet, however inadequately his remarks might do justice to the subject, they would serve to show how deeply indebted we all were for the great social and political reforms the Press had wrought in the interests of a great, free people. The liberal changes that were constantly effected by the Government of a country for the welfare of the people—the just rights of every subject of the realm were ever clamored for in the thundering voice of the Press; and they knew that none wouldjdeny that voice a hearing. Great and impressive was tta truth that Canning expressed when he said: "He who," speculating on the British Constitution, ''should omit from his enumeration the mighty power of public opinion embodied in a free Press, whioh pervades and checks, and perhaps in the last resort nearly governs the whole, would give but an imperfect view of the government of England." They should be proud and grateful that, as British subjects, through the influence of the Press they enjoyed those innumerable privileges which were ao characteristic of onr glorious realm. He thought it was Burns who said that, having a book in the hand, "at tops o' mountains we may craok wi' kingß," but with a newspaper in the hand we had a still greater privilege, for then we mighftbot only crack but freely reason with kings. The meanest of us were not denied the vigorous and outspoken opinions of our fellow-countrymen, nor the right of free opinion in ourselves. The newspaper, which was to be considered the great educator of the people, was at once the absolute property of the lowest as well as the highest of the land, and its oontents were sacred agairst the touch of that autocratical injustice which decreed the spilling of the ink pot over a man's choicest and most potent thoughts. In their own case they had muca to be grateful to the Press for. In temperate terms it had untiringly sought to obtain t»n improvement is their condition as Civil servants, urging that as a body giving the highest satisfaction to the publio they were worthy of Ministerial indulgence. While they drank a bumper to the great autocrat of the editorial chair, to the reporters and compositors, let them include the smallest printer's devil, for he was an indispensable screw in the mighty engine that resietlessly thunders its way along the line of the world's progress. Mr Walker ('Post and Telegraph Gazette'), in response to a general call, returned thanks for the Press, and said the paper of whioh he was the reputed father had for one of its objeots the upholding of the status of the service and the creating a feeling of unity and brotherhood. The paper wis only in its infancy, and like a child, as it increased in stature it would require more nourishment. Mr M. Cohen said that the enthusiasm witu which the toast had been received was reciprocated by the kindliest feelings on the pari of pressmen, individually and collectively, towards a body of men who had it in their power to so materially aid the newspaper press, and of whom he could say, after a long experience, that they invariably showed to the Press of this district the utmost courtesy and readiness to assist in any legitimate way. Not only so, but he could further say that the telegraph staffs (past and present) of Dunedin were a credit to that branch of the Hervice, and would compare most favorably with that of any other large centre in any of the colonies. The relations between the pressmen and postal and telegraph officials bad always been extremely cordial, and they could rely on the help of the Press of Dunedin in the advocacy of any just cause. The toast of "The Ladies" was proposed by Mr A. D. Maguughlin, and responded to by Mr M'Niokle in an exceedingly humorous speech. Mr W. F. Kitchen, in proposing the toatt of "The Department," said that from a wide experience he had found the officers of the department ever ready to do their utmost to aid the Press, and their work for the public had always been performed in an admirable manner. He could corroborate what Mr Cohen had said of the co irtesy of officers of both branohes of the department. As one who had been a Civil servant, he conld Bay the officers of the department earned their salaries as well, if not better, than any other department in the service, and he trusted that the wave of retrenchment would pass by the Pobji and Telegraph Department. As far as he could sec, it was not possible for the retrenches to touch that department, and he trusted it would not be interfered with in any Way.

Mr Logan, in responding, said he had nob expeoted to be called upon to reply. As far af his experience went, all officers had been vory willing to do their best to oblige the public and do their duty. Mr Gbubb said it gave him much pleasure in being among them that evening. He was pleased to hear that the efforts of the officers in meeting the publio wants -bad met with approval, as it Would be an incentive to further progress. As to the wave of economy, they need not be disturbed by ic so long as they did their duty well. Mr Bkbbneb referred to the progress made since he joined the telegraph service ia Otago seventeen years ago. Nearly every village and hamlet was now brought into direct communication with the centres either by telegraph or telephone. The health of .Mr Cook, a member of the telegraph staff, who is leaving Dunedin, was drunk and suitably responded to. "The Hostess" and "The Chairman" were the only other toasts. The evening's amusement was greatly enhanced by vocal and instrumental items being interspersed between the speeches, Mr Vallis, who proved a very efficient accompanist, gave a pianoforte solo, and was followed by Mr Umbers, who sang • Eatudiantina,' and later on, having been reoalled for bia singing of' A Romany lass/ gave 'Anohored*' Mr Young sang * In, oellar cool' and ' The longshoreman,' whiob latter was the oause of his having to reappear, when he gave the 'Laird o' Cockpen,' and later on the recitations 'Agnes' and 'Alexander.' Mr Naumann pleased his audience with the pretty way in whioh he played his violin solo. Mr W. J, Maclaughlin was rewarded with an encore for his song ' My sweetheart when a boy,' and responded with a oomio song,' Here Bhe goes.' Besides this he again amused his

audience with the comic recitation 'The dry one.' Mr D. Keys was heard to advantage in 'The old musketeer' and •The old arm chair,' both of whioh Bongs were well received. Mr Dall sang * Tup four jolly smiths' very nicely, Mr Martin, who gave ' Our guards,' being equally pleasing. Mr May sang ' Sailing,' and later on took part with Mr Timbers In the duet •L. .oaiJ watch.' h,ih items being applauded. MrJohuatou'ssong, 'Sweethearts and wives,' and Mr Oxley'a recitation, ' Barbara Pretohie,' were both equally well appreciated by those present.