DONEDIN'S BANQUET TO THE PREMIER.

Evening Star, Issue 11681, 13 February 1902, Page 8

DONEDIN'S BANQUET TO THE PREMIER.

A meeting of citizens, convened by tbe mayor, was held in tbe Town Hall yesterday afternoon to consider the proposal of the City Council that tho Right Honorable the Premier should bo entertained at a banquet prior to hie departure for England to represent the colony at the coronation ceremonies. lhe mayor (Mr G. L. Denniston) presided, and among those present were tho Hons. H. Gourley and W. M. Bolt, Messrs T, Mackenzie and T. K. Stdey, M-H.R-s, Messrs R. Chisholm, C. fi\ Greenslado, J. Robin, J. T. Mackorras, N, Y. A. Wales, G. Fenwick, James Arkle, P. Hally, J. Braithwaite, A. Tapper, C. R. Chapman, J. Hyman, J. P. Armstrong. F. J- Stilling, S. G. Smith, Rev. A. Chodowski, Dr Gordon Macdonald, and Mr T. B. Fairbaim (town clerk). Several apologies were received. Crs Christie and Park put in an appearance at the close of the meeting, which was all over in a quarter of an hour.

Tho Mayor explained that the meeting was the outcome of a resolution passed at the last meeting of tho City Council. That resolution instructed him to call a pubhc meeting of citizens for the purpose of deciding the desirability of tendering to the Right Hon. the Premier a complimentary banquet prior to hLs departure for England. There was to be no political significance about the movement whatever.—(Hear, hear.) It was to be altogether apart from politics. There might be some present and elsewhere who might disagree with the politics of Mr Seddon, but ho thought they all recognised the strong patriotic position he had taken up' ™». * he commencement of the war in South Africa. Ho would formally move-" That the_ citizens of Dunedin entertain the Right Hon. Mr Seddon at a banquet prior to his departure for Europe." If that were earned it would be necessary for him to telegraph to the Premier asking him to fix a suitable date. Mr Cliisholm, in seconding the resolution said that he agreed with the mayor that whatever difference of opinion there might be in respect to politics, there could be but one opinion that the- Premier's Imperialism had been admirable. In fact, the Premier during the past two years—durnig the tune he had been called upon to exercise his duties in connection with the sending away ot contingents and otherwise—his conduct ah through had been such that no one could help admiring it. As an Imperialist he had been liead and shoulders above most of them and in the wav he had brought New Zealand to the front' he had distinguished himselt as Premier of the colony. Mr Tapper said that, thanks to tbe Premier, we found other colonies only too glad to follow our example, and tbat their Premiers were only too glad to go under the win" of our Premier. So long as they were under the wing of Mr Seddon they might rest assured that they would have a very good time and he would take care that they were not overlooked. The function was to be a non-political one, and, in fact, there would be no politics discussed—except Imperial politics, on which all would be agreed. The banquet was to honor tho gentleman who had placed Now Zealand in the foretront of the Empire, and he felt tbat it would be worthy of the occasion. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Stilling then moved—"Thai the gentler men present form themselves into a committee." He thought that those present represented pretty well all classes in the community. Mr Chapman seconded the motion. The Mayor suggested that as the proposal had originated from the City Council the members of that body should be included. The motion was then agreed to as amended, and was also made to include the City members of Parliament and any others the Committee might desire to add to their number.