AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

THE SENDING FOE SIR W. J.

LYNE.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, ■ SYDNEY, December 20.

(Received Dec. 20, at 9.15 a.m.)

Sir W. J. Lyne asked Mr Barton to join his Administration, but the latter refused.

Mr Wise, Attorney-general, was amazed when he learned that Sir W. J. Lyne had been sent for. ■

Mr Reid expressed his decided approval of the course taken by Lord Hopetoun.- It was the only course fairly open to him. So far as Mr Barton was concerned, said the ex-Premier, " if I can accept the situation with perfect equanimity I am sure that Mr Barton will be able to do the same. The real choice for a Federal Premier will come about when the Federal Parliament meets. The choice o£ Sir W. J. Lyne will conduct to a clear-cut issue upon the fiscal question. Mr Barton's attitude, deliberately chosan by him, was that of a man without a policy, and such a, man was dangerous as the first Federal Premier."

the Telegraph says that Lord Hopetoun's task was to select the man with the best chance of forming a Federal Ministry. That duty was not to be the reward for any past party or political service, nor to gratify any provincial'feeling, but simply to do justice to the people of Australia as a whole.

The Sydney Morning Herald says >it ,is .' idle to "deny that the selection of Sir W. J. Lyne has not caused general surprise, be- . cause it had been assumed that Mr Barton's federal record and the fact of him be-ing-"persona gratissima" in all the federating States gave him the first claim to be ■ consulted by Lord Hopetoun. The Gover-nor-Qeneral-elect, however, may have felfc that there was safety, as well as propriety, in offering the first Premiership of the Commonwealth to the Premier of the parent colony. He trusts that Sir W. J. Lyne will succeed with his task, and form a stable Ministry, .as failure to do so' will be most irnfortunate at the present juncture, and be embarrassing to Lord Hopetoun himself. (Received Dec. 20, at 10.30 a.m.) The Indian, troops reach here to-morrow. New Zealand residents will "present'Mr Seddon with an address of welcome on his arrival here. : '(Received Dec. 21, at 0.30 a.m.) '"■ It is understood, the Government will provide for Ministers as official guests. They will endeavour to secure rooms for members of the Legislature, but the accommodation will .be at the latter's ex-: pense. MELBOURNE, December 20. : Sir George Turner declines to say anything beyond that he was somewhat surprised to learn the course that Lord Hopetoun had taken, and that Sir W. J. Lyne had' been sent for. The Age says it is the unexpected that always happens in politics. The selection of the erstwhile mortal enemy of. federa--.-tion to form the first Federal Administration is one of the most,singular developments of the time. As an administrator Sir W. J. Lyne has certainly had an amount of experience which Mr Barton lacks. It says that the course taken byLord Hopetoun will not be widely disapproved. A bill has been introduced into the "Legislative Assembly to enable Victoria to contribute on a population basis -to a fund for the increase of the Governor-General's salary from £10,000 to £20.000. (Received Dec. 20, at 11.7 p.m.) The Argus says that Lord Hopetoun, in sending for Sir W. J. Lyne, fulfilled neither the expectation, nor the wishes of. a vast majority of true federalists. His action may be assumed \a have been "determined by pressure and constitutional propriety. He has shown himself lamentably out of touch with public opinion throughout the Commonwealth. Sir" W. J. Lyne fought against federation in its only available form. The Commonwealth, as it is about to be established, owes him nothing but hostility. He did what he could to prevent its realisation.

ADELAIDE, December 20.

The Register thinks that the const itntutional and logical advantage is on the side of Lord Hopetoun's selection.

LONDON, December 20.

(Received Dec. 21, at 1.28 p.m.)

Neither The Times nor the Daily News attaches importance to the selection of Sir W. J. Lyne to form a provisional Govern: ment, inasmuch as the first Federal. Premier will merely arrange for the election of the first Federal Parliament. When Parliament is constituted the Premiership will be mainly in its hands. Lord Hopetoun, meanwhile, seeking constitutional machinery, doubtless felt that the proper course was to appeal to the premier colony.

(Pee Uniteii Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 20. Tlie federal escort, 66 of all ranks, and the Southland pipers were paraded in theBasin Reserve to-day, and there inspected by the Premier. Tlie Hon. Messrs Ward, Mills, Duncan, and Carroll were also lireI sent. Tlie corps looked very smart in their new uniforms, but their inarching called forth Rome criticism from the Premier in his subsequent speech. ' Tlie keynote of his address was a charge to the men to re*member that the eyes of all New Zealand were upon them, and to resist the temptations that would meet them on all sides. Instant dismissal would follow any misbehaviour.

The Colonial Secretary's department has been asked to draw the attention of those who haye received invitations to visit Sydney to attend the Commonwealth celebrations to advise the general secretary at 14 Castlereagh street, Sydney, if it be their desire that he should secure for them apartments in the hotels and boarding-houses at ruling rates. A good many rooms are still available at a moderate tariff. , ;

The. Government have decided to allow the returned New Zealanders at present in Sydney to take part in the Commonwealth celebrations..

Sir Robert Stout will leave for Sydney by the Monowai- to-morrow. . . . •

(From Our Own Coßiw.sroNnENT.)

WELLINGTON, December 20.

- A very, large crowd assembled to-night ts see the federal contingent oft' in the Tutanekai. The Garrison Band and the Pipe Band played alternately on the march from, the barracks to the wharf, the Highland pipers meeting with a splendid reception. Arrived at the Tutanekai, Mr Seddon addressed (i crowd of fully 5000 tlint I;3d assembled on Jervois quay and the adjacent street. The Premier made reference to those who had fallen in battle in South Africa, and said that our loss in that respect had been the Empire's gain: The contingent that was going over to Australia now was on a different mission.,but if our Australian friends should ever he attacked by an enemy we would send our men as freely to fight the foe as we arc now sending'them to represent _us at this peaceful function. The mayor also spoke I briefly, and, at the request of Mr Sedd'a. the Pipe Band played" a couple of tun-s. The contingent' then embarked, arid; deI parted, amid enthusiastic cheering. ?

Redcliffe Crown Brand Galvai'-'-J Ironjs tb» jroa to use in exposed positions. : - ■