The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897. DINNER TO MR SEDDON NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5960, 27 August 1897, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897. DINNER TO MR SEDDON NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON.

THE SPEECHES. LONDON, July 9.

A company, between three and four hundred strong, sat down to dinner last; niffbt in the Hoi born Restaurant to honour the Eight Hon R. J. Seddou and the edibles of the colony of which he is Prime Minister. The company was happily described by Sir B. Montague Nelson as " a gatherm;; of representatives of the industries of New Zealand connected with the inner man," and in t ne course of the speech-making, which extended over nearly three hours, much was said of the virtues and resources of the colony, Mr Seddon declaring there was "nothing so beautiful as the New Zealand ; girl" and Mr Arthur A. Best putting, in a word of admiration for "the dark sons of the Empire." Some of the latter were present in the officers and m ftn of the Nesv Zealand Contingent, who after the banquet gave a capital idea of the Maori war dance, to the delight of the company— colonists, oxcolonists and others. The banquet was organised I>y Mr Thomas Mackenzie (of Clutha) under the auspices of Mr W. P. Reeves, 'i'lie Right. Hon, Sir James Fer«>usson was in the chair, and among those present were Mr R. H. Glyn, Mr J. Lovell, Mr C.-P- Trevelyan, Mr W. M. Crook, Mr W Holmes, Mr J. Potter, Mr A. Ritchie, Mr G. stead ' Mr } v - Weddel, Mr B. F. C. Costelloe, Mr Lincoln and Mr Gibson. The Chairman proposed " The Queen," and the toast was arunk Avith enthusiasm, the company singing the National Anthem. Other loyal toasts having been duly honoured, Sir E. M. kelson proposed "Prosperity to New Zealand." He said that politics had not interfered with the visit of the colonial premiers, and that was a sign that the Enipii' o was large enough for every shade of political opinion. (Hear, hear.) With rega I '^ to the frozen meat trade, it was still capable of steady extension, but not by such leaps and bounds as in the past when the trade was a much smaller one.' "What.- was really wanted was the

combination and concentration of those connected with the trade and the judicious regulation of the supply of the British market. He feared the colonies thought the Home markets illimitable, but the truth was the markets were limited by the capacity of the English people to eat. J

Mr Seddon, who was received with cheers, claimed for New Zealand that it was the Garden of the Empire. It was an expanded England. The native race was represented in that room — (hear, hear) — and he was glad to be able to say that that noble race was saved, and now on the increase. (Hear, hear.) As years rolled on the Europeans had increased in numbers, and the Natives had almost disappeared, but the Europeans would have been wanting in all that was worthy if they could with indifference have watched the fading away of the race which originally ieceived them with such hospitality. (Hear, hear.) As to the New Zealanders, they were the sons and daughters, of Great Britain ; they hacj fe-. claimed the swamps and conquered the forests and bush of the country, making it that bleating land— (laughter)— of which Sir E. M. Nelson had spoken. This was not done without effort, but all difficulties had been overcome, as was usually the case with the Anglo-Saxon race. The hearty welcome given to the colonials by the multitude, from the highest to the lowest, had warmed their hearts. (Hear, hear.) He was inclined to believe that there were those who, with responsibility on them, had not known the true depth of love and affection which the men of the Mother Country felt towards those from beyond the seas. (Cheers.) The loyalty of the colonists and the love and affection of the people at Home should not, however, be gauged by any sordid standard of give and take. (Hear, hear.) If the Mother Country would help them, let it buy their produce, which was at least equal, if not superior, to that of foreign countries. (Hear, hear.) He would appeal for closer communications, for the Pacific cable, and a line of rapid steamships. He said it was evident that not enough was known of the colonies in some quarters, for in an invitation to the Colonial Premiers from Ireland the writer asked that the Prime Ministers would be good enough to appear in their native costume. (Loud laughter.)

■ Mr G-. Goodsir, in proposing " Success to the Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Industry of New Zealand," urged that steps should be taken to more extensively advertise the excellence of that produce, and in reply,

MrT. Mackenzie pointed out that the chief exports of the colony were of an agricultural nature— (hear, hear)— and therefore those present could grasp what the toast meant to New Zealanders. What did foreign competition matter? Grand Old England, by her enterprise and increasing trade, had, proved that she s^ill held her own in the world. (Hear hear). The people in these islands could not be fed on theit own produce, and they should look to the produce of the younp-pr nations of their own stock to supply the deficiency. They could judge from the products of which they had partaken — New Zealand lamb, mutton, beef, game and dairy produce — contributed by iinpcrting firms, whether that produce was good or not. (Cheers.) Only the best was sent to the Mother Country. Of course, they had had to overcome many difficulties, but difficulties were created that the AngloSaxon race might surmount them. (Hear, hear.) It was to the offshoots of the Old Country that they should, look for their supplies. Every penny paid for produce to a foreign country might h& used to equip armies 'against thisr "gKuqul old Empire, but if spent on.the produce j>f. the. colonies it went to those who rejoiced, in their rejoicings and mourned when that was necessary. (Hear, hear.) If the occa- J sionarose thesonsof the colonies would arise and stand shoulder to shoulder with thoseoftheOldCountry-^heei-s-mde-fence of the dear old flag He spoke as the son of one of the oldest colonists. Thousands of them had never seen the Mother \ Country but they still spoke ot *as . "Home. It rested with the rulers of the Empire to make the silken cords now uniting it bands of steel, and in his opinion, the time had arrived for the colonies to hayetheir say in the Imperial Parliament. (Cheers.) . vl r » \tf a J\ n & P r oP OE eJ IT ^ c Visitors "and Mr Ritchie responded Mr W. P. Beeves gave The Chairman in . a humourous speech. During the last six . or eight weeks. of compulsory silence he f had come to alter his opinion on afterdinner speaking. Those who were called upon to listen, were, he now thought, a long suffering race. In Tibet they pray by machinery ;• some day he anticipated , aftei-dinner speeches would be turned off by the same means. They had heard a great deal about New Zealand, and if there was anything which had net been said in itslaudation, he would like to know what it was - . Sir James Fergusson suitably responded. Just before the company separated, Mr Seddon led the way in again singing the National Anthem. I