MR. ARCHIBALD FORBES ON THE COLONIES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 11, 20 November 1883, Page 3

MR. ARCHIBALD FORBES ON THE COLONIES.

Mr AncKibAtn Forbes has returned from a leigthened sojourn under the Southern Cross, sod is endeavoring to repay the hospitality he experienced by saying all manner of pleasant things about ths colonies and colonists in the most public way that he can Contrive. In literary circles ho has excited some little jealousy (mingled, however, with admiration) through having induced two leading magazines—the nineteenth Century and the Contemporary Review— to print articles of his summing up the results of his Australasian experiences. The heavier of the two articles appears in the nineteenth Century, and is entitled “ The Present and Future of the Australasian Colonies.” lam inclined to think that colonists who have sojourned more than one “ long year under the Southern Cross " will not be altogether disposed tn accept the opinions expressed by the great war correspondent. He thinks that “ only one thing can tear up by the roots the beautiful Australian loyalty that England makes so light of to-day. That thing will be, or would be, Englund's entering the lists of war with a great European Power." In that event he appears to consider that the “ raids " of hostile cruisers would be almost insupportable, and that the general results of a severe struggle would press so hardly on the colonies that they would detach themselves from the mother country. Federation would then ensue, and our critic thinks the Dominion could afford to “ take their Chances " in regard to auy external danger almost as complacently as the United Ntstes do now. Mr Forbes evidently considers New Zealand more open to attack even than her northern neighbours. Respecting her he writes I—“ New Zealand seems to regard herself absolved from the duty of seif defence, and although Quakers do nut abound among her people, to have adopted tbs imbecile dictum of a local pseudo-states-man that 1 in her defcncelessuen lies her truest protection.' True, several of her principal cities—Christchurch, Invercargill, Auckland, Blenheim, and perhaps her capital Wellington—are safe, either in virtue ot position, or so situate that a few guns would make them so. But many others art clean naked, such as Oamaru, Timaru, Nelson, Napier, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Grev mouth, while Liunedin, although the waterway to the face of that beautiful city is covered, is open to inshore cannon tire across the neck of Ocean Beach." Mi Forbes’other article on “ Home Social Characteristics of Australia" is light and more agreeable reading, especially to Australians, who are pleasantly patted on the back. Australian ladies are described in terms which will probably ensure Mr Forbes a genial welcome when he revisits the colonies next year. They are described as fairly accomplished, and possessing a light, airy piquancy and sparkle, which is pronounced very charming. “ In physique they are taller, slighter, more lithe, shapelier, than their compeers at home, Their colour, save in Tasmania, is seldom brilliant, the expression is full of vivacity, the eyes nearly always good, and the head and feet shapely, although not, as those of American ladies, expectionaily small. Australian gentiemen are more briefly described as manly, cordial fellows, more pronounced and less reserved than Britishers st home.— X.Z. Herald.