NEW ZEALAND AND THE ISLAND TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2417, 12 July 1900, Page 39

NEW ZEALAND AND THE ISLAND TRADE.

SYDNEY, July 7.

The Buras-Philp shipping firm have written the Chamber of Commerce" stating that if the annexation of the Pacific Is-lands,-as proposed by Mr Seddon, i« desirable, it should be with that colony having the closest commercial relation;. — namely. Few South Wales. In the event of 'New' Zealand subtidking the steamers, the whole of the trade would go to that colonj".

Captain Hill, a member of the Legislative Council of Fiji, at present in Sydney. says thai, if Mr Seddon's proposal is earned out, it will be the ruin of the 1.-land trade fo far as Australia is concerned, lie points out that the Americans are subsidising yes- - scls to Tahiti, and they may possibly come further south. He expresses the hope that; federated Australia will not allow foreigners to have all their own way. but '" give him. a run for his money." He hardly believes that New South Wales will sid quietly down while New Zealand iea]is» the harvest.

Major Keddell, S.M., returned to Oamarv from Invercargill on Friday night, and will resume his magisterial duties to-day.

At the meeting of the Malaura Presbytery on Wednesday a letter was read from the Rev. J. M. Fraser, intimating his acceptance of a, call to the Waikaka Valley congregation. Tha induction was fixed for October 3.

" The Triad " for July has a number of wellfinished illustrations, and as a musical supplement tlie words and music of " The voice of the woods," a song of the Rhine. The reading matter relating to science, art, and music it well selected. A Lander correspondent writes to the Dviii stan Times: — "The Otago Central railway line i 3 getting nearer to us. The navvies arflsinkm;j~in the river near Mr Corrigal's faring , for the foundation for the piers of the railway 1 bridge." '>_.'"