BANQUET TO THE HON. THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1036, 16 January 1882, Page 2

BANQUET TO THE HON. THE MINISTER OF MINES.

♦- The Hon. Mr Rolleston, Minister of Mines, was entertained at a public banquet, at M'Gaffin's Hotel, on Friday evening last. The large dining room of the hotel was crowded, every available seat being occupied. Mr P. Brennan, County Chairman, occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by the hon. the Minister of Mines and on the left by Mr Browning, Chief Surveyor, Nelsoiv and amongst the other visitors preaeutgß^ Mr O. Wake-RVswrentf-Engineer of the West Coast, Mr Barrott, and other gentle-' men. The banquet was served up in excellent style, and having received due attention from those assembled, the usual and patriotic toasts were duly proposed and responded to. The chairman proposed the toast of the evening, and he said he did so with more than ordinary pleasure. They had now amongst them a gentlemen whose name had long been familial 1 to the people of the West Coast, with which he (the guest) had at one time been closely identified in his position of Superintendent of Canterbury. Mr Rolleston in his capacity of Minster of Mines, was now making a tour of the goldfields of the Colony, and although he might not be able to promise everybody all they required, he (the Chairman) felt sure that from the knowledge the hon. gentleman had now acquired of the Department over which he presided, that he would never be found wanting in a generous appreciation of the mining industiy. (Loud cheers.) For his (the chairman's) own part, he did not think it would be possible to have the control of the Mines Department in better hands. He (the speaker) had no desire to flatter the hon. gentleman, but having known him for the last fifteen or sixteen years, during a long period of which he was identified with the development of the West Coast goldfields, he was quite certain that his sympathies were in full accord with the mining industry, and that was he thoroughly conscientious and earnest in his desire to promote the industry by every means in his power. (Cheers.) During his visit to Reefton the hon. gentleman had seen something of the ■Mdfettgpes of this field, and it might be jreueaupon that the district would not suffer by the visit. (Cheers.) The Hon. Mr Rolleston said : Mr Chairman and gentlemen : I could not have wished that the toast of my health should be proposed in more kindly terms than has been done by my friend Mr Brennan. There is nothing which commends public men more, or is more gratifying to them than the fact of their possessing the i sympathies and confidence of those over whom they for the time being preside. I came to New Zealand a comparatively young man, and have been here nearly a quarter of a century. My whole interest has been bound up with the colony and its advancement, and I think I may therefore say that as a colonist I have some claim upon the good-will of all good colonists. (Loud cheers.) I have first to express my regret that I was not able to visit you earlier in my position of Minister of Mines. I felt that it was my duty to acquaint myself as soon as possible of the true aspect and magnitude of the interest over which I was called to preside, but owing unfortunately to the Native difficulty which suddenly arose I was prevented from giving effect to my intention. But lam glad to have come, and seen the progress you have made in the mining industry, and I feel certain that what has been done is nothing to what may with the same restless energy be done in the future. (Cheers.) I have now' been travelling for three weeks, and the grass has not grown under my feet. I have seen all that a man could see under the circumstances, and I only wish that I had more time for I am sure it could be used to advantage. What I have seen, however, lias, under the direction of the local authorities, been well seen, and is, I am sure, typical of the rest of the district. I have climbed as much, and been as" deep in the mines as it is possible to do in the district, and seen as much as I could in the time at my disposal, and my previous anticipations of the resources of the district have been more than realised, (loud cheers.) On all sides I observed evidences of active progress. I think it is Macauley who says " Discontent is the essence of Progress." I found the population throughout the district, not discon ted, but so strongly imbued with the spirit of progress as not to be at rest. My mission to the district as Minister of Mines is to see for myself the state of the mining industry, and to learn something of the means to be taken for the development of the resources of the country, and for opening up the land to the enterprise and industry of the people. (Cheers.) It has been very gratifying to me to see mining and agricultural settlement growing up together in the way I have seen it. This grouping together of the industries indicated affords a good guarantee of the permanence of the occupation of the pecple, and assures me that the residents of the goldfields are not, as has been supposed, a floetinp; population who gather their harvest and then leave the country. I believe, on the contrary, from what I have already seen, that they arc as stable and well-established in the country as any other clans. (Cheers.) It will be my endeavor to promote the mining interest by every means in my power, and I trust that the fruits of my visit will be evidenced before lnnir. (CheorO J«'J will pardon me in conclusion, for tiiking tins

mpoitunilv of expressing my wannest j thanks for the very cordial reception with j which my mission has everywhere been received on the Coast, and for the evident desire manifested to look well upon one's short-comings, and to assure you that this kindly disposition of the people ! will lead to increased exertions on my part to benefit the district and people. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The next toast was that of " The House of Representatives, coupled with the name of the Hon. Mr Rolleston," which was proposed by Mr Brennan. The Hon. Mr Rolleston said he had not expected to be soon upon his legs, but in response to the toast just proposed he could only say the House of Representatives had only just been elected, .and what was to come, it was difficult for him to predict. He was glad to think that the number of votes had affirmed pretty generally the policy of the next session, and he was sure that the new Parliament would not be wanting in its duty to the country, or desire to promote the work of colonisation. The Government had had a difficult task to perform. The Native difficulty had, however been settled, the finances of the Colony had been placed on a healthy footing, and the Government would meet the new Parliament with an era dawning which would raise New Zealand amongst the Australasian colonies. (Loud cheers.) Whatever might be the chances of public life, it could be fairly said that the new Parliament would safely represent the people, and it was the fault -of the people if it did not. ~¥ot his own part he looked upon the difficulties in our system and Constitution with no despairing eye. It had been said that past Parliaments were the best, but he held no pessimist views upon the subject. He held that with our present school system, and with the increased interest which the people were now taking in political affairs, added to the closer connection existing between the Government and the governed, there was every reason to believe that the present and future Parliaments would prove quite equal, if not better than those of the past. It had been said that the earlier Parliaments were more closely identified with the people, and this was possibly true to some extent. He was convinced, however, that bo long as the people continued to be fairly represented there was no reason to despair of our institutions working out a great destiny. (Cheers.) He concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the district," and coupled with the toast the name of the County Chairman. Mr Brennan said he could not but feel flattered at having his name coupled so prominently with the toast. He had with many others present, been identified with the district from the earliest days. He thought he might fairly claim to be a progressive man ; he had made money in the district, and had applied it in many ways in the development of the field The Inangahua was beyond any doubt the grandest and richest field in the Colony ; there was nothing superior to it in the southern hemisphere, and he was only sorry that the Minister of Mines could not remain a fortnight to see all that was to be seen. He felt sure, however, that his sympathies were entirely with us, and that his mind was on the development of our resources, and so long as he (Mr Rol leston) was at the helm there was no doubt that the mining industry generally ! would receive justice. (Loud cheers.) The hon. gentleman would probably visit the Thames and Coromandel, but he would see nothing to compare with this district. (Cheers.) Here we had a reefing district fifty miles in length, and there was certainly nothing to compare with it in the Colony. The hon. gentleman had been into the mines and seen for himself something of our wealth, and the impression he would carry away could not be otherwise than favorable ; the prosperity of the field was only now dawning, but it was assured and permanent, and all that remained to hope was that the Hon. Mr Rolleston would long preside over the De- ' partment in which he had displayed such a lively and active interest. (Cheers.) Mr J. Connolly proposed the toast of "The Survey Department." He said that as the hour was late, he would not detain them long, but as Mr Browning and his staff had in the early days borne the brunt in opening up the West Coast, the service had earned the recognition of the public. (Cheers.) Mr Browning possessed an extensive knowledge of the West Coast, and it had no doubt been often used to the advantage of this part of the Colony. (Cheers.) Mr Browning replied. He thanked the proposer of the toast for his complimentary allusions to himself, and was glad to think that the time was at hand when the position of a Government official would be looked upon as one of honor rather than of reproach. He had experienced the greatest kindness from the people of the Coast, and would ever remember his connection with this part of the Colony with pleasure. (Cheers.) Mr W. H. Jones said he had been asked to apologise for the absence of Mr Trennery, who had been compelled to leave by Wednesday's coach, in order to catch the Te Anau, for Melbourne. The Chairman proposed "The Legal Profession," and coupled with it the names of Mr Jones and Mr Lynch. Mr Jones responded on behalf of the profession. Mr Hankin proposed "The County Chairman, Mr P. Brennan." Mr Brennan responded. The Chairman gave "The Press, coupled with the name of Mr Potts." Mr Potts responded. "The Ladies," and several other toasts having been proposed and responded to, the company separated at the " Wee sma' hours ayant the twal."