STRANGE MEETING.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 69, 20 August 1874, Page 3

STRANGE MEETING.

“ A report of one of the oddest meetings we recollect hearing of appeared in a New South Wales newspaper, the Yass Courier of the 21st ult. There was what was termed a burlesque banquet, presided over by an alderman, with another civic dignitary as his vis-a-vis. The room was decorated for the occasion—a black banner, having a death’s head and bones, being immediately above the chairman’s head. 'The chairman, in proposing the toast of “ The Governor,” explained that 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 Excellency the Governor, who, as the representative of 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, whoso 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 robbery. He had set a never-to-be forgotten example to the colonial youth. It must be owned that those bigots who foolishly imagined that virtue and honesty were proper objects of emulation had received a ‘ back-hander,’ a 1 floorer,’ a stab in the dark, at the hands of the Governor of those honorable Hounds who had come forward on this memorable occasion to release their friend and brother from those cruel bonds of captivity with which humbugging justice had shackled him. Long might such 1 Honorable Hounds ’ live to enjoy their honor. As each recurring 11th July came round, might there ever be such an honorable pack in existence to release to the people the Barrabbas of their hearts.” After 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 that these poor injured innocents had been ill-used in a very harsh way.” The band played “ For they are jolly good fellows.” Then a gentleman proposed the “ Navy ” spelt with a k, and another gave “The honorable majority who voted for the

release of their brother robber.” After this the band played appropriately enough “ The Rogue’s March.” The next, loast was the “Bushrauging Interest,” and the band played “ The Dead March in 'Saul.” The press was then .honored with three hearty groans, and the gentleman who replied said that the editor of the Government Gazette ought to have occupied Ins position. “Just then,” says the Courier, “three men, with black masks over their faces, rushed into the room, and, calling upon the company to ‘bail up.’ fired at the chairman, who fell back as if shot. This incident caused great excitement and laughter. The chairman, on recovering, remarked that till then he had been under the impression that there was such a thing as ‘ Honor among thieves.’ But now even that belief had been rudely shattered. There was no such thing as honor 1” The proceedings, which were said to have been marked throughout by a sense of fun, tempered with decorum, were then brought to a close.