New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
UNITED AUSTRALIA.
fHE SIX COLONIES FORM A NEW COM
MoNwEALTH on JANUARY !.

MONWEALTH On jANlAk1 l.
The institution Of the Commonwealth Of Aus
.relsa Will take place on January l, 1901, and the
6rst Parliament viii be opened on that day by
ere Duke Of York. who made the trip to the
Ear away country expressly for that purpose to
show how deeply the Queen Of England Is inter
ested in the occasion.
The country which measures about two thou
sand miles east and west and $40 miles from
north to south. having an area OF 2S4o.Ooo
square miles, is the most important OF the many
islands comprising the geographical division
known as Australasia. and is nearly equal in
area TO the United States, exclusive Of Alaska
and the newly acquired possessions. Its Whl'e
,,onnlation exclusive OF Tasmania's 10000
numbers only about 3.635.O0O. of which New
South Wales has 100000; Victoria 1.2OO,oOO;
Queensland 100000: South Australia, 36"W"
and West Australia. 10000. This shows thai
rhe country is exceedingly thinly populated
tbere being only fraction over one white per-
son TO the square mile As 10 the climate A H.
Gilman writes: 4 once struck what is caheu
shore q .brickfelder, which means that the mer-
curv was sizzling around IFS degrees IN the
shade. while a north wind was driving fine req
dust into ones very bones Sparro"s "eIe
dro,ning dead and beasts of burden actually
refused To bulge This exceptional heat was
followed by a sudden change Of wind from us
opposite direction. wit. torrents Of rain ~hich
in about ten minutes changed the temperature
70 GO degrees above zero.
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS.
Each II the six colonies constituting the Com
,nonvealtb Is in many respects a distinct and
senarate State Each has its Parliament ana re-
sponsibe Cabinet with a Governor appointed oy
The British Crown who is also, by virtue OF ms
office commander-in-chief Of the military anu
naval forces Although these States are BRUSH
depen5encies they make their own laws pu'
these must receive the sanction OF Inc queen
or her representative. before they become oper-
ative Australia is not a great manufacturing
country but takes high rank as a producer Of
gold. silver. copper and other metals; WOOL
sugar. grain and meat The coal product is
about G0o00e0 tons Yearly. The railroads and
telegraph lines are nearly all operated by the
state OF the former 800 miles are open for
traffic l,u; there is . different gauge in every
colony. that Of Victoria being , feet ; inches;
New South Wales feet < inches; Queensland
3 feet q inches etc The Commonwealth is nor
behind other and better known countries in the
matter of a public debt. This has reached the
magnificent figure Of $9300O0000 or about $40
Der capita as against about 50 in the United
States
Education is compulsory and for higher edu-
cation fheTe are UNIVERSITIES dA AASiDoA nv ~
ney and Adelaide. There is State Church,
but the Episcopalians are the dominant body
with Roman Catholics second Presbyte1ians
third ana Methodists fourth
The first steps toward federation were taken
in 1852, when proposal was made TO form
general assembly for the purpose Of framing
laws relating to intercolonial affairs. Nothing
was done. however until permission was Oh
ialned from the British Government 10 establish
n federal council, the first meeting Of when
was held al Hobart, Tasmania, IN January,
1885 -Four years later a conference Of dele
gates from the seven eolOnSsss including New
Zealand. met al AlelbNlTne A. this meeting
steps were taken toward The appointment Of
delegates 30 a national Australasian convention,
empowered 10 consider and report upon a salts
factory basis for federal constitution. This
convention met at Sydney in March, 1891. Reso-
lutions having I'm view a federal constitution
were passed. and a bin creating a Common
wealth OF Australia adoDted. but these
measures failed TO satisfy all who We're inter-
ested. and later leaders Of the several govern
nents held conferences, and as q result Of their
actions another convention met at Melbourne
IN February. lS4S, and adopted another bill for
submission TO the people. This constitution bill
was submitted by means of the referendum in
June 1898 and was adopted by ali the colonies
with the exception OF New South Wales by large
maiorities The differences were adjusted in
January thE', all disputed points were settled. !
and an amended bin was passed by the several
farliaments. Addresses TO the Queen were
framed federal delegation visited England TO
CONFER with the home government, the bin was
passed by both houses of Parliament, and finally |
received the assent OF the Crown
THE EXECUTIVE POWERS
Under the new act the executive power is
vested in Governor-General appointed by the
Queen, assisted by Federal Executive Council
The Federal Parliament will consist of two
houses, the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentauyes. both TO be elected by the people on
me basis of 'one man. one vote" The term of
senators Is 10 he six years and that Of Repre-
sentatives three years. Every State or COLONY