18 MAY 1901, Page 1

The reception of the Duke of Cornwall in Australia con-

tinues to be enthusiastic, and is specially marked by efforts to emphasise, as it. .were, the new unity of the island-continent. These extend even to details, the hoisting of a flag, for instance, over a ball in Melbourne filled with scholars from the public schools being instantly followed by the hoisting of a similar flag over every public school in Australia. The Colonists, it is clear, recognise that a new nation has been born, and are delighted to acknowledge and proclaim their new position. What manner of nation they will be remains to be seen, but they commence their career, unlike the American States, by expressing delight in the old flag, and in the Monarchy for which so many of their children have recently been dying. The new policy of friendliness has succeeded in Australia, at any rate, and we do not doubt that as the war dies down it will snowed in South Africa also. After all, our

war with the Boers will be a short affair compared with our wars with the Scotch.