The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1890.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5947, 27 September 1890, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1890.

Thk decision tlmt this colony has arrived at in roepect of Australasian Federation has caused some uneasiness in tho aieter colonies—uneasiness as to the future of New Zealand. Tho Sydney Horning Herald, in referring to the subject, says the quoation submitted for determination was one the decision of which either way must give rise to a long train of consequences largely affecting the future history of Now Zealand. The decision caat ia in favor of a position of isolation, qualified only by dependence on the mother country. It cannot bo aaid that the result comes as a disappointment. It is one which, was largely anticipated, and which was publicly wished for in certain quarters as removing a difficulty from the way of federation. From the first it hae been recognised that the circumstances of New Zealand in regard to federation wero very different from those of the colonies on the mainland. That colony ia an insular one, situated over one thousand miles from tho nearest mainland, and with separate material interests, and political sentiments largely modified by its insularity. The Australian colonies make up a vast continuous continental area, all bounded by the one ring-fence of the blue ocean. They are homogeneous in character, similar in their course of development, and closely woven together by a thousand uniting threads of common interests, and, we may add, common dangers. The influences compelling , them into union a.re admittedly very much moro powerful than in the case of New Zealand. Nevertheless, it ia the case that the decision now taken by that island colony is a momentous one, one fraught with very jterious issues. After all, Australian federation cannot be a work of indifference to New Zealand. If her position would bo materially altered by being included in the federation, so will it bo by being left outside. It will be altered commercially, industrially, politically. Tho present position of New Zealand as ono of a cluster of seven disunited colonies only hold together by their connection with the parent State, will be very different when six of them have coalesced to form a great, powerful dominion, with a common political and fiscal policy, and with a far-reaching dominating influence over the South Seas. We need not attempt toindieato the probable political and commercial results and dangers flowing from this chaugo of relationship. It is salliciont to suggest how much the characteristic cause of this decision—the insularity of feeling in the colony—will bo deepened by tho decision itself. Thia cuts off for the future any blending of the fortunes of Ne* Zealand with those of Australia, and leaves tho colony moro dependent than ever, and permanently so, upon the assistance of tho mothercountry. Tho insular position of Eugland, to which she owes so much of her security and her greatness, has always in the opinion of European critics been tho causo of an insularity of mind, which has to some degree separated England from the groat tides of thought and feeling wbioh have moved the continent of Europe. 'Englishmen on their sido have been able to smilo at the reproach of insularity as applied to a nation which was the head-quarters of a world-encircling Empire; but how thia condition may influence the development of New Zealand, where the only relation to that Empire will be one of possibly increasing dependence, it will bo the province of future historians to disooTpr and record.