Australasia and Germany.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 130, 28 November 1885, Page 3

Australasia and Germany.

Writing from Berlin under date 9th September lost, the special correspondent of the Sydney " Town and Country Journal " (Mr Henniker Heaton) gives some interesting particulars of Australians in Germany, and Australasian affairs in relatioa to the German Empire. We make the following extracts : — The. lnternational Telegraph Conference. Long before this reaches you the people of Australasia will have learned the result of the International Telegraph Conference, at which the colonies might bo said to have had a voice among the nations of the world for the first time. It must not be supposed that the colonial representatives were of little importance. As a matter of fact, there were a dozen states represented, with populations smaller than Tasmania ; and befere the conference Lad made much progress the importance of Australasia was fully recognised. At the banquets Mr C. Todd, for South Australia, and Mr E. C Cracknel], fer New South Wales, made excellent sbeeches ; while Mr Henniker Heaton, who represented Tasmania, contributed articles to the^ leading German newspapers, giving statistics and showing the progress and resources of the whole of the colonies, with which he is intimately acquainted. As to the work done, it should be mentioned that the whole conference was under the direction of Dr. Yon Stephen, Secretary of State andPoatmaster-Geiieralof Germany. Or. Yon Stephen i?,next to Bismarck, one of the ablest men in the German Empire, and a trusted counsellor of the King. It may appear out of place to give an idea of Dr. Yon Stephen by comparing him with an Australian statesman ; but, nevertheless, he reminds me strongly of Sir John Robertson, your ex- Premier. The same unimpassioned kindly look in repose, the same genial or warm greeting for political friends and enemies, the same respect for opinions, a remarkable similarity in his chivalry or gallantry toward all ladies, whether lowly or in high position ; and when at work in the political arena the statesmen are exactly alike For days in committee the members of the conference struggled under difficulties and objections by all nations to the German proposal for a reduction of tariff and a uniform rate throughout Europe. Dr. Yon Stephen, who had left the work to very capable lieutenants, at length came hurriedly into the chamber, and with a dash and a bril Uancy and a force of character quite astonishing, took up the questions and carried his points, fairly sweeping away opposition and knocking the opponents " into a cocked hat. " The scene was a most exciting one. Taking point after point, he turned to the representative ot nation after nation saying, " Well, what have you to say to this ? Whom have you to support you in this amendment ? Well, I shall put it to the vote— Out, non," &c., and he having cleared the atmosphere, the main modified German proposals, making a reduction of 40 per cent in the charges, were carried by an overwhelming majority, and the non-con-tents went away grumbling at being compelled to vote. France shrugged his shoulders, and said he did not like to quarrel with Germany, while Great Britain, represented by a Mr Patey, who knew little of the French language, mipht have got better terms for Great Britain if he had been only quick enough. It should have been mentioned that Mr Murray Smith repre sented Victoria, but unfortunately his duties compelled his presence in London except for one week, when he took an active part in the proceedings.

Australia And Germany. A few years ago when I visited Berlin for the first time I was surprised to find so little known of Australasia. Among other places I visited was the immense National' Library of Berlin, containing nearly amillion volumes. I asked the chief librarian what works he had on Australasia. He searched his catalogues, and produced a few botanical works by Yon Muellerand ' ' Mudie's Felonry of New South Wales." The former ia of interest to a few botanists, and the latter is of course re garded as a scandalous work. Ido not care to own New South Wales with " Mudiea's Felonry " as the representative work, and I made pome effort to have more reliable works pupplied. Today I find that an agreeable change has taken place. The school children of Germam have a better knowledge of the geography, the history, and the resources of -\ ustralia than the schoolchildren of Sydney. To prove my assertion, I send you half a dozen books about Australia full of information, and adorned and made attractive with excellent illustrations of Australian life, portraits of aborigines and their weapons, pictures of plants, photographs of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, pictures showing squatters' princely residences near Melbourne (to shov? advanced civilisation), and late historical and statistical information. I shall be glad if you will forward the books on for the inspection of the Minister of Public Instruction in New South Wales. This afternoon I took Mr Todd, of South Australia, to one of the booksellers' shops to purchase one of these excellent books, and the first thing he saw in it was a description of the construction of the overland telegraph line — that national work across Australia— and a complimentary reference to himself, of course in the German language. In the shop windows I caw excellent maps of Australia, and innumerable well constructed maps of New Guinea, and the whole of ,the islands of the Pacific and Oceania generally, showing German and other possessions. In many of the shop windows I was, of course, glad to observe pictures of gold medals informing us that they had been awarded to Berlin at the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions ; and the well known autographs of Sir P Jennings, Sir W. J. Clarke, Mr J. J. Casey, &c, proved this.

A Magnanimous German Offer. I have already briefly informed you by telegraph of a ridiculous position Britain placed herself in, when northern New Guinea was seized by Germary. . It may be recollected that Lord Derby had given his' assurance' to 'Australians that Germany had no intention toseiize New .Guinea. 1 % 'He ! certainly felt humililiated, apd juetly feared the wrath of the Australasian; people. In', ibis dilemma he despatched x a .confidential messenger to Bismarok, r and suggested to the German " Chancellor 'that' an Arrangement was (desirable, and would Germany have* the go'ddnesa ' 4 " to

take v m exchange, some. u other Island, saj Heligoland, an island lying off Hamburg ai the mouth 6( the, Elbe j but whidh, though considered of strategetical importance, was 1 only a mile-, in length, and less then a ; mile in breadth. If not' whaj Germany ask in exchange {? . Bismarok; took, a ( day to consiiier, and said he wpuld take" New Zea land in exchange. The unofficial represen tative of Britain had the simplicity to convey this oflfer to Derby, and the negotiations ceased. It was explained to me ,by a politician who gave me the particulars that offering Heligoland for their Australasian possession was considered like offering something worth two guineas in exchange for a farthing— for at this sum Germany valued Heligoland.' The accomplished politician just referred to hoped to see Germanymake a second Java of New Guinea, New Ireland, and New Britain.

Extent and Wealth of Berlin. Berlin has a population of over one million of inhabitants. There are in it many 'magnificent buildings, palaces museums, and picture galleries. The streets are wide, and the shops are very fine, as can be testified by three Australian ladies, one of whom was born in Tasmania, one in New South Walee, and one in South Australia. These ladies ppent many days inspecting the Berlin wool chop?, the beautiful broDze and leather work and carved furniture. The inspection of the palaces of the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and of other noble people, occupied many I hours. The streets and parks of Berlin are among the finest in Europe. The principal street is called Unter den Linden. All Germany is proud of this street. It ie a mile in length, and the principal palaces and museums are situated in it It is about 200fb wide. The centre of 50ft has a double row of richly foliaged trees, with a wide road in the centre for pedestrians only. On the right-hand side is an asphalt roadway for carriages ; on the left Bide a road for horsemen, and beyoud this on the extreme left a rough stone road for heavily laden vehicles.

Babelsburg and the Boyal Family. On the occasion of the great excursion by water in gaily decorated steamers on the Havel, and by carriages, we surveyed Borne of the prettiest spote in all Germany. The weather was perfect, the water was calm, and the foliage on the banka of the lakes rich beyond description. It was an earthly paradise. Above the trees there rose the romantic towers of the Castle of Babelsburg, a royal residence of the Emperor, with grounds laid out with exquisite taste. The music rose and fell over the water as the evening approached, and we were then afforded delightful views of the surrounding country from the summit of Pfingstberg, a number of great colonnades erected by some prince on an elevated spot with the object of being finished or constructed into a castle. In the park grounds of one of the palaces we met three pleasant, healthy children, a boy and two girls, in charge of two nurses. These children bowed and nodded quite pleasantly to our carriage companion Mrs Yon Stephan. They were the great grandchildren of Queen Victoria, and of the Emperor and Empress of Germany ! Shortly before this we met in full uniform their father Prince William, the son of the Crown Prince and grandson of the Queen of Britain.

Australians at the Review. On September 2 the members or delegates of the International Telegraph Conference had the honour of having invitations and special positions accorded to them at the review in honour of the victory of the Germans at Sedan, fifteen years before. The invitation was sent by the Hmperor through Dr. Yon btephan. The day wabeautifully fine. The Australians present were Mr E. C Cracknell, Mr Charles Todd and Miss Todd, Mr and Mrs Henniker Heaton, and Mr and Mrs Murray Smith. The Emperor for the first time came in a carriage ; to his great regret his physician would not allow him to ride. He will be 89 years of age next March, but is still in wonderful health. His carriage was drawn by four horses, and that of the Empress Augusta by six horses. Among other celebrities we saw were the Crown Prince of Germany, the Crown Prince's son (Prince William), also Prince Michael of Russia, and Yon Moltke, the celebrated German General. I understand that the heir apparent, or fourth in the kingly line of Germany, was also present with hismamma, but we did not see him there. The review, as may be anticipated, wao a bril liant affair. Twenty-five thousand troops— the flower of German army- all picked men— marched past their Imperial master twice, and their movements were like mechanism The 5,000 horsemen presented a specially magnificent appearance, and it was impossible to prevent a thrill of pride in the most peaceful mind as these warrior?, many of whom .shad served in the dreadful wars of 1855-6 and 1870, and whose breasts were literally covered with medals, dashed past at a quick march, and received the gracious recognition of their warlike master. There was one thing worthy of note, which greatly pleased the Australians. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets on the way to the review, and on the borders of the three thousand acres field where it was held. The crowd was most orderly, far more orderly than any London or Sydney crowd ; and, all praise to the excellent people, the boys and little children generally were by common conseut placed in front o the grown-up people, and. thereby had a great treat.