PROPOSED BANQUET TO W ROWN, ESQ., M.H.R.
A meeting of friends and supporters of W. : Botve, Esq., M.H.8., was held .at the Pacific. Hotel [last evening for the purpose of considering the question of entertaining him at a banquet on his return. Mr W. Sims, convener of tho meeting, presided, and amongst ,thosepre« sent were Messrs T. B.' iJicks, W. S. Greenville, Northey, Comer, Craig, Mcllhone, Sampson, Shepherd, Otto, J. W. Walker, E. Fkcen, W. Weston, Gellion, Brodie, W. Bowe, Jun., I Gibbons, W. Puyno, W. McCullough, B. McD. Scott, J. D. Wickhain, and others. Tho Chairman briefly explained tho object of the meeting. 'Mr Scott said that the first thing they had to do was _to adopt a resolution affirming tho desirability of recognising the services rendered by Mr Bowe, on his arrival from Wellington,. lie moved a resolution to that effect, which, was seconded by Mr McCuxlough, and. carried. '..;■
Mr Scott said he thought the demonstration should take the form of a banquet. He did not think, however, that if they made tho tickets a guinea or even half a guinea they could calculate on an attendance of over 70, and ho thought a very fair banquet might bo got up at 7s 6d per ticket. (Mr Walkeb : It Allaway's.) He had seen Mr Symington, who would undertake to pr'ovido a banquet, including liquors and charapagno,
and ho would contract to do 30 for. 7s, He would therefore propose that the dehionslrittion. to Mrßowe. take the form of abanquet, and that ,a committee be formed to carry out the arrangements, and that the cost of the ticketr.do not exceed 7s 6d each.
:•: Several, presont spoke against tho, Utter, part of!- the' motian, which was ., finally altered by. Mr acott ,tq.los-6d r and: the motion was then seconded.by Mr Payne, and carried/' The Chaibman said that he had received the following letter:— ~..»;, .... Council Chambers, Thames, October 31, 1876.—T0 William Sims, Esq., Thames. fir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of an invitation from you for bis Worship the Mayor to attend a meeting to be held this evening relativetoMr Rowe's return from Wellington. His Worship, thinking it convenient", if not imperative upon' Mm, to abstain from identifying himself with anything that might b-av a political aspect, instructs me on his behalf to decline the invitation; but at the same time I am free to express the grateful sense the Mayor has of-the cordial co'opiration andassissance afforded by. Mi\ Rowe in promoting in the past session of Parliament measures thought advantageous to this borough, and, in any way free from political bias, the Mayor *ill join heartily in recognising the value of Mr Bowe's, services.—l have, &c, F. ,C. Dean, Town Clerk. "" ' "'
;;Mr WAiKEß'inquired if it would'look! well to invite one of their members to a banquet. ( nnd,omit the other. They had, he believod, two members, both of whom had.no doubt:done their level best according! to their.views. J . -The CHAiBMANsaid that one reason was that<Mr Kowe was coming home to tho Thames. Sir Geo. Grey would no doubt remain some time in Auckland, and mjght proceed to theKawau At all events, ho was not likely to come to the Thames for nfew days. (Mr Walker: Not if ho is not asked). j Mr CoMKU said thatthey could, at all events, give bin! an invitation.
Mr Wickham said that they had better invite all the members in the province who had voted for Abolition.; They ought to go in for that, and make a counterdemonstration' to. that which was being got up. in Auckland..; This was a good opportunity - for them-to do so, and it would not have the appearance of a slur on Sir George Grey to entertain the members„who had voted for Abolition.
Mr Scoir said that when he gave a circular to Mr Speight, who was a representative man, he took exception to Mr B owe only being invited as a slight on Sir George Grey. He told Mr Speight that so far.as ho was concerned,' he was only asked to issue.'those invitations, Mr Speight spoke strongly, and said he would hot attend "a meeting called in this fashion, for Sir G. Grey was as much their member as Mr Kowe.
~ The Chaibman said they admitted that, but this, ho believed, was the first opportunity during the time the Thames vm an electoral district that they had an opportunity, of receiving their member immediately after the prorogation of Parliament. Nq other had.returned to tho Thames direct from Wellington. Mr Wickham said, oh, no! Tho late Mr Swan had returned to the Thames immediately aft&r the session. Mr Scorn said it would be a capital idea to have both members present, for then they would have both sides of tho question. . _ ; ■ . . „■. .• The Chatbman said that Auckland was getting up a banquet to Sir George Grey, to which it was very unlikely Mr Eowe would be invited. ■.■■■•:■
Mr Hicks suggested, as this was a meeting of Mr llowe's friends, and had been advertised as such, they should slick to Mr liosve, and not go outside, leaving out of tho question who had voted for Abolition or who against.Mr Walkeb agreed that they should leave Abolition out of the question, and simply invite their members.
Mr Hicks proposed that those present form themselves into a committee, with power to add to their number, to carry out the bauquet to Mr Kowe. This was seconded by Mr Scon, and carried, and Mr Scott theu moved thai a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Sims, Hicks, IJrodie, Mcllhone, and Gibbons/ ..be appointed to make tho necessary arrangements. Mr Hicks retired in favour of Mr Scott, and, with this alteration, ho seconded tho motion, which was agreed to.
Mr Gbbenville moved that this committee and the friends of Mr llowe be called by advertisement to meet him on the wharf on his arrival, and present him with an address as a recognition of his services on behalf of tho Thames. Mr Payne seconded.the motion. Messrs Walkbb and Gibbons objected to the address, and. proposed and seconded an amendment to the effect that the addressee dispensed: with, and this amendment was carried by 12 to 4 Tho first part of the motion was then agreed to, Mr Gibbons again raised the question of inviting the other Abolition members to the banquet, and a discussion took place, the end of which was that the matter was left to the sub-committee. Mr Scott moved, as an aspersion had been cast on Mr.Sims, that this meeting, which was not an uninfluentialone, tender him their thanks for calling the meeting. This motion was secondod by Mr Walker, and carried, and this concluded the business of the meeting. Tho sub committee met afterwards, and after sonio consultation, adjourned their meeting.
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Bibliographic details
Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2461, 3 November 1876, Page 3
Word Count
1,128PROPOSED BANQUET TO W ROWN, ESQ., M.H.R. Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2461, 3 November 1876, Page 3
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