DEPARTURE OF DR. FEATHERSTON. FAREWELL DEJEUNER.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3202, 18 May 1871, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF DR. FEATHERSTON. FAREWELL DEJEUNER.

The dejeuner given to Dr Featherston afc the Odd Fellows' Hall yesterday was the heartiest and mos successful demonstration ever made in the City of Wellington. All tho available space in the hall was occupied by tables and seats, and every seat was filled The body of the hall contained three tables extending from tho stage to the entrance of the hall. On the stage were three more tables, one stretching across the proscenium at which were seated the parting guest Dr Featheraton, his Honor tho Superintendent W. Fitzherbert (in tho chair) the Hon the Premier, tho Hon W. Gisborne, tho Hon Dillon 8011, Captain Blethen of tho Nevada, and several ladies. Over 400 people sat down to the repast, including a large number of ladies. In tho gallery, where a great many assembled as onlookers, were placed the Artillory Band, who played appropriate music. Tho guests having been seated. His Honor the Superintendent proposed the health of Her Majesty tho Queen, which was honored in the usual mannor. His Honor tho Superintendent then said : Ladies and gentlemen the next toast I have the honor to propose is, like the toast we have just drunk, one that is always given iv British dependencies. The toast is " His Excellency the Governor." There is an Oriental saying which I have frequently admired, and is intended as highly complimentary, and I may not inaptly refer to it on fcho present occasion. It is ono of the greatest antiquity — " May his presence never grow less !" (Prolonged applause.) This toast having been duly honored, His Honor the Superintendent, said : — Ladies and Gentlemen, the toast I am about to propose to you is ono which in fact comprises the raison d'etre — the reason why you are here ; you therefore already know who I aui about to propose. I am not not going to make a speech, and afterwards lot you down with announcing the name of tho person whose health is to be drunk ; you all know that it is the health of your late Superintendent. (Applause.) I have a difficult task to perform. Difficult as it would bo under any circumstances, it becomes still moro difficult because of the anomaly of the circumstances in conformity with which I have to propose afc once a toast and an address. I have already therefore secured, I hope, your sympathy for any shortcomings on my part, when, as you will perceive, I have two opposite, if not unusual duties to perform. These aro, tho reading of a formal address, the result of the deliberate opinion of a great number of the inhabitants oi this province, and at tho same time to perform tho festive and convivial duty of proposing a toast. I shall, however, to the best of my ability, conform with both those contradictory requirements. The address embodies the deliberate testimony of a numerous body of Dr. Featherston' s friends to his departure. (Applause.) Before rending this address, allow me to say of this. production that I am giad it has been tho work of a na- '■ tive artist, for the term artist is deservedly applicablo to ono who produced a work so full of good tasto, as far as artistic performances are concerned; and don't lot it be thought that the observation is out of place in a meet- . ing of this kind. Anything which gives an earnest of tho future of this country should at all times bo interesting to us. (His Honor tho Superintendent; fchon read tho address.) It would be quite impossible for mo to offer in your behalf tho address, which expressos your sentiments towards Dr Feathersfcon, without adding a few words, and they will bo very few, that I will offer you on this occasion. They will be few, but not because I deny tho usually aocopted truth that " out of tho abundance of tho heart tho mouth speaketh," but because I believe that, on cortain occasions, the eloquence consists in speaking the fewest words. No ono can have lived to a certain timo of life, and have experienced those deep passages which stir tho innermost emotions of a man's soul, without knowing that on such occasions words avo a3 wind — nothing, and that tho greatest oloquenco consists, perhaps, in a broken, halfuttered expression — " God bless you, adieu !" And yet I could not, in the discharge of the duty which I am called on to perform, do otherwise than say tho reason why there is such an assemblage to-day —an assemblage consisting not merely of gentlemen of high position and citizens in holiday costume, but also adorned and graced by the other sex — a sex which I hope in this country will learn not only to exercise tho vast influence they have exercised in older communities, but also exercise that more active power which is inherent in them, and which I believe they will yet exerciso for the great benefit of tho human race. Why is this assemblage graced by tho other sex ? Is it because they have known Dr. Featherston, of whom we are now about to take leave, and in him they have recognised tho very beau ideal of a gentleman, ono who is at once open, kind in heart, and courageous as a man (applause). There are scores of people of both sexes in this province on whom Dr. Foathorston has j tended umveariedly with the greatest kindness. His skill was ever ready, his ear ever open, and his sympathy know no distinctions, and was given unsolicited. That is the reason why he is now surrounded by suoh a body of true friends, whofwould go far to serve him ; because he has ever shown himself a truo man, a man imbued with the lore of his feV.owcroatures — which is one of the highest attributes, I take it, combined with bravery, that any man can lay claim to. The toast was drunk with deafening applause, three cheers being given for Dr. Featherston and ono for his family. Dr Featherrston, who on rising was greeted with tumultuous applause, said : — Ladies and gentlemen I scarcely daro trust j myself to utter a [ovr, a very few, words in ; acknowledgment, in tendering my thanks for the kindness shown by those around me, and to you, sir, for tho manner in which you have proposed my health. I fool assured when ] looking around the assemblage, representing j all classes of society, embracing nil parties, and graced as you justly snid, by bo large a j portion of the fair and gentler sex — whose approval wo men of all other things mo3t prize, whose sympathy with our efforts wo regard as the greatest encouragement, tho strongest incentive, — I say I feel assured that you will lvcogriiso tho difficulty and the i strangeness of the position in which I am at j present placed; But my friends, I doubt whether there i 3 a single individual in this gathering who can in any degree enter fully, ! or in any degreo whatever, enter into the feelings which I oxperionco on tho present occasion, or of tho recollections and emotions which I must stifle within me. While I sbured many of the dangers and difficulties by which wo havo been surrounded for many years — dangers, as you justly observed, which have oftentimes wrought us groat ruin and jeopardised tho very existence of tho settlement — and although I am free to confess that I hive never shrunk from encountering nny danger or any personal risk, however great or imminent it might be ; yot to day, and in your presence, I am bound to confess mysolf a coward — I am appalled, and would willingly havo avoided such a demonstration as this. Sh% I confess that I havo been almost unnorved and unmanned, but tho feeling is banished ; it has melted before your generous and glowing words of praise and tho sentiments in the address. Tet, strange as it may appear, I am not discouraged j for I havo thought that sometimes defeat is as glorious as success. This reflection will therefore encourago mo to pcrseyore in endeavoring to promote, by my boat exertions, huinblo though they may bo, tho true interests

of the whole colony, and of fchoee persons who this day have so fully acknowledged, so cordially appreciated, my past services. Ifc is true also that I have reßided amongst you some thirty years, and during that period I have filled the highest office which the province can confer ; but it must be remembered that while I have taken an active part in all your public affairs, I have ever done it at the request, and by the instructions, of the sottlers ; and that although I am prepared to hold myself alone responsible for all errors and shortcomings— and I admit that they have been neither few nor far between — still, jit must not bo forgotten that whatever good was achieved during my administration, whatever dangers have been surmounted, whatever difficulties overcome, or foundations laid for the future advancement of this province, they must, one and all, be attributed to the settlers for the generous confidence, the implicit and unwavering trust, which they have so long reposed in me — a confix dence which, for strength and duration, could scarcely be equalled. I have been reminded by the" words of my friend that there are very many among you who havo differed, and probably will continue to differ, from my political convictions ; but that very fact affords mo the very highest gratification. Sir, I trust the day may never arrive when there shall be no difference of opinion (applause). When this or any other community shall be of the same mind, or when any subject shall not havo the most full, the most searching discussion — such a state of things must be looked upon as political death, the moral and intellectual degradation of the whole community, an effectual bar to all progress and advancement, and antagonistic to the spirit of the age. But, my friends, when I bear in mind tho many important questions which we have had before us, and on the wise and proper solution of which so much has depended— when I remember, also, the hot and ' tiring discussions to which they have given rise, and when I remember the fierce party contests which have at times raged, I cannot refrain from conveying to you tho feelings of pride and satisfaction which I derive from knowing now that those differences of opinion, thoso stormy discussions, those hard fought party contests have left behind nob the slightest irritation or anger. Ido feol. proud to-day that you can all join in assuring methatl shall bearaway with me theregard and best wishes of my fellow-colonists. No higher tribute could be paid to any man, whether in a public or private capacity — no higher tribute could bo possibly desired. But, my friends, however magnificent or chaste may be tho testimonial which I understand is to accompany this affectionate address, I hope you will not deem it ungracious in me if I venture to say that the testimonial, which will ever be most cherished by myself, ever remembered by my family, and ever have an abiding place in our hearts' affections, will be the good wishes of those amongst whom I have so long dwelt, which havo been so kindly given expression to. I simply now beg you to accept my most cordial thanks for the kind expressions you have used towards the members of my family ; and I assure you that we shall all look forward with great anxiety to that day when we may avail ourselves of that kind and cordial wolcomo which you have promised us on our return. (Loud and continued applause). Mr Q-isbobne said that a toast had been placed in his hands which ho had great pleasure in proposing, and to which he knew all present would heartily respond. It was the health of his Honor tho Superintendent of the province of Wellington, who had so appropriately and ably acted as chairman. The essence of all courtesy was held to bo to speed the parting, and to welcome tho coming guest. Wo had already regretfully wished Q-od speed to the parting guest, and we should now hopefully welcome the coming oxw. This was neither the occasion nor the titno to refer to party politics, but this much he might say, that while party politics necessarily to some extent divided communities, they were, a3 Dr. Feafcherston said, essential to popular freedom, and that gatherings like this, where party contests were laid aside, and honor was paid to whom honor due, tended more closely to unito those communities, and bettor fitted them to perform their important duties. It was these centrifugal and centripetal forces, characteristics of tho Anglo-Saxon race, which secured cosraical order and harmony in our constitutional systems, just as similar forces do throughout the vast universe of nature. It must be a great satisfaction' to Dr. Featherston to bo able to transfer the priceless trust so long confided to him into the charge of one worthy to succeed him — one who has so long fought by his side the battle of constitutional freedom, and who now reaps the reward of victory in his unsolicited promotion to the highest honor — and it is indeed a high honor— which the electors of a province are able to confer. Mr Fitzherberfc has an arduous task before him. Ho has to draw the bow of "Ulysses. But there was no one more qualified by eminent ability and great political experience for the arduous task than Mr Fitzhevbert, whoso health, as Superintendent of Wellington, he now proposed. The toast was received with hearty cheers. His Honor tho Superintendent said he should be insensible indeed if he did not feel the honor of the way in which his health had been drunk. To say that the recollection that he was Superintendent almost deprived him of a certain facility of speech would not be exaggerating the feeling of responsibility which awed him. Tho very fact that he was following such a predecessor as their former Superintendent he regarded as a disadvantage. As Mr GHsborne had been pleased to say, the position ho was placed in was wholly unsolicited, and, under those cireumstnnces, he claimed their sympathy and co-oporation, for if that was not accorded to him he mustmnke a most signal failure, and it was his desire to do what good he could. If he had the opportunity of selecting his career in life, or being placed in oflico and power, he would not select the appointment to an office which had been filled by a prudent and careful man ; he would rather go after a dummy. But no such fortune had failen to him now ; it could not bo said of him that his lines had fallen in pleasant places. Before referring to another subject, ho might say that at the end of his brief career, which was not likely to bo a very lengthened period, whon compared with tho time the office was held by Dr Feathcvston, ho hoped ho would receive tho good wishes of the community iv an equal proportion with his predecessor. He hoped they would not think him presumptuous in passing thus lightly to another matter. Ho was not one who despised small beginnings, and they had high authority for comparing small towns with the groat city of Rome, or as ifc was sometimes expressed that " the cat can look at the king ;" therefore, considering that wo belonged to a plucky country — for ho j claimed that as a characteristic of New Zealitnd, small as it is — for ib bad shown a good deal of energy and courago and pluck during its career of thirty years — and notwithstanding that there was as wide a difference between tho offices of Superintendent and President as existed between the two countries, he would propose " The health of tho President of tho United States of America." (AppJft'ise.) He had learned one lesson in life, and that was not to despise the day of small beginnings, which he regretted was a common and a iatal mistake made by very many. Ho saw no reason why they should not drink the health of the President of tho United States. We were not so big as tho United States certainly, but they were no bigger than us once. He had often fouud that on looking at a little boy whose lower extremities wero growing fuster than his tailor's investments, and thought of the future when that boy would grow to bo a great strong lusty man— as a man should be, both physically and morally— and he had been, in consequence, inclined to approach his young friend with a greater degree of respect, and could listen to his boyish extravagance with more forbearance than he might otherwiso have done. Therefore, looking at his toast in that spirit, ho hoped his boldness would be accepted by those who

lived under the glorious " Stars and Stripes." New Zealand would one day have a President of its own. How soon, or how long distant that day might be, was not within his prophetic ken ; but the day would come ; and there was not a single person who did not see it. The toasfc was drunk with enthusiasm. . Mr M'lntyre, United States Consul, briefly acknowledged the toast. This brought the proceedings to a close, and the guests left the hall. A great many however remained and Jaccompanied Dr. Feather* ston on board the Nevada.