COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. DONALD RED .

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 173, 1 June 1871, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. DONALD RED .

A complimentary dinner was given to Mr. D. Reid, M.H.R., at Murray's r oms, Rattray -street, Dunedin, on Thursday evening last. Between fifty and sixty geutlemen were present. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. Amongst the numerous guests were found his Honour the Superintendent, on proposing whose health, Mr. G. E. Barton said that his Honour's presence manifested good taste, great^ judgment, and a little courage. We extract from * the " Daily .Times " Mr. Macandrevv's reply to the toast of his health, and Mr. Reid's speech :—: —

Mr. Maeandrew, after acknowledging the toast, paid a very graceful tribute to the past conduct of the guest of the evening. He said he hud known Mr. Reid for more than twenty years, and as one of the founders of the Otago settlement, he felt proud to see such a man amongst them. He did not make these remarks in any patrouisiug spirit, and he hoped they would be accepted in the spirit in which they were uttered. He could say a good deal in regard to Mr.

Reid, but he feared that if he did so he would be poaching upon the preserves of his Worship the Mayor. — (Applause.) He regarded the invitation which he had received to attend that evening as an indication on their part that they wished bye-gones to be byegones, and that they should all work together as much as possible to build up and promote the Institutions of this province. — (Applause.), The Chairman then proposed the toast of " The Guest of the Evening, Mr. D. Reid," which was received with great applause. He referred in eulogistic terms to the career of Mr. Reid, a genial, honest, straightforward and clever man.

Mr. Eeid, on rising, said : Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and gentlemen, I am sure you will not regard it as an empty compliment when I say that it is impossible for me to find words to adequately express to you my thanks for the kindness which you have this evening evinced towards me, for the kind manuer in which the toast of my health has been proposed, and for the equally kind manner in which it has been received. I always find it difficult to make what is termed an after dinner speech, but if I find it difficult to do so on an ordinary occasion, how much more difficult must it become after having listed to such remarks as have been made this evening. I should very ill repay the kindness you have shown me to-night if I attempted to make a party speech. It would not, I think, become me to do so, under the circumstances, and more especially would it not become me to do so after the friendly spirit which has been displayed by his Honour in accepting the invitation of the Committee, and also by the words which he has uttered. — (Applause.) I, however, think, gentlemen, it will be considered that I ought on such an occasion as this to express my views in regard to present position of public affairs. — (Applause.) Those views may not be altogether what I would wish to see carried out, but what I foresee as likely to be the result of the present political situation of the colony. You are all aware that recently I made a tour throughout the province, when contesting in fact, the election for the office of Superintendent. 1 was on that occasion unsuccessful, but 1 may say that personally I did not at all regret being beaten. I can quite endorse the opinions expressed this evening, that whoever fills the position of Superintendent, and however desirous he may be of giving effect to those views which he may consider essential to the advancement of the institutions of this province, it is not always in his power to give effect to them, and that the situation cannot be said to be a bed of roses. The office is one of great responsibility and great anxiety, and therefore personally I do not regret having been unsuccessful in that tour, although it is not a pleasant thing to sustain a defeat. — (Laughter and applause.) But I think I have no cause to regret having mado that tour, because in doing so I becaino acquainted with the wants of the different parts of this province; I have also become acquainted with many of the people in a slight degree, and the various resources of the province. On these grounds, then, I have reason to be glad that I made that tour. Some persons have said that because I was defeated, I am a disappointed man. I may say, however, that lam not disappointed in the least degree, nor have I any cause for disappointment. As has been remarked by Mr. Macandrew, tny career in this province has been a successful one. 1 have not on any occasion sustained a defeat, nor contested a closely-contested e'ection, except when contesting the election for the office of Superintendent ; and when I consider my comparative youth and inexperience and the prestige of the gentleman on my left, I think the position which I held at that eleetiou is not one to give me any cause for dissappointinent. — (Applause.) The result of my visit to the different parts of this province has been to confirm me in the belief that their are certain alterations which it is necessary to make in connection with the public affairs of this province, if we are to make that advancement and that progress which has been so much spoken of. It has been said that I am an unprogressive man, but I think there are so;ne directions in which alterations of a beneficial nature can be made without encumbering the people with large burdens in the shape, of liabilities. First, suitable provision should be made for the permanent settlement of people throughout the different districts where they themselves desire to settle permanently. — (Applause.) I am glad to see an indication that the Provincial Executive are directing their attention to this matter ; .whether they have taken the best meana to deal with the question I cannot say, but it was gratifying to find they had given the matter their attention. I may say, for my own part, that I do not think thatany scheme which does not provide facilities for the depasturing of stock vail be one which will cause the country to be profitably occupied. — (-Applause.) I am glad to find that that sentiment meets with so hearty a response. I can speak on the subject from practical experience. Had it not been for the arrangements under which the earlier settlers came here, who were entitled to take advantage of the waste lands for depasturing

their market cattle or working oxen — had it not been for that system, at least two-thirds of the settlers would not have found themselves in the position which they occupy to-day. — (Applause.) I think it is competent to secure such facilities without doing injustice to the pastoral tenants. Another much-felt want is better facilities for communication between the different centres of population throughout the country. I wish it to be understood that I do not think the best means of communication at the present time would, in every instance, be afforded by the construction of railways Eailways are, no doubt, a very desirable class of works in those districts within which there is a remote probability that they will become of a reproductive character. When such is not the case it would be much wiser to attempt to develope the industry of the country with the means at our command, and leave it to the time when such districts will be better populated to construct a more perfect means of communication. I have been termed a non-progressive man, in fact, a drag. I can assure you that it is much pleasanter at all times to be seated on the box with an excellent team, with gold lace, and driving at a rapid rato ; but it is also necessary sometimes that one should act as a drag on the wheel. And we must be careful that in the attempt to construct large public works, for the credit perhaps of constructing them, the clay does not come when we shall not have the means to construct really necessary v orks, and that our burdens are not made so heavy as to prevent other people from coming amongst us, and helping to make this country what we hope some day to see it. — (Hear, hear.) It will be expected perhaps that I should say something about the loan scheme ; but I do not think I shall discuss it on the present occasion. I hope that the Provincial Council and the General Assembly will see that a greater amount of support is given to the developing of the mineral resources of the country. — (Applause.) W:> cannot do a wiser thing than vote a liberal sum to enable the mineral resources of this pr>vince to be fostered and developed. I need hardly say that the charge made against me that I desired to subvert Provincial institutions is not true. I see a great deal of good in our Provincial system, and so Ion;* as we have a large land revenue, so long will it be necessary to maintain our Provincial institutions ; but the day is fast coming when we shall have little revenue to expend after having paid our share of the burdens now imposed ; and the day is also approaching when the Provincial svstein will have to succumb.

But we should endeavour to get some machinery put in operation before that day comes, and which will take the pla_'c of our Provincial institutions. I should look forward with dread to our Provincial system becoming extinct until we have established between us and the central power some such system as will make itself felt at the soat of Government. I will not trespass further on your patience. I said it was not my intention to make a party speech, and I hope I have not given utterance to anything which could be deemed offensive. I now ask you 1o accept my best thanks for this mark of your esteem and confidence. I accept it as an indication of your good feel ng towards me, and as expressive of your appreciation of my desire, at all events, to act consistently, and so far as my abilities permit, "to advance the interests of the people of this province. — ( Vpplause.)