AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2115, 28 January 1886, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL COUNCIL.

First Day. [KhU rfcllS TIXbUKAMh.] If oh Mir, January 25. I'm: Mtthigs »f the Federal Council opened r o-div in the Legislative Council Chamber. Mi E. C. Xnwell, clerk to the Tasmanian Executive C iiaicil, was appointed clerk, md le.ui tho Go\emor'h proclamation summoning the Federal Council, after which the vaiioiia membeis put in their (juiiuni-Moii's or appointments, and tho necis-.ary oath-, of office were adminibtered. Mew-. Set \ ice and Hen y were present, representing Victoi i.i ; Mews Griffith and Dickbon, (,)'icensl.ind ; Messrs Douglas and I). ids, Tasmania ; and Messrs Leester and McGregor, Western Australia. The Hon. Mr Giiffith, Premier of (Jueenxland, piopjsed that Mr Service be elected PieM'k'iit, and this being duly accepted by the Couucil, Mr Service was inducted into the chair. During the course of an eloquent inaugural speech, Mr Service alluded to the events leading up to the constitution of tho Federal Council. He stated that history afforded many examples where other nations had experienced some of the difficulties that are now being cuuounteied by the Australian colonies, and instanced in particular the records of the Nethei lands, Switzerland, the United .States and Canada, as furnishing cases in point. Mr Service -.aid he hoped originally that the whole of the Australasian colonies would join in sending represent itU es to the Council, but, he added, the absence of some of the colonies would not dUcoui"igo those members who were present. Tho cvtent of tho year 1883, when Australia was threatened with a Hood of of convicts, laid the basis of federation, which lesultcd in the federal convention adopting the .scheme for the present. Council, in which they could discuss conjointly many questions that were not ripe for final legislation, but he was confident the deliberations of the Council would carry weight in the Legislatures of the various colonies represented. Mi Service was warmly complimented «n the conclubion of his speech. The officers of the Council were then firm illy appointed, and the Hon. Adye Douglas, Premier of Tasmania, announced that Mr Sen ice, President of tho Council, would be officially presented to His Excellency Sir Georga Strahan, the Governor, t'wnoii'iw morning, after which the proceedings of the Council wore adjourned unti 1 to-morrow. The Governor has arranged to attend at noon, when he wil' deliver an address. The whole of to-day's proceedings occupied nliout an hoi.r. The meeting of the Council did not attract great public attention, and tbore was only a small attendance in the gallery devoted to onlookers.

Formal Opening of the Council. January 26. The forinil opening of the Federal Council by His Excellency the Governor took place to daj', in the presence of a large number of sp-Jctut >m. In the oourse of a brief address tbo

Governor alluded to the circumstances which led to the assembling of the prctent Federal Council, and expressed regret that New South Wales, South Australia and New Zealand were not represented. Ho extended, however, a hearty welcome to those representative* present, and expreiscd confidence in the ultimate realisation of the ho|)cs and aspirations to which the meeting had given rise. At tho afternoon sitting Mr Griffith proposed the adoption of an address in reply to the Governoi'n speech. Mr Griffith delivered a lengthy and exhaustive addresu, referring to the functions of tho Council nnd the benefits to be derived by tho colonies fiutn federation, and regretting the absence of representatives from the other colonies. He propped the appointment of a standing committee to prepare iic.tsurch during the recesses for submission to the Council. Mr McGregor, Western Australia, I seconded the motion. | Mr Bony, in the course of !»•» speech, ! admitted the (scheme of Australian federation was at present imperfect. He hoped | that the other colonies would join tho ! union before the ne\t session of the Council. I The address w.<w then adopted, and reno« lutioni carried to the effect that a telegram be to Her Majesty the Queen otating that the Council, on its inauguration, deHires to express its sense of loyalty and affection to Her Maji^ty's* person. A helecc committee wan appointed to prepare standing orders for ttie guidance of the Council in the transaction of bu«ine>B, and an adjournment wan made until to-morrow morning.