ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12621, 2 October 1901, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

[From Ovn Co-respondent.! LONDON, August 23. NEW ZEALAND'S DECISION. Thus the "Times" on the Federation Commissioners' repcrb: —" The report is conceived in no narrow : local spirit.' The Commissioners look'at the entire relations of Australia and New Zealand in 'advising the latter not to become a State of the Commonwealth. They take, indeed, a stallwider view—they look at the bearing" of the question 'on the fortunes of the whole Empire. They do not agree with the opinion that the unity of the Empire'would be b'ist promoted by the federation of all the existing Australian ■ colonies —on the contrary, the existence of two States Would, it Is 'help the cause of Imperial Federation. And for' this view 'they duce strong reasons; in particular, the opportunity given for reflection and inquiry in the event of any very serious difference with the Home Government arousing popular passions. The whole question is one pre-eminently for the people of 'New' Zealand themselves. The sympathies of Englishmen are broad enough not to be given exclusively to the young Commonwealth, which vigorous statesmen have created. We have rejoiced to see them frame 'their Constitution and set it in motion without let or hindrance, or obstructive advice. They would be stronger if they had the assistance of New Zealand. But, after, all, they have federated 1 chiefly by reason of proximity, intercourse, and other circun> E'tances, which do not apply with the same force to a colony separated from them by some 1200 miles of sea. The Commonwealth Parliament has on hand a multitude of questions of especial moment to the colonies which have federated. Mr Barton himself mav feel relieved that he will not have to discuss the tariff with reference to the interests and traditions of New Zealand in addition to those of the Federated 'States. The decision of the Commissioners is not final, and the question may well \vait. It is possible that the way may be smoothed in the future by a reorganisation of our whole system of Imperial defence, as well as by intercolonial arrangements as to postal and other matters. New Zealand will be better able in a few years to see what Federation promises or portends for her. Meantime there is security in-the* fact that both in the Commicriwealth and in the New Zealand Parliament there are able, clear-sighted statesmen, who may be trusted to act with wisdom in a matter wliioh need;, not and cannot be rushed. 1 ' NEW ZEALAND'S FINANCE. The very best answer possible to the "Borrow ami 1 Bust" cablegi-am, which scared timid' investors in New 'Zealand stocks a few days, ago is the ■summary' ol the Financial Statement which Mr Reeves communicated to.the Press- iat*. Monday, An increase of revenue from every Department for the year hardly bears out the •theory of "paralysed business" and a "busted" Treasury. The "Westminster Gazette" remarks:— "The Statement is much more satisfactory than had been expected. . . i The public debt of the colony, however* goes on increasing, the addition last year being £1,627,000, but of this £796.000 was for leans imposing no burden, upon the taxpayers, being immediately interest-producing. It is proposed to raise another million for. public works. Probably this loan will be raised in London, but why f.bould it not be 'raided at home? Reference is made to the fact that the loan for half a million, issued in the colony itself was very successful, and why should' not a larger -amount be successful. The more self-reliant the colonies are' in .the. way o'f raising money the better will their credit .become abroad." A NEW STEAMER,

On Saturday last there was launched from the Belfast yard of Messrs Harhnd and Wolff, the first of three large twinscrew steamers, which are 'being built to the order of Ismay, Imrie -and Co'., the White'Star''Line, for the service between London and New Zealand, which ha« for so many years been run in connection with Messrs Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited. The steamer has been named the Athenic, and will be followed by the Oorinthic and lonic, sister ships in all respects. The Athenic is 500 ft in length, with a breadth of 63ft, and a depth of 41ft, with a registered tonnage'of 12,500 tons. Ail three vessels will have exceptionally comfortable accommodation for ninety-four saloon, eighty-four second, and 186 thirdclass 'passengeri?, in addition to a large cargo capacity. Sir John Hall, who has been spending a, few-days with his daughter, Mrs Cracro'ffc Wilson, at Stoneleigh, near Bidefcrd, in Devon, returns to London in the course of the next week. His. further movements are uncertain, as also is the date of his return to New Zealand.

The society journals announce thait a marriage has been arranged between Mr J. F. Studholme, of Ruanui, youngest son of Mr and' Mrs John Studholme, of Merivale, and Miss Hersey Wauchope, second er of the late Major-General R. A. Wauchope, who fell in the fatal night advance on the Boer position at Magersfontein., At St Andrews, Cobham, ow August. 14, the Rev W. Bedford, rector of Sutton Goldfield, with the assistance of the Rev E. Wilson,' curate of St Andrews, joined together in the holy bonds of matrimony +he Rev George Henry Croasdaile Bowen, rector of Tluybergh, Yorkshire,' and Miss Rhoda Sullivan, the fair and charming daughter of Mr H. E. Sullivan, of Huaeldeane, Twickenham. The happy man. :s, of cours: 1 , the son of the Hon C C. Bowen, of Christchurch.

After paying the nice little bill incurred in connection: "with the " identification " of Charles Lillywhite as "Arthur Blatch," one would have thought that the good people of Colchester would be very particular before .they swore to the identity of any person accused of crime. But, apparently, the Lillywhite lesson made a most ephemeral impression, for when, a few days ago, a. private soldier was on a charge of committing damage to a plateglass window, no fewer than six witnesses swore to- the detenu- as the guilty man. The defendant, however, 'protested that at the time of the alleged offence he was at Waifcrd—fifty miles away, and produced overwhelming rroofs of the truth of his statements. "He was, of course, released. A icw Service Club is being founded, which will be commemorative of the South African war. It will be called the Imperial Service Club, and all who have served either as Regulars, Volunteers, Yeomanry, or colonials, arc- ■e'.teible for membership. Promises have been secured at 81, Piccadilly, and already a considerable-num-ber of members has "teen enrolled., T.hG building is now in course- of re-construction and decoration, and will be ready for opening in October. A committee of distinguished officers is bahig formsd, and the secretary is Mr F. Summers.