BANQUET TO W. R. WADDEL, ESQ., EX-MAYOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7827, 22 December 1886, Page 6

BANQUET TO W. R. WADDEL, ESQ., EX-MAYOR.

Mb. W. R. Waddkl, on retiring from the Mayoral chair, after three years' service, was entertained at a banquet by the Oity Counoil I act night at the Albert Hotel. A most recherohe menu, worthy of the occasion, was provided by Mr. M. Montague (himself an ex-councillor), and nothing was left wanting which could be desired. It was worthy of the hotel, of the host, and of the occasion, and afforded the most complete satisfaction. The occasion was made 1 doubly interesting from the fact that It was also the medium of the presentation to Mr. Waddel, on behalf of Mrs. Waddel, of an elaborately worked silver cradle as a memento of the birth of a son in the family during Mr. Waddel's term of office as Mayor. This elaborate piece of work, expressly manufactured by Messrs. Kohn, - of Queen-street, was on view on a sideboard under a glass shade, and was generally admired. The oradle is suspended by chains from two elaborately-worked ferntrees. The cradle itself is representative of basketwork, and on one side is a plate bearing the following inscription: —"Presented to the Mayoress, Mrs. Sophia Ann Waddel, by the Auckland City Councillors, 17th November, 1886." The date is that of the birth of the little stranger. The tables were beautifully decorated by flowers, artificial and natural. The large mirror over the mantelpiece had painted on it the motto " Welcome to Our Guest," and on a mirror between two windows was the motto, " Welcome, W. R. Waddel, thrice Mayor of Auckland." The following gentlemen were present: —Mr. A. Devore (Mayor of Auckland) presided, and on his right was seated Mr. Waddel, the guest ot the evening, and at the cross table, with the Mayor and guests, were Messrs. P. A. Philips (town clerk), T. Cotter (city solicitor), and W. Anderson (oity engineer). Mr. W. Crowther, as senior councillor, occupied the vice-chair, and the other councillors present were: Messrs. Kidd, Evans, Holand, Buchanan, Atkin, Trenwith, Cooper, James, Dignan, Goldie, Davis, Clarke, Phillipps, Garratt, and Laßoohe. Press representatives were also present. The tables having been cleared, after ample justice had been done to the dinner, the usual loyal toasts were proposed from the chair and vice-chair. In proposing the toast of the evening, the Chairman said that the. toast that had fallen to his lot was a'most difficult one. He wished to do It in plain and moderate language, not in the language of enthusiasm into which he might be led, and he was sure it would be more acceptable to the recipient. In proposing the toast, he did so with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure— regret that a good man retired from office, and pleasure that he did his work so well. (Cheers.) They all knew the zeal and common sense with which he had carried oat the duties of his office, and they hoped that he would long continue to perform the Important duties which he still had as chairman of the Charitable Aid Board and chairman of the Harbour Board. Mr. Waddel had been for three years Mayor of Auckland and previous to that had been seven years a member of the City Counoil, so that in all he had given ten years of the prime of his life to the service of his fellowcitizens. He had also served as a soldier on active service so from all he knew and from all he had heard he bad been for many years actively serving his oountry and the community in which he resided. (Cheers.) Their guest, during his term of office, had been intimately connected with many useful things which would live when they were all forgotten. The first of these was the freshwater baths, which were not excelled in any part of the colony. He also laid the foundation stone of the Publio Library and Art Gallery—another landmark, and the greatest boon that could have been provided tor the citizens; and, had it not been for an unexpected delay, he would have presided at the opening of that building. The city would not only have the benefit of a free publio library, inside of which books could be perused, but shortly there would be founded a lending library, which would render it still more popular, and whioh would take from the streets many young men who would find better employment for their time, and this building would for all time be associated with the name of Waddel, and cannot be forgotten. vv hen Mr. Waddel took office as Mayor, the new wards had only been added to the city one brief year, and he (Mr. Devere) considered they added dignity to the oity. (Oh 1 and cheers). They had, he said, given a status to the oity, whioh, without them, it.oould not possess. He mentioned this to show that in dealing with the new wards, Mr. Waddel had Bhown not only firmness, but a conciliatory spirit, whioh made the Council a strong united council, which now had the reputation throughout the colony of being without a dissenting party in it. Their guest gave his time and ability unsparingly to his duties, and in every capacity was a credit to himself and the oity he re presented (oheers), and he had now attained the highest civic honour it was possible to obtain, for after ten years of office he goes out with the esteem of all his fellow citizens. He had well played his part, and he (Mr. Devore), as their mouth-piece and the month-piece of their fellow-citizens, said this, and that was the highest compliment that could be paid to any public man. He hoped that whan future Mayors retired, they may be able to do so with the same reputation as ex-Mayor Waddel. (Loud cheering.) Mr. Waddkl, who, on rising to respond, was received with loud and prolonged cheers, said in the first place he had to return them his sincere and hearty thanks. To many of those present he knew it was not their custom to attend gatherings of this kind, and he acoepted their presence that night as a special compliment. He hardly knew how to reply to the toast, except by following the remarks made by the Mayor in proposing it, and most appropriately he had first referred to the fresh water baths, for there they could first cleanse their persons, and then in the Public Library and Art Gallery seek the opportunity to remove the cobwebs from their minds, by perusing the literature and studying the works of art provided. The Mayor's suggestion regarding the lending library was a good one. They had not the means for it at present, but when they did deal with it he hoped they would do fairly by the contributors, for if they seat books round the oountry, as was done in Sydney, care for them as they may, there would be wear and tear. Then His Worship had referred to the reputation of the Council of Auckland. From the Mayor's comments it would seem that if it had not gained in this respect during his (Mr. Waddel's) term of office, it had not lost. He endeavoured in the conduct of the business to study those who were in charge, and by consulting their wants and requirements, get the best service rendered. He was never dogmatic, and if he was positive it was because he was sure he was right. That Auckland should make vast strides during the next ten years no one wished more than he did, but he hoped it would be sound financial progress, not fictitious. How to avoid depression in colonial life waß the great difficulty. He bad toll the head of a paper here who spoke to him on the subject that if he could rectify this he would be the wisest man in the world. But it had travelled all over the world, and was the outcome of overpopulation; and except they could do as their forefathers did— vate their own few acres, spin their own wool for their clothing— auoh must occur. There were wants which their Mayor would learn were not easily dealt with. His Worship had referred to his (Mr. Waddel's) long service. Well, it was a voluntary service. No one was tied to it, and if he had earned the good opinion of his fellow-citizens it was the best result he could obtain, and ample reward for all he could do. (Cheers.) The ohairman had also referred in many other ways to his action, but lie would not detain them, or run the risk of being considered egotistical. The anecdote whioh he was about to relate was, perhaps, more appropriate to a Sundayschool gathering than to a gathering of this kind, but it was forcibly brought to his mind by the remarks of the chairman. He remembered in his youth how a penny was oared for to buy the good book with the hymns and psalms, a thoroughly Presbyterian book. He had a happy knack of always openinig in the Book or Proverbs at a certain text, and as the Waddel family, as he discovered sinoe he oame among them, had a motto, he would tell them what it was: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riohes." He had endeavoured to act up to that; he had earned the good same, and the great riches, if they came at all, must come in the ! future. (Cheers.) He thanked them very,

very much, for giving him this opportunity of Addressing them, Mr. Waddel resumed bis seat amidst loud and prolonged cheers. Mr. Phillipps proposed the toast of the Harbour Board, to whioh Mr. Waddel, chairman of that body, and Mr. D. Goldie, one of its members, responded. Mr. Laßochk then, on behalf of the Coanoil, in a humorous and appropriate speech, presented Mr. Waddel], on behalf of Mrs. Waddel, with the silver cradle before alluded to, and Mr. Waddel made a suitable response, The toasts of " The Ladies," "The Mayor," "The Press," and "The Host" were then proposed and suitably responded to. During the intervals between the toasts songs were sung by Messrs. Anderson and Clark, and some capital recitations were given by Mr. Cotter, and altogether a very pleasant evening was passed.