A NEW ZEALAND TOUR.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 5

A NEW ZEALAND TOUR.

RETURN OF MESSRS McMILLAN AND EDDY. MR McMILLAN ON FEDERATION. MR EDDY’S OPINION ON THE RAILWAYS. The Hon. W. McMillan and Mr Eddy left Melbourne for Sydney last Monday week after their return from New Zealand. Mr McMillan states that his stay in New Zealand was too limited to afford much time for observation. He speaks with pleasure of the genial cordiality and generous hospitality which were everywhere extended to him. He was very pleased with what he saw of the Exhibition. With regard to the subject of Australasian federation, it seemed to him that the matter has nob yet been seriously broached by the New Zealand residents and the process of education on the subject is only just beginning. The great difficulty in dealing with such a question in New Zealand was that there was no general public opinion there on account of the practical isolation of the different parts of the colony, which was divided into distinct parts, and the people of each appeared to be almost as isolated in their general views as if feheyweredistineband separate colonies. It appeared to him that the initial difficulty of bringingabout a discussion on the Federal Union was not so much the difficulty of getting a discussion carried on in a general way as to show the colony as a whole how such a union would affect the whole country ; but what was wanted was the completion of railway communication through the different parts, so far as was practicable, having only the natural water barrieis between the islands, bringing about similar inter - communication between the different parts to that which had been attained in such a marked degree between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide' by the completion of railways. So far as he was able to judge there was a very striking element of loyalty towards the mother country permeating the whole of the New Zealand people, and the possible fear that any Australian union might in some way or other interfere with this aspiration. The question of the Federal Union was only now becoming a practical one, and would take time to develop, and it would be better understood as the subject was discussed in Australia and as the exact form of the union desired was indicated.

Mr Eddy said he was only enjoying a holiday and not making any inspection ; indeed, he only travelled a very short distance by land. The hospitality of the people of New Zealand was unbounded, With regard to the New Zealand railways, he said they were narrow gauge, and totally diferent from those of New South Wales ; but, having only been a casual passenger for a very few miles, he was reticent as to expressing any opinion as to the management. He was, however, pleased with the cleanliness and the class of the rolling stock they had, which was in good order. He was also favourably impressed with the workshops he looked through, and the business-like way in which they appeared to be conducted. He witnessed the working of a patenb arrangement for dropping ballast and spreading it by means of a “ plough,” which appeared to be a very - effective and economical method of ballasting. He intends consulting his colleagues on his. return to Sydney as to its adoption in New South Wales. The consequence of narrow gauge on the New Zealand lines was, that travelling was slower, and partly owing to the incomplete railway system there was great isolation, the people in one district appearing much cut off from, and knowing little of, the people in the other district. The Go* vernment, however, intended pushing works forward and uniting as soon as practicable all the various sections, thus bringing about a similar condition of things as existed in these colonies.