PUBLIC DEJEUNER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 142, 24 September 1853, Page 7

PUBLIC DEJEUNER.

A public dejeuner was given on Thursday to Captain Gibbs, of the Ann, to celebrate the arrival of the first commercial steamer in our harbour The schoolroom, where the dejeuner took place, was tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens, and presented a very pleasing effect. To Mr. Gee was confided the general arrangements, and in his experienced hands nothing was left undone to please the eye and gratify ; the palate of those assembled. It was, without exception, the best thing of the kind that we have witnessed in this settlement. About eighty sat down to the entertainment. The company comprised His Honor the Superintendant, Avho presided ; Messrs. Moorhouse, Sewell, and E. J. Wakefield, representatives to the General Assembly ; Messrs. Cookson, Hamilton, Dampier, Rhodes, Simeon, and Cass, members of the Provincial Council ; and the leading men of all professions in the Colony. Several gentlemen from Wellington, and the other settlements, were likewise present. It was an unmistakeable expression of the public feeling in the settlement, with respect to the importance of haying steam communication established. We regret that, owing to the limited space we have at command, and the lateness in the week of the proceedings, we are unable to do that justice to the important event we celebrated, in the manner we could wish. Captain Gibbs can, however, testify to the prevailing feeling of satisfaction at the introduction of steam, and to the hearty desire on the part of the people of Canterbury to co-operate, as far as it lies in their power, in bringing about its continuation. We are but a young community and have many difficulties, to surmount, in developing our coal and other resources ; but should the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company continue those operations, of which the Ann is the precursor in New Zealand, the directors may rely, and in this Cap. Gibbs will, we are sure, bear us out, upon our best endeavours to facilitate in every way their objects and views. We have received a letter from a gentleman, recently arrived from India, pointing out the immense advantages that would accrue to us were the prospect realised of regular steam communication with that continent, which has been so immensely benefitted by the operations of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. We have no space for it ahis week.

To return, however, to the more immediate objects connected with Thursday's proceedings. After ample justice was done to the repast, the chairman gave successively, the Queen; Prince Albert and the Royal Family ; and His Excellency, the-Governor of New Zealand. These toasts were loyally responded to ; the national anthem being sung after Her Majesty's health. A limited number connected the Governor's name with the song—" For he's a jolly good fellow." Mr. Spowers then gave the health of the Superintendant, which was. heartily received and appropriately responded to by His Honor. The toast of the day was then given from the chair ; " the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and Captain Gibbs." The chairman, in proposing the toast, entered and enlarged upon the immense benefits that steam had conferred upon the world in advancing the social and political progress of mankind. He shewed how necessaiy it was that those benefits should be experienced by ourselves if we did not wish to be left behind in the march of civilization. Canterbury had extensive coal and mineral districts, now all but useless from the want of means to- render them available, and he saw no means that would more effectually tend to Work them than such as steam would effect, by

opening up our communications with the rest of the world (cheers). " It would bring us into proximity with Australia, and' tend to steady and cheapen our markets, (hear, hear). The merchant would bebenefitted by it, as nothing was more clearly understood and established than this, that small profits and quick returns were the very essence of commerce, (cheers). Mr. Fitz Gerald concluded a very able speech by calling upon all present to join with him in drinking success to the Peninsular and Ori- • ental Steam Company, and to the health of the gentleman on his right, Captain Gibbs, who was their agent and representative. The toast was drank with great enthusiasm and amid cheers loudly and longly renewed.

CaptainGibbs, who was loudly cheered on rising, expressed his extreme gratification with the manner in which his health had been drank. He said that from what he had witnessed here and at Wellington and Nelson, he was convinced that steam navigation would receive the most active support and encouragement from the inhabitants of New Zealand. The'company' with which he was connected was one of the largest and most flourishing of the great steam companies of England, and were: desirous of extending their lines to New Zealand (hear, hear). Their operations already embraced Egypt, India, China, and Australia, and the manner in which they were con r ducted was a guarantee for what would be done for New Zealand, if ericouragernent and aid were rendered (cheers). In steam navigation money was a secondary consideration, time the primary one, (hear, hear) : as punctuality and dispatch were absolutely essential to the proper working and carrying out their undertakings. He wished to impress this fact upon them, in order that every facility should be afforded to steamers. Captain Gibbs said that the Peninsular and Oriental Company contemplated, in the event of proper support being given, to run steamers monthly from Melbourne and Sydney to Wellington, coaling at Nelson, while two smaller steamers, of which the Ann would be one, would communicate with the different settlements of New Zealand. Captain Gibbs concluded by again thanking those present for the compliment they had paid him, and augured from what he had seen and heard that steam communication would soon be permanently established between Australia and New Zealand (cheers). The following toasts were then given :— The members of the General Assembly ; replied to by Mr. Sewell. The Members of the Provincial Council ; replied to by Captain Simeon. Our friends from Australia, and the other settlements ; for whom Captain Peacock returned thanks. The commercial marine, responded to by Capt. Parsons. Prosperity to the town of Lyttelton, by Mr. Rowland Davis, and acknowledged by Mr. Cookson. The ladies, for whom Mr. E. J. Wakefield replied ; and, lastly, the chairman, who briefly acknowledged the compliment and expressed the extreme satisfaction it afforded him in presiding on so important an occasion. The party then broke up.