COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AT AKAROA

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5589, 23 January 1879, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AT AKAROA

[by telegeaph.J [Feoh Cue Special Eepoetee.] AKABOA, Jan. 21. Mr Montgomery continued : The whole of their endowment was really £150,C00. (Cheers.) The Engineer had resolved to put •on the best professional men, to see if it was not possible to construct a cheap tunnel. He had taken some credit to himself, but had not forgotten the part taken by his hon friend, Mr Hall. All had been done that could be done, and, though still much remained to be done, he could assure them that no efforts would be wanting on his part to secure final success, for those who had done him eo much honour. The Hon J. Hall would add a few words of thanks. Before doing so he would mention that he had been asked by Mr Bobinson to excuse his absence that night. The present was the second occasion on which the Akaroa district hadacknowledged his services in the matter of the railway. Those services had not been a question of kindness but of duty. The Legislative Council had not representatives of separate districts, and, therefore, when a member knew the circumstances of a certain district he ought to see that all those circumstances were put fairly before the House. Mr Montgomery: “ I said that you had done it from a sense of duty.” Mr Hall: “ Yes, but you spoke of it as a kindness.” (Applause.) Mr Hall continued : He was sorry that their success had been only a modified one. He had been reminded by what Mr Montgomery had said, of an old eaying, “ That virtues when carried to excess became vices.” The Council looked closely at local Bills which, as.Mr Montgomery had told them, were not discussed in the Lower House. (Laughter.) Mr Montgomery: “ They know that the Bills are right.” Mr TTall: “Mr Montgomery knew that he was right as far as votes went.” Mr Montgomery: “No, no.” Mr Hall: “ I thought tie was making a clean breast of it.” (Laughter.) Mr Hall continued: The Council might perhaps be compared to an over-zealous policeman, who it apt to look upon everybody as a thief. Mr Montgomery : “ Hear, hear.” Mr Hall: Mr Montgomery said “Hear, hear,” but he (Mr Hall) considered that the Council did not thoroughly do its duty unless it looked closely into local Bills. As to the Bill for the Akaroa Eailway, local resources existed which were ample for carrying out the work. He (Mr Hall) had been most anxious that the Local Trust should be continued to superintend the works. The Legislative Council would not pass the Bill, but a resolution had been carried that the Government should proceed with the railway. Many consultations had been held between himself and Mr Montgomery, and they had eventually done what in their estimation was the only thing which could prevent the whole undertaking collapsing. It was not possible for those present to do more than justice to the exertions made in their behalf by Mr Montgomery. Now, this railway was made dependent, with others proposed to be constructed, upon the general financial resources of the Government, which was unfortunate for Akaroa, as he recollected no period, during nearly 25 years’ acquaintance with the public affairs of the Colony, when the financial outlook for the Government was calculated to furnish matter for graver anxiety than at the present time. An examination of the financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer would satisfy them that the current ordinary expenditure of the Colony now exceeded the ordinary income by no less than £500,C00 a year, and had to be supplemented to that extent from the Land Fund. They were therefore in a worse position than they would have been in, had their local reserves remained in their own hands. His task in connection with this question was now concluded. The prosecution of ■ hat work now rested with that branch of the Legislature which had the control of the purse strings, and it would be the work of their representative to see that those purse-strings were loosened for them as well as for the people of the Thames and Otago. In conclusion, he would assure them that the recognition his slight services had met with from the people of Akaroa would ever be remembered by him.

Mr H. G. Watkins proposed, “ The Akaroa County Council,” coupled with the names of Messrs E. 0. Latter and Coop, The Council had not yet had an opportunity to distinguish themselves. The Road Boards were doing their duty, but the time would come when the Council would be found most useful. Mr Coop briefly responded. The Counties Act had not yet been carried into full force, and from what he could see there was at present no necessity for it. The time might come when the Council would be found most useful. MrDalgleishproposed, “The Corporation of the Borough of Akaroa,” coupled with his Worship the Mayor, He complimented his Worship, and spoke in glowing terms of the future prospects of the Borough. The Mayor and Councillor Meech responded, Mr W.'B. Tosswill proposed, "The Road Board of the County,” coupled with the names of Mr Duxbury and of the Chairmen present. He was glad to have the opportunity of acknowledging the services done by the Hon J. Hall in making the Road Board Act workable, Mr Montgomery had done as much, and perhaps more in the matters of education. A large debt of gratitude was due to those who worked on the Road Boards, Mid for no recompense beyond grumbling. For gome time to come they must be content vntn ordinary roads, and during that time they would still be under obligations to Road Boards. . Mr Duxbury did not know why hu name ehould be coupled with the toast, as he was

no longer Chairman of the Akaroa and Wainui Hoad Board. Ho had always considered it a duty to give his spare time to the service of his neighbours. Road making on the Peninsula was a different thing from road making on the plains. Had properly graded roads been made to the Bays, much money would have been saved. He, with others, seeing the defect, had determined to make the Okain’s Bay and Little Akaloa roads suitable for something more than packing. They had, however, found difficulty in obtaining the necessary land, without paying an exorbitant price to those who were to be benefited by the new roads. These difficulties had appa'ied the Government, who had retired Irom the attempt in dismay. The Road Boards had grappled with the difficulty, and, so far, with success, and had kept open the two main coach roads. The object of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Boards was to bring all the Bars into communication with each other. Much gratitude was due to the representatives who were tho : r guests that night, for their action in the matter of the impounded Land Fund. The last Government had repudiated the claims of persons for compensation, for lands taken for roads. He was glad to see that the present Government, thanks to the representatives, now acknowledged those claims. (Cheers.) Mr Barker, Chairman of the Okain’s Road Board, as a chairman of a Road Board for the last 13 or 14 years, quite agreed with the last speaker as to the d'fficulties the Road Boards had to contend with, in making roads through the hilly country of the Peninsula, and that too with very inadequate funds. He believed that there would soon be more funds, as the rates would have to be increased.

Mr Piper proposed—“ The Commercial and Banking Interests,” coupled with the name of Messrs Garwood, W. Stowe, and H. G. Watkins.

Messrs Garwood, Stowe, and Watkins, responded. Mr Montgomery proposed —“ The Pastoral and Agricultural Interests,” coupled with the names of Messrs Coop, Hay, and Shad bolt. He would not make a long speech, hut might be allowed to say that the two interests were gradually becoming merged into one. The farmers of the district had laid down their land in grass, but were now depasturing their land. In the past the pastoral interests had done good service, but the greatest becefiters were those who made two blades of grass grow where only one had grown before. Hundreds of thousands of acres in Canterbury would soon be brought under the plough, and large as had been the increase of the population of late, he believed that in five years the population would exceed that of Southland and Otago together. This was altogether attributable to the interests he was proposing; for Canterbury had no goldfields, and at present no manufactures to speak of. Even when manufactures would be established the great mainstay of the Province woo'd be the first six inches of the soil. (Applause.) The gentlemen whose names he had coupled with the toast were well known to them as men of energy, and members of that class who had built up the prosperity of the Province. The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Messrs Coop and Shadbolt responded. Mr Shadbolt referred to his experience of twentyfive years on the pemnsma. During that time he had seen what could be done by persevering industry towards making a home in the bush. (Applause.) Mr Duxbury proposed “ The Press,” coupled with the names of Messrs A. G. Wiggins, Plunkett, and Hart. The toast was duly acknowledged. Mr Whitfield proposed “ The Ladies.” Mr Black responded. Mr J. Aylmer proposed “ The Chairman.” The Chairman responded.