THE STATE BANQUET.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 24 August 1908, Page 5

THE STATE BANQUET.

SOME NOTABLE SPEECHES

' • . . -SYDNEY/August 22. The guests.at the State banquet numbered a thousand.

. Premier Wade, proposing the King and the President, said the feeling of kinship between the United States and Britain was growing stionger year by year, and the British were only;too willing to regard their friends across tho Atlantic a3 their natural allies.

Mr Deakin,. proposing the health of Lord Northcote, paid a glowing farewell tribute to the departing Gover-nor-General. He described the fleet as tho harbinger of peace, bringing to Australia a message of confidence, and carrying throughout tho. world ah assuranco of strength. No other flag would have received tho welcome that was baing tendered on this occasion.

Lorcl Northcote, repaying., believed such visits only required development to become an important factor" in the peace and progress of-.; the, world. Ho hoped that, in" time to come, an Australian squadron would ba able" to return the visit

Governor Rawson said tha. flag 3of America and Britain were entwined arid he hoped they would always be on tlio samo side. .

Admiral. Spcrry, replying to the toasb of the guesto, said their welcome had bc-en 'ordial and ehthiisiastic beyond measure. Evidently it was from the people, from their representatives, and from tlie representatives of the fonrr,, and back of all was kinsMp, oommin intorests of blood, and a common.Christianity. He hoped these ties, which wero strong as steel, would become stronger and mor.e nulnerojis.;.

: Admiral Sperry proposed the British Navy. Admiral Poore, replying, ai^ tributed the enthusiasm and friendship to tho interests of the two nations being almost identical, because each was strong, and respected each other's strength, and because of their united efforts in'the direction of peace. Mr -Deakin , responding to the toast of the Commonwealth, looked forward to the day when, from our harbour would go forth' a fleet worthy tos bo, compared with the magnificent squad-* ron which had just reached Australian shores. - .