The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-31 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

The celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the settle-
!wilt of the Australian colonies took place on Thursday
evening at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street, Mr. J.
E. Fitzgerald, late Superintendent of Canterbury, and
member of the Executive Council of New Zealand, in
the chair. The chairman was supported by Lords
Stanley, Carnarvon, Monteagle, Churchill, Sir J. Peking-
ton, Mr. C. Fortescue, Admiral Fitzroy, G•meral Wood,
Mr. Edwin James, M.P., Captain Morris, R.N., and
Mr. Merivale. Among the more distinguished colonists
present we particularly noticed Messrs. S. A. Donald-
sun, the Hun. J. Stuart Wortley, 11. Moor, J. A. Youl,
W. Westgarth, R. B. Gibbs, D. H. Cleve, E. De Pass,
Dalgety, R. Q. Fermoy, Westby, W. Fletcher, A.
Alieckett, Captain Clarke. RE., Captain Hart, and
Captain Allen Young, of Arctic renown.
The dinner, which was worthy of the establishment,
was attended by about 150 guests, who were enlivened
in the intervals of the speeches by the musical exer-
tions of Miss Banks, Mrs. Winn, Mr. Young, and Mr.
S. Champion, under the direction of Mr. hockey.
After the Queen's health had been most egaltusias-
tically received, the chairman, in proposing the Health
of His Royal Highness Prince Albert and the rest of the
Royal Family," congratulated the colonists present on
the strenuous efforts of His Royal Ilighnesa to promote
the vrelfare of the colonies, and exemplified in illustra-
tion the pains to which the Prince Consort hail been
put in order to introduce red deer and other game into
Australia in co-operation with the Duke of Newcastle.
" The Army awl Navy" were then proposed, and re-
ceived with loud cheers, in returnir.g thanks for which
Admiral Fitzroy briefly touched upon the Chinese war,
and paid a just and eloquent compliuient to the con-
stancy, bravery, and fortitude exhibited by Admiral
Hope in his attack on the Peiho.
The Chairman then roar, and said in proposing the
" Health of Her Majesty's Ministers," lie considered
that they had met for some higher purpose then mere
conviviality. He regretted the &beetles of Mr. Gli.d.
stone and the Duke of Newcastle all the present occa-
sion, and proceeded to sketch ins brief and able manner
the feelingr which agitated the different sections of the
colonists in regard to the mother country, and referred
to the difficulties which surrounded the public men of
this country in dealing with colonial matters—partly
from want of knowledge of the subject, and partly from
the withdrawal of their attention to matters of more
immediate domestic iuiportance. These difficulties, how-
ever, were slight in comparison with those which would
have occurred had England tried to administer the
governtueut of the colonies entirely from the mother
country, and without due consideration for their feelings.
While he admitted, however, the benefits which had
arisen from the abandonment of the old system, be was
not one of those who wiahed to fee the influence of the
home Goveruusent entirely dispensed with. The cry
"(if what use were colonies r. was English, and not •
voice from the colonies, where the warmest and truest
loyalty to the Crown existed. Difficulties there were,
no doubt, but they were more prospective than immedi-
ate. A time must some day come when England would
not be in that proud pre-eminence of Wealth and popula-
tion in which she now stood. When that time arrived it
would be no longer poesible for England to remain sole
arbiterof questions of peace and war,--9nestioro,in which
the colonies were 140 deeply and vitally interested ; but it
would be necessary to give a voice in such matters to
the colonies, or to take the alternative of separation,
which would probably be presented to them. He con-
cluded a long and eloquent speech by proposing "Tire
Health of Her Majesty'. Ministers," coupled with the
name of Mr. Chichester Fortescue, who presently ex-
presses] at some length in his own name and that of the
Government his acknowledgments for the honour which
hail been conferred upon them.
Lord Mont-eagle then, in an eloquent, but lengthy ora-
tion, iii tSe course of which he dilated upon the dilferent
position of the Australian colonies when he was Secre-
tary of State, and at the present inoment,eularged upon
the development of the colonial resources, the advan-
tages the colonies had enjoyed in having the British Con-
stitution as a model, and the strong aaaairation he had

always felt for the love which animated the colonies
towards England, and concluded by proposing "Prospe-
rity to the Australian colonies."—Mr. S. A. Donaldson
returned thanks, and referred as lie said with a feeling
of pride to the Relations between Australia and the
mother country. Australia had enjoyed • distinguished
privilege among our colonies in being left to itself, and
had lia.l the happiness of having contributed 00,0011,000
annually to England. The physical advantages of our
Australian colonies bad materially contributed to the
benefits of this country, and he was glad to say that the
population if those colonies were in favour of free-trade
—a polity to which a neighbouring potentate had also
given his adherence. In conclusion, he drew • bright
picture of the future prospects of the Australian
colonies, and their possible influences upon cleat-
zation.—Lord Stanley, in returning thanks for the
House of C,ommons, pointed out the universal
adoption of similar institutions to our Parliamentary sys-
tem in all our colonies, and couipared the colonial with
the Imperial Parliaments, between which small differ-
ence only existed. He foresaw the period which must end
either in separation from the mother country or in •
close and firiu alliance. The Australian colonies, lie con-
sidered, were for all purposes of government self-govern-
ed, an experiment which was watched with the greatest
interest by this country, and finished his speech with a
fervent wish that those persons upon whom the duties of
citizenship fell might discharge those duties efficiently,
that they 'eight not by extravagance diuiinish the resour-
cen of their country, and that law, by means of opinion,
might become the most popular form of government the
world ever saw. Ity such results they would strengthen
English institutions, hold them up for • model for imita-
tion, and would add one more to the list of triumphs of
Parliamentary government, popular representation, and
free institutions.
Sir John Pakington then proposed " the Governors
and Parliament of the Australian Colonies," in which
lie eulogized our present system of colonial policy, slid
the conduct of colonial affairs by the Duke of Newcastle.
The past history of the colonies, by their rapid advance
in wealth, prosperity, and power, verged upon romance,
and, if the future correspond to the put, would soon
bring them to the highest point. In the Australian Par-
liament a system of responsible government under cir.
cumstances of entire novelty was being carried no—a
system which he did not regard with fear or anxiety. but
one which required great caution and vigilance on the
port of those who governed them: colonies. After toying
a liilh compliment Li the perseverance and steadiness of
the British character at lionie and abroad, he concluded
by assuring his listeners that the colonies and their
interests would be a matter of the greatest care and
, interest to every Administration. After a variety of
other toasts. and a vote of thanks to the chairman, the
company broke up at every late hour. Mr. Tuole was
the very effective toast-master on the occasion.