AFTER FORTY YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 8

AFTER FORTY YEARS.

PUBLIC : k WELCOME 3TO SIR

-JOHN GOKST.

A UNIQUE :PRESENTATION.* '

INTERESTING SPEECH IX

REPLY

The ceremony (if extending, the public welcome of the City of Auckland to the Bight Hon. : Sir John ' Gorst, P.C., the special ; envoy for the Imperial Government to the New land" International Exhibition, took place iii; the City Council Chambers yester"day,, at noon. There was a large gathering, the Chamber being filled, and amongst those present were ?a" ; number \sho were friends of Sir John in the troublous days preceding the Maori wars. A few minutes after the appointed 'time His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) entered with Miss Gorst.. followed by Sir John Gorst and Mrs. Myers and Sir John Logan Campbell, the assembly standing, to receive them, and applauding vigorously. The official invitation list was as follows:--- ; *

Auckland City Councillors; ex-Mayors (Hon. E. Mitchelson, Mr. A. Kidd, Sir J. L. Gampbell, ■; Messrs.i P. Dignau, A. E. T. Devore, «). J. Holland, J. 11. ,l)pton, T. Peacock, and H. Brett); Mayors ./ and councillors ,of Grey ; Lynn, Newmarket, . Mount Eden, Oriehnnga, Devonport, farneil, and Birkenhead; chairman and members of the Auckland .Harbour Board;-chairmen and member* ol the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, -University,. College Council, : Education itoard, Grammar School Board, Proles-" sorial Hoard. Chamber of Commerce; local memberii. of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives; Consuls-General and Consuls; presidents of the Liberal and Labour League, Political Labour League, and Trades and Labour Council; Mr. Justice Edwards, Mr. District-Judge Kettle, Messrs. It. W. Dyer, , S.M., A. Rose (Collector of Customs), vv.-S.Furby (Inspector of Telegraphs), If. F. S-eager (Ofucer-in-charge of Telegraphs), ;D. Gumming (Chief Postmaster), J. Cullen (Inspector of Police). C. K. Vickerman (District '-'Engineer, - Public Works Department), J. -Mackenzie (Commissioner of Crown Lands). Dr. Frengiey (District Health Officer); managers of local banks; Bishop , JCeligan, Bishop Lenihan, Bev. B. Macnicol (Moderator), and Kev.R. Sorhmerville (clerk to the Presbytery), Rev. J. Wilkins (Congregationalist). Rev, J- Clark (Baptist), Rev. J. A. Luxford .; (Methodist), Kev.r W.-'S. Potter (Primitive Met.hci.list), Adjutant Dixon (Salvation Army).. Mr. G. Aldridge (Church of Christ), Rev. W. 'Jellie; (Unitarian), Rabbi Goldstein, Colonel Daries, C.8.; Messrs. H. Horton, T. AV*.-Leva, W. Douglas, W. E.G. Bath bone, R. M. Macket. W. J. Geddis, W. Blomfield, T. Cheeseman, IV. Thome, J.' McLeod, Lieut.Col. Hoi crate, Hon. J. A.Tole, George George, 11. F.Milne, and J. W. Tibbs. Captain Atkin, ; British Commissioner to the New Zealand ..Exhibition, was* also present.

THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS. • . His Worship the Mayor said he was sure he was voicing the sentiments of the citizens in saying they were always pleased to :ex- ' tend a cordial welcome to any":>f the proeminent,: men from, the ■ Old Country—(applause)—'. that their pleasure: was accentuated in; the case of Sir John 7 Gorst, in ; that f hey; were extending a welcome to one who : was' not. altogether . a. I stranger, and who was practically a, returned fellow colonist, (Applause.) Sir John had„ long taken-a prominent part in Imperial politics, and, his first entry into public: life was made in New : Zealand, in the Province of . Aucki land—(applause)—where he took a part in '; the stirring times ; of-; the early sixties, just before the outbreak of. the Waikato .; war. He ;(thV Mayor).: should imagine Sir John's experience was , almost ■ unique -.amongst British statesmen. ; There was '■ a tradition current in New Zealand that Lord Salisbury spent some time in this colony in his younger days, but whether that, was correct or not: ", he, : at all events, : did / not take -, part in the ;colony's: public affairs. He ;; (the speaker) expressed all their feelings when .• he said they regrettedthat New Zealand did not: retain the seryices'of Sir John Gorst. . (Loud applause.) It was true that he had.played •his part;, on a wider stage than. would havebeen open to,him in New Zealand, but yet,: after all; the founding of ",%:} new nation - might he ; a task as momentous in itsultimate 7 hishesYas; the ruling of an old' one, "and might have afforded 1 to ~ his wide sympathies and his great ability a! sphere of action not altogether! unworthy of- them. ■Howevor, fate nile it otherwise", and ' there was : no ; one whom the British Government could have more appropriately (selected as its representative to New Zealand Exhibition./ ; (Applause.) He (the speaker), only regretted Sir-John was not here some, little time ago at the ; reunion of," old colonists. (Applause.) ;, Sir John had, no doubt, found this colony, both in outward appearance i and in the conditions of life; changed almost beyond recognition. During all] these years in ; which fie had been helping to make history on the great scale, we also had been moving in our small way; and he thought we might fairly claim that we, had ; made some progress-. : Forty years ago there were Imperial troops in New* Zealand, lighting our battles for us; now, in whatever part of the world the British Empire might be attacked, we were ready to send -our troops to fight'side by side j with those of-- the". Mother Country. In the | realms of sport, our -,:*. AH Black ■".;■ football | team hid proved their ability to contend on equal ' terms with' the pick of the players of the Old Land. P (App'.ause.) :--': The statistics ;of our commercial progress, which he knew Sir ' John had studied, he need not dwell upon. ; He might mention that two of our local insurance companies were now compet-. ing successfully for business in the markets of the world. (Applause.) "While our attention, as was inevitable under the circum;stances, had been to a large extent concentrated on the development of our material resources, art- and ;science and culture had not been altogether neglected; we had university colleges, libraries,.art galleries :: and the love of music had been widely diffused I among us. "As regarded our political proi gress, the views of different ■ individuals would, of course, vary considerably, according to the particular standpoint from which they viewed such matters, but it might at least In- said for-our legislators that they had shown no lack of courage and enterprise; in endeavouring to solve the various- problems ; that]; had confronted }them. ; (Applause.) And in connection' with the political ; question in which, Sir John; Gorst was most kutiily interested during his residence here—the native difficulty— had come, nearer, succeeding than any other civilised community had done. (Applause.) ' The' two races were now living together in perfect friendship, and on equal terms; a con-, dition of things to which the many estimable qualities of the Maoris had large contributed. There were Maoris amongst New, Zealand legislators, ministers, lawyers, ■doctors,; ■' and teachers, and although there were still a few laws in force which placed the Maoris on a' different, footing to the; pakehas and although some of these might be open, to question, he did not think it .could be denied that they had been ""passed; not to degrade the Maori,and to- keep him in a position of servitude, but with the honestintention of safeguarding his own interests. He (the speaker) was sure Sir John would be gratified to be able to bear a. message to the King that he (Sir John)-had found that the Maori race during the last- few years had been increasing in numbers. " (Applause.) Whil© changes had been relatively greater here than in the Old Country, things were not the' same; there as ,40 years ago, and there was a kindlier and keener interest taken in the colonies and a greater desire that the Imperial Government" should cultivate an attitude of tactful and practical sympathy toward.*; colonial growth and aspirations. (Applause.) ;'. In whatever way the colony, might have changed it had not slackened-in ; its devotion to the Mother Country, or cordiality towards those who came hero bearing, her commission. (Applause.) ; " It gave him (the Mayor) great'pleasure, to welcome Sir John as the repre'sentative of the Imperial Government, and as ; a distinguished Imperial statesman, and .as:■ an old; colonist- of New Zealand—(applause)-— he would ask his acceptance. as, a memento : of his visit, of a. bound volume 'of the first five issues of the celebrated '• newspaper 'which lie edited during his residence in this colony, -the Pihoihoi Mokemoke. All of these 'were originals except one, which was .an exact reproduction' of the copy.-in: the public library.. (Applause.) The sound advice which Sir John Gorst gave to \ the Maoris in that paper, was not at the time i-eceived by them-exacty in the spirit in which was offered: but , the cordial' relations which now existed be-

tween the two races were eviderfce that in. the long run his work, and that of men like him, had not ibeen ;fruitless. ';■'■ (Loud applause.) : lie regretted that-Sir John Gorst was leaving New Zealand next Monday, but ho would take with him, as a message to our kin in the O.d Land, : the assurance that we were intensely patriotic and Imperialistic, realising and 'appreciating; our position as an integral part of the British Empire, and endeavouring to prove ourselves not unworthy of the great heritage that "we had •received from tlr> past, and. the great destiny that awaitedi,us in the future. (Loud* applause.) ,■'."' '

THE PRESENTATION. The Mayor then handed to Sir 'John Gorst a volume bound in morocco, and lettered in gold. On the inside page was the coat-oi'-amis,of the, City of- Auckland, and a sketch of - Waitemata. ■ Harbour. At one side was a picture of a Maori in native drew*, and oil the: other a, picture of a settler at the plough. The illuminated inscription -was ;as follows:—-" Presented by the citizens of Auckland to the Bight Hon. Sir John Gorst, P. 0., on the' occasion of his visit as the special commissioner from the Imperial Government to the New,- Zealand International Exhibition, 1906., Signed. Arthur M. Myers, Mayor." The volume itself contained four of the original issues of the" Pihoihoi Moke moke," and a copy of the fifth not being obtainable,' a photographic reproduction of the one in the- Free Library had been bound with the others. As Sir John Gorst rose to receive the memento he was greeted by,loud applause.

SPEECH BY SIR JOHN GORST. In returning thanks the British envoy said:—-"Mr. Mayor, ladies and' gentlemen, It is impossible for me to express the feelings which have been excited in my mind by the reception I have received in New Zealand from all classes from the Government down to the people, and from both races the. Maoris and the pakehas—and this has culminated in the kindly way "in which I have been,received to-day in, the great city of Auckland, the largest and most- nourishing city of New Zealand. ■ (Applause.) I. can only express my regret that _ I did not remain in New Zealand, and am not now a New Zealand citizen. . The Mayor has kindly expressed regret that. I am about to bid you adieu, and 1 can assure him that that* regret is very keenly felt by myself.' Since I have been here I have often asked myself why did I ever go away. (Applause.) If" it were possible to tear up the roots I have, struck in the Old Country where my family lives, even at this eleventh hour I think I would come back, and end my days in the colony. ; (Applause.) The Mayor has spoken to you of the changed aspect of the country ' since - I was hero more 'than -40 years ago ; it is quite anew country, quite different front the one I knew. The great trade/and your articles of export, have all sprung up since my day, frozen meat, flax, butter, are all quite, new since my day; we only had the timber and gum." I have been struck ... by the extraordinary development of the- country, but I do not think that is the most extraordinary it is _ the development of: the people themselves, it is the aspiration which every New Zealander I have met seems possessed ot to become a member of new people, not a separate people from the Old Country, not to separate from the Crown of. Great Britain, but to make New Zealand something quite .unlike'what is- to be seen at Home,- while still a part of the great Empire, and it is not an unreasonable aspiration, and it is one that is .:■' likeiy to be; realised, '~ and ;. every Englishman will wish you God speed. .(Applause.) And you have great advantages in this country, ; "you . have, above all, the; advantage of a growing population of children, boys and girls?:; who, I should think, are quite unrivalled for health and strength and' power, of'body and mind in any, country in the.'.-.world. (Loud applause.); I have been accustomed for many years at Home to visit the schools, not only in Great Britain, but oh the Continent of' Europe and other places, and I have always been accustomed in schools to take, special regard 'to the. physique of the children, and there is»no. part of the civilised; world; where you willfind * such fine boys > and girls as you \ find in New Zealand schools. (Loud applause.) But that is not everything, for it only I shows' they are healthy- young animals, { .but it is a. very 'good foundation .oh. which';! to 'build,' and it seems to me the instruc- . tion ■being■ given 'in the schools, and v.-the? general education of children in .New Zea- I land, in turning these healthy young ani- ! mals into extraordinarily fine specimens of ; men and women when they grow up. (Applause.) New Zealand lias the advantage, the peculiar advantage, =of the pre- j sence of the Maori race. : When ..I. left * New Zealand, I left it in despair, . the war was . just breaking out and I 'thought the Maoris, to whom I was greatly attached, were doomed to extermination, but I have, come > back after 40, years, and 'find the : most generous sympathy, on the part of the Vpnkeha population for the- Maoris. (Applause.) - There is not a trace, of the ill-feeling which prevailed -: in my time "and culminated in a great war. 1 have spoken to people of all classes of society in New '■' Zealand, and find no trace whatever of ; " that : :': feeling ,(Applause.) ':, On the other , hand, amongst ,the Maoris themselves, there is much more confidence in the goodwill and justice- and good feeling of their white neighbours than there was in '". my .time., ..With .the most benevolent intentions -we. could never get into ; the : feelings . of the » Maoris, or get them to believe in the genuineness of what wo were ; doing on their .behalf, and .you know a technical school was designed at Te Awainutu by Sir • George Grey ; "for the Maoris, and it was suppressed by violence by Rewi Maniapoto's people, - and yet the very same people received me with most extraordinary enthusiasm a few days ago. 1 (Applause.) In that Maori question you have a question,, which'"■- is , not ■ completely solved yet, but it is one in which. and your Government have a great opportunity.It. is a very distinctive arid --very remarkable _ feature in your civilisation", there is nothing like it in any. other country in the world. There are places where loss civilised races have been, reduced to-a kind of servitude, but there is no country in the world where the uncivilised race is treated on. equal'' terms, and .where,more justice and more consideration is shown to them. '/ (Applause.) It is very greatly to the • credit of r the colony, • • and "veiy greatly to the credit of the'people of New Zealand, that they became a nation and set an, example -to the, world, which no people yet lias Imitated, of tin; unique position of an uncivilised race living in perfect amity and equality with the civilised race, and' enjoying all" the advantages of civilisation;.-' (Applause.) I accept this volume with very great; gratitude; .there is nothing you could have given me ; which would have pleased me more than this little,: memento of the efforts which we made, in. those days. , (Applause. ; If -. is,; a very;, unique presentation, for T' did not believe; these copies could be got until I saw this. ■ Although -some collectors' of curios have some numbers, I did not think the issues could have been collected as this shows, they have been. , The only thing! have to; regret- in my happy visit is that I am logo awav. _ I shall leave you .on Monday, with the greatest: possible regret; I .wish 1 I could stay, - I- wish I could end my days here; I wish ' I could | be the' continuous spectator of the progress I and real development of the . new nation j that is building here, and I can only tell you that from my home at the other end of: the world \ I shall watch' New Zealand affairs with interest, and rejoice in your progress and happiness." ' (Loud applause.) : At the call of the Mavor. cheers were given for Sir John Gorst" and Miss Gorst, after which many old' friends arid many new ones gathered round to shake hands with Sir John.; Subsequently;the guests were invited to light refreshments in the. Mayor's room.