FEDERAL AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 3, 4 January 1901, Page 1

FEDERAL AFFAIRS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, January 3. Federal Ministers are getting their relative matters in order. Mr Barton has wired the Treasurers of the various States that Customs and Excise revenue will have to be collected for the Commonwealth Consolidation Account from January Ist. Most of the visiting Federal Ministers will leave Sydney after the celebrations, and meet again early next month to complete arrangements for the Federal elections. The fire stations throughout the city and suburbs were elaborately decorated. This resulted at one of the city stations in the unusual spectacle of a fire at a fire station. The fire was caused through the overturning of a Chinese lantern. The engine-room and stable wore gutted, and three valuable horses killed. Some grievances have arisen among the guests of the Government respecting nondelivery of invitation cards and notification of arrangements; for lodgings. A prominent Yietorian visitor, Sir William Zeal, President of the Legislative Council, considered himself slighted at the position allotted to him at the State banquet. When he saw his seat he refused to take it. Ho left the hall, and subsequently wrote a letter to Sir William Lyne complaining of the treatment he had received, and stating he would not accept any further hospitality from the Government. Adelaide, Jan, 3. Lord Tennyson, in the course of a speech at the swearing-in ceremony, said he had heard that a closer and more intimate union between the different States of the Commonwealth would be better, but he also held that the raising of the individuals of each State would promote the stability, strength, and greatness of the whole. Therefore, he had perpetually urged safeguarding State rights and deprecated belittling Adelaide, lest it should sink into a second or third rate provincial town. For this reason he refrained from attending the ceremonial at Sydney.