JOY AT THE STOCK EXCHANGES. THE DUNEDIN EXCHANGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 47

JOY AT THE STOCK EXCHANGES. THE DUNEDIN EXCHANGE.

It was not expected that any business would be done on 'Change on Friday. There was, however, a very full attendance at the Dunedin Exchange at 10.30. On members taking their seats,

The Chairman (Mr A. Herdman) said : This part of the programme will not take veiy lorg, for i only a=k you lo lake your seats with the object of adjourning the Exchange for to-day. Let me, however, take the opportunity of congratulating you upon the good news which has reached Dunedin during the night. — (Cheors ) We must all feel very much relieved that th.OE'3 who have been so long besiegad, and have borne such a strain, are now comparatively comfortable — at lenst wo hope they are. The defence of Mafeking by Baden-Powell is an event which will always liv-3 in the history of the Empire as one creditable to him, and to his men, and to the nation. — (Cheers.) I read with some interest this morning an account of Baden-Powell's earlier life, and it was very pleasant reading. He is a man of noble character, and no one can doubt the pluck and endurancs he has displayed during this .-dege. — (Cheers.) I think we need not doubt the correctness of the menage, because it has been acepted as correct in the House of Lords, and if they have accepted it as authentic we are quite justified in haying our little rejoicing in honour of- the splendid event. Our intention is to have a few appropriate reirarks fron Mich as choose to make them, and afterwards adjourn and drink BadenPowpl! s health to begin with. I have just received a message from Mr Philp, of the Grand Hotel, saying that he has sent across a casp of champagne., half on his own account, that we may drink the health of BadenPowell. I may just be further permitted t3 mention tb_al news has arrived of the capture of 91 prisoners and one Boer general by Baden -Powe]] .—(Cheer-.)

Mr S. 13. Brant, vice-chairman of the Exchange, said that this was a time when it was impossible on short notice to give adequate expression to the sentiments which stirred the heart — sentiments of appreciation and love for those brave fellows in South Africa who were daily offering their lives for the pake of the Umpire. Noth withstanding what mistakes Great Britain had made in the past, they knew that she always aimed at what was right. If she had not always done what was right in times past it was because she had not always lived in times &o cKi'ised as the present. There rould be no doubt that this war foretold the new birth of the Empire. Looking back for a few years, we saw the colonies of O-.-pat Britain lying almost dormant, like children in their cots. To-day we found them sending men to fiuht alongside men from the old cnuntrv, and coming out with equal honours. — (Cheers.) It was a curious tiling that there was no pleasure which did not bring its modicum of pain, and, while rejoicing at the victories of our men we could not help casting a glance of compassion and sorrow at" the homes left fatherless and brotherless. — (Applause.)

Mr W. A. Walton said he was sure that they were not s'oina: to be behindhand in their display of loyalty that day. On such occasions people all over the world following | he occupation that they followed were always in tlte forefront.

Mr A. G-. Fenwiek said that they were all proud, and rightly proud, of belonging to a race from which such men as BadenPowell and those with him had sprung. He did not think that they ever entertained any dotjbt of Mafokinc's eventual relief, but that belief did not in the slightest take away from

their joy at knowing that the relief was c>>naccomplished fact. He hoped that ti>e liex^ occasion for a similar gathering, and that t j not a dista'ic dale, would be the fall of Pjetoria — that wa^. if the Boere had noi given in in ihe meantime.

The National Anthem was then heartily sucg, followed by lusty cheers for the Queen, Boden-Powpr. Lord Roberts, r,he gorrison of Maf eking. Major Robin, imd our men in South Africa.

The health of Bs.den-Pev.-ell cr.d garrison, the relieving- force, the general*, md other toasts were drur.b in bumpers of champ? gne amidst a scene of enthusiasm and patriotism.

The members of the Exchange assembled again at 1 o'clock, and marched to the Octagon to take pirt in the procession, being preceded by the Austrian Band, which occupied a drag.

THE OTAGO EXCHANGE

There was a verj- large muster at Friday morning's meeting of the Otago Exchange, not that members anticipated transacting ordinary business ; they knew full well that on such an occasion as the relief of Mafeking prohibited any dealing in stock. The gentlemen composing this exchange are very patriotic, and in their patriotism they also show a large amount of sympathy. So it was when the Chairman (Mr H. S. Valentine) ro^e and formally adjourned the exchange in honour of the relief of Colonel Baden-Powell and his gallant band of soldiers, the members showed their sympathy by lustily cheering and relieving their mividd by singing till they were hoarse. After this first burst of enthusipsm,

The Chairman rose and said : Mr Vicechairman and Gentlemen, — Not many weeks ago we received the jjlorious tidings thr-t Lads'smifch had been relieved. Sine? then we have been anxiously waiting for the new= to come flashing across the wires, " Msfeking is relieved." To-day we have it. — (Cheers.) Although not officially announced, we believe it, and we rejoice as true Britons should rejoice pt such a glad proclamation. The sufferings of the beleaguered garrison we can but fuintly imagine, but we return thaiiks for the knowledge that their sufferings and trials in Mafeking are now a thing of the past. — (Cheer?.) I have often thought that we, as a people living in a land of peace ond plenty, bave not thought oi sympathised enough with the poor souls imprisoned in that distant torn:. To-day, however, when we gaz? upon this fair city of ours, and watch the sympathising, rejoicing multitudes, we see there the pent-up feelings of .our fellow citizens given full vent. Pessimists have declared with their pro-Boer friends that the gallant colonel and his courageous men would soon surrender ; but, gentlemen. I say that the word surrender is unknown in the vocabulary oi the British army. Surrender ! no. Baden-Powell would rather fight until his last drop of blood ebbed away than surrender, especially. to such a tyrannical foe as the Boei. They have established a record in holding out as they h^ c done, and nobly haye they served iheir Queen and country. — (Loud cheers.) In conclusion, I will ask you to stand and eive three ringing cheers for Colonel BadenPowell.

Cheers were then given for the colonel, and also the Queen. The Cha-rman then announced that Mr Philp. of the Grand Hotel, had kindly invited them over to drink a toast to the Queen, her Empire, and soldiers. Then the members formed in line and adjourned to the Grand Hotel. , The Chairman, in a well-chosen speech, proposed the toast of "Her Most Gracious Majesty, Our Beloved Sovereign, Queen Victoria," which was drunk by the members. in champagne. Mr T. S. Graham, in proposing the. health of "Lord Roberts, Colonel Baden-Powell, Officers and Man on Service in South Africa," said that the present occasion recalled to -him the great jubiliation manifested at Home when the fall of Sebaslopol was announced. He remembered the ringing of bells, shouting, cheering, and singing o{^ the great crowds of people as if it were but "yesterday. He was proud to-day to see the jubiliation of the people of Dunedin, it was truly a time for great rejoicing, and we should feel thankful to a merciful Providence for again bestowing success on our lroop& in Africa's distant climes. — (Cheers.) Mr George Blyth proposed the toast- of " Major Robin and the New Zealand Contingents." He felt sure that when the present war wa3 over, and its history published; that we would find the services cf our colonial troops greatly marked. We knew how England appreciated the spontaneous offers of the various colonies in offering men to fight 'the foe, and we also knew bow gallantly these men had fought and upheld the prestige of the British army. We are looking forward to the return of Zealandia's gallant sons, and right loyally will we welcome them. — (Loud cheers.)

The proceedings throughout were enlivened by patriotic sones sung by Messrs J. Hopcraft, G. Blanchfield, W. Irvine.- H. Hanlon, A. E. Thomson. D. Lurnaen, and J. Hopkins. Mr Albert Evans officiating a« accompanist. The whole affair was most enthusiastic, and fully proved the loyalty and patriotism of the members of the Otagi Stock Exchange.

THE EQUITABLE

At the meeting- of the Equitable Stock Ex change, held on Friday morning, the Chairman (Mr H. E. Muir), in moving the adjournment of" the Exchange, said: Gentlemen, the news of the relief of Mafeking reached us at an early hour this morning, and in honour of that joyful news • I have much- pleasure in moving that the Exchange shall have no " callover " either this morning or afternoon. Mafeking has been besieged for seven months past, and its plucky garrison, under the leadership of the British hero Baden-Powell — (applause) — has made a stand of endurance which will live long in the annals of British warfare. The Mafeking garrison has proved that the British poldier, in addition to being a plucky and aggressive fighter, is also a determined and never-yielding defender. In. the history of the British nation instances are numerous where our forces, having been surrounded by the enemy, have stood shoulder to shoulder and .allowed themselves to be hacked to pieces rather than surrender. In other instances they have fixed bayonets and wildly charged through o^ erwhelming numbers rather than allow themselves to be captured. These instances prove, if proof were required, that in ,arms the Britisher never knows when he is defeated. This fact seems to have been realised by the foreign hirelings who have directed the Boer operations against our forces in the Transvaal, and they have tried to accomplish by siege what they knew to be an impossibility- in the open field. But the siegs in the Transvaal has proved to be as ineffective as the field cannon and Boer rifle on the open veldt. Ladynmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking are standing

monuments ef this fact. The British soldier can no more be starved into surrender -than he can be overawed by the foi-ce of arms ii — (Applause.) With that "bulldog" tenacity which is characteristic of the stock from which he comes, he laughs alike at siege and cannon ball. The lesson of the Transvaal in the matter of siege, we may be sure, will not be lost upon the nations that >may contemiDlate a brush in arms with Britain at some future period. — (Hear, hear.) The Beer forces that lor so many months besieged Ladypmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking could with much greater advantage have been used in the open field or upon the hills in the endeavour to keep back the irresistible tide of British arms. That has, of course, been Kruger's mistake. Our mistake, on the other hand, has been that we have as a nation permitted our Ladysmith and Mafeking garrisons to be so long besieged without coming to the rescue. — (Hear, hear.) Tn these instances wo have called upon the plucky and heroic defenders for a display of endurance which ought to have been unnecessary if our war arrangements had been better forward in the earlier stages of the struggle. But that is a matter upon which it is unnecessary to dwell at a time like the present. — (Applause.) What we have to rejoice over just now is the fact that the garrison and populace of Mafeking have been relieved, and that their terrible sufferings and privations are pt an end. That is a matter for coii2ivtulation, and the community rejoices over it. To the insignificant pro-Boers in our midst this victory of British endurance oyer Boerish arms majr not be ca'.ise for jubilation, but the voices of our pro-Boers will to-day be drowned in the " hurrahs " of a British nation that rejoices at the delivery of Making's patient heroes from fever and Etarrati on. — (Applause.) Mr Daniels, in seconding the motion, said : On an occasion like this there is an indescribable sencaiicn, which causes a man to walk with his head erect and fael ever so much taller, which sends a lump into his throat couPßd women to weep for joy, and a proud ieeling fills every true British heart tbot he is privileged to be a member of our glorious Empire. The horrors of a siego such as has now been ccncludrd cm be but poorly understood by tv who have been brought up in a lond of plenty. However, it is now over, and let us hope that the Great Watcher over all Vv— 1 restore the sick and suffering to health and strength, and spare the litQe band of heroes to en',o~ r a long term of cosiforc and haopier- days. — (Applause.) In response to the call of the chairman, hearty chrers worn then given for BadenPowell and General Roberts, and ttiree hearty and enthusiastic creers for the Quean brought the proceedings to a close.