Ministerial Banquet.

Southland Times, Issue 11751, 2 June 1891, Page 2

Ministerial Banquet.

There was a very large gathering of citizens 1 at the banquet given in honour of the Hons. J R. J. Seddon, Minister of Public 'Works, || and J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. The 1 chair was taken by Mr W. H. Hall (Mayor), A the vice-chairs being occupied by. Messrs m Kelly and Mackintosh, M.H.R's. The fol« M lowing toasts were proposed, "The Queen M and Royal family," by the Chairman ; '*Hw M Excellency the Governor," by Mr Mackihtosh ; and " The Army, Navy, and Volnn- M teers," by Mr Kelly. Lieut. ColonfeiTlflw- 1 wick responded to the latter toast, remarking iJ that it was understood that the poiicy?of fl the Government would be to thr^w. niora 1 duty upon the volunteer force in. order ':M minimise the small standing army we hare. <§ It was small certainly, but the sooner it was m done away with the better. • « J

M r W m. Craig proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand." In doing so he remarked that he had carefully perused the various speeches and debates of the recent session of Parliament, and if the reporters had placed before the public a faithful and correct account of the sayings then they had a Parliament in New Zealand ■ equal to any x>f ita predecessors. Without pledging himself- to endorse all that might be said or done during the next few sessions he could not but recognise the fact that they had a House of practical men.and if they succeeded in carrying out certain policies of their programme if the) succeeded in keeping the young men in the colony and in effecting sett^ment on the waste lands ; in keeping the public, expenditure within the income and' ceased from borrowing; regulated the incidence of taxation so as to attract investors and capital to our shores instead of repelling it as the Property Tax had done (applause) ; if they established a conciliation board in order" Ito regulate the differences that exist between capital and labour and prevented the disastrous strikes that have occurred — disastrous alike to employe and employerj-^ii theyisucceeded in these reforms they were entitled to the support of every good colonist in -New Zealand. He had every faith that the^prtsent Parliament would be found. jdiKo^tp their responsibilities, give satisfaction to their constituents, and do their utpiqst to pass wise measures that would conduce to the happiness of their fellow colonists.

Mr Mackintosh in responding, said that the present Government had stepped out in ~M the right direction. Retrenchment had 1 been talked of formerly, but this Govern- 1 ment had gone about the matter in a man- f| ncr which he felt would meet with the.ap- *vj proyal of the House, and if in some respects -' their action bad not met with entire appro- * bation on the whole they had set about in - : the right way to bring back good times in , ! the colony. He would be glad to see more \ encouragement given to small settlers and A assistance afforded in different localities for \ working men who were now starving around ■ our towns, and had to take starvation v wages, he would be glad to see small grants I of land, say of 40 or SO ivcres, made to these ": working men that they might be. enabled | to make a living. ~ *"' ' * I Mr Kelly believed that if the Government 1 ¥«W»|jte^g W ry out tyg& ;)^p||jf^s

would do more practical good than has been done in the last 20 years. Many important bills were to be brought forward which emanated from private members. One of these was a bill of Sir Geo. Grey's providing for the gradual nationalisation of our coal mines and mines for minerals of all sorts. As an instance of what is to be done for Southland the speaker mentioned the deputation which, had waited upon the Hon. John McKenzie with reference to bush licenses. The settlers were almost prohibited from cutting firewood and rails and the Minister of Lands showed his earnestness in trying to meet the legitimate wants of settlers and righting their wrongs that he at once (in opposition to Mr Spance) issued an order to revert to the old state of things. (Great applause.) He believed that the Government were doing their best for the colony and in another twelve months many who were now bitterly opposed to them would confess that a large amount of good had been done by them.

la proposing the toast of the evening, "Oar Guests: the lions. R. Seddon and J. G. Ward," the Mayor said that he considered the present Ministry would prove equal to any that has beeu in office for the last ten years. They have commenced in the right manner— by retrenchment — and not only in a right manner as regards retrenchment, hut they had been independent in speech and action ; speaking and acting without fear or favour. With reference to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, from what he had seen and heard, ho could traly say he was the right man in the right place. The Postmaster-General too, whom they all knew both personally and from his work, was in h"is right position. Though one of ohe youngest nmnbers of the House and he thought the youngest Minister, he had shown by his ability not only that he was now in the right place, but that he would come yet to a higher position in the House. (Applause). The speaker felt sure from his observations of the deputations of the day, that Southland would receive its fair share and that amount of interest from the Ministry which it had not received in the past few years. They had been left out in the cold and neglected, but Mr Seddon was determined that every part of New Zealand should have equal shares in any favour going. All present would agree with him in the hope that Southland would be favoured with another visit when more time would be at the disposal of the Minister. By such a method of visiting, the Ministry becomes conversant with the requirements of the district, and in touch with the people.

The Hon. Mr Seddon, on rising to respond, was enthusiastically received. He said that he felt in a somewhat difficult position, in that he would not come up to expectations, that he would not when he had finished, have been able to put the Government in anything like so favourable a light M it had been put by the proposer of the toast of " The Parliament " and tke chairman. But he could say, at all events, ■peaking on behalf of the Government, that he and his friend the member for Awarua and colleague in the Ministry, felt proud of the honour which had been accorded them by the assembled guests. He was no Strang«r to this part of the country. For some years there had been associated with him in Parliament, fighting on the side of the people, two gentlemen who were among them that evening — he referred to Messrs Feldwick and Joyce. (Applause.) Southland had always, 'since he had been in politics, sent a fair sprinkling of men imbued with liberal principles, determined to battle for the people, and Southland, at the last elections, had again spoken out with no uncertain sound, and the electors had men representing them who, when they finished their labours in this Parliament, would have given a good account of themselves, and who would have proved that they were representing an intelligent people — a people determined to see that right and justice were done. (Applause.) Without wishing to be thought egotistical, he might say that Sir Geo. Grey, who was regarded as being a good judge of character, had always said that despite his (the speaker's) stonewalling proclivities, there was something behind — (laughter) — while Mr Joyce of the Southland News, wrote that sooner or later "Seddon would come to the front aud be a Minister of the Crown." At the time that was written twofchircls of the people here doubtless laughed afc the idea, but Mr Joyce must have been gifted with second night, for the prophecy had so far come true. (Applause.) He would now deal with the position of the Government. The late elections indicated that so far as administration was concerned the colony was going back — that legislation necessary for its well - being was not being brought forward, and that the people had determined there should be a change. He would like tp know from the Conservative press, who were unceasingly telling their readers that the late Government was one that would profit the people and the colony, what the present Ministry found on facing the situation. They found the late Ministry causing a second session at a cost of about L 14,00 0; they found the Premier providing himself with the office of Speaker of the Council at a salary of L.600 a year ; they found the late Government, despite the protests of the people, appointing six new members to the Council, saddling the country with an additional LI OOO a year ; snd moreover, those men had been placed there to counteract any Liberal legislation which the Ministry or the people might wish to see made the law of the land. They saw what was coming, and had provided ■fill'— t it; they had, as they thought, £It » check on the passage of Liberal M. They bad papers in this part of 'the colony which stuck to the late L Government through thick and thin, and not a word had been heard from them since the nominations to the Council •iHto way Southland had been left out in tin bold. The Southland Conservative Preis had done a great deal for the late Government and those who supported it, and though Southland had been for years unrepresented in the Upper House, ■he was, at usual, left out when the names of the new Councillors were submitted to the Governor. This was to be overlooked, ' but if done by a Liberal Government they would have had an article at dinner, at breakfast, and on going to bed. (Laughter.) But they must draw a veil over " the wretched past," or as the Americans would ■ay, wipe the slate and make a fresh start, but at the same time he felt justified in referring to these things when an attempt was made to saddle the present Government withjjhe double session. There had been a shriek from the Conservative papers because members had taken the honorarium for a few days' work, but the real cause of that eecond session was the late Administration. Had they resigned when they knew they weie beaten, as honest men should do, and as the present Government would do in like case, the second session could have been avoided. The fact was the late Ministry did not wish their successors to meet the people, hoping that if an adjourn r ment were obtained for a fortnight or a month they would have no opportunity of showing whether they had any administrative ability, and then the late Government and its supporters would have said the new ' Ministry bad had a trial and should be relegated to obscurity. But the present Government considered that the question of payment of honorarium was a small thing compared with the principle involved — that they were entitled to meet the people face to face, to explain the position to them, and to be judged by their acts. (Applause.) He could say, without being egotistical, that the present Government was a substantial one. (Laughter.) Yes, and substantial in more ways than one. They had seen his colleague, the Minister for Lands, and when he added that the Premier was superior to that gentleman and himself, it would be admitted thtj,t wherever they went they carried weight. (Laughter.) At all events they were not seeking office far the sake of place and profit. They intended to govern the country on commercial lines — to propound a policy which it was hoped would be acceptable to Parliament. But if it was not acceptable to Parliament they were quite prepared to leave office and let men be placed there who would, as Parliament might think, do more justice to the people. . The curse of the colony iv the past had been that men held office who cared not one jot for the country or the people, themselves and their positions being their only concern. (Applause.) With regard to the question of retrenchment jrhe members of the present Government when in Opposition in 1889-90 said that a saving o LiOQ,QpO a year could be nude, bat Sir H. AUinton declared though & Mitdptoo

1 that the Government could not reduceexpendi- ; tureev-f.n to the extent of L 50,000. Under ! prest-ure from their own party, however, they ! clingiug like barnacles to office, said they : would try to effect reductions to that 1 amount. But since the present Government | had attained office they had carried out what they said while in Opposition could be done— they had shown that without impairiug the efficiency cf the public service the other L 50.000 could go, and it had gone. (Applause.) Taking the Defence Department as an example, he held that the public safety and the protection of property were just as well guarded by the police as before the reduction*) were made ; while as regards the volunteers and the defence of the colony, they were actually in a better position than before, for defence matters were on a footing that must ensure stability and efficiency. Formerly the volunteers were snubbed on every occasion, and an attempt had been made to foist on the colony a permanent paid force, which in the first place the country could not pay for, and which in the second place it did not want. There were officers and men anxious to do their duty, but they were set aside. He had reduced the expenditure on defence and yet he claimed that the force was now in a much better position than before. To give an idea of how Parliament was set at defiance last year a motion was passed in discussing the defence vote to the effect that it was to be reduced by L7OOO, but when be looked over the Estimates he found that not only was that reduction not made, but that an additional L4OOO had been expended and an order sent Home for L4OOO worth of war material. Captain Russell, his predecessor, and who was to lead the Conservative party in the House, had thus, in defiance of Parliament, gone L 15,000 over the amount allowed him. This was only one of a series of instances, and yet that was the crane, de la creme of the Governments of New Zealand. A reduction of over L 15.000 had since been made in that branch, and yet, if permitted, he (Mr Seddon) could and would give better value "than his predecessor in office. With regard to public works the staff that had sufficed when a million and a half was being spent yearly was maintained by the late Government when only half a million was disbursed, a course which would speedily land a private firm in bankruptcy. With the reduction in works there should have been a corresponding reduction in the staff. But no, the same staff was maintained when there was no work to do, and hence, while it waa very hard to send away public officers who were efficient and who would work well if there had been anything to do, still as there was no money it was absolutely necessary that reductions should be made. He looked at it this way : The taxpayer first, the Civil servant second. (Applause. ) Instead of getting credit for their efforts from the Conservatives, the latter charged them with impairing the efficiency of the service, and declared that it was thoroughly disorganised. His reply was that now necessary reductions had been made those who remained in the service would have the protection of the Government and the people ; they would not, as before, be each session the butt between contending parties. Neither he nor his colleagues were hard-hearted men, and to have to retire deserving officers was one of the most painful things he had undertaken. He had seen strong men weep as they pointed out the hardship of having to leave the service, and wives and sisters had come to Ministers and pleaded for their relatives, and while admitting all that was said they bad had to reply thctt the country could not afford to retain the services of the persons retrenched, that they had been well paid and had received fair compensation, and that the taxpayer must be considered first. The duty was painful, but they had to do it like men no matter how painful. (Applause. ) He had observed with pain, a feeling that would be shared by many, and by all Mr Spence's real friends, the speech made by that gentleman as an ex-public servant. His case was not such as to warrant a speech of that kind. He was not retired but simply transferred, on equally good terms, to another part of the colony. Suppose an inspector of police or a commander of volunteers were treated in that way, and should take umbrage and declare that he was harshly treated, and that the Minister in charge of his department was not fit for bis position — surely such a statement must bring with it self-condemnation. (Applause.) It must be clearly understood that the country was not to be ruled by the Civil Service. When an officer declared that he would not remain unless allowed to stay where he wished, then he (the speaker) held that insubordination of that kind showed a spirit that was neither in the interests of the colony nor the service. (Applause). It was perhaps well that Mr Spence had taken the step he had, for if it had been known that he was imbued with the spirit he had displayed other steps might have been taken and he might not have had the opportunity that had been given him. To say that he was driven to the wilds of the West Coast ! He did not know what the people of Hokitika would say to that. He wondered what Mr Todd (who had lived there some years) thought about it. It had treated him very well, and if Mr Spence had gone there he would have been treated well, and would not have insulted that community as he had done. Coming to financial matters, he held that the depressed condition of the country was due to the Property Tax, which had been in force since 1879 — a system of taxation which had, as it were, throttled thrift, and driven weakh from the colony. Under it the more youimprovei the more you paid. It vias a system established in the interests of the large financial institutions, land companies and holders of large estates on which few improvements had been made. It had been a perfect curse to the country. The Government intended to repeal the Property Tax, and to substitute for it a graduated land tax, supplemented by an income tax. (Applause.) They must be careful to see that under the new system both ends were made to meet, that nothing was done which might lead to financial difficulty. Hence some of their friends might complain that they had not gone far enough, but it was better to be sure than sorry. It was said that a Liberal Government always landed the country in financial disaster, but as they had only had one Liberal Administration from 1877 to 1879, he did not see how the statement applied. The Continuous Ministry, and not the Liberal Government, was to blame in the matter. It had been said that on the advent of a Liberal Government the finances would be disqrganisei} and tl)e credit of the colony impaired, but as a matter of fact their credit had never been better than during the last two months, and he supposed that those who were watching events in the Old Country knew what wouls ensue on a change of Government, and when they saw their debentures going up steadily and their credit improving from the day they took office, no better proof could be given that there was confidence, both in and out of the colony, in the Government and their proposals. (Applause.) As to the cry that they wished to increase the burdens of the farmers, they looked on them as the backbone of the colony, and had no intention to increase taxation in their case, but rather to relieve them, knowing it would profit the country so to do. (Applause.) That brought him to the question of land {settlement, which he held had not progressed as it should. The bone and sinew of the country had been leaving in shiploads, and fawners' eons, wl<o bad been educated at the expense of the State until they were fit for almost any position, and whose fathers bad trained them in agricultural work in the hope that when they grew up and the homestead got too small, they would be able to get land and settle down for themselves in the neighbourhood of the old people, had been driven away to another country in search of the land they cqutd not get here. Hundreds had been driven away, and yet, they had, as in the case of the land at the end of the Seaward Bnsh line, 4000 acres held under timber rights and tho freehold of 700 acres parted with for 12s 6d per acre, whereas it was worth L 2 to L 2 10s. (Applause.) These things were noc so much the result of a defective land law as of a vicious system of administration. They had had Commissioners of Lands whose sympathies were not with the people, and whose wish was not to put them, on the land, and they hart members of Land Boards actuated by the same spirit. The people must have noticed how one class w«s dealt with as compared with another. When liberal laqd laws obtained on th.c West Coast homestead blocks were ordered to be set •aide, but tbf intentta of the Lecture

was frustrated through the poorness of the land set aside for the purpose and its remoteness from road nnd railway. They would understand how his colleague, the Minister for Lands, had become a target for the Conservative pres*. When simple John McKenzie, going down to the Education or Land Board, he was a decent sort of chap, but no sooner did he t_ r et into a position in which it was necensary, in the interest of the country, that he should fight against the evils existing in the land administration, than he was reviled by the Conservative press from one cud of the colony to the other. He would simply say that his colleague, in fact all of them, should keep on the path of duty, doing their work fairly and fearlessly, and in the long run the country would stand by him and see that he received justice. (Applause.) Concerning the mining industry, which had been neglected to a very greatextent, he thoughtanimprovementcould be made at very little expense. The miners wanted more liberal laws and encouragement given to them, not in the way the State undertaking mining works, but by subsidising and directing private enterprise, and doing away with those bogus companies, or to give them their proper titles, those special claim swindles. Having given an example of howjthese things were got up, Mr Seddon said that one result had been that instead of London capital beingdirected into safe channels in the colony the mention of mining claims in New; Zealand was almost enough to cause legitimate enterprises to be tabooed. The State should stop that sort of thing, and it could be done by passing a Promoters' Liability Act, and imposing a penalty where deceits was found to have been practised. During the last three years there had been a falling off in the export of gold of L 150,000, but little notice had been taken of the fact. They had the finest mineral country in the world, and mining had so far been confined to the surface. The industry had been one of the most neglected in the past, and the Government intend to do something to promote it. With this and the other changes indicated, and the alteration in the incidence of taxation, they hoped to be able to stop the outward flow of population which had been going on so long. Mr Seddon then dealt with the question of public works, explaining that the L.300,000 accruing from savinsja effected in the conversion of loans were to be allocated fairly among ths different works which it was considered were most desirable and likely to be immediately reproductive. To see the country and the works required was the reason of his visit, for without doing so he would not have been in a position to deal fairly with the different works. He hoped, if the Government survived the session, to pay another visit to the district. (Applause.) With regard to his colleague, Mr Ward, he could speak from experience regarding his advice and assistance in tho Cabinet and they were pleased ! and proud indeed to have him as their colleague. (Applause.) In conclusion Mr Seddon thanked the company for their cordial reception and trusted that the policy to be submitted by the Government would have their approbation. They would either carry , out that policy or give place to others, and whether their stay in office were short or long, they would command the respect of the people. The Hon. J. G. Ward, whose rising was greeted with applause, said that if ever he deserved sympathy, it was at that moment, following as he did Mr Seddon, who had left few subjects on which he had not touched. He had spoken of the Ministry as a weighty one, and he (Mr Ward) might add that it was also the youngest one in the world. He thanked the chairman for his very kind remarks. With regard to the Premier, with whom he hoped they would ■ unedayl* better acquainted, he wished to «ay, as the result of nis experience of that gentleman, that a more generous-hearted man, or one who desired more to advance the best interests of the colony, did not exist in New Zealand. (Applause.) With his colleagues, he (the speaker) felt a great sense of responsibility, seeing that the destinies of the colony were to some extent in their hands. The actions of individual members of the Minis try had been called in question, and they had beeu written down in a manner that would he hoped yet cause the writers to blush for their articles, and this abuse had been hurled at men who had, as Mr Seddon had shown, striven to discharge a painful duty faithfully and well. When a man became a Minister his feelings did not change, and nothing had caused more pain than having to discharge trusted servants. Stern necessity, the knowledge that it was in the interests of the colony, was the actuating motive of the Ministry in each case. (Applause.) Like Mr Seddon, he asked the electors to judge the Government on its policy, and he might say that it would be found that in it no men would receive greater consideration than the farmers. Indeed, the Government actually intended to relieve people from taxation to some extent, in proof of which he might mention the proposal to introduce the penny post in New Zealand. So far as Southland was concerned, he thought her interests would not be neglected while they had representatives like Messrs Kelly and Mackintosh to sac to her requirements. He had no desire to burden them with a long Bpeech — in fact j he had anticiqated that Mr Seddon would deal satisfactorily with the toast, or, to indulge in a bad pu,n, that there was never much to be M said on" any subject after Seddon. (Laughter.) With regard to the proposed legislation, it waa quite on the cards that, some of it might be blocked in the Upper House. Well, the Ministry were going to have no nonsense. If an undue desire were shown to block useful legislation, he believed the Government would take such steps as it might deem desirable in order to get its measures carried through. He hoped that when Mr Seddon returned he would occupy his present honourable position, and that he would then be able to go from Invercargill across the banks of the Mataura by the Seaward Bush railway. (Applause.) l%e could assure them that at Mr Seddon's handa all parts of the colony would receive justice, and it only remained for him to once more acknowledge the heartiness with which the toast had been received.

The Hon. R. J. Seddon proposed the the toast "His Worship the Mayor and Councillors," and in doing so said the duty was a most pleasant one, for, since he htyd been here he had been treated with the greatest courtesy, had been shown the greatest consideration,, and waß only sorry bis stay was no short. The Mayor and councillors had done their best to place matters before him, and, as the Government must be guided from time to time by|local authorities, a personal acquaintance with the personnel of the Invercargill Borough Council would, perhaps, the better ensure any representations coming from them receiving fair consideration by the present administration. His Worship the Mayor thanked Mr Seddqn for the. kind manner in which he had proposed the toast, and those present for the way it had been drunk. After explaining why it was he himself had not visited the Seaward Bush railway in company with the Minister for Public Works, he said he never thought Mr Seddon was such an energetic man as he had shown himself to be during hi 3 short stay here, and if he (Mr Seddon) had not gone to Seaward Bush so e^rly, tv all probability some 20Q wquld b,a,ve gone with him, ina^acf of, *vs w*s actually the caiie, some five or six. The email number waß not from any want of interest in the project, but rather the result of the cause he had stated. The railway was absolutely necessary for the best interests of the town. By means of it people resident }n thefToi Tois district would only ha.ye to gravel 20 miles instead of s£( as at present their natural centre, which, waa undoubtedly Invercargill. The town was small ; the population was not extraordinarily Urge, There was a time when, more activity was to be observed than now. Notwithstanding that he believed the time would come when places of business would be more flourishing than now, and he was also of opinion that it would be brought about by the present Ministry carrying out the Seaward Bush work. In conclusion, he took occasion to e^p^iess ttie hope that the next time t/he Minister for Public Wor^s visited Invercargill he would bring his chief, the Hon. John Ballance with him, when tie had, no doubt another banquet would be given in a larger hall, ai\d an assemblage brought together much larger than the one that night to do, honour to two such men as he had referred to,

The IJon, J, G. Wftr4 3*id the toast which had been pUoed in hia hands to propose wa a

and Mining Interests." Of these he considered the last the most important, because agricultural aud pastoral interests could not be carried on without gold or silver. If they had not the mining industry looked after, none of the others would prosper. When he told them that the toast was coupled with the name of the Laird of Stratharran, he felt quite sure they did not want him to dilate upon it. He would therefore simply ask them to drink success to the various interests, coupling with the toast the names of Messrs W. Todd, H. Carswell, J. Hatch, and J. W. Hamilton.

Mr Todd, in response, said that it waa with tie utmost plea aj re that he waa present on that interesting occasion. He had known Mr Seddon 25 years ago when on the West Coast — not the "Wild West" — and from that time till now his career had been upward and onwaid, and it afforded him satisfaction to say it. To come more particularly to the purposes of the toast he would speak of the mmm? industry, which lay near to his heart. It waa not brisk at present, but he was sure it would play an important part in this country yet, particularly in the southern part of it. Extravagant language was not his forte— (laughter)— and he would tell the Minister of Mines in all sincerity that in the Longwood ranges, to which he had paid a visit that day, there was gold enough to pay off the National debt of Great Britain. At the Round Hill Chinamen had been making comfortable fortunes, and the prospects of the London Syndicate who hold a mining area there were better to-day than ever they had been. Then at Waikaia, a hundred fee f from the surface, men were getting sixteen dwts. to the load. There was mineral wealth in Southland, and all that was wanted was money to assist in getting it unearthed. He had more faith to-day in the rock tin in the Pegasus mountains than he had when it was first discovered. He had heard a remark passed about the nationalisation of the coal mines for tbe benefit of New Zealand. If the Government wanted money all they had to do was to go and work the mineral wealth secreted in the Remarkables in Stewart Island. There are other industries in a greater state of development, such as the Nightcaps coal and tbe Orepuki coal and shale. With regard to the shale all that waa wanted was LIO.OOO to put up sufficient works to extract the oil, and a profitable industry would be in full swing. There were other industries to which he would liked to have referred, but these were the mainstay, and he had no doubt as to what would be their ultimate outcome. All he asked the Governmsntfor was their favourable consideration. They were prepared to help themselves if they got enconragement, and he trusted that the people of Southland in their efforts of mineral development would have the hearty cooperation of the present Ministry. Mr Carswell s«iid that before alluding to the agricultural and pastoral industries he would like to express the pleasure it gave him of being present at the banquet. It was the first occasion on which he had met with his fellow citizens to do honour to Mr Ward since his elevation to the position of a Minister of the Crown. He had great hope for the future of the agricultural and pastoral industries of this colony, and given an economical and stable government, he felt sure ' they were on the eve of a long course of prosperity. Never since his arrival in the colony had these industries looked so well as at present. He would not inflict figures on • them, but draw their attention to the daily ! cable reports. Wool has been increasing ' steadily, the frozen mutton trade has swollen to immense proportions — proportions which have called forth remark all over the civil- j ised world. Turning to the dairy produce, it was said that it was not fit to go into the London market but the truth was that it was now finding higher prices. That morniDg a gentleman came up from the Bluff prepared to buy the whole of the butter prodace of Southland. At Home they were busily engaged building steamers to meet the increase of trade, and he could confidently say that there was no colony in the world of equal area that produced at such a rate as New Zealand. These were things which observation had shown to be real, and he thought they j should give Ministers hope and encourage- • ment by showing that tho country was now entering upon a course of prosperity, ana judging from the remarks made by Mi[ Seddou and Mr Ward, they would expect a good deal from the present Ministiy. New Zealand and its Industries might well be compared toa young giant, which, if given freedom by its nurses, would soon grow to immense proportions ; and they wanted freedom from oppressive taxation, which, judging by the tenor of Ministerial utterances, they would get. In any case the present Ministry should, in his opinion, get a fair trial, the only May in which they could reasonably be judged. Mr Hatch said that while they had much ' to be thankful for, still the industries of the district were somewhat behind. The jealousies of the district had come in from time to time to hamper those who were prompted to start industries for which the town was not ready. The population was small and so was the town ; but there was growing up in this town boys and girls as pood as any district could produce, and work; must be found for them. There were many industries that could be started here, but they would not be successful if in the first instance they were started too soon, and if also they tried to do too much at once. Aa far as Invercargiil was concerned they had tried to do too much at once. If attention could be devoted to one particular thing and if it could be as great a success as, for instance, the Southland Frozen Meat Company, it would be highly beneficial to this town. The tinning of rabbits had become a profitable industry, and what was to hinder them starting a hat factory to use up the rabbit fur. It would employ a large number of ou.c youth. Referring to the miniqg industry he was sure ; tho present Government would attend to it, but of that Mr Todd had already spoken. Mr Hamilton said he was low of stature and few of words. In the first place he disagreed with Mr Ward when he said the mining industry was the main§tay. In his I opinion the agricultural and pastoral p,ur- ! suits were. lie was glad to say that things were looking better than they were years ago. The corner had been turned. Although things were better there was still room for imjpro,vement. Efe thought to Btill better things the Government should allow meu settled in the interior of the country to send their produce to town at .as cheap a rate ' as those residing, say, ten miles out. A great deal had been said regarding taxation with much of which he did not agree. He believed if the Property Tax were properly administered it would be the fairest tax they could have at the present time. Instead of a progressive land tax, if the Property Tax exemption were lowered from L-tOO to L2OO and laud valued according to its proper valne and not according to imptovemen.ta, then he thought that was as fair a3 they wanted. Southland's resources were seen in its fat sheep and cattle, and all they wanted to be prosperous was not favours but their just rights, and he trusted tho present Parliament would give them, The Mayor said he had Received a telegram from the Hon, J. McKenzje, who had been speaking a,t Palmerston, whfch he would read. }t waa as follows — *' Meeting grand success. A> conclusion gave three cheers for the government." The Mayor then called for three cheers for the Government, coupled with the names of their guests, which, was most heartily given. Mr Blacke said^ the toast he had to propose was o^e o| th/a greatest aud most impavtan,t of tho evening. It was the toast of "The Press, '* the greatest organisation in the civilised world. To the Press, the artist, the philosopher, and the statesmen were all alik.e iodebled. It was a great schoolmaster, and hence the necessity for its purity. Locally they had nothing to complain of, the organs being actuated by the v*ry highest motives, their aim and p^ot being the interests of the town, asked them to drink heartily t!^o eiast of the Press, coupled with the names of Messrs R, Giln^av,*. aud jj. P» Joyce. After, the toast had been ch*ly honoured the Hon. Mr Seddon said, th,at the time had arrived when the Press should take a more prominent position, on tho toast list at gatherings oi thie kind held that evening. Tug Press of the colony bad so far given him and the Government fairplay, and lie thought it o»ly right to state it when ho received it. The Press here waa often quoted by men high in politics, and its leading men were writers well up in the political history of the colony, and he hoped th^t be and hia coUe»§ueo would be fcirty handed, xtiere

were two sides to every question, and he only asked for fairplay. He deemed it an honour to support the toast. Mr Joyce said that he was taken by surprise. Mr Seddon had jumped his claim, had in reality replied to the toast. He was a pretty old member of the Fourth Estate, but still, he hoped some ten or twenty years hence to greet the Minister of Works on the occasion of the completion of the Seaward Bush railway. It had been begun when he was a comparatively young man, and he hoped ere he wore a wig that Mr Seddon would be the Minister to be banquetted to commemorate the completion of the line. Having got this in edgeways, he thanked the hon. gentleman for the delicate manner in which he had alluded to the Press, which he called a useful nuisance, and concluded by saying that his colleague, Mr R. Gilmour, would tell them more about it.

Mr Gilmour thanked the company for the very cordial manner in which the toast had been proposed, the hearty manner in which it had been drunk, and the way in whicli the Press had been spoken of !i • n v.-'i-iV Mr Ward had stated that he had often iclt for a short time the cold shades of the Opposition. If he would represent the Press at a banquet to a Minisier he would find them hot enough. He was not ashamed to bo present at a banquet given to a Minister of the pi esent Government, and he w&-> !mu in the belief which he expressed ar the tiim ;.t' Mr McKenzie 's visit, tliiit we luu'j nut i. Conservative Press in Jnverc.irgill. Mr Seddon had stated that from onu end of the colony to the other there had beeu no protest raised against the appointments to the Legislative Council. The Southland Times did protest, and also argued for the appointment of a Southland member. Mr Seddou had also stated that the late Government continued its public works department in its full strength after the work was gone, and the Conservative Press winked ..t the matter. He did not know about the rest of the colony, but so far as Invercargill was concerned, they knew that the department was absolutely shut up, and although it was to their own injury, they did not protest against it, believing it to have been in the interests of retrenchment, for which the Southland Times had clamoured. Even when the present Government waa appointed it hoped that they would carry through their proposals. He was glad to hear Mr Seddon say he would not be dictated to, and no doubt the implication was intended that he would not be coerced by the so-called Liberal Press either. He (the speaker) took an independent course, and although it had been said of the Conservative Press that they had a conspiracy among themselves yet he emphatically denied that so far as he himself was concerned. With regard to the Opposition papers lie said that he considered it good for the colony, good for any country that there should be a free expression of opinion, and he would say, speaking for that sectiou of the press which he represented, they would speak the truth without fear or favour, and fully recognise the importance of truthfulness and purity, honour, honesty of purpose, and fearlessness of execution. He and his colleagues were patriots first and then stood for party. He was opposed to the present Ministry, but, notwithstanding that, he trusted that he would give them every justice. In conclusion he again thanked themforthe manner in which they had responded to the toast.

The " Host and Hostess " concluded the toasts and Mr N. JohnsoD on behalf of himself and Mrs Johnson thanked them cordially for their appreciation of the efforts made for the entertainment of the guests.

During the evening songs were sung by Messrs Ward, Seddon, H. Feldwick, Mackie, Hunter, Mathieson, Liister, Kiernan and others.

Mr Seddon left by special train for Clinton at 12.25 a.m. to-day.