THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2171, 5 March 1891, Page 4

THE FEDERATION CONVENTION.

Sydney, March 2. The opening of the National Con-| vention took place in the Legislative Assembly building at 11 a.m. After the names of the delegates were installed on the roll -book, Sir Henry Farkes was appointed President, Sir W. 8. Griffiths (Premier of Queens-, land) Vice-President, and F. W. Webb (Clerk of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly) Secretary. Thifr was the only business transacted today, and an adjournment was mad© until to-morrow.

The Federal banquet this evening was a brilliant success. 'lhe hall was magnificently decorated with evergreens and particolored electric lights, and, despite the weather, the galleries were crowded with ladies. ;3ir Henry Parkes occupied the chair, supported on his right by His Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Jersey, and on bis left by Mr J. Munro, Premier of Victoria. The delegates to the Federal Convention, the Cardinal, and the Primate occupied seats at the principal table. Among the New Zealandere present were the Hon. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General; Mr W. Gray, Secretary ot the New Zealand Post Office; "and Mr Witheford, of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. None of the Governors of the sister colonies were present. Prior to the commencement of the banquet Sir Henry received the guests in person. After the toast of " The Queen " had been responded to the whole audience rose en masse and sang tbe national anthem. The Earl oi Jersey responded to the toast of " The Governor." Sir Henry Parkes then proposed "One People, One Destiny." He said: " It seemed strange that when engaged in pffunfion., bur acts should be '* questioned, "bur objects misinterpreted, and our motives traduced. We who see that- t-be time has come for Australia to federate simply say the time has come for union. -Those against us must be promoters of disunion. -Wesay the.time has come when there should be only peace, goodwill, and' agreement between these colonies. That is our contention;. Seeing that we have at this moment four millions of people living in a land fringed by the everlasting sea, a land that has no co-ter-minous neighbor, we say the time has come when the Australian people shall be one people. We say this dne people must make common cause, and inherit oue common destiny, Does this imply a wanton or unnecsspary at setting; up an independent government ? It means nothing,of the sort, but it does mean this: that the great Australian people, increasing day by day, year by year —inereasiog not only in numbers, but in all the power which the members of civilisation know—desire to live as one people, -andi,to rival,: io a friendly way, every power in the constellation known as the British Empire. They wish to be the brightest source of power; and the brightest jewel in the crown of the Empire. The foundation of Federation is laid, and the superstructure must rise, He did not believe a single man in the community was willing to go ou for ever in the present relations of the different colonies to each other. We peek to convey to the outside world that we have resources of wealth, strength, intellect, and enterprise to win distinction among the nations of the earth. We seek a proud place undoubtedly, but it is the proud place of being equals of the best of the British nation, and at the same time preserving our Australian identity." The Bon; Jas. Munro (Victoria), Sir- S. Griffiths (Queensland), tbe Hon. T. Playford (South Australia), the Hon. P. O. Fish (Tasmania), and Captain Russell (New Zealand) responded, wishing Federation all success.

Oaptain Russell said there was great apprehension in Australia as to '• the feeling of the remote portions of Aubt raliai It was absurd to. suppose there was not a truly federal spirit throughout ' New Zealand. They had given a good l example of a desire for Federation by subscribing to the cost of tbe Imperial Federal Squadron. !'l]he duty of tbp Convention now assembled was to frame a constitution that all parts of Australia sooner or or later should be able tp take advantage'of.' It was absurd to say the remoter colonies would not eventually join, the union. It would be their •desire-to meet them. There was a deep feeling uf sympathy in New Zealand towards 'Australia. Captain Russell concluded* by regretting the absence of *ir>George,Grey and fcir H. Atkinson. (The former has not 1 yet arrived, and tbe latter was unable fco be. nresent.) •'• v '» Maicb.3.

The FecWfoa donyentfpn w»s re* sumed at 2.30 this aftetnoon, when tf was decided to meet daily at 10.80 a.m. The' whole afternoon w»b occupied discussing the procedure rules.