H.A.C.B.S. SUPPER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5347, 9 April 1879, Page 6

H.A.C.B.S. SUPPER.

A suppsr in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, under the auspices of the H.A.C.B. Society, was held in the evening in Dmining's Hotel. The room was tastefully decorated, tha national flag of Ireland occupying a prominent place. Upwards of 100 guests sat down to the spread, which was served up in Host Dunnin^'a be=t style, and comprised a varied assortment of the choicest delicacies. Mr Carroll, the presideat of tlie Society, waived his claim to the chairmanship in favour of Mr O'Driscoll, of the Supreme Court Hotel, who is an old member of the Auckland Society. The Chairman was supported right: and left by Mes?r3 Turton, Callan, Dr Murphy,. and Mr Perrin, and the vice-cha:r was occupiei by Mr Riley. The Chairman proposed "The Pope," and the Vice-Chairman proposed "The Queer* and the Royal Family." Both toa3ta were heartily druak. Mr M'Cujskey proposed " The Parliament," and Mr G. K. Turton responded, remarking, amidst cheers, that the Ministiy possessed' plenty of ability, but he could not entirely approve nf their conduct. Mr 0. F. Perrin proposed "The diy we celebrate," which was druak to the tv ,c of " St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." MrR. O'Or. Laloh responded in a facetious speech, in which he claimed that many of tho celebrities of the world, and particularly tha Governors of the British Colonies, were of: Irish extraction. His remarks were greeted!' with interruptions and derisive approbation. Mr J. B. Callan proposed " Oar Native Land " in an eloquent and impressive speech. He remarked that in every part of th<j globe Bucb. a toast on such, a day would find a heatty and enthusiastic reception. Like Scotchmen,, who, with their emblem, could be found everywhere, Irishmen prospered under ordinary influences wherever they were afforded a chapes. Consequently they wera to be found in regionsthe most unlikely and remote. But in their prosperity as hi their adversity—and ha was happy to say that Irishmen had their own share of the good things—they never forgot their native land. It was endeared to them by ties not soon to be forgotten. In the Colonies they had a fair field. They had a chance toearn fatnit and fortune, irrespective of creed or country. But no changes of life, no strides of gocd fortune could lead an Irishman to forget the laud of his nativity. He conld not forget it. The recollection of those who fought and suffered for him would ever b9 gresn in his heart. For did he not know that tha freedom —the privileges he enjoyed—were tho fruits o£ the patriotic sacrifices and labmr* of thosa whose bones lay mouldering iv tlw 1 md he had left? They had suffered f r wbnt. we their descendants, now enjoy. He asked them to drink to the health of their gre^n native land. They could l>ok back to its D. ric paths crowded with the great and illustrious, its poets and orators and statesmen, acd its fair and virtuous women. They could look back with pride to their motherland. Iriahtnin all over the world were celebrating to-day the toast heaskeatfhera to drink—" The Health and Prospe'ityof Old Ireland."—(Loud and prolonged ch-ers.) Mr >T. Molonet responded to the toast, and in doing bo expressed tbe hope thit tha time was not far distant when Ireland would h»ve «. parliament of its own, and in this respect would. 09 placed on an equal footing with the Colonial offshoots of the British Empire. The other toasts were:—" Tha Land of our Adoption," proposed by Mr C. Fox, responded: to .y Mr J. J. Connor ; " H.A.CJJ. Society," by Mr Atkinson, responded to by Mr E. Carroll; " Abßent Friends," "Tho Ladies,"' "The Press," "The Host and Hostess," and. " Tha Chairman."