Parliament opens on the 27th instant, but the session will probably be only of short duration, as the Federal elections are due to take place in November, and the major portion of the business will be in connection with the transference of Parliamentary work to the Federal Assembly. Alterations t" the old Exhibition Buildings are in progress to fit them for the recep. tion of the first House when duly elected, Up to date, no selection has been made of a site for the Federal city, which according to the Bill must be in N.S.W., but not Jess than 100 miles from Sydney. ' For the first five years, however, Melbourne is to enjoy the distinction of housing the Legis-nature.
GOVERNMENT AT TANOA, Mr, Basil Thomson, British Special Commissioner at Tonga, writes of the Local Parliamentary system as follows, Parliamentary Government is unknown, There are nominally two houses, one hereditary and one elective. The King, to save all heartburnings, recriminations and balties for office, elects the Premier. A speaker is chosen and the hon. members of both Houses sit in the same Chamber, Peers on one side, commoners on the other, and hold a confab in their own language. Tonga has no national debt. The Governoient has no liabilities and there is a surplus almost every year. King George is 26 years of age. He is an intelligent young monarch and speaks English, although somewhat imperfectly.
Repeated outrages on the natives inhabiting the island of Epi (New Hebrides, by French settlers have compelled the Presbyterian Assembly to appeal to the Australian Premiers on behalf of their Missionaries and converts, and the affair threatens to become one of international importance. Dual control of the islands by Great Britain "ud France is evidently unworkable, no Resident of either Power being stationed there, and the administration being left in the hands of the common ders of te respective cruisers which patrol the islands for six months of the year.
In connection with the shipment of horses to the Cpe, Australia holds the record, ax the Boulder Me steamer Rip-bingham Grange left Sydney on June 12th with " total of 1,0 5 om hoard, of which Queensland contributed 495. "Argentina comes next with a shipment of over 900 head. Col. Hunt and Capt. Nuttall, of the Imperial Army, were in charge of the arrangements. The steamer will proceed direct to Durban and a contingent of 60
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.