CANTERBURY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1746, 29 July 1862, Page 2

CANTERBURY.

There has been a Public Dinner vat Christ* ■ church to celebrate the opening of the telegraph between the port and plains, at which upwards.' of 120 persons were present, Johu Hall, Esq! f „ R.M , occupied the chair; supported on bis right by his Honor the Superintendent, ■<• The ' Venerable the Archdeaon of Akaroa, tuY'PfOvinoial Solicitor, George Buckley, Esq., and R. Wilkin, Esq. ; on the left, by W. Donald, Esq ;y R.M., the Provincial Secretary, H. P. Murray Aynsley, Esq., and Julius Haast, Esq. John Ollivier, Esq., was vice-chairman. The com* pany comprised many members of the learogd

professions, bankers, merchants, and wealthy settlers. A powerful band of musicians, led by Mr. Bonnington, occupied the gallery, and at intervals played a variety of appropriate airs. Full justice having been done to the excellent viands provided.

His Honor the Superintendent, in re« plying to the toast of his own health, said, he was, as usual, wonderfully at a loss what to say ia acknowledgement of their enthusiastic reception of him. He could tell them he enjoyed being Superintended of Canterbury, and should do so, so long as he was received in a style like that. He hoped Canterbury would always be loyal to constituted authorities, and that constituted uuthorities would ever be found true to the principles and purposes for whioh they were created. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that his humble efforts for the public good were over-appreciated. His presence i amongst them on that occasion might be deemed accidental,. as he had only a few days j ago left the General Assembly considering a reply to the Governor's address. He cheerfully acknowledged the great talents of Sir George Grey, who came to them enjoying the fullest confidence of the Imperial Government but he should have preferred to see his system of Government equally recommended to them by its accordance with constitutional principles. (Hear, hear.) It was justly our boast that this was the freest country in the world. Now Sir George Grey was about to initiate a government for the native race, and he wanted ouv acquiescence in a policy for which we should have to pay. He had been considered the best man that could be selected by the Queen to deal with the natives. Now, mind ; they were not goingto separate from the North Island, (Hear, hear) ; bat the Middle Island's policy would not be in accordance with Sir George Grey's plan for governing the natives. That plan proposes to introduce something unEnglish — the appointment of twenty civil judges from the military rank ; nien, it was urged, most competent to rule because they had leanit to obey. That would not be accepted. (Hear, hear).. If attempted to be thru&t upou tbe country, it would result in the Assembly refusing to vote one farthing to carry out such a scheme ; and native affairs would have to be conducted as before, and paid for by the Imperial Government, f Hear, hear). Mr. Moorhouse proceeded to detail some of the political of view the North, from which it might be inferred that no important ministerial change is likely to take place. The Middle Island, conscious of her power, would be very docile before any ministry, knowing that she would be led by pleasant paths to the goal she intended to reach. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) In conclusion, he was sorry he could not make them a good speech, but his want of oratorical power, was atoued for by a knowledge of the fact thnt he was speaking to his friends. The Chairman next proposed "Success" to the Electiic Telegraph, and expressed his regret that the toast had not fallen into the hands of some more competent to do it justice. He regarded the telegraph as the most important achievement of modern science. The Union ofLyttelton and Curistchurch by its agency would effect great good for both. The general Government had it in contemplation to cany the electric telegraph from the most northern to the remotest southern portion of New Zealand ; and if they accomplished that great object they would deserve to be ever remembered with hfn>r. (Applause) Ou lm way to England he had called at Taranaki during ibe lute war, and bad been requested to cairy despatches to Sydney, asking for troops to be forwarded from Australia. He arrived at Sydney at two o'clock in the morning, and went at once with his papers to Government House, but at that hour the officials were not there. He retired to rest for a few hours, but knowing the impoitance of piotnptitude, he went again at nine o'clock to urge his business. Arrived there he found that a message had been transmitted by the tele graph all the way to Melbourne and that an answeishad already been returned from the Commander of the forces, stating that orders had been given and the troops were then embarking for NewZealand.(Applause.) When in London a calculation was made oi the length of time occupied in transmitting a message from thence to Corfu, a distance of 2000 miles, and it was found that the auswer could be con veyed back within one minute. (Expressions of dissent.) He could only say that he believed it, (Hear, hear.)- If the electiic telegraph was valuable in Europe, it was much more so here, where stations and centres of population were so wide apart. Indeed the government of the country was difficult without it. lie had great pleasure in proposing the toast, and coupling with it the health of Mr. Dobson (cheers) a the Provincial Engineer. The toast was drank with a furore of applause.