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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4180, 13 August 1874, Page 2

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 b y an alderman, with another civic dignitary as his vis a vis. The room was decorated for the occasion—a black banner bearing 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 Frank Gardiner.” This was received with loud cheers, and then camp 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 ‘backhander,’ a ‘floorer,’ a stab in the dark, at the hands of the Governor and 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 ‘Honorable Hounds’, live to enjoy their honor.. As each recurring 11th July came round, might there ever b© such an honorable pack in existence to release to the people the Barabbas 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. 1 “ He could not help thinking that those f poor injured innocents had been ill-used in a’very harsh way.” The band played “For they; are jolly good: ’follows” Then a gentleman present proposed the “Navy,” *spelt~Hvith a h, and another gave ‘“The Honorable Majority who voted for the release of their Brother Bobber.” After this

the band played appropriately enough “ The Rogue’s March.” • .The next toast was the “Bushranging 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 his 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 !” The proceedings, which were said to have been marked throughout by a sense of fun, tempered -with decorum, were then brought to a close. By the news from Melbourne, telegraphed from the Bluff, we lean) that Mr. Langton, disappointed of the position of Premier in the reconstructed Cabinet of Victoria, has been unable to see with equanimity the elevation of Mr. Kerferd, has taken the opportunity of a disagreement with the Minister of Lands, and has resigned. He has been succeeded by Mr. Service—of Messrs. James Service and Co., merchants—who has not held office since 1860-1, when he was Minister of Lands in the Nicholson Cabinet, and introduced the first Land Bill, for the purpose of opening up the lands of the Colony for agricultural settlement. The battle over that measure was protracted and bitter. The squatters fought valiantly for the preservation of their runs from the intrusion of the agricultural settler. They subscribed large funds to support their cause in the House, and the result was a session of eleven months' duration, the Bill being carried at last. Mr. Service soon afterwards retired from Parliament and public life, only lately re-entering the Assembly—after many solicitations. He is an able tactician, a skilful and ready debater, and a sound financier, and his aocejjtance of the office of Treasurer will greatly strengthen the Government. In politics, he is an out and out freetrader; in nationality a Scotsman—a native of Ayrshire.