FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21949, 5 November 1934, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

BANQUET FOR POET

MR. T. BRACKEN HONOURED

An account of a banquet given in Auckland to Mr. Thomas Bracken, perhaps best remembered as the author of the poem " Not Understood." was given in the New Zealand Herald of November 5, 1884.

"•A banquet was given last. evening at the Clarendon Hotel," states the report, "by pressmen and others, to Mr. Thomas Bracken, lecturer and poet, "on the occasion of his visit to Auckland, and in recognition of his services to colonial journalism and literature. There were about 50 gentlemen present and the gathering was of » most representative character. Mr. Bennett, landlord of the Clarendon, was caterer, and the menu was a most varied and liberal one.

" An apology was received from Mr. E. Mitchelson, M.H.R., who said in & note, 'Mr. Bracken is a in an whom I respect very much, and I am exceedingly sorry that he has not now a seat in our Legislature. Mr. Bracken and I have always been on opposite sides of the House, still I, with many other of m? friends,, always regard him as a man of honour, a true friend and a true colonial politician.'" In proposing the toast' to • Bracken the chairman, Mr. W. Berry, said: "He has taught us to love Zealand and to he animated wj-" patriotism for the land we live in; h® lias taught us to cherish the memory of the events of our national history!: ho has shown us the pathos and poetic beauty of many of the familiar incidents of colonial life; he has roused our feelings of kindliness and chanty when distress had to be relieved an when the widow and the fatherless. flB to be comforted; and moreover it been of infinite service to the CO ' ODIS . of New Zealand, that amidst the abgor ing toils of everyday life, we have M among us a voice recalling us to t deeper thoughts of humanity teaching us that man's purpose, ev in a colony, was not merely to buy a sell and get gain." ~ lu the course of his reply Bracken said he agreed with Mr. that the mere accumulation of was not the only thing to be desj in a country such as New Zealand. .. the same time, I think nil due to the men who, by industry g enterprise, manage to push their « : - in the world," he said. "In the e v jg ages of ne\v nations, literature ft | little encouragement, and tn.? re | jgg gatherings of this kind have their , : - bv bringing the importance of the s" | jeets before the general public. . j|g