THE BANQOET.

Southland Times, Issue 15076, 23 October 1901, Page 2

THE BANQOET.

At nine o'clock the people took their places at the long tables ana every seat was occupied, 400 being present. At a table along the north wall the Chairman (Mr A. McrTellar, Chief of the Highland Society) was seated, aud on hia right were Sir Hector Macdonald, Lady Ward, the Mayor, Major Hawkins and Mrs Hawkins, Adjutant Henderson and Mrs Henderson, whilo on the left were the Mayoress, Sir Joseph Ward, Miss Ward, and Mr J, A. Hanan. A toast bat was then gone through. SlrJ. H. Reed (mayor of Carnpbelltown) proposed "The Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces" in a capital speech, and on rising to respond Sir Hector MacdonaM was met with cheers which increased to a frenzy, the people rising and cheering with unrestrained enthusiasm. Sir Hector aaid : I was not in the least prepared when I came here to respond for •'The Army and Navy," but in obedience to the command of the chairman 1 shall in a few words thank the Mayor of Campbelltown for the kind manner in which ha has brought to the notice of this assembly the army nnd navy. The navy needs no words of mine to commend its deeds to you. Their everyday work and whenever they are called upon is quit* enough for you and for me.-and 1 make no apology for saying no more concerning the navy. Ab regards the army, while it is still on active service— l may say the whole of the army, supplemented by your sofls — I am sure you would not ask me to say anything ia their praise. I am certain you will wait patiently till the end of the war, and then I am as certain as the proposer of the toast has been in the few words io which he expressed his admiration of the artny, that your admiration will be a thousand times more.— (Loud applause). In proposing the toast of the evening, II Our Guest," the chairman said that when the Highland Society wrote to Sir Hector last year congratulating him, and inviting him to come hero should he ever visit the colonies, they had not the slightest idea that it would be so soon. Their pleasure on hearing that he had arrived at Fremantle was unbounded. They were electrified and spniDg to arms. They sent him a telegram at once and received a cable in reply that he would land to-day. On behalf of the society he offered the heartiest congratulations. They were proud to see Sir Hector, to shake his hand and speak to him. He had also to present to Sir Hector an address from the Highland Society. The speaker then read the address which was, in both _ Gaelic and English, aa follows :— '< The Highland Society of Southland And all the many other Scottish' Highlanders and their descendants in this land so far to the south, and so remote from our common native land, salute you, noble hero, with all their heart and with the warmest feelings of hospitality and respect. They esteem it a matter of very much pleasure that the opportunity of thus welcoming you ia presented, and. beg to offer their sincere congratulations on the many deeds of valour which you have so trim phantly achieved, as well aa op your coming scathloes, and with honour," out pf so many straits and perils. - It has bean a source of happiness to your countrymen in this land to observe the wisdom no less than the heroism with which you conducted, every operation entrusted to you — upholding the fame of I your ancestors in every respect, and adding j fresh lustre, by your deedß, to the valour j that has ever distinguished your race, thus achieving honour among the honoured, and fame among the most distinguished in the King's service. We know that thojpeople of this colony are much pleased that you visit it on your way. Their good- will toward you is universal. We trust that you will enjoy your short sojourn amongst us in these oeautiful islands of the far south, and that continued success will attend you in your honourable if arduous work which | the King is still desirous to entrust you with. It is our earnest desire and prayer that your days may be long, and that grace and happiness with every honour, may ra-wai-d you, that you will enjoy years not a fesv among your kith and kin in " the land of mountains aud glens and heroes," or wheresoever else you may choose for a dwelling, when the noise and tumult of war are laid. (Applause). Sir J. G. Ward, when called upon to sup. port the toast, said : — The occasion upon which we are met together i 3 one of an unusually interesting and unique character. Many of the older identities here are not unfamiliar with the circumstances attendant upon the settlement of national troubles between a great tribal race and the British Crown. It was not possible for the sturdy pioneers who first settled our* splendid colony to leave the Old Country for NewZealand— then an almost unknown territory —without bringing with them something of : the masterful and warlike spirit uf our fore-

fathers, and recent events have shown that though this spirit may have been for some time dormant it was far from being dead. The fSouth African war has afforded abundant evidence of the courageous and patriotic spirit of our youog men and it has not only impressed the people of our own. colony, but it has made the name of New Zealand respected by those who are chiefly responsible for the maintenance and defence of fche British Empiro in a degree that it has never been before. It ia natural, therefore, that when we have a warrior of so much stamina, grit and force of character as General Sir Hector Macdonald among us the people should express their admiration and esteem for him in the way we are now doing. Self-reliant and independent as we are in New Zealand, I know that we would not go out of our way to do honour to a man even though highly distinguished, unless we knew that his record was something more than a mere • paper one ; and to-night we are doing honour to | one of the brightest characters in the annals of British warfare. General Sir Hector Macdonald'a honours have been won by a display of those exceptional qualities which alone can make a groat soldier. He has shown himself to be possessed of that pluck that spirit of self- sacrifice for his country) that indomitable perseverance under most adverse circumstances, which make up the prevailing characteristics of the British nation. General Sir Hector Macdonald is no fine weather soldier. The qualities I ha\ r o named, combined with high intellectual powers, have won for him a place of admiration and endearment in the great heart of the English -speak ing people. It is only when one comes to think of the dreadful nssponsibility that rests upon the shoulders of a leading officer in military warfare that he truly eatimatos his real value to the nation. The career of oar distinguished guest is unique in many respects* He has won his way to fame by sheer force of character, hard work, and unfailing energy. His position as a goneral of the British army today is all the greater because of the fact that he attained to it from the ranks as a private. Sir Joseph here briefly sketched aomf) of the leading incidents in Sir Hector's remarkable career, and proceeded — Such is the record of the man who honours us by being our guest to-night. Is it to be wondered at that his fellow countrymen should have come from all parts of Southland to welcome such a hero 1 I say it is to their everlasting credit that they recognise the noble and unaolfish work he has done for his country. It in under such men as this that the British forces — whether drafted from the British Isles themselves or from the land of the South era Cross — can march to battle with that absolute confidence which means victory Wherever and whenever it is felt. Without attempting for one moment to say a word against office of high birth who have attained to ra^; . id distinction in the British Army, I cannot help thinking that such a man as our guest, who has gona through every phase of military life must create such a sympathy between himself and his men as is too often not felt in the army and his ease forms an example which the British military autn* orities might follow with sdTantage. If men like General Sir Heotor Macdonald, who* have risen from the ranks by their own personality, are admitted to the: councils of the War Office, with the ripe knowledge borne of individual experience, it is difficult to forecast what good may be dose. In conclusion may 1 say that I think a visit from the distinguished soldier whom we now have with us cannot be without its good re. salts. We cannot see and hear a man whose prowess has made for him a world-wide reputation, without taking a deeper and keener interest xn the affairs of the Empire even at this distant part of it. I know that I shall be echoing the Bentiments of all present when I express tho hope that tho brilliant career which has made so great v name for General Sir Hector Macdonald may be long continued, and high positions may yet await him. (Applause.) The Rev. J. A. Luxford, Mr Robert Gilmour and the Rev. J. Gibson Smith also spoke to the to:ist, and their remarks wer-3 loudly applauded. The toast was drunk with another outburst of enthusiasm. Sir Hector, on rising to respond, was greeted with continuous cheering. He safc'l: When I left India some time ago for a little recreation and rest;, little did I expect that I would find such a grand reception from the people of Invercargill as I have received today — notwithstanding, sir, your very kind invitation to visit you, should I ever come in the direction oi Australia. On arriving at Fremantle, you were smart enough to be called Americans, as I had a wire at ante eaying "Do you remember." I did and I did so with gratitude. I have come to New Zealand on one or two missions, one to Invereargill and other places to personally r>9pay you for the many tokens of your sympathy and for the many tokens of your great regard for the Highlanders -.rho are aerving in South Africa. , Not only did I receive many comforts in the shape of flannel goods, pocket handkerchiefs, knives, boot laws, stockiDgft and other things I need not enumerate^ bat I also, from associations in New Zealand, received large sumß of money for the purpose of being paid out, to wounded goldiej-s, or soldiers Wiio were sent Home, and who might perhaps be out of employment after being discharged from the hospital. Thiare is no doubt whatever that this appealed to me— appealed to my sense of gratitude, aad when I had a little reoreationx thought the least I could do was to come and th&nk l;he people of New Zealand^ Ipvereargill and others, personally.— (Loud applause.) To you, sir, lam indebted for meeting suels a a largo number of my own countrymen in this hall, I met a great number to-day find all I can say is that my heart went out to them. You received me so kindly — I know it by your voices, I see it in your eyes, and I feel it in the clasp of your hands,— (Applause). lam interdicted by your chairman from saying much more, and my own inclination also goes that way, for I know that , you have come to welcome me from long<tistsuces, and it is not my -wish to keep you much longer. I thank you from thejxjttom . of my heart, thank you very gratef ally, for your kindness and your very hearty yrelcome to me this day,— (Appl&aae.)* 4 ' „j .< The other toasts wer« as follows :-^&Che :■> King," proposed by the chairman jj "j jet. Majesty the Queen, the Duke and Ducliess c of xork, and other members of theßcyal Family/ proposed by the chairman ; " His Excellency the Governor of New Zealatsd," proposed by Vira-ChauroaTr: Jtobertwwv j "The Government and Legislature of Hew Zealand," proposed by Mr W. ; v6,iiehftifev, and responded to by Sh? <J. G.W^j^EhY Agricultural and Pastorario{^sfe?4]^' posed by tho Very Rev. Dean Burke and responded to by Messrs A. Carmichaet and John McLean; "The Comm,erti£&!3ftterestfl," proposed by t Mr J, vy; ;lijtt|iai; and responded to Messrs L W. ftaymond. - J. A. Mitchell tod Thck MacGibbbnj « 'l3w* Corporation of Invercargill^" propos&l by Mr W. Ronald and responded to by the Mayor; '• The Ladies,? proposed by Mj? D» McFarlane and responded to by Mis J». Fraser; "The Press," and "The Qiiairman." , " --^-< The Garrison Band played several, ealec- : tioos, and sungß were 1 sung, by Messrs Por« teous, Grenf eul^ A. i^eArthur (Gaelic), and Mrs Blue and Mi«r A. i Sm!tn£...^jriry*, happy evening was spent aujitlie gskthiiri^g' was brought to a close in the esffly hjjivs, and terminated amid indescribable % gn> . thusiasm. . ::v. v „:>:;- r . To-day Sir Heotor -mil visit the whool* in the more ing, and will leave by special train at 8 p'ekfok for tW Lakes. I Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward and Miss Ward left for the North by special trara im» E mediately niter the banquet this morning. „. The address presented to Sir Hoctoi: will be on view in Messrjj Wesneyißroa? wiadow to-day. c "