OUR LONDO NELTTER."

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 63

OUR LONDO NELTTER ."

(Fbom Ouh Own Corhespondent.) ' London, September 17. THE NEW STAMPS.

The new issue of postage and revenue stamps 'for New Zealand, now in course of being engraved by Messrs Waterloo, is making rapid progress, and proofs of three of the stamps j have already been submitted for the Agentgeneral's approval. They are remarkably fine and artistic specimens of engraver's work. The usual head of the Sovereign is entirely dis- : pensed with in the new stamps, and in place , of this rather trite decoration there is substituted a series of viewi of the most attractive New Zealand scenery. ' j One stamp displays a really excellent picture of the unhappily lost White Terrace of Rotomahata Another bes a view of the Otira Gorge, and the thire! shows a little gem in the shape of one of the southern lakes. Other stamps will bear each a different *cene exhibiting the marvellous variety of mountaiu, and Jajte, andriver^ and fiord, and volcanic scenery in the possession of which New Zealand is so_ specially favoured. It is probable that the greater patb of the cost of this new issue, which of course comes to a somewhat serious amount, being reckoned in- thousands of pounds, will be defrayed by the sales of stamps to philatelic collectors, who have already gob wind of bbc new issue, and are eagerly on the look oub to make early purchases. Ib is thought likely tha*; stamps to the value of £2floo will be sold in London immediately they are ready for issue. So bbc philatelic crazi i 3 nob without its public advantage 8. ANGLO COLONIAT, NOTES.

Meisra W. Weddel and Co. are sending oab to New Zealand by the new White Star steamer De'phic six very fine Leicester sheep. They ate censigaed to Mr G. Russell, of Dunedin. The colonial replies to Mr Chamberlain's inquiries touching the trade with the British Empire have been embodied in a Blue Book of gigantic proportions which has justbsen issued, andean be purchased far 4i 9.1. It does not *eem to furnish much information that is reaily new, although it is perhaps well that the people of England should have brought prominently bsfore them facta which have ; long been well known to nao*fc colonists, j For instance, it is stated that Germany haa j obtained almost a monopoly in the trade of j muHcal instruments to New Zealand. Generally j speaking, the colonial replies charge Biitish j m&r.ufacturers with supineuess in pushing tbeir trade ; with obstinacy iv refusing to suit the requirements of their colonial customers and in insisting on the superiority of .their own idess ; ■with eareleicness, clumiiness, and incompetence in packing the goods ; in lack of adaptabiliiy ; in restriction of credit as compared with the terms given by foreigners ; and in failure to supply goeds of the quality and character ordered or contracted for. Captain Coyle, tte newly-appointed officer in change of defensive submarine mining operations in New Zealand, left yesierdsv with Mrs Coyle for New Zaland by the s.s. JEtimutaka. , Th» Primate of New Zealand and Mrs Cowie are at present sUying in Staffordshire, where Bifbcp Cowie was a parish rector' a quarter of a ctntury ago. Tbe Bishop of Dunedin is alfo'sojourniog iv Staffordshire — at Skeiton, Hsnley, of which parifh he was formerly rector. 41 The new Earl of Egmont," remarks the Star, "is the second pt-er born in New Zealand during recent times. TiuTExrl of Ssafield, who came of »ge this, year, was the other one. New Zealand has long been notorious for the number j of Bohemian baronets aud younger sons and c.iusics of peers who p:ck up a precarious existence there. An official return a few yearj ago *howt.d that no tewer than 11 baronets were engaged in gum-d<ggiog in various pirts of New Zealand. Sons of peers have beni found filling the humble fosts of cjoka and rousenbouta ab squatters' stations. A rouseabout is the lowest grade of colonial vagabondage. He is the general utility man of the squatter's station. Of all the social fhiiuve* in the colonies the ' ecions of English atistocratic houses are tbe worst and most be'pless." Mr Ben Tiilett his been sending Home some of his uprigSt sentiments regarding Kbaur matters in New Zaaland. He says th*t the legislation in* New Zealand is -in realiiy in advacce of the people of that colony, bub that the latter ought to reap the benefit. Iv respect of organisation the labour in New Zealand if, iv his opinion, deplorably behindhand. MrTilhtb declares that he found farm labourer* actually wotking in New Zealand for lower wages than they could get in England. He asserts that whatever sweating there is in New Zealand is the fault of the workers themselves, as ths laws of the colony tend to the 'extermination of the sweating system altogether. He remarks that the problems of poverfcy~in' New Zealand are exactly the same as those of the mother country : it is merely; a question of proportion. The RbV. Louis J. Harrison, Rabbi .ot the Dunedin Synagogue,' New Zealand, who formerly held the same position at the Norwich Synagogue in Eoglend, is at present stayirg with his brother, Mr S. H. Harriion, at Norwich, and has been copiously interviewed Vy the Norwich papers. Mr Harrison's observations about New Zealand and its people, although shrewd and accurate, would nob be exactly "news" for colonial readers. Ono of his remarks upon the difference between Jewish customs in New Zealand and in the mother country struck me as curious. Ha told the Norwich press representative that far more of the Jewish service waa said in English and less in Hebrew in New Zealand than in England. Bub he does nob appear to ha.ye explained the reason- why, or the deductiou to be drawn therefrom. The fact, however, is an interesting one.

Mr Robert Dewar, of Gore, Otago, arrived in England this week by the s.s. Kaikcura. Mr Dewar leaves next week for a tour in Scotland, returning to London in bima for the next wool tales.

Mr and Mrs Simon M'Donuld, of Dunedin, have been' spending a very pleasant time in their native town, Inverness, where they received a most cordial welcome from many of their old friends, as well as considerable attention at the hands of some of the local bodies. Mr and Mrs M'Donild have booked their return passages, via Australia, by the 8.8. Oriz*b», which sails on the 12th November.

Mr William Dawson, of Dunedin, has decided to leave England about the 16th prox. for Australia, on his way back to New Zealand.

Mr Thomas Mackenzie has been initiated into the mysteries of partridge shooting, and succeeded in helping to make a good " bag " on the Ist inst. He receired a large number of shooting invitations, but is unable te accept many owing to the claims of business on hi* time.

The Bight Rev. Dr .Grimes, Roman Catholic Bishop of Chrisfccburch, New Zealand, celebrated Pontifical High Mass ab St. Anne's, »i>italflelds, lust Sunday morning, »nd preached

an elcquent sermon at the lime church in the

evening.

The late Sir William Jervois does not seem to have left much personalty. The will was proved a few days ago, when the grots personalty was sworn at £141 10s sd. Sir Willinm was uudorstood to be more than comfortably oft— to be, in fact, a fairly wealthy man — and I believe that the bulk of his possessions consisted of " real " property of a very profitable character.

Sir John and Lady Hall are at present enjoying a driving tour through England. lam glad to hear that Lady Hall is much better, the improvement in her health haviug been maintained.

Mr William Densem, formerly cf Duoedin, who was connected with the firm of Secular and Co., and who was a recognised leader in musical matters, but who has been absent from New Zealand for more than fiva year*, ba* just arrived in London, and called upon me yescercUy. Afttr leaving Dunadin Mr Densem travelled with a select concert company through India, Burmah, Java, Straits Settlements, and Australia. He did vr/ well, particularly in Java. For some time past he h*s been in Sjdoey, from which port he took his depirture", with hi* family, about the middle of May la«t in the fine four-mis* d sailing ship Bucking- . hstn, a long sea voyng* having been recommended to him for the cake of bis health. It was a long sea voyage and no mistake, for the run Home from Sydney occupied just four months— l2o diy*. Mr D^t.s*m purp>ses entering into bu-iuess in London, and has taken up* hit residenoe for the present at Camberwell. Sir George Grey, I regret to learn, oon'iMiies in a very sad state. His powers, both bodily and mental, appear to ba f tiling fast, and his condition causei his friends the keenest anxiety. He suffers at time* from attacks of violent delirium, and altogether his state is so critical that it is feared the end is now only a question of days. He is now con&n«d entirely to bis bed, which in all probability he will never leave sgain. The doctors ho!d out no hope of any further rally. On inquiring after him this afternoon I was informed that the delirium has ceased, at any rate for the present, but he conI tinue3 in a s -ate of semi-unconsciousness, quite unable to recogniss an3bjdy. There is also extreme prostration, and I fe*r that before this letter reaches you th-a cable will have recorded the close of a remarkable career.