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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8537, 10 April 1891, Page 4

The Convention assembled to draw up a Constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia, concluded its sittings yesterday, and the closing scene had in it considerable impressiveness and dignity. The motion that the Constitution Bill be adopted, was moved by Sir Samuel Griffith, of Queensland, who, it seems, drafted the measure. Sir S. Griffith is the Chief ; Secretary of Queensland, in the Griffith-Mclhvraith Ministry, and he is no doubt one of the foremost men of Australia. He may have many years of public labours before him, for he was born in 1845, and went to Queensland with his father, who was a Congregational minister. He has attained a foremost place at the bar. It is acknowledged on all hands that the bill is well drawn; Sir Henry Parkes, followed Sir S. Griffith, and made an animated speech, extolling the work of the Convention, and declaring that it had breathed into the bill " the breath of immortal • life." The motion was carried with but one dissentient, Sir George Grey. At the very close of the proceedings, Sir GeOrge; made another ineffectual struggle to obtain recognition of the one man one vote principle. This also was in keeping, and perhaps the Convention would not-have been complete without it. The proceeding will now be, that the draft constitution will be brought before the - different Parliaments, who are to submit it to the people. In that case there will lie a* pie bisciturn taken on the subject. And if three colonies adopt the constitution, the Imperial Government will be asked to establish the new Commonwealth. So ends the Australian Convention of 1891.