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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2423, 21 January 1888, Page 2

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Tjxe present yofu , will witness still I'lii'tlii'i , yvuu'te of iho rmiiiirkujilo growth of tho Aiisti-uliiiu colonies, tko tuo cliiL-t' eilioa ui v.liiek arc milking , extensive* preparations, to ldluUmLo tho completion of tho first •jcntury ui Lhoir " lnitiouiil liibtory. Driven by Uio oxiyui)ciu« of iho Limes, tut-1 Liu; suvoru straiiiß on her own vn-'-ourf-cs ivutsod by tho Ion!? wars ;i,'jrri,ij>--:t Xa.poleon and raii-iijinittloiiri, to fit--1.f;m])l; iinwi.-i'" , l>-..";i-;l:ilionon flu: Amm'jVaii rolrmic;-'.' ml'lf'l to tho porvf'V.vil-y "!' ;i. s ! .iil."!ioru.lving , , MngInncl lu.-f'thr-.^r.-ni.-Tp.nr! of hortlion rmpirc in I Ito \\'"-i. iimnoiTintfiiv n.i'lorin-T'Ollici'onniiationla.idof Mnoi-I'fr "no in tlio Ivisi, which, in iJi f ..h l i..rlivJyr I ..rs lh:.l-.J"iv..fl:i.nswl HiuroiJK! AiUL-rit-Lii Involution, hnr. ppvunr: "p, :ihn<«- to

lii-i- st:itrs:nif-n, into boini,' rmd now form it galaxy of rich, powerful, vidimus voiing nations tliiit.uv si linos t tli.; hriiclitwst jewels in the Crown of the; omitos.t potentate, the world lias ovi-r liehelct. HtV) under tin.; (Itihiisin.o; character of a penal receptacle for tho criminal exiles of tin; Mother Country, and subject for years to the iron heel of a se.mi-military system of government, the settlements in New South Wales, extended at subsequent intervals to Victoria. Tnsinaiihi, and other territories, made Init slow progress. .It is, for the most part, within the past thirty and forty years, and since the establishment of constitutional go verntnents, that the latest energies of the colonies leaped up into sudden activity and vitality, iiud, as it wero, into a new birth. Within that short period the growth of the Anglo-Saxon communities in the great island-continent lias l>ecu marvellous indeed, commercially, politically, and socially. During the last few years, also, the united voice of Australasia has made itself heard in tin- councils of the Empire where the combination of interests affecting the colonies rendered it necessary for them to assort an intelligent part in Imperial policy : and they now exercise uu appreciable influence in the diplomatic movements of European Powers. In this respect it is safe to predict that the potentialities of the Australian colonies, so far as they affect foreign nations, will become very great. As customers for the manufactures of tho United Kingdom on the one hsind, and on the other as valuable suppliers of raw material and articles of food to the home market, they are gradually emancipating tlie Mother Country from her dependencies on foreign and alien people for those vital commodities, a consuination which will probably be perfected in the new future by an Anglo-Saxon Commercial Zollverein. The gross annual revenue of the colonies is about £25,000,000 ; the gross expenditure .£24-,000,000 ; the entire public debt £100,000,000 : the value of the imports £00,000,000: exports £46,000,000; and the total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared about 11,000,000 tons, The population aggregates 3,500,000 souls. During 18S0, the imports from Great Britain amounted to .£-j2,000,000, and the exports to the Mother Country were about £3-1,000,000. Their two leading metropolitan cities, Melbourne and Sydney, rank amongst the foremost in the world for beauty, architecture, and the position they have attained in all the arts, sciences, industrial pursuits, bclks lettres, and commercial importance. They each contain large populations, numbering :;00,000 and 250,000 souls respectively. Railways and telegraphs spread their ramifications over all parts of the country, whilst they enjoy the latest scientific improvements, cable connections and steamship communications on the largest scale with all parts of the civilised globe.

Tlio great and flourishing , colon} , cii' Victoria, fully entering' into the common pride shared in by the whole sisterhood, lias resolved to participate in n fitting manner in the commemorative |rejoicings initiated and about to be carried into effect by New South Wales on a scale commensurate with the grand occasion. The Government of Victoria has determined to hold an international exhibition of the arts, manufactures, etc., of all nations, in Melbourne, on the Ist of August next, iu honour of tbo Centennial of New South Wales. Wo have before us tho constitution of the commission, with the programme of the exhibition and system of classification intended to be carried out. Tho lioyal Commission for tho British Empire is under tho presidency of 11.1i.H. Tho Princeof Wales, -with Earl Eoseborry as Vice-president, and a number of noblemen and distinguished men, who arc well-known for the active interest they take in colonial concerns, as members. The various Governors, Ministers of the Crown, foreign consuls, itc., and a host of leacliii" men of each of the colonies appear ns patrons and executive commissioners. Every country and colony will, with very few exceptions, bo represented, and the display of exhibits of human industry and arts promises to bo on a scale of great magnificence. Applications for space have closed, but the general reception of articles in the Exhibition Buildings will commence on Ist May, and close on 15th July. There is time, therefore, for intending exhibitors in this colony to prepare and forward their exhibits, which intention they should communicate to the Now Zealand Commissioners iu Wellington. The goods for exhibition will bo classed under their respective groups, viz. ; —Works of art; apparatus and processes of I ho liberal arts, education and instruction ; furniture and accessories ; fictile manufactures, glass, pottery, (to. ; textile fabrics, clothing and accessories ; raw and manufactured processes and products ; apparatus and processes used in the mechanical industries ; alimentary products; sanitation, medicine, hygiene, and public relief; agriculture and associated industries, horticulture ; mining industries, machinery, processes and products. It is devoutly to ba hoped this colony as a whole will lie well represented, and we trust the people of tin; Waikato district will exert themselves to perform their share towards that object. .During the Colonies and India Exhibition ii> London lust year, this colony alone displayed ■>■ culpable iniiiliVivnce in its appearance at tin: gr.'iil, show. The result is thai whilst, iho. imro spirited colonic* are now reaping the reward of thfir enterprise and foresight. I his colony, on tho contrary, has bron bewailing its own lack of forethought and commercial grit in thfi matter, As flu- Times says, according to thi« morning's telegrams, it is im

possililo to foresee what, way i>o the grandeur of the. second centenary l>y the combined development of the mighty resources of t.lie Australasian colonies. The impression this forthcoming display oi the progress, wealth, strength and industry of the colonies is certain (o make on the minds <if foreigners will be great and of an indelible nature, which will go very far towards cementing the influence of Australia as a potent element in the comity of nations.