ighbours to the folks in the Old
Country.

'Nay, daily and hourly counsel goes on between all parts of the world,
bringing the wisdom of the whole to each point. Communities, separated by
seas and continents, are able to discuss with each other, on the minute,
what action is for the highest interests of all. It is impossible that
the federation we see existing in the incessant congress of the civilised
world, can ever be gone back upon.'

A pretty incident of Sir George Grey's tour through Australia as a
tribune might have been reported in London next morning. This was
following the first conference, held in Sydney, on the great subject of
Australasian federation: Sir George, after a season of heather burning,
was taking ship at Sydney, to return to New Zealand. A multitude of
people streamed forth to bid him good-bye, and he walked down their ranks
to the steamer.

'As I was stepping on board,' he told the episode, 'I noticed a lad
smoking a cigarette. Being near him, I remarked quietly, "What a pity it
is to see a bright boy like you smoking! You are very young to smoke. I
am sure if you consider the expense it will lead you into, and perhaps
the injury to your health, you will not smoke."

'He looked up at me for a minute as if thinking, and then, with the
declaration, "I'll never smoke again," threw the cigarette from him. By
this time the crowd had noted what was transpiring, and they cheered the
lad again and again, much, I'm afraid, to his confusion. Now, wasn't that
a nice thing for a boy to do? It pleased me wonderfully.'

The proofs of federation by cable, which Sir George selected, were not,
however, related to himself. One was the auspicious and happy event of
the birth of a child, in direct succession to the English throne, Prince
Edward of York. 'Why,' he paused, 'that was known within an hour on the
farthest shores of Greater Britain, and the news, I can assure you,
received with as keen a joy as in England.' The second ease was the
historic London dock strike, of which he said, 'Not merely was that
struggle followed from hour to hour in Australasia, but encouragements
and assistance from Australasian workers to their comrades at home, swept
continually across the seas.'

There was already union between the different branches of the Anglo-Saxon
family, and all we had to do was to afford it assistance in growing and
forming. Ever, we must provide more adequate means for utilising the
onward tide of