CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S BANQUET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 23

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S BANQUET.

The Caledonian Society’s second annual banquet was held on Tuesday evening at the EmpiieHotel. At 8 o’clock between sixty and seventy gentlemen sat down to a very fine spread (including a haggis) prepared by Mr Gilmer, the chair being occupied by Mr John Duthie (President) and the vice-chair by Mr T. Mackay (Vice-President). Later on a number of toasts were proposed, and duly honored; and songs, &c., were supplied by Messrs Maginnity, Lyon, McGlashan, Newton, and others. Follewing is a report of the speeches made during the evening, necessarily condensed in consequence of the lateness of the hour at which the banquet terminated : The usual toasts of “The Queen,” “The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family,” and “ The Governor,” having been honored, Mr Maokay proposed “The Parliament of New Zealand,” He was not a speaker, he said, and he believed that on one occasion a prominent member of tbe present Government had said that schoolmasters had no right to interfere in or meddle with politics.

(Laughter.) He thought New Zealand had reason to be proud of the distinguished men who had taken part in the administration of her affairs, and he had no sympathy with the cry so often raised, that our politicians were simply tricksters. He knew that at times, during electioneering or in opposition, they made promises which, under other circumstances, they had to modify, but he was satisfied that as soon as any of our public men got saddled with the responsibilities of office they got sober, and became zealous and earnest in their desire to advance the progress of the Colony. , He had no sympathy, either, with the cry that the age of politics was passed in New Zealand, and he contended that they had men as able and as earnest now as any they had had before. In proof of that he would refer to the two gentlemen with whose names he coupled the toast, Sir Robert Stout and Mr Edward Wakefield. He looked upon Sir Robert Stout as a self-made man, who might well be held up as an example to the young people of the Colony. (Hear, hear.) The’Premier, responding, remarked that he was not surprised that the piper interrupted when Mr Maokay said he was not a politician (referring. to a sudden outbreak on the part of the piper while Mr Maokay was speaking). There were some Scotchmen who could not help being politicians if they tried, and he hoped Mr Mackay was of that class. It was true, as Mr Maokay had said, that in 1867 exception had been taken in Otago to schoolmasters meddling in politics, but that was local politics, and referred to schoolmasters having publicly passed resolutions commenting upon the action of the Education Board. He looked upon it as a duty that every man should take part in politics, especially in a colony like this. As to the Parliament, it compared favorably he believed, with any other, which was due to the high example which was set in the early Parliaments of the Colony. He did not sympathise with those who were always finding fault with members of Parliament. Such an assertion, he pointed out, reflected to a great extent on those who elected the members. The members themselves, he believed, felt it an honor to belong to the Parliament. They had differences of opinion, but however much they might differ in the House, they did not quarrel or lose their personal respect for each other, and he did not think a finer feeling would be found in a ' Parliamentary lobby anywhere than in this Colony. (Hear, hear.) The members recognised that they were men called together from different parts of the Colony to consult for its good. He was, as Mr Mackay had said, a self-made man. Since he was 13 years old he had maintained and educated himself, and he did not think many could say that. If our youth would only be careful and studious there were great futures before them. They had greater advantages now than were to be obtained in the earlier days of the Colony, and it was for them to show that these advantages had not been thrown away. If they did that they would produce in New Zealand men who would live, not only in the minds of the people of New Zealand, but also in the minds of the people of tho Great Empire, of which New Zealand is part. (Hear, hear.) Mr Wakefield also responded. Mr T. Kennedy Macdonald proposed “The scientific and educational institutions of New Zealand.” This toast was uncommon at a gathering of this kind, he said, but he was glad to see that the Caledonian Society had made an innovation in this direction. This was a toast, he thonght, which ought to be drunk enthusiastically if any was. Scientific matters were well defined in this toast by being connected with the name of Dr Hector. (Hoar hoar.) That gentleman was one to whom* the Colony would, for all time, owe a debt of gratitute. The only thing to be re. gretted was that every Government sent for him for assistance on every subject, from an eclipse of the sun to an explosion at Tarawera And ha hoped that the reward of these labors, in the shape of increased honors, would not be long coming. (Applause.) Mr Macdonald went on to refer to the matter of education, incidentally mentioning that this Colony had a larger number of newspapers proportionately than any other Colony, and that our newspapers consequently were a great factor in the eduoation of. thg people. Referring to tho name of Mr Kenneth Wilson, with whose name the toast was also connected, Mr Macdonald said they were all glad to learn that he was again connected with the Wellington College ; and he hoped it would not be long before they wood have a university college in Wellington. (Hear, ho Dr* Hector, responding, expressed an opinion that scientific and educational matters should not be separated, holding that the two were distinctly connected. After glancing at the history of Scotch university education, Dr. Hector remarked that the efforts of the Caledonian Society classes of lectures, which would tend to lead people to read and to educate their minds, was one that was very much to be admired. The peculiar characteristics of the Scotch character were seen in other undertakings than battles such as that of Bannockburn, which had just been sung of. Edinburgh university might be cited a* an instance of that. Experience showed that universities were best able to manage their own affairs—at any rate, do not let them get mixed up with harbor works, as the Edinburgh University was. (Laughter.) _ Mr Kenneth Wilson also responded. He thought, he said, that in respect to education New Zealand would bear favorable comparison with any other. The success of educational institutions, however, depended not so much on the means as on the way m which those means were employed. He urged that parents should be prepared to make some sacrifices in order that their children might be properly educated. (Hear, hear.) The Premier, in proposing “The Caledonian Society of Wellington,” said this was the toaßt of the evening. There was need for a Caledonian Society, he said, for they would find soon that their children would grow up calling themselves New Zealander*, and it was well there should be a link to bind them, to their parents’ country. There must be a provincialism about each nation, and there were good points about all nationalities. But Scotland, he pointed out, had many characteristics. It waa the poorest

of the three British nations, but it had the* largest wealth per head. That was broughfe about by the thrift of the people, who* learned, as they said “to creep before they gang.” The Scotch were he believed, the freest people on earth.| He ridiculed and combated the as«er-fe tion that the Scotch were governed to rt undue extent by the Church. Scotland hadT always shown the most liberal opinions, ana® had shown that at the last electionwas another good thing about Scotland, an®, that was that she had always striven to give*, education to the poor. There were they might learn from Scotland, and then, if they thought of her records in music and in science they would see the desirableness oF perpetuating her history. The function o the Society, then, was not merely to hold, sports every year, but to keep up the n*Ln® of Scotland ; to follow in her footsteps, and to give that education which was not given by the Government or the municipality. He denied that thiß Society had shewn any national jealousy; there were amongst its officers, he said, gentlemen of other nation, alities. The Society had made its bams wider than many other societies he kne w m the Colony. They asked that the historic glory of Scotland should be preserved, and beyond that they invited all to assist them in doing good to this part of the Colony. The Society in future would have the proud boast of saying that it was the first to givo higher education in this part of the Colony. In conolusion, he congratulated the Society on its President, who was, he said, a gentleman, who carried out whatever he undertook, and. the Society was most fortunate in getting hl The President, responding, read a telegram from Mr Somerville, who was now in Fiji, expressing regret that he could not be present, but stating that he was with them in thesDirit. (Hear, hear.) Mr Duthie alluded to the progress of the Society, and said it was satisfactory to be able to say that they were solvent, and bad a fair balance at the bank. The Society was fortunate in having Dr Macgregor in its ranks ; and he thought that, with the assistance of those gentlemen who had come forward, they would be able to successfully carry through the system of educational classes which had been started. He agreed with the Premier as to the desirableness of preserving the history of Scotland. The Caledonian Society, however, waa an institution for the benefit of the general community. He contended that no country had a nobler history than Scotland. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. C. Crawford proposed “ The Literature of Scotland.” Scotland, he said, was particularly rich in the finer qualities of literature. MrE. Wakefield, responding, claimed that the literature of Scotland was the heritage of all people, and, said that therefore he, though he waa not a Scotchman, might respond t» the toast. He expressed an opinion that Burns was to be ranked with the great creative intellects Shakespeare, Milton, Homer, and others —and that the greatness of Burns in one line, and Soott in another, had dwarfed the efforts of other Scotchmen whose efforts really entitled them to front rank. He dwelt upon the great knowledge which was found in this Colony of Burns. He understood that a statue of Burns was on the way out to New Zealand, to be set up in Dunedin. Where was the statue of Shakespeare in this Colony ? He did not know that there was one. He himself had one, which he had carried about for years, and no doubt should carry about to the end of his days ; and which he always set up in his study to inspire him with literary ideas and noble thoughts, but he did not knowthat there was any public statue of Shakespeare. Mr Wakefield devoted some time to a eulogy of Scotch poetry, and was loudly cheered on concluding. _ . ~ MrE. Gardner proposed “The Visitors.” This meeting and the action of the Caledonian Society generally, he remarked, would show the unjustness of the assertion that the Scotch were exclusive. j The Mayor (Mr A. W. Brown), in re-

The Mayor (Mr * . j , SDonding, said the Society was setting a noble example to others. He hoped that those members in Wellington who were wealthy, and had made their wealth in Wellington, and who so seldom assisted educational matters, would benefit by the example set them. Dr Cahill also responded, and a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment was con. eluded with “Auld Lang Syne” shortly after midnight.