The Bushranger Gardiner.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 251, 1 September 1874, Page 7

The Bushranger Gardiner.

' A report of one of the oddest meetings we recdllect hearing of appeared in a-New! South i Wales newspaper, the Yass Courier, of the 21st ult. This was what was termel a burlesque banquet, presided over by an alderman, with another dignitary as his vis a vis. The ro6m wa& i decora'ted for.she black banned bearingi a death's head andt bbnes being immediately above the chair,man's head. The chairman, in proposing the toast of "The Governor," explained they ••were simply met in a spirit of fun and drollery to celebrate the release of their great, captain, Frank Gardiner, alias Christie, alias a dozen names besides. It was on that account that he (the chairman) felt such- great pleasure in proposing the health of His Ex 1 -; celioncy the Governor, who, as the representative of Her Majesty in New South Wales, had gone out of his way to release unto them their noble captain and brother robber, Frank Gardiner." This was received with - loud cheers, and then came the toast of the evening—"The health of Frank Gardiner, alias Christie, whose release we now celebrate." Gardiner, said the chairman, was the illustrious chief of Australian banditti, and, though holding "no brevet from the Horse Guards, had earned for himself a more than military title by daring deeds of rapine and rqbbery:: ' He h'ad~set a"never j to"be"foTgottenr example to the Colonial youth. : It must be : owned that those bigots who foolishly imagined j that -virtue and honesty wero proper objects of emulation had received a 'backhander,' a'floorer,' a stab in the dark, at the hands of t\e Governor and of those honourable Hounds who had come forward on this memorable occasion to release their friend and brother from those cruel bonds of captivity with whi6h iumbuggihg justice had shackled him*. Long might such i Honorable Hounds' live to enjoy their houour. As each recurring 11th of July came round, might there ever be such an honourable pack in existence to release to tie people the Barabbas of their hearts." • Afte* the band had played " When Johnny comes marching home," the'vicechairman felt confident "that those present would drink a bumper to Gardiner's pals, his associates-in crime, his companions in exile," which he would propose. "He could : not help thinking tha\ those "poor injured innocents had beenill-ised in a very harsh way." The band played "For they are Jolly Good Fellows." Then a gentleman present proposed the " Navy,' spelt with a k, and another gave "The" Honourable - Majority who voted for the release of their Brother Robber." After this th> band played' appropriately enough " Theßogue's'March." The next toast was the-•" Bishranging Interest," and the band played "The Dead March in Saul." The Press was then honoured with three hearty groans, and.the gentleman' Who replied said that the editor of the Government Gazette ought to have occupied his position. Just then, says l ,he Courier, "three men with black masks ovei their faces rushed into the room, and, callingupon the Company to ' bail up,' fired at- the diairman, who fell back as if shot. This inciient caused great excitement and laughter. Vhei chairman, on recovering, remarked tnat 'ill then he had been under the impression that there was such a thing as ' honour amonj thieves.' But now even that belief had beuv rudely shattered. There was no such thhg. as honour." The proceedings, which were said to have been marked throughout by a sense of fun, tempered with decorum, were \hen brought to a close.