COSMOPOLITAN CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2191, 15 May 1908, Page 2

COSMOPOLITAN CLUB.

OPENING OF NEW BUILDINGS,

INAUGURAL BANQUET.

The new buildings for the Cosmopolitan Club, at the corner of Bright Street and Palmerston Road, wero opened last evening with a banquet, at which about 16U gentlemen wore present.

The new club rooms occupy a palatial two-storey brick building of handsome design. There is a largo billiard room with two tables, a social hall, music room, lounges, card-rooms, bar, store-room, and reading room, besides other smaller rooms that will be turned to account later on. Tho whole has been comfortably and richly furnished, and the club, which is fast becoming very popular, should rapidly increase in membership now that it is housed in such comfortable quarters. The new buildings reflect great credit upon the committee, of management and tho members, and upon Mr. H. J. Brownlee, the architect, and Messrs Black Brothers, the contractors for the building.

THE DINNER

Tho dinner was served in tho large social hall on the first floor, and after tho president (Mr. J. F. Sheridan) had formally declared the new buildings open, tho members and visitors sat down to an excellent repast provided by Mr. J. Erskine, to which full justice was done. The President occupied tho chair, and had on his right Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, M.P". for Napier, and on lus left Mr. W. D. Lysuar, Mayor of Gisborne, while a large number of invited guests were also seated at the presklent’s table. Apologies were received from the Hons. J. A. Millar, \V. Halls Jones, It. McNab, and J. Carroll, and Captain Tucker, Archdeacon Williams, and others.

THE TOASTS.

After the toast of “The King” had been honored, the Mayor proposed “The Commercial and Shipping Interests of Poverty Bay,” and, in doing so, said that these interests were most important to the people of the Dominion. The commercial industries of Poverty Bay had made great progress. Gisborne was now in the third position in the meat export trade, and he hoped very soon would be in the leading position in the export of meat in tho Dominion. An important phase of commercialism attracting attention was the fall in the nrice of one of New Zealand’s principal exports, wool, which was fifty per cent lower in value than twelve months ago. As against this, meat had shown no reduction in price, and it made commercial men pause and consider what was the cause of the decline in wool. They had been told the American financial crisis was to blame, hut he did not think it was wholly to blame, for he could not believe that America could affect the wool market to such an extent. He believed that producers needed to obtain better control of the Home wool market. They had seen how the American exporters fixed tho price of meat in London each morning, and New Zealand reaped the benefit, and if such an arrangoment could be brought about in the wool market, it would have a beneficial effect, for the present price of wool was ,to a great measure, due bo want of organisation among the producers to get the control of the Home markets. Ho also held strong views on the need for bettpr shipping for export trade. He had no complaint to make against tho companies. They handled the cargo well, hut the freight rates were far too high, and fifty per cent higher than the rates charged for the same facilities to exporters in Australia. The export of meat from New Zealand was four times greater than from Australia, which had ten lilies of steamers against three trading with New Zealand ports. But Australia had organisation, and lie regretted the farmers did not patronise ' the Federal-Houlder-Shire line when lower freights were introduced by that company. He thought that instead of the Government paying large subsidies to the mail steamers it would ho better to subsidise cargo steamers. The mails at present were rapid enough, as drafts often were drawn upon before, the cargo was delivered. The Government could well encourage snipping companies to trade with New Zealand !>orts, and make some attempt to have tho freights lowered to at least equal to the rates paid ill Australia. If Mr. Seddon had lived, lie (the speaker) believed that would have been brought about, for it was tho duty of the Government to see that exporters got quick cargo transit, sotliat the produce could he handled expeditiously. (Applause.) Mr. IV. Pettie responded to the toast, and said that ne felt honored to he called upon to reply to such important- questions. The Mayor had, however, covered all the points, and had left him very little to say. With those present lie desired to see the district prosper, and he hoped it would not be long before an outer harbor was constructed. The Borough and Comity Councils liad important questions under consideration, and it was the duty of local bodies to work together for the interests of the district. They had been told there was a wave iof depression coming over the land, hut even if _ suqli dvas the case he was certain it would not affect Poverty Bay, for the district had the strength to rise above any temporary financial difficulty, and though a cloud might appear on the horizon of trade, he was confident that Gisborne would not be covered by its shadow. . He was delighted to he present at the opening of the new club rooms, and wished to congratulate the members on tho result of their work, and the club on its success. (Applause.) Dr. Collins, in an eloquent speech, proposed the toast of the “Legislature,” coupled with the name of Mr. Fraser. The Parliament of New Zealand, he said, exerted its influence over the social, political, and ecclesiastical life of the people. He would only deal with the situation from the social aspect, and ho would remind those present that it was an honor and a privilege to live in such a democratic country as New Zealand. Sonic time ago the political history of New Zealand had suffered a blow in the loss of Mr. Seddon, a blow such as no country had felt before or since. Mr. Scddon’s ideas might have been democratic, hut he led a young country forward and placed it, politically, at the head of countries of the world.

(Applause.) They had heard a lot about financial'depression, but ho ivas sure tho Legislature was able to pull the country through any trouble that might arise. (Applause.) Mr. A. L. I). Fraser, in reply, said he felt honored to be called to be called upon to respond to the toast of tho Legislature, and seeing that the occasion was a social one, he would not malic a political speech. He thanked Dr. Collins for his kind appreciation of tho work of the late Mr. Seddon, and while it was not for him to eulogiso the dead, he would say that Mr. Seddon had’, I>y his actions and his whole-hearted care for

the welfare of tho people, raised up a monument within their souls-more lasting than stone or bronze. He did not think a period of depression was coming, and if it did it could be mot. They could look back upon the glories of the past to when Sir Julius Vogel instituted his great public works policy. People said it was a gamble, but the statesman had the telescope to his eyes, and was looking towards the future. Afterwards they had Sir Robert Stout, Mr. John Ballance, and Sir Harry Atkinson, and then came another era of depression, and the hour and the need found Mr. 'Seddon. and if depression came the need would find the man- again. (Applause.) The representatives in Pnriament should have only the welfare of tho people before them, and should break away from parochial or pumphandle politics to work for the good of the Dominion as a whole. Ho was pleased to bo able to visit the club, and hoped after the next- election was over to see one of their members sitting in Parliament. The president proposed tlm toast of “Kindred Clubs,”, coupled with the names of Mr. Charles Gray (Poverty Bay Club), Mr Evans (Gisborne Club), and Mr. Holdsworth (Alhambra Club),

and Messrs Gray, Evans, and Holdsworth briefly responded. Other -toasts honored wore “Tho Ladies,” proposed by. Mr. Webb and responded to by Mr. L. Sharland, “Tiio Press,” and “Tho Chairman.” During the evening, songs were given by Dr. Collins, Messrs Hcnncssy, J. Allen, Trent, Zachariah, Bloore, Grieve, Birred, and Brownlee, and a recitation by Mr. J. F. Sheridan. The singing of “Auld Lang - Syno” brought an enjoyable evening to a close.