THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4884, 16 November 1876, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

This enterprising company, which has now attained the proud position of one of the leading mercantile corporations ®t the colony, on October 30 commemorated the establishment in Wellington of a branch office and the commencement of the wool season by a lunch on board the Waikato.

■ There was a very large company present—about 200—and all the principal commercial and professional firms in town were represented. The; Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, one of the local directors, occupied the chair, and Mr. Harold Selwyn Smith; the general manager of the company, and Captain Rose, the newlyappointed local manager for Wellington, were also present. Lunch was served in splendid style by Mr. P. Laing between decks, the place being very tastefully decorated. A portion of the Rifle Band were in attendance, and enlivened the proceedings by suitable selections of music.

The wants of the inner man having been duly attended to, toasting was commenced by the Chairman giving in succession—“ The Queen,” “ The Prince' of Wales and Royal Family,” and “ The Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby.” , “ The Army and Navy” came next, and, in response to loud calls, Colonel Reader responded on behalf of the army. He said it had struck him that Captain Mating could have responded to the toast more appropriately than he could, seeing that in some degree he (Colonel Reader) had become disassociated with the regulars. However, he was still connected with the service, and he would return thanks for the honor done the army ; hut at the same time he must not forget the contingent forces in New Zealand, with which he had so much to do. He presumed they, were included, in the , toast. People were apt to disparage, the contingent forces, and to say they were not equal to the regulars in point of excellence in drill; but he° would say this, wherever the contingent troops had been employed in the colony in conjunction with the regulars they had always gained the respect of . the regulars., (Cheers.) Captain Malino said as his name had been mentioned he wished to acquaint the company with the fact that were it not for his retiring modest disposition he would have returned thanks in the first instance. He had left it to Colonel Reader because he thought that gentleman, could do more justice to the army than he could, and his anticipations had been so fully realised that he felt further expression of his (Captain Maling’s) feelings quite unnecessary. To his mind it was a source of great satisfaction to find that wherever there were social gatherings, even in this distant part of the Empire where the Imperial troops were not, the same good feeling towards the .army.was always exhibited by, remembrance in the toast list. (Cheers). Mr. J. C. Crawford returned thanks on behalf of the navy. The : Chairman proposed “The Health of her Majesty’s ' Ministers,” and to the arduous duties falling upon them during the session and likely to fall upon them during the recess in consequence of the abolition of provincialism.

There being no Ministers present to respond, Mr. Selwyn Smith said that as neither Ministers nor Ministers’friends were present (a laugh)—he should submit another toast, viz., “The Parliament of New Zealand, and Success to its Legislation.” In answer to continued calls, Mr. J. L. Fitz Gerald rose to respond. ; He said ha thought the Parliament of New Zealand had responded to the toast in the best manner possible, for although a few minutes previous a number of legislators were present, the hour of half-past two having arrived, they had betaken themselves away to., their parliamentary duties, showing they were, even at the fag end of a session, still as anxious to attend to their work. He could not conceive of any stronger evidence; of the assiduity with which these gentlemen applied themselves to the faithful discharge of their duty than the fact that not even a continuation of the seductive pleasures of the last hour or two could tempt them to remain away from the Parliament Houses. (A laugh.),,. He was very much gratified to find that; there were some who remembered he, had, Qnce; been a member of the Parliament of NfiW Zealand, but in their kindness they had cast upon him a melancholy task. To ask him to return thanks for.the Parliament was; very jmuch like asking a man who had been divorced to drink the health of his parted wife. (Laughter.) Although he deeply regretted he was unable to return thanks in any other capacity than the one in which he stood on that occasion, he could only hope the time might again come when he would be able to return thanks as a member of the Parliament of Now Zealand, but if allowed he would as an old member express his gratefull sense of the kindly manner in which the toast of the Parliament had been received. (Cheers.) Mr. W. M. BannATYNE then gave the “Now Zealand Shipping Company,” coupling with it the name of the general manager, Mr. Harold Selwyn Smith. He said he did so with very great pleasure, for he felt proud of what the company had done in the past, and confident they would maintain their position in the future. As to the new general manager, he thought the company had been exceedingly fortunate in securing his services. He had known Mr. Smith for many years; in fact, he might gay they were boys together; and from a knowledge of that gentleman’s business capacities,.extending over years, he had no hesitation in expressing his opinion that the company had put the right man in the right place. (Cheers.) If it were possible to make the company a thorough success, of which he had not: the least doubt, Mr. Smith was the man to make it a' success; and he was quite sure the balance-sheet presented each six months would: form, an additional proof of Mr. Smith’s energy and capability. The liberality of the company that day was an earnest of its liberality in everything, and they would see that it • .they dealt liberally with the public, the public ypuld accord liberal support. ! ■ The toast was received with great applause and “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” Mr. Smith’s rising was greeted with loud cheering. He saidMr, Chairman and Gentlemen, I am not going to commence the few 1 remarks I shall make by any hackneyed apology for being unaccustomed to public speaking, but I am particularly grateful for the kind manner in which my health has been proposed and responded to by the company, especially seeing that my name is almost unknown amongst you. After along residence in the other colonies, I have planted my feet in New Zealand, and I,dare say in a short time we shall he better, and as time goes on it will not be my fault if we are not more favorably, acquainted. This occasion has been selected, owing to the good taste of the local directors, as a good opportunity for introducingto the mercantile public our old, respected, and tried servant, Captain Hose, who has been appointed to .represent us in Wellington (cheers) —and such being the purpose, I do not wish to advertise the merits or dements of our company.’ I' doubt not he will ably put our claims before you. But I may.be indulged if I venture to call attention to and extensive advances of the mercantile marine of the colonies during the past quarter of a century. No interest seemed to have pro* greased equally* It baa been the glory of the old country we all love so much; but the colonies, considering their age, have not been be*

hind the mother country in. the expansion oi the shipping enterprise. A few years ago I remember there were in the Australian colonies, including New Zealand, but 16 ships on the register, and three figures would have embraced the tonnage. But how different now; I was looking over' a book in Captain Bose’s office the other day, and noticed that there were 500 steamers alone in the colonies, and I call upon those who, like myself, have had occasion to travel on these vessels, to say .whether there are better vessels in any other part of the world for the trade in which they are employed. I speak of course of the colonies as a whole. I cannot separate myself entirely from Australia after a residence of thirty-eight years, and in passing I would say I hope to see the time when there will be a federal union. On their way to and from these colonies there are continually 12,000 people at sea, and our object is that in time to come the whole of the marine shall belong to the colonies; and another end we have in view is to man our ships by New Zealand men and New Zealand officers. We have much to hope from our mercantile marine, and the time may come when the men trained in colonial ships may defend our hearths and homes, just as we know in time of need no assistance proved so valuable to the navy as the contribution from the mercantile marine. On behalf of the company I gratefully acknowledge your good wishes for its prosperity, and I hope we shall always - secure a fair share of the profit of the trade. I do not at all wish to disparage the ships of other firms. We are_ not so narrow-minded as that. We recognise that they have done well, and sent out magnificent ships, and in concluding I shall ask you to drink “Prosperity to Shaw Savill’s and the Albion lines.” (Cheers.) Captain Sbxxaes, of the Zealandia, returned thanks on behalf of Shaw, Savill, and Co., and said his company would doubtless do the beat it could to maintain its position. There was room enough for all in the trade, which was expanding very rapidly. “The Ladies” and other toasts having been disposed of, the company separated.