true, while affirming their good-will to England and their English fellow-colonists.

The colony finally decided not to be represented at the coming Paris Exhibition.

An observatory was for the first time established on Mount Kosciusko, the highest peak of the Australian Alps, under the superintendence of Mr. Newth, which promised to be of great scientific interest. In June a mean temperature was recorded of 23°, with a maximum of cold of 12° below zero.

The estate of the late Mr. Tyson, the pastoralist millionaire, was proved of the value of 560,000l., besides 1,850,000l. in the other colonies.

The population of the colony at the end of June was 1,357,050.

The parliamentary session closed on December 22.

Victoria. The war in South Africa engrossed the attention of the Victorian people, even to the exclusion of home politics, though these were of unusual interest, involving a change of Ministry and a reconstitution of parties. On federation the feeling was one of calm and settled confidence. The colony is more in earnest on this question than any of its sisters, the popular opinion being strongly in its favour, in fact, practically unanimous. When the Federal Bill was submitted to the vote, there were 152,544 for union, and only 9,525 against. A few of the Labour party signalised themselves by their opposition to the vote, but they lost credit even among their own political supporters by their attitude on this question.

The movement, in accordance with the imperial sentiment, began by a public meeting held at Melbourne on May 16, at which resolutions of sympathy with the Outlander were carried unanimously. Since then, upon the receipt of the news of the Boer ultimatum, two batches of Volunteers were embarked for South Africa, their departure being the occasion of extraordinary demonstrations of loyalty.

The Victorian Parliament was opened for the session on June 27—the principal topic in the Governor's speech being the Federal Bill. A satisfactory announcement was made of the financial condition of the colony. The revenue for the year ending June 30 was 7,378,8421., being an increase of 491,3791. over the returns of last year.

An extraordinary murder case occupied the attention of the public and was the subject of a sensational trial in the criminal court. The body of a young woman, identified as Mabel Ambrose, was found in the river Yarra enclosed in a box, showing signs of violence. At the inquest it was proved that an illegal operation had been performed, after which the body had been cut up and forced into a box before being thrown into the river. Some days afterwards, on the information of a servant girl, belonging to a house of ill fame, Francis Alexander Tod, a clerk in a merchant's firm, and Madame Radolsky, the

keeper of the house, with whom was afterwards joined Dr. Gaze, who performed the operation, were indicted for the wilful murder of Mabel Ambrose. The trial concluded on February 25 with a verdict of guilty against the two principals, with a recommendation to mercy; Dr. Gaze being acquitted. The sentence of death was afterwards commuted to six years' penal servitude for Tod, and ten years for Madame Rodolsky.

A conference of naval officers was held at Melbourne on July 31, to consider the question of a naval reserve. They agreed on the inadvisability of the Admiralty's proposals as being unsuitable to the circumstances of the colony. They declared six months' service on board a man-of-war, as required by the Admiralty, too long for the colonial sea-faring men, and the pay offered insufficient.

The Legislative Council rejected the Woman's Suffrage Bill on September 6 by a majority of 27 to 17.

Mr. Best, the Commissioner of Customs, made a significant declaration of future tariff policy in a speech delivered on August 30. He declared that the federal tariff was to be based on "scientific lines," and would be "fair, reasonable, and effectively protective" the effective protection being furnished by duties of from 5 to 25 per cent. ad valorem.

The Turner Ministry, which had for some time shown signs of weakness, was defeated by a hostile combination, led by Mr. Maclean and Mr. Shiels, in the first week of December. A new Government was formed on its downfall upon a basis difficult to understand. On no leading point of policy did those who voted against Sir George Turner differ from those who gave him a languid and hesitating support. Mr. Shiels, who was regarded as the principal instrument of the change, is a politician of somewhat erratic character, whose financial ideas when in office before were of the wildest kind.

The offices in the new Ministry were distributed as follows: -Mr. Maclean, Premier and Chief Secretary; Mr. Shiels, Treasurer; Mr. Irvine, Attorney General; Mr. Outtrim, Minister of Mines; Mr. Graham, Minister of Agriculture and Public Works; Mr. M'Coll, Minister of Lands; Mr. M'Coy, Minister of Education and Commissioner of Customs; Mr. Watt, Postmaster-General; Mr. Davies, Solicitor-General; Mr. Melville, Minister of Defence and Health.

All the Ministers were returned by their constituents without opposition, except Mr. Watt and Mr. M'Coy. The latter was defeated, having aroused much unpopularity, owing to his opposition to the sending of a Victorian contingent to South Africa. Mr. Maclean, the Premier, had once opposed confederation, but it was not thought likely that his entrance into office would affect the prospects of the scheme of union.

The new Prime Minister made a speech at Bairnsdale on December 12, declaratory of the Ministerial policy. That policy did not differ materially from Sir George Turner's. There would

be more "vigorous administration." Most of the measures announced by his predecessors would be taken up and carried through. There would be temporary relief for the poor pending the passing of the Old Age Pensions Bill, the first reading of which had been carried in the Assembly on August 15, having as its principal feature an allowance of 7s. weekly for all poor over the age of sixty-five.

Two once prominent public men died during the year. Sir Archibald Michie, a leading barrister, who had held office in several Administrations, and had been Agent-General in London, died on June 22 at the age of eighty-six. Mr. James Service, an old-time Glasgow chartist, who in late years had been regarded as the leader of the Conservative or Constitutional party in Victoria, more than once a Prime Minister, died at an advanced age on April 12.

The fact, curiously illustrative of the condition of the colony, that there were upwards of 15,000 applicants for 357 vacancies in the railway department, caused much comment in the press.

The Geelong Wool Mills, which had been closed for some years, renewed work this year. Their creation and existence were due entirely to protection.

The population of the colony at the end of June was returned at 1,176,854.

Queensland.-The cause of confederation made considerable advance in the colony, though as in its southern neighbour its advancing involved the minister responsible for that advance in some temporary trouble.

The Assembly was dissolved on February 15. In his opening address to his constituency, Mr. Dickson, the Prime Minister, strongly recommended the Federal Bill to the electors.

The result of the general election was the return of 45 Ministerialists, 8 members of the old Opposition and 21 of the Labour party. The Labour party in the new Assembly practically assumed the functions of an Opposition. Upon the question of federation there was much confusion of opinion. The Labour party was divided, the majority inclining to view with suspicion the prospect of union with the other colonies. The Ministerialists were for the most part half-hearted.

The new Parliament was opened on May 16.

The Legislative Council passed the Federal Enabling Bill, with restrictive amendments, which were practically agreed to by the Assembly.

A large meeting was held at Brisbane on April 25 to protest against the Federal Bill, urging the Government to insist upon better terms for Queensland. Federation, it was contended, would raise taxation by 28s. a head. Queensland, the most prosperous and progressive of the colonies, would derive the least benefit by confederation.

When the bill was submitted to the popular vote there were 38,458 in its favour and 30,996 against. The majority

was almost entirely due to the large preponderance of federalist votes in the northern district. The metropolitan district showed a small majority against federation. The south was about equally divided. The result, on the whole, showed an advance in the popular opinion in favour of union, though Brisbane and the principal centres of commerce and industry retained their dislike of the bill.

The Treasurer delivered his Budget speech on October 5, announcing the financial prosperity of the colony to be unprecedented. The revenue had largely exceeded the estimates, and there was a surplus of 150,000.

The address to the Queen, inviting her Majesty's favour for the Commonwealth Bill, was passed in the Assembly by 57 to 10 on October 4; the Legislative Council adopting a similar vote on October 10.

An unexpected Ministerial crisis led to some extraordinarily sudden changes of Government. Towards the close of November Mr. Dickson's Ministry was defeated by a small majority. A Cabinet representing the Labour party, headed by Mr. Dawson, came into office on the morning of December 1, and was defeated the same afternoon. Their resignation was followed by what was practically the return of the old Ministers to power, with some changes of office. Mr. Philp, late leader of the old Opposition, was made Premier and Treasurer; Mr. Dickson, late Premier, Chief Secretary; Mr. Foxton, Home Secretary; Mr. Chataway, Minister of Agriculture; Mr. O'Connel, Minister of Lands; Mr. Drake, Minister of Education, and Mr. Murray of Railways.

The question of Japanese immigration had exercised the minds of the Government and the people. A number of Japanese had landed on Thursday Island, whose coming provoked the Prime Minister to a violent speech against these Asiatics as undesirable immigrants. Under the existing law they might come as commercial men or travellers, but their entrance was forbidden as labourers for hire. Some correspondence took place with the Japanese authorities, who have shown themselves hitherto more amiable than could have been expected upon a point closely touching their national sentiment. The trade between Japan and Northern Queensland is on the increase, and the influx of Japanese, whether in the character of "travellers" or immigrants, is likely to cause some trouble to the Queensland Government, which is bound to take notice of the popular feeling against coloured labour.

Lord Lamington left the colony for a short term on October 3.

The population of Queensland at the end of June was returned at 508,000.

South Australia.-The Federal Enabling Bill passed through both Houses of Parliament without division on March 3.

The Parliament was dissolved on April 6. The general

election was concluded on April 29. The result was in favour of the Government.

The new Parliament was opened on June 22. The Governor congratulated the colony on improved prospects of agriculture and mining; also on the passage of the Federal Enabling Bill.

Mr. Holder, as Treasurer, made his Budget speech on August 24. He estimated the revenue at 2,715,000l., saying it was the last Colonial Budget to be introduced before confederation. A railway to the Queensland border was promised.

The popular vote on the Federal Bill gave 65,000 in favour of the measure, and 17,000 against.

The revenue to June 30 was 2,655,500l.—an increase of 99,000l.

The Solomon Ministry, which came into office upon a chance vote against Mr. Kingston, had but a short existence. They were defeated on the question of the reform of the Upper House by 25 votes to 22 on December 5.

Mr. Kingston refusing to take office, Mr. Holder, former Treasurer, was entrusted with the task of forming an Administration. The composition of the new Cabinet was as follows Mr. F. W. Holder, Premier, Treasurer, and Minister of Industry; Mr. J. H. Gordon, Attorney-General; Mr. J. G. Jenkins, Chief Secretary; Mr. R. W. Foster, Commissioner of Public Works; Mr. E. L. Babdelon, Minister of Education and Agriculture.

Lord Tennyson, the new Governor, arrived at Adelaide on April 10.

A meeting was held at Adelaide on May 17 to express sympathy with the Outlanders.

The population at the end of June was returned at 568,960. Western Australia.-No advance was made by the colony in the direction of federation, owing chiefly to the personal opposition of Sir John Forrest, the Prime Minister. Meetings were held in favour of the Commonwealth Bill, and in the gold-mining districts of the south-east there was a very large majority of Federalists.

The Parliament was opened on June 21. The Governor's speech announced that a Federal Bill would be presented, but he considered that its provisions were less favourable to the colony than to the others. Sir John Forrest moved that the Federal Bill be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses, having arrived at the conviction that amendments were necessary. A motion of want of confidence in the Ministry (July 4) was defeated by a majority of 14.

The Joint Committee of the two Houses reported (Sept. 20) that before the colony could accept federation important amendments were required, especially as to the election of senators the trans-continental railway, and customs.

A measure for giving the suffrage to women was passed on August 18.