A VICTORIAN MINISTER IN ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 821, 26 January 1867, Page 3

A VICTORIAN MINISTER IN ENGLAND.

The Hon. Mr. Verdon has been made a C. B. His mission to England, asking the Imperial Government to furnish a training ship and armour-plated frigates, to serve as the nucleus of a system of naval defences for the Australian colonies, has been completely successful. A complimentary dinner was given to Mr. Verdon, at Willis's Rooms, on the 21st, by the Australian colonists resident in London. Mr. Childers, M. P., occupied the chair, supported by the Earl of Carnarvon, Sir John Pakington, Messrs. Alfred Churchill, Vanderburgh, M. P.'s, General M' Arthur, Sir Daniel Cooper, Alderman Rose, and a number of gentlemen

from all the AuatoiUiaii^coi6mw//V^:»S*>^<; turning thaiiksfor the Navy; Sir John 3^i<i- 5 kington stated that he had felt' it his, duiyj; to accede to the request that the Kotf.-Mr. s ; Verdon had been the bearer of, that the ■ mother country should do for the colonies ; of Australia, in regard to naval defences,, what at present only they were unable'tb do for themselves. The chairman, in replying to the toast of the Volunteers, pointed out that Australia had created for herself forces of that Kind five years before the Volunteer movement commenced in England. In responding to the toast of the Ministers, Earl Caernarvon delivered himself of sentiments eminently sympathetic with the colonies, stating that in dealing with them the Home Government had only adopted a frank straight-forward policy, generally leaving them in the main to their own responsible self government, only interfering on questions of mutual interest to the Imperial and Colonial Government. The speaker paid a high tribute to the business capacity exhibited by Mr. Verdon, who, he said, had most ably conducted the mission entrusted to him, which it is calculated, will result in great benefit to the mother country as well as to the colonies, on behalf of all of which. Mr. Verdon had acted. Sir John expressed a belief that the visits of distinguished Australian colonists to this country (England) operated most beneficially in forming the links of a lorig chain of personal, political, and social relations which exist between the mother country and her dependencies. In proposing the health of Mr. Verdon, the -chairman gave a brief history of his public career, which commenced early in lifje by his being returned ' as a member of the Assembly for Williamstown. He gave as a proof of the estimation of his integrity and ability, held by all parties and that whereas almost every mail brought home an account of a change in the personnel of the Ministry of Victoria, that gentleman had absolutely continued Finance Minister for three years, a duration in office which some Chancellor of the Exchequer might envy. In returning thanks Mr. Verdon referred to the success of his mission, and acknowledged the great facilities given to him in the negotiations with which he had been charged. He dwelt especially on the passionate loyalty felt in Australia towards the mother country, and asked for a tender consideration of the youthful impetuosity with which those offshoots of England were working out the responsibilities connected with the establishment of political and social institutions founded upon those of Great Britain. He observed in particular that they had successfully produced an educational system in which some of the difficulties that existed in England had been solved. He dwelt upon the fact that he held the acceptance of the Companionship of the Bath which Earl Carnarvon announced had been conferred upon him as an honor not purely personal, but that it was intended as a mark of consideration to the colony he represented.