THE CONFERENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. (From the Times, April 16.)

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 19 July 1873, Page 2

THE CONFERENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. (From the Times, April 16.)

We placed yesteiday hcfoie the public an interesting episode in colonial politics, both sides of which were duly represented in our duplicate correspondence. Australia is not only our gieatust dependency, but the greatest ever yet owned by a Crown. Of course, at this moment India is a more splendid Empire, nor is that countiy, indeed, without a possible futuie of its own; but -Austtalia is nothing less than a second New YVoild. Even America m.iy be drawing towards its dotage when Australia is using to its culmination, and of these magnificent prospects the colonists are perfectly .aware They, cannot, however, yet succeed in taking the liist step to greatness Fediuation, as they themselves appear to have concluded, is still a long way off, and Federation itself would only be an advance towards a closer amalgamation of interests and aims. A Conference has just been held at Sydney, but with such little success that anything like unanimity of opinion on Australian politics appears to be despaired of. We do not quite share the despondency thus expressed. It is not very strange, we thmk, under all the circumstances, that the first essay towards a reconciliation of claims should be a failure, nor can we affect to be muJi snrprised at the conflict of pretensions which produced the result. Practically the whole affair may be regarded as a struggle for ascendency or supremacy, although the point of contest was only a postal terminus. The Home <lovernment had olfercd terms which were considered favorable, and so far as we are concerned the colonists were satisfied with the proposed conditions of the service. But, whereas the mails are now delivered in Sydney, it was claimed on behalf of Victoria that thay should in future be dehveied in Melbourne. That was the lock on which the Conference suffered shipwreck, and it was no irrational inference that if the several colonies could not come to an agreement on a question like this there could be little prospect of their fusing their pretensions generally in the work of comprehensive union. That, it will be seen, was the moral upon which all parties were agreed The natural differences of opinion touching the merits of the rival postal termini aro reflected in our letters fiorn Sydney and Melbourne, but both correspondents are driven to conclude that an Australian Federation must for the present be deemed to be in the clouds. It is recorded as an impolitic and intidmis«able presumption that the Victoria delegates and their friends should have repaired to the Conference not only w itli tlieir minds made up, but with a foregone conclusion against any surrender. They thus met, it i 3 said, not to " confer," but to "vote in conformity with predetermined resolves." This, no doubt, is an objectionable policy, but it ia not peculiar to Australian colonists or to new communities generally. Wo have only too many illustrations of tho same principle at home, nnd in the rase before us the Melbourne representatives had declared their views beforehand. They had made no secret of their resolution to demand certain concessions, and they were admitted to the Conference on such conditions — not, indeed, expressed, but very clearly understood. It would, however, bo inaccurate to say that there was no argument. Reasons for and against tho proposed change were duly alleged, and the reader lias had an opportunity of comparing them in our columns. Nevertheless, it must be owned that the Melbourne peoplo did tnko their stand to somo extent upon might as well as right, affirming distinctly that unless the terminus of tho future postal service were settled in accordance with their desires, they would not be parties to any agreement on the subject. This ground they evidently believed theinsolves strong enough to maintain, and, perhaps, their opponents are not without a suspicion that the conviction is justifiable. Sydney has got tho privilege ; Melbourne claims it, nnd will have that or nothing. It seems to bo lamented, of course more in New South Wales than in Victoria, that separate interests, local jealousies, and petty aims generally should have been allowed to interfere with Federal prospects and Imperial considerations j nor is it to be denied that tho result was unfortunnte. Wo must needs say, however, that if the Australian colonies had shown themselves superior to views of this kind, it would have been a truly marvellous phenomenon. These settlements nro just now in that stage of political growth when local intcri »ts r&mtno extreme importance. Some day or other there will be a metropolitan State or Province in the Australian group, but it may not yet be clear in what direction tho preponderance of power will incline. The colonies are too young for tho settlement of such a point. Their political life is before them, and its orents cinnot yet bo forecast. We should have been much surprised if any approach had been mode to a genuine or durable confederation, nor is the failure, wo think, to be counted for much in disparagement of colonial enlightenment. Such transactions are facilitated more by political experience than anything else. By-and-by the several communities will shake into thoir places, and gravitation will do the worWith the loast possible friction.

"All, ;vou young rascal!" cried n policeman, as he seized by tho collar a young Arab who had just stolen a fowl from a poulterer's shop, "why did you tako that chicken?" " Oh, sir, because I was not big enough." " What ! became you wern'fc big enough?" "Yes, sir; I wanted to take a rabbit, but I wasn't tall enough — that's, wrhy !" i