THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 11251, 26 May 1900, Page 6

THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

PRAISE FOR MR CHAMBERLAIN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, May 25. At the Colonial Club dinner at the Hotel Cecil 350 guests were present. Sir Robert Herbert presided. All the AgentsGeneral were present. The Duke of Cambridge, in proposing the toast of the colonies, said that they bad admirably done their duty. He anticipated the permanence of the present Imperial sentiment, placing the Empire in a position which would bo very disagreeable for any State attacking it. .Earl Kimberley congratulated the delegates on the settlement of the Federal difficulty. He hoped that the interests of the Empire would ever be the watchword of the party.

Mr Deakin made a powerful speech, and received an ovation. He paid a tribute to Mr Chamberlain’s ability and tact. The settlement of the difference with regard to the Commonwealth Bill was entirely satisfactory to Australia. Sir T. Fowell Buxton, late Governor of South Australia, in a letter to ‘The Times,’ warmly defends Chief Justice Way against Mr Kingston’s charges that ho was influenced by base and sordid motives in his action against the appeal clause of the Commonwealth Bill.

Speaking in the House of Commons in regard to the petition of the Westralian goldfields for separation, Mr Chamberlain said that in view of the gradual enlargement of the representation, as provided in the new Redistribution of Seats Act, ho saw no reason to justify Imperial intervention.