COLONIALS AT HOME.

West Coast Times, Issue 10559, 13 July 1897, Page 4

COLONIALS AT HOME.

[Per Ujtited Pbess Assocr ation.]

London, July 11.

The Government of Cape Colony has offered to present a firsb-class battleship sa a free gift to the Empire. Mr Goschen, in reply, intimates he gratefully accepts the offer and remarks that the gift is even more vale able because it is unfettered 'with any condition. ; Sir J.Gordon Sprigg, addressing a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Imperial Federation League, said the Cape's naval subsidy to the British navy was absolutely unconditional. They did net believe in fettering the Admiralty, jreferring^to trust to England.

The Colonial Premiers, Bishops, AgentsGeneral; Judge*, and military officers, were present yesterday at a garden party vgiven by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts. They also attended a ball given by the 3'ritish Empire League at the Hotel Cocil in the evening. Laurier, Seddon and Reid visited Eaton Hall, the seat of the Duke of Westminster, also Chester and Hawarden Castle. At Hawarden they had tea with Mr and Mrs Gladstone. Baron Ferdinand Rothschild entertained the other Premiers at Waddeson, bis seat at Aplesbury. Sir George and Lady Turner have embarked on their return to Victoria. The Colonial troops have been temporarily disbanded in order to enable the men to visit the provinces. They will re-assemble on embarkation. At the Chambers -of Commerce banquet, Mr R. J. Alcock, President of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, replying to the toast of "co •nmerce " said any scheme of Imperial unity would be gladly welcomed.

Trooper Harkus, New South Wales Lancers, won the first prize for tent pegging at the volunteer and yeomanry tournament at Crystal Palace and Sergt. O'Grady, of the Lancers, was first in | sword versus sword. . j Mr Kingston, in the course of an inter- j view, referring to the Australian naval contribution, said he believed the money could be put to a better use in South Australia. He would prefer to see the whole of the Australian contribution devoted to founding a training depot for local naval reserves. He had not heard of a demand for closer political union with Britain until he arrived in England. The Times is confident that Australia will renew the contribution to the auxiliary squadron despite the remarks of Mr Kingston. Other influential politicians, who have shown that it is a mistaken notion that local interests can best be defended locally, still survive; .