BANQUET AND PRESENTATION TO MR. BRYCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9095, 2 July 1888, Page 5

BANQUET AND PRESENTATION TO MR. BRYCE.

SPEECH OF SIR JOHN HALL.

[BY TELEGRArH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WAKGAKOI, Sunday. The banquet to Mr. Bryoa last night was an unprecedented success. The committee had prepared covers for over 100 guest?, but the influx of visitors from tho country in order to be present brought the number up to over 150, for whom extra provision had to be arranged. The Garrison Band was present, and the gallery of the theatre ' was graced by the presence of a large conCourse of ladies, who evinced great interest in the proceedings ; many of them remained in their places until midnight. The gathering was presided over by the Mayor, and the assemblage included three Ministers of the Crown (the lions. Messrs. Fergus, Fisher, and Hislop) and over a score of members of the Legislature, of all political sections. Apologies for non-attendance, and expressive of the highest esteem and appreciation of the guest of the evening were received from the Premier and absent Ministers, and other members of Parliament who were unable to be present. The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured— Sir John Hall. K.C.M.G, proposed the toast of the guest of the evening, the Hon. John Brycf , . In doing so he referred at length to Mr. Bryco's qualities as a man, a settler, and a statesman, to his unswerving rectitude ami courage, and to the most striking characteristics and prominent events of his political career. The present was but an incident expressive of widespread appreciation of a halting place in that career, for he refused to bolieve', and the country refused to believe, that Mr. Bryce's political life had ended, and that hi* great services were ! for evermore to be lost to the State. In ' concluding, Sir John Hall presented Mr. Bryce with an address, beautifully engrossed, and handsomely bound, and together with it a catalogue of the library 1 which the subscriber? desired to present. (The value of the library is nearly £400.) Mr. Bryce replied at some length, deprecating the praise that had been bestowed upon him, saying that whatever he had accomplished hnd been due to the magnanimity of his chief, Sir John Hall, and the other members of the able Ministry with which he had been associated, and who had always been ready to stand aside, and to permit him to receive the praise for a line of policy for which they were jointly responsible, and all equally entitled to the credit of its success. Referring to hi" suggested return to political life, he did not feel I that any services ho could render would be of value in the present condition of political affairs ; neither was he desirous of re-enter-ing the political arena : but should the time arrive when he could feel that his services wcro required ho did not know that he could decline to be guided by the call of duty, to which he had never yet consciously refused to respond. Speeches were afterwards made by the Hons. Messrs. Fergus, Fisher, and Hislop : Messrs. Bruce, Scobie Mackenzie, Fulton, Podson, Buchanan, Alien, M.icgreg.>r, Anderson, Graham, Lawry, T. McKenzic, M.H.R.'s ; Colonel Trimble, and several local gentlemen, and a most enthusiastic gathering broke up a few minutes after midnight.