THE BRYCE BANQUET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 187, 19 December 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BRYCE BANQUET.

This event seems to have passed off xaazt successfully , From the Chronicle we take the following particulars : — Mr. B. Pharazyn occupied the chair, supported on the right by the guest of the evening, the Hon. Mr. Bryce, and on the left by the Hon, Walter Johnston. Messrs. J. G. Wilson, J. Stevens, and W. H. Watt, M.H.R.'s, also occupied seats at this table. Mr. F. R. Jackson was in the vice-chair, and Lieut.-Colonel Gorton and Mr. J. Morgan presided over the other tables. After the usual loyal toast 9 bad been disposed of, The Chairman, in a capital speech, proposed " The guest of the evening." Mr. Bryce on rising to reply, was well received. He thanked the company very heartily for the handsome manner in Yfhich the toast had been deceived, and then proceeded to speak at some length. After referring to the immense influence of Te Whiti, aud giving illustrations of it, he proceeded : — Though he had acted with a firmness that left no room for hopea of his wavering, there had not been — and he hoped a native chief who was present would mark what he said — any harshness or any insult offered to the natives. He had seen much of the unfortunate effect of war, and was •determined by massing the forces, to, if possible, averfc bloodshed, for blood once spilt there was no saying where it would stop. This was the secret of his forbearance, but he might tell them that, had there been any bloodshed, he would Lave forgotten that there, waa any such word as "forbearance," believing' that in so doing he was showing true mercy to both races. (Deafening applause.) Even without the services of the Volunteer force, he felt himself strong enough to beat a much more powerful foe than they would have found in Te Whiti aad his followers ; but he considered that the true policy was not to, as it were, court a war by having at command only a comparatively small force; and it was for this reason that he had called for the services of the Volunteers. (Cheers.) Men were wise after the event, and there were those who said they all along knew there would bo no war. He (Mr. Bryce) didn't know it, then ; and was now perfectly sure that it wanted but a very little thing to precipitate the country into war — the merest &£M&£nh, bhe chance <2fsc&arge of a gun, would probably have sufficed. (Applause.) Mr. Bryce next alluded to his relations with the volunteers, with whom, it had been said, even in that room, that he was not popular. He had put that statement to the test in calling for their services, and it was matter of notoriety how they had responded to his call. That might not have been because he was popular with them, but it certainly was because the volunteers believed that he and the Government were in earnest in what they were doing. The effect on the native mind of such a ready response on the part of the volunteers would be in the highest degree salutary. Taking the number concentrated in and around Parihaka, together with those whose services had $>een proffered but had not been he might easily have placed in the field between 4000 and 5000 men — a fact which spoke volumes for ■■the self-sacrificing loyalty of the "volunteers. And they© was another •point he might refer to in connection • with the volunteer demonstration. New -Zealand had had the misfortune I •Ito be colonised from many centres, and some thought that that fact had prevented the developement of a national feeling in the colony. But need never again be a doubt as to the nationaJ^Jjfeof New Zealand after the way in^whthe volunteers from all parts of the^bur had placed 'themselves at the dispose of the Government for the preservation of peace. He alluded to the stoppage of " Press 'Specials." In pursuance of what he •considered his duty, however, he felt ( •compelled to exclude the press representatives also, in the hope of preventing any possible injurious influence •operating on the native mind. That •there -was danger of this was shown rfrom 'the tact that, in a boardingIhouse or .hotel frequented by Press {people, one of them made the remark 'that" it would be the best thing ever Ihappened to the country if a bullet •were put through Mr. Bryce." Suplposing a bullet had been put through Mr. Bryce — what then? It would lhave been the "knell of doom for every •native in the neighborhood of Pari:haka. That remark showed how much public spirit was possessed by at least >one Of th69B " specials 11 — proved that •on© oi them was a ruffian, and proved ;also, that there was a risk attaching to their .presence at Parihaka. <(Cheerß.) He Bryce) would nave been the meanest of men had he sallowed fear of adverse criticism to . dictate what coursi? he should pursue |*iv this matter. (Great applause.) He was an exceedingly bad hand at returning thanks, but as <' ingratitude ■was an offence so rank and vile that 4io man ever yet was willing to admit iimself ungrateful," he hoped they

would believe that he was not ungrateful for all their kindness. Mr. Bryce resumed his seat amid a round of applause. Colonel Gorton proposed, " The army aud navy ;" and Major Noake, Captain Somerville, Captain Watt, and Captain Abbot responded. Mr. John Morgan proposed, " The Ministry and Parliament." Mr. Walter Johnston, in responding, said: They would soon have to go down and ask for further borrowing powers — in other words, they would have to remit more and more money from the colony, and the only way to meet this dt&ia was to increase the population. It was to him a matter for regret that the scheme enabling local bod ies to assist in the advancement of settlement, had not met with approval, as he regarded the increase of the population .is the fundamental came o5 wbioh the progress oi the colony would be the effect, and some means of promoting the settlement of the country would have to be devised.

Topia, the Native chief, then made a short address through Mr. A. McDonnell, interpreter, in which he expressed his approval of Mr. Bryce's conduct in quelling the disturbance at Parihaka.

Mr. Bryce proposed Colonel Roberts, giving him all the credit for the success of the Parihaka expedition.

Major Noake responded on behalf of Colonel Roberts.

The Chairman here read a telegram he bad just received from the Hon. the Premier, expressing sincere regret at his i»abilikj> 'to \>e present ab the banquet to Mr. Bryce, and there to bestow " honour to whom honour was due." The telegram was received with loud cheers.

A number of other toasts were then proposed and responded to.