The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-20
NEWS BY
M|OWERA
AustraIia's New Year
Outlook.
THE FEDERAL CAPITAL
Plague Once More Appears--Blacks
Eat Man and Horses--Sydney
and Brisbane.


ring in the new century will also ring
In a new Empire. to be called the Com
mcnwealth of Australia. Australians
separate colonies, under royal charter,
granted by our Queen and British Par
lament, with the acclamation of the
nation with Lord Hopetoun, the most
excellent choice Of Her Majesty, as her
representative, proclaim at the New
Year that henceforth the Australian
colonies will be joined in one indissolu-
BILE union. Happily, Lord Hopetoun, a
former Governor of Victoria, had won
the hearts Of Australian people, and no
more popular appointment could have
been made of a man to fill the office of
first Governor General.
Following the proclamation it will be
for the various states, viz, New South
Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tas-
mania, Queensland and West Australia
to elect both Senators and members of
the House of Representatives. And the
Ccnstitution-the freest in the world
provides that every member of Parlia-
nent shall be elected by the people
themselves.
The next event in order will be the
assembling of the chosen of the people
of the various states to commence the
construction of laws that are to govern
the people of the Commonwealth. Who
will be the chief actor in the high game
of nation-b building? A nobleman will
proclaim the creation of the Common
wealth. but the one the Queen sends
to the Antipodes to take her place to
crown Kipling's Young Queen" is the
son of the heir to the throne, and who
in the course of events, will, surviving
become King of Great Britain.
Wisdom has marked the selection of
the place for the performance of this
royal operation. At the most elevated
part of the city of Melbourne stands in
the beautiful Carlton Gardens the most
stately and spacious Exhibition build
Ing. which with its balconies will house
an immense assembly. Designed for
grand festivals IL has great organ.
Last year the-Soung Bendigo ''nightin-
gale" Miss Amy Castles. gave her con-
cert there and the attendance at IL was
$500. 1t will, therefore, be seen that
in all respects IL Is suitable for the
great function. 1t will be in the Exhi-
bition building that Parliament will
remain until IL meets at the seat of
Government, and its domicile will be
In the mother colony of New South
Wales, but II Is decreed that all within
n radius of 100 miles from Sydney is
to be excluded.
One OF the first acts of the Federal
Parliament will be to agree as to the
site of the seat Of Government and the
rivalry Of the two great states New
South Wales and Victoria, will un-
doubtedly be very keen. At one time
II was considered that this question
would wreck Federation. a disaster
happily averted. 1t is we'll known that
the majority rule was not followed at
the first referendum in New South
Wales and the minority won. A gen.
eral election followed there and IL was
seen that the voice of the majority had
to be respected. This led to the Pre-
mier. Mr.. G.. RI. Reid, then submitting
terms to the other colonies. which re-
suited In meeting of Premiers in Mel
bourne when Victoria secured the right
or Parliament meeting in Melbourne
pending the Federal Parliament choos
Ing. the seat Of Government in New
South Wales. outside of Sydney 1O
miles and to the limits of the colony.
When the railways of New Souti
Wales and Victoria met at Albury. O.
rather Joined by coach from wodonga
was the time of demonstration. ST
Hercules Robinson, later Lord Rose
mead, who was at the time Governo
of the mother colony, at this meetin
advocated most strongly the advisable
ity of the colonies federating, and
ha no Grut
people upon this great question. al
though at the periodical intercolonis
conference the matter was referred I,
without sincerity. in pleasant sort {
way. to engender good will Albury.
consequence of this great meetin,
seemed to think IL had some claim ,
the position of Federal metropoIi
When Sir Henry Parkes halted at A
bury and held his great meeting ther
some ten years ago, en- route to a,
range with Victoria to take IN th
Federal matter 1t was jubilant at 4
chances And on all occasions whe
the Premier was passing through Z
business II vas signal for a meetjr
10 put forth It's claims. 1t is referre
70 10 the Australian Handbook ,
. sometimes known as the FEEDER
CITY but as 1t is 3s6 miles from sv,
pey and only 100 miles from Melbourn
Is contrary to the spirit exhibit,
throughout the referendum camnaie-
In the motheS colony that 1t will ca
Its vote In favor Of Albury, mainly b
cause II Is too distant from Sydn
and too near its great rival, Melbourr
But then 1t has but its own vote. I
to the time Of the meeting Of Parli
ment In New South Wales after d
referendum, In fact. before the fir
vote was taken. Sydney showed utt
selfishness In the matter of the Fe
eral city and the attitude of the Pr
miers Enthusiastically Indicated that ,
single state should dominate. for
hsed the 100-mile radius eirdle rour
sydney. thus excluding IL and 9th
places even at this great distanc
When this decision became know
many places laid claim for consider,
tion as suitable for the seat of Go,
ernment. Bathurst. Bombala. Gou
burn, Orange were those most though
OF and Bombala received most after
tion and its popularity has never fas
ged. This was doubtless due to n