THE NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 8

THE NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

A RECORD GATHERING,

(From Our Own Cohresfoxdent.)

London; June 15.

Quite the largest and most widely representative of any gathering of New Zealanders that lias ever yet taken place outside the colony itself was that which came about at the Cafe Monico, Regent street, last Tuesday evening, the occasion being the annual iNew Zealand dinner. This function originated very successfully by -Mr Xuomas Mackenzie, wuose ■' mantle," and 1 might almost add " a double portion of the spirit " of that departed Elijah, lias fallen upon his able Ehslia, Air irl. 0. Cameron.

Determined from the outset that this yearly New Zealand dinner should in no respect lag behind its predecessors, Mr Cameron threw himself heart and soul into the undertaking with the desperate energy which he devotes to every matter that lie takes up in connection with JNew Zealand. The result was, as usual, a remarkable success. Every. New Zealand interest and party was well and infiueiitialiy represented, and many colonial friends met tnat evening who had not seen one another's faces for decades.

A special feature of interest was the presence of such eminent public men as Ah Kolleston (Home for the rirst time in nearly half a century), Mr Thomas Fergus, Mr Kichard Oliver, Mr Justice Deuniston, and Mr \V. P. Reeves. Then we had an ex-Gover-nor (Lord Glasgow) as chairman, and several members or. ex-members of the New .Zealand Legislature, including Mr F. Arkwright, M.L.C., Colonel Pearce, -Mr George Beetham, and Mr J. C. Wason. Among other New Zealander3 who are or have been prominent in one position or another in the colony were—Messrs F. A. Anson, John Beaumont, G. E. .Tolhurst, E. G. Tegetmeier, Woolf Harris, \Y. T. Holmes, 0. I'harazyn, etc.

The complete list of guests who were present or had signified their intention of being present is as follows:—Mr W. P. Reeves, Mr Justice Denniston, the Hon. W. Rolleston, the Hon. R. Oliver, the Hon. F. Arkwright, the Hon. Thomas Fergus, General Hambley, Colonel Pearce, Mr G. AY. P. Woodroffe, Mr Lifton Wynne, Mr J. Maclver, Mr M. M'lver, Mr Woolf Harris, Mr F. A. Anson, Mr .S. J. Nathan, Mr AY. T. Holmes, Mr C. G. Tegetmeier, Mr W. Friedlander, Mr O. R. Strickland, Mr W. Murray, Mr W. Sanderson, Mr R. M. Turnbull, Mr M. Murray, Mr J. C. Wason, Mr C. Pharazyn, Mr George Beetham, Mr R. Maxwell, Mr C. Balme, Mr G. E. Bedding-ton, Mr J. A. Potter, Captain C. P. Wilson (Board of Trade), Mr E. A. Jones, Mr H. G. Strickland, Mr W. C. R. Bellamy, Mr D. M'Millan, Mr W. Emery, Mr D. Stewart, Mr J. K. Campbell, Mr F. Hyams, Mr G. H. Oatway, Mr AY. Leedham Crowe, Mr A W. Watkins, Mr F. Siiaw, Mr T. S. Mannering, Mr C. H. Jnglis, Mr J. Hay, Mr W. J. Cresswell. Mr W. Grant Mnnes, Mr A. F. Soward, Mr F. J. Irwin, Mr H. Sergeant, Mr E. H. Robinson, Mr R. Galloway, Dr Vidal Robinson, Mr W. AVetheread, Mr E. J. Watt, Mr Edward Murphy, Mr G. E. Tolhurst, Mr A. 0. Arthur, Dr Lang, Mr James Caird, Mr G. Gould, Mr A. S. Otterson, Mr W. C. Watson, Mr Percy Atleo, Mr J. Murphy. Mr W. F. Crawford, Mr John Ross, Mr T. Brown, Mr A. Hill Jack, Mr W. B. Craig, Mr E. A. Hornc, Mr W. N. Daniels, Mr F. Bryant, Mr F. Boully, Mr N. Sherwood, Mr J. M. Featherstone, Mr 11. Hislop, Mr E.- Hill, Mr J. F. Adair, Mr AY. Sherwood, Mr Goftoil-Salmond, Mr R. S. Abraham, Mr Spencer Morris, Mr T. C. Williamson, Mr J. D. Williamson, Dr Haines, Mr C. Sharland, Mr AY. Donaldson, Mr E. J. Spence, Mr AY. Dymock, Mr Arthur J. Fraser, Mr Henry Mackenzie, Mr H. Woodward, Mr E. D. Giles, Mr E. Sherwood, Captain Rose, Mr J. A. Gordon, Mr A. S. Rathbone, Mr F. Armstrong, Mr John Colter, Mr Alfred Dillon, Mr T. Borthwick, Mr Ja-mes Paterson, Mr A. Carrick, Mr J. C. Hanna. Mr B. H. Neill, Mr P. C. Neill, Mr H. Y. Anson, Mr J. H. Baker, Mr J. Carruthers, Mr AY. AVood, Mr John Beaumont, Mr J. E. Shrubsole, Mr H. J. AVood, Mr- John Brown, jun.. Mr AY. B. Clarkson, Mr A. Ginger, Mr D. J. Goodsir, Mr P. G. AVeddcl, Mr D. B. Gibson, Mr John Alexander, Mr T. Borthwick, jun., Mv A. S. Ginger, Mr 0. W. Clarkson, Mr E. H. Godsal, Mr Gordon Campbell, Mr S. B. Smithson, Mr George Godsir, Mr D. M'Pherson, Mr J. B. Moore, Mr G. Adams, Mr A. W. Pottinger, Mr A. J. Randall, Mr L. J. Nathan, Mr J. Welch, Mr J. Nathan, Mr F. P. Halford, Mr H. L. Hayman, Mr J. AA>. Cossair, Mr G. D. Turner, Mr E. M.. Kennaway, Captain Moffatt, Mr Percy H. Dobson, Mr C. R. Valentine, Mr S. Lyons, Mr AY. AA'ooley, Mr J. Pullen, and Mr J. Kirkcaldie. About 160 in all were actually present.

All the arratigeirisnls were excellently carried out. The place of honour in the menu was given to " Saddle of New Zealand lamb ala Clamart." A large ante-room and two receirtion rooms were provided, in which guests might stroll about and converse. During the evening two New Zealand vocalists, Miss Mabel Hanson, of Dunedin, and Mr J. Kirkley Campbell, of Nelson, sang some songs which were much enjoyed. Miss Manson, who was heard for the first time and with evident surprise and delight by many colonists present, was in splendid voice. Her pongs, . "Vainka" and " Solveig " (Grieg) were enthusiastically applauded. "Mr Campbell's fine tenor voice told out with striking effect in "The dear little shamrock" and "'Twas long since- in' the springtide," and Mr Bantock Pierpoint, the popular London baritone, also gave, valuable assistance.

Justice having been done to the appetising menu, the toast-list. was opened, as a matter of course, with the usual loyal toasts, which were proposed by the chairman and received with enthusiasm.

Mr Justice Deuniston then proposed " The Array, Navy, and Imperial Forces," and asked what lie could find unsaid as to that great leader who, at what might be called the close of an already illustrious career, at the call of his t'ouiiHy had again taken up the sword, and by his splendid strategy had gained the admiration of Europe and an indelible place in the roll of England's worthies?— (Applause.) What could he say additional of that great lieutenant by whose ability, energy, and prowess, had organised that force without which even Lord Roberta's strategy could not have been given effect to? — (Applause.) What could he say of those generals who, before Lord iioberts's advent, had borno the burden and heat of tho day ?— (Applause.) All had heard much of failure and disaster. He (the speaker) could not but think that when the stoiy of the war came to be written, circumstances would.be viewed in'something like fair proportion, and people would be amazed, not at what our generals had failed to do, but at what they had accomplished. —(Applause.) It had been common report and common belief among what had been called "mere ignorant farmers" and among their trained • and well-informed professional advisors that there was sufficient force in South Africa to drive the British from its shores. But the wave that was- to sweep tho -British into the sea had spent itself in vain upon British endurance at the Tugela, at Ladysmith, at Kimberlcy, and at Mafoking.—(Applause.) Younger officers had come under condemnation because they had been prodigal of their lives—because (hey had been slow to learn the duty of- concealing themselves from the enemy. That was a fault which at least leaned to Virtue's side.—-(Ap-plause.) As to the rank and file—the private soldier,—what, could bo said of thorn? Before tho war it had been said that SO years of peace and prosperity had sapped the energy and weakened tlio fibre of the British— ("Never") —and that the army of the day was the army that had gained renown in the past. Who said that now?—(Loud applause.) On stricken fields, in beleaguered cities, on toilsome march, strenuous in battle, doggodly resolute in disaster, indomitably patient and cheerful amid famine and disaster, British soldiers of to-day had shown themand cheerful amid famine and disaster, British archers of whom Dryden wrote, of that indomitablel, infantry who, under the leadership of the great Duke, on the battlefields of the Peninsula, changed the history of Europe, and of that dauntless band, who, against almost impossible odds, fought and won the "Soldier's battle" on the bloody plains of Inkermnn.—(Loud applause.) Those veterans, half-drilled soldiers, and raw recruits cf a year ago, who had carried the British flag from one phantom capital to another, across the plains of Africa, themselves gave the bestanswers to those who said tho. race had dege--nerated.-*-(Loud applause.) As to the sister service, the navy, no one would over wish to expel it from the place it held in the affections of tho country.—(Applause.) It had been his (the speaker's) good fortune, like most in (.lie colonies, to meet with many naval officers. And he had never found a disagreeable one.— (Applause.) And it had not been one of the least grounds of gratification when Now Zeaknd learned that Lord Glasgow, who had left so many pleasant memories behind him, and Lord Kanfurly, had been appointed Governors that they had served in her Majesty's fleet.—(Applause.) Mr Justice Denniston Ihon proceeded to refer to the work of the Naval Brigade at Ladysmith and elsewhere. As to tho " reserve" forces, he had been told to call them the " Imperial " forces. He did not think thorn was much distinction. All were Imperial forces.—(Loud applause.) And

it could not be too much remembered that all were volunteers—the army and navy ps well.—(Hear, hear.) In the Jubilee year tlicolonial forces marched shoulder to shouldc with the regular forces, and grc.it feeling w. stirred; what, then, must be the feeling whan they were seen again shoulder to shoulder, r.or m peaceful pageantry, but in the stress of battle, and sharers in the stern realities of the war?—(Applause.) Speaking as a colonist of 38 years' standing, he felt it hardly In came one to say too.much of the material as-^canee which the colonial forces had rendered.— (Loud applause.) Their services lv.d been spoken of by abler, and, he fer.rH more unbiassed, lips than his. But hi- v,t.? glad to think that New Zealur.dovs had little \o fear and nothing to dread from the criticisms passed upon them.—(Loud appL :::-.) One New Zealaader who had done hi- •• >".iy at the front, and who had been invalid . home was present tnat night.—(Applause.) TJiey knew what the Generals on the fie.d had said about the New Zealanders; and 1:h hud tho authority of Mr Reeves for saying that one as near as possible to the very highest authority in the country, had been gracious enough to express to him similar complimentary expressions as to tho services of Haw Zc.,Ip.mdtr;< at the front. It might have seemed risky to send lads to whom war was but mere rumour; but they had stood the lest.—(Applause.) After referring to the work done by the Cape Loyalists, Mr Justice Denniston went on to say that the moral effect of the great demonstration made, of the extraordinary rallying of the great self-governing colonies round the mother country, of the offer of troops before they could be said to have been wanted, had done more than anything else to show that the " British Empire "■ was not a mere phrase, a geographical expression, but a great fact with which Europe had to reckon. War was a stern master. But lessons had been learned from it, and perhaps.not the least important was the solidarity of the British Empire, that it was not a mere congeries of ill-strung-together atoms, but one organic whole, beating with one pulse, from one centre. —(Loud applause.) That fact would be recognised and appreciated; and especially so, he believed, by that great nation across the Atlantic. And the expenditure of the war would not be in vain if it resulted in Anglo-Saxons working together for good will, for freedom, for pure administration, and for honest and righteous government throughout the world. —(Loud applause.) Colonel Pearce, in responding, said his. experience as a volunteer had occurred in New Zealand, a colony distinguished for its loyalty to the mother country.—(Applause.) That devotion had been tested of late in a very practical way, and many had. been surprised to see the response made to what was believed to be the call of duty. Many could remember when the volunteer forces were looked unon somewhat coldly both by Governments and" by people. That day had gone by.—(Applause.') I'he ability of New Zealand to send" a considerable force to the assistance of the Empire—a force of something like 2000 men, aye, and the men were fit to go out—had its origin in the fact that a very great number of the young men in the colony had served in the volunteers. The colonies had the right to share with the mother country in the satisfaction caused by the successes attained because they had shared in the duties and struggles.—(Applause.)

_ The Chairman then gave "Continued Prosperity to New Zealand," and remarked that he was glad of the opportunity of showing his appreciation for the colony of. which he had had the honour of being Governor for five years.—(Applause.) When he saw sitting beside him Mr Reeves, Judge Denniston, Mr Rolleston, Mr Oliver, and others whom he had known, lie could fancy himself back in New Zealand again. And he almost wished he were. —(Applause") AVhen he thought of the happy time he had had there, .with his family growing up around him, of the many friends he had made whom he appreciated in the country which he loved, he really began to feel as- though he could parody the well-known words in the Beggar's Opera, and say " How happy could ' I live in either were t'other dear island away."—(Laughter and applause.) There was no need for him to speak of the beanties of New Zealand, the charm of the country and of its scenery, or of its possibilities. But the best and happiest time of his life had been spent there.—('Loud applause.) And he believed that the future of the colony would astonish even those who lived in it. New Zealand was not going to federate with Australia.—("No.") At least that was the present idea. Of course if it suited . them in the future they would do so.— (Laughter.) In a very short time there would be four or five great federations in the world—the Anglo-Saxon federations. Men not so old as he (the speaker) were able to remember when the Queen first became Empress of India. The next great .part of the British Empire to federate was Canada. Now we were on the threshold of the federation of Australia, and it was hoped that before very long there would be a Commonwealth of South Africa.—(Applause.) When that came. New Zealand would stand ill a prior position as a colony; it would, lie thought, he in. p. better position if it kept out of federation. He then went on to speak more particularly to the toast, and to give statistics to show how New Zealand had progressed. New Zealand's prosperity was great; "that that prosperity might continue .was his wish and the-wish of all present.—(Applause.) Long might New Zealand continue to bo happy and prosper. — (Renewed applause.) It had always been a pleasure to visit the agricultural shows in the colony, and he had. rather annoyed his friends in this country-by saying that he had never in Scotland or England seen i finer show than lie had seen in Christchurch. —(Applause.) He had always had pleasure in ' going to these shows, though sometimes he had adventures there—at least, he had been said once to hare, been tossed by a bull, which was not a fact. However, there was a bull story to toll. It happened at Christchurch. It was in 1895, he thought, when ho hurried to the show yard,' having heard that the show was a particularly good one. A crowd was going through tiie entrance, and as he hurried he heard a man say:^"l have not seen the Earl of Glasgow yet." Pleased that somebody wanted to see him, he turned round and said, "Here I am if you want to see me." The 'man turned and said, "I beg your pardon, your Excellency; I did not mean you? I meant the bull."—-(Loud laughter.) Even that showed that somebody had thought sufficiently of him" to call a bull after him. — (Renewed laughter.) Continuing,, the chairman said he looked upon the federation of Australia as the most important question of ths day.— (Hear, hear.) And it must make all hearts beat high and foel proud to see the way in which the whole of tho Queen's dominions responded to the call to send troops when required. As to whether colonies standing outside federation would, come in. they did not know. But they knew the feeling which prompted federation, and adhesion to the old country would continue to permeate the Empire, and that nothing would separate the bonds that bound llie colonies to the old country.—(Applause.) He would like to say one word on a delicate Ribject—the defences of the colonies. That was a subject which had never yet been properly thought out. lie had given a great deal of attention to it, but he confessed lie had not been able to think it out properly. But there was every reason to believe that the colonies' own forces would be able to defend them in time of war. Be was apcakmtj of countries like New Zealand and Australia. They saw the wonderful way in which the misguided forces of the Transvaal had been able to stand before disciplined troops through their wonderful mobility. There were back woodsmen among the Boers, it must lie remembered, as well as those who lived in more civilised pari.s. With all the mistakes they had made, the whole of the Boers must not be blamed. All must recognise their gallantry. But he wanted to point out that in colonies like New Zealand and Australia thoy, too, had gallant men, of grout stamina and endurance, with splendid horse?, who, if ever attacked, would be able to carry on defence as the Boers had. And much better.—(Loud applause.) It could never be expected that in the colonies they could have thu discipline of tho British Army; that was so far as things went at present, though they seemed to have got on very well without it.—(Renewed applause.) It must be remembered that if they ever had to fight disciplined European troops, they would do it as well as if they were disciplined, liul, still, with the experience gained in the war they would be able to defend themselves better than they otherwise would. In conclusion, the chairman said that New Zealand was one of the noblest colonies in the world, as it certainly was one of tho most beautiful. As long as he lived he would look upon his residence there with the utmost pleasure and the greatest love. — (Applause.)

Mr Rolleston. Svho was received with much applause, in responding, first of all expressed, on behalf of himself and other old colonists, appreciation of the rcma-r'ia made m respect to the colony, and with regard to their position in the colony. It was one of the rewards that came with old age to old colonists, and it was one they thoroughly appreciated. The toast was indeed a most important one, and one which he appreciated to the fullest extent. After 4-3 years' absence from the old country he observed the feature of dining had become of very great importance. The English custom had been very kindly taken up by the colonies He had. in the nhoib time he had been in England, been a=l;cd to, he could not sa.y how many banquets, largely organised to meet the Australian delegates. Ho was sorry to say that the English climate had not quite agreed with him, and that he had been una1)Io to attend (hose banquets as ho would have wished. P m t lie could not too sincerely admire the constitution of those delegates who hail attended, and bad come out of them

! *afo and sound.—(Laughter.) He* himself, \owever. rejoiced to be present at what had jerome an annual New Zealand dinner. It had a significance not only because they had as president one who had shown that at any i rate in heart and soul he was a New Zealander ; not only because New Zealand at the present '.in-.e was prosperous to a degree that had not been before in his memory; but mainly becpuse the assembly had come together with a cordiality that had never before obtained, in consequence of the feeling they had in common with the mother country on the uhjecl of the South African war.— (Applause.) That event, more than any other, he believed, bad roused sympathies and patriotism and strengthened the tics that bound the mother country and the colonies together.—(Applause.) New Zealand remembered what it went through in its early inception— the wars in which her childhood was cradled; and herself not unacquainted with adversity and troubles, had seen it_ her duty to assist the mother country in her times of trouble.—(Applause.) To-day, full of patriotism as New Zealand was, she could say Th,: England from whose side I have not swerved Tho immortal Englav.d whom I too have served Accounting her all living lands above, In Justice, and in Mercy, and in love. —(Applause.) Passing from the question, of the " scarlet thread of kindred " to the toast, as practical men they recognised that the present prosperity of New Zealand and the grounds they "had. for hoping for a continuance o£ that prosperity—whatever differences they might have as to the details of government between public men —was largely due to the men who in the past had colonised New Zealand. He thought the prosperity of New Zealand was due to the fact that practically no party feelings had interfered with the great policy of the country —in the first place, the development of its lands. —(Hear, hear.) There was nothing to his mind of greater importance to new countries than that question. That, and education, wore the base of all the future prosperity of new countries; and public men of all shades of opinion in New Zealand, for the last 50 years, had recognised that to the full. There had,, as he had said, been differences of opinion. But on an occasion like that in which he was speaking, he could say that, however much he had differed from others, he believed that all had had the same objects at heart.—(Hear, hear.) He believed in the settlement of the lands for happiness and family life. In the words of the great poet: To make a happy fireside chime, That's the true pathos, and sublime, Of human life. It was family life which, more than anything else, made for the prosperity and happiness of any country; it was to the creation of family life to which the colony had to look, as they had looked in the past; and upon that more than anything else depended the future prosperity of New Zealand. The colony had recognised that, concurrently with the settlement of the people on the land, it was the duty of a Government to see that education had gone on pari passu; they believed that the education of all classes was the leveller-up of society and the elevator of the national character.—(Hear, hear.) It was because they had acted upon this principle that they were as they were. Then New Zealand had had the courage to deal fearlessly, it might be mistakenly—who should say whether mistakenly or not —with the great social problems upon which national character depended. They had laws in respect to labour which shortened the hours of work; they had laws which prescribed sanitation where it might not have been entertained in the factories of the country; they had laws as to recreation; they had laws based upon the principle that man " does not live by bread alone "—that he was not simply a labouring animal, but that he had higher aspirations and greater ends before him than mere labour. New Zealand had been spoken of as a country that leaned to experiments in legislation; as a country that looked, by passing acts, to supersede economic laws. ,He was not ' prepared to say how far that was the case. Of course men followed their own opinions. But if lie were to give his opinion he would ,say, borrowing the phrase from one of the ..greatest public men of the present day, Lord Rosebery, that it was "a country of sublime experiments."—(Laughter and applause.) If fie (the speaker) was told that these experiments were failures and mistakes, he would hesitate to subscribe to the idea. He would say, rather, "mistakes there may be; nay, mistakes there must be." But looking back °n along public life he would say, too, that politics were full of mistake^; that the acts and aspirations of the best public men failed in the attainment of what was desired; that N it was rather a question, not of failure and success, but of comparative failure and comparative success. —(Hear, hear.) They were asked what was New Zealand doing socially and politically. His reply wa3 that they had a social and political freedom hardly to be beaten elsewhere; that that social and political freedom was not the result of any one particular body of men, but that'it was the result of the earnest desires of public men of all shades of opinion in New Zealand, from the beginning to the present time.—(Applause.) They had material progress such as he ventured to think hardly obtained in any one of the other colonies at the' present time. It was but yesterday, as it seemed to him, looking back over nearly half a century past in New Zealand, that they wandered over trackless plains, crossed dangerous rivers, and faced the difficulties of life in a way now hardly known in the whole of the Southern Hemisphere. The conditions of life were hard. He had himself suffered hard conditions ; and now he saw men before him that night who bad suffered a pood deal of hardship. But the hard circumstances had been subordinated and been triumphed over.— (Applause.) The hon. gentleman then drew a graphic picture of New Zealand as it was and as it is at the present time, and of the good things she was exporting. On trackless deserts that had not been occupied ,by any quadruped, or traversed by human beings, there were now 20,000,000 sheep, and New Zealand was exporting more than one and ahalf million sterling in value of frozen meat, and five millions sterling worth of wool; while the dairy factories had had almost a magic effect. As to tho future of New Zealand, it seemed to him that the situation of their island home was unrivalled. He hoped it would maintain that wosiiion, and that it would retain its individuality as a colony.— (Applause.) He hoped it would, like the Britain of the North, remain Loyalaud contented; iixlependcnt and free; Compassed by the inviolate sea. and be. in the Southern Hemisphere, the 'counterpart of Great Britain.—(Hear, hear.) The climate of New Zealand had shown that it could produce wool and mutton; but above, all it had shown it could produce men.— (Loud applause.) Young men grew up physically strong, so that they could hardly be beaten. He believed himself that the- youth of the colony were growing up, not only physically strong, but intellectually and mentally educated, lie had tho greatest hopes of tho future prosperity of the colony, seeing that it was dependent upon its- youth. The older ones would gladly say'their Nunc dimittis, for they were assured that the colony would not, in the hands of its youth, be less progressive than it had been.—(Loud applause.) Mr A. C. Arthur, ex-M.H.R, for the East Coast (in the absence of Sir E. M. Nelson), proposed the toast of "The Chairman," three cheers beine given for Lord Glasgow, and one for Lady Glasgow, the toast also being drunk to the strains of "For he's a iolly good fellow."

The Chairman, m responding, especially Lhanked the company for remembering Lady Glasgow, and mentioned that one. of the most pleasant and constant topics of conversation with his family was their sojourn in New Zealand. Leaving the tables, the company then adjourned to an adjoining apartment lor the evening, for old friends to meet and chat together.