THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH. Festivities at the Inauguration.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 22, 1 December 1900, Page 6

THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH. Festivities at the Inauguration.

THE Government of New South Wales is not going to allow the auspicious occasion, when the new Commonwealth of the South will take its place among the great nations of the earth, to pass without marking the event with imposing and fitting ceremony. The history of the different colonies, which are at length welded into the more notable Commonwealth, is one, on the whole, of extraordinary and phenomenal success. The coal of New Soaih Wales, agriculture of Victoria, wheat of South Australia, mining wealth of Queensland, and the fruit of " the tight little island" (Tasmania) have proved magnificent resources. And those resources have

only been tapped. The vast interior of the continent, when once provision is made for universal irrigation, will be converted into an unparalleled oasis, capable of supporting a population greater than the whole of Britain. * * • The progress of the colonies has advanced against gigantic obstacles. In the first place, there was Governor Beauchatnp, inauspiciously designated " the birth stain." Although that has worn away, it was undoubtedly a direful handicap, for convictism breeds, and is associated with the worst evils and passions of human nature. Then one stands appalled at the glaring example of prostituted statesmanship. There can be no greater tribute to the vitality of the Australian colonies, and the long-suffering patience of their inhabitants, than the way each bore and prospered, in spite of the magnificent and wholesale corruption that unfortunately was the rule over there in times gone by. The worst feature of this painful maladministration was the criminal, unnecessary borrowing that to-day leaves a heritage of debt hanging millstone-like round the neck of the new Commonwealth. * # • The Commonwealth has another colossal evil to fight in the great land question. In the early days of Colonial history land was given away with reckless ruthlessness. Thus has sprung up in the colonies the pauperising land monopolies of Europe. Men, whose fathers had purchased vast tracts for a mere song or less, now live far from the scene of their incomes, a principle pregnant with injustice, and worthy of the strongest condemnation. No doubt future statesmen will gradually nationalise the land for closer settlement, but that does not relieve the pioneer colonists and statesmen from the charge of criminal neglect in land matters. Again, the encouragement given to small settlers has never been worthy of the name. If some of the huge sums of borrowed money had been expended in bringing out thousands of suitable settlers, the benefit today would be reaped, not by the fact that the Australian farmers are, on the whole, the most miserable, impecunious body on the face of the continent, but by " a bold peasantry their country's pride." * # • And on its fame-scroll, notwithstanding many blemishes, the colonies have names to be proud of. Wentworth and Parkes, Higginbotham and Grey, Dalley and Mcllwraith, Martin and Bobertson, Lilley and Lang, are worthy to be treasured among the archives of any nation. And of the men who have directly been responsible for the upbuilding of the mighty structure, it is not too much to say there are names among them that must inevitably go down to posterity enshrined in the hearts of grateful people living under the freest constitution ever framed by man. * * * That New South Wales, as the mother colony, where the inauguration celebrations fittingly take place, is preparing to mark the movement in a unique manner is only what is due to the august event. From England, Canada, India, South Africa, and the old land itself will swarm representatives of the great Empire which dominates the world. Side by side with British warriors will march the dusky soldiers of India and New Zealand. There too, conspicuous by their recent valour, will parade representatives of the colonial Contingents, the whole forming a glorious tribute to the consummation of Britain's sons, the illustrious Australian Commonwealth. ____^__ mm _^__

It has not yet been stated in the papers that Lillywhite, or Blatch, was on the eve of being married when he was arrested on account of the Colchester murder. The lady of his choice was a prepossessing Auckland widow, who had been employed as stewardess on a coastal steamer, and who is possessed of a modest amount of means. She is very firmly persuaded of his innocence, and has come to Wellington to be near him until his case is decided.