VISIT OF J. Y. SMITH ESQ., M.G.A.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 13, 19 December 1857, Page 2

VISIT OF J. Y. SMITH ESQ., M.G.A.

PUBLIC DINNER. On Tuesday evening, the loth inst., a number of settlers — large when the season of the year and the shortness of the notice are considered — sat down to a public dinner given in honour of J. Valentine Smith Esq., member of the House of Representatives for the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, on the occasion of his visit to this District. The chair was occupied by J. B. Ferguson Esq., and the vice by Dr. Hitchings. The viands — of which all spoke in praise — having been done ample justice to, and the cloth having been removed, — The Chairman gave the usual loyal and patriotic toasts — "The Queen" ; "The Prince Consort and the Royal Family" ; ! and the "Army and Navy." The latter was responded to on behalf of the Army by John Curjing Esq., M.L.C., who paid an eloquent tribute to the prowess of the British arms ; and by Caj)t. White, on behalf of the Navy. The next toast — that of the guest of the evening — : should have been given from the chair, but the chairman very gracefully transferred the duty to Mr. Alexander, who

had just entered the room, and who, from old acquaintanceship with their respected guest, might be presumed- to be better qualified to do justice to his merits. A. Alexander Esq., after regretting that he was unprepared to do justice to the toast, said that, some six or seven years ago, Mr. Smith and himself were sojourners together. Since then he had been a close observer of Mr. Smith's public conduct, and he had no hesitation in saying that he was a thoroughly independent man — (cheers) — a man who, whatever he took in hand, would, so far as he was able, carryit out conscientiously, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. (Cheers). He had much pleasure in proposing Mr. Smith's. health, and he felt that, in doing so, he was proposing the health of one who, the more he was known, the higher he would rise in estimation. (Cheers). He was quite sure they would always be glad to meet Mr. Smith whenever he could mitke it convenient again to visit this District. (Loud cheers.) J. V T . Smith Esq., amidst much cheering, said: — Perhaps the most difficult circumstances under which a man can he called upon to make a speech are those cf an occasion like the present, when he finds himself surrounded by friends assembled for the express purpose of doing him honor. He (Mr. S.) himself felt the great diiliculty of his position in that respect, and was at a loss to express in suitable language the gratification caused by their kindness, and his thanks for the cordial and flattering manner in which they had drank his health. He would, however, endeavour to give them two reasons why this kind exhibition of their feeling towards him was especially gratifying to him upon that occasion : — firstly, because by this mark of their confidence in him they had, in the most unmistakeable manner, he was about to say ''given the lie," but as the expression would be decidedly unparliamentary, he would correct himself and say "contradiction." — (laughter) — they had, he repeated, in the clearest manner given a direct contradiction to the attacks and charges which had from time to time been liber- ! ally directed against him by the late Provincial Executive Company of the "Wellington Independent." ( Loud cheers; . ! Secondly, with regard to the Reform Association in Wellington, although some among them were not unnaturally disposed | in the first instance to question the propriety of his connecting himself with that Association, after the hostile opinions which some of the leading members of that body had declared against the rir- holders as a class., — this explanation, however, had convinced them that in joining that Association he had no other object in view than their own good, and they had done him the justice to believe that his future conduct would be as straightforward and independent as it had been in the p.ist. (Cheers). It was true that as yet what forensic powers hi; might possess had not been much practised ; his experience as a statesman was also limited, but this much he would undertake to say, that so long as he had the honor to enjoy their confidence and to be connected with public affairs, he would independently advocate and maintain what he believed would be for their good, and as fearlessly oppose what he believed would have a contrary tendency. (Cheers). He could assure them th.it he observed with unfeigned pleasure the signs of increasing prosperity in their fine district ; he remembered the time when there were not more than two or three houses 'to be seen ; comfortable residences were now to be seen in many different directions ; this year it was hoped that the greater part, if not the whole, of their wool would be shipped direct to England, and, when they obtained real local self government, and further land purchases from the natives had been effected, they would go ahead as they ought and as they deserved to do. This led him to the great question of the day — that of separation. He trusted that the time was not very far distant, when the opinions upon the subject of local self government which had been put forth in so clear and manly a manner by the settlers of Hawke's Bay, would be re-echoed from all parts of uhe colony. (Cheers). They had already been vigorously taken up by the Wairoa settlers, in the Province of Nelson, and at the Bluff, in the Province of Otago. He trusted that Ahuriri would not only obtain separation for itself, but also be instrumental in the just claims of the settlers in all parts of New Zealand to .manage their own local affairs being satisfied — the result to be an entire change in the whole, government of the country, when the present Hexarchy would be done away with, and,

instead of six Provinces without any bond of union among themselves, with their six little mighty Kings and Parliaments, and their six Provincial Governments in collision with the General Government, they should have something like thirty Counties, Districts, or Provinces — it signified little by what name they were called — each having the entire control of its own local affairs ; the whole united and working harmoniously under a strong General Government and Assembly in a central situation — by which he meant in Wellington — (Cries of Ahuriri, and laughter). What in one sense would be separation, would, in another sense, lead to a union of the firmest kind. At present they had not self-government. It was a delusion and a sham ; and if a proof were wanted of the mischievous effects of the present system they need only cast their eyes over the plains around, and ask what the inhabitants of this District could do if, by any accident, they became involved in the native disturbances which are unhappily now going on before their very eyes. An appeal to- the General Government for military protection would be answered by telling them that troops would be sent if the Province pay the cost. Instead of being able to act with promptitude and vigour on such occasions, upon their own responsibility, the hands of the General Government were tied ; and, however much the inhabitants of other Provinces might sympathise with them in their difficulties, they were precluded from obtaining any material aid fro m those Provinces by the narrow minded form of government under which they lived. "When lie (Mr S.) reflected upon the confusion which had already taken place, and the serious consequences which might yet follow upon such a selfish and vicious form of government, he could not help feeling in the strongest manner that it was high time for Reform, not only in the Government of the Province of Wellington, but also in that of the whole Colony. (Cheers). He would pause before he got too deep in a subject too profound for an after dinner speech, and would therefore only add the hope that, for the Huwke's Bay District, both politically and commercially, "there was a good time coming" : and he sincerely trusted that in the prosperity of the District would be included that of all whom he saw present that evening, both collectively and individually. (Loud cheering.) The Vice Chairman gave the '-General Assembly." It was in the General Assembly that their battle of separation was to be fought ; and their representative in that Assembly, Mr. Valentine Smith, they regarded as the Wellington or the Napoleon that was to fight that battle successfully. He (the vice chairman) would couple with the toast the name of a : gentleman who nn longer resided fn. this District, but who was highly respected by its settlers — that of Mi I . "Domett. (Cheers). Capt. Curling. M.L.C., v/as called upon to respond. He did so very brietly, pleading his inexperience in legislative duties. E. S. Curling Esq. returned thanks on behalf of Mr. Domett, whose anxiety to forward the interests of this District were well known to all. Alex. Alexander Esq., in giving "The members for the Hawke's Bay District in the Provincial Council," said that much depended, in the present political crisis, upon what the settlers of Ahuriri had done, and what they would do. What they had done was well known throughout New Zealand. Of what they would do a satisfactory pledge had been given in tlie return of Gollan and FitzGerald to the Provincial Council. (Much cheering). Gollan was his (Mr. A's) oldest friend in the District. They had fought the battle of life together. And lie had always found that whenever the interests of Ahuriri were at stake, Gollan was the man to look to. (Cheers). He certainly knew less of FitzGerald, hut he knew him as the champion of the Settlers' Association — as the indefatigable assertor of the rights of the District. He hoped, and indeed felt sure, that he would continue to be so. (Much cheering). T. H. FitzGerald Esq. M.P.C. briefly responded.' He was glad to think that in the arduous duty before his worthy colleague and himself, they would be strengthened by the confidence of those whose interests they were elected to represent. W.F. Hargreaves Esq. had obtained the permission of the chairman to propose a toast that, although not in the programme, was not one that should be overlooked. He alluded to a body that had achieved great objects — the Ahuriri Settlers' Association. (Cheers). Through that Association Ahuriri had become known and had become appreciated. At one time but

little heard of, it was now regarded by the Auckland people as a very important settlement, and by the Wellington people as a very dangerous one. (Laughter) The effect of the society's operations was a striking proof that, while individually they could do little, collectively they could do much. J. J. Kelly Esq., as a member of the Association from its formation, responded to this toast. In doing so he touched upon the principal points in connection with the history of the Association, and dwelt upon the contumelious treatment its petition received at the hands of the Executive, in the Provincial Council. He was happy to say that the agitation for separation had been followed up by the Bluff and Wairoa settlers, who had outstripped those of Ahuriri, by their having already memorialized the General Assembly. He was an advocate for local self government, whatever name it might assume ; and he sincerely rejoiced at the spirit in favour of separation that was now almost universally exhibited. (Cheers.) J. A. Smith Esq, gave "prosperity to Ahuriri," remarking that it contained all the elements of great prosperity, and that, in all probability it had a bright future before it. (Cheers). Donald Gollan Esq., M.P.C. gave Capt. Curling, our worthy Resident Magistrate. (Cheers). While he could not but regret that the District had lost the valuable services of Mr. Domett, he was proud to see his place so worthily filled. Capt. Curling briefly responded. J. V. Smith Esq. gave ihe health of the Chairman. (Cheers). That gentleman was but a recent settler, yet had already given good earnest of his energy and determination \vhere the interests of the District were likely to be affected. The Chairman responded in appropriate terms. Captain Mr,nn, in a few appropriate remarks, gave "the Press". Mr. Wood, of the Hawke's Bay Herald, responded, contrasting the circumstances under which he last responded to the- toast, (on the occasion of the Staff;. rd dinner) with those under which he now did so. Then, a local press was simply talked off ; now, it was not only established but successful. . He took occasion to bear testimony, from his own observation during last session, of the General Assembly, to the independence of character uniformly exhibited by their worthy representative, the guest of the evening.

A long succession of toasts followed, •which we regret that our limits -will not permit us to notice at length. There was "A. Alexander Esq., the oldest settler in the District," given from the chair ; — the "Pastoral interests of Ahuriri," from the vice, responded to by E. S. Curling Esq., who gave an interesting description of the early trials and difficulties of the runliolder; — the "Merchants of Napier," associating with it the name of ?\Jr. Newton, by E. S. Curling Esq., responded to by T. K. Newton Esq. ; — the 'vice chairman,' by Donald Gollan Esq , duly responded to ; — "Our worthy Host and Mrs. Munn," from the chair, responded to by Capt. Munn ; — the "Aboriginal natives of New Zealand," by Alex. Alexander Esq. ; the "Ladies," given by Cnpt. White, and responded to by by E. S. Curling Esq.,. &c., &c.

The proceedings of the evening did not, however, consist of speaking only I—the1 — the interval between each toast having been filled up by the c (forts cf the musical portion of the company. The evening passed off very pleasantly; there was much kindly interchange of thought and feeling ; and the occasion, if not one upon which memory absolutely loves to linger was certainly one, which, may be recalled with no unpleasurable feelings.