Britain Over All.

The toast of "The King" having been drunk with musical honours, he Hon. G. W. Russell proposed the test of "The Empire." In doing so, he strongly contrasted the culture of Iritain with that of Germany. The Gr- page 4 mans, he said, had placed before them as their national ideal the extension of "Kaltur," their particular brand of culture, throughout the world. But he made bold to say that the truer and higher culture of the British Empire must prevail. (Applause.) British culture had lasted for many generations, for many centuries, and they all hoped and believed that it would last for many centuries to come. The United States, by coming into the war, had recognised the righteousness of the Entente cause, and had brought about a union of the English-speaking races of the world, which he hoped and believed would continue for all time. He believed that ultimately the whole world, all races, would be English-speaking; that the English language would be the universal language, and that British culture and British fair play, with their love of freedom for themselves and for all those with whom they came in contact, would prevail the world over. (Loud applause.) Referring proudly to the great part that Britain and the British Empire had taken and are taking in the war, financially, on the battlefield, and on the seas. Mr Russell said that Now Zealand, as a young country, had borne no ignoble part in the struggle. (Applause.) At Gallipoli, on the Western front, in Egypt, in Mesopotamia, and elsewhere, their sons had fought as only those could fight who belonged to the bulldog breed—(loud applause); and they were met that night to do them honour. (Applause,) The war, he declared, could have only one end. He was not going to prophesy when that end was to be, but that end could only come when Germany was defeated and Great Britain and her Allies were able to dictate the terms of a conclusive and lasting peace. (Loud applause.)