LORD ONSLOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9326, 1 April 1889, Page 5

LORD ONSLOW.

FAREWELL BANQUET IN LONDON. < |FKOH OUR, OWN CORRESPONDENT.J London, March 23. On Friday evening, the 15th instant, the St. George's Club entertained Lord Onslow at a farewell .banquet. Lord Knutsf ord, Secretary of .State for the Colonies, presided, and upwards of 200 gentleman sat down to dinner, amongst them being the Marquis of Lome, the Marquis of Normauby, Lord Bury, Sir Julian Pauncefote, Sir George F. Bowen, Sir Henry •W. Norman, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Arthur Blytli, Sir Saul Samuel, Sir P. Dillon Bell, Sir Graham Berry, Sir Robert G. W. Herbert, Sir W. L, JtJuller, Sir C. Clifford, Sir F. Young, Sir Victor Houlton, Sir Charles Mills (AgentGeneral of the Cape of Good Hope, Sir John Hallj Sir George lnnes (late Minister of Justice, New South Wales), Sir J as. Anderson, and Mr. Thomas Archer (Agent-General for Queensland). Letters of regret at inability to attend were received from the Duke of Teck, Earl Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, Viscount Cross, Lord G. Hamilton, Lord Roseberjr, Mr. Goschen, Lord Cranbrook, Baron H. De Worms, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, and Sir J. Forgusson. In proposing the usual loyal toasts Lord Rnatsford referred to the deep interest in colonial questions which Her Majesty always manifested, and the accurate knowledge which she displayed in her conferences with himself, and to the valuable services rendered by the Prince of Wales in connection with the Indian and Colonial and Melbourne Exhibitions. ; Lord Normanby gave the toast of "The -Army, Navy, ana Reserve Forces," and in doing so said that although New Zealand had just passed through a period of great depression, he had the utmost confidence in her future prosperity. He was sure that, by the time Lord Onslow left the colony, it would have resumed its old position, for it possessed everything that could conduce to its prosperity. In proposing the toast of the evening, " The Earl of Onslow," Lord Knutsford said it gave him the greatest pride to preside over wha? was probably the most influential gathering which had ever met to wish a new Governor God-speed and all success. He had had the pleasure of knowing tho good work which Lord Onslow had done in many capacities. The noble Earl had worked with him at the Colonial Ollice, and, besides tho excellent way in which he performed the current work of that department, he showed the utmost ability, zeal, and loyalty at the great Colonial Conference of ISS7, the success of which was largely due to him. Lord Onslow also had done good work in the House of Lords and at the Board ot Trade. A great responsibility rested upon the Secretary for the Colonies in submitting to Her Majesty tho names of proposed Governors, not only for the self-govern-ing, but also for the Crown colonies ; but he was satisfied that on this occasion the responsibility had been well exercised, and that the good work which Lord Onslow had done in this country would be repeated in New Zealand. Indeed, ho believed that before many years that colony would be grateful to his humble self for having been instrumental in sending out the noble lord as Governor. The Earl of {Onslow, in acknowledging the toast, said he desired to thank the members at St. George's Club for having given him the opportunity of meeting so large a body of gentlemen who were interested in the colonies, some of whom had witli such distinction preceded him in the Government of New Zealand. It was once said that the duty of the Governor of a colony was to sit at the end of a telegraph wire and smile. But, notwithstanding the progress which science had made or might make, he was convinced that higher functions than that would always fall to the lot of a colonial Governor. It was the duty of Governors to show sympathy with all the aspirations of the colonies ; sympathy with their trade and commerce, to convey to England a good and true account of their resources, and, above all, to exercise the divine rights of hospitality. Our colonies were our beat customers. With them we did the great bulk of our trade. He was pleased to see the other day that the colonics took no less than half again as much of our exports as was tekon by the rest of the world, notwithstanding their comparatively small population. Then, again, our diplomatic relations were managed with no cost to the colonics, but, at the same time, they had made themselves very powerful in our councils, and had shown that they did not intend colonial interests to be neglected when we wore treating with foreign powers. The tie between the mother country and the colonics was a union of hearts. In love there were occasional quarrels and misunderstandings. But he hoped that between ourselves and the colonies these quarrels would only be the renewal of love, He could not help thinking that some day or other the great question would arise whether there should be some degree of federation or separation. He hated the word separation, and if he was ever called upon to clloose between federation and separation, they might be sure that his voice and vote would be in favour of federation. His noble friend, Lord Rosebery, whose political opinions, unfortunately, obliged him to sit on the opposite side of the House of Lords, with a substantial piece of furniture between them, had truly said that this was a question to which a man might devote his whole energy, and for the sake of which one might be prepared to live or die. He thoroughly agreed with the noble Lord, and he was prepared to devote all his energies to the task before him. He was going to a colony which, he believed, had a very great future before it. Lord Normanby, who had a special right to speak upon the subject, liad told them that there had been very severe depression in New Zealand. But that colony was not exceptional in its experience. All the world has been going through a period of depression. But what was one man's meat was another man's poison, and the drought in Australia last year had been New Zealand's opportunity. New Zealand stock had risen in the English market four or five per cent, during the past few months, and that, ho thought, showed the confidence of British investors in her future. If it should be his good fortune to see leaps and boundu of prosperity, he should not claim any credit for it, though he hoped they would permit him, when he returned to this country, to call attention to the coincidence between his term of office and that advance of prosperity. He was glad to feel that he might hope to be of some service to his country and to the colony, and he was also glad of the opportunity of gaining an experience which might hereafter be of service to his fellow-subjects in the colonies and at home. He was anxious to draw a distinction between that ambition which was selfish and that which was noble, a.nd ho hoped to cultivate that ambition the aim of which wa3 to leave the world a little brighter, better, and nobler for the toiling millions of our fellowcountrymen. The kindness they had shown him led him to believe that, with God's blessing, he might be able to carry ont tliia idea, and that when he came back he might meet with the same kindness in this dear old country, which ho was proud to call his home, and that they might meet again as happily as they parted that night. Lord and Lady Onslow and family, left London this morning for Brindisi, where thoy will join the P. and O. steamer Victoria. A large number of friends assembled at the railway station to bid them God-speed, among them being Mr. Ritchio, Lord Balfour of Burleigh. Lord Romney, Lord Sherbrooke, Lord Sandhurst, the Hon. J. W. Lowthor and Mrs. Lowther, Lady Burleigh, and Sir Francis Bell.