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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 503, 26 August 1867, Page 2

Where is CoLtTMßi.v?—Yesterday evenin':, the l’o-tmaster-General laid upon the table of the Legislative Council a despatch from the Secretary of State, notifying that her Majesty had entered into a “ Treaty of Commerce with the (.'resident of the United states of Columbia.” This evidently raised a grave geogiaphical qaesiion in the minds of several of the members present, as could be readily seen by ltheir countenances. Lven the TostmaderI General appeared to be aware that it was a tough point to decide At length Sir William Manning gave audible expression t j vdia; appeared to be uppenuost in everybody’s tui! d, and asked this point-blank question, “ Whore is Columbia 'i ” TagUe reininiconccs ass gi .ted with tiie patriotio air of “Hail, Columbia!” posdtdy sug-ge.-ted the idea that' it .might be s me i ew * appellation ef the United Slates of Aine- ■ iea,” par excellence : but Captain Towns gave tnu matter qu:te anotner aspect by boldly expressing his belief that it might b? p obably the North American colony of “ Columbia ” {hat the -Secretary of Stats was wiiting about.. The astute legal mind , f Sir William d. murred to this solution of the d iiiluily, not being able to see how, even in the present day, her Majesty could be reasonably expected to- enter into a “t; c:vy ” with her subjects, however distant they might be from the seat of tier Government. Hie roslinister-G-neral assured Sir William that “ the United -tales of Columbia” constituted a nationality somewhere down in South America, anti l aving examined the despatch and its enclosures with considerable curiosity. Sir William appeared to,be gradually convinced ;of that important fact- —Sydney Herald.