the fourth and fifth, numbering 1,060 officers and men, left on Marca 24th and 31st. Various useful consolidating measures were passed during the parliamentary session, chiefly dealing with Municipal Corporation, Public Health, and Land for Settlement. The Act dealing with the Postal Affairs of the Colony established a wide extension of the penny postage system which affected the whole Colony, and came into operation on the 1st January, 1901. The Old Age Pension Act and the Compensation to Workmen Act were also placed on a more satisfactory basis. European representation in the House of Representatives was increased by the addition of six members, the enactment being post-dated for the next general election. The Native Department showed great activity with respect to procuring the passage of laws granting the Maoris a modicum of self-government, together with a certain power in the management of their own lands, at the same time sweeping away many of the old abuses.

In October the Earl of Ranfurly paid a visit to Cook Island Group, and at Raratonga proclaimed the annexation of the islands to the British Crown, a step towards their inclusion within the territory of New Zealand. Great activity was displayed in the pursuit of dredging for gold during the year, and a "boom of some consequence arose, though its subsequent bursting for a time injuriously affected the industry.

In January, 1901, the sixth contingent, consisting of 578 officers and men, left for South Africa; and the seventh, comprising 600 officers and men, and known as the "Rough Riders," was despatched on the 6th April. The Duke and Duchess of York visited New Zealand in June, and were everywhere received with enthusiastic demonstrations of welcome. Letters Patent, issued on the 13th May, extended the boundaries of the Colony so as to include the Cook Islands, the 11th June being fixed upon as the date of this extension. The question of Federation occupied attention during the year, but public opinion seemed to be largely against it. A Commission visited Australia for the purpose of taking evidence, but its report, tabled on the 22nd July, was decidedly antagonistic to the proposal. During the year the eight-hour day principle was incorporated in the Coal Mines and Factories Acts, and an experiment in State ownership of means of production was made by the passing of a State Coal Mines Act. An Accidents Compensation Act, and Advances to Settlers Extension Act were also passed, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was amended in the direction of making the Conciliation Boards optional. The Commonwealth Tariff had the effect of curtailing exports to Australia, but this was counterbalanced by the growth of trade with South Africa. The Colony suffered a severe loss by the death, on the 6th August, of Sir John Mackenzie, who had been for many years an ardent supporter of the Ballance and Seddon Governments.

In February, 1902, a further contingent of 1,000 men was despatched to South Africa. At the time of its departure, a ninth was in process

of enrolment, and before this was fairly on its way a tenth had been offered and accepted. Each of these numbered 1,000 men, and with the first battalion of the last of them Mr. Seddon journeyed to South Africa to visit the scene of the war, prior to proceeding to London to take part in the Coronation festivities and the Conference of Colonial Premiers.

In the following table will be found a list of the successive Ministries which have held office in New Zealand from the inauguration of Responsible Government up to the date of publication of this volume :

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THE COMMONWEALTH.

HE question of the federation of the various provinces of Australia was not overlooked by the framers of the first free Australian Constitution, who proposed the establishment of a General Assembly "to make laws in relation to those intercolonial questions that have arisen, or may hereafter arise," and who, indeed, sketched out a tolerably comprehensive federation scheme. Unfortunately, however, that proposition was included with another for the creation of a colonial hereditary nobility, and in the storm of popular opposition and ridicule with which the latter idea was greeted, the former sank out of sight. Again, in 1853, the Committees appointed in New South Wales and Victoria to draw up the Constitutions of their respective colonies, urged the necessity for the creation of a General Assembly; but the Home Government indefinitely postponed the question by declaring that "the present is not a proper opportunity for such enactment." From time to time, since Responsible Government was established, the evil of want of union among the Australian colonies has been forcibly shown, and the idea of federation has gradually become more and more popular. Some years ago (1883) the movement took such shape that, as the result of an Întercolonial Conference, the matter came before the Imperial Parliament, and a measure was passed permitting the formation of a Federal Council, to which any colony that felt inclined to join could send delegates. The first meeting of the Federal Council was held at Hobart in January, The colonies represented were Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Fiji. New South Wales, South Australia, and New Zealand declined to join. South Australia sent representatives to a subsequent meeting, but withdrew shortly afterwards. The Council held eight meetings, at which many matters of intercolonial interest were discussed, the last having been held in Melbourne, early in 1899. One meeting every two years was necessary to keep the Council in existence. Being, from its inherent constitution, a purely deliberative body, having no executive functions whatever, the Federal Council possessed no control of funds or other means to put its legislation into force, and those zealous in the cause of federation have had to look elsewhere for the full realisation of their wishes. The Council, naturally, ceased to exist at the inception of the Commonwealth.

An important step towards the federation of the Australasian colonies was taken early in 1890, when a Conference, consisting of representatives from each of the seven colonies of Australasia, was held in the Parliament House, Melbourne. The Conference met on the 6th February, thirteen members being present, comprising two representatives from each of the colonies, except Western Australia which sent only one. Mr. Duncan Gillies, Premier of Victoria, was elected President. Seven meetings were held, the question of federation being discussed at considerable length; and in the end the Conference adopted an address to the Queen, expressing their loyalty and attachment, and submitting certain resolutions which affirmed the desirability of an early union, under the Crown, of the Australian colonies, on principles just to all, suggested that the remoter Australasian colonies should be entitled to admission upon terms to be afterwards agreed upon, and recommended that steps should be taken for the appointment of delegates to a National Australasian Convention, to consider and report upon an adequate scheme for a Federal Constitution.

In accordance with the terms of that resolution, delegates were appointed by the Australasian Parliaments, and on the 2nd March, 1891, the National Australasian Convention commenced its sittings in the Legislative Assembly Chambers, Sydney, having been convened at the instance of Mr. James Munro, the Premier of Victoria. There were forty-five members of the Convention altogether, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia (which had only recently been placed in possession of the privilege of Responsible Government) each sending seven delegates, and New Zealand three. Sir Henry Parkes, then Premier of the mother colony, was unanimously elected President of the Convention; Mr. F. W. Webb, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, was appointed Secretary; Sir Samuel Griffith, Premier of Queensland, was elected Vice-President; and Mr. (later Sir) J. P. Abbott, Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, was elected Chairman of Committees.

A series of resolutions was moved by the President, Sir Henry Parkes, setting forth certain principles necessary to establish and secure an enduring foundation for the structure of a Federal Government, and approving of the framing of a Federal Constitution; and after discussion and amendment, the resolutions were finally adopted,. affirming the following principles :-

1. The powers and rights of existing colonies to remain intact, except as regards such powers as it may be necessary to hand over to the Federal Government.

2. No alteration to be made in State boundaries without the consent of the Legislatures of such States, as well as of the Federal Parliament.

3. Trade between the federated colonies to be absolutely free.

B

4. Power to impose Customs and Excise Duties to rest with the Federal Government and Parliament.

5. Military and Naval Defence Forces to be under one command. 6. The Federal Constitution to make provision to enable each State to make amendments in its Constitution if necessary for the purposes of Federation.

Further resolutions approved of the framing of a Federal Constitution which should establish a Senate and a House of Representatives-the latter to possess the sole power of originating money Bills; also a Federal Supreme Court of Appeal, and an Executive consisting of a Governor-General, with such persons as might be appointed his advisers. On the 31st March, Sir Samuel Griffith, as Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Machinery, brought up a draft Constitution Bill, which was fully and carefully considered by the Convention in Committee of the Whole, and adopted on the 9th April, when the Convention was formally dissolved.

The Bill of 1891 aroused no popular enthusiasm, and parliamentary sanction to its provisions was not sought in any of the colonies; thus federation fell into the background of politics.

At this juncture a section of the public began to exhibit an active interest in the cause which seemed in danger of being temporarily lost through the neglect of politicians. Public Associations showed sympathy with the movement, and Federation Leagues were organised to discuss the Bill and to urge the importance of federal union upon the people. A conference of delegates from Federation Leagues and similar Associations in New South Wales and Victoria was called at Corowa in 1893. The most important suggestion made at this Conference was that the Constitution should be framed by a Convention to be directly elected by the people of each colony for that purpose. This new proposal attracted the favourable attention of Mr. G. H. Reid, then Premier of New South Wales, who perceived that a greater measure of success could be secured by enlisting the active sympathy and aid of the electors, and who brought the principle to the test in 1895. January of that year he invited the Premiers of the other colonies to meet in conference for the purpose of devising a definite and concerted scheme of action. At this Conference, which was held at Hobart, all the Australasian colonies except New Zealand were represented. It was decided to ask the Parliament of each colony to pass a Bill enabling the electors qualified to vote for members of the Lower House to choose ten persons to represent the colony on a Federal Convention. The work of the Convention, it was determined, should be the framing of a Federal Constitution, to be submitted, in the first instance, to the local Parliaments for suggested amendments, and, after final adoption by the Convention, to the electors of the various colonies for their approval by means of the referendum.

In 1896 a People's Federal Convention, an unofficial gathering of delegates from various Australian organisations, met at Bathurst to