PUBLIC BREAKFAST OF THE CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. [From the "Britannia," August 2.]

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 489, 21 December 1850, Page 2 (Supplement)

PUBLIC BREAKFAST OF THE CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. [From the "Britannia," August 2.]

A e r wai given on Tuesday by the members of the Canterbury As.oci.tiou to their departiog colonist, on board the Randolph, one of fou? .hipi taken up for conveying the first body of emigrants lo their new home in the acquired district of Canterbury, in the colony of New Zealand. By public meeting and advertisements the Canterbury Society ha. alreadj made known the objects for which it has become associated. It hai how armed at that point of practical utility that it ha. engaged four .hip. to convey about 800 emigrants, to the couutry oj their acioptiou

in the course of next month. Thene ships are now lying in the Ea«t India Import Dock. They are about BqO tons each. Two of them, the Randolph and Cressy, belong to Mr. Dunbar, The third, the Sir George Seymour, is the property of Messrs. Somes, and the fourth is the Charlotte Jane, owned by Thompson and Co. These ships are now being pre* pared for tie recaption of the Canterbury emigrants. They are remarkably fine vessels, of large dimensions, spacious nnd lofty decks, well found in everything, and as well adapted for the service as any vessels belouging to the port of London. The accommodations for the labourer*, &c, are being fitted up on the Government plan, the single men forward and the single women nft ; but the labourers being comparatively few, small cabins for families are being run up on one cltar side of the welUventilated main deck. The ships are not yet completed, but will be in all respects ready to aail fur their deitination by the last week iv August. The four ships were dressed in good style with a profusion of colours of all nations and the deck* of the Randolph were fitted up and decorated with great taste, Captain Reeves, the officer who ably superintended the fittings of the ships for the New Zealand Company, having been intrusted with these arrangements. The dejeuner was served on the main deck ot the Randolph, about 310 were accommodated, and the handsome entertainment was provided by Messr*. Bathe and Breach, of the London Tavern. The band of the Coldstream Guards was stationed on the upper deck, and most agreeably enhanced the enjoyment of the interesting festivities by their performances. On the removal of the cloth a series of toasts was proposed in succeision. "The Queen, and the loyal attachment of the colonists," was drunk with enthusiasm ; "Prince Albert and the Royal family" followed, when the noble chairman Lord Lytteltoo was cheered for an observation to the effect that it might not be a presumptuous or visionary hope that he had formed of a special and personal connexion, at some future time, between the fortunes of the colony, not the mere 2,600,000 acres of the Canterbury settlement, but the vast empire of Australasia and the Royal family of Great Britain. The Chairman next gave "The Church and the Bishop-Designate of Lyttelton," and dweltupon the principles of their association with reference to the prominence of the Church in its every action, and the advantages they hoped to derive from the pastoral services of Mr. Jackson, explaining- the reason of bis unavoidable absence on that occasion, and expressing his regret that circumstance! over which they had no control had prevented the rev. gentleman from being consecrated for his high office until they had received a communication from the Bishop of New Zealand on the subject. The latter prelate's powers were so extensive that it was necessary to obtain the formal sanction of his lordship to the appointment of Mr. Jackson; and although this delay would unfortunately prevent Mr. Jackson from proceeding with the first colonials, the sentiments and withes of the Bishop of Naw Zealand were so well known to be in favour of Mr. Jackson's appointment, that there wig not the slightest doubt of Mr. Jackson's proceeding to the Canterbury settlement as soon at the requisite sanction had been received. The Rev. Mr. Sewell, of Oxford, returned thanks for the last toast iv a speech highly eulogistic of the bishop designate for his learning and piety. He felt assured, from the range of hi* venerable friend's abilitiei, lie was well adapted for the great and glorious mission to which he bad devoted himself and his future life } and he knew his desire was to cultivate and develope the highest powers of the mind, whilst, at the same time, he could descend to the instruction of his flock in tbe lowest occupations of every.day life/ In fact, aa he (the bishop designate) had himself avowed, it was his intention to te»ch the colonists to write Greek iambics, whilst he would also instruct them in the most difficclt operation of fanning — viz , that of breeding sheep. The rev. gentleman exhorted the Canterbury colonists to divest themselves of the ambition of rivalry, and to emulate each other in officrt of brotherhood and holy love, and to look up to heaven as their home and their place of re-union. Tbe Chairman next gave "The Army and N*vy," with which he coupled the name of Nelson. Lord Nelson protested (as he said he always did) against beipg galled upon to acknowledge that toast, for if he were once to nmwer to it he would never bo able to show ai a public dinner. He expressed his warmest and deepest sympathy in. behalf of the Canterbury Association. The Bishop of Norwich then, in an eloquent speech,, proposed "Health and Success to the departing .colonists." His lordship contrasted the character of the colonists proceediag upon this heroic enterprise with that of former olonists. He said he was present, twelve years ago, it a similar entertainment given at Plymouth to the New Zealand colonists on their departure in five vessels, but he believed there was not a single English clergyman with that body, nor was there a Christian minister to receive them on their arrival. He congratu'ated the present association on the part of England's Church, and they would carry with them the Church's blessing and the Church's prayers. Lord Wbarncliffe returned thanks— not on behalf of himself, for there were imperative ties which hound him to the mother country ; but on behalf of a son, who formed one of the Canterbury colonists. Mr. Simeon proposed •• The Healih of John Robert Godley, the founder of the Canterbury Association," in a speech replete with the strongest expressions of friendship for that gentleman, and confidence in his ability to carry out the work which he projected • and Mr. Ferguson, one of the colonists, in returning thanks. pro» posed • ' The Health of Lord Lyttelton. The noble Chairman, in returning thant-s, alluded to the great honour wnich had been paid to him in perpetuating bin services in calling the principal town of the Canterbury distict after his family name, and assured the colonists of bis best and continuous energies in their behaif. Lord John Manners proposed the last toast—" Success to Canterbury,"and the proceedings shortly afterwards terminated.