THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 8117, 17 January 1890, Page 1

THE EXHIBITION.

NEW SOUTH WALES BANQUET.

A banquet tendered by the Government of New South Wales on the occasion of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition was held iu the Grand Hotel last evening, and was attended by over 100 gentlemen. The chair was occupied by the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales (the Hon. W. M'Hillan, M.L.A.), who was supported on his right by his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, his Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, the Minister of Justice of New Zealand (the Hon. T. W. Hislop, M.H.R.), Bishop Nevill, and the President of the Royal Commission for Victoria (the Hon. G. D. Langridge, M.L.A); and on the left by Rearadmiral Lord Charles Scott, C.8., the Minister of Justice of New South Wales (the Hon. A. J Gould, M.L.A.), the president of the exhibition (Mr John Roberts), Mr Justice Williams, and the Commissioner for South Australia (Mr H. J. Scott). Among the other gentlemen present were the following The Hons, R, H D White aud W. Norton, M.L.C’s, (New South Wales), the Hons. Captain Fraser, W. H. Reynolds, S. E. Shrimski, and G. 51‘Leau! M.L.C’s., the Hons, \V, J, M, Larnach and J Ballauce, Messrs J. M‘Kenzie, W. Barron, J. Allen! W. D. Stewart, J. Mills, M. J. S. Macken-ie V Pyke, aud A. H. Ross, M.H.R’s,, Sir Robert Stout, the Commissioner for New South Wales (Mr Oscar Meyer), the superintendent of the Victorian court (Mr A. Fletcher), the Commissioner of Railways for New South Wales (Mr E. 51. G. Eddy), the Executive Commissioner (Mr R. E. N. Twopeny), the manager of the exhibihition (Mr Jules Joubert), the majority of the exhibition commissioners and a number of leading citizens.

The (Hiring hall was elaborately decorated with more than the usual profusion of bunt,ini', in addition to which there were plentiful wreaths of evergreens, suitable to the season. At the top of the hall, behind the chair, was a bust of her Majesty, bached by a handsome trophy of bayonets, other trophies of a similar character flanking it on either side. Not the least noticeable features of the decorations were the legends Advance Australasia '' iu sky blue and silver, which were displayed on the wails. Trophies of flags, surrounding shields on which were the New South Wales arms, also oecorated the walls. The dining tables were decorated with a profusion of flowers and miniature shrubs, which produced a fine effect The viands were served in Messrs J. and J. Watson’s best style.

The Chairman : Gentlemen, the first toast which I have the honour to propose is one which does not require any superfluous eloquence on my part to commend it to a body of British citizens.—(Hear.) I therefore ask you without further comment to drink the health of the Queen, —(Applause.) The Chairman also proposed the toast of “ The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family.” Lord Carrington, who on rising to propose the health of his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand was received with loud and continued applause, said : Mr Chairman and gentlemen, I rise to propose the health of his Excellency the Governor, and I do so with all the more pie isure as I see his genuine popularity. I congratulate my old friend ou being a Governor popular iu the real sense of the word, in touch and in harmony, trusting in and trusted by the people of the great colony with which it is his privilege and his pride to be so intimately connected.—(Applause.) And in proposing this toast it would be unbecoming in us not to join in every good wish to his gentle lady, with whom I am proud to be able to claim kinsmansbip, the Countess of Onslow—(applaus ')— whose mission iu life it seems to be to bring sympathy and pleasure and sunlight wherever” she goes.— (Applause.) Sir, it is a pleasure to me to be here this evening; it is a revelation. The sight of the Union Jack floating over Government House gives the British traveller a sense of pride and security, especially when, as in my own case, he has been conveyed to these shores in one of the fighting ships commanded by our own admiral, a man who declares his nationality by his name, and who, a member of the greatest of all the Scotch families that quarter the royal arms of England, has fought for his country in different parts of the world. Our commou union, Mr Chairman, is our commou strength, and this cabs to mind the topic which is uppermost in the miuds of most Australians—the federation of the Australasian colonies. It is no part of my duty, sir, to inquire how, or when, or under what conditions this union is to be accomplished, or of its internal advantages. These matters will at the proper time be debated and discussed by the proper constitutional processes, but I think I may fairly say that in New South | Wales the project of intercolonial union is looked upon with general approval. Any divisions of opinion on this subject seem to relate more to matters of stipulation than to the great question of whether the union is in itself desirable. One great reason why I hope for it is that I honestly believe it will strengthen those friendly relations which at present exist and which I hope will always exist, between the colonies and the old country, which is prepared in time of trouble to stand by us to the last, so long as there are eighteenpence left in the Imperial Treasury, or a British bluejacket or redcoat left alive to fight for the English speaking confederation and the Queen. (Applause) It is a glorious thing to think that at this present moment about 4,000,000 of natives of England, Scotland, and Ireland are living out of the three kingdoms in different parts of the world—that is to say, put of every eight persons of the Home population we find one representative not elected by ballot or by any other known method of selection, perhaps perfectly indifferent that they are in a land that has no established church which does not boast of three estates of the realm—lords spiritual, lords temporal, and the faithful; but still quietly and unostentatiously pursuing bis own business; like his native born brethren, jealous of his own national rights and aspirations; loyal to his Queen, devoted' to the honour of the old mother land and to that great English speaking confederation which men call the British Empire.—(Applause). And so I think when we instinctively rise to our feet at the sound of the grand old anthem, composed by Dr John Bull, and we drink to the health of the Queen and to the health of her Majesty’s representative, we are reminded of the liberty under which we live, and we recoguise our common unity of purpose.—(Applause.) We are as far from recognising dictation and despotism as we ate from advocating the irresponsible one man system of Government.— (Applause.) We are not only honouring the illustrious lady who so worthily wears the crown handed down to her from the days of King Alfred, but through her we drink to the common weal of the British people, to law and order, to freedom and justice, to the judges on;the bench, and to Ministers and Parliaments elected by and answerable to the people (applause); through her we drink to our sovereignty over and our friendship with the native princes and the native races of India; we drink to Australasian unity, t o the South African confederation, to the Dominion of Canada to our \V est Indian possessions, and to every lawabiding, self-governing community of haruv pioneers who are to be found under the British flag doing their duty in the cause of liberty in the furthermost portions of the habitable dob.thn P (- P r aUS ft- f- .' vittl . t his firm conviction that I call on this distinguished company to join with bU n W K th 311 respect and heartiness, and with all the honours to the health of her S y nL r ifn eatative 5n New Zealand, his Excellency the Governor.—(Applause.) „„n NCY to the toast* said. Mr M Millan, your Excellency, and gentlemen,—Before I apply myself to the task of returning thanks for the toast you have so heartily drunk I wish to express my sentiments of welcome towards the representatives of New South Wales who are at present our visitors. Let me say that we welcome most heartily the Governor of that colony and its Minister, Mr Meyer (the commissioner), and the exhibitors from New South Wales, who have done so much to nromote the success of the exhibition. And before I have done with these words of welcome allow me to go a step further and say that we most ? me th , e of New Zealand for the first time the admiral in command of the Australian squadron-an admiral who, apart from the great qualifications he brings with him, is hkely to be the first under whose flag will sail a fleet that will be exclusively Australianland two ShS II r ll u e peculiarly NewZealand’s. (Applause.) It has been my privilege to visit wnM al K e f r'fi*!?? 8 v ll the other side of the world, but I find in those held in Australia you have discovered an additional channel for promotmg peace and goodwill among nations. Yon have established this idea of treating your court ot onr exhibition as an imperium in impeno , and insisting on the charming fiction that you are thereby entitled to treat ns, who are really your hosts, for !the nonce vonr guests.—(Applause.) You have rightly said'that there is a good demand with rising prices for «n our produce. The world is o. ;( f P o re crying out tq .be F.npnhca with New ZeMand goods Wool, mn .too flax, and everything we produce is .cllingnt, c-nod pnef-s, and m that constant see-saw race between supply and demand for the moment

it appears that demand has outstripped supply. Oar reviving prosperity might have been still greater had we had a freer access to the markets of Australia. But the great flood of Protection has swept over in that land—it has swept over South Australia and Queensland —aud risen to tho mountain tops in Victoria, threatening to engnlph even New South Wales. It is true ■we have within tho last few weeks been honoured by the visit of a little dove from Victoria, beating an olive branch in his bill.— (Laughter.) But he did not promise us, as did Koah’s dove, that we should discharge tho contents of our argosies without money and without price in the land of the olive tree, but he asked substantial concessions of the control which we now retain over our own affairs and our own government. How far you may be disposed to listen to these proposals it is not for me to predict, but for your statesmen to advise, and for yourselves to determine at tho ballot boxes. Mr Deakin graphically described the commanding position which New Zealand holds in the control of tho Pacific and the islands with which it is studded, and I think his dazzling eloquence must have produced in the minds of simple New Zealanders something of the intoxication which the firewater of civilisation produced on the Indians of North America—(laughter)— for this Government forthwith equipped the Hinemoa. For tho information of the visitors from New South Wales, I may oicntiou that I do not refer to the romantic maiden of that name. Bat, the Stella being laid up, the Hinemoa constituted the navy of New Zealand.— (Laughter aud applause.) Wo equipped New Zealand’s navy with stores, some wooden houses, a surveyor-general, a brand new Union Jack, a Crown prosecutor, aud all the paraphernalia necessary for an expedition of conquest and annexation. But, unfortunately, the orders given to Captain Fairchild to proceed to the Macquaries were not sealed orders, and somehow or other they came into possession of, I suppose, some telegraph boy,who must have communicated them to tho individual known as the Press Association, who thereupon performed tho operation known as putting it on the exchanges, and in course of a

short time came a polite message from the Governor of Tasmania, pointing out that Her Majesty hid some years ago appointed him to be Governor and Commaader-in-Chiof over the Macquaries—(laughter)—and dashed to the ground the hopes I had entertained of being the proud possessor of those titles. It is terrible to imagine the nature of the interview which must subsequently have taken place between Sir R. Hamilton and Sir Harry Atkinson, whom may God long preserve in health and strengt.il—(hear, hear)—to serve tho Queen in the colony of New Zealand. I think that allows us that we must take our glory in smaller glasses, and in our dealings with our sister colonies, in the words of St. Paul, a little mare, to look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others; and here we may do worse than look at the example which New South Wales shows us. I think the feeling which is uppermost in our minds just now is one of gratitude for the .sisterly manner in which the veteran and illustrious statesman who now holds the first place in the councils of your Excellency for the sisterly manner in which he has extended to us the invitation to join in the formation of a great Australasian nation. To us who are 1200 miles away, separated by a stormy sea, and inhabiting a country so different from your own in its climate, the rigours of our hyperborean summer, which you have enjoyed since your arrival —(laughter and applause)—must have convinced you we will produce a people less like the bright, vivacious, wine drinking nations of South Europe, and more nearly resembling our hardy, weather beaten, whisky-loving brethren in Antipodean Scotland,—(Laughterand applause.) Entertaining as we do this feeling, it would have been worse than ingratitude had we declined to join the conference which will shortly meet in Melbourne to consider and discuss this great and Smportsat question in all its bearings; and •whether the outcome of that conference is a federation which shall be Australasian or Australian only, we shall look with benevolent interest on the efforts for the formation of a great Anglo-Saxon nation in the Pacific, which cannot fail to be world-wide in the influence which it will have on the future of the human race. Wo nave already co-operated with you .in one question where the sea that in other matters forms a barrier in this becomes a high road and a link I mean the matter of naval defence. And we are not without hope that to that may be added some agreement for the promotion of intercolonial trade. lam one of those who look with great hope on this movement, as tending to set men thinking on the questions of union and consolidation, and that it may lead to some plan of co-operation for defence and self-pre-servation among all the countries under the English crown; perhaps among the countries speaking the English tongue.—(Hear, hear.) I do not use the words Imperial federation advisedly, because I hold that like other terms, such as local option, that have been coined by ■clever _ people to cover under one umbrella the timid, the rail-sitters, and the enthusiasts, which can only have a real sneaning when embodied in a project of legislation. Some mean by it a customs union, some a joint, and several guarantee of debt, while ■most look to some Parliament in which all parts shall be represented. These things are in the dim future, and are not in sight yet; but I think the present Governors of New South Wale?, Victoria, South Australia, and Hew Zealand have it in their power to place a stepping-stone towards the goal. Lord Carrington, when he returns—as also at a later date Lord Kintore, Lord Hopetoun. and myself—will take again our seats in the Imperial Parliament without the necessity of a perhaps fruitless wooing of a fickle constituency, and we shall be entitled to speak with that authority which long residence among you confers, to proclaim from the best platform which England can provide within the ■walls of the Imperial Parliament our belief in the boundless nature of your resources, tiro great future which you have before you, and the comfortable and happy homes which you can provide for those who show themselves fit to takeadvantage of them.—(Prolonged applause.) Mr Eddy, general commissioner for railways in .New South Wales, said that the toast he had the honour to propose—" The Navy,” coupled with the name of the admiral—was one he was sure that did not require many words from him to commend it to the acceptance of those present.—(Applause.) Few among them had not as boys read with pride of the deeds that had been done by our sailors in tho past, and of the renown the navy of England had gained in all parts of the habitable globe. That supremacy England had maintained, but in the last few years other nations had grown jealous of her power and influence, and had made great efforts to rival England on the seas. The old country had, however, voted large sums of money to place and keep her fleet in the foreground, and make it impossible for any combination to drive her off the sea?. Recently there had been a combination between the colonies and the old country for the purposes of defence, and the arrangements would be such that an ■enemy sending ships to the Australasian colonies would find herself faced by a powerful force. Australasia was so far removed from the great ■centres, that we need not care go much about having an enormous land force. It was necessary for the navy to be strong, and to have a ■small but efficient land force, and the means of moving it about so perfect that it could do what numbers were necessary for in the old countries. In Australia there had been a great block in the way of a national movement in that direction—the break in the gauge; but there was reason to hope that that block would be removed, and that there would in time be a system of national -defence in that continent. He thought that we had reason to congratulate ourselves on the fact that England had out of her long list of great naval men selected to command the fleet in these waters a man who had seen actual service almost from the day he entered the navy, having been in the Baltic in 185-1, and holding the China and Turkish medals. He (the spa&ker) might also remind hi-: hearer? that Admiral Scott had married a daughter of Australia, and that on his mother’s aids he was directly descended from Visocnnt Sydney, after whom the chief city of New South Wales was named. He (Mr Eddy) was sure those pre-eno would drink with enthnsis-m 'be toast of “The Navy,” coupled with the name of Admiral Scott.— (Applause.)

Lord _ Charles Scott in responding to the toast said: Mr Chairman, your Excellencies,and gentlemen,—ln rising to return thanks for the very cordial way in which this toast has been received, I feel that it has been so received not -only to give mo a hearty welcome to these shores, but as a mark of sympathy and affection for that ■ubiquitous fleet which is protecting the common interests of cur trade in all parts of the world. <Applauf<;,) Her Majesty’s fleet has no light work to undertake—it has to be ready for all ■emergeßcies. Thera is an old proverb, if you wish peace you must ta prepared for war. The strength of our fleet is a menace to no foreign country, but is the best possible insurance we can have that our trade and property which exists in all parts of the world will not be attacked by tho?? who may be jealous of our commercial prosperity. The fleet in these ■waters will somi be increased in number by some ■ships, as Mr Ed'iy has told you, of the newest ■type; and it will be my pleasant duty, in accordance with the agreement made when •these ships were ordered to be built, to have ■two ships of ths squadron under my command •stationed constantly in New Zealand waters.— ■(Applause.) I think you all will agree with me, after seeing the splendid exhibits in the neighbouring grounds, that there, is very much to excite the envy and perhaps the cupidity •of other countrire; hut if the people of •these countries know that there is a fleet in ■these waters sufficient to deter any attack on ■the portions of oar country distant from our ■common centre, then they roust restrain their ■cupidity, and be content only to envy the energy ■and determination of our race, which, putting ■aside all ancient traditions of animosity, have ‘■been the means of the nationalities inhabiting •the British Isles uniting in sending out pioneers ■of civilisation and progress to all parts of the ■world. Gentlemen, on behalf of the Navy I beg to thank yon most cordially for the gene-

rous manner in which the toast proposed by Mr Eddy has been received, and to assure you that the most pleasant duty that falls to the fleet is that of protecting our common trade in all parts of the Queen’s dominions. The performance of this duty is made the more pleasant to us here by the cordial sympathy we receive from her Majesty’s representatives—the Governors of the colonies in Australia and New Zealand—and the hearty welcome and hospitable reception we get from all classes in whatever colony it may be our good fortune to be.—(Applause.) The Chaibman, in proposing the next toast, said: In proposing the toast of “ The Ministry and Parliament of New Zealand,” —especially when that toast is proposed by a citizen of another colony—it will be very clear to you that such a toast can have no party significance whatever. At the same time it is only right that on an occasion like this we should do honour to that great institution which in all British communities—whether it has been an absolute success or a partial failure—has been the most wonderful piece of machinery devised by the wit oi man to establish the energies and preserve the liberties of a free people. There is one difficulty that meets mo on the threshold of my speech. Even supposing I were inclined to go into details, I cannot help feeling the tremendous ignorance of the citizens of one colony regarding the political doings of the citizens of another. I want to know to-night, can this isolation exist in the future ? Can it exist without a real and great danger ? Of course you are here to-uighc as the guests, and myself and my hon. colleague, Mr Gould, are the hosts of this pleasant and festive evening; and it would ill become me —when I have appeared in your midst to wonder at the marvellous exhibition you have created, and to hold forth the hand of friendship from New South Wales—to introduce any discordant element or matter of any kind j of dispute. An honourable gentlemen for ] another colony addressed you a short time ago. I have not the honour of his personal acquaintance, bat I believe he is one of the ablest men Victoria has yet produced—for he is, I believe, a native of that colony. I only refer to his speech to a certain extent to tell you what I do not intend to do. I read his speech most carefully, and I found that one-third of it consisted of special pleading on behalf nf the Federal Council. I found also that with a marvellous inconsistency, and in the same breath, he told you, after asking you to join that council, that the time must come when it must give way to a large machinery of a constitutional government of the whole dominion of Australasia. Then he referred to another debateable question—that when intercolonial free trade was created among these colonies it would mean a commercial defence against the whole of the world, including the “ tight little island’’ from which most of us come. 1 mention the fact, because in dealing with the. question I intend to deal with it in the broadest possible manner, and shall not introduce any matter of a debateable character. I should like those who are here, and those whom my views will reach through the press, to carefully consider and understand tho position they occupy in the midst of the civilised world at the present day. What has been the history of the past since we have received constitutional government ? It has been a history of pioneer work—subduing the wilderness and the desert, and bringing them under the hand of man. It is better for us that we have—each individual colony—done our own work and erected our own superstructure of civilisation. But this work is now done, and those who have been carefully examining the history of the last 10 years must feel that there have been grave events in connection with ourselves which, whether we like it or not, are bringing us into a vast federalis itiou. We think that in our wonderful system of liberty we ran direct the fates of our p=opic as we like—put a wall round ourselves and say, “We shall govern ourselves; we care not for any foreigner,”—but I toll you, gentlemen, that there are forces going on about you which will inevitably bring you into the full view of the civilised world all over the globe. You come from a high civilisation in England, and that was the strong point of your colonisation. This civilisation is following you hand and foot. The very enterprise of these colonies and tho wealth you have attainen have made you objects of jealousy, suspicion, and interest to all the nations of the earth. What has been your political foundation? Although many years ago you obtained responsible government (I ho not know exactly when you obtained it) you were tied and bound by strong cords to Downing street. These cords by the laiase: faire of England have been snapped one by one, so that there is now a very simple thread that binds you to the mother country. The Agents-goneral were looked upon as mere servants 10 years ago; now before the whole of Europe they assume an ambassadorial position. Your Premier sends his orcors, not through the Governor of the colony or the Secretary of State, bub through the Agent-general; and—to the credit of the English Government and the Secretary of State fur the Colonies be it said—the Agents-general have the entree to wherever they wish. The whole position is now altered. It was all very well to talk of isolation when we were small municipal communities. But now, with four millions of people throughout the colonies; wita an amount of communication with the other world which is almo-t phenomenal, this state of isolation can no longer continue, and we must take our place amongst the nations of the world. I want to put my position clearly before yen to-u.ght. If there is anyone who has a right to go into mother colony and speak tohii fellow subjects cn the great question of Australasian unity, it is a citizen or a member of the Government of Freetrade New South \V ales. (Applause.) The mother country has hatched her chicks and they have all gone astray. But with a noble maternal pride, and possibly with the prescience imagining that they would ultimately return, she has allowed them to go their way, and has been too good to retaliate upon them in any instance. What is federation ? I would give you nothing for federation unless it be a blending of mutual interest and mutual patriotism, and the intercourse of great communities with one another. You may have a federation of nations for a matter of defence, but when you come to deal with a congeries of States speaking the same language from the same source, no federation of nations will be of any real value. We want a union to bind the people of the different colonies. My attitude to this question to-night is simply this, I come here as a propagandist of the faith of federal union. I understand thoroughly well that the question has not yet thoroughly entered into the arc-na of political politics in New Zealand. Ten years ago this matter in New South Wales was all in the clouds. It might have been the subject of a debate in a debating clubs, or it might have been talked about when the colonies were joined by rail at Albury, and the inhabitants of that village j thought they would become the federalcity of the [ colony. ' But we have now come to that position when we feel that the longer this subject is dvh-yed the larger will be the difficulties that will attend it. And you are one step behind us in consideration of the subject; and I am sure that in sneaking to my fellow subjects who lovediscus“ion. and to a large number of Scotchmen who love debate, you will nob blame me if I ask you to begin this process of education on this great question which will become all absorbing, I do not wish you to treat it after the manner in which your Ministers say—what is the I expression ?— ** Keep it steadily in view ” (laughter), which means that unless you are on the edge of an adverse vote you will never take it into consideration again. I want you to begin to discuss the question. I have not been here sufficiently long to see the New Zealand view of it, but I have heard enough to convince me that one New Zealand view of the question is of a partial and selfish kind. Is it to be weighed in the scale against the enormous advantages of an Australian union in the future? Let us look at seme of the tendencies which have been bringing us together of late years. We have had instituted instead of the old service by old vessels of eight knots an hour, the best service in the world; and to the credit of this colony alone you have had raised in your midst with a management almost perfect, one of the most magnificent steam services on the face of th.; earthy In Australia the last development towards Federal union has been the joining of the four great capitals by railway communication ; and the difference it has made in the feelings and communities of the different colonies that have received this inter-communi-cation is such that if we once had this wretched bar of tariffs removed there would be scarcely anyfcning to do ffj the matter of perfecting Federation.—(Applause.) The union itself is complete, in fact. Go to the different colonies of Australia, and come to New Zealand find men who have family connections In ali the other colonies of the group. It might be possible that you might have to give up some of your islanders—that one of the first measures cf legislation would be the forbidding anyone from marrying any wife from his own take wives from New South Wales, there would be e, combination of .the whicky-drinkiog Scotchmen with the Italian-like people cf the southern dominion. It has been ,tp me a matter of very curious thought;—this tendency to isolation m the different colonies. When you consider that all the natural barriers have been removed : ■ that by the cable, by steamers, and by railways, : we have been breaking down artificial and natural barriers, does it not seem a shame that, with tne same language and faith, we should erect artificial barriers between man and man ? is it that brings about the wars between different countries ? Their antagonistic interest ; u the one thing we are engaged in—the wealth of the world. There io one instance of the absurdity to which these differences have reached in one : colony. I recollect, in connection with the Interchange between Victoria and New South Wales, a bridge was built across the Murray, each colony paying half the .cost, and after the bndge was put up the customs Souse officer steps in to keep them out. Coming nearer j home to New Zealand, I believe that there are ■ many dangers of political and social character ■ which will assail you in the future if you do not umte with the colonies of Australia. I take it for granted that the same national feeling that now exists amongst the native born of Australia exists also amongst the native bom of New Zealand. We do believe that we shall be

a groat Australasian nation. And will there not be a great difference in united Australasia regarding tho ties that are to bind us in the future to the mother country. God forbid that the day should ever come that sees the cord that binds us to the mother country snapped asunder, (Loud applause.) The growth of our political life brought about a state of affairs never known in the history of the world, but the ties which bind us to the mother country are such as no man can possibly sever. Then there is the question of dominating the Paoifio. I do not see how you can ever take on yonrselves the onus of saying that yon, and you alone, must dominate the islands of the Pacific. It seems to me that in any question of this sort we should go before the nations better as united Australasia than separated into parties. Then, again, what is it that is at present cansing all the confusion in Europe? It is the same which requires the machinery of the diplomatists, and that keeps alive the standing armies of Europe to preserve her peace. But who is going to break that peace if Englishspeaking people put down their feet and say there shall be no war on the face of the earth ? (Applause.) England will stretch out one hand to America, and another to us, and two hands will proudly be accepted to the tune of “ Auld Lang Syne. Now, I would like to look at the matter as far as it affects the selfish interests of New Zealand. It is clear that intercolonial free trade must mean a uniform tariff. I am not going to discuss what that is, but it is very clear that if there is a tariff of a hostile nature agaiust the world it would act most injuriously against New Zealand as isolated from Australia. I cauuot conceive when I see a country like this, with alongside of it a large continent, say, from tho Gulf of Carpentaria to Tasmania, with all the tropical and temperate productions of the world, which unites in itself every possible production, vegetable and mineral, that the world can produce, which would be an enormous market for your goods and a field from which you could draw any amount of products, how, you could be benefited by keeping without the fiscal arrangements of this continent. I know it is supposed that the interests of the North Island are not the same as those of the South, bub does not that give me a fair argument in favour of an Australasian union. Your North Island has different conditions, but would anyone be mad enough to say that because those conditions were different the North Island should be separated from the South ? I want to point out that there is a larger, and a higher, and a nobler aim than that of separate interests. Look at New South Wales. If there is one colony of tho whole of Australasia that nould afford to become independent of all the other colonies, it is Now South Wales. We have lying alongside; the coal and iron which have oi:uio tho wealth of England. Wo have every climate—irotn that; suited to sugar-growing to that suited ior potatoes—and every mineral in the known world. But we say, 'although we might stand out or any such union as this with much greater material benefit to ourselves, that we oo not want to be a municipality for ever. We believe that by becoming united to each other we shall be greater on the face of the civilised world than by remainiug disintegrated bodies. Vv hat would be the effect of isolation on our national character? What is our national character? It is made up of almost two opposites—constitutional calmness allied with daring enterprise; and this has been clue to Great Britain, who has sent her sons out to every point of the world; and it is the way in which they have shown this enterprise which has mane these great colonies of the world. Are we going to revert to another policy to separate ourselves from one another, or, following cut the instructions of our race, are we going to make this the great world of the Southern Hemisphere, where our ships shall go to and fro? We are simply discussing this great question, and I believe that wo shall go into it carefully, as with every other part of our political and national life—wo should go tentatively about it, and step by step. The question should be discussed in such a manner that we should see all the advantages and disadvantages. I have great hopes that this will become one of the groat factors in the future civilisation of the world; and if we set aside all selfish feelings there will be a greater Britain than ever there was before, aud the cause of international federation will triumph in the end.—(Prolonged applause.) The toast having been drunk, The Hon. T. Hislop said: Mr Chairman, your Excellencies, and gentlemen, before I reply to the toast 1 should like to apologise for the absence of other members of the Ministry from this banquet, aud I especially desire to exptess my regret that the Hon. the Premier should not be able to take this place instead of myself. The Government of New Zealand and New Zealand itself is under a deep obligation to the Government of New South Wales for the handsome way in which it has helped towards the success of the exhibition in Dunedin. The manner in which they have fitted up their court, and the way iu which they have seut over representatives is certainly conducive to the reception of their message, delivered to-night by the chairman in the most friendly spirit possible. It is true, as has been stated by the chairman, that the question of federation in a practical form has scarcely been considered by the Legislature of New Zealand, but it is not correct to state that it has not been before the Legislature of the colony with a view to the possibilities of the ease. Perhaps the reason wo treat it iu so cool a manner as we do, instead of in the enthusistic way our visitors have dealt with it, is that we are nob recent converts on the question of federation, but have always kept it steadily in view—(laughter and applause)—as one of the aims wc have to achieve either now or in the long future. The possibility is that we shall be able to approach the question when the time arrives for the discussion of it, in as reasonable and as instructed a manner as the other colonies of the group. I think it has always been kept iu view by the Legislature of this colony, and at all events by its inhabitants, that there are many advantages which will accrue from federation. We are quite alive to the fact that federated colonies would be a more potent factor in the discussion of the great questions that are likely to be relegated to these colonies of the South, and are perfectly aware that federated our voice would be more potent in the discussion of the vast questions relating to the colonisation of the islands of the Pacific, of the labour question, and the question as to whether other couutries should be allowed to take possession of various islands. We have always been alive to the fact which has been taught iu history—that it depends greatly upon the original settlers of a country whether that country shall become a great civilised nation such as the United States of America, or such disintegrated colonies as comprise South America, aud we have always raised our voice whenever the matter has come up for discussion in favour of tho Anglo-Saxons having possession of the islands of the South Pacific. Still, there can be no doubt which would have the greater potency on such subjects—the voice of various separate colonies, or the voice of the colonies when federated. There are also other questions connected with federation—questions which have been referred to by Mr Deakin in his speech in this hall some time ago, aud which I need nob refer to at the present time. Wo are also perfectly aware that as a matter of sentiment it is much better for citizens that they should belong to a nation possessing great power than that they should belong to a small and weak colony, possessing little influence in the world’s actions; but we have been reared in a colony where our progenitors have instilled into us a love of liberty. We have been allowed to decide for ourselves the various questions which have to do with our social and political well-being, and our friends on the other side must hot become impatient and consider us ungracious if we do not at once accept their suit which they have so kindly presented to us; and if instead of at once falling into their arms we critically consider what is proposed, and ask what we shall lose. I unfortunately am not in a poslion to be able to state this evening what my own opinions are with regard to this question. We have not been able to discuss all the phases of the question, but in response to requests from other colonies we have done all the chairman ask? us this evening to do; we have critically coupidered the matter, aud have looked upon it as one which is not to be decided tea .hastily. Well, we have determined to send to the conference which is to be held in Hobart two representatives for the purpose of hearing the proposals placed before that conference, and we can promise that whatever may be placed before the conference shall be very carefully considered, and that every argument which is in favour of the great movement which has been proposed by these gentlemen from the other side shall be carefully and properly placed before the colony of New Zealand. No doubt we shall have to weigh in our own minds whether those influences which have been referred to by the chairman will be aided or impeded by political union, because after all we must recognise that those influences are such as are not barred even by political disintegration; they are influences which are going abroad in the world, and which are rather moral than political, and it is possible, as I have indicated, that those influences, instead dj being strengthened will rather be weakened by the premature amalgamation of the colonies when such amalgamation may not be desiredj or its necessity recognised by any portion of the colonies. Gentlemen, I do not intend to delay you any further by speaking to this question, I will merely thank you for the way in which you have responded to the toast, and I will suppose that in responding to it you mean a great deal more to be inferred iu regard to the present Ministry than has been stated by the proposer of the toast.—(Applause.) The Hon. J. Gould said that he was glad of the opportunity, bn behalf of his colleague and himself, as representing the New’South Wales Ministry, of congratulating the people here on the success of the exhibition. True, it was not of such great extent as those exhibitions that 1 had been held ip Sydney and Melbourne; but; those cities had large populations upon which i they could rely for support in carrying out their. exhibitions, and also populations of large extent ; in the adjoining colonies, and that help that could be afforded by powerful Governments whenever it was determined to promote any

special objects of the kind. The success of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition depended upon self-help. It had been carried without calling for assistance from the Government at every turn, and it spoke very highly for the energy, perseverance, and determination of the people of New Zealand, and more especially of the people belonging to the district of Otago. In no measured degree the success of tho enterprise was due to the force of character and energy brought to bear upon it by the president, Mr John Roberts—(applause),— and also to the very able assistance rendered by his coadjutor, Mr Twopeny. He (Mr Gould) had called attention to the fact that the present exhibition was not so vast in extent as those that had been held in Australia, but he was also bound to say that no visitor could pass through it without gaining a great amount of information as to the resources of the colony**— information which showed that, while men of energy and perseverance and determination had taken the matter in hand, there were also among the exhibitors men of the same stamp. The exhibition also gave an opportunity of showing New Zealanders what the neighbouring colonies could produce, and of comparing the produce and manufactures of Australia with those y of this country. This comparison must be of the greatest benefit. There was nothing like seeing what one’s neighbours were doing to stir one up to selfhelp. It had been said that the world had been over-exhibitionised; but if we were going to break down the barriers of ignorance that exist in one colony as to the affairs of another colony it would be by means of bringing the people of the different places together and affording them opportunities of exchanging friendly views. The more we knew of one another the more we saw and appreciated each other’s worth. He did not propose to say much about federation, seeing that his colleague had spoken on the subject, but would just add that he hoped when federation came about it would be by a uniting of the colonies of all Australasia, so as to bind the English-speaking people in these seas into one dominion. He begged to propose “ Success to the New Zealand aud South Seas Exhibition.”

Mr Roberts, who was applauded on rising to respond, said he was much obliged to Mr Gould for the glowing terms he had used in proposing the toast. They had endeavoured, as far as they possibly could, to make what they believed to be a representation of New Zealand industries. They had struggled to make the show, not with a parental Government behind them to find the needful fnnds, but they called on the citizens here to provide the money that wns necessary to make the show, and he hoped before the finish to be able to demonstrate that an exhibition such as we bad here could be made on lines that were fairly safe. Ho was glad to say that they had been supported in a right loyal way. It would interest them all to know that up to the present time something like 210,000 persons had passed through the turnstiles.—(Applause.) Considering that there was only a population in Dunedin and suburbs, roughly speaking, of 50,000 people, they thought it very satisfactory to put through the population four times over, ami he would only say that if the public continued to support them as they had done there would be, at the close of the exhibition, a satisfactory result to all concerned. He desired, on behalf of the exhibition authorities, to tender their special thanks to the mother colony and to the other colonies for the very generous support they had accorded. New South Wales and Victoria especially came forward and rendered them good service by representing their industries and mineral resources in the way they had done. Their thanks were first due to the Ministries of those colonies for the assistance they had lent, and were perhaps more directly duo to the representatives of these colonies for the very hearty support that the executive had received from the accredited representatives.— (Applause.) To begin with the mother colony, he would say of Mr Meyer—(applause)— although they had, as everybody knew, had a little brush, which they did not think any more of now—that they had received from that gentleman most excellent services.—(Renewed applause.) Mr Meyer had been not only most anxious to see that his own colony was properly represented, but he was most anxious to render any assistance in his power for the furtherance of the complete success of the exhibition. He could also say the same of Mr Fletcher, the accredited representative of Victoria (applause), who had. assisted them in every way. Mr Scott, of South Australia, although his duties were not so onerous as some of the others, had to no little extent contributed to their success.—(Applause.) The exhibition, he thought, would have proved itself, before its close, to have been no small factor in the scheme of federation than was now afloat. He believed that the friendly intercourse that was now taking place between this colony and the neighbouring colonies would be a very considerable factor in bringing about the feeling of brotherliness and reciprocity which he was sure must be the first stepping-stone towards federation. Federation was a question that was beside him altogether, and not being a politician, possibly he had no right to speak about it; but he thought he might shortly state what his views were. He thought, with the chairman, that New South Wales had a better right to come here to plead the cau-e of federation than Victoria had. (Hear) The mother colony had all along sought to encourage our agricultural manufactures and other industries by opening their ports to all our products.—(Hear.) It seemed to him at the time that Mr Deakin was speaking in that room that there must be a certain amount of insincerity ringing through the whole speech. That might ba thought a little strong language to use, hut he would say it if Mr Deakin himself were present, and he was sure Mr Deakin would take it in good part While, however, Mr Deakin was advocating federation and intercolonial free trade, his Parliament were year after ve.r driving a p"g home—putting 10 per cent, duty on this and 10 per cent, on that. So far as federation was concerned, he would say that this colony could look forward .to intercolonial free trade with every confidence. He was not afraid of the industries that had grown up under the somewhat artificial air of Protection in Victoria Despite the industries that had been built up there, we were quite prepared to-morrow to meet them on equal grounds.—(Hear.) The mother colony of New South Wales was no doubt in a much better position. She had all along adopted Freetrade principles, so that her industries had grown up naturally and properly, and she need not fear the universal adoption of Freetrade. So far as the exhibition was concerned, it was perhaps the best advertisement that New Zealand had ever had Hr Gould had evidently forgotten that this was not the first exhibition in New Zealand. There was an exhibition in Dunedin 25 years ago, and there had been exhibitions in Christchurch and Wellington, but he thought that this was the first,exhibition that had been carried out on purely self-reliant principles —(Applause.) All those who had acted with them from the initiatory steps would bear him out in saying that the idea was that it would be unbecoming in the somewhat depressed times to ask for more assistauce from '-. he Government than in respect of the exhibits the Government themselves desired to make, and he was glad to think it was possible that the shareholders would not lose the full sums they had subscribed.—(Applause.) However, if they did get any portion returned thisy would be agreeably surprised—(laughter ami applause),—for he had all aW distinctly intimated that they had to make up their minds to lose all they subscribed. He had frequently responded to this toast, and on each occasion Mr Twopeny, who had followed him, had made his remarks extremely short. He (Mr Roberts) felt that he was to a large extent responsible in having taken the wind out of Mr Twopeny’s sails. That night, however, he had confined himself to a very small part of the toast, and he thought he would study their convenience and pleasure if he concluded, leaving it to Mo fwopeny to take up half a dozen oth°r points that were CDntained in the toast (Laughter and applause.) «.w r *.T P , ENY (Executive Commissioner) said that Mr Roberts had told them just now that on previous occasions he had taken the wind out of the speaker’s sails. He (Mr Twopeny) ventured to say that on the present occasion also Mr Roberts had taken the wind out of his sails—-(laughter),—-and that not so much from what he had said as from what was imprinted on bis face Looking, as a young man—he thought 13 years younger than Mr Roberts was—(laughter;—as a young man of 32 looking at a man of 45—( re . newed laughter),-he could not help hoping, in all seriousness, that 13 years hence there might be imprinted on his face the same seriousness, the same honesty, the same determination, the same endeavour to get at the truth, that was imprinted on Mr Roberts’ face (Hear.) There were one or two things, however, which he might perhaps say on this ocoasion; and the first thing he would like to say was to thank his Excellency Lord Carrington for the very great assistance that he had lent him.—(Applause.) Twelve months ago he (Mr Twopeny) went across to Australia, feeling very diffident, feeling that he was very young and very unworthy to represent this colony on a mission that was so important that he felt it to be a national occasion. He carried a letter of introduction to Lord Carrington, and received from him not only the courtesy that one naturally expected from an English gentleman (hear),—but the firstthingthat his lordshipsaid to him after some conversation was, “ What can I do to help you ?” And the next ijtfng that His Excellency did was to point nub in what way he could help him, and to give him letters to Sir Henry Parkes and other gentlemen who might advance his cause. He had never forgotten when he saw the splendid exhibition that New South Wales had how much silent, quiet help Lord Carrington had given to this occasion.—(Applause.) He thought there was no other colony to which we were more indebted than New South Wales for the share that had been taken in this exhibition, and that for the reason thst he found it difficult to conceive what possible commercial profit New Sonth Wales could derive from it. He thought that the exhibition bad been valuable in showing that the other colonies were one with ns, and that we were a part of one great community and that tended, he thought, to show that we had all, of late years, been rather wrong. We

had been broughthp under the idea that selfishness was the bottom of political life, whereas sentiment, and feeling, and good will were really at tho bottom of it. There had been a good deal said about tho exhibition at one time or another, but what he felt to be, to some extent, the glory of this adventure was not even the size of the exhibition, not even its beauty, though he felt himself deeply indebted to Mr Joubert for the very beautiful exhibition that it was.—(Loud applause.) To himself, as an Englishman, who had lived in foreign countries a little and tried io vain to get some kind of veneer of foreign manners—(laughter)—he had appreciated the prettiness that Mr Joubert bad imparted to the exhibition, and the prettiness that Mr Meyer had imparted to his own court;—(Renewed applause.) He felt that if he had himself been put in the position of commissioner for New South Wales and had tried to make the court as pretty as Mr Meyer had done, he would certainly have made a mess of it.—(Laughter.) He thought that the would be memorable as being backed by a certain amount of patriotic dignity. They would remember that in 1851 the Prince Consort had made with the exhibition an effort towards the realisation of that great thing, the unity of mankind, the human brotherhood that, to him, Rousseau first spoke of. He thought that we to some extent made the exhibition tend toward that end, and that this was not merely an effort to advance New Zealand. It had been an effort to advance New Zealand, and, looking at it as a practical man, he said that we were right, and had no reason to be ashamed to make it that—to make it an effort to help the tradesmen of Dunedin after the many hard years they had gone through, to make it an effort to help the colony of New Zealand by improving its credit. He did not feel a bit ashamed of that, but he believed that to some extent this exhibition would tend to a realisation of the unity of Australasia, and he was sure he expressed the feeling of every New Zealander when he said that a unity of Australasia was to us a matter of nothing it it was not a matter of the realisation of a unity of the British Empire and a unity of mankind. Speaking as a New Zealander, he said that we were prepared to join a unity of Australasia if it was to be a unity embracing the mother country ; but if it was to be a unity of Australasia agaiust Great Britain, we would have nothing to do with it.—(Loud applause.) He did not believe in sentiment alone; but if we who were men of British blood, we who were sprung of the blood of which Burke and Cromwell were sprung, were to go forward at all, we must be true Englishmen—or true Britons, as the Scotch would say.—(Applause.) The exhibition had been the means of bringing together a great many gentlemen who had made new acquaintances here, ami there had been much talk about federation; but he could not help thinking that political federation must lie preceded by a federation ol feeling. There must be a greater sympathy, a greater commonness of ideas and of purpose before we could achieve any federation that was worth the name. He thought that the immigration that took place from New Zealand to Australia during the depression would have a more important effect in this way than any exhibition or than any exhibition banquets. New Zealanders would come back with enlarged experiences and with a wider conception of Australasian unity, and would send back others with wider conceptions of an Australasian Dominion, and he hoped yet to live to see an English speaking dominion composed of worthy descendants of our ancestors, when we might say that we had done our best in our little way to make this new Britain of ours worthy of the old country aud worthy of the glorious history that make us proud of the name of Briton. The Hon. R. H. D. White, M.L.C., said that to deal with the question he had before him would occupy an hour or more, as he would be compelled to speak of the resources of the other colonies and those of New Zealand, on which, he would say, he had only set his foot last Monday, but since then, even in that short time, he bad learned much of it, and ho could sincerely say that it was one of the leading colonies of the group.—(Applause.) In the exhib.tiou New South Wales had brought under our notice its various valuable resources, aud he was glad to say that in our exhibits representative of the colony we had quite sufficient to show that we were an independent people among ourselves—(Hear, hear.) He went on to speak of the many resources of New Zealand, with which ho expressed himself well pleased, and of the progress which had been made not only by New Zealand but by the Australian colonies. The noble lords who were present, he said, had little idea of the difficulties the pioneers had to contend against; they saw things as they were at present, but could form little idea of the struggles which were thought to bring the colonies to the position occupied by them to-day.—(Applause.)

Sir Robert Stout, who was warmly applauded, after returning thanks for having his name coupled with the toast, said it would be unnecessary to tell those who were not New Zealanders that they all loved New Zealand.— They believed that New Zealand had a destiny of its own which could not be carried out unless it had supreme control of its internal affairs within itself.—(Applause.) They had visited, many of them, the other colonies, aud bad seen their greatness, had seen their vastness in everything, but when they returned to New Zealand, and had spent perhaps a week iu their own colony they would say of It—

She is a rich and rave land, 0, slurs a Fresh and fair laudl She is a dear and rare land.

Tliis noble land of mine! (Applause.) New Zealand had advantages that Australia did not possess. We had the south-west wind down here—(laughter)— aud he believed with all ths talk, that there was about this south-west wind, that if we could only export it, and there was no duty on it on the other side-(loud laughter)—there would not be a city from Brisbane to Perth but would come and ask to have it given to her almost at any price. It was the south west wind that made the New Zealand men strong and robust, and he believed that iu future Australians would find it to their advantage to spend three months of the summer in New Zealand. It was said that the droughts had their advantage to Australia in stirring people up, after they passed away, to new enterprises and deeds, to progress and prosperity He thought we had in New Zealand an equivalent to these droughts. It came, he thought, about every three year?, when a lot ef public men aud a lot of newspaper writers pictured New Zealand in the darkest colour?, and said the colony was suffering from depression, that the bottom was knocked out of it, and that we were all going to ruin. He compared the position of New Zealand with the other colonies with the view of showing the ignorance that existed iu Australia re aiding New Zealand, and said that all that was contained in the short, little bits of telegrams from New Zealand appearing in the Australian papers, was the news of tho arrival of a mail steamer or another earthquake at Wellington.—(Laughter.) If they looked at the newspapers of Australia they would find also that not a position was taken up by the Liberal party of New Zealand, but it was entirely misrepresented by those papers. How he asked, could there be a true union of a people unless there was first a knowledge of the people among themselves? They might depend upon it that there could be no true union until a knowledge of tho people was diffused, and friendship and affection and love must precede it. Federation would be useless unless there was knowledge of the people. He would say that in the future they would not have such a union, but he looked forward to the time when there would be a union of the English speaking people.—(Applause.) They failed in their duty as pioneers if they took the slightest step that would tend to disunite them from England—(applause) —and he said that those steps were hastened by what were called a federation of land and a federation of Australia. He looked at them as stronger than silken cords, but before they could attain that great brotherhood of man they must know each other better they must have more affection for each other, they must have more friendship for each other, and they must have more love for each other. Referring to the remarks of Mr Roberts, he said that Victoria had kept the pledge she made in Sydney on joining the Federal Council, and ho thought it deserved credit for that.—(Hear.) If Victoria had put a wall round her shores to protect her industries, we had done the same—(hear)—and not only so but if the question of intercolonial Freetrade came he doubted whether the people here would care to face the direct taxation that would be necessary. So far as New Zealand was concerned, it ought to be its interest to encourage a spread of friendship, love, and affection among all the colonies, and it ought to try aud see if there were yet involved problems that were to solve.

The Hon. G. D. Langeidge (Victoria), in responding, said he was rather surprised at the remarks of Mr Roberts, when he said that at the Victorian Commissioners’ banquet there was a certain ring of insincerity running through Mr Deakin’s remarks, and that Mr Deakin would admit it if here. The speaker did not think Mr Deakin would admit anything of the kind, but he would point out where the insincerity came in. It was in the fact that after Mr Deakin s speech Mr Roberts was 'one of the first to try and get Mr Deakin to deliver a second speech on the same subject. (Laughter.) He understood they were there that evening for a specific purpose—to do honour tc the exhibition—and he therefore thought £ remark like that came with very bad grace. He supposed that this was ont of those instances where eircumstatees alter cases. (Laughter.) Mr Deakii had brought the question before the public of .sew Zealand in a way which it had not previoisly been brought before them: and though oit of the hundred odd gentlemen who heard thespeeoh there might be fifty who disagreed wth Mr Deakin, he had given them rood for discussion and argument, and on fw o iw gr ? D u® , he ( Mr LaD B r idge) thought that Mr Deakin s speech was a speech in the right dicction. That was neither the time place, no hour to go into snch a question! though ie would dearly like to do so He came hire deputed by the Victorian Government to dothe best he could in the Exhibition He would sly nothing of what had been done,’

he would leave that for the New Zealanders to say, bat he was quite confident of one thing—that was that anything that Victoria had done for the exhibition had been fully disjnstified by »the displays New Zealand had made at Melbourne. After congratulating the executive on the success of the exhibition he said that the tariff in Victoria appeared to be a greit offence in the eyes of some. Well, countries made tariffs to suit their circumstances, and he supposed Victoria did the same. He did not think their tariff had a bad outcome when he considered the position of Victoria. As a Victorian he felt proud of the colony, and he believed it held its own amongst the other colonies.