Victorian Finances. 



Mr. Watt, who went home to raise 



444 REVIEW OF REVIEWS. 



second passage of the Bill. After the years hence, and the officials talk 



election, if the Lower House again cheerfully of getting depth of water 



passes the Bill, and it is once more enough to float them in five years' time. 



rejected by the Senate, a joint sitting Meanwhile, is Melbourne to cease to 



of the two Houses voting together de- be a port of call for all vessels drawing 



cides its fate. It is perfectly possible, over 30 ft.? 



therefore, for a deadlock to occur again 



if the Liberals, for instance, carry the 



House of Representatives, but do not 



carry the Senate, a joint sitting giv- ORe loan of ^4,000,000 for conversion 



ing a majority to the Opposition. purposes, and another of £2,000,000 



for public works, found the monev 

 The Depth of Australian Harbours. . . . , ■, , , 



^ , T . .. . . market tight, and had to be con- 



Two months ago 1 published an ° 



, \ , . ' c \ r tent with £3,000,000 for con- 



article upon the depths of Australian J \ 



-, , , ,, i-rr 1 version. \ ictoria is in a nappv 



Tiarbours, and, recounting the dimcul- . . x ^- 



ties the H.M.S. "New Zealand" had P osltlon compared with other 



4. j • i Q ■ „ yt^ik,-,,, ,-,-,«= ciirr States, who must view with trepi- 

 encountered m leaving Melbourne, sug- » ' 



gested that our new flagship, the Nation the heavy interest which will 



" Australia," might not be able to enter certainly be exacted from them for bor- 



Port Phillip Heads at all. This prob- rowings, for conversion purposes, they 



ability has been recognised at last by cannot avoid making during the next 



the great daily papers, who quoted few months. Victoria is not hard up; 



largely from my article some weeks she can always get money reasonably 



after it had appeared, and urged that from the Savings Bank if needs be, so 



the deepening of the channel at the that Ministers— who meet Parliament 



Heads should be proceeded with more on July 2nd — have no cause for 



rapidly. It is good to find Australia anxiety. Owing to the defeat of Mr. 



at last waking up to the need for deep Edgar, Minister of Public Works and 



harbours. That in calling attention to Health, at the recent election for the 



the facts, the papers almost all forgot Legislative Council, an opportunity oc- 



to mention the source from which they curred for Mr. Hagelthorn to join the 



obtained their particulars, is a small Government. He was obviously the 



matter. The great thing is that the right man to take the portfolio, for his 



grave necessity for improving our har- work as Honorary Minister in charge 



bours and ports should be realised, of Immigration had clearly marked him 



After reading my article, Mr. Ford, of out for promotion at theearliest possible 



Christchurch, kindly sent me a photo- moment. A curious point has arisen 



graph of H.M.S. "New Zealand," lying over the election of Mr. Fielding, Mr. 



alongside the wharf at Lyttelton, which Edgar's successful opponent. He, it 



shows that there, at any rate, ample appears, was born in America, and 



depth is available to accommodate the took out naturalisation papers here 



battle cruiser. The harbour authori- three years ago. But to be eligible for 



ties in Melbourne do not appear to be a seat on the Legislative Council, a 



disturbed that boats like the White man must be a British subject born or 



Star liner, the " Cyramic," drawing 34 have been naturalised ten years. The 



ft. 6 in., now entering the Australian interesting question to be decided is 



trade, will be quite unable to get whether Mr. Fielding, born of a British 



through the Heads loaded. This and father resident in the States, is an 



similar vessels are coming now, not American or a Britisher ! 



