MELBOURNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 496, 1 June 1861, Page 6

MELBOURNE.

Banqubt to Major-General Pratt on his

Retubn from New Zealand.

The grand banquet given at the Exhibition Building, last night (May 10), by the volunteers of Victoria, to Major-General Pratt, in commemoration of that gallant officer's services in New Zealand, passed off with well-deserved eclat. The interior of the building was gaily decorated with flags of various nations, intermingled with festoons of shrubs and flowers, and several military designs formed of stands of arms. The coup-d'-ceil from almost any position was extremely beautiful, and the effect was greatly heightened by the various uniforms worn by the representatives of the several companies of volunteers. The galleries were thronged with ladies, who appeared to take the liveliest interest in the proceedings. Lieut. -Col. Anderson occupied the chair.

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been disposed of, The Chairman then gave the toast of the evening, "The health of Major-General Pratt" (loud and continued cheering). In proposing that toast he felt that very few remarks were necessary. His brother volunteers were very well aware that it was a point of etiquette not to pay compliments in the presence of those whom they honoured, but he really thought that a breach of that etiquette might be committed that evening, in favour of the gallant officer who had just returned, crowned with victory, and after concluding a peace under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty (cheers). He thought that such an assemblage should not restrain itself in giving expression to their feelings of appreciation of Major-General Pratt's conduct and services in the last New Zealand war (leud cheers). It was not as if that war was waged on a distant shore, and its events and issue affected persons alien to ourselves. All who were then present felt the case as if it were their own, and would like to have rushed even from, that place to give succour to their fellow-colonists, if such succour had been required (cheers). But such a step was simply impossible. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the occupation and civil duties of the volunteer troops, he felt confident that if the necessity had been more pressing, and if the Major-General had seen fit to call upon them for aid, some at least would have found time to quit their ordinary avocations and place themselves under the command and at the disposal of that gallant officer (cheers.) But, as soon as they heard of his arrival in New Zealand, and as soon as they saw the first measures he adopted at the seat of war, they felt every confidence that he would conduct the campaign to a satisfactory conclusion (cheers). Few persons were led astray by the absurd and contradictory reports which appeared in the public press (cheers). He (the Chairman) had no wish to cast any reflection on the press, but he must remark that even from the great Times during the Crimean war, to the most inferior newspapers, no journal was exempt from the liability of being misled, and thereby of misleading others. What he meant was that, in reference to matters of war, unless a newspaper was guided by more than ordinary circumspection, the greatest evils might be produced. All who remembered the old New Zealand war would be well acquainted with the rashness that would characterise an attempt at "rushing" a body of men at a pah, consisting of ditch within ditch, and of palisade within palisade. What would be the advantage of carrying such a position by such means? The result would be that the attacking party, after gallantly storming the first palisade, would find themselves in a position of being massacred by savages. To this difficulty it was to be added that the enemy was skilled in bush fighting — not that sort of fighting which would take place is the comparatively open country in Victoria, but in a country overgrown Mith underwood which was matted together like a spider's web (cheers). Under such conditions, the only course open to a general was that which was adopted with so much ultimate success by Major-General Pratt (cheers) The volunteers- of Victoria ought to think themselves fortunate in having the honour to meet that gallant officer under such circumstances, and they ought to take pride to themselves to find that they possessed sufficient military knowledge to appreciate the skill and tactics of Major Pratt. But while they admired the system on which he conducted his last campaign, they had one fault to find. The Major-General was careful of the Queen's troops, when he prevented them from rushing to destruction in the storming of a pah, but he was too little chary of risking his own life on all possible occasions (enthusiastic cheers). They could only hope that they might always have such generals to conduct their wars, and he looked upon it as the most fortunate moment of his military life, when he took part in doing honour to such a guest (cheers). He felt sure that every brother volunteer would think that such an opportunity might not occur again, and he hoped that by the cheering they would bestow upon it, they would show that they meant that it should not be thrown away (loud cheers). Major-General Pratt, in rising to respond, was received with enthusiastic and prolonged cheering. He became evidently affected by the demonstration, and it was some time before he could master his feelings. The cheering having subsided, the Major-General said that he never dreamed that, on this side of time, he would have heard his name coupled with so many complimentary expressions as had fallen from the Chairman. He felt deeply the honour which the Volunteers of Victoria were bestowing upon him on that occasion. (Loud cheers.) He hoped he did not arrogate to himself the praises which the Chairman had awarded to him, but he supposed he might take them to this extent — viz., that the officers of his staff and the soldiers whom he had the honour to command had acted under difficulties in such a manner as to preserve the prestige of the British arms. (Cheers.) The only honour which he and those who served with him could claim, was the honour of having done their duty. (Cheers.) He could speak a great deal with reference to the New Zealand war, and in doing so he could disabuse the minds of some persons with reference to many matters which were not understood at a distance from the seat of action. (Hear, hear.) But he must refrain from dwelling on that point, inasmuch as what he would have to say would have too personal a reference to himself. He was willing to leave it to time and to others to bring out the whole truth. (Cheers.) Nor was it for him, nor was that the place, nor was it the occasion, to offer any remarks concerning the origin of that war. His duty had been to bring the war to an honourable conclusion as speedily as possible. There were some who thought that there ought to be no difficulty in bringing such a war, with such an enemy, to a rapid end, by paralysing the Maorics at one decisive blow. He must take leave to observe that persons who were of that opinion could never have read the progress and result of all former wars in New Zealand ; nor could they have been acquainted with the impracticable nature of the country, nor with the military character of the Maori. The tactics of those wily and athletic savages were never to expose themselves to attack in an open place, but always to occupy positions that were difficult of approach, ana never to leave themselves without the means of a secure retreat, and to take the utmost precautions against being intercepted or surrounded by the attacking party. (Cheers.) But notwithstanding their skill in defence, and their harassing mode of warfare, they had met with a signal defeat, and the insurgents had been rebuked by the friendly tribes for the rashness of their conduct, it had been said that the British troops might have " rushed " such positions as those which he had described, Such a etep might indeed

, have been taken, but with what result ! With little loss to the enemy, and with heavy 'slaughter on the side of the attacking party. (Cheers.) Moreover, such a step would not ! have tended to bring the war to an end, but 'on the other hand it would have greatly prolonged it, and might have made it, instead of a partial, an universal. war. (Cheers.) With such a foe to contend with, and with such a country for the seat of war, he came to the conclusion, with the concurrence of his excellent officer in the enginears, that the only mode of reducing the enemy was by sack and redoubt. That mode was adopted, and the works were pushed on from day to day, the enemy in the meanwhile being driven back and back, until at last they were incited by despair to make a fierce and daring attack, the result of which had become matter of history. (Cheers.) That attack gave an opportunity to Colonel Leslie, of the galjlant 40th, of proving how slanderous were the statements which had been circulated regarding that regiment. (Loud cheering.) The history of the last New Zealand war had yet to be written, and he felt the fullest confidence that justice would be done to those, of all ranks, who took part in it. (Cheers.) He might say that their bravery was so continuous, that it amounted to a daily exhibition of gallantry. (Loud and continued cheers.) Reverting to the present occasion, the gallant general referred to the gratification he experienced from the reception which he received from the Mayor and Corporation of this city, and he added that that honour was intensely magnified when heibeheld the presence of so many of the fair sex. (Loud cheers ) No change of scene, no distance of place would efface from his mind the remembrance of that occasion. He begged to return his hearty thanks to the gentlemen volunteers — his brother soldiers — for the handsome welcome they had extended to him. The gallant Major-General resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged cheering. — Age, May 11.