LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DINNER.

Colonist, Volume XXII, Issue 2600, 13 September 1879, Page 3

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DINNER.

The first annual dinner of the Nelson Licensed Victuallers Association': too_! place on Thursday evening at the Custom House Hotel, the Port, when there was. a large attendance, the Chair being occupied by his Worship the Mayor, and the ViceChair .by Mr Albert .Pitt, M.H.R. Amongst the other guests present were Mr Acton Adams, M.H.R., several of the City Councillors, and other gentlemen. The highest praise is iue to.-: Mr-Osborne for the very excellent dinner which was provided, and his guests haviug done.ample justice thereto, The Chairman proposed in succession the following toasts which were" duly honored :—•" The Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family," his Excellency the Governor, and the Executive Council. ", The Army, Navy, Volunteers, and Fire Brigade^" was :then given from the chair, arid responded to hy Major Pitt, who referred to the prestige of the Army having been upheld recently in South Africa, to the efficient state of the Navy, and to the Volunteers as being a valuable auxilliary to the regular army. Mr Menabv responded on behalf of the Navy";" He*" said that in 54, 55, and 56, he had the honor of serving in the Navy, that the Russians, Turks, and Circassians admitted there were no better soldiers or sailors than the British, and when they returned home the general expression was that no one could fight John Bull. Captain Bunny, returned thanks on behalf of the Volunteers. He said that those,who had watched the progress of the. Volunteers in the Colony .could,, not but admit that every year they.were- becoming' more efficient and more useful. ;. He referred to the^ remarks made by Colonel Brett some few. years ago,y and said that from the late action of ; .the gallant colonel, he though he now saw they were a bpdy• ■ which should be supported. '*• V Captain Lightfoot responded for the Fire Brigade, and in his speech gave the licensed victuallers credit for being, he might say, the mainstay of tlie brigade. The Chairman then proposed the members of the two Houses of Legislature.. •-/ Mr Acton Adams, on behalf* of himself and Mr Pitt, returned thanks. He said the numbers polled at the late election showed the great interest the people were taking in public affairs, and he thought the moral which might be drawn was that they wished then: members to work rather harder than they had previouslyYdone. Although he was sure that all the gentlemen returned for tho immediately neighboring districts would unanimously for the common good, yet he was,sorry to see that they had lostjtwo or three others who worked with them before. He hoped, on the House assembling, that no time would be lost in party disputes, but that they would at onco proceed to the real business of the country, and after the questions of general policy had been disposed of, he was sure that Mr Pitt and himself would do. their utmost on behalf of this part of the Colony. Mr J. A. Habley. proposed the " Town and trade of Nelson." He said for some time the trade had not been so brisk as it might be, but they hoped for better times, and at the late election they had returned new men with the hope of their being able to advance the place, and he hoped they would be successful. Mr W. Fletcher, in returning th^nk^ attributed, 4e».existing agression (to',sel3^(SnOT having received its fair shaie of public'expenditure, but he hoped~*nowthey were sending fresh blood to represent them a different:state/of affairs^outd'jßS (brought- about. He hoped there^as a! letter iutrtro 'before them, and that ; Nelson, would take fits pr&per position amongst the chief cities of the* Colony,"" atfd that at all events Nelson -would jbejth^orst of tho Provincial districts.' '''"" " ,' -; The Vice-chairman then gave his Worship the ' Mayor and City Councillors. -He spoke of th&rhigh^ esteem in which his Worship was-held,.,and the, satisfactory manner in which;; he^'occupiedYthait^ important position. As for the'oity:'G6uhcUrtftough? the City of Nelson was not so large as the other cities in the; Colony,'its Counbil'would compare with any other and.was accredittct/them. His Worship, in replying, said he had„always endeavored : to fill the office to the-b*eit|of 'ib;i£sslity. He was proud of the office, and always should be . .whust.he ,gave.satisfaction;-.' LIHUMAIf i" ' JT; HableV referrerto tn'o'electiofflKat" Kad taken place that day. He said fas was sure that

whatever^ liact done had been done for the welfare of the town, and lie did it with a good heart for he had an interest in the town, and while_ he had health and strength to occupy the position of a councillor, he would do honestly and well, to the best of his ability. , , ■ Mr Acton Adams proposed the Licensed Victuallers Association. He was glad tho licensed victuallers appreciated the motto that " unity was strength/ and had Combined in order to devise means for their own benefit He .referred at length' to some of the objects-of the Association, and )t 6ome of the injustices they Buffered undor. r ( . .M/Tbegba responded. He delated some of the difficulties whioh had attended the formation of the Association. He |was truly glad to Bee so many gentlemen present, and he hoped they would be in even a better position in twelve months. Mr Tuttt, as Vice-President, also responded. Mr Acton Adams proposed " the Press." He said some of them had lately been speaking to pretty large audiences; but the PreßS spoke to larger audiences than it was possible,for a man to do. He ooupled the name of Mr Bannehr with the toaat. Mr Bannehb returned thanks. He quite appreciated the aid the licensed victuallers gave to the Press, and thought those who wrote for the Press would frequently do so with less spirit and vigor were it not for the lioansed victuallers. The Vioh-Chaiemak proposed the health of their Chairman, and in an eulogistic Bpeech referred to the uniformly hearty manner in whioh ho welcomed visitors to Nelson, and Mr Dodson returned thanks. " ■ The Ohairmah then propoied tho 'health of the .Vioe-Obairman, and Mr Pitt responded. 1 Mr Tbask proposed the " Host and Hostess "in most complimentary terms. I Mr Osioekb returned thanki. He oould assure •them'that their appreciation was his best reward. • I Mr TuTXi|then proposed the health of Mr A. J. Richmond, M.H.R., and the health of Ke E. Stafford was alio honored. .Mr. Pitt, M.H.R.,' thought, ai an old «ober married man, that they should not depart without t&asting the ladies, and he gave the toast, which was duly honored. ji> Mr A Harley returned thanks. Mr Tease proposed the health of Sir Acton Adsmg, M.H.R, and Mr Adams responded. Mr Pitt propoied the President, Vice-President, and Secretary of th* Asssoiatiorj, and'Messri Treges, Tutty, arid Staltard returned thanks. < - i Mr 0. BUNNT then proposed kindred associations. He said there were similar associations in other chief cities of the' Colony, having the same objects as the Nelson one,' 'and he'was' sure this was a toast whioh would receive all honor. - • "> ■ ' > > '• songs were sung, and after a recitation by Mr J.. Harley of Tennyson's " Charge of the Light, Brigade,", "Auld TLa^SyM^'lm^'-iSff-^r'tiifiiffeTfiS;*'" were sung.lahd the;cdmpatiy\brokrup at * late hoary having spout a most, enjoyable evening; nothing whatever having" ocouwred: to mar .'the' harmony^ < ,! S H '. <..." ■