§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will lay upon the Table of the House the proceedings that took place in January last in Sydney, in celebration of the Centennial of New South Wales, including the united service held by the clergy and laity of the Church of England and the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Churches, and which was attended by His Excellency the Governor; and, whether he will take steps to secure a permament record of an event of so great interest?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)All the Centennial proceedings in Sydney will, without doubt, be fully recorded in the local Press; and any special notice taken by Her Majesty's Government of a particular religious celebration by one or two Churches would be disapproved in the Colony as being inconsistent with the absolute impartiality maintained by Her Majesty's Government towards all religious communities without distinction.
§ MR. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the service was 852 joined in by the Jews and the Roman Catholics?
§ [No reply.]