AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

DELEGATES' BANQUET.

(By Cable.—Press Association ) ■"?} (Copyright.) ■!

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE PRINCE OF WALES. SPEECH EY LORD" SALISBURY. ; EULOGISTIC REFERENCE TO COLONIAL CONTINGENTS.

(deceived 9.10 a.m.)

! LONDON, May 2. ': The Federal delegates were to-day ! entertained at a banquet. The Duke lof Devonshire presided. Amongst those present were the Prince of "ttales, Dukes of York andrriffe f Lord Salisbury, Lord Wolseley, Mr Chamberlain, Mr Half our, Lord Jaa. Ilerfoi-d. the Agents-General, members of the, Houseoorlr Commons formerly resident in Australia, and about six hundred other distinguished guests. The Prince of Wales, re-s-ponding to his health, thanked sympathisers throughout the world in his recent peril. "lie feelingly acknowledged the will of Providence whatever might bel'al. He was glad to meet Iris fellow countrymen from, the colonies, and hoped the mission of the federal delegates would prove satisfactory and successful as regards them and us, and- knit close the ties binding the Motherland and the Great Colonial Empire. The colonies had sent their best material, best bind and manhood to co-opei'ate in maintaining the honour of the flag1 and the integrity of the Empire.. He frequently received letters from the front, showing what magnificent troops the colonials were, how well disciplined, what dash and courage they displayed, and their value in an

■arduous campaign. He hoped the war would soon have a successful end.

Lord Salisbury proposed the health of the Colonial Contingents. He said, they had assisted in the brunt o:E many of the conflicts of the campaign, for no immediate interests ot their own' but in sympathy with their fellow subjects and enthusiasm for the Empire. This magnificent spectacle took us all by surprise, and the outside world was much more surprised. It had fancied the parts of our vast Empire so separated that their practical utility to co-operate mid exercise patriotism were destroyed, but it had discovered its mistake, having- found the seas, did not sever the colonies from the Motherland. The splendid and unexampled service of the contingents in the field, Lord ' .Salisbury said/ had been exceeded by another. They had drawn jihe Empire together,*!, affording a j great moral support to the Governj ment at a time when, apart from the Governments whose conduct "was | everywhere correct,'* other nations, j and especially their gutter press, had, i denounced Britain's action in South i Africa. Britain's equanimity was due to the consciousness'that other and more competent judges, the free peoples of Australia and Canada, heartily approved of the righteous cause she was fighting for. The ac- | tion of the colonies had heightened Britain's character, prestige, anci-< wishes in the" eyes of the world*. Hereafter statesmen would realise the ! importance ■of carrying with them, the sympathy and concurrence of tha colonies. No artificial wei'e needed to anticipate the natural working relations between Britain and her colonies, whose free?, umpul-

ses, developing their own vitality, would enable them to exert influence ■unparalleled in the world. V Mr Chamberlain, proposing- "Our Australian Kinsmen," said Britain., welcomed the Federal .Delegates as representatives of the -\vhole of "Australasia. The negotiations with regard to the Commonwealth Bill had been conducted in a friendly spirit, and sliowed the unanimity which prevailed, firstly, in the federation of 'Australia. Perhaps, also, the larger federation of Australasia was desirable, for adding, strength to Australia, and for the greater unity of the Empire; secondly, until an Imperial Council, representing; all parts of the Empire, were created. It was the duty of the Motherland, as trustee of Imperial interests, to guard the Empire's future/and she was en-' titled to be heard whenever this trust waV. touched.

Mr "Barton, replying-, anticipated with regard to the points at issue in the conduction of the Bill, an absolutely satisfactory settlement, ovok!ing' the gratitude of the Australian communities, which recognised the trusteeship of the Motherland. The Duke of Devonshire read a fable from Lord Roberts, in reply to greetings from'1 the banquet. Lord' Roberts stated that the troops were in splendid condition, and would do their utmost to bring' the campaign to an honourable and satisfactory eonclusio. . „