THE COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 10

THE COMMONWEALTH.

SOME REMAJEtKS BY SIR JOHN MADDEN. ■ (Fbom Our Owh Coebespondent.) WELLINGTON, January 9. Sir John Madden, Chief Justice of Victoria,- who has come to New* Zealand on, holiday,, states that the, Commonwealth generally, and Victoria in -particular, are at present in a very prosperous condition, and that enormous expansion .and progress are apparent. The necessity for irrigation; is being very generally recognised. A good deal is being done, and the Victorian Government has in view a scheme, nvoivingi the construction of a dam bigger than that at Assouan, on the Nile. The Government in this State is pursuing a vigorous polioy. of land settlement.' Large estates are acquired by voluntary bargaining, the _»rica to the eettlers being based on the -price paid by the Government. The time within purchase may be made from the data of occupation is 30 years, and the Government in many coses will advance money to settlers. Payment is made on the credit: j foncier system, and the Government charges I 4 per cent. TEe results are eminently satisI facory, and there are few arrears of payment. Under this close settlement schema no i person is allowed to have land of £* greater capital value than £1500. Thero are some who say the price paid for the* 1 land under the scheme is too high, anJf they desire the passing of a' bill limiting tfhe* price compulsorily. There is, however, no> difficulty in settling the lands at the prices ! asked. Mr Bent (Premier) has said that fiei ' I is 'ready as soon as the Commonwealth has decided on a basis for a national scheme of close settlement and irrigation to throw) open two million acres of land 'or sudd purposes.

In Tegard to the defence of the Commonwealth, Sir John Madden says the great; majority of the people think there shointf be si general compulsory system of military ' ■training. ,The difficulty ' will be in'regari* * to the "Organisation of such a schemj./ AH the present time no enthusiasm was-. maniW fe3ted about Mr Deakin'e proposals,' buff; on the other hand, no hostility was noticeable, on the ground that the scheme was of a compulsory character. Everyone-recog-nised that both -for the purposes of defence and discipline it was due to the State that they should have some training, and they also recognised that such a course woold! have an undoubted educational value* Amongst the elder men there was appreEension lest the sohen^e might lead to some disruption of business, but -Jh« reply advanced to that argument was that m«ns, in training should be paid for their services.

Canterbury this season will have' Uhs most prolific apricot crop known in Aer history, and when' the} main crop comes into tb« market the prices should be within the Teach of the most oaxeful housekeeper, says the Cnristchureh Press.

The death is announced of Angelo Sarto, the Pope's brother. He was formerly in the Austrian army, but for some years kept a small grocery shop at , Asolo, .sear Mantua, and latterly has been employed m a subordinate capacity at the post office.