OUR LONDON LETTER.

[fEOM CUB OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 London, March 12. THE INDIAN AND COLONIAL EXHIBITION. - The New Zealand court was in such a very Advanced stage of preparedness when .Dr. Yon Haast arrived that that gentleman found himself able to take a short trip to the Continent before settling down to work. The first meeting of the New Zealand Exhibition Commissioners was held on the Ist; inst., when Sir Francis Bell made a long statement concerning the preliminary arrangements. He referred to the extremely effective display of the New Zealand flora which is in preparation. It is intended to erect a fernery in what is called tho south-west basin, where something like 1600 or 1700 feet of space will be available. All the colonies—Mew South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the Cape and Natal—will make an excellent show in their flora, but their space will be small as compared with that of New Zealand, and there is every prospect of tho New Zealand fernery boing ouo of the most attractive features of the exhibition. It will be 160 feet in length, and iu parts 85 feet ■ broad. It will be all under glass, and will be lighted at night by the electric light, which, of course, will show off tho delicate fern fronds to the greatest advantage. The configuration of tho ground also lends itself very admirably to tho idea of a ferucry, eloping as it does gradually down to the water it could not be bettor adopted to lowing off the New Zealand fern trees aud jalms. As a great majority of the visitors STill never have seen a tree fern in thoir lives s»efore, the fernery is sure to attract great "irowds to the conservatory. In addition to |he ferns provided by your Government, professor Dyer, director of Kew Gardens, us promised a supply, and some of tho )hief nurseries have undertaken to send in a (Ollection of splendid tree ferns iu full froud, {ogother with palms, flax, and other plauts, jo that an unrivalled opportunity will bo afforded of showing off the flora of New Zealand. All this, however, will cost a considerable sum of money, and it will be necessary to make savings in other respects iu Order to provide the requisite funds. The ornamentation of tho New Zealand court has been comrm-nced, but in this respect all the colonies have united in making adequate preparations, The arrangements for the exhibition of frozen meat are well advanced, and it is intended that New Zealand as the largest exporter of this commodity, shall make a thoroughly effective display of it. The "Colonial Market" ii to be established immediately adjoining the great diningrooms and places for refreshment. This buildiDg will be 15u feoc long, and half of its entire length has been placed at the disposal of New Zealand. Messrs. Hall have agreed to put up aa engine sufficiently large to keep an abundant quantity of frozen meat in the best condition for exhibition, and to tit up in a proper manner freezing and cooling chambers, so that the meat can always be kept m a tit state for eab in the market. It may be remembered that in the case of the Healthericß the freezing chambers proved & great attraction. In the adjoining School of Cookery upwards of 100,000 frozen mutton chops were cooked and eaten. It is highly probable, howuver, that at the forthcoming exhibition fully ten times that amount will be disposed of, so that the arrangements connected with the frozen mutton will have to be made on a correspondingly large scale. Sir Francis Bell mentioned that Mr. Lsrkworthy was giving careful attention to the details of the whole scheme in order as far as possible to ensure its being carried to a successful iesue. The colonial market boing at some distance from the New Zealand court, it is impossible to supply steaoi-power to the lefrigerating machines, but the Royal Commissioners nave undertaken to provide a gas engine which will generate sufficient power to keep the chamber at a proper temperature. It has been fonnd necessary to put up an additional building for the proper exhibition ,t>f the Maori curiosities and illustrations of Maori history which Dr. Bailer has so much .it heart. This will involve an addition of >bout 1200 feet of space to be devoted exclusively to it. It is intended to remove to this building a large part of the Maori house which the New Zealand Government sent aome years ago to the South Kensington Museum. This will form an exhibition unique of its kind. Your Agent-General also hopes that the New Zealand Government will be able to persuade Paora Tuhaere to send over the great war canoe in which he raced Admiral Tryon's boats recently, so that it can be exhibited on the water, surrounded by ferns. After Sir Dillon Bell had spoken, Dr. Van Haaet said a few words in explanation of the general scheme npon which he intended to arrange the exhibits. He said he thought the best way was to start from old Maori times, showing what New Zealand was at that period, then to indicate the natural products, then introduced products suuh as wool, grain, and the like, proceeding to show the advances of the various industries in the colony, ending with exhibits from the Government department to show the state of civilisation now attained. He believed that the collections of New Zealand exhibits would be as completely illustrative aa possible of the country, products, and manufactures of the colony. Mr. JJalgety, who was present, promised to contribute anything from his conservatories that might be valuable or interesting. It waa indicated that a room in old London had been specially set aside for the nse of the commission. The meeting concluded by Sir Charlee Clifford passing a vote of thanks to the president and Dr. Von Haa3t for their explanations and for what they had already done, and expressing the greatest confidence in leaving everything in their hands. MR. HENNIKER HEATON, M.P. If the hon. member for Canterbury does not mind his p's and q'a, the House of Commons will begia to call him " gimlet," because he's such a bore. He has practically taken the antipodes under his protection, and on all questions directly or indirectly affecting the Australasian colonies, bespeaks with the authority and weight of a Lord Chancellor Burleigh. Mr. Heaton, however, i 3 especially strong upon postal and telegraphic matters. He is very anxious to identify himself with the establishment of a system of pmny postcards between England and Australasia, and has, but with indifferent success, beeu urging the Treasury to open up negotiations with the coloniai Governments on the subject. The Seoretary to the Treasury has intimated that there are financial objections to the proposal, which would effect not only the Imperial Exchequer but also that of the Australasian colonies so seriously, that under the circumstances the PostmasterGeneral is not prepared to take the subject into consideration. But as fast as he is put down in one direction the irrepressible member for Canterbury spring up in another, and accordingly on the sth instant .he secured his first opportunity of delivering Jan elaborate and formal speech to his fellowjcgielators, and on the following day he enjoyed the supreme satisfaction of seeing hie observations reported to the extent of about half a column in the loading journal. Last Friday night when the estimates came up for consideration the House waa asked to ratify the contract which had been entered into with the Eastern Extension Company, for the construction of a cable from St. Vincent to the "Weet Coast of Africa. Mr. Henniker Heaton proposed as an amendment that the subject should be referred to a select committee. This request he justified on the extraordinary ground that the Treasury had been induced by the glamours of Mr. John Penderto enter into a "dishonest" contract. Indeed, the whole tenor of Mr. Heaton's speech betrayed extreme suspicion of the proceedings of the astute chairman of the Eastern Extension Company. The hon. member, however, went further than this, and committed the blunder very serious for a rising politician of casting an aapersion upon his own party. He severely attacked the late Government for having entered into the contract, and thus brought down upon himself a succession of rebuffs from both sides of the House. Sir Henry Holland, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury under the late Government, informed Mr. Heaton that the contract with the Eastern Company, bo far from being entered into in a time of electioneering excitement, as the representative of Canterbury had asserted, was, in reality, completed in July last. Mr. Fowler, the present Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said that the contract had been approved of by three successive Governments, and indignantly defended the permanent staff of the Treasury from the imputation of either carelessness or dishonesty. " Mr. Fowler declared that Mr, Heaton bad uuwit-

tingly shown his motive for bringing feward his amendment, fle wanted a cable laid to Australia, of which tho Government should take charge. But Mr. Fowler said the country had paid something like five or six millions too much for the inland telegraphs, and he hoped that the Government would be wise enough to leave the submarine, cables in private hands. Mr. Mundella and Colonel Stanley also joined in the debate, and at neither of their hands did Mr. Henniker Heaton receive very gentle treatmeut. Mr. Baden Powell had a very unpleasant ! rebuff for him. Mr. Labouchere, who took part in the debate, made the assertion that Mr. Henniker Heaton represented the Australasians Agents-General in this matter. Mr. Baden Powell indignantly denied this statement, saying that he was personally acquainted with all the Agents-General, and knew they would repudiate any such claim on the part of tho member for Canterbury. The private opinion in the House is that the hon. member for Canterbury is one of those who has got to find their level. Athough tho hon. mombor for Canterbury, when his amendment was put to a divieiou, fouud himself beaten by a good thumping majority, yet he is not disheartened. He proposes to inflict upon the British senate a motion in favour of a universal penny postage. Mr. Heaton lias " bagged" this idea from Mr. Arnold Foster, but has uafortunately spoilt it in the process of appropriation. Mr. Arnold Foster's notiou was that of a penny poetngo for all the British colonies ; Mr. Henniker Heaton proposes to extend it to the world at largo, which is, of course, dimple nonsense. SCENE AT AN EMIGRATION CONFERENCE. On the 27th of last month a conference was held at King's College, London, for the purpose of eeoking to bring about a Government inquiry into the present system of State—that is, colonial State—aided emigration. The chair waa taken at the commencement of the proceedings by the Lord Bishop of Bedford, nud later on by Mr. Shirley. The proceedings were remarkable chiefly for several bitter attacks which were made upon tho colonies by parsons purporting to be returned unsuccessful emigrants — that is, failures. The onslaught was begun by a person of the unusual name of Smith, who described himeelf as having been sent out on a mission to New South Wales threo or four yesrs apo. Who sent him out, or what his mission was lie did not Hay, but it seems to have resulted in him coming back with a very unfavourable opinion of the colony of New South W'alea, and everyone in it. Sir Alexander Stuart, the lnte Premier of Now South Wales, he alluded to iu the most scurrilous torms. Ho said that one night ho was walking outside the capital of New South Wales, and chanced to see many unfortunate men lying; on the rocka asleep, who were thero simply be cause they had nowhere else to lay their heads. He went personally to the Hon. Mr. | Stuart, who was Governor-General (s'o) of the colony. He called him the " Hon.," he should rather say the " ruffianly." " Heyes he, this very honourable gentleman who was transported for the £>ood of his country (I am quoting from the report of the proceediufijs which appeared in the Weekly Dispatch)—this Scotchman actually took compassion and relieved them for a time with food and covering. But only for a time, for he had them turned away from the shelter of the public rocks a few daye later to starve and die in somo other place or any place they liked." Sir Herbert Maxwell, M.P., who was present, here rose aud culled upon the chairman to restrain Mr. Smith from using such offensive epithets against an official in the position of JSii A. Stuart, and the chairman accordingly warned Mr. Smith to be more careful in hie !ani;uai;e. Mr. Smith then avoided personal attacks ' upon individuals, but proceeded to cast imputations upon the general morality of Sydney, He said that the domestic servants who were furnished with assisted passages out to the colony in ruauy cases fell into a life of immorality, and that tho streets of Sydney presented sights which would not be believed in London. Indeed, he personally had seen more immorality in Sydnoy iu one week than he had seen for years together in London. Canon Cooper, of Canada, who said that he had had seventeen years' experience iu tho different colonies of the Empire, challenged Mr. Smith's statements, and declared that a man who could work, and waa willing to work, could get work, and win a home for himself in the colonies far easier than in England. After Canon Cooper, who was loudly applauded, eat down, Mr. Lansbury, another returned emigrant of the Smith type, who bad beeu to Queensland and failed to make headway in that colony, read a paper reflecting upon Queensland very much as Mr. Smith had reflected upon New South Wales. Happily, Mr. Garrick, the Atjent-General of Queensland, happened to be in the room at the time, aud was able to take up the cudgels on behalf of hia- own colony, which lie did very tlFectively. At the end of the conference a iviolution was carried to the effect " That this conference is of opinion tliat it is a prcß3in ; necesaity that a Governmental inquiry shouiu at once be instituted into the present system of emigration.'' Of course the language which the man Smith had used with regard to the late Premier of New South Wales could not be allowed to pass unnoticed by the accredited representative of that colony. As soon as Sir Saul Samuf 1 saw Smith's language in the report cf the Weekly Dispatch, which was the first to publieb an account of tho proceedings, being a paper issued ou Sunday, he communicated with tho London solicitors to the Sydney Government, and a letter was written to the oditor of the Dispatch demanding an apology for his publication of such " atrociouely iulae libele" aa the state meuts concerning Sir A. Stuart. Sir Saul Samuel would atao have commenced immediate proceedings against Smith had it not been that Sir A. Stuart 13 expected to reach England from America in a very short space of time, when he will himsolf be able tc set the law in motion against hia traducer. Tho Weekly Dispatch is a. Sunday paper, and iu ita issue of la3t Sunday it printed a great portion of Sir Saul Samuel's letter, together with an explanation, in which it declared that it simply gave an impartial report of the proceedings or the conference at King's College. Sir Saul Sumuel thereupon referred the matter to Sir Alexander Stuart's brother, pending the arrival of the ex-Syducy Premier. The former, however, seemed to take matters very coolly, saying that Smith's BiFlingagate was only another added to the many attacks which Sir Alex. Stuart had suffered from during the course of hia political career, and he inclined to the opinion that Smith had bettor be let alone until Sir Alexander reached England. A suggestion has been marlo that, inasmuch as Professor Stuart, M.P. for Hackney, nephew of Sir Alexander Stuart, is supposed to have considerable influence with the Government, he may. possibly induce them to take proceedings against both Smith and the Weekly Dispatch ; but this naivo idea only provoken a biriilc on the part of those who know anything about Governments, and tho Imperial Government in particular. At the King's College Conference, Mr. Courteney, of Taranaki, also spoke at considerable length in favour of New Zealand aa a field for emigration, and said that there was plenty of room for induatrious emigrants. Mr. Alfred Mellisb, late of aud Canterbury, New Zealand, has addressed a letter to the Morning Post on the same subject, declaring that anindustriouslabourer can get from six to seven shillings a day, while he can live cheaper and better than in England, and if he puts his money in the Postali SavinßS Bank, whero he is paid from five to six per cent, for it, he may purchase the freehold of his cottage and garden in a very few years' time. Mr. Mellish suggests that some of tho money now being raised for the benefit of the unemployed should be devoted to eending out labourers to the colonies, where they are sure of a good reception and plenty of work, if only they are honest industrious men. PRODUCE AND FROZEN MEAT. There iu nothing of importance to note in the produce markets this week. New Zealand mutton has on the whole maintained its price, though there have been a few fluctuations. Beef is rather slow of sale. The Rimutaka has 'cleared her Wellington cargo at 4sd to s£d for sheep, 6Jd to 7£d for the lamb», and 3d to 4d for tho beef. The Coptic's Napier cargo is pronounced to lie " part unsatisfactory." Nevertheless, 16,000 sheep have gone at 4gd to 6d, all the lambs at 6£d to 7d and 1600 pieces of beef at 4d to 6d. The Huapehu, from Lyttelton, has nearly cleared its sheep at s£d to Gd, nearly all its lambs at GJd to 7d, aud all the beef at 4d to sd. The Tainui, from Napier, has disposed of 3500 sheep at to Gd, 150 lambs at 7d to 7id, and 100 pieces of beef at 5d to 5Jd,