Money and Credit. There are four banks in Western Australia besides the Post Office Savings ank. The following table gives the principal figures relating to them : Union Bank of 1,500,000 16,260 297,714 317,917 494,253 1,115,681 Bank of New 930,000 At the end of 1887 the Post Office Savings Bank had 31,3737. on deposit, on which 1,0727. interest was allowed. During 1888 deposits of the value of 18,8211. were made, and interest 1,0597. was allowed. The amount withdrawn during the year was 21,5177., leaving a balance of 30,8081. on deposit on December 31, 1888. Annual Blue Book. Books of Reference. Census of the Colony of Western Australia, taken on the 3rd April, 1881. Fol. Perth, 1882. Forene (Ernest), Western Australia: its Past History, Present Trade and Resources, and its Future Position in the Australian Group. Sydney, 1887. Nicolay (Rev. C. G.), Handbook of Western Australia, Perth (W. A.), 1880. Australian Defence. Sydney is a first-class naval station, the headquarters of the British fleet in Australasia. In 1889 there were 11 imperial war vessels on the station. By the 'Australasian Naval Force Act,' which was assented to on December 20, 1887, a fleet of five fast cruisers, each of 2,575 tons displacement and 7,500 horse-power, and two torpedo boats on the most improved modern build, each of 735 tons and 4,500 horse-power, are to be equipped for the Australian seas. An agreement which has been entered into for a period of ten years, afterwards terminable by two years' notice, provides that the vessels shall be built by the British Government, and that those of the Australian colonies who are parties to the agreement shall pay interest at the rate of 5 per cent. on the original cost, and all costs of maintenance. Upon the termination of the agreement the vessels will remain the property of the British Government. One of these vessels has been launched this year. AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION. By the Federal Council Act of Australasia, 1885' (48 & 49 Vict. cap. 60), a Federal Council of Australasia was constituted for the purpose of dealing with such matters of common Australasian interest, in respect to which united action is desirable, as can be dealt with without unduly interfering with the management of the internal affairs of the several colonies by their respective Legislatures. The Council was to have legislative authority in respect to the several matters following: (a) The relations of Australasia with the islands of the Pacific: (b) Prevention of the influx of criminals: (c) Fisheries in Australasian waters beyond territorial limits: (d) The service of civil process of the courts of any colony within Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia out of the jurisdiction of the colony in which it is issued: (e) The enforcement of judgments of courts of law of any colony beyond the limits of the colony: (f) The enforcement of criminal process beyond the limits of the colony in which it is issued, and the extradition of offenders (including deserters of wives and children and deserters from the Imperial or colonial naval or military forces): (g) The custody of offenders on board ships belonging to Her Majesty's Colonial Government beyond territorial limits: (h) Any matter which at the request of the Legislatures of the colonies Her Majesty by Order in Council shall think fit to refer to the Council: (i) Such of the following matters as might be referred to the Council by the Legislatures of any two or more colonies, that is to say-general defences, quarantine, patents of invention and discovery, copyright, bills of exchange and promissory notes, uniformity of weights and measures, recognition in other colonies of any marriage or divorce duly solemnised or decreed in any colony, naturalisation of aliens, status of corporations and joint stock companies in other colonies than that in which they have been constituted; and any other matter of general Australasian interest with respect to which the Legislatures of the several colonies could legislate within their own limits and as to which it would be deemed desirable that there should be a law of general application. Provided that in such cases the Acts of the Council shall extend only to the colonies by whose Legislatures the matter shall have been so referred to it, and such other colonies as may afterwards adopt the same. Every Bill in respect of the matters marked (a) (b) or (c) had, unless previously approved by Her Majesty through one of Her Principal Secretaries of State, to be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure. The Governors of any two or more of the colonies may, upon an address of the Legislatures of such colonies, refer for the consideration and determination of the Council any questions relating to those colonies or their relations with one another, and the Council shall thereupon have authority to consider and determine by Act of Council the matters so referred to it. 'Every Bill passed by the Council shall be presented for Her Majesty's assent to the Governor of the colony in which the Council shall be sitting, who shall declare according to his discretion, but subject to the provisions of this Act and to Her Majesty's instructions, either that he assents thereto in Her Majesty's name, or that he withholds such assent, or that he reserves the Bill for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, or that he will be prepared to assent thereto subject to certain amendments to be specified by him. The federal union of the Australasian Colonies was only partially accomplished by the appointment of a Council, representing the colonies of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia (joined 1889), Tasmania, Western Australia, and Fiji; the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand having up to 1889 taken no steps to join the Union. The Council held meetings in 1886, 1888, and 1889. The Federal Council did not meet in 1890. Instead, a conference of representatives of the Australian Colonies met in Melbourne in February 1890 for the purpose of considering a scheme of Australasian Federation and Federal Defence. The colonies represented were Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. A resolution was adopted, declaring that the time had come for the Union of the Australian Colonies under the Government. Provision was made for the admission into the Union of the more remote Australasian Colonies, at such times and under such conditions as might thereafter be agreed upon. The following motions were adopted : : (1) That members of the Conference should take the steps necessary to induce the Legislatures of their respective colonies to appoint, during the present year, delegates to a national Australasian Convention empowered to consider and report upon an adequate scheme for the Federal Constitution. (2) That this Convention should consist of not more than seven members from each self-governing colony, and not more than four from each Crown colony. The Conference unanimously adopted the following address to the Queen : We, your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, members of a Conference assembled at Melbourne to consider the question of creating for Australasia one Federal Government, and representing the Australasian colonies, desire to approach your Most Gracious Majesty with renewed expressions of our devoted attachment to your Majesty's throne and person. On behalf of your Majesty's subjects throughout Australasia, we beg to express our fervent hope that your Majesty's life may be long spared to reign over a prosperous and happy people. We most respectfally inform your Majesty that after mature deliberation we have unanimously agreed to the following resolutions.' (Here follow the above resolutions.) The Conference then resolved that the Premier of Victoria should be empowered to convene a Convention, which will probably meet early next year. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Each of the colonies publishes an Annual Blue Book and Statistical Register, containing Annual Reports of the various administrative, industrial, criminal, educational, and other departments. Australasia: Despatch on the subject of a Draft Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia. London, 1884. Australasian Statistics, published annually, with Report, by H. H. Hayter, C.M.G., Government Statist of Victoria. Melbourne. Australasian Statistics, published annually, by T. A. Coghlan, A.M.Inst.C.E., Government Statistician of New South Wales. Sydney. Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886. Handbooks to the various Australian Colonies, New Zealand, and Fiji. Colonial Office Test. Published annually. Federal Council of Australasia, Session 1886. Official Record of Debates. Hobart, 1886. Statistical Abstract for the several Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom in each year from 1874 to 1888. No. XXVI. 8. London, 1889. Trade of Great Britain with Australasia; in 'Annual Statement of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the year 1888.' Imp. 4. London, 1889. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Bates (H. W.) and Eden (C. H.), Colonel Warburton's Journey across Australia. 8. London, 1875. Blair's Cyclopædia of Australasia. Melbourne, 1881. Cotton (J. S.) and Payne (E. J.), Colonies and Dependencies, in 'English Citizen Series.' London, 1883. Curr (E. M.), The Australian Race. Melbourne, 1887. Dilke (Sir Charles Wentworth, Bart., M.P.), Greater Britain: a Record of Travel in English-speaking Countries in 1866 and 1867. New edit. 8. London, 1885. Dilke (Sir C. W.), Problems of Greater Britain. 2 vols. London, 1890. Finch-Hatton (Hon. H.), Advance, Australia: an Account of Eight Years' Work, Wandering, and Amusement in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. London, 1885. Forrest (John), Explorations in Australia. 8. London, 1875. Froude (J. A.), Oceana; or England and her Colonies. London, 1886. Giles (E.), Australia Twice Traversed. 2 vols. London, 1890. Gordon & Gotch's Australian Handbook for 1889. Melbourne and London, 1888. Hardman (Wm.), John M'Douall Stuart's Journals of Explorations in Australia from 1858 to 1862. 8. London, 1866. Heuton (J. H.), Australian Dictionary of Dates and Men of the Time. 8. London and Sydney, 1879." Howitt (W.), History of Discovery in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 2 vols. 8. London, 1865. Inglis (James), Our Australian Cousins. 8. London, 1880. Powell (G. S. B.), New Homes for the Old Country. A personal experience of the political and domestic life, the industries, and the national history of Australia and New Zealand. 8. London, 1872. Reclus (E.), Géographie Universelle. Vol. XIV. Paris, 1889. Rusden (G. W.), The History of Australia. 3 vols. London, 1883. Silver (S. W.), Handbook for Australia and New Zealand. 8. London, 1880. Todd (A.), Parliamentary Government in the British Colonies. 8. London, 1880. Topinard (Dr. P.), Étude sur les races indigènes de l'Australie. Instructions présentées à la Société d'Anthropologie. 8. Paris, 1872. Trollope (Anthony), Australasia and New Zealand. 8. London, 1873. New edit. 1875. Wallace (A. R.), Australia. London, 1879. Westgarth (William), Half a Century of Australian Progress. London, 1889. Woods (Rev. J. E. Tenison), History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia. 2 vols. 8. London, 1866. PACIFIC ISLANDS. Lying all round Australia and New Zealand are many small island groups, islets, and reefs which may be regarded as integral parts of these colonies. Others at a considerable distance to the south are unattached and mostly uninhabited. Among them, south from Australia and New Zealand, are Royal Company Island, Macquarie Island, Emerald Island, Campbell Island, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands. Scattered over the Pacific are several small groups and detached islets which have been annexed to Great Britain. The principal of them are the following, beginning at the east, south of the Equator : DUCIE ISLAND, 24° 40′ S. lat., 124° 48' W. long. COOK's, or HERVEY ISLANDS, between 18° and 22° S. lat., 157° and 163° W. long. There are six islands and about nine islets and reefs. The largest, Raratonga, is 530 miles in circumference, with a population of 3,000. Mangaia has 2,000 inhabitants; Vatui, or Atui, 20 miles in circumference, 1,200 inhabitants; Hervey Islands, three small islets. Aitutaki, 18 miles in circumference, 2,000 inhabitants. Palmerston Islands, group of islets. Other islets are Takutea, Mitiero, and Mauki. SAVAGE, or INIUE Island, 21° S. lat., 171° W. long. MANIHIKI GROUP, including Rerison or Rakoango, Manihiki or Humphry, Penrhyn or Tongarewa, Vostok and Flint Islands, lying around 10° S. lat. and 160° W. long. SWARROW ISLANDS, 13° 14′ S. lat., 163° W. long. DUDOZA ISLAND, 7° 40′ S. lat., 161° W. long. ROGGEVEIN, 10° 40′ S. lat., 156° W. long. UNION, or TOKELAU GROUP, between 8° 30′ and 11° S. lat., and 171° and 172° W. long. Three clusters of islets, the principal of which are Fakaapo or Bowditch, Mikuhimo or Duke of Clarence, Atafu or Duke of York. PHOENIX GROUP, between 2° 30′ and 4° 30' S. lat., and 171° and 174° 30′ W. long. Eight islands: Mary, Enderbury, Phoenix, Birney, Gardner McKean, Hall, Sydney. MALDEN ISLAND, 4° S. lat., 155° W. long. STARBUCK ISLAND, 5° 30′ S. lat., 155 W. long. PENRHYN, or TONGAREWA ISLAND, 9° S. lat., 158° W. long. CAROLINE ISLAND, 10° S. lat., 150° 30′ W. long. LAGOON, or ELLICE ISLANDS, between 5° 30′ and 11° 20' S. lat., and 176° and 180° E. long. Nine islands and islet groups. The principal are Sophia or Rocky Island, Mukulaelae or Mitchell Group, Ellice, Mikufetau, Vaitupu, Netherland, Lynx. CHRISTMAS ISLAND, 1° 57′ N. lat., 157° 27′ W. long. WASHINGTON ISLAND, 4° 40′ N. lat., 160° 20' W. long. These islands are mostly of coral formation; many of them are unin habited, or only temporarily inhabited; most of them grow coco-nut trees in large quantities, and some of them are valuable for their guano. They are of importance as being stages in the proposed telegraph route from British Columbia to Australia and New Zealand, and also as coaling stations for steamers along that route, and between the Isthmus of Panama and Australia and Eastern Asia. For further details concerning these islands see Finlay's Pacific Directories,' Meinecke's' Die Inseln des Stillen Oceans,' Wallace's 'Australasia,' Reclus' Géographie Universelle,' vol. xiv. The High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, who is Governor of Fiji, has jurisdiction, in accordance with an Order in Council of 1877, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Pacific Islanders' Protection Acts of 1872 and 1875, and to settle disputes between British subjects living in these islands. The jurisdiction of the High Commissioner extends over all the Western Pacific not within the limits of Fiji, Queensland, or New South Wales, or the jurisdiction of any civilised Power, and includes the Southern Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, Samoa Islands, Tonga Islands, and the various small groups in Melanesia. |