Sir Westby's speech was the best of the evening, excellent alike in manner, matter, and delivery. He gracefully acknowledged the compliments paid himself and Mr Ward by Sir Charles Tupper. It gratified him sincerely to find Mr Ward's services properly appreciated, because he knew how genuine they were, and how thoroughly he deserved the success he had achieved in London. The criticisms directed against his leaving the colony for this visit were most unjust. He did not want to talk business to them now, nor to dilate on the ordinary pro ducts of the colony. Many of those present could tell them far more about meat and dairy produce than he could. But a word or two might be said concerning the undeveloped indus tries of the colony. Few people had any notion how varied the resources of New Zea land were. Sir Westby said :

I don't think the people of this country suffi ciently recognise the enormous mineral resources of our colony.— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Atten tion is now being given to this, and I venture to predict, that at no distant date New Zealand will occupy no mean position in the mining world. We have, as you know, already extracted some fifty millions of gold from New Zealand. That is a mere earnest of better things to come. We have most rich deposits of iron in conjunction with limestone and coal, au industry which is simply awaiting the English capitalist to develop. — (Applause.) I venture to say that that industry has been overlooked, and that it is deserving of the attention of the capitalists of this country. —(Hear, hear.) Another industry which is now growing into favor and into notice is our timber industry— that has a very great future before it.— (Hear, hear.) Mr Ward, in run ning over the gamut of the industries and resources of New Zealand, did not touch upon our scenery. That is an industry of the greatest value to the colony. 