15 DECEMBER 1883, Page 2

Mr. Forster made a very remarkable speech at Bradford om

Thursday, with the important bearing of which on the great. Reform question we have dealt at length elsewhere. But here. we may add that he augured hopefully for such a settlement of the Transvaal question as shall really protect the rights of those- chiefs who trusted to our support, that he defended warmly the- policy of the Government on the Ilbert Bill, and that on the question of the Australian Confederation he strongly supported the Australian statesmen's prayer to the Government to guar- antee them against foreign interference in the Australasian waters. Mr. Forster has not for many years made so powerful, and sagacious a speech.