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Western Australia.-The accession of Sir John Forrest to the Federal Government necessitated a change in the State Ministry. Mr. Leake became Premier and Attorney-General; Mr. Illingworth, Treasurer and Colonial Secretary; Mr. Holmes, Minister of Railways; Mr. Kingswill, Public Works; Mr. Gregory, Mines; and Mr. Somers, Lands. There were several changes of Government during the year, the parties being almost equally divided on issues mostly personal. A motion of want of confidence, brought forward by Mr. Piesse, a leader of the Forrest party, was carried on November 4, by 24 votes to 22. The Leake Ministry resigning, Mr. Piesse attempted to form an Administration. Failing in the attempt, Mr. Morgans was sent for, who formed a composite Ministry selected from leading men on both sides. The new Ministers being mostly defeated when they went to the electors, and the Governor refusing a dissolution, Mr. Morgans resigned. Then another combination was attempted under Mr. Leake, who returned to office with most of the old Members of the Forrest Ministry, on December 23.

The Assembly passed a resolution, after the announcement of the Federal tariff, condemning the new fiscal scheme as injurious to the trade and commerce of Western Australia.

The Duke of York arrived at Perth overland from Albany on July 22, the stormy weather preventing a landing at Fremantle.

The State Parliament was opened on June 28 by the new Governor, Sir Arthur Lawley.

A great strike of the men employed on the State railways produced much excitement and led to considerable interruption of business. The strikers it was proved were earning from 42s. to 51s. a week in wages.

The total export of gold in the year 1900 was officially declared at 1,580,950 ounces.

Tasmania.-The smallest State in the Union had, as usual, a record of small interest. The Duke of York arrived at Hobart from New Zealand after a rough passage on July 3, and made a stay of three days in the island, being the recipient of very warm demonstrations from all classes of this most loyal and British of all the Colonies.

The new Governor, Sir Arthur Havelock, arrived on November 7, and was the object of special attraction on account of his

name.

The Budget was delivered in the State Assembly on August 7. The returns of revenue were declared to be favourable, though a certain loss was expected through the operation of the Federal tariff, to be covered by a general income tax.

II. NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand, which decided to stand outside of the Australian Confederation as having interests of her own which are

remote from those of the neighbouring continent, showed by the record of the year that she was still in sympathy with her neighbours and quite as devoted to the mother country and the old flag notwithstanding her great advance towards democracy. Foremost among the Australian statesmen in responding to the call for armed assistance in the South African war was Mr. Seddon, the popular Prime Minister. By the acknowledgment of his opponents and rivals he greatly increased his influence in the country by the zeal and energy he displayed in the despatch of volunteers to South Africa. By the end of the year it was declared that no fewer than eight contingents had been equipped and sent to the seat of war, and Mr. Seddon's latest declaration was that more men were ready to be furnished if Great Britain required them. The time of the Colonists throughout the year was largely occupied in military preparations and patriotic ceremonies.

The visit of the Imperial soldiers, who arrived at Wellington on February 9, created much excitement and enthusiasm in all the cities. This was followed by the arrival of the Duke of York and the Royal yarty in the Ophir. His Royal Highness landed at Auckland on June 10, and thence his southward progress was one continued course of loyal demonstrations and rejoicings. The most striking of all the festive scenes was that which was enacted at Rotorua, on June 14, when the Maories danced the Great Haka, or national war dance, before the Duke and Duchess, their loyal enthusiasm exceeding in exuberance even that of the British inhabitants of the cities. After visiting Christchurch and Dunedin in the Southern Island the Duke of York took his departure from the latter port on June 27 for the Tasmanian capital.

The Commission appointed to inquire into the subject of confederation with Australia made their report on July 1. The Commissioners were unanimously against confederation, declaring that union with the Australian States would prejudicially affect the legislative independence of New Zealand, while it would give no advantages in respect to national defence.

The Parliament was opened on July 1. The Ministerial programme included several social and industrial reforms in the direction of the policy favoured by the Government. Among these was a bill for the regulation of the working hours in factories, banks, merchants' offices and other places of labour; and an increase in the salaries of Members of Parliament. In regard to the so-called conciliation tribunals some changes were adopted, the Prime Minister speaking strongly of some of the defects of the law as revealed in practice. "The act was being run to death," and had become odious to all sides. The bill amending the Arbitration Act was carried in the Assembly; some further changes were added by the Legislative Council and adopted by the Lower Chamber; and, finally, a new act was passed, which it was hoped would tend to remedy the existing

abuses, to the benefit of trade and without injury to the labourer.

The Referendum Bill, after passing the Assembly, was rejected by the Legislative Council by a majority of 29 to 1.

Mr. Seddon, the Prime Minister, in a speech at Hokitika, spoke strongly in favour of preferential duties on goods imported from Great Britain.

The financial statement, which was delivered in the Assembly on August 17, showed that the revenue for the year ending June 30 was 5,906,000l., the expenditure 5,479,000l., and the increase of revenue in the year 272,000l. The public debt had increased by 1,627,000l.

The penny postage was adopted by the New Zealand Government, leading to some friction with the Australian States, where it was not yet introduced.

Among the measures taken by the Government in furtherance of its policy of State ownership of property was a provision for a State-owned coal mine.

There was a heated debate in the House (Sept. 26) on an item for granting a sum of 2601. to the Australian Review of Reviews. The Opposition urged that this was a subvention in aid of the Government policy, while the Ministers alleged that the sum was well spent as an advertisement for the Colony. Mr. W. T. Stead, who was revealed as a part proprietor of the Australian Review of Reviews, which is strongly Imperialist and in favour of the war, as well as of the English Review of Reviews, which was notoriously pro-Boer, subsequently returned the money.

There was a unanimous feeling in Parliament, reflecting the opinion of all classes of the community, in favour of the Imperial policy of a vigorous prosecution of the war and of sympathy with the mother country against the attacks of the home and foreign pro-Boers.

Severe earthquake shocks were felt throughout the islands on November 19, the centre of the disturbance being Christchurch.

Fiji. The agitation for union with New Zealand led to considerable local feeling. The Governor, Sir George O'Brien, strongly opposed the movement in some speeches which gave rise to considerable sensation on account of their violent language, and the charges brought forward against the New Zealand authorities, who were accused of trying to capture the islands with a view to making slaves of the natives. He threatened to deport Mr. Slade for saying publicly that the Fijians were "surrounded by a web of legislation which was the grave of all liberty."

The New Zealand Government complained of the Governor's language and attitude, and Sir George O'Brien ceased to be Governor in August.

The exports from the islands in 1900 were returned as of

the value of 619,8561.; the imports, 349,890., showing a considerable increase in the year.

III. POLYNESIA.

The friction between the French and English in the New Hebrides in consequence of the arbitrary measures, taken by the French representatives to extend the influence of their country with a view, as was alleged, of abolishing the Dual Protectorate and giving France exclusive possession of the islands, arrived at an acute stage. A deputation representing the British settlers was sent to Mr. Barton, the Australian Premier, complaining of the French aggressions, and demanding annexation to Great Britain.

The subject formed matter of discussion in the Federal Parliament, and it was understood that a vigorous protest was made by the Commonwealth to the Colonial Secretary, insisting on the settlement of the question on a basis in conformity with Australian opinion, and the peace and security of the British possessions in the South Pacific.

A German gentleman named Mencke, who was on a yachting trip to the New Britain Archipelago, was murdered with most of his crew on the Island of St. Mathias. Other massacres were reported of white men by the natives of New Guinea, including that of a distinguished representative of the London Missionary Society, the Rev. Mr. Chalmers.

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