COLONIAL TOPICS.

Evening Star, Issue 3219, 14 June 1873, Page 3

COLONIAL TOPICS.

Speaking of the high rate of wages paid, Sir James Fergusson touched upon those current in England, and said that in spite of all emigration which had taken they found working men now paid at a rate double the amount of that earned a quarter of a century ago, and yet employers were able to hold their own. He would like to see these Colonies united in the same manner as our North American Colonies. Then the Government would be less expensive, and the Colonies would be able to unite their forces both in times of peace and war. But unfortunately a sort of rivalry prevailed amongst them, and stimulated them to courses which were certainly unfavorable to the principles of unity. The jealousies, in particular between New South Wales and Victoria, were exceedingly extreme, and these jealousies were manifested by the duties which the one Colony imposed upon the ether. At the Vienna Exhibition the Australian Colonies and New Zealand will make a respectable show in themselves. To Queensland, the youngest and one of the most energetic of the group, a space of 164 square metres has been assigned. Victoria baa applied for 100 square metres. To New South Wales has been apportioned 150 feet, while New Zealand has been allotted 1,644 square feet. : niL ' It will be with no ordinary gratification that colonists will hear Mr N. Chevalier is to be the representative artist of the Royal family of England at the Vienna Exhibition. It was ef course very natural that they should desire to possess some memento of the world’s show, and it is an additional proof of this country’s regard;for our Colonies that a colonist should have been selected to do the work. Mr Chevalier was one of the Prince of Wales’ suite at the Exhibition. The Standard, of 16th April, says the history of the la 6 Conference, proves that the Australian Colonies are yet very far from having arrrived at that stage when confederation, on the model of the Canadian Dominion, is practicable. The Times, of the same date, while placing Australasia far above ou t other Colonies, . and regarding it as a New World, does not despair of ultimate union. “ Anglo Australian,” in the European Mail , writesDr Featherstone is making very' strenuous exertions to render the New Zealand Court at Vienna a success ; and those who are competent to form an opinion declare that it will be infinitely superior to anything of the kind ever before attempted. It has been found necessary to apply to the Royal Commissioners for an extension of the space originally allotted to the Colony, and an agent is already bn the spot receiving the e» hihits iu the annexe, arranging and classifying them. This section will be rich in articles manufactured from the phoimium. The other day I called upon Mr Thorne, and found him making np no end of packages for Dr Featherstone for transmission to Vienna, these articles consisting of towelling, sheeting, sailcloth, wool-sacks, mail-bags, twine, cord, rope, fisbing-ncts, and damask tablecloths. It would have made some of my New Zealand friends who have been sceptical on the value of this product “jump for joy,” had they seen the really excellent and durable material of which the articles I have referred to were composed. The tares could not be better, the sheeting was all that could be desired, while the towelling and damask tablecloths cannot but excite universal admiration. Really Mr Tborne has done wonders with this material, and the credit that is due to him is enhanced a hundredfold when.l remember that he has accomplished these results in the face of an opposition; and at an expense 'which would have damped the ardor of any man not bent upon achieving success at all risks and at any sacrifice. Depend upon it, New Zealand phormium will hold its own yet, and make its mark upon the roll of commerce. I am glad to find that emigration to New Zealand is on the increase. Dr Featherstone has made arrangements for a continuous line of ships to the various ports, and the number of applications from intending emigrants is increas ng every day. During the month of May three ships will be despatched with about 300 emigrants each, and m the month following five ships with a compliment of from 230 to 300 each. The alteration in the regulations, by which larger facilities are given to the poorer classes, appears to be working very well, and I understand that the Agent-General is sanguine that within the next eight mouths he will be able to despatch to New Zealand from 8,000 to 10,000 selected emigrants. The fifth and concluding part of Dr Buffer’s “ Birds of New Zealand ” has just appeared, and will, I prei ume, be sent to the Colony by this mail. The present number is of larger size than any of the preceding ones, because, in addition to the descriptive letterpress, there is a lengthy introduction, in which the distinguishing features of New Zealand ornithology are dealt with in a very exhaustive manner, and the author’s views stated on various disputed questions. In explaining his arrangement of the genera, Dr Buffer says .-—“ Any system of classification, however excellent in itself, or ably conceived and elaborated, mast of necessity be a provisional or tentative one, so long as our knowledge of the structural character and natural affinities of the vast majority of species continues so imperfect as it confessedly is at present. When the anatomy of every known bird on the face of the globe has been as fully investigated as that ofthe Rock Dove (Colvmha livia j was by the late Professor Macgillivray, and its life history becomes as thoroughly known, then, and not till then, will it be possible to devise a system of arrangement absolutely true to nature. The aim and purpose of all classification being to aid the memory in its effort to comprehend and master the complex and ever varied productions of nature, or, in other words, to assist the mind by a ready association of ideas in the grand study of Creation, it follows that the method of arrangement which best subserves this practical epd is the right one to adopt. But we must be content to see our carefully elaborated systems swept away one after another, till, perhaps, in the distant future some gifted mind shall arise, who, with the constructive energy of a second Cuvier, may he able to fashion, from the more complete materials at his command, a system perfect in all its parts, and destined to endure tiff time shall be no more.” Like the other parts of the work, the present one contains seven lithographs carefully colored by hand, and these are probably the finest that have appeared, especially as they embrace the various species of Apteryx, a form entirely peculiar to New Zealand. In addition to this, there is a most handsome frontispiece, printed iu brown tints, representing the skeleton of the extinct moa (Dinornis yigantea), and alongside of it, for the sake of showing the relative proportion, a Maori warrior in fuff costume. Keating on his carved-beaded spear he gazes on this relic of a past generation, and one may almost read his inward thoughts as he speculates ou the ultimate extinction of bis own race before the ever-advancing tide o£ civilisation ! The picture is one of real interest, and gives an appropriate finishing touch to this elegant and valuable book.