BANQUETS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9512, 7 September 1891, Page 5

BANQUETS.

TO ME W. 0. WALKER,

A very large number of gentlemen, representing every part of the Ashburton district, met at Felton’s Hotel, Mount Somers, on Friday evening, on the occasion of the complimentary dinner to Mr W, C. Walker. The chair was taken by Mr A. E. Peache, and the vice-chair by Mr Andrew M'Farlane. After a very excellent spread had received due attention, the Chairman read letters of apology for absence from the following gentlemen:—Messrs Tripp, Allan, Stitt, Paton, Shury, Zander, M. Friedlander, Mitchell, Turner and Baxter. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been honoured, Mr Peache proposed the toast of the evening. He said that he felt it was a great honour to take the chair at the present ceremony. Before proposing Mr Walker's health and making the presentation, he would remind those present that they did not wish to place Mr Walker in the position of a gentleman .who had left the place and could not return because they had given him a farewell dinner. What they were doing that evening was only as a token of respect and goodwill, and they were not going to wish their guest good-bye; for, although he was now living in Christchurch, all hoped that some day he would come back amongst them. He had known Mr Walker for some sixteen years, and had worked with him most of that time on the Mount. Somers Road Board; and he knew of no man who had done so much for the district. Mr Walker had always performed more public work than anyone else; and when the amount of discomfort that such work entailed was taken into consideration, they would recognise that it was no small thing that Mr Walker had done for them. He did not like praising a man to his face, but he could honestly say that Mr Walker was a gentleman who had always helped them and done his utmost to advance the public interest. In making the presentation, he might say that it did 1 not come entirely from Mount Somers residents ; others had helped, and he was glad of their sympathy and assistance. Mr Peache' then handed Mr Walker a beautiful gold : watch and a purseof sovereigns. On the outside of the massive hunting case of the watch, Mr Walker’s monogram was engraved, and : the following inscription appeared on the inside: “ Presented to W. C. Walker, Esq.,; together with a purse of sovereigns, by the . residents of the Mount Somers district, and other friends, in recognition of his very valuable services on the Road Board during the past twenty-three years, and as a small token of friendship and esteem.” The Chairman then asked the company to join him in drinking Mr Walker’s health, and in wishing the guest a long and prosperous life. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and with musical honours.

Mr Walker, in reply, said that they would readily understand that it was difficult for him to express himself as he could wish, because their kindness had taken away bis power of speech. He had long known them all as personal friends, and he knew that their presence there that evening was because of that friendship. It was not often that a gathering of that sort partook of such a friendly nature. It gave him very groat pleasure to see so many old friends; friends that be had known and worked with so many years, and the presence of the young men who had grown up atouudhim gave him additioual pleasure. As to his public duties, he might say that the district had always been fortunate in its public men, and if he had done more than others it was because he had a better start. He was not so foolish as to think that he had always been right; he knew that he had not, and knowing this he thought he might learn to be of more service to them iu the future than if he claimed that he had made no mistakes in the past. He knew that their kindly feeling towards him that night was not because he had made no mistakes, bub because he had tried to do his best. He was glad to see his colleagues on the Hoad Board there that night, because they had been the first, at one time the only. Road Board iu that large and important district. In olden times they used to meet in Thompson’s old house once a month, and had fine easy times. There was nob much business to be done, a few stones to be picked off the roads being about the extent of their undertakings. They used to take life easy in those days—the rough and the smooth together—as they did the riverbeds ; and for his own part he should like to have those good old times over again. The Mount Somers district was not so large now as it had been in the early days, bub was perhaps of more importance. In the early days there were only a few stations and not much else, but now they had four or five schools in the district. They had families that had grown up and married in the place, and many things now were much more perfect and complete. Bat he hoped the old days would not be forgotten, and that the children now growing up would bo told of some of the adventures of the pioneer settlers, and would be proud of the fathers and mothers who had, by downright pluck, made the place what it now was. He was glad to see so many youngfaees there; to see young New Zealand doing honour to one whom they, might think an old fogie—(No. No.). He felt sure that the young people would honour them for what they had done, and go on with the good work so well begun by their fathers, and would never forget that they were New Zealanders and that they had a country of which they might well be proud. He would like to see our young men grow up to rule the grand country in which they had been bred and reared, wisely and well. He was glad to read that the other other day in Wellington a young* New Zealander—Mr Rhodes—got up in the House of Representatives and said that though he did not like the policy of the Government he had faith iu the country, and if they did anything wrong it would soon be righted. That was the spirit for our young men to show, and he hoped we should have many with the same sentiment in Parliament. Mr Walker concluded by thanking Me Peache and his other triends for their handsome present and kind words. He hoped he might be long spared to wear their present, and as long as he lived he should never forget his friends at Mount Somers. (Applause.) Mr D. Thomas proposed “The County Council and the Welfare of the Country Districts." In doing so, he spoke vcry> highly of Mr Walker’s ability as Chairman of the County Council. Messrs Harper and Cameron responded. Mr Harper proposed “The Borough Council and the Town Interests of the County." Messrs Priedlander and Thomas responded. Mr Priedlander proposed “ The Bush Interests." Messrs M'Parlane, Chapman and Wright responded.

The other toasts were—" The Mount Somers Road Board,” proposed by Mr Walker, and responded to by Messrs Peache and Chapman; " The Ladies,” " The Press,” “ The Host ” and " The Chairman.”

During the evening a number of excellent songs were sung by members of the company.

R. Bruce. The banquet was not open to the Press, but a shorthand writer was engaged to take the remarks of the Hon Mr Bryoe, which will, it is understood, he published In pamphlet forth. The gather* ing was very successful.