THE YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 13

THE YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

INAUGURAL DINNER. The inaugural dinner of the Yorkshire Society was held at the Trocadero on Wednesday, the loth inst. The President (Rev J. C. Andrew) occupied the chair, and there were 61 present. A strictly Yorkshire bill of fare was provided by Mr K. Price, the menu being as follows : MENU. SOUP. Broth —“A sup on’t.” ENTREES. Sheep's Trotters —“ Gie’s a trotter.” Stewed Tripe and Onions —“ Warp and Weft.” JOINTS. Sirloin of Beef and, Yorkshire Pudding. “ Hutch the cliear up, loise the weskut and get agait.” Saddle of Mutton and, Red Currant Jelly. Ley of Pork and Apple Sauce. York Ham. “ 1 hem’s ’am.” POULTRY. Roast Chicken. Roast Ducklings. “Aw think awm full.” SWEETS. Plum Plum and Br indy Sauce. Plum Tart. Lemon Cream. Wine Jelly. “It’s lightsome, so I’ll try a bit.” Apple Pie and Cheese. Mince Pies. “ Nowt like ’um, lads, to finish up wi’.” DESSEUT. Fruits in Season. “An’ owt else yo’ like, if yo’ hev a mind to pay for ’t.” THEERE! !! TOAST LIST, The Queen The Chairman “ .-lie’s a good ’un.” The Governor The Chairman “ He’s jannock.” Our County Proposed by the Chairman Reply by Mr C. Wilson T’ biggest, bonniest and best. The Land We Live In — Proposed by Mr T. H. Hustwick Reply by Mr D. M. Buckie “Tlia’rt dooing varry weel for a young ’un.” Our Guests, Proposed by Mr T. H. Helliwell Replies by the Hon the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, M.H.R., Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R., His JVorshi-p the Mayor, and. Mr J. Russell ('President Caledonian Society) “ Mak yersens at koam.” The President ... Proposed by Mr C. Wilson Th e Town and Trade of Wellington Proposed by Mr J. Duthie , M.11.R. Reply by His Worship the Mayor (Geo. Fisher, Esq J The Yorkshire Lasses — Proposed by Mr Hustwick tieply by the President The Press ... . . Proposed by Mr Dodd, Reply by Times and Post representatives. The toasts of “The Queen” and “The Governor” were proposed from the.chair and heartily received. The Chairman then proposed “Our County,” which he said was described as “the biggest, bonniest and best.” Among other great men it had produced Captain Cook, who came in the ship Ende.ava.ur, which was built at Whitby. (Applause.) They also had their own language, although it was looked upon merely as a patois. He hoped this Society, -which was formed to keep up the brotherly feeling existing among Yorkshiremen, would effect some good. It was intended partly to aid in charitable work, by taking care of needy Yorkshiremen, and had already done some good in that respect. (Applause.) The toast having been heartily drunk,

Air C. Wilson (editor New Zealand Mail) responded. He was struck, he said, by the ignorance which existed among many Yorkshiremen of their own county, and he thought that in itself was some reason for the establishment of the Society, and that they could do great good, by the reading of papers on Yorkshire antiquities, worthies, industries, &c., at their meetings. Yorkshire, in addition to being the biggest cou,nty, was also the second most populous in England. The scenery to be found within its borders was some of the most beautiful in the world. He spoke at length on this subject, and instanced the lovely scenery of the dales, going on to refer to the abbeys, castles and cathedrals of the county—in this respect one. of the richest in all England. But not only, he said, had yorkshiremen good reason tof'be proud of their scenery, their nqble riyers, their picturesque dales and their Wealth of natural advantages, but they possessed a heritage of noble names and noble examples surpassed by no other county. The speaker then gave a long list of Yorkshire worthies, past and present, out of whioh we seloot a few, as follows: —Captain Cook, but for whom they would not be assembled there that evening, was one great Yorkshire worthy, but there were others than he, and they must not forget Fairfax and Lambert, who had fought so well for English liberties. Sir vVilliam Gascoigne, the Lord Chief Justice of England of ancient days (a memorial to whom still exists in Harewood Church), was also a Yorkshireman. William Wilberforce, the foe of slavery; William E. Forster; W. L. Jacksou, the member for Leeds ; the great Baines family, the Hon James Lowther, Mr H. H. Asquith, Mr Edward Miall, of the Liberation Society, Air Gathome Hardy (Lord fh-an,-brook), Sir James Kitson, Ben Pickard, <$C., were all Yorkshiremen. " Not''• otight" they to forget those great industrial princes—men, jnahy 1 of Whom, springing from tha people,

and fighting- their way to fame and fortune by sheer stress of individual energy and Yorkshire pluck, had devoted much of their wealth to beautifying and otherwise improv- ! ing their native towns. The speaker instanced 1 the Salts and Listers of Bradford, the Marshalls and Kitsons of Leeds, the Mappins and Firths of Sheffield, the Crossleys of Halifax and the Wilsons of Hull. Then in engineers they had had Smeaton, the lighthouse builder, Hudson, the Railway King, Sir Richard Glass, Joseph Locke and Sir John Fowler. Of scientific men, Faraday was the son of a Yorkshireman, but they could claim George Birkbeck, the founder of mechanics' institutes, and many others. Also they could claim more great painters than any other English county —among them Etty, Sir (now Lord) Frederick Leighton, Frith, of “ Derby Day ” fame, Sir Francis Chantrey, the sculptor; and in music they had Sir William Sterndale Bennett, while the excellence of their choirs was also well known. The present Poet Laureate, Mr Alfred Austin, was a Yorkshireman ; and the Bronte sisters also came from the same county. In religion they could claim Dean Hook, the Rev Morley Punshon, the Rev Dr Allan, and the Rev Mark Pattison, while a whole book could be written of Yorkshire sporting. (Applause.) He hoped members would live up to their reputation, pull shoulder to shoulder, and by industry and energy make the Society a success. (Applause.) The Premier (Hon R. J. Seddon) entered the room at this juncture, and was received with loud applause. Mr T. H. Hustwick proposed “ The Land we Live in,” of which he thought they had every reason to be proud, and which possessed a Government which added materially to the comfort of those living under its influence. New Zealand had produced a number of soldiers, statesmen and colonists of whom they might well be proud. At present they had such men in their midst as the Premier, Sir Robert Stout and Mr Duthie, and with the fortunes of the country in the hands of such men as those they might be sure they would give a good account of themselves. When the history of New Zealand came to be written such men as those would be acknowledged to have done their best to solve the socialistic problem of how to effect the greatest good for the greatest number. (Applause.) Mr D. Luckie, in replying to the toast, which was heartily drunk, said he had spent nearly 33 years in New Zealand, and had seen a good deal of the ups and down of the Colony in that time. Throughout, its progress had been most i-emarkable, and its debt had also increased to a very great extent—(laughter)—but there was the natural determination among the inhabitants t,a say 41 We can bear it, and we can pay it,” (Applauso.) Mr T. H. Helliwell proposed 44 Our Guests.” They might not be able to agree with those present who represented politios, but they must admit thoy were doing their best to help forward the prosperity of New Zealand, while as rogarded local matters they felt that as long as civic affairs were in the hands of such men as Mr Duthie and their Mayor (Mr Fisher) Wellington would not suffer. (Applause.) The toast was heartily drunk with ipusioa) honours.

The Premier, on rising to rop)y A met with a warm reception. He had great pleasure, he said, in being present, and he was glad to say there had for some years past been a good feeling between Lancashire and Yorkshire. (Hear, hoar.) In regard to polities, he said those who had charge of public affairs had only one desire, viz., to promote the wellbeing of the country and its people. Gatherings of this kind did much to promote good feeling between colonists, and he hoped and trusted their public men would da their best to prevent the ov;lu in the Old Country, which had in " many instances caused people to emigrate to Now Zealand. New Zealanders were essentially Britishers, and he felt sure they were in sympathy With the English Government in the firm stand they, were taking in regard to ipaftev-s abroad. Fo hoped, however, the Government would have the support of everybody in the matter of foreign nations getting a footing on the islands adjacent to New Zealand. It was a danger to New Zealand, and it was the duty of public men to put aside all questions of party and act as one man to put a stop to such a danger to the Colcmy, (Applause.) Wellington no doubt had a great futurel before it, and he behoved Yorksliiremen would in the future, as in the past, do what they could to promote its welfare. (Applause.) Sir Robert Stout also replied, and said societies of this kind could do much to encourage the feeling among New Zealanders that, although they were born and lived here, they were, after all, of the same race as those in the Old Country. They ought to think of what England had done for them. All the best they had came from England ; she had given them what no other nation had given to her colonies, the. utmost freedom, and they should r.evvr fail to sympathise with her in her troubles. There was not sufficient national feeling among them, and they sho.uk) try and produce a stronger feeling ct rinity than now obtained. England had, few friends now, and if it could bp ohown that her children would stary) to her amid all her troubles, jt would have a very great effect. If this Yorkshire Society could do anything to educate New Zealanders in that direction, they would do much to bring about the end of war, and hasten the brotherhood of men. (Applause.)

Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R., in responding, said, he did not think societies such, a,s. this wished, to promote old world, but were formed from, a feeling of fraternity. He wished it every success, and thought it would perpetrate among the rising generation the IoY-e for the Old Country with which they therpselyes were imbued. (Applause.) Mr D. M. Ruckle, the Mayor (Mr George Fisher) and Mr J. Russell (President of the Caledonian Society) also responded. Mr 0. Wilson proposed the toast of “The President/’ who, he said, had had a long and dignified career in New Zealand both in the Provincial Legislature and as Principal of the Nelson College. The toast was drunk with musical honours. The President, in responding, said he claimed to be a typical Yorkshireman, having been born at Whitby, and educated at St, Peter’s School, at York, and was descended from a family which had been Yorkshire ever, since the time of Oliver Cromwell, previpns-. to which, he was happy to spy, it wan- Scotch, (Laughter and ap plan sc.) Ife should be pleased to do all he could to promote the best interests of-the'Society. (Applause.) Mr. J D.utbib. proposed “The Town 'and Trade or. Wellington,” to whioh the Lfavnr responded. The toasts of “ Th* Yorkshire Lasses and “The Press ’> were also honoured.

Recitations were given by Messrs Dodd and Helhwell, and songs contributed by

Messrs Holdship, Greenwood and Woodcock, Mr F. L. Dean accompanying. The proceedings concluded with the singing of “ Auld Lang tryne ” and “ God Save the Queen.”