Colonial Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 46, 7 March 1890, Page 3

Colonial Notes.

Thh Federation Conference in Melbourne, which has lately furnished the chief topic of interest, ended its session on Friday, the 14th inst. The chief concluding act was the drawing up of a loyal address to the Queen, in which were embodied the resolutions passed by the Conference — to the effect that it seemed conducive to the prosperity of Australia that a union, under the Crown, should be promoted between the Australian colonies, the remoter colonies of Australasia being entitled to admission into said union when the time seemed opportune to each. It was also resolved to request of the various colonial legislatures to take steps for the appointment of delegates to represent their colonies at an Australasian Convention — where selfgoverned colonies should be represented by not more than seven members, and Crown colonies by not more than four. The Conference may be described as characterised by the practical withdrawal of tbe Now Zealand delegates from the Federation movement, at least for tbe present ; by the support given generally to the scheme of a Federal Parliament by the delegates of the Eastern colonies ; by the reluctance expressed by the representative of South Australia to enter into an agreement involving a uniform system of customs duties, and by the cautious desire of the representative of Western Australia for fuller information aB to the ways and means by which tbe central executive would be maintained. The great appeal to sentiment made by Sir Henry Parkes, meantime, must not be forgotten. Sir Henry declared the birth of the nation the one thing needful, in comparison with which all details were unworthy of consideration. The more prosaic element, nevertheless, will certainly make itself beard before the matter is brought to a conclusion, and a good deal still remains for discussion. The Bubject, meantime, is not likely to grow rusty for want of interest.

Tbe Australasian, in an article on the Conference, speaks commendingly ot the delegates as responsible politicians, who, as such, refrained from the vapouring as to Australian independence, which is not unpopular. The Australasian says that so long as the British navy commands the seas the colonies are safe. It would, however, be a different thing if the reliance were on Australian defences alone. No lover of the colonies, it says, would desire to see Australia placed in the position of a weaker State, obliged to defend a long and easily attacked line of coast ; weak States, as in the case of Belgium, Holland, and Turkey, being obliged to endure many things from their greater neighbours, to whose sufferance or mutual jealousies they owe their very existence. " And m Australia," adds the Australasian, " there is always a menacing circumstance in the existence of New Caledonia, which undoubtedly contains latent hostilities. The growing ambition in Europe for colonial extension, as means for an extension of commerce, for which a pressing necessity is felt, appears to us, however, more threatening to Australia than the dangers perceived by the Australasian latent in New Caledonia. France, for example, is bent on making use of her recent acquisitions in Tonkin to supersede England in commerce with China. Is it a very wild idea that suggests the possibility of her making more favourable terms for heiself by joining with the Chinese Government iv forcing an independent Australia to grant ruinous concessions to them ? Tne establishment of Australian independence would involve even more risks than the Australasian speaks of.

The Anglican Bishop of Bathurst, speaking the other day at the eynod of his diocese, pointed out the Catholic Church, although in a qualified sort of a way, as an example to hisown community. He claimed the quality of being Catholic for the Church of England, but referred to the Church of kiome as advancing, while the Church in question was losing much of her influence. " Because," he said, " the Jtioman Church is doing almoet everything we ought to be doing, educating the children, realising the spirit of 6elf-sacnfice, presenting an unbroken front." The Bishop, nevertheless, claimed also for his Church capacities for doing all that was needful. Capacities, however, that are proved to exist by their failure must certainly be admitted to occupyjrather a questionable place.

Damages in an action for libel that carry with them a moral, have just been given against the Melbourne Age, In the recent elections a gentleman, named Brown, who was a candidate for a place called Gunbower was condemned by the Age as a Catholic seeking election for the purpose of attempting to overthrow the secular schools. Mr. Brown proved that he was a Protestant, and a strong Bupporter of the Bchools in question. The result was that in compensation for the injury done to him, both ia his public and private capacity, damages amounting to £500 were awarded him. The verdict, however, that condemned, and justly condemned the Age, virtually brought before the people of Victoria the fact that there is a section among them — men adhering firmly to conscientious convictions, and who, therefore, occupy ia the State a place of such great disadvantage, that injury equivalent to a sum of £500 is done to anyone falsely identified with them. The inequality that is thus betrayed and the spmt of bigotry that is made evident are certainly a disgrace to the population among whom they exist. The moral that the verdict againstthe with it should bring ablush to the face of every non-Catholic Victorian. Nay, even Catholic Victorians may blush for their neighbours.

The Bnrrowa News, a New South Wales paper, pithily sums up the results of " Parceliism and Crime " as follows :—": — " The shattered skull now rotting in Madrid, the sudden death of Professor Maguire (the unfortunate Unionist dupe and believer in Pigott), the death of Mr. John Cameron M'Donald, the Times manager, so soon after the collapse of his infamous charges against Mr. Parnell, and now the payment by the Times proprietary of £5000 and costs to Mr. Parnell in penalty for his libel action against that journal for the publication

of the Pigott forgeiies, are fitting successions to the death of tbe conspiracy by which it was sought to identify Mr. Parnell with sympathy for the Phoenix Park murders of seven years ago."

In connection with the unusual heat extensive bush-fires have been reported from some of the country districts of Victoria. Fencing has suffered heavily and even homesteads have been destroyed. Bat misfortunes, as it is said, never come alone.

Mr. J. B. Cox, M.P., who was sent out from Homo for rest and to recover bia health, has, nevertheless, been busily occupied sinoe his arrival ia Australia. He haj addressed several meetings, which like those of the other delegates, were successful. Mr. F. B. Freehill, pres'dent of the Irish National League, speaking the other day at Sydney, calculated the total net receipts to be reached by the time Messrs. Cox and Deasy had completed their mission, at a sum of £35,000.

The Passionist Fathers at Marrickville, near Sydney, expect an addition to their number, in the form of two priests of the Order and a lay Brother, to arrive by the s.s. Ormuz. The Fathers have earned for themselves a very high reputation as missionaries, and all who are interested ia the extension and vitality of religion must rejoice to hear of their hands being strengthened.

Sir Charles Lilley. Chief Justice of Queensland, has no belief whatever ia Imperial Federation, which he says is even more shadowy than Pepper's ghost. Sir Charles, on the contrary, believes ia the separation of the colonies, to be followed by an invasion of British and coloured troops from India. A more wholesome thought which has struck him is that of the example of Pope St. Gregory the Great, who finding that a beggar had died of starvation in the streets at Borne, inflicted severe penance on himself, as guilty of a sin of omission. This Pope, he says, knew nothing of the specious theories of the present day, which soothe men's consciences for allowing their fellow-men to starve to death. He racommends Imperial statesmen to follow the Pope's example. " Leave us "he adds, "to try to keep away the hunger-fiead from the children of our fair land and to rear a strong, brave, and powerful nation having an ample range of dnty in this new sphere ot action, where we may keep the peace and follow industry and the arts, and perfect freedom and the noblest works of oar race." — A Chief Justice, nevertheless, who approves of separation and connives in vision at the defeat of an Imperial force even partly in the shnpe of black troopa hailing from India, is some thing of a phenomenon.

The decision of the authorities in Paris to open the school where natives of the colonies are educated at Home to youths intended for colonial officials and which also points once more to the increased interest taken in colonial affairs, is not received with universal favour in the colonies. Our Noumean contemporary, La France Australe, for example, points out that youths so educated are commonly rich in theory but poor in practice, and has, moreover, but little confidence even in the knowledge of native languiges to ba so acquired. The outcome is expected by our contemporary to be a crowd of incompetent officials doomed to disappointment and destined, for the most p-irt, to fall back with diminished chances into the ranks of the ordinary employee. — The significance of the regulation, however, in connection with the colonial views which are extending in Europe, remains.

The eloper bonds that now unite the world in all its parts have be3n somewhat strangely made evident in India. Consequent on the representation on the stage at Paris of the Prophet Mahomed , in disobedience to Mahomedan ordinances and as a violent outrage on Mahomedan principles, the Mahomedans at Bombay and Poonah have been forbidden, under extreme religious penaliias, to enter a theatre. Native managers, therefore, are on the verge of bankruptcy, having lost the great majority of their patrons. The matter, however, is curious, as showing the strong and immediate nature of the connection between places so far apart, and the influence so unexpectedly exercised.

By express on Tuesday last (says the Sydney Nation of February 20), Mr. John Deasy, M.P., took his final departure from New South Wales. Need we say what an earnest worker Mr. Deasy has been in the cause since his arrival here — twelve months ago. Mr. Deasy is to joiu Mr. J. Cox, M.P., in Victoria, where they have some eleven meetings to address. They then proceed to South Australia, where some niae meetings have been arranged. On St. Patrick's Day they will be present at the demonstration in Adelaide, after which they will take their departure for the old land to resume their duties in the House of Commons. We wish them bon voyage I Mr. F. B. Freehill and Mr. John Daly, ex-M.P , for Cork, accompanied Mr. Deasy to the train and bade him farewell ! on behalf of the people of New Siuth Wales. The final result of the " mission " promises to be about £36,000 I

One of the Passionist Fathers who is on hia way by the s.b. Ormuz to join the members of his Order in New South Wales is the Reverend Norbert M'Fadden, brother of the well-known Father M'Fadden of Gweedore. We rejoice to say that Father Norbert, on Mb arrival, will find his Order making good progress in the colony. A nice property suitable for a house of study and retreat for the professed has been secured by the Fathers on very reasonable terms in the neighbourhood of Goulburn, and they have been presented by Alderman Hart of Sydney with fifth acres of land adjoining Ulster Park, Yarrunga, on which to erect a novitiate. On the whole, then, the eons of St. Paul of the [Cross may be considered to have made good progress since their arrival some three or four years ago in the colony. And may they still proceed and prosper.

The Mo9t Rev. Dr. Corbett, Bishop of Sile is a passenger on his return voyage from a visit to Europe by the e.s. Ormuz. At Wen Maitland, meantime, preparations are being busily made to give a reception fully expressive of the affection of his people, to the Most Rev. Dr. Murray whose return from Europe is also approaching.

A tragic disaster is reported from Queensland in the wreck ot the British and Iniian Company's steamer, Quetta, on a rock off Mount Adolphua near Cooktown. The vessel was homeward bound by the Torres strait route, and had on board a large number of passengers, iucluding many well-known colon sts. She struck suddenly in calm water when she was going rapidly, and so great was the damage done that she sank in about three minutes, taking down with her|the majority of those on board. In all 145 people are said to have perished. Panic and confusion seem to have prevailed, and as yet little haß been related to relieve the horror of the event.