INTERCOLONIAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 7, 17 June 1898, Page 18

INTERCOLONIAL

With regard to Australian Federation, Sir Robert Stout, in a letter to the Sj/dni y jHovn'nuj Ifcr/thl, states that many New Zealanders are profoundly interested in Federation, and have watched the fight with great anxiety. He does not question the sincerity or patriotism of the anti-federationihts, but in thus striving for an ideal federation they have killed a possible Commonwealth. He goes on to suggest that, if some kind of union far short of federation might not soon be consummated between New Zealand and Australia, the establishment of a federal appellate court might be brought about, such court to meet once a year in New Zealand. Then there could be an opening left for a commercial treaty with Xew Zealand and for the Commonwealth that is to be. There are other ways by which New Zealand could be brought into closer touch with their brothers across the Tasman Sea ; but he does not suggest them, as he wishes to see one or two steps taken at a time. He regrets that New Zealand was not represented at the last two Federal Conventions, and concludes :—": — " I have thrown out these suggestions in the hope that. now that federation must again be discussed, Now Zealand will not be deemed a foreign country. Federated Australia must come, and who dare forbid the bans if far away New Zealand declares her readiness to become one of the great Australasian family .''

One of the features of the Otago Jubilee Industrial Exhibition was the excellent display made by Messrs. Powley and Keast, the well-known firm of bottlers of Messrs. Speight and Co.'s celebrated ales and stout, and we may mention that the gold medal awarded to Speight and Co. for general excellence of beers should have been for ales and stout bottled by Powley and Keast, no bulk ales or stout having been judged. *\