Major Atkinson on the Convention.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4669, 21 December 1883, Page 3

Major Atkinson on the Convention.

MiaBOUBNE, December 9.

A large number of gentlemen assembled in the rcslibule of the Parliament House, Melbourne, at the invitation of Mr Ser?i'je to be present at a complimeiit.iryibanquet to the delegates returned iron tbe Austiu]:an Convention at Sydney. Mr Service presided. The other dele£-.te" present were:—Major Atkinson, Messrs Tray Giblin, Downs, B:own, Eerferd. &c. The company included most of the representative men of Victoria,-to the number of 210.

Mr Service propos: i the loast. of the evening, " Our Guests." He said with respect to the Federal Council, it was refreshing to sro that all united to carry it out to a satisfactory coaculsion. They bad laid the foundation.stone of the future edifice. He was sorry that Mr Whitaker, who was regarded as thp Nestor of the party was not here, as none fought more heartily than the New Zealand delegates to form's, united Australasia.

Major Atkinson, who was received with loud cheers, said he wouhT r^fer to a matter of 20 years ago. Shortly after the Tsranaki wpr broke out, the New Zru^nd Government were much in want of men and arm 3 and a vessel to communicate with different parts. No sooner was Victoria aware of this than it placed a steamer at their disposal, gave what arms it was possible to spare, and assisted to enlist men. He could never Forget the gepe/cus treatmentNesv Zealand received at the hands of Victoria. He counted it an honour and a pleasure publicly to express the thanks of New Zealand to Victoria. Those .who look around from Panama saw the French taken possession of every important island of what eventually would be one of the high roads to the colonies. The only attempt she makes to people an island is to use it as a place of deportation of criminals. - He would venture to say that Australasia wculd say unanimously, "This shall not be done." As regards to New Zealand, the question was not a new one; In 1878 Sir George Grey then Premier, brought the neeessily for taking possession of these islands under the notice of the Imperial Govern> ment iri a series of very eloquent despatches.