NETHERLANDS INDIA.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 668, 7 June 1870, Page 2

NETHERLANDS INDIA.

(From the Australasian?) Our neighbors in Netherlands India, are very anxious to do business with us,—using the word " us " in its Auatralasiatic sense; and we wish them all possible success in the fulfilment of their operations; for commerce implies, a benefit to be conferred upon both parties who are engaged in the act of barter, If the Dutch Javaneso want to send us sugar and coffee, they also want to take something frein us in exchange which we

oduco in excess of our local needs—,it gold, flour, or wine; and the more pactions of this kind are multiied, the greater will be the number ' subsidiary employments created. olland herself owes almost everying to her foreign commerce. With population to tho square mile 25 per at. greater than tliat of Great Brita and Ireland, with a Government hich costs more per head than that of iv Government in Europe, and with national debt which i 3 second only—proportion to its inhabitants—to iat of our own mother country, Holnd is nevertheless one of the os t prosperous countries in urope, while it also possesses a comiratively larger town population than pother European state. Commerce the foundation of its power and prolerity ; and it is only natural, thereire, that the Dutch merchants and Miters in Java should memorialise ie Governor-General of Netherlands idia to abolish the differential duties i the export of produce, and to " erajwer the Netherlands Consul-Gene-Jin Australia, .Tasmania, and New ealand, to inform the Governments of ew South Wales and Queensland, at the Netherlands India Governent has observed with interest and leasure the efforts made by the blonial Governments to bring about eam communication with Singapore, y way of Torres Straits, and that the rovernment of Netherlands India is isposed to bear a fair share of the osts of a regular subsidy for the earners, if they, on their voyages to ad fro, touch at one of the principal orts of Java." The progress of the .ustralian colonies during the last 10 ears excites the admiration of the lembers of the Java Chamber of Comlerce, and prompts the desire for the stablishrnent of closer relations beween the two countries.

In ancient times the precept was Know thyself." In modern times it as been supplanted by the far more iishionable maxim," Know thy neighor, and everything about him." It is generally believed that Cowper m a Freemason, as he wished to irect " a lodge in some vast wilderess." Why is an artist stronger than a lorse ?—Because he can draw a horse. Punch discovers that the sea is a letter house-keepor than the earth, jecause the sea is more tidy.