CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10969, 18 July 1898, Page 2

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT HASTINGS.

On (he Btiival of the eipreii train from Wellington on Saturday evening the Hasting! railway platform wai orowded with many of tbe personal friends aod supporters of Captain, Raised, end alio a large Dnmber of tbe residents who had aaiembled to bid blm a bearty weloome oa bli return from England, After some hearty hand shakings Mr C. A. Fltzßoy, tbe Mayor, said thai he bad great pleasnre on behalf of the Borough, tbe reildenti of HaitiDgs, and tbe numerous fiiends of Captain Raiiell'i throughout the dUtilot In extending him a moil hearty weloome on his return Itom the Old Country. Had It not been Saturday night, a night he would > recognise as a most iooonvenient one' for many In tbe town, It had been Intended to ask Captain Rneiell and Mib Rniaell to some loolal entertain* ment at which his friends and many others who perhapi might not hold the same political opinions, would have been pleased to be present. It wai not their Intention to leave the matter, end he hopad that a suitable occasion would be found at an early date when they might also have tbe pleasure of tbe presence of Mrs Russell, fie concluded by express log blB own pleainre In at dog Ciptaln Rnatell looking so well and at returning to hla home safe and eound. Mr Win, Bellby, representing tbe Hawke'B Bay branoh of tbe National Association, expressed the pleainre fell by tbe Captain's politloal supportera at his sate return. In securing the return of mob. men of mark and honor si Captain Ruiiell, Mr Rolleston, and Mr John Dutble tbe association had shown good came for Its existence. They were glad to see Captain Rasiell return In good healtb, He had been staging several soogi lately, and ou bis return be would Gad that hli politloal BDpporten had a grand oboms they could sloe la tbe words of tbe old EnglUh song, " We alirayi are ready, steady, boy a steady; We'll fight and we'll oocqaer ag«tn and again 1" Captain Hussell, responding, said that tf ter an absence of years It was a great pleasnre to go Home and visit Mends, bat he thought there was no pleasure 10 great as to fiad soon a large number assembled who had come there to weloome htm on hU return to the place which he had made bis home. He bad been told tbat he mnst not come home on Satniday eight again, and as he would not probably be visiting England again for 20 years he would try to bear that In mind. He looked upon It aa a hardship to have been detained in Wei* lington three weeks before he oonld come np and shake bands with hli old friends, Mr Bellby bad spoken of Mestn Rolleston and Dutbie and the good feeU Ing shown to them from the whole oountry. He felt they bad been for a long time like men trying to roll a big stone np to the top of the bill, and be. Ueved tbat the top of the hill wai nearly retohed. When tho triennial lorlmmaga came on he believed they wonld be suboeiiful In getiiag It to the top. When they were in that position again It would be tbelr aim to extend tbe hand of fel« lowshlp to every dais in the oolony, bat not to exlit for the benefit of any psrtlon. lar claa», Tbe best way to help their fellow colonists was to see they fought for themseivas. and tben to render them whatever kindly sstlitanoa (hey oiuld. He thanked them heartily for their kind! wo'oomo, Uearty o'uers were then given for Captain and Mrs R a , H n, B T ' u ""