programme of minor measures. Mr. Kingston, the Prime Minister, being one of the guests of the Queen in London, the session was of extreme dulness.

Mr. Holder, the Treasurer, introduced his Budget on August 12, of which the main item was an unexpected surplus of 106,640l.

Just before the prorogation of Parliament, Mr. Kingston, having returned from his visit to England, brought in a sweeping measure of parliamentary reform. The franchise was extended to every householder, male and female, including the wives of householders, and increasing the total number of electors in the colony by 25,000 men and 40,000 women.

As the Government was in a minority in the Legislative Council, there seemed very little chance of Mr. Kingston's Suffrage Bill being carried to an act of Parliament.

Tasmania.-The Federal Council was opened by Lord Gormanston, the governor, on January 27. Some serious differences were developed among the members, and very little progress was made in business.

The Parliament was opened on July 13. The Government announced a reduction in the income tax and other imports, and introduced a bill for the establishment of a Crédit Foncier.

The Commonwealth Bill was brought in and discussed in the Assembly on July 21. It was passed on August 17.

The Houses met again after the prorogation on October 12. A vote of want of confidence in the Government on account of its action in the Emu Bay affair was defeated on October 19 by a large majority.

The New Zealand military contingent, on its way home from London, arrived at Hobart on September 3, and received a cordial welcome. The Maoris especially were the object of much enthusiasm.

Western Australia.-The elections by the two Houses of Parliament for the Federal Convention resulted in the return of Sir John Forrest, the Premier, at the head of the list, with the Speaker of the Assembly and the leader of the Opposition as second and third. Contrary to the method adopted by the other colonies, two delegates in Western Australia were elected by Parliament.

The Parliament was opened on March 11. The Australian Federation Bill was the principal measure announced.

Sir John Forrest made a speech to his constituents declaring his policy to be domestic legislation, in public works, railways, and water supply.

The general elections were held in the beginning of May, resulting in a great majority for the Government. The Ministerialists returned were 34, those of the Opposition 6, and Independents 7. The apathy among the electors was very great. In Perth, with a population of 20,000, only 540 voted.

Sir John Forrest left the colony for the London Jubilee on

May 7, and on his return a vote of want of confidence in the Government for their policy in regard to the duties on food was brought forward (Oct. 27) and rejected by a majority of 30 to 11; but in the Assembly a motion for the payment of members, though opposed by the Government, was carried (Nov. 25) by 20 to 17.

The revenue for the year ending June 30 was 2,822,000l., against 1,858,000l. in the previous year, and the colony increased by 55,911 inhabitants during the year, showing a population of 157,758.

A serious outrage of a kind till then unknown in the colony was perpetrated at Coolgardie in June on the persons of some managers of mines, who were stopped on the high-road and robbed of 7131. On December 20 two brothers, small stockowners in the extreme north-eastern confines of the colony, were tried at Perth for the murder, by flogging, of one man and two women aboriginals. Alexander Anderson, one of the brothers, died in gaol before the trial. The other, Ernest Anderson, was convicted of manslaughter only, in spite of the strong opinion of the judge that it was murder, and sentenced to penal servitude for life. There was great feeling in the court of sympathy for the prisoner. In another criminal case the chief justice declared that the verdict was a 66 shameful" one.

The colony continued during the year to make great strides in material prosperity. There was much activity in all departments of the national industry, and the steadily increasing returns from the goldfields, together with the improved facilities of traffic, were attracting a constant stream of immigration.

New Zealand. The chief feature of the political situation was a notable decline in popularity of the Government of Mr. Seddon. What was known in and out of the colony as "Seddonism,” which rightly or wrongly was associated in the public mind with the system which sought by legislative enactment to cure all the ills as well as the vices of society, showed symptoms this year of having lost its hold on the minds of the colonists. The illsuccess of some of the experiments in State Socialism, together with the arbitrary and violent behaviour of the ministers in their conduct of public affairs and their impatience of constitutional forms, contributed to breed much discontent, even among the classes which once supported the Government. And although the Ministry remained unshaken during the year there were palpable signs that its power was on the wane.

Mr. Seddon did not come back from the London Jubilee with his prestige strengthened by the imperial celebration. Amidst all the loyal rejoicings over his going and his return there was a feeling of bitterness which found vent when the bill for his expenses came before the House. In that Assembly which once he was able to wield at will, there were critics before whom in explaining the items of the bill for 1,7501. the Premier had a bad quarter of an hour. It was a painful scene when, amidst a dead silence even on the Government benches, Mr.

Seddon was made to explain, item by item, how the money had gone. Even the popular members, though disposed to let their chief have his pleasure, were found to have retained frugal minds. The expenses, the Prime Minister pleaded, had been greater than he had anticipated. The Assembly listened in a most unsympathetic mood to the Premier's rambling and disjointed statement, the scene ending in a general impression that the colony had little to show for the contribution it had made to the imperial festivities.

Some other acts of the Government in connection with the Jubilee did not tend to popular enthusiasm. Among the measures taken to demonstrate the public feeling of loyalty, certain prisoners, under life sentences for murder, were released from the gaols. Unhappily these were so chosen as to give colour to the belief that the Government, in its clemency, had been guided by political sympathies.

Earl Glasgow left Wellington on February 6, Lord Ranfurly, the new governor, arriving on August 10. One of the out-going governor's last acts was to consent (after a reference to the imperial Government) to the appointment of three Ministerialists to the Legislative Council-the new senators thus created being three gentlemen who had been defeated in the general election for the Assembly.

A famous Maori chief and relic of the old times, Major Ropata, chief of the Ngati-porou tribe, and a member of the Legislative Council, died on July 1 at the supposed age of ninety. He had played a great part in the early native wars, always as a strong friend of the white men. He was in receipt of a pension and a sword of honour from the Government, and was buried with military honours. Another celebrated Maori hero, on the opposite side, Rahama, died in December. He was a giant in size, and distinguished for his bitter hostility to the Europeans. He was a great orator, and took a leading part in the Naikato war, though in his latter days he had become almost reconciled to English rule-refusing, however, the seat in the Upper House which was offered him lest he should lose his influence over his people.

There was some slight recrudescence of the old trouble about the native lands. Individual settlers in the Taranaki district were disturbed by Maoris, who demanded stoppage of land sales and the establishment of a Maori council.

A vote of want of confidence was moved by Mr. Rolleston in the Assembly on October 29, aimed at ministers holding seats in commercial syndicates. After a long and acrimonious debate the Ministry were victorious by six votes.

The Treasurer's Budget speech (Oct. 12) showed the finances in a prosperous state. The year's revenue was 4,768,7081., showing a surplus of 138,7281. A bounty of 500,000l. upon the cultivation of beet-root for sugar was promised, also one for the establishment of creameries.

On December 8 a bill was introduced by the Government to establish a system of State fire insurance-making the insurance of all private buildings compulsory in all districts where a majority of the electors so desired. The bill was received with laughter from all parts of the House, and was not proceeded with after the first reading.

The Old Age Pensions Bill was thrown out in the Legislative Council (Dec. 15) by a majority of 20 to 15. The Prime Minister made a strong speech in public inveighing against the council. "Measures proposed in the Assembly must not be treated with contempt." Nevertheless the Alien Immigration Bill was also shelved in the council.

During the parliamentary session, of 130 bills proposed, eighty-eight were dropped in one House or the other.

Among the most useful measures introduced during the year was a bill for making the Island of Kapiti in Cook's Straits a reserve for the native fauna and flora, the private owners to receive compensation.

The estimated population of New Zealand on June 30 was 759,146, inclusive of 39,854 Maoris.

Polynesia. The report from the New Guinea goldfields was unfavourable. There was not enough attraction for Australian miners. The rush to Woodlark Island was at an end.

The acting-governor of German New Guinea was killed and eaten by the natives (Aug 24), and later there was a massacre at Mamoree, in British New Guinea, of the Government resident, Mr. Green, six miners and many of the natives.

A conflict arose between the French and the natives of Raiatea, an island of the Society group which had declared its independence. An armed forced was landed from the Duguay-Trouin on January 5, which had an encounter with the insurgents, killing many and destroying their villages.

A band of adventurers from San Francisco numbering 100 arrived at Levuka with the avowed intention of forming a cooperative settlement on some island "by force if necessary. The expedition broke up through quarrels among the members, and the party eventually went on to New Zealand.

There was a stormy session of the Tongan Parliament through the King's refusal to dismiss his ministers.

The Senate of Hawaii ratified the annexation treaty with the United States by a unanimous vote.

PART II.

CHRONICLE OF EVENTS

IN 1897.

JANUARY.

1. The New Year's honours included a peerage for Sir Joseph Lister, Bart., President of the Royal Society, the discoverer of the antiseptic treatment-the first instance of a medical man being raised to the

peerage.

The Czar addressed a warmly worded telegram of congratulation to President Faure.

The marine engineers at Melbourne and other ports in Victoria struck in consequence of the owners refusing to recognise the Union rules.

Mr. Rhodes received an enthusiastic ovation at Cape Town from a large concourse of people, but the leading politicians of all parties held aloof.

2. Mr. Justice Chitty appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in succession to Lord Justice Kay, resigned.

The Berlin Produce Market practically deserted, the members having struck against the Government regulations issued under the Exchange Act.

3. A peaceful and unarmed expedition to Benin, consisting of the Acting Consul-General at Lagos and eight officers and civilians, accompanied by 250 carriers, massacred by order of the King of Benin, only two officers and seven carriers escaping, the former having been seriously wounded.

The elections for the renewal of one-third of the senatorial seats in France resulted in the maintenance of the Moderates, who retained sixty-six seats, against sixteen Radicals, twelve Conservatives, and three Socialists.

4. An imperial rescript issued by the German Emperor directing that the settlement of affairs of honour should be submitted to a Council of Honour, with the view of placing limitations on the practice of duelling.