NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE IN THE CEREMONIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 56

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE IN THE CEREMONIES.

THE NEW YEAR, NEW CENTURY, AND NEW NATION. * PRESENTATION TO THE PREMIER . (Special to f N.Z. Times-.’) SYDNEY. January 5, 1901. It is not my intention to attempt a description of* the ceremonies, pageantries and rejoicings, which have for a whole week filled the noble city, of Sydnev with light and music and mirth and splendid spectacles. In the space at my disposal, a mere Bald epitome is all 1 could give; and after the full and satisfactory reports cabled by the Press Association, any further detailed account would he almost a superfluity. I shall, therefore, on the present occasion coniine myself to noticing some of the events that have a special interest to New Zealanders. The first thing that strikes one on arriving in Sydney is the comparative insignificance and “slowness” of New Zealand. When one has seen a crowd of people, equal to the whole poulation of New Zealand, taking part in a great function, in one. of the cities of Australia, he realises as he never did before the stupendous disparity in size and importance between 1 he land of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. This does not necessarily mean that one is therefore so much dazzled by Australian power and magnificence as to desire that New Zealand should seek admission as a State of the Commonwealth. There is, in fact, quite an opposite effect produced by the reflection of how completely New Zealand would be don in a. tea by the “one people” with “one destiny,” if she cast in her lot will] them. Despite the fact that every effort was made by the New Soptli Wales Government to give adequate welcome, enit itaiument and recognition to the visitors from New Zealand, the latter were at every turn reminded of their unimportance. New Zealand is to most Sydney people a mere geographical expression—a fine little, cold little country. which they wish they could visit when the Sydney temperatore is 160 degrees in the sun. or more. The Sydneyites have nothing against us or our country; we distinctly interest them, in a casual way ; they even in a casual way admire us for some of our doings ; but, after all, they view us as a small neopie, and they regard us habitually vrith a sort of complacent toleration. They do not cherish any particular hostility to us because of our aloofness from the Commonwealth; many, indeed, admit that there is much reason in our attitude. Nor do they delibernte-

lv seek to impress upon us cur littleness ; they simply and unconsciously display that sense of superiority which greater ago, wealth, power and stability confer upon communities no less than on individuals. But if New Zealand as a whole does not bulk largely in Sydney, New Zealanders individually do ; visitors find the words “New Zealand” a kind of “open, sesame,” to the hospitality of Sydneyites; and New Zealand’s .Premier, puolic men, Maori chiefs. and contingent "boys’’ mot with a generous and hearty reception wherever they appeared. New Zealand’s share in the Gommonweaitli celebrations has been worthy of her position as a b,.-tor State, friendly cil---posed towards the whole of Australia, and desirous oi manifesting; her unfeigned. delight at the consummation of induration. Her .Ministers, Judges, and troops were conspicuous in the groat procession ox New xear’s Day; and it was pleasing to hear them greeted with cheers and cries of *uiaere map,” and "Kapai Niu Tireni,” from the vast crowds that lined the route of the display. At the camp at the Centennial Ahu 11, our troopers were visited by hundreds of people. In the newspapers of Sydney, during t lie Commonwealth week. New Zealanders and their doings have been given more prominence than lias been accorded to any other colony outside of New South .Wales. The latter fact may be partly accounted for by the circumstance that the great dailies here are to a large extent “staffed” by literary men trained on the New Zealand press —on the “Telegraph” staff alone there are three gentlemen who were formerly connected with the “New Zealand Times”--but, on the whole, the prominence given lias been fairly proportioned to the importance oi New Zealand events transpiring here. .One siren event in which. I was privileged to participate has not been recorded in the Syctney papers, but its interest to New Zealand readers demands that something be said of it here. On Now Tear’s Eve. m company with two other New Zealanders, I called at the Hotel Australia to see the Hon 11. J. Seddon. In the- large “Winter Garden” ■of that superb hostelry, we found Mr and 3:1 rs Seddon, the lion James Carroll. .Sir Frederick Barley, Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Waks, Sir John Forrest (Premier of Western Australia), and Lady Forrest, Sir Samuel Griffith, of Queensland, Messrs J. H. Witheford, W. H. Field, and A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R.’s, etc. In pleasant conversation the time rapidly sped, until the midnight hour being near, Mr Sodden called for a “magnum"' of champagne, in which to toast the New Year, the New Century, and the New Nation of United Australia. The toast was honoured with enthusiastic cheering, after which the company joined in singing “God Save the Queen” and “Auld Lang Syne”—all joining hands in approved fashion during the singing of the World’s National Anthem. This was the only public demonstration to welcome the New Year that took place in the Hotel Australia, and scores of cl her guests looked on in an azenient at the extraordinary energy displayed by the island visitors, which appeared for the time being to have made the vast caravansary an Hotel New Zealand. But there was more to follow. Hardly had the demonstration in the Winter Garden died away than intimation was brought to Mr Seddon that a deputation of some thirty New Zealanders had called to offer him New Year greetings. The Premier and party received this deputation in the spacious vestibule of the hotel, where brief speeches were delivered and a scene of unparalleled enthusiasm ensued. Thedeputation struck up a- Maori song of greeting and followed it up by a wardance, m which some Maori troopers, led by the Hon James Carroll, participated. The vaulted ceiling rang again and again with shouts of “Ake, ake, Ida. kalia,” while ladies and gentlemen m full dress, returning to their rooms from theatres and parties, gazed spellbound. It was a rare and inspiriting spectacle, and was an exemplification of the patriotic enthusiasm of New Zealanders when in a strange land. Yesterday (Friday 4th January) was a great day with New Zealanders m Sydney. A vigorous committee, under the lead of Mr G. J. Bruce, had arranged for the presentation of an address of Welcome to the Hon R. J. Seddon, and on learning of the intention, the Premier bad arranged that the ceremony should take place on board the Government steamer Tutanekai, all the signatories to the address being invited to afternoon tea and a short cruise on board. When some five hundred persons had assembled, including the contingent "boys,” the Southland Pipe Band, a number oi ladies, and nearly all the New Zealand legislators now in Sydney . the presentation took place undo, an awning on dock. Mr E. I). Hobon, of ! lie Sydney ‘Alai!.” formerly of the' Wellington “Post,” had been deputed to make the presentation, which be did in a brief but felicitous speech. After he had handed Mr Seddon the address, superbly bound in morocco, with appropriate New Zealand devices on the cover, Mi ss Iliorns, Lite of Christchurch., stepped forward, and, in a few words, presented Mrs Seddon with a beautiful spray bouquet. This graceful action, which was on Miss Miorns’s own initiative, and entirely unconnected with

too com nut tee's arrangements, was much appreciated lor its spontaneity. 3lr .'tendon, in a lengthy speech, liberally punctuated by cheers, returned t a auks, and dealt at some length with the question of New Zealand's attitude towards the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands. The substance of this important speech has, of course, been by calne. Its leading points were Mr Serfdoms declaration that New Zealand’s attitude towards Australia was one of suspended judgment; his bold statement that the Pacific Islands must all ultimately be joined either to New Zealand or Australia —‘ : he did not care which,” and his reading of the telegraphic despatch describing the almost, incredibly tyrannical action of Sir Leo. O’Brien, Governor of Fiji, in threatening with arrest and deportation an English clergyman, for the sole reason that the latter had advocated the federation of Fiji with New Zealand. The Premier’s >emarks that this sort of thing could not be allowed to go on was wavnE iy applauded. The proceedings terminated with Maori song and war cry. The Tutanekai then cruised slowly across the harbour, where a. regatta was in progress—the scene being one full of beauty and animation. Refreshments were liberally dispersed, and if was pleasing to observe the meeting of old friends, the making of new acquaintances, and tv) hear on every hand talk or dear New Zealand. In connection with the Tutanekai’s trip, a New Zealand function of another kind took place. Mr J. H. 'Witheford, M.H.R. for Auckland, ha,s leased a suburban residence at Blue’s Point. North Shore, and he and Mrs Witheford invited thither the members of the New Zealand contingent and the Southland pipers and a number of New Zealanders. The Tutanekai landed her passengers at the adjacent wharf, and the invited guests were entertained to music- and refreshments at Mr Witheford’s residence, with its spacious rooms, bread terraces and stone steps leading clown to the water’s edge. With the decorations, the music, and the gay scene on the harbour, it seemed like a picture from the fairest spots of Venice or the Levant. Mr and Mrs Witheford were nicest assiduous in their attention to their guests, who were highly delighted with the treat. Yet another New Zealand event of no small importance closed the day’s proceedings. Mr F. 3Y. Jackson, the Sydney manager of the Union Steam Ship Company or New Zealand, had invited a company on board the Mckoia to witness the harbour illuminations and fireworks, and about two thousand people responded to the generous call. These included the Premier and Mrs Secldon. the lion. J. Carroll, the - -.aon chiefs, and all the legislators ’from New Zealand. The steamer was tastefully decorated and illuminated, and ample refreshments were served gratis in the saloon and on large improvised tames on deck. This generous treat on the part of our New Zealand shipping company was all the more striking because of the fact that none of the Australian cr other companies doing business here showed similar thoughtfulness. . The Mokoia proceeded from Circular quay to a suitable position in the harbour, and from her anchorage near I'ort Denison the guests on board had a splendid view of the illuminations and fireworks display. In the course cf the evening the Maoris gave war dances and sang songs, led by the Hon James Carrcll, assisted bv Messrs J. Stevens and A. L. D. Fraser, M.’sH.R. Prior to landing, a gathering was held in the saloon under the presidency of the Right Hon. Mr Seddon. In proposing the toast of “Success to. the Union oceam Ship Company,” the Premier paid that organisation a high compliment for its splendid hospitality, and also praised the New Soul'll Wales Government for its exertion in catering for the entertainment of sisitors. Mr R. B. Wise responded tor the Government and Mr Jaeksen for the Union Company, after which cheers were given for Captain Spinks and the officers of the Mokoia. It was nearly midnight on this memorable-occasion before the Mokioa had discharged all her guests at Circular Quay, to mingle in the great rush and roar of the traffic that radiates from this point to all parts of Sydney and suburbs. Looking at the matter dispassionately, New Zealand has every reason to be proud of the part she took in the Commonwealth celebrations and the manner in which bet* sons and daughters upheld her name during the historic week’s reoicing's.