TABLE OF CONTENTS. Council of 1872-73 Inaugural Dinner of the Session, and Report of Progress of the Institute Ordinary General Meeting: Balance-Sheet of the Washington Treaty of 1872 in Account with the People of Great Britain and her Colonies, by the Right Hon. Viscount Bury, K.C.M.G., M.P. Ordinary General Meeting: Adjourned Discussion of Lord Bury's Paper Paper on the Marine and Fisheries of Canada, by Mr. J. G. Bourinot, of Ordinary General Meeting: Discussion of Mr. Bourinot's Paper .. 169 Paper on the Forests of Tasmania, by J. E. Calder, Esq., of Tasmania 173 THE ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE. SESSION 1872-73. THE Session of 1872-3 was inaugurated by a Dinner at the Pall Mall Restaurant, on 17th December, at which were present His Grace the Duke of Manchester, who as President occupied the chair; the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P.; Sir Harry Parkes, K.C.B., Ambassador to Japan; General Sir Charles Daubeney, K.C.B.; Sir Francis Smith, Chief Justice of Tasmania; Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart.; Sir R. G. MacDonnell, K.C.M.G. and C.B., late Governor of Hong-Kong; Sir R. R. Torrens, M.P., K.C.M.G.; Edward Greaves, Esq., M.P.; F. S. Dutton, Esq., C.M.G., Agent-General of South Australia; Colonel T. St. L. Alcock; Lieut.-Col. Laurie, Staff, of Canada; Captain Wyatt; James Youl, Esq., of Tasmania; W. C. Sargeaunt, Esq., Agent of the Crown Colonies; A. J. Otway, Esq., M.P.; Henry Blaine, Esq., of the Cape; Alexander M'Arthur, Esq., Gisborne Molineux, Esq., Secretary to the Canada Company; Hugh Jamieson, Esq., of Australia; Rev. N. Sullivan, late of Australia; C. W. Eddy, Esq.; C. J. Brand, Esq., son of the President of the Orange Free State, as guest of Mr. Eddy; Charles Bourne, Esq.; H. E. Montgomerie, Esq., Manager of the Allan Mail Line; A. Kinnaird, Esq., jun.; Leonard Wray, Esq., of the Straits Settlements; Rev. G. R. Badenoch; H. Tanner, Esq.; J. V. H. Irwin, Esq.; S. V. Morgan, Esq.; F. P. Labillière, Esq., of Australia; T. Smith, Esq., of Australia; Abraham Scott, Esq., of Australia; T. Scott, Esq., of Australia; Frederick Young, Esq.; Patrick Auld, Esq., of Australia; Archibald McLachlan, Esq.; F. A. Wiggins, Esq.; Dr. Cogswell, of New Brunswick; Alexander Rivington, Esq.; Jacob Montefiore, Esq.; A. R. Roche, Esq.; Rev. J. C. Wharton; Cornelius Thorne, Esq., of New Zealand ; A. B. Abraham, Esq., of New Zealand; G. R. Godson, Esq.; James Wheeler, Esq., Secretary to the Queensland Agency; Archibald Stewart, Esq.; George Lyons, Esq., Secretary of British Australian Telegraph Company; Lieut.-Col. Denison, of Canada; - Kermode, Esq., jun., of Tasmania; Carteret Hill, Esq., of Nova Scotia ; E. S. Roche, Esq.; &c., &c. B r Letters from Sir John Rose, Bart., Sir G. E. Cartier, Bart., of Canada, the Hon. J. Dunn, of Tasmania, Sir Antonio Brady, and from other gentlemen, were read, expressing their regret at being unable to attend; and it may be stated that the severity of the weather prevented a more numerous gathering. The Duke of MANCHESTER, in proposing "The Queen and the Empire," remarked that one toast conveyed two ideas. On a recent occasion, when there were assembled most of those who were present that night, besides many others, a similar toast was proposed by the Earl of Kimberley, who made some remarks to which he wished to take exception, not because he belonged to either of the political parties which existed in England, but because the subject to which the noble Earl referred was, in his opinion, one of far greater importance than the success or the failure of any political party in the United Kingdom. (Hear, hear.) Lord Kimberley alluded to the fears which were at one time expressed as to what might be the policy of the present Government, and he regarded the expression of those fears as a party cry from his political opponents in this country. He (the Duke) was happy to say that the subject had never been taken up as a political matter by any body of men in England. (Hear, hear.) It was a matter of far greater importance than a mere party question, and viewed in that light Lord Kimberley's remarks were much more satisfactory than they would otherwise have been. His speech was not an answer to his political opponents, but was rather a declaration to the whole Empire. Both Colonists and their friends at home had had some reason to doubt the present Government, and he should be glad if these doubts were dispelled by what the noble Earl had said. There had been some reason to fear that, floating in the minds of the present Government, there had been an idea of at least submitting to, even if they did not encourage, the disruption of the Empire. The unity of the Empire was what he was sure all Englishmen would endeavour to maintain, under a constitutional Sovereign. (Cheers.) A Report as to the progress which the Institution had made during the past year was next read by the Duke of Manchester :— GENTLEMEN,-I am happy to be able to report to you that our Institute has continued to make good progress since I had the pleasure of seeing you at the Annual Meeting in June, and that its utility is becoming more and more recognised throughout the Colonies and at home. This is substantially proved by the accessions to our numbers, and by the numerous contributions of books and papers which our library is receiving, as well as by the recognitions from time to time in the Colonial and in the English press. Forty-six Fellows have been elected since the meeting in June, of whom 25 are resident and 21 non-resident, making up the number of 97 elected during the present year. It is very desirable that the Institute's sphere of usefulness should be extended as widely as possible, and in promotion of this object, the Council will be obliged by the suggestion of the names of gentlemen who would be desirable additions to our list either as resident or non-resident Fellows. The Society of Arts, the Victoria Institute, and other societies circulate forms of proposal with their annual reports, and we did so, it appears, in 1870, and perhaps might as well do so again. The event which immediately followed the Annual Meeting in June was a dinner at the Cannon-street Hotel, which was open to the members of the Institute, and to any of their Colonial friends who might happen to be in England. This proved so successful and pleasant a reunion that it is hoped it may be repeated at the close of each session. The third volume of the transactions of the Institute, containing the papers and discussions of the last session, together with the remainder of those of 1871, are in the printer's hands, and will be issued very shortly. During the recess a circular has been addressed to competent persons in the Colonies, inviting contributions to a series of papers descriptive of the various portions of Her Majesty's dominions with the view of compiling a synopsis of the whole Empire, and these invitations are now being favourably responded to from various quarters. The papers at present arranged for during this session are as follow: Balance Sheet of the Washington Treaty in account with the People of Great Britain and her Colonies, by the Rt. Hon. Viscount Bury, M.P. The Marine and Fisheries of Canada, by J. G. Bourinot, Esq., of the Senate of Canada. Canada, by Wm. Johnstone, Esq., M.P. Statistics of the West Indies, by Wm. Walker, Esq. (a Member of the Council). The Straits Settlements, by Leonard Wray, Esq. (a Member of the Council). The Land Laws of the Australian Colonies, by James Smith, Esq., of Melbourne. Queensland, by the Agent-General for Queensland. Discovery and Early History of Victoria, by F. P. Labillière, Esq., of Victoria. Looplines of Mail Service to some of the Colonies, by C. W. Eddy, Esq., the Hon. Secretary. The first meeting will be on the 21st of January. Of this due notice will be given. The Society of Arts continue to show the most cordial disposition to us, and continue the loan of their Theatre for our meetings whenever it is in their power to place it at our service. It may be hoped, however, that looking to the rapid increase of our numbers, no long time will elapse before we shall be more adequately lodged than in our present quarters in the Strand. The Australian Colonies, it is understood, entertain the idea of erecting a building for the purpose of permanently exhibiting their rich and varied productions, and we may hope that it will be possible to make arrangements by which our Institute may find appropriate accommodation in such a building, should the locality prove to be suitable. On the opening of telegraphic communication with Australia, about six weeks ago, it appeared to the Council that an event calculated to have so beneficial an influence in strengthening the ties which unite the Colonies with the mother country should not be allowed to pass without notice, and that it was just one of those occasions which should demonstrate the utility of such a society as ours; the Council accordingly took the initiative by summoning a public meeting, and at this meeting it was decided to have a dinner in celebration of the opening, and the Institute was requested to lend its aid to the Committee which was formed for the purpose of arranging it. This it readily gave, and it will be fresh in your recollection that the banquet proved a great success, and that it was signalised by the extreme enthusiasm with which the toast of the "Integrity of the British Empire," given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, was received by the whole company present, which may be said to have virtually represented every part of Her Majesty's dominions. An account of this celebration will be published under the auspices of the Institute. In conclusion, gentlemen, I congratulate you on the gradual attainment of those results for which our Institute was formed, as the first of which I would name the most cordial sympathies between the old country and her Colonies. We claim a share of the credit of having evoked frequent ex |