FAREWELL TO CAPTAIN SUTTER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3967, 25 June 1887, Page 3

FAREWELL TO CAPTAIN SUTTER.

♦ A very large and very representative gathering of the principal citizens of Timaru, visitors to and residents of South Canterbury, took place at the Town Hall last evening to bid farewell to Captain Sutter, Member of the House of Representatives for Gladstone, and who leaves on a visit to the Old Country on Monday next by the a. a. Rimutaka. Mr R. A. Chisholm was elected to preBide, aod was supported on his right by the guest of the evening, and on his left by Mr John Jackson. On taking the chair, Mr Chisholm aaid that they had met together for special and personal business, and they could not do better than firafc of all prolonging the Jubilee fustivities by drinking the health of " Her Majesty the Queen." The toaat was honoured in true loyal and patriotic style. Mr Chisholm then said : Gentlemen, I feel highly honoured in having been requested to preside at this gathering of old friends, and in having placed in my hands the toast of the evening, the health of our honoured guest, our friend, and worthy fellow-citizen, Captain Sutter. (Applause.) Although I could have wished this toaat in abler hands, I confess, a3 one of Captain Sutter's oldest friends, I would have grudged any other person this honour, and I hope gentlemen that I may to aome extent worthily repreaent your views and my own in propoaing the toast. Owing to Captain Sutter's contemplated visit to Scotland, we are about to lose for a time the advantages of our daily friendly intercourse with him, and his valuable public services. It is satisfactory, however, to know that Captain Sutter proposes returning to the colony at an early date and will make Timaru his home. (Hear, hear.) When we look back over the long period of 23J years, during which Captain Sutter has resided in Timaru, we think of him with pride, as a true and well-tried friend, and a staunch and thorough supporter of all that ia good and right, both in his public and private life. (Applause.) To show the valuable public work done by Captain Sutter during his stay in Timaru, I may mention that he was one of the first members of our first attempt at local government, the Timaru Road Board. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for the Gladstone district for seven years. He has been a member of the Timaru Harbour Board for nine years, during two years of which he was chairman. He has been a member of the Timaru Borough Council for thirteen years, during five and a half yeara of which he was Mayor. His energetic and able guidance assisted largely to make the borough water-works scheme a marked success, and it is in no small measure due to him that our borough rates are so light and our municipal matters in such good order. He has been Chairman of the Timaru Permanent "Building Society for fourteen year3, and Chairman of the Timaru Cemetery Board for five years. This is or record, gentlemen, of which Captain Sutter may well be proud, and when we add ) to this record our knowledge of the faithful manner in which he has discharged theae duties, the good judgment and ability which he has exercised, and the disinterested public spirit which he has Bhown, we can form some estimate of the character of tho man whom we have met to honour this evening. Those who are readers of Hansard well know how courageously in our House of Representatives he has supported what he thought was right, and how unflinchingly he has condemned what he considered wrong, without allowing himself to be influenced by party feeling or any other consideration, except the' determination to do his duty to his constituents and to the colony without fear or favour. In proposing the toast of your health, Captain Sutter, I have been requested to present you with the following address • "To J. H. Sutter, Esq., M.H.R. "Dear Sir,— The undersigned friends and follow-colonists upon your departure for Europe, desire to show respect for you personally, and also to congratulate you upon the able manner in which yon have so honourably and successfully carried out your duties in connection with the many public institutions with which you have been associated during the past

20 years. Pleaso accept on behalf of Mrs Slitter the small souvenir as a token of our esteem for you both. Trnsting you will have a pleasant voyage, renowed health, and that you will speedily return to this land of your adoption, we subscribe ourselves your faithful friends." (Signed by 50 of the principal residents of Timaru). Mr Chisholm added : — I have also been requested to ask you to accept this small souvenir for Mrs Sutter (handing Captain Sutter a very handsome gold bracelet, in which was elegantly set a beautiful large diamond). In? presenting this address and souvenir, I have to request that you will kindly look upon them as representing the widespread feeling of respect which exists towards Mrs Sutter and yourself, and which it is the privilege of a few of your immediate friends to give expression to in this manner. Gentlemen, I have now to ask you to charge your glasses and to drink in bumpers the health of Captain Sutter, Mrs Sutter and family, wishing them a pleasant voyage to the Old Country, and a speedy return to Timaru. (Loud and prolonged applause.) After Messrs William Evans and John Jackson had endorsed the chairman's remarks, and the latter had mentioned that the first time ho had seen the name of " Sutter," was on the " fly " of a store at Waitahuna in '61, and the chairman at Mr Fussell's request had spoken of the excellent work Captain Sutter had done in the cause of education, the toast was drunk with euthusiasm and musical honours, cheers being given for Captain Sutter, (Mrs Sutter and family. In acknowledging the honour, Captain Suiter said : — Mr Chairman and gentlemen, — To say what I feel at the present time is out of my power. I aee now around me many friends that I have known for many years, and I cannot possibly speak to them as I would dearly like to ; my feelings being such as I never felt before. I hope, however, to come back here, once more settle down, and mingle amongst you. (Hear, hear, and applause.) As many of you are aware I have been in delicate health for the last two years, and it is this that makes me anxious to visit the Old Country, not through a wish to leave New Zealand. I feel that New Zealand i3 one of the brightest colonies of Great Britain, and I am quite satisfied that any one who comes here will say that this is the truth. (Applause.) Mr Chairman, the handsome present handed to me for Mrs Sutter, and this address to me, are valuable, but are doubly valuable when received from the hands of friends I have knownfor so many years. (Hear hear.) The Chairman (Mr Chisholm), as many of you are aware, gentlemen, 13 only a fortnight older citizen of Timaru than I am, and I have been associated with him in very many things. After the long period I have known him I have no hesitation in saying that not a single difference of any kind took place over anything between us. He never made promises which he failed to keep with exactitudo, and I never asked a favour from Mr Chisholm but what I got it. (Lrvughtor and applause.) Perhaps that was more than a great many people could say. (Great laughter and applause.) I have found Mr Chisholm not only a wise friend but a wise bankor. Ho gave me the best encouragement and advice, and saw that every institution I worked for was carried on in a sound way. For this I valued Mr Chisholm more than anything, and if all the branches of the Bank of New Zealand had been as wisely managed as the one at Timaru there would have been no necessity to draw on the Bank's surplus .funds. Before referring to my public /services T may first of all be allowed to state that when I landed here there were 15 or 16 houses — my friend opposite, Mr H. J. LeCren, knows all about that also — and now, when I look around me and see what has been done since, I feel proud of being a member of the community who helped to bring this state of affairs about. Those who came to this town want much finer things than we got in the early days. But we pulled along and prospered. (Applause.) My experience and opinion are that New Zealand has been going along far too fast not only in national but in municipal and other local affairs.' After giving the subject careful thought, I am quito convinced that a crisis is arising in the affairs of the colony, of which I cannot clearly see the end. I trust, however, that in every branch of Government all matters will be carried out wisely and well. The pressure on our finances will be such qs the colony never saw before, but I trust by wise counsels that all financial matters will work out all right. I have been considered by some people to be against progress, because I had refused to advance or countenance many steps taken which it was alleged would benefit the people. But it is with great pleasure I now feel that I was never a party to, or gave any aid to the squandering of money on any object, great or small. So now to come to municipal matters, gentlemen, I have great satisfaction in telling you that, with one exception, the Borough of Timaru is less rated than any other borough in the whole of New Zealand. (Applause.) You may think it a little egotistical on my part to say so, but I can assure you that a great deal of this is owing to me for the action I took whilst in the Council and to the support my fellow Councillors gave me. (Hear, hear.) I hopo the present Mayor will continue to carry out the programme 80 ably mapped out years ago. Last year all the municipalities got subsidies out of borrowed money, but I amongst others am satisfied that such grants will not continue to be made. For my part, I freely say that the sooner such a thing comes to an end the better ; it will be better for the colony and the many individuals in it. It will be an easy matter for those dealing with local matters to make their arrangements accordingly. lam quite satisfied that were such an order of things to come about, Timaru would continue to come out just as well if not better than she has done. (Hear, hear.) Of one other item referred to by the chairman, J now wish to speak, and this is my connection with the Harbour Board. One action on the Board I feel very proud of, namely, the part I took in the improvement of the harbour. The suggestions were mine, and the engineer made his plans entirely on them. I saw long ago that the harbour was not what it should be, and I am fully confident that when the now contemplated improvements are carried out this harbour will be the finest in New Zealand— (loud applause) — will be second to none. This alone is most gratifying to me, and I leave for Home seeing that my suggestions are in a fair way of being carried to success. The Harbour Board has the money and a good engineer to superintend the work, nnd on my return, 18 or 20 months hence, I hope to see the works finished and the port the best in the colony. 1 have no hesitation in saying this, and am not exaggerating, as some people allege, when I say that it will be a better harbour than that at Lyttelton. I have seen many accidents in Lyttelton, but not a word has been said about them. Here, on the other hand, if a ship receives ever so small a damage it is reported on, and these reports are sent all over the world. The latest glaring instance of this, as many of you no doubt have seen, was to have a photograph taken of a ship whilst in dock with her ribs exposed, and this photograph sent Home to Lloyd's. But lam going to London, and am taking with me plans of the harbour as prepared by Mr Marchant, and I will also explain to Lloyd's all about the harbour of Timaru. (Applause.) After this is done lam sure we will get our inaurance at quite as cheap a rate as other first-class ports. (Hear, hear.) You know tho best of men have enemies, but in looking back I can safely say that mine are few and far between. I have gone on doing my duty regardless of consequences, and have thus been bound to trample on somebody's toea, but I can add this that I have never done anything for the special purpose of courting popularity. lam extremely obliged, and grateful to you, gentlemen, for the manner in which you have met this evening, and can assure you that the

time here spent will be a bright gem in my memory as long as I live. I again thank you sincerely on behalf of Mrs Sutter and myself for the very very kind way you received the toast proposed by the chairman. (Enthusiastic applause). Messrs Ziesler, Evans, and Kerr then contributed some really good harmony, after which Captain Sutter proposed the health of the Borough Council, coupled with the name of tho Mayor. He (Mr Sutter) thought the Mayor deserved that his health should be drunk with enthusiasm, for his late exertions in connection with tho Jubilee celebration, and it should bo borne in mind too that the Council had a great deal of business on hand of a very difficult nature, and this he could say that Timaru was well served by the gentleman Bhe had elected to govern her. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Tlve Mayor in responding expressed his high estimation of Mr Sutter as ono of the most honest politicians in the colony. As for the council ho was happy to say they carried out their duties with the greatest efficiency and zeal, and he himse!f was actuated not by any personal desire for popularity, but by a strong ambition to see the placo go ahead, for his interests were bound up with it. (Loud applause.) After a song by Mr Priest, Mr J. Jackson proposed the health of Mr H. J. lieCren as a representative of pioneering enterprise in Timaru. Mr Palliser next gave a song, and Mr H. J. LeCren briefly acknowledged the hearty reception of the toast of his health. Now that his dear old friend, Captain Cain, had gone, he believed he was the last of tho pioneers of Timaru. He had gone Home a few years ago and intended remaining there, but he had been drawn back, and he intended to remain in Timaru for the rest of his life. (Applause.) After a song by Mr Alex. Sinclair, Mr E. T. Rhodes proposed "Success to the Harbour," coupled with the name of Mr Marchant, the Board's engineer. Drunk with three times three. Mr A. Perry rose to suggest that the name of Mr John Goodall, an old and unforgotten friend, should be added to the toast, for but for him there would never have been a harbour here. (Applause). Captain Webster next obliged with a song, and Mr Marchant acknowledged the toast and bore testimony to the usefulness of Captain Sutter. As to the work, he was merely following Mr Goodall's plan. He had neither added to nor diminished that plan. He had the very greatest confidence in the future of Timaru, for he believed they had here the makings of a harbour second to none in the colony. (Applause.) Song by Mr Godby, and Mr Plante proposed the commercial and milling interest, and referred to the services rendered to tho farmers and the district by the Milling Company's enterprise. He coupled the toast with the names of Messrs Jackson and Evans. Mr Jackson, in responding for the milling industry, thanked the company for their cordial reception of the toast, and spoke of the milling industry as one calculated to improve the place. Mr Evans following, said he regarded Timaru as a place certain to go ahead. South Canterbury as a wheat producing country was unequalled. A sounder town than Timaru there was not in the colonies. As a place for the milling industry it was unequalled, and he believed there was a grand future before Timaru. Mr Godby thought the name of the father of the milling iudustry, James Bruce, should be toasted. Drunk with enthusiasm. Messrs Jonaa and Keith next gave songs each. Mr Stansell proposed the toast of "The Press," coupled with the name of Mr Kerr. Mr Kerr, in responding, said though he possessed a powerful lever, he would leave it to the public to judge whether that power had ever been used unfairly. As Mr Stansell, in proposing the toast had said, this was no time for newspapers to trim ; they must speak <Jut. As regarded the attitude the press would take at the elections, he might say that he should never use fio press to help himself or damage his .p^onent. ( Applause.) Mr Kirbj responded, remarking that as representing the Bohemianism of the Press he could bear testimony to the groat good qualities of their guest. He begged to return thanks for himself and his friend Mr Tipping. Mr Gibson proposed the health of the Chairman in a neat speech. The Chairman briefly responded. Mr Jonas proposed the health of the legal profession. Mr Perry and Mr "White responded. The former hoped the long friendship that had existed between himself and their guest would continue until they both departed for a better place. (Applause.) The latter made a very interesting speech, and was ably followed by Mr Hay. The singing of " Auld Ling Syne " brought the proceedings to a close.