The Federal Convention.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6026, 25 March 1891, Page 3

The Federal Convention.

[Pbb"Prbs- Ass oiation.J Sydney, March 24. The Convention resumed its sittings at 11 a.m. A telegram was read from Sir B. O'Loughlan stating that Victoria would never surrender the control of Customs "duties. Victoria was in favor of federation not amalgamation, protection not intercolonial freetrade. Sir J. C. Bray objected to the telegram being recorded, And moved in that direction, and this* was carried. , A lengthy letter was received from Mr Justice Richmond, of New Zealand, on the judiciary proposals. &ir H. Parkes •aid. it was a valuable contribution. Mr Clark, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, stated he had read the letter, and moved it be printed and circulated among the members of the Convention. Carried. Sir Samuel Griffiths intimated that the Constitutional Committee had not finished its labors, and expressed surprise that the ■ reports of the Judiciary and Finance Committees had leaked out, especially as what purported to be a report of one committee had not yet reached the Con•titutional Committee. Sir H. Parkes, on behalf of the officers of the House, said the most scrupulous care had been taken to keep the proceedings of the committees secret, and he had no idea how the reports had reached the press. Mr Munro, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said the report had been sent to members either by post or by hand, and he was confident they had not divulged the contents'. Mr Clark said it was evident » rough draft of the judiciary report had got astray in some way. Alterations had still to be made in it. Mr Dibbs advocated furnishing the press with a copy of the Constitutional Committee's report as soon as it was ready, instead of waiting till the Convention met. A long discussion tniued, during which Sir George Grey deplored the mistake made in allowing the committees to sit in secret, as otherwise the whole public of Australasia by means of the press and telegraph might have been allowed practically to sit with the Convention and know all the news laid dofvn, 'and it. would have been raore'jsatisfactory had this been done. The • Convention adjourned until Tuesday next.

The London correspondent of a eon- . temporary writes : Two alarms have been sounded in our ears this week from America. The one has reference to the Newfoundland difficulty, the other to the Bfhring Straits trouble. The Newfoundlanders, we are told, are furious because the Imperial Government have neglected .their interests in the matter of the French ihore, and they talk openly of annexation to the States. This is, of course, very foolish, for, we have yet to learn that the States are more able to dictate terms to France than is England. But w« have tgreed to put down this alarm as due in a meaouro to the efforts of sensational newsmpngera. /The other proves to have been no less manufactured, for no ultimatum h« been presented by Lord Salisbury to Mr Blaine t and we are nearer arbitration ]'■ tHßn.,ev«r. Yefc we were asked three days a^fr by our favorite journals, "Is ifc war?" was doubtful. If it should - «Vs^>jtfe"to"'war we must give up our n^o^that a democracy wishes for peace, arfj^e^paus would lie wholly and entirely : U^pS^|i •iJ^Bxerican nation. Justice is ' c^^fl^!.#ith us who ask only for arbi■■r:r^^^^^%^d\ r 'tHQßilr\g of the Canterr-urv •y' : '''Mss}sfa&i :*M-";F&stora\ AasaciaHon w&b W^r^l^htsra^aytr * The repori ctatel thai : -• ■;-tße'JW.w auinbeVof entries for tb<- sh >w w b 1429/ agftinst H4S in the previous ynr, TKereiwasjeftll 10s awarded itvmon*y p<izm -■•■■ M l'.'JwH a* * ;riTimber of ohampion gold and BtJ'srer medals and books. Th« private nriz'-s 141 life \. iniiffili^S'and 469' abnaal members. Asa gp«|e ; iit nnmber of farmers did not come i^ard for the proposed farm competition 'Q~~ tjsii@9ls?Q ,.the ; c9n*mifctee ;had been com"ilSwwKiifa^atten&m 'the project. The oaßh : r:l»C6^i:*B|owed the refteipta for the pa«r, -'t^j^^S'blitii.'Nen €3109 18«, (»nd . the pnyl'B«:6di- • Tlje aotu«l rtefioit for Wi^x^^c ;'wti £6iQ 80 Bd, roost of whioh had. been col leo ted hiuoo the account ;^^fiSwi3iS^fe •f-'MrtS. Garfortb wa* elected l^l^^ei^ldrtb? enauing yea>\ The commit |B^^|@^jrapt ? 9d:..^.t»k» most" energetic tss^j&;:£Q^&T&9Wsmoiin% the establishment WMMi^^f^m^ei' ■:■- : : - ■"■■- ':; -/ "■'■'. &m&ivi- ! *<: r T'.{- ... ,v . ; ...-■