PI ay ford, was the son of a Non-conformist clergyman, and com menced life as a small farmer at Mitcham, whence he removed to the hills and took up gardening pursuits for a livelihood. The Premier of Queensland, Sir S. W. Griffiths, is the. son of a Congregational minister, and was only nine years old when his father settled at Ipswich in Queensland. He had a very successful school course and adopted tho law as a profession. Tho Premier of Tasmania, the Hon. P. O. Fy«h, commenced life in a subordinate position in the London office of an Australian mer chant, and after ten years' service was sent out to Tasmania as manager of one of tho firm's agencies. One might go right through the list of members with much the s«.me result. The ex-Piemiev of Victoria commenced his colonial life as a working miner at Ballara*. That rising young Victorian politician, Mr Deakin, is the eon of a coach proprietor, and follows journalism as a profession. Mr G. R. Dibbs, ex-Premier and present leader of the Opposition in New South Wales, began life as a junior clerk in the office of a Sydney wine merchant, and for «everal years followed a seafaring life. Tho Hon. J. M. Macrossan, Minister of Public Works in the Mcllwraith Cabinet, was a working miner in Queensland in 1865 and for years subsequently. He is pretty certain to bo the first Premier of the new colony in Norbn Queensland if separation is granted. The Hon. John Forrest, Premier of Queensland, is a surveyor. _ , ■ Looking down from the Press gallery unon this distinguished gathering of repre sentative men, whose names will become as notable in Australian history as those which were appended to that celebrated Declaration of Independence which launched the States of America into a united national existence, onenaturally endeavours to pick out from among tho number the men who are destined to take the lead in the affairs of the new Dominion. Sir Henry Parkes will of course from his position, as well ac his great natural talents, tako the foremosb place, but his weight of eeventyoix years pre cludes the possibility of any long continu ance in active political life. The sturdy figure of Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, crowned by a massive head, imparts a sense of power, which is not belied by his repu tation. 