INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE BANQUET.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2160, 27 January 1881, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE BANQUET.

[Bt Telegraph.] AUCKLAND, January 26.

At the dinner given to the Intercolonial Conference delegates at Sydney by the Chamber of Commerce, the president, the Hon. J. B. Watt, M.L.0., proposed the toast of “ Our Guests,” and in the course of his remarks, said a great deal had been said sometimes about jealousy between the different colonies. He had never seen that jealousy when in other colonies, and he affirmed that New South Wales was not jealous of any of the sister colonies. If there were jealousy on the part of Now South Wales it was jealousy for the success of colonies that had sprung from her, and more particularly was that applicable to her two daughters—Victoria and Queensland. They were proud of Queensland, her youngest daughter, and they had ho jealousy of Queensland, but rejoiced in her prosperity. The next oldest colony to New South Wales on the Australian coast was Western Australia, and for the first time she was hero taking her place among the group of Australian colonies. They wished her all success and prosperity, and hoped that there would be no intercolonial conference in future at which she would not be present. Then there was Tasmania, upon whom they were once dependent for food. He believed that Tasmania was at one time celebrated for its pretty girls and its horses. He had not been there lately, but had no doubt she still maintained her reputation. He looked upon Now Zealand as an off shoot from New South Wales. It was owing to one of their Governors that she was now under the British flag. Early colonists went there from Now South Wales, and laid the foundation of New Zealand, and they had been associated with them on friendly relations ever since. The Conference had a difficult task to perform. The first charge of each was to see that their own colony should not suffer, and they had many various feelings and sentiments to consider. Up to a few years ago, the policy of these colonies was sub-division. One of their greatest men. Dr. Dang, used his beat endeavors to sub-divide the colonies, but now the idea was that sub-division was a mistake. But the object of that Conference was to retain to all the colonies the benefits that resulted from sub-division, and at the same time to obtain advantages of a more intimate union. Mr Dick, in responding tor Now Zealand, expressed the great pleasure he felt in meeting the Chamber of Commerce of New South Wales, on such an occasion as the present. He felt it was n mark of appreciation of tha efforts of this Conference that an association which was engaged in mercantile pursuits should acknowledge in such a manner their obligations to the Conference. He felt that they were met together, in a great degree, for the objects of commerce, and that, while they felt deeply the kindness and consideration of that Chamber in meeting them on this occasion and inviting them to share their hospitality, it must he remembered that they were engaged in work which would bo for the benefit of all the Australian colonies. He had previously known that New Zealand was the daughter of New South Wales, and he believed it was the youngest daughter of their favored colony. He was glad to know that it had such favor in the eyes of its parent, and that they had hitherto associated themselves for the good, not only of their two selves, but of the whole of the other colonies, in carrying forward telegraphic and other works together. ' Ho had no doubt that they would find what

Win he might even call the Benjamin of the Australian colonies- a faithful and devout ally in future, and that when thee* colonies, as parents did, had grown nid and weary in the work in which they wore engaged, they would find that their strong awd robust son would bear this work on his own shoulders, and in the earnest support of iStr parent oniony do much to advance the internotr of New South Wales. He was glad to know that he had so many brothers and sisters here, and that New Snath Wales had such a prolific family. He had no doubt that with their parent, they would make a strong united federation by-and-by, and that they would yet make that Great Britain of the South a power and strength in the world in its commerce and its national interests. Ho was very happy to hear the remarks of Mr Berry. He sympathised most heartily with him, and he would like to find that they had been in conference to make allowances one to other. He belonged to a colony which was very happy to give and take, and he had to offer to tneae colonies the same products which he had no doubt would benefit them, and he hoped to take from them something in return. He also sympathised with the expressions used in regard to federation, which he conceived would bo the benefit of all the Australian Colonies. It had been suggested (hat an alliance of the colonies might now be formed. He might point out to them that in Now Zealand there were once separate provinces, which were now all united, and he bad no doubt that the same might take place in all the Australian Colonies.