THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 8117, 17 January 1890, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

NEW SOUTH WALES BANQUET.

(Continued from Fourth Page.)

Mr Roberts, by way of explanation, said he could not allow the remarks made by Mr Langridge to pass without comment. He thought they would bear him out when he said he had not the slightest intention of imputing insincerity to Mr Deakin. What he said was that there was an under-current of feeling here that the professions of Victorians towards federation were not altogether sincere, but it was far from his intention to impute insincerity to Mr Deakin. The reason he had asked Mr Deakin to speak again, was to give him an opportunity of clearing op the impressions he referred to, as Mr Deakin had not doue justice to himself and had only trod on the borders of the subject. He thought it was due to himself—and he hoped Mr Langridge would accept his explanation—to say that he had not the slightest intention of imputing any iusincerity to Mr Deakin. Mr H. J. Scoxr (South Australia) said: I have upon several occasions lately responded on behalf of the sister colonies, and I do so to-night with greater pleasure than I have experienced npo i any previous occasion. The colony of South Australia is oue whose statesmen are always to the forefront of any political issue affectiog the welfare of the people, and they are prepared to enter into the Federal Conference on the 4th February at Melbourne with a desire to promote that spirit of unity which alone makes a great nation. It i now some 27 years since the question of federation was mooted, and it has progressed slowly hut surely. No one can doubt that federation will become an accomplished fact. But it does not necessarily follow that federation will at once bring with it intercolonial Freetrade. There is not yet perfect unanimity amongst the colonies in regard to the question of tariffs. I myself am a Protectionist, believing in the advantages of Protection to native industries, but I also believe in a system of reciprocity whereby the natural products of one colony may be admitted freely into another colony, whose soil and climate will not produce such articles. Time will modify some of the personal feelings of the older generations who ate opposed to a “United Australasia but younger generations are springing up around ns, associations are being formed of native born Australians, who have aspirations of a high order, and whose ideas of the form “ United Australia ” may differ from those generally put forward by the advocates of a "dominion” or a “ federation,” and we dare not blindly shut our eyes to the influence

these associations will have upon the question of federation. It must be remembered that whatever resolutions the Federal Council may p?ss are of no valid force until they have been confirmed by the colonial Parliaments, and a careful reader of the daily newspapers cannot fail to perceive that it is not that generation of Anglo-Saxons who left the dear old country and have developed the resources of these new lands, who will have the moulding, and formiug into concrete shape of the system of Government best fitted for these islands of the Southern Seas; but it is a new generation .of our sons, who will illustrate the theory of that great colonist, William Penn, who in 1680 said “ that colonies are the seeds of nations began and nourished by the cate of wise and populous countries.” I shank you again on behalf of the people of South Australia for the manner you have received the toast.

Mr Vincent Pyke, in proposing “ The Commissioner of New South Wales,” said that after the eloquent speeches they had listened to, he really did not know what he could say different from what had already been said, excepting that he entirely disagreed with the honourable gentleman who represented New South Wales. New Zealand would be to Australia what Britain was to the Continent of Europe, and Australia would be to New Zealand what

the Continent of Europe was to Britain. This colony would never be a part of an Australasian dominion, and the chairman might make h ; s mind sat sfied on that point. We here were selfcontained and independent—in fact the Brita'n of the South, and meant to maintain that position. As to intercolonial free trad;', that was all very well; and in connection with the toast he had to propose it was only right to say that there was no other colony which was so clearly and closely allied to New Zealand as the colony of New South Wales. Victoria had b:eu aggressive; absolutely hostile. Why, she had levied a tax upon our eggs to protect the Victorian hens from the pauper hens of New Zealand.—(Laughter.) Well, cup hens did r.oc seem to care much about that, and we could oat all the eggs ourselves. But New South Walt"--, with the exception of levying a little duly on cheese, and butter, aud flour, and other things that we produced, had been most reciprocal—with those exceptions most reciprocal.—(Laughter and applause) If she would only be a little more reciprocal, he thought the ties between New South Wales aod New Zealand would be intensified. He had listened to the speeches with pleasure, and recognised the desirability of drawing our peoples more closely together. N,ew Zealanders knew very little of New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia, He spoke as a cosmopolitan. Ho had been resident in South Australia, long resident in Victoria, resident in New South Wales, and now, th ink Gcd, he belonged to New Zealand. He k Q ew the Australasian colonies bat, whilst he loved them all, he Joyed New Zealand best.

In this colony we were only too willing and glad to interchange civilities and kindnesses with other colonies, and he was bound to say he fell grateful for the manner in which New (South Wales had responded to the invitations ip connection with onr exhibition. New South Wales was the parent colony, and had once owped Victoria and New Zealand. He hoped there would always be the closest friendship between the colonies, but one of them had put round itself a Chinese wall of protection. The separation of Victoria by its customs tariff, he felt perfectly satisfied, had caused South Australia and New Zealand to go into the sarn Q position, and would cause New South Wales (o do so; and when each colony was bound up in its own little circle, then would come the combination which he desired to see accomplished, for only 'then would Victoria see the folly of the position she htd taken up. He spoke thus having a strong affection for Victoria. We were going to be one great nation.'but not

to subject ourselves to the domination of Australia. Such an experiment had been tried bj us in connection with our provincial affairs; for we had committed all those interests to Welington, and were very sorry for it now. WhcUvex arrangements were ms.de with the other colonies. New Zealand would preserye its local autonomy at ail risks, end there was no reason why we should not do so. As to the toast, he might say he had not had the pleasure of Mr Meyer's friendship long, but he had learned to respect aiff to esteem him. Mr Meyer hud brought an exhibition which was beyond parallel, aiff took up one-fourth of the whole building; aid for geniality, kindness, and hospitality, New South Wales could not have seffspted better lommissioner. Mr Meyer was a credit to the tolony that sent him, a credit to the colony tjja\ bred him, and a credit to himself.—(Applause.) He had much pleasure in proposing the health of Mr Oscar Meyer, the commissioner for New South Wales. The toast having been duly honoured, Mr Oscar Meyer, in responding, thanked Mr Fyke foy the manner in which he had proposed the toast, aud ihe assembly ior the hearty way 1 iu which the had received it.' But the honour ‘ he would say, was not due to him ; it was due to ! the Government who hsd" sent him here; —(applause)—and who provided him with the i means to arrange the courtiu such a style. He I would say that if the Hew Zealand exhibits —our manufaoturep and ou: minerals—had been arranged to advantage and in the way he had .set the things entrusted to him, our show would be just as gooff as that of ffew South Wales. Mr ffustioa Williams (aid that the toast he had to propose' was lha: of “ The Visitors.” CJitjzens pf Dunedin were proud and gratified to have so many distinguished strangers come amongst them. 4-s those present' were, if he might use tffo expression, sitting under the hospitable roof treo of the mother colony, he might be permitted to extend a word of welcome first to bis Excellency the Governor and the representatives of that colony who were present. It would be remembered that fir the Jopg past the relations of the mother colony and New Zealand were oi the closest kind. It was from New South Wales that Samuel jaarsdap, the first missionary, came; and it wjih dpe to fche enterprise of Sydney merchants tffat Jffew Ze?dap3 was discovered in a commercial sense. Soppe years ggo he was introduced to one Qf these enterprising traders who had coma here and made a fortune—the only person in the country at ope time to wear a tall hat, aud ot whom t was said that he would as souq

knock a man down as look at him. He (the speaker) need not say that he referred to the late TjSr John Jones. They had also among them that evening £ gentleman of high position in the person of tffe Admiral commanding in these seas. And there was another distinguished person present, whose name be would mention—if he might be permitted to make a “ball”—for the purpose of omitting it,

because the people of Dunedin hardly consider him as a visitor, but rather as their fellow -citisen. He (the speaker) referred to bis Expeffepey the Governor of New Zealand. Those present who.qld also extend a hearty welcome to the representatives pf and South Australia who were present, sjjd to all those, strangers who had done os the honour com-, ing amongst us. It would be our duty as r well aa onr pleasure to make their stay; agreeable ; wo would try to give therm “a high old time.” It was somewhat unfortnnate that owing apparently to some mis-, nnderstanding one part of the arrangements for our .visors’ pomfort, had gone, adrift during the pksfc week or tyro; hut he understood that the Exhibitidh had given instructions .to Mr Jonbert; 'was -a man cf vast, resources, to haye that jpatteif'set HghVfcnd jhe (the speaker) had no doubt that in a few .days

the weather— (laughter)— would mend. There was one piece of advice he must give to the visitors, and that was this: they must not suppose that because they bad come to Dunedin, and perhaps gone to the lakes or the sounds, that they had therefore “ done ” Now Zealand—he did not say this for the purpose of depreciating Otago, but Otago was not all New Zealand—or they would fall into the same mistake as that gentleman who wrote such charming romances, Mr Fronde—(applause)—who had spent a few hours in Auckland and then written a book about New Zealand. The charm of this country was its infinite variety; and he trusted that as many visitors as could majte it convenient would stay a while in both extremes—in Invercargill, where they might rely on a bracing climate, and not avoiding the lonian langnorousness of Auckland, which tempted the Native to lie on his back and scheme. He hoped they would do this, and that this exhibition would be the first of a series of opportunities for bringing together visitors from other countries. Ue would say nothing whatever upon the subject of politics. Those present would see this: that whatever political relationships might exist, it was essential that there should be the most thorough harmony and affection between all the different parts of the empire. They should remember that the unforgiveable sin among English speaking men was whether for party purposes or to gratify spleen, or for benefit—to write or say anything to cause irritation between one branch of the English speaking race and another.—(Applause.) Before all, they were brothers. To each was due from the other, not contempt or arrogance, or selfassertion, but goodwill, patience, and forbearance. He nad the honour to couple with the toast the name of his Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, a gentleman who had justly earned the esteem and confidence of the people of that colony, and also the esteem and respect of all colonists here, because, while faithfully representing Imperial interests, he had at the same time extended kindly words of legitimate sympathy to the aims of Australia.— (Applause.) Lord Carrington : It is not as a mere matter of form, but with all respect and with all friendliness, that we, the visitors, thank bis Honor Mr Justice Williams for his kind words and the distinguished company present for the kind way in which they have received the toast of our healths.—(Applause.) We wish this glorious country every possible prosperity; we wish your exhibition every success. We are all enjoying ourselves immensely, and we are very grate! u I for your hospitality and for your kindness.—(Applause.) Mr Joubert, in proposing the toast of “ The Press,” said: Every man who gets on his legs at a banquet to propose a tcist very naturally feels that he has been entrusted with the toast of the evening. That which has b:eu placed in my hands, though it be one of the last on the Us', I must claim is not one of (he least in importance; I therefore claim for it a warm and hearty reception. I beg to p-opose “The Press.” With a'l due loya’ty you have honoured the powers that rule over us, lu oor heart of hearts we cherish and love the Queen. We welcome the toast of the Government; the Parliaments, be they lords or commoners. We worship God; bat, gentlemen, we eU stand in dread of the devil! In this instance I mean that species of devil who in the dark hours of night forges the bolts which at dawn of day fla-h across the world and sow the seeds of peace, war, or rebellion that mould and direct public opinion for good or for evil. The press is not merely a power in political masters, it is an cducitional power of the greatest magnitude. From the tanks of pressmen have risen some of the mosu eminent men of the age—thinkers, writers, poets, explorer?, politicians, and sc : enlists. The pres*, gentlemen, b?s been the cradle, the school for all that is now powerful and great. We have every reason to thank most gratefully the “black angels ” for wbal they have done for us. A great share of the success of the exhibition hj due to (he united and incessant support they have given us. It is to their able and flattering reports (bat have gone abroad that we owe the presence of the distinguished visitors who grace this barquel to-night. The publicly given to the exbih'l.'on will do an incalculable amount of good for New Zealand. Gentlemen, I beg you to join with me and diink “ The Press.”

The Hon, Mr Ballance, in reply, referred to the unanimity shown by the colonial press in supporting the exhib : tion, and said that Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin had been at one with regard to the great project, and had shown a true federal spirit.—(Applause.) Respecting federation, to hoped that what had been said on thatsubjec.that night would be very carefully weighed.— (Hear, hear.) His own impression on the matter was tjiat what was most desired was the federation of the eippire, that larger federation of all members of the empire, and not any one portion of it.—(Applause.) He thought that was the opinion of the greatmajorityot'.hepeop'e of the colony.—(He ir, hear.) He went on to refer to the influence exrrc ; sed by the press in respect of ■he exhibition, and remarked that the iuitiation of this work was due to a distinguished member of the press resident io Dunedin—Mr Twopeny—who, he be’ieved, did more in the early stages of the exhibition to place it on a permanent Ijas's than did anyone else.—(Applause.) Mr Nicholes (Sydney) also responded. His Excellence : Late as is the hour, and long as has been the toast list, I cannot allow you to separate without drinking one more toast, and that is the health of the Chairman—(applause)—who bis presided over us so ably, and who has so well administered the hoapitolty of New South Wales.—(Applause.) The Chaihsian : Your Excellency, my lordI*, 1 *, aijd gentlemen,—l thank yon most heart !, y for the kind and cqrdial manner in which you have drqnk my health. I am or’y nrry that in occupying this portion to-night I have not bad to give way to the presence of my venerable chief, Sir Henry Parkes—(applause)—but, unfortunately, the weight of years and the heavy duties of oflice have kept him close tied to the Colonial Srcrctaiy’s office in Sydney. Now, I trust my friend Sir Robert Stout will pardon me for be : ng so unfair as to say the last word—(L ugffl :r)— but I would remind St Robert Stout—whose speech, I am sure, has been listenc 1 to with pleasure as one of the ablest deliverances on the subject, with all bis literary genius and probably love of art—that the groundwork of pH intercourse must, in the first piece, be commercial intercourse between different countries, and that (he only way to produce that commercial intercourse is in the manner to wh ; ch we have referred—intercolonial frestrade. Then when art increases, leading on to further intercourse and further

intercourse st'll, the larger amenities of life, (he spread of high literature and'that sooisl loving intercourse to which ’he has referred will be a natural fact fn the "future of (Applause.) I thank you bn bchajf of myeelf aod my colleagues, who equally administer the hospitality of X-Jew South Wales, for the way in which you have received the toast end for the many tokens of your cordiality we have received during the last few days.—(Applause.) The assembly then dispersed. ‘ELIJAH. The Exhibition choir and orchestra, with the assistance of competent soloists, performed ‘Elijah’ on Wednesday in the presence of an audience large enough to comfortably fill the hall in all parts. Mendelssohn’s great oratorio was probably never before heard to such advantage in the colony ; and if asked for an opinion as to which of the three oratorios so far produced by the Exhibition performers has received the fullest justice, we should unhesitatingly decide in favor of the one heard last night. jfn coming to this judgment we should be largely influenced by the superior way iu Which the Choruses of ‘ Elijah ’ were suffg. The choir acquitted themselves with credit in ‘The Creation,’but on Wednesday they fairly surpassed all previous efforts. It was evident tHbt the music had been fully rehearsed and closely studied in respect to' even th'e uttermost detail; aid further, the singers seemed to he in betier yoice than when the last oratorio was produced, the result being a Jaright, intelligent, snd effective delivery of the highly-colored phoruses peculiar to M.epdplssohn-’s jeyentjeth work. With thP soppapog wj were especially pleased ; and, on the ptho' hand, if there was a weakness in any pari of the chorus singing, it was that the bosses were hardly strong enough. This, howeve*, was only ooeasfonally noticed in those passages where their music was particularly low jet, and the defect, if it deserves to bo called by such a name, was not so noticeable as to impair the general effect. Whore the chorus work was so uniformly good, it is hardly necessary to single out particular items, but WO may specially mention the ‘ Bial ’ choruses and that poipmepcing ‘Behold, God the Lord passed by!’ 53 showing the high degree of excellence to which the cloir have attained in » class of music which would be spoiled if delivered with the slightest suspicion of perfunctorincss. The solo singing was on the whole satisfactory. Miss Brftow, a lady now belonging to Melbourne, but who previously had gained a nam» in the English provinces, was entrusts! with the soprano work and sang she music with ease and confidence. We think that one of her best effort! was heard when sustaining the Mdow’s part in the dialogue with Elijahbut all through Miss Bristow’s singing wa satisfactory. Miss Frederica Mitph.Gll.Bag the alto solo part with general acceptance and gained • an enthusiastic reception, wiich yas undoubtedly deserved, for her inerpre-ation of ‘ O rest'lb 'the Lord.’ Mi Pusdell (of Cjitiatchurch)’ was entrusted with he tenor solos. He ‘ is a good reader, ffd has a strong flexible voice that hj thoroghly under control. On , the whole the antence. were pleased with 1 a satisfactory and conscientious of the music

falling to the part. Of the soloists, however, Mr Prouse decidedly earned the first honors of the evening. His manly baritone voice is well suited to the E»art; and, so far as Dunedin is concerned, fis Elijah \vas quite a creation, the chiei characteristic of which was the fervent feeling that pervaded the whole interpretation, What, for example, could lave been more effective than his singing of ‘ Lord God of Abraham' or the splendid dramatic force with which he gave ‘ls not His Word V The audience singled out the singing of this last-mentioned aria for special approbation, and with justice, the singer being compelled to rise twice by way of acknowledgment before the listeners would suffer the concert to proceed. ‘lt is enough’ was also capitally sung; and indeed no fault could reasonably be found with any part of Mr Prouse’s solo work, which was gone through from beginning to end without sign of tiring. We hope that visitors to the Exhibition will have another opportunity of hearing this oratorio before the season closes.

The Earl and Countess of Kintore are passengers by the Mararoa.