NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 439, 22 January 1890, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

THE NEW SOUTH WALES BANQUET. A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. The New South Wales Government representatives at Dunedin gave a banquet last evening, in honour of the New Zealand Exhibition. It was held in Watson’s large dining room, and was an unqualified success. Over 150 gentlemen were present. Mr McMillan, Treasurer New South Wales, occupied the chair. He was supported on the right by Mr Langridge (Victoria), Bishop Neville, the Minister for Education, Lord Carrington, and the Earl of Onslow. On the left were Admiral Lord Charles Scott, Mr Gould (Minister of justice New South Wales), the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr Justice Williams, and Mr Scott, Commissioner for South Australia. The list of visitors also included many members of the Legislature and tourists from adjacent colonies. ; . Lord Carrington proposed the health of the Governor, and referred to the Federation movement, and said he would gladly hail its advent, because he believed it would link all of them more firmly to the great country to which they were proud to belong. (Applause.) He was convinced England would stand by the Australian colonies so long as there was eighteenpence in the Imperial Treasury, and so long as there was a British blue jacket or a red coat left to tight for tbe great Englishspeaking confederacy that owned allegiance to the British Queen. (Cheers.) There were about four millions of men m these: colonies natives of Gieat Britain,, joining the native-born Australians in loyalty to their Queen, but nonetheless jealous of their natural rights and aspiraOnslow, in responding, thanked New,South Wales for the splendid hospitality manifested, and for doing so much to ensure the success of the, Exhibition. He also welcomed Admiral Scott. , :i He considered the Exhibition a sign, of the revival of prosperity' in Zealand which would increase if their produpts had free access to the markets of the world. (Applause.) In New Zealand they would look with a sympathetic interest on the endeavours made to establish in the Pacific an Anglo-Saxon community that could hot fail to have a great interest op, tfca. fptura of .the human race. He hoped it would result in the promotion of intercolonial free trade. It would set ; men thinking,"and perhaps altimately.Jead to the adoption of some plan of cooperation for the defence and eelf-preservation of the British colonies that, might ultimately, extend . to all countries speaking . the. English’ tohguel . .H©,.; h a o_- avoided using the word Imperial Federation because that was used by clever men to bring under-one . umbrella-fadists and enthusiasts. When Lord.Carrington, Earl fein tpre, #nji : himself ..returned to England :tbe£ J would take the#; places m the Im-

perial Parliament.and proclaim their belief in the great future before the colonies, and of the pleasant arid; 'happy home these countries were able te afford. Lord Onslow concluded by expressing the hope that Sir Harry Atkinson might long-be preserved in health to serve his country. " / Mr Eddy proposed the health of the A miral, and the Chairman followed with “ The Government of New Zealand.” He urged the Federation question, and said that- New Zealand would greatly gain by joining the confederation. Mr Hislop, in replying, said that the question of Federation had not been considered in-Parliament in its practical form, but it would be kept steadily in view in the future. They were aware that after confederation there would be potent factors in Pacific colonisations, in the labour questions, and in the rights of foreign nations to interfere with the islands of the Pacific. Whenever the necessity arose New Zealand had raised her voice against any than the Anwlo-Saxon race having dominance in Pacific waters, and would continue to do so. The matter would be carefully laid betore the electors. The other toasts were,- “Success to. the Exhibition,” proposed by Mr Gould, Minis ter of Justice, and replied to by Messrs Roberts and Twopeny; “ The Sister Colonies,” proposed by Mr White, M.L.C., and replied to by Sir R. Stout, Mr Langridge and Mr Scott; “ The Visitors,” proposed by Mr Justice Williams and responded to by Lord Carrington. Sit Robert Stout, in the course of his re marks, said there could be no true union till affection grew and each colony had a better knowledge of each other, and of the questions awaiting settlement in each. He warmly defended Victoria for keeping her pledges in regard to the formation of the Federal Council. Mr Langridge in replying said that when he returned to Victoria he would lose no opportunity of telling his people what New Zealand was doing, and would do all in his power to iuduce Victorians to come over to the colony.