THE PUBLIC LUNCHEON.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10974, 14 March 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PUBLIC LUNCHEON.

The public luncheon was held at the City Council Chamber at one o'clock. His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Baigent) presided, and was supported on his right by his Excellency the Governor and the Attorney (Hon. A. Pitt), and on the left by Major Alexander (his Excellency's Aide-dc camp) and the Rev. J. P. Kempthorne (Chairman of the Nelson Town Schools Committee). The President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr T. H. Bannehr occupied the vice-chair, and his supporters were Messrs J. H. Cock and C. Y. Fell. Among the others present were Mr John Graham. M H.R., Mr R. McKenzie, M.H.R., Hon. F. Trask, M.L.C., Hon. R. H. J. Reeves, M.L.C., the Mayor of Richmond (Mi J. M. Croucher), the Mayor of Motueka (Mr Stewart Wratt), the City Councilors, the City Engineer, the County Engineer, Judge Robinson, Mr Wilson Heaps, S.M., Mr Alfred Greenfield, and a number of town and country Justices. The Rev. J. P. Kempthorne said grace, after which the company partook of the very excellent cold collation which had been provided by Mr H. Saunders, of the Commercial Hotel, who was the caterer. After full justice had been done to the repast, The Chairman proposedfthe health of hi 3 Majesty the King, which was enthusiastically received, and the National Anthem was sung. The Chairman proposed the health of his Excellency the Governor. While recognising the kindness of his Excellency in paying Nelson a visit, nhey all deeply regretted that their distinguished guest had come to bid them farewell. He felt sure the early departure of Lord Ranfurly from New Zealand would be deeply and generally regretted right through the Colony. The Colony had had some excellent Governors, but Lord Ranfurly was one of the most popular Governors New Zealand had ever had. (Applause.) The Governor's popularity could not be wondered at, for his Excellency had travelled about the Colony," and had done all he could to • advance the social as well as the political life in the Colony. (Applause). He_ (the Chairman) could not help again referring to that great cause, the Veterans' Home, a work which they all heartily appreciated, and felt grateful to his Excellency for his untiring efforts in seeing the work accomplished. (Applause). His Excellency had been nobly supported by the Oountess of Ranfurly. The Chairman concluded by wishing Lord and Lady Ranfurly much happiness and prosperity, and promised that if ever they paid a visit to Nelson lin the future a warm and right hearty welcome would be accorded them. (Applause.) The toast was received by the company singing "He's a jolly good fellow," after which hearty cheers were given for Lord and Lady Ranfurly. . , Lord Ranfurly (who was received with rounds of applause) thanked the Mayor for the kindly words spoken in proposing the toast. When he was first appointed as his Majesty's Representative, he considered his duties were, first, to support his Majesty and the Imperial interests, and, second, to consider the interests of the people. (Applause. ) In order to do the second duty, it was essential and necessary for him to visit and know the people of this Colony. It was painful for him to say his visit was a farewell one, yet it was. During his stay in the Colony he had taken the deepest interest in the affairs of the country, and that made it harder to say farewell, for he had made many friends in the Colony. He had had the good fortune of being Governor when the Colony had been more prosperous than before. Each year for six years had been more prosperous than the one preceding it, excepting one year, when the price of wool went down. In that year, however, there were compensating circumstances, for the price of butter and other products rose in price. His Excellency next referred to the Argentine Republic as a competitor in dairy products, the competition tending to materially reducing the price of|butter. He said that it was possible ethat new tariffs at Home, or reciprocity may have *the effect of doing away with the competition of foreign countries such as the Argentine Republic. His Excellency referred to progress being seen in other parts of the Colony, and he was glad to see Nelson was not wautI ing in that respect. He was aware it was said that they went to sleep in Nelson, but that was riot his experience of the place. (Laughter. ) He referred %o the new Abattoir, the

new Municipal Buildings, and the harbor improvements. They were trying to make a new harbor, and ihey had his best wishes for its success. He said there were too few aood harbors in New Zealand. He could not help thinking that the kelson people were a bit too sanguine in expecting to admit the leviathans of the deep into their harbor. However, nothing venture, nothing gained, and he hoped their harbor improvements would be as successful as their greatest anticipations. (Applause.) Referring to ihe Veterans' Home, his Excellency said be considered It the best memorial the Colony could have for those who had been lost in South Africa, and it had been a toss of a button some time ago whether the Home should be erected in. Nelson. The medical authorities had been consulted, and they recommended Nelson and Auckland, it was many weeks before^they came to a decision, and Auckland was only chosen because of the number of old soldiers living in that district, and that communication was easier. The Home was not an Auckland institution, but a colonial one. During the last five : days arrangements had been made to admit to the Home two West Coast veterans. The Home was now full, there being forty-one inmates, being one more than the number they had intended to admit. They were endeavoring to make the lives of the veterans pass as happily and as comfortably as they possibly could (Applause). The Home was in no sense a charity, as it was for those who had some means and for those who had none alike. He emphasised that if they expected their sons to fight for their sovereign and their country in time of need, it was their duty to do their best to make the last days of those who had thus fought as comfortable as possible. He trusted the King would long reign peacefully and prosperously. He concluded by thanking the Mayor and Councilors for the kindly reception he had received, and the company for the enthusiastic manner they had received the toast. (Applause.) The Vice-Chairman (Mr Bannehr) | proposed the toast of the New Zealand Ministry. He referred to the fact that the present Ministry had remained in office longer than any previous Ministry in this Colony. The Ministry had done a great deal of good, and a few years ago averted a threatened financial disaster by boldly acting at that critical juncture. He referred to the land laws, and to the Ministry thus assisting materially to further the prosperity of the Colony. He said the Ministry had also consistently assisted the Governor in strengthening the bonds of affection that existed for the Motherland. At the present time there was reason for grave concern as to what may be the outcome of events in the Far East, but they had confidence in; those at the head of the Government exerting an influence for good, as! they had done in the past, He desired to couple with the toast the name of the Hon. Colonel Pitt, the Attorney-General. (Applause.) Hon. Colonel Pitt said it was left to him, the youngest member of the Ministry to respond. He was sorry, as was also the Premier, that the exigencies of the public services had prevented the Premier remaining for the luncheon. Referring to the prosperity of the Colony, he said the Ministry had done its duty, and had taken every step possible to increase that prosperity. He mentioned arrangements that had just been completed, -without a subsidy being paid, for vessels to load and discharge in four ports in the west of England for this Colony, which would be a commercial advantage. He also stated that while the Vice-Regal party was at Wesport H.M.S. Lizard was "inspected to see if she would do for one of the two training ships that had been promised to the Colony. (Applause. ) He hoped soon to see those training ships at work preparing young sea dogs for these waters. With regard to what his Excellency had said about the Nelson harbor improve ments, he (Colonel Pitt) knew the gentlemen compo3ing the Harbor Board, and they knew no such word as fail. They had every confidence in accomplishing successfully the harbor works. He thanked them heartily for the kind manner in which the toast had been received. (Applause.) . Lord Ranfurly proposed the health of his Worship the Mayor. In doing so he said Lady Ranfurly liked Nelson so much that if a suitable house could have been procured, and other arrangements had fitted* in, they would have resided for a time in Nelson. With regard to what he had said about the harbor, Hon. Colonel Pitt had taken his remarks a bit too seriously. He (his Excellency) was not referring to 6,000-ton vessels when he spoke of the leviathans of the deep, but of 12,000, 15,000, 20,000 and 25,000-ton vessels, which in the future they may expect to see coming out to the Colony. (Laughter). He would bear in mind the Mayor's invitation to come to Nelson if ever he again came to New Zealand. (Applause). ■i The Chairman said it was very considerate of his Excellency to come to Nelson. It had given him ( the Chairman)very great "pleasure indeed to assist in receiving his Excellency He hoped the very brief stay in Nelson would give his Excellency much pleasure. (Applause.) The proceedings then terminated.