CANTERBURY.

New Zealander, Volume 12, Issue 1028, 23 February 1856, Page 2 (Supplement)

CANTERBURY.

TaE Lyttelton Times of the 12th Jan., has a long report of a dinner given to his Excellency Governor Gore Browne, in the Town Hall, by tte Superintendent and other principal inhabitants of the place. ; An unusual feature at public dinners (remark 1 * the Times)', Here was Uhei appearance at the table of six Bclaories, who appeared throughout the evening; if looks and actiona are safe; indicajions, to derive great..satisfaction from the discussion of tbp more substantial part of the entertainment, to maintain due gravity and_ to show a " sivoir faire" in the after part of the evening which does them much credit, and leads us to hope that the cultivation of the gastronomic arts among our fellow subjects, the natives, may, become one of the means of their complete regeneration.

The, dinner is described as reflecting the highest credit" on"Messrs. McGee and Co., and an efficient choir diversified the after-dinner proceedings by singing a variety of songs and Choruses. ; The customary Loyal toasts having been given, ?In proposing the toast of the evening,™" The healthiof the Governor- of New Zealand,''—-4he Chairman (the Superintendent) said he was afraid his Excellency had heard an unfavourable report of this Settlement in England, as disaffected, opposed to constituted authorities, and sending needless remonstrances to tlie Colonial Office. No such thing. They were only animated by "an intense-desire andjlonglng for., those free instifcu?r tipns arid constitutional forms of our mother country, beneath which, we iiaye grown up. The free; constitution we sought for had been given to us by her Majesty and ratified by Parliament, but owing to the absence of our late Governor we have the pleasure of offering to, your Excellency the title of the first Constitutional Governor of New Zeal and (cheers). His Excellency has ar-; rived in this colony to put the finishing stroke to Constitutional Government by the establishment of Ministerial Responsibility. Without entering into political discussion, I cannot think hut that; this early, visit of his Excellency. to all.the Proving ces, will be : of great benefit, by making him acquainted'with the wants of each, by enabling him toiestimate their various capacities/and on his return to the seat of Government to reconcile their differences, smoothe their asperities, and make 1 them work together as one harmonious whole (cheers)." The speaker then remarked on the fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Settlement haviug'heenjust celebrated, and on= the fact of;jits haying progressed to its present stage without any Government aid or expenditure—adding that the Settlement was about to relieve the noble spirited promoters and patrons at home of the Canterbury scheme, of. their pecuniary responsibility— u and when tills is done,,we shall present the spectacle of a colony grown solely by its,own , capital and labour." lie (the Superintendent) ! had been, engaged the last few days in showing | his Excellency proof's of the "failure'' of the. Settlement " in the farms and. boniestends scattered over the face of" the country," mid in "happy homes where care is unknown and want I unjthqujadit of" thougbjniuch of their work had still to be accomplished; with the; stock-whiparid the plough. His Excellency in reply, paid a compliment to the thiiving aspect of the Settlement, and con- ' tin Wed *-*---

| "He was proud to be called the first Constitutions l : Governor of >«• Zealand. He could only carry th< j Government on by selecting advisers from those win ! possessed the confidence of the people. As to any questions nf difficulty which might arise in tbeGincrul Assembly, h.' believed that, so far as be had seen the..geiir tleirien selected, be should be ;d)lo to call, around him men having at heart tho welfare of the colony, and that lie Would find that there were no difficulties that might not be overcome by energy and perseverance. He should,endeavour.to. the utmost of Ids power to •'■ smootbe anyasperities which "might exist, and he trusted that in a shortstime they would cease to exist. Hetook credit t.o himself that he'had not exceeded the estimates granted by the General Assembly, and though It is, stewardship had been but a short one, he hoped it vyould be found true. In regard to the doctrine of Responsible Government, his Excellency said that there were those-who urged that by folio wing it out it would leave the Governor but a cypher in the state; be would say .that he would rather be a cypher in thesstate with their confidence, than the largest unit without it (great cheering). lie would ever remember bis visit to this settlement, it was marked in the calendar of his life as a red-letter day, and be was deeply grateful for their kindness (great applause, and three times three).

The only other part of the proceed logs we can notice are the remarks made by the Chairman in proposing " the Sister Settlements of New Zealand "—in the closing sentiment of which especially we heartily concur. His Honor observed,

It was no uee disguising tbefactthat there was a. difficulty in getting over this toast; that difficulty must he boldly met and overcome. We could not conceal the fact that the 6: her settlements were our elder sisters; we cannot disguise that we have antagonistic interests ; we acknowledge it: but we have a firm .faith in the Constitution Act of New Zealand which provides that every settlement shall manage ifiS own affairs.. He recollected the old stage coaches when at the optset all the passengers were squeezed and jumbled together in a very uncomfortable manner, but as they progressed they shook down in their places, and got on very well for the rest of the journey. Ourselves and our sister settlements were how at the starling; we jostle »ind incommode each other ; have a little patience and we shall all shake into our proper places, and be happy and comfortable for the rest of the journey" (hear, hear, and cheers). Then the only rivalry which will take place between ourselves ancl the sister settlements, will be a generous rivalry,"a rivalry -as to who would take the lead in prosperity and civilization (cheers, three times three). Choir.—" Now pray we for our Country."