YORKSHIRE SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1352, 27 January 1898, Page 36

YORKSHIRE SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND.

THIRD ANNUAL DINNER. The third annual dinner of the New Zeav land Yorkshire Society was held in the TrocaderO last night, week. The Rev J. C. Andrew (Whitby), president, was in the cliair* and was (supported on his right and Heft respectively by His Worship the Mayor and Mr H. D. Bell. There were 73 guests present, including a number of Petone visitors, and the proceedings were throughout of a most enthusiastic character, 'lhe dinner was put on in true Yorkshire fashion by Mr Pinnock, of the Trocadero, and the proceedings were enlivened by the excellent selections of Foster's String Band, which also played the accompaniments specially arranged by Mr William Foster. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs Gresley Lakin, J. T. M. Hornsby, T. H. Hustwick (Napier), and the Sight Hon E. J. Seddon. The latter took occasion to refer to the kindness with which ttie New Zealand contingent was treated when it visited Yorkshire, and also the hospitality which had been extended to him J self during his visit to Scarborough. York minster, he said, had impressed him* very strongly indeed in respect of its architectural beauties and stained glass windows, which went far to show that we had not advanced anything whatever in that respect. At the conclusion of the repast The Chairman proposed the toast of " The , Queen" ("Aashoo's a, grand un!") which was drunk with musical honours. He aIBO proposed the health of "His Excellency the Governor" ("Wi'sttak to thi") which was drunk with great heartiness. * Mr HelliweU in felicitous terms proposed the toast of "Our County" ("Th' biggest, .' bonniest an' best"). He descanted at length upon the greatness, beauty and wealth of "Yorkshire, the healthy public spirit of its inhabitants, the distinctive character of its industries, and the progress it had made in mumoipal and other reforms. Mr M. Fiockton, in reply, pointed out that Captain Cook was a "Yorkshireman, and that when he came here he knew it would not be long before there would be soma Yorkshirfimen in New Zealand. That was why he left some pigs here. (Laughter.) Mr 0. Wilson, M.H.K., proposed "The land we Live in " (" Thaa munnut caar still, yung en, but alius goa aheead "). He said while they were all proud of being Xbrkshiremen. Those amongst them who had come here to scay (and he hoped they all had) should be equally proud of the country of their adoption, and work one and all for its advancement, seeing at the sama tune that the evils and inequalities which existed in the Old Country should not gain a footing here. 'MrH. D. Bell, as a New Zealander, and the president of the New Zealand Natives' ' Association, thanked those present for the privileged invitation which had been extended to him. As Yorkshiremen those present were, almost standing on Yorkshire soil as th«y stood in New Z aland. Hero at the I ultima thule of the world with the British flag above them fhey were at home indeed. Mr T. J. Boyes proposed "Our Guests" (" fi'e gowlads, we're sewer yo' welcome "). His v r f orship the Mayor, in reply, said the compliment which had just been passed was unique in his experience. Asa resident of 'Wellington for nearly 50 years this was the first occasion on which he had attended a Yorkshire dinner, or indeed any other function of! the kind. A private citizen moving * in a quiet way, he had avoided gatherings of thi3 kind, but he was exceedingly proud to be present that evening. Mr 0. i&. Briggs proposed the toast of " The President " t" Hee's jonnock, an' we're praad on'im'). Th© toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and cries of " God bless you." The Rev J. 0. Andrew responded in a feeling speech. Mr F. G. Thompson proposed " Our Civio Rulers" (" Wi' all t' grummellin, yo're doin' varry weel '.'.). The toast was drunk with musical honours and. cheering. His Worship the Mayor, in responding, said no man was more astonished than himself at becoming a civic ruler. He pointed out that civic government in England was the basis of the constitution. Th9re was no governmant of such importance to the wellbeing of the community as municipal government. General politics he _ was satisfied, had comparatively little influence on--"bur well-being, as far as Wellington was concerned, we had as good a supply of water as Glasgow or Birmingham, and in other respects and considering our

£ relative circumstances and age we were not . so far behind after all. If, it bad not been for the rates o£ interest we had had to pay in the past, we would have been even farther ahead than we were at present, and his predecessors might fairly be congratulated on '* the progreas which had been made. He was bo far a Socialist that he believed in the mnnicipalisation of all municipal affairs, such as water, lighting, locomotion, &c, under the direction of a council elected by the citizens. The other toasts honoured wore " The

Yorkshire Lasses " (" T' bonniest lasses aw ivver clapt mi eeu on "), proposed by the chairman and responded to by dv Hustwiuk, jun. ; and '-'Che Press" ("Alius spaik thi mind an nivvor head"), proposed by Mr W. 8. Badfoid and duty responded to ; and " The Grobestrav" sesponded to by Sir Foster. Daring the evening songs were given by Me3.-T.s T. O.Volokaian (encored), Mussen, Trevor (eaccred) and i'.oli, and recitations were given by Messrs (J. VViison and J. M. Helliwell.