AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 May 1901, Page 649

AUSTRAL IA.

Thk Federated State is all agog with excitement and pleasurable anticipation as the visit of the Royal Guests draws hourly nearer. At t,he time of writing Singapore has royally sped the parting guests, and the Land of the Golden Fleece will be the next on which they will rest their princely feet. The baptismal ceremony of the infant Commonwealth will be consummated with attendant pom]) and ceremony, which will be worthy of this vigorous and ambitious young colony, and the Royal Godparent will have received innumerable addresses and given k his parting blessing before the next number of this periodical meets the reader's eye. Great as is the occasion, our friends across the water have certainly risen to it, and it will doubtless be the most magnificent exemplification of that quality for which the cjlony is pre-eminently famous, viz., hospitality, that has yet been seen on this side of the Line.

The Federation Commission from New Zealand are doing their duty patiently aud steadily in Australia. A naturally strong desire is evinced by the authorities they iuterview to draw New Zealand into the embrace of the Commonwealth; the apparent disadvantages are made light of, and

methods are pointed out whereby eoncessioiiH in various points might bo nmdo to tempt the coy maiden to venture to entrust herself to accept the protection ami governance offered. But judging from the i.'xpresnioiiß of opinion elicited by the Commission from their fellow colonists here, such ulluremetiis will be in vain, at all events for the present. What may befall in the future is another question. At all events New Zealand is displaying a wisdom almost beyond j her years in electing rather to watch developments for a while than to rush into Federation without having made up her mind whether she will lose or gain must by tho combination.