" THE WEB OF EMPIRE."

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 8

" THE WEB OF EMPIRE."

S:r Dcmald Mackenzie Wallaces diary of the Imperial tour of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, published under the very appropriate title quoted at the head of this article, seems to us the very model of what such a book ought to be. The author explains that while it may be called the "authorised account" of the tour, it makes no pretens:on to having an official character, and he wishes it to be understood that for all statements of fact and expressions of opinion, be is alone and entirely responsible. Nothing could be more admirable than the tone of ths book throughout. Sir Donald brought to his work a cultured mind, stared with ths widest information, _ genial, kindly disposition, the ripe experience of a man having an unrivalled acquaintance with European languages and politics, and to whom the i&ysUsie- of the

East were as an open bock. The result ia a work which it is a pleasure to read, with fact, co carefully collected and verified, that the inhabitants of the different colonies visited will be able to learn some~ thingabout their own countries, and out of the fullness of their own local knowledge will seldom, if ever, find Sir Donald Wallace tripping. This' is very wrticeobCe in the account of the Maoris and of their great display at Rotorua, with which the author was greatly -truck. The description of the Maori dances is both minute and vivid, and Sir Donald Wallace evidently took the greatest pains to get from the best authorities the real meaning of what he terms the " Terpsichorean cultus in Maoriland." And it seems to us a significant little fact, highly characteristic of such a capable and enthusiastic linguist, that, after leaving Lytbetton, when .he Ophir was heading to Tasmania, we find him "spending a good deal cf his time " in deciphering laboriously, with the aid of "dictionaries and grammars, some letters "in very high-flown Maori which the Duke " received at the moment of starting." How many men, after spending three weeks in New Zealand, could or would have done the same thing? To a large section of the public the description of the happy family life on board the Ophir—for such it really was—will be read with the greatest interest. As showing how thoroughly the Prince entered into the spirit of everything, it may be mentioned that when King Neptune came on board the (English Heir-Apparent was the first to submit to being "shaved" and tumbled into a 'bath of sea-water on the deck. Mr. S. P. Hall has given us a picture of the scene, with his Royal Highness attired in a light and airy costume appropriate to the occasion. The Priucese, it appears, was touched on the forehead by King INeptune after he had dipped hcs finger in sea-water borne in a silver cup. But the author is equally at home in graver subjects. Not the least interesting and valuable part of the book is Part XIV., in which Sir Donald, with great diffidence, gives the personal impressions which he formed on the subject of Colonial Patriotism and Imperial Federation. His views on both these questions seem to us to be eminently sound and statesmanlike. We have never seen the character of colonial patriotism better analysed and interpreted. As to Federation, Sir Donald states that hia experience during the tour convinced him not only that the colonies are thoroughly loyal to the Throne, but that "they " aspire to some kind of closer union with "the Mother Country, and with each " other ; and that they axe willing to make " any sacrifice, that may be necessary ia " defence of the great Empire of which they "are proud to form a part." He is careful to add, however, that the best colonial authorities whom he had an opportunity of ocnsulting consider "that any attempt to " mould the present vague aspirations into " hard and fast legislative enactments would "be premature. Olhe good seed has been "sown in fertile soil, but it must be al- " lowed) thn® to germinate and bear fruit in "a natural way. Paper constitutions pre- " pared hurriedly out of crude materials are *' generally of little practical value, and are " nat at all in accord with our habitual " modes of action." We have only to add that the book as royally got up, and that the illustrations by the ChevaKex de Martmo and Qlr. Sydney P. Hall add very much to its interest and value.