FAREWELL DINNER TO MR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 11

FAREWELL DINNER TO MR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

HANDSOME PRESENTATION.

(FeOU OUF OiTN COKRESrOXDENT.)

LONDON, June 3.

On Friday evening, May 26, Mr Thomas Mackenzie was entertained by a number of friends and admirers at a farewell banquet given in the well-known Albion Tavern, Aldersgate street, which enjoys world-wide fame for the exceptional excellence of its cookery.

In the present case instructions had been given to provide the be3t dinner the city could produce, and it will therefore be easily imagined — bearing in mind the gastronomic reputation enjoyed in London City — that the dinner proved a veritable feast of good things. Everything was excellent, and there was one special merit which is not always found, even at London dinners — that is to say, the most admirable, smart, and efficient attendance. Moreover, a capital musical programme w.as appended, this part of the function being placed in the very capable hands of the London Lyric Quartet, who sang delightfully whether in the solo numbers or the part songs.

Mr Arthur A. Best was chairman, and a very able one too. Among those who accepted invitations to the banquet I noticed, the following : Sir E. Dawes, Sir E. Mont-ague Nelson, Messrs N. Sherwill, W. L. Crowe, A. •C. Arthur, H. H. Geddes, J. Alexander, W. G. Innes, F. Bryant, E. A. Home, P. Galloway, J. A. Potter, O. R. Strickland., J. Cairns, J. B. Larkworthy, E. Hill, F. Hyams, D. Davidson, A. W. Cunningham. C. Balme, T. Borthwick, H. Mackenzie, A. Ritchie, C. Lees. Salmorid, A. Cross, G. Walter, and others.

A letter of apology for unavoidable absence was received from the Agent-general for New Zealand. Mr Reeves wrote as follows: — "I am more than usually sorry at my inability to be present with you at the dinner to our friend, Mr Thomas Mackenzie. This is not merely because of my esteem for him as a, man and as a New Zealander, but because of my appreciation of his services to the colony while he has been in England. Both officially and personally, I have reason to be grateful to Mr Mackenzie for his sympathy and cooperation in every matter in which he has been able to serve the interests of the colony. While cordially wishing him even greater success in the colony than formerly, I cannot help saying that I shall miss his presence here. Nothing but the Government business, which takes me to Berlin, and will prevent my returning to England before the 29th, should have prevented me being present to join with you in doing him honour." The arrangements for the dinner were in the hands of a very energetic committee, over which Mr A. A. Best presided, and to which Mr H. C. Cameron officiated most efficiently as honorary secretary. Ample justice having been done to ,the sumptuous banquet, the oratorical phase of the evening's programme ensued. Mr Alexander Ritchie, C.C, submitted the toast, '"'Prosperity to New Zealand," and said he, like the rest of the company, had attended to do honour to " an esteemed and dear friend — Tom Mackenzie." — (Applause.) New Zealand, the speaker added, had a climate that could not he excelled, and its death-rate was the lowest in the world. One of the company, Mr Ross, who had first gone to the colony 40 years ago, and had since been backward and forward eight or nine times, intended to go again, and he thought so highly of it that his eldest son was just about to go back again also. He (the speaker) had had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Ross, who was a New Zealandei , and a nicer lady or a "bettei wife or, mother it would be impossible to find. They had other good New Zealanders present also, and he would couple with the toast the names of Mr Arthur, who had been a colleague of Mr Mackenzie in the Colonial Parliament, and Mr Boag, of Canterbury, who, he believed, was one of the greatest breeders of horses (Clydesdales) in the colony.

Mr A. C. Arthur, in reply, said the company had miesed a great deal through the unavoidable absence of Mr Reeves, who was to have responded to the toast, and whose recent book on the colony was not only clever, but " honestly the most impartial book " which he (the speaker) had ever read. — (Hear, hear.) That, knowing Mr Reeves was a strong political and party man, wa« saying a great deal. Among Agents-general he (Mr Arthur) had known Sir Dillon Bell, Sir Julius /Vogel, Sir Westby Percival, and Mr Reove3, and New Zealand had been perhaps specially lucky that all her representatives had been men of high character and standing, and had done a great deal of good for their colony by their lectures, their writings, and their individual personalities. The speaker then made some humorous references to the New Zealand climate from the point of view of one who had had to ride along its roads' during the rainy season, and concluded by expressing the -opinion that New Zealand's prosperity was an absolute certainty. — (Applause.) Mr Boag, who also replied, gave some interesting reminipcences of early life in New Zealand. As a member of one of the associations which Mr Mackenzie represented, he could say that they nearly s-hed tears when they received that gentleman's cable of resignation. New Zealand endeavoured to send to England the best she had ; and the requirements of the Home market were studied in every way. He could assure Mr Mackenzie that his efforts .had been appreciated in every way. Every man who knew him appreciated his address and manner and straightforward dealing. The Chairman then gave the toast of " Our Guest," and said if Londoners were preju- . diced, as had been said by a previous speaker, they were marvellously prejudiced in favour of good and true men. — (Applause.) They were prejudiced, too, in favour of good things, and if New Zealand produce was good it would be bought. In their guest, he went on, they had a specimen of the men Great Britain sent out all over the world ; in MiMackenzie they found those sterling qualities that had made the name of Great Britain what it ever would be. The gathering that night was one of whicli any man in whose honour it had been gathered together might be proud, representative, as it was, of the British Empire ; and the recipient also might be proud of the testimonial to be given, for it came from the hearts of the subscribers. — (Applause.) The speaker then read a letter of eulogy from Major-general Sibley. who had been through the Indian Mutiny ; it was hoped, too, that Mr Mackenzie might not only be an ornament to the old country, but a leader of men in the new. — (Applause.) The Chairman next went on to speak of the many matter? for the good of New Zealand which Mr Mackenzie had originated and identified himself with, among others mentioning the New Zealand dinner, the Australasian Club, where a good New Zealand mutton

chop could be haO..— -Ixjin^ Mie»iiipon the work he had done- in cuniiccticn with the meal trade. There bad been vaviuiic discussions as lo claini6, insurance, "ami orerguitting (ho markets He (the speaker) had learned on ihe best authority that in conseqxtaiee of "Mr Mackenzie's effort* a'"system of examination had been, or wbulcl be, inaugurated that would obviato all difficulty. He had also, by careful forethought, prevented the glutting of the markets and the sacrifice of New Zealand's beautiful meat. He then proposed "Health, Prosperity, and Longevity to Mr Mackenzie," and presented that gentleman with the address and the handsome silver centre bowl which I have already described. The toast having been drunk with musical honours and cries of " Kia-ora,"

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, who was received with loud applause, said it was exceedingly difficult to respond to the many kind things that had been" said and for the presentation that had been made .to him. During his sojourn in England, he had bought and sold on the keenest possible lines. Yet on the eve of his departure he found himself surrounded ■ r by the leading men of the premier businesses of London — some of the leading commercial men of the Empire. The tribute in itself was, then, of the highest order. " The chairman had said that the presentation would be an heirloom in his family. So long as there was a descendant of his it would be treasured, and while he (the speaker) lived it would ever remind him of some of the most valued "friend-"' ships it had ever been his privilege to form. Mention, remarked Mr Mackenzie, had' been ■ made of the work in which- he had been engaged in thi3 country. The chairman had, however, almost made it appear that the work was much more nearly completed than was the case. He had certainly devoted himself closely to studying the best interests of the colony and in endeavouring to place the colony's products in the Home markets in the most favourable circumstances, but he did not fail to recognise the great influence that had lseen N added by the shipping com\ panics and by .those who were engaged in distributing New Zealand produce at this end. It was amazing to think that over 3,000,000 New Zealand sheep were annually* consumed in England, and that the trade j had grown as it had in such a short time. But there were many things which required to be done yet before they could see their trade operations conducted on lines that were essential. One of the most important of these was that of proper and honest handling of the produce— (hear, hear.) ; that the assessments were fair, and just and not fixed in the lines on which they were now. In this connection he might say that the insurance associations had shown the most absolute indifference, if not criminal neglect. If he (the speaker) gained the confidence of any constituency in New Zealand, he intended to submit to the Government of the colony measures that would place flic assessment and the proper handling of colonial produce on such lines as would prevent the wholesale robbery that had. been carried on in London for many years.— (Applause.) Of course he was aware that some people thought Government interference in commercial matters was not wanted. But commercial progress showedthat the old order had changed, and that the political economy practised 50 years ago would Jiot do now. The Governments which took a paramount interest in trade questions were successfully interfering. If those who administered affairs were to devote themselves more to practical business rather than waste so much time on abstract questions, it would be more to the benefit of the colony. It was his intention, therefore, if he re-entered the political arena of New Zealand, to devote himself to the practical interests of the colony, making party, no doubt, a means to an end, but the main copsideration beirtg the permanent interests of the colony. — (Applause.)

There were tv;o ideas at present, continued Mr Mackenzie.- One was that the tariffs fixed between— Great Britahr and her dependenciesshould be the same as between outside nations. The other was that there should' be nrutual concessions between the mother country and her dependencies. He was strongly of the latter opinion ; the way to build up what was essential to the prosperity of the Empire was by mutual concession. — (Applause.) After all, the State waa but an aggregation of families. And, as in family life, the head could often extend concessions to younger members, who in turn could reciprocate. He thought, too, that the time had quite arrived when the interests of the colonies demanded representation in the Imperial Parliament. — (Applause.) It was contended that if that were tho case, taxation would have to be levied. The colonies would probably be quite willing to, consider that. But at the present time it was not essential to Great Britain that taxes should be levied upon the dependencies. There was here an overflowing Treasury, England was able to add to her navy and reduce her national debt, and with such financial prosperity it was inexpedient, to say the least of it, to endeavour to place undue burdens on the younger countries. — (Applause.) In conclusion, Mr Mackenzie expressed his hearty and earnest thanks for the great honour conferred upon him that evening, and, indirectly, upon the beautiful colony with which he was connected.

The Chairman here accorded a welcome to a visitor from Australia, Mr Macmillan, exColonial Treasurer of New South Wales.

Mr Macmillan, in reply, expressed the pleasure he felt in joining to do honour to his friend, Mr Mackenzie. Thirty years ago feuch 'an occasion would have been an impossibility, and the trend of thought and kindly feeling between the colonies and the mother country could not be better accentuated than by such a gathering. If there was to be federation, he went on, it should not only bo of Australia, but of Australasia, and New Zealand should be taken in. — (Applause.) In every family there was a prodigal son. The mother colony of New Houth Wales had had two, but from telegrams recently received it looked as if one,. Queensland, was returning. There was another one, however, New Zealand. What were the characteristics of a prodigal son? At 13 he was the most cocksure thing in creation. — (Laughter.) In New Zealand they had a typical prodigal son. — (Renewed laughter.) He was not satisfied with the legislative lines of the old country. He wanted to make that beautiful island of his so surrounded by a moral atmosphere that even a mahatma could not live there. — (Laughter.) He wanted to make il a perfect paradise for everybody except the fellow who wanted to get in. — (Renewed laughter.) New Zealand, then, was prodigal in his ideas ; he was the extreme radical of the colonies. It was interesting to read that in the colony of New Zealand "some moat interesting experiments were going on" in regard to legislation. It was a beautiful thing for the philosopher, but it might be a very bad thine for the New Zealander.— (Hear, hear.) He (the speaker) hoped this prodigal son would soon return to the fold.

Tea <!eji:«y of Auilrala*iit w*: of a ]:«#nli*r character. ]n Gwwds; there wai a mixed population, and the' Mine in AfnVa. Bui in Australasia there ww'vory I. : Ul« untfvc <lilucully outside tiio Maoris of New Zealand, and oven there there was no difficulty now.1 they had.'thei\ the purest, specimens of the British race iu-any part'oE tlie world, and there was determination that that race should remain pure. — (Hear, hear.) In Australasia, he believed,* they had a great British power that would dominate the eastern and southern seas. And he believed that federation, instead of disuniting Australia from the mother country, would draw the two closer and closer in the bonds of union. — (Applause.) And he ' believed, too, that as time went on there would be evolved some tie of a stronger and more concrete character than existed as yet that would bind the Empire and the British peoples more closely together still.— (Applause.) But whatever may be the evolution of political life in the future, there would be one thing always retained — that was tho privilege of British citizenship. In conclusion, the speaker congratulated Mr Mackenzie upon the impression he was leaving behind him in London.—. (Applause.) •

The health of the Chairman and of Mr H. 0. Cameron (hon. sec. to the Banquet' Committee) having been drunk and responded to, , The proceedings closed " with "Auld> tang syne." • ;

The address to Mr Mackenzie, which was beautifully illuminated, was in the following terms: — "We desire to express the ~'.gre«t pleasure we have experienced in our associations with Mi Mackenzie during his residence in England, and the respect and regard with which 'ho has inspired all with whom he has. come into contact. We regret his departure from the old country, and we most heartily wish him health, euccess, and prosperity . in, his future career." The address bears the signatures of the donors. • .