COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5567, 16 May 1896, Page 7

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

At 6 p.m. the Hon J. M'Kenzie was entertained at dinner by the Water Supply Board at Mr "W. Paget's Commercial Hotel. A number of the leading settlers in the Oxford district were invited, the diningroom being well filled. Mr J. O'Halloran, who had on his right the guest of the evening, occupied the chair, and was sup- ;.:■■■•;••-!. •:, :•■; ssrs D. Buddo, R. Meredith s :•; x '■'. -V. Collins. The viceichairwas i: •••. ■■:<. .!>•/ ' M: ■ J. D. Diakenson. After the ;.ii-id r.p-'l received the attention its ex- ■ -no*:' ai'jrt««d and' the usual loyal toasts .: : >x: ;i n honoured, the Chairman proposed -:-. ■:■■ -f "' The Ministry," 'coupled with nf.jiie of the guest, the Hon John :j)---Ks which, was responded to right ..ily v/itli musical honours and cheers. 'L;ie lion ,f. M'Kenzie, who was heartily sp-.plaud^d on rising, said his visit to Oxford viis dim to an invitation from the Water Supjjly Board. For some time the Board kv.i hud its. troubles, and the members seemed to think that if they could only get him to Oxford they would obtain a promise of assistance from him. (LaxTghler.) It was not the first time he had been to Oxford. His previous visit was with the object of trying to get land for settlement in the district. He thought he did good on th.it occasion, for not" only did he get some land, but as a result of his visit an association was formed which took land to settle in other parts. He was very much gratified to find the progre3s made with the water - works, notwithstanding the difficulties the Board had met with. It would be his duty to represent to his colleagues the position of ' affairs. He could not say what would be done, but he thought the Government would be able.to give some assistance. (Applause.) He would like to say that he hoped the Board would deal kindly with the working- men who had worked in the races, and had "been so unfortunate in respect to their wages. (Applause.) To hear that these men had been well treated would- go a long way with the Cabinet when they had the Board's case under consideration. He felt sure, too, that the Board would feel happier to know that their works had been carried out without injury having been done. to the men employed upon them. (Applause.) He was pleased to find that in the northern district the settlers were, on the whole, very friendly to the Government. This remark might also apply to the settlers generally whom he had come in contact with throughout the covintry. They took, as a rule, a very fair view of the intentions of the Government. If they could get the people to look at and judge their actions fairly that was all they asked. He most remind them that Parliament could only be a reflex of the people. The Government was not perfect— all men made mistakes— but they aonestly tried to do their duty, and to

avoid as much as possible making blunders. He was gratified to see prosperity smiling on the face of the country he bad passed through. More land had been taken into cultivation since he was last in the district, and it appeared to be well tilled, and fairly free from noxious weeds. (Applause and laughter). He thought in connection with the water-works it was a pity the Counties Act was not in force. He thought it was unfortunate that the land in the Ashley county had proved the chief bait to the Midland Railway Company. Some 30,000 acres still remained undisposed of, and when it reverted to the Crown the local bodies might reasonably look for their thirds of the purchase money. He was always ready to give any assistance in his power to districts when their requests were reasonable. In the ca3e of this district it seemed to him after inspecting the water supply works that the request for assistance was a reasonable one, and he would., so represent it to his colleagues. He thanked the.conipany very heartily for the cordial way in which they had toasted the Ministry ; and for the- kind reception they had gi,ven him at' Oxford. (Applause.) ' ; ;*"/''. The other toasts honoured were — "The House of Representatives," proposed by Mr R. H. Parish and responded to by Messrs D. Buddo, R. Meredith, and W. W. Collins ; "The Water Supply Board," proposed by Mr J. Ingram and responded to by the Chairman, who gave some interesting reminiscences of his early colonial life, and acknowledged the kindness he had received from the squatters of the early days, and expressed regret at the absence from the gathering of Mr Joseph Pearson, the sole remaining representative of the first settlei-3 in the. district; "The Agricultural Interests," proposed by Mr D. Buddo and responded to by Messrs J. Dobson, J^ Weld; P. Wright and W. J. Basset* ; " Success to Cooper's Creek Water Supply," ' proposed by Mr G. A. White, and coupled with the names of the engineer, Mr G. Johnston Webster; " The Sawnullers of Oxford," coupled with the names of Messrs VV. Ryde and G. A. White; "The Commercial Interests." proposed by the chairman and responded to by Mr J. Ingram ; " The Host and Hostess ;" "The Ladies," responded to by Mr Duncan M'Kenzie; "The / Chairman '-and viceChairman," .proposed by the Hon. J. M'Kenzie, and "The -Press." The proceedings "then closed with Auld Lang Syne.