The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4080, 24 March 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1876.

A very interesting letter respecting ’ the I possible federation of the Australian Colonies has recently been published in the Victorian newspapers. The writer is Mr Childers, ex-First Ibrd of the Admiralty, and formerly Commissioner of Trade and Customs at Melbourne. It seems that aDr Emblino had been writing to Earl Carnarvon urging that Great Britain should take some action to bring about federation, and that the Earl had replied to„the effect that the Imperial Government would willingly aid any movement in that direction, but that the Colonies must of themselves take the first step. Not being satisfied with this answer, Dr Emblino next appealed to Mr Childers for assistance, and in answer thereto the letter to which we refer was written. It is a valuable document for many reasons. In the first place it comes from a statesman of no ordinary ability, whose experience extends over Australia, Britain, and America, and Whose opportunities for forming a definite opinion upon the subject under consideration have been very great. Like* the Secretary for the Colonies, he avows his belief that the leVer to obtain federation must be public opinion in Australia itself rather than in any action which the Colonial Office might or could take. The question of the federation of the Australian Colonies has always seemed to me Of the first importance, and I remember taking part in a debate on. the subject at_ -Melbourne twenty years ago. .The great impediment then was intercolonial jealousy. Has nt diminished since? I doubt whether the Imperial Government could with advantage initiate anythlug on this subject just now. Anything coming from the Colonial Office would be at once suspected, both at Melbourne and Sydney. Indeed, on this subject it would almost seem as if the mere consent of the Home Government had the effect of a wet blanket. Take the agitation about the Intercolonial Customs'agreement. For years the Colonies were agitating to make such agreements, and using strong language when the Colonial Office hesitated. At last the Home Government consented, and an Act was passed through the Imperial Parliament. Frem that moment the subject dropped.

How tTU6 tbis is we ail know, and the unsuccessful issue of the efforts made to bring about the federation of the South African Colonies Is a fdrthef illtistratidn Of the impolicy of Imperial interference until the matter has been thoroughly ripened by local public opinion. The intentional misconstruction placed on Lord Carnarvon's dispatch by the Molteno Ministry, and the consequent shelving of the question are circumstances of such recent occiirrehce that it is unnecessary to dilate upon them further than to point out how confirmatory they are of the views expressed by Mr ChildEßS, Perhaps it is well that it should be so. Jealousy of Home control may of course be carried to excess by those who, like Mr GeoMb Higginbotham, recognise in the official exponent of the mind of the Imperial Government only “a foreign nobleman sitting in Downing street. But on the whole it is a wholesome and salutary feeling. The days of official tutelage have passed away, and the Colonies must be left free to work out their own destinies as best they may. And if at times they seem to be groping in the dark, it is as certain that they will eventually emerge into the light—through much internal trouble and suffering though it may be—as that the day will follow the night. As to the advantages derivable from Federation, Mr Childers speaks most forcibly, and from personal observation of its operation in the North American Colonies. Coming from my second visit, within twelve months, to tho Dominion of Canada, 1 ran speak to the. great advantage gained, both by the Colonies and the Mother Country, through the American Federation. The development of their energy, in* dustry, and financial power has been enormous, and the Dominion is as much a nation as tho United States. It would be the same with Australia, which, being so much farther from England *>n»i Canada is, requires all the more a national character. But 1 suspect that you must first successfully contend with that wretched ** Particularism” which is so evident in your recent policy, aild Which, by repressing itiinligration and keeping up protective tariffs, appears to nie the merest burlesque of progressive statesmanship. The policy of federation is associated with the belief that the settlement of Australia should bo promoted aS rapidly aS possible by abundant immigrayon, cheap food and supplies, and the natural establishment of industries which would follow; but tho prevailing sentiment in Victoria would appear to be to keep out emigrants In order to maintain high wages, and to buud a Chinese wall of Protection round artificially established trades. Those who believe in the policy will never, in their hearts, approve of a “ Dominion of Australia.**

These are words of wisdom, and were the politicians who control Victoria only amenable to reason and common sense, Mr Childers’s letter should make thempausein their mad career and ask themselves whether they are not in reality forcing that Colony to the bottom of the Colonial scale. But is the assent or the co-operation of Victoria absolutely necessary for the establishment of an Australian Dominion ? We take leave to think Hot, She is becoming of less impor tance every year. Why should not New South Wales and Queensland and South Australia unite, leaving Victoria to sink or swim by herself till such time as her people recover their senses and compel their public men to join the Dominion ? Tasmania would probably be only to glad to unite with the larger Colonies, and even New Zealand might find it to her advantage to be recognised as an integral part of a powerful Federation . rather than to stand aloof as an isolated unit. We say nothing of Western Australia, because so long as she is content to be the abode of criminals her entrance into the union would not be suffered by the other Colonies ; but even Western Australia might prefer to enter on a new phase of political existence, and with such intent forego the luxury of convict labor. We make a present of this suggestion to our Australian neighbors, and more especially to New South Wales, which, thanks to her free-trade policy, now stands at the head of the Colonies. Let her make the first move, and we believe that South Australia and Queensland would readily join her, and were so much accomplished the remainder would he only a question of time.

The ‘Bruce Herald’ states that another breach of promise will, in all probability, shortly engage the attention of the Supreme Court, the defendant being a well-known resident in that district.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this day, William M‘Neil and William John Golden, were each fined 10s, with the usual alternative in default of payment, for being drunk and disorderly on the railway platform yesterday. There was a very brief sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Louisa M'Kay v. Arch. M‘Laughlan, was a claim of L 8 7s 7d forgoods supplied, for which amount judgment was given for plaintiff with costs, Mr Bathgate was on the bench. ,

In Marlborough, a schoolmaster named Seveme has been fined ss, with L 3 11s fid costs, for caning with excessive severity a boy six years of age. The evidence showed that on the posterior there was a space about the size of the palm of the hand which was one mass of congealed blood. A new feature in the Easter programme of the Canterbury Rifle Association will be a ladies’ rifle match, subject to the following conditions ;—Any lady subscriber shall, at her option, nominate a gentleman : to shoot in her name, the prize won by him to bo the property o£ the lady he represents.

A good example is furnished in the ' of how a bit of news its aspeo* y travelling. In the telegraphic mtemgen c > under the head. Whllimpibnj itiSbltAtedth ‘ ‘ Disregarding the Abolition Dilb Mr xAacfW. - drew, the Superintendent 6f - bai called his Provincial Council ® convention, with the view of upsettifiM to* Land BUI.”

A telegraph station is now open at iUvcrbead, in the Province of Auckland.

It is announced in another column that the Rev. Dr Hoseby will, on Sunday evening next, review the lecture? on Christianity recently delivered by Mr Bright. We have received from Messrs Clifford and Mortis a_ very nicely-executed position circle. This is -intended for the use of amateur observers, and will give the position angle of a star with very considerable acccuracy. It is ph t graphed on glass by a direct positive process, and. is altogether a very favorable specimen of what can be effected by the photographer’s art. The low price at which such a position cbcle can be supplied is by no means the least of its recommendations.