WELCOME TO DR CHAPPLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1351, 20 January 1898, Page 27

WELCOME TO DR CHAPPLE.

A well-attended meeting of the New* Zealand Natives’ Association was held at Thomas’ Hall on Tuesday, Mr S. Waters, vice-president, in the chair, the gathering also taking the form of a welcome to Dr Chappie on his return to Wellington. A number of new members were elected and others proposed for enrolment, the secretary stating that with the addition of these names the roll stood at 523. After some proceedings of a preliminary character an address of welcome to the guest was read by the chairmam, the signatories thereto being members of the Association and of the Wellington Swimming Club and the friends of the recipient. Dr Chappie, who was received with prolonged applause, thanked those present for the hearty welcome extended to him, which was all the more gratifying because so unexpected. He congratulated the Association upon its success during the last few months, and although it was a weak offspring at whose birth he had officiated, it had now grown to sturdy youth, and gave promise of a robust manhood. _ He congratulated them upon their selection of a president for the ensuing term, for Mr Bell was eminently suited for the position by reason of his distinguished service to the city. The request that he should give a lecture on his recent tour was an exceptionally large order, and one which at such short notice he felt unequal to fulfil. The first thing a New Zealander did in travelling to the Old World was to institute comparisons—comparisons of scenery, of climate, of people and of institutions—some favourable and others unfavourable to the colony. With regard to scenery, however, the comparisons were distinctly favourable. This was apparent on making individual comparisons. The fcwiss Alps (whose beauties have been so eloquently sung by Mr Boss) have their analogue in those of the South Island; if one wanted to find fiords to excel the beauty of those on the Norwegian coast, they were to be discovered in the Southern Sounds; of mountain peaks there were none more perfect than Mount Egmont; all the loveliness and healthfulness of the Eiviera were to be found in Nelson; Nature in hysterics could be viewed at any time at Tarawera and Kotomahana. All these beauties might be seen in individual countries—the glaciers of Switzerland, the fiords of Norway, the peaks of Japan, the rugged mountains of Scotland, the peaceful places in the South of France—but all were combined in New Zealand. These assets. could, and would, bo turned to financial advantages. The improvements daily being effected in steamships—rendering the vessels much more comfortable as well as safer—would be the means of inducing tourists to visit the colony, and their stay would be made more pleasant by the better class of accommodation obtainable. Another thing which would tend to bring people to New Zealand was the growing belief among medical men in the efficacy of long sea voyages, by which not only the advantage of change was procured but also that of fresh, invigorating sea air. The efforts of Sir Westby Perceval and a the Hon W. P. Beeves in affording information to. the British public on colonial affairs had been a factor in removing a great deal of ignorance which formerly prevailed, and one thing which struck him most during his visit to England was the fact that it was an extremely rare thing to meet anyone who was not conversant to a great extent with our affairs. The municipal institutions at Home had greatly occupied his attention, always with a view of being ablo to afford information which would be of practical use to the people of Weliingtonr The success which had attended the mnnicipalisation of the Glasgow tramways had now become ancient history, no system of municipal control having been so successful a commercial enterprise as this. In Capetown there was a system of electrical trams, but the service was anything but satisfactory, which. might be accounted for on the grounds that it was controlled by a private company. In Hobart the tram service was much better. The history of munieipalisafcion emphasised one fact, and that was that the ratepayers should determine not to put men into the Council who have private ends to serve. The way in which the butchers of Dublin had frustrated the promises of good which the establishment of abattoirs in that city bad indicated was a case in point. The telephone system of England and Scotland was then compared by Dr Chappie with that in the colony, his verdict being emphatically in favour of the latter. The agricultural depression existing in England was next touched upon, the speaker considering it to be due to the general want of adaption among the farming classes to new methods and machinery. His visit to Bussia could only be briefly referred to. but he proposed to deliver a' lecture on that country at a later date. Most of the people there believed that if they “ kissed the Echan ” and obeyed the Czar they had fulfilled all their obligations to God and man. Only abort 30 per cent, of the population were educated; 70 per cent, could not sign their names. The musical services in some of the churches were particularly fine, the chanting of the priests being wonderfully effective. The address to the Queen which he had been requested to convey to Her Majesty by the Association had been delivered in due course to the Home Secretary, and was now on exhibition at the Imperial Institute. Dr Chappie, whose remarks had been frequently applauded, concluded by reiterating his thanks and appreciation for the welcome accorded him. On the motion of the Chairman, a voto of thanks to the doctor was carried by acclamation. Befreshments were then partaken of, and the gathering broke up shortly after* wards,