Pahiatua Burns Club Banquet.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 235, 3 December 1894, Page 2

Pahiatua Burns Club Banquet.

The members of th* Pahiatua Barns Club held a banquet in tbe Commsfral Hotel on Friday evening to celeb rata i*s natal day of Si Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Messrs Dathie and Hogg, Ms.HR., were present by invitation. Mr A. Stewart, vieo-President, occupied the chair in the absence of Mr Regis, the President, who sent an spolgy for non attendance. The proceedings commenced with n first-class dinner laid in host Sullivan’• well-known style, and the repast was done ample justice to. The tables were then cleared and the rest of the evening devoted to leaau. and vocal efforts by the members and their friends. The first toast, that of “The Queen,*’ was proposed by the Chairman. Song, Mr Turnbull. Mr Brown proposed “ The Parliament New Zealand.” w MrDuthiein responding said it gave him great pleasure to be the guest of tbe Pahiatua Burns Club on seen nn o pension at the present one. He said he mnder stood this was a non political Club but he could not help telling than he was a liberal; certainly ha was called a eonaervative but be was not. The Govern rnent celled themselves new liberals. The present House of Parliament was elected to improve t*ie social position of the people; tteps were to be taken to cure poverty. The co-operative system had been introduced to improve the position of the working man but nevertheless this district had been made a dumping ground for the cnem ployed. The Government were doing their best to improve the peeition of the working man of this colon?. They had introduced bills with that object in view, but they were held over till next aaasioa. He referred to the In desirable Immigrants' Exclusion Bill and the Apprentices' Bill. Some time ago the people boasted that the country «m in a good position, and then people simply swooped down on us from the other colonies, so tbe Government, a** they alleged m self-defence introduced the bill before referred to. This was to be a self-supporting country, but nevertheless it was getting more into debt. The sum of LI.HSO.UQO was sent out of the colony every year a« interest. He would like to see no more borrowing, as the debt of this colony was already surprisingly large. Tiie construction of the railway line from Eketahuna to AY ood villa was a werk that should be completed as soon as possible. He thought it was e bad sign to see people dependent on the Government for employment. He thanked them heartily for the manner in which they had drunk the toast ef the Parliament of New Zealand applause l . Mr A. \\’. Hogg then rose and said be felt gratified at being present on this | occasion. Just one year ago that night lie had had the pleasure of being present with them, when he spent a moat en- [ joyable evening with the local club. Ha i referred te the House of Parliament, and , said the members should be a rvdex of tbe people. The present House eras one of the best the colony had ever seen. AVith reference to the Government and the Opposition they were all good fellows. AA’hcn off the floor of the House political matters were dropped. The class of men wanted in the House were those who would help the depressed and «upprees the large real men. He agreed vnth Mr Dutliie with regard to borrowing; he would have no more of it. Referring *0 Robert * Bums, he said the poet was a • plendid reformer and was always trying to improve the condition of the people. AYith regard to Mr Duthie’s remarks re the Undesirable Immigrant* Exclusion Bill, that wa? only a joke played juat to feel the House. The universal suffrage, he contended, was the grandest reform ever introduced into New Zealand, and the colony wa* leading the world in these matters. He thanked them for having coupled hi* name with the toast «ap plausel.

Scotch rending. Mr J. Milne. Mr Miller, vice-president. then proposed the toast of “Our A'isitor. Mr Duthie. '

Mr Dutkie in replying, referred to th* pleasure he felt at being present at a gathering of the Bums' Club. He dwelt upon the amount of sympathy and feeling in the Scottish character and emphasised the uscfulnaas of such organisations as Bums Clubs in perpetuating a faeling ef patriotism to their country s poets, lie had been long a resident of New Zealand, and he looked back on those early days of struggle and hardship with pleasure.' Mr l>uthie. in a graphie manner referred to some of the hardships of the early times and gave some of hit own experiences. Hard as the fight was and anxious a* the times were, he looked nn those days with nloasnre. He thanked the member* of tbe Bums Club heartily for the invitation they had so kindly extended to him. Mr Macloskey *aag '* Plymouth Sound'* in first class style. Mr Hogg then proposed “ Th# niemcrv of Robert Burns wlueh was drunk in silenee.

The song “ Happy we are a' together ** by Mr Turubull «i« w«4l received. The next toast “ The Eahiatua Burns • f Mr J. Mi responded to Mr A. Stewart, was followed by a song, Mr llogg giving •• A man s a man fora’ that.** Mr J. R. Graham then proposed tha IlfiOl ‘ Kindred Sport* ” which mm responded to by Mr Hogg The reading of Burn*’ poem *' Holy Willie's prayer” by Mr Ihitlue. waa well l Mr Milne played a solo on the whistle, and was followed by Mr Tumball with the Scotch song •• O AVxihe brewed a perk o malt. * Nancy Lee was Mr Charles Cooper • contribution. and he gave it in fine s?\le. Mr Hogg then proposed the lone; “ Othtrpw ts ' and Mr Kemper responded. HOB re rea: | r BM r# cited by Mr Seymour with fine effect. ** Th# Ere**' was the next least, pro posed bv Mr Duthie and responded to bv Mr Bail lie. The eong. •'The hairin' o' the door ' was sung by Mr llogg. acd followed by

“ The Arab’s farewell to his Steed' by Mr Chas. Cooper. Mr C.xselberg proposed tlie toast of " Tho ladies, who wore cUmpiontJ by Mr MocUrdtcv in a neat raepon##. A count *-on_; by Mr M ins *milled ** The fellow that looks like me wa* tecy amusing. Mr l uriibu'.l * lav oou&ribuiina, ** Afson Wan ■ wit .1 “ Ye bank-* and Braes. Hostmad lioness.' and Mr Sulluan responded. man, " proposed by Mr Dawson and re spoil,led to by Mr A. Stownrt. Mom of ttxo toast* were drunk with musical honors and were well received. Tho tables wore laid out with much last*', and ihe attention of Host Sullivan and his assistants was .*wsiduou*. Albigether a very ploason; evening wa* «prui. and a wish express d that the Bums Club -houKI hold many more such gathering*,