ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4297, 28 February 1884, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[VHU H..M. KUATKHU, FROM LONDON.]

[ISY OUll LOSUOS COIIRKSI'ONDKNT.I

Visit of Mr G. A. Sala to tho Antipodos. Our London correspondent, writing per s.s. Ruapehu on January 10, says :—You will, I nm Biuo, he very much pleased to learn (if you have not already hoard tho newa by cable) that George Augustus Sala, the most popular of living journalists, and tho best after-dinner speaker of tho age, lias entered into an agreement to givo a series of lectures on English Society in tho principal towns of Australia and New Zealand. Sala is admirably fitted for the task he has undertaken, and will, I anticipate, amuse you all vastly. As a raconteur (or in other words, as a toller of good stories) he has simply no equal. 1 have soon him keep a room full of really clever men in roars of laughter from ono end of dinner to the other, and apparently without tho least effort. llis store of knowledge, too, on all sorts of quaint and out-of-the-way subjects is (as those colonists who read the " Echoes of tho Week" in the " Illustrated London News" will bo well aware) illimitable. It takes a more than ordinarily smart man cither to puzzle or to " best tho fertile G. A. S. So üble and interesting arc ovon his stray romarks on current events admitted to be that selections from thorn havo been published in book form, and were recently issued in a fat volume entitled " Living London." Whilst in the colonies Mr Sala will contribute his experience and impressions to tho " Daily Tolegmph," re-publishing them subsequently in book form, al'tor tho manner of "Paris Herself Again," and "America lie-visited." Every possible pressure should bo brought upon tho groat journalist to visit tho Hot Lakes, Terraces, tho Southern Fiords and other natural wonders of Now Zealand. Thousands will read his papers who nover look at a book of travel; in fact, I anticipate that English folk will realise moro nearly what the " new world at the Antipodes" ia liko after Sala's visit than they evor did bofore. Mr Sain Intorvlowod. On Monday last I interviewed Mr Sala at his ludidonco, in Meoklenburgh Square, v. iih a view to ascertaining tho date of tho commoncemont *of tho tour, &c. Although extremely busy (lie came down stairs with a heap of fully IUO letters in his hand), tho popular journalist was good enough to tjnuro mo a quartor of an hour, and wo had quito a pleasant little chat about tho Antipodes Mr Sala sayß ho has long looked forward to a tour in the Australian, and believos it will benefit his health considerably. Tho scheme, however, is as yet in embryo, oven tho date of starting boinguncortain. AllMrSalaknowsdofinitely is that he will mako direct for Melbourne and "do" tho chief Australian cities first, going thence to Tasmania, and so on to New Zoaland, whence ho will mako for San Francisco and Japan, returning straight homo from tho last-named country. Tho lectures to bo delivered en route aro not written or oven properly thought out yet. Tlicro will, it is probublo, bo a regular sories. In my next 1 expect to be able to give you tho oxnet dato of Mr Sala's departure He will, I forgot to mention, be accompanied by Mrs Sala. Tho cheoso por British Qucon is soiling tolerably freely at Mn a cwt. Messrs John Elder and Co. having completed the vessels ordered by the Now Zealand Shipping Company, Find themselves obliged to largely reduco their stud' of workmen. On Saturday last they dismissed SOO more. Tho Frozen Moat Trado. The aca jnimudution at tho London docks for frozen meat, fish, and fruit has during tile past twelvemonths been enormously increased. Tno St. Katherino's Company now possess 'S.i freezing chambers, having a total capacity of OG.OOO cubic feet, and capable* of storing about 23,000, •-"J.OOO, and 31,000 sheep respectively. Tho ongines used were constructed by Mossrs Hull, of Dartford. I send yon herewith an articlo from tho " Times " of January 4th, on "Communication with New Zealand," which contains some interestlng statistics, and has excited a good bit of notice. Tho writer I beliovo to bo Sir Francis Dillon Roll, who is always on the look-out for opportunities to show up the colony in a favourable light, and moreover seems to have considerable inlluonco with tho "Timos." The statement that tho New Zealand Shipping Company havo contracted to land sheep in London during tho coming yoar is now (to us at any ralo), but promises well. I only hope the consignees will use tact in placing them on tho market. Mnny butchers aro, I know, of opinion that the present twelvemonth will decide the future of the frozen meat trade ono way or tho other.

A Now Zoaland Prophet and His Six Millions ef Maoris.

"A famous man in his way is Zadkiel, the English prophetic oracle and reader of tho stars, but .New Zealand," says tho " Glasgow Herald," " hos a seer as good, who nigtiß himself 'The Morning Star of Israel V This worthy has sent to tho Rev, ■Mf^tsffnrs~"of~JJortir*BallSclintigh—so well-known throughout Scotland as Nether Loehabor— ft 'straight tip,' or rather n scries of tips, of a rather startling character. Thus ho says ; '.I wish to draw your attention to the 2nd Psalm. Tho rod of iron thero spoken of is tho telegraph wire. 1 also wish to inform you that tho Highland clans aro puro Jews. Tho Cameron clan is tho tribe of

.ludnh. Tho Maekenzies nnd tlio Fraeera aro roally not two clans, but oi.o and tho same. They aro tho tribe of Dan. In the y«ar of the world 5003, they cast out about a Hook of goats, and they have boon quarrelling cvor einco. Tho Laodieiatiß (ltcv. 3.15) aro tho U.P. Church of Scotland. Tho U. P. 's aro partridgoa, nnd will bo entangled in the snare. Unless they repeat ana cat tho bread of tears thoy are doomed. Now Zoalnnd is tho Holy Land of the South. Edinburgh is a complete fraud on tho agricultural community. Tho labour of ovory man, woman, and child in the city from one ond of tho year to tho othur is not worth tenpence. Appin 8 inhabited by the uoacendants tf tho ancient Lovitoa. Tho proof is quito clear; you know that Acharn is just Aaron's field, and Duror is tho shadow of the father. You may give this on your own authority if you like. My time is not yet. In the year of tho world C7SO I will come to Scotland with an army of six millions of Maoris, and will conquer tho country for myself.' It is to be hoped that beforo that great and terrible day comes tlic U.IVs will have eaton tho broad of tears and repentod, and tho 'modorn Athenians ' freed themselves from tho stain of being a complete fraud on tho agricultural community." Tho Australian Naval Squadron. It is aflirmed on indubitable authority that tho naval squadron on tho Australasian station is to be considerably strengthened, and that the command will bo raised to that of a Rear-Admiral. The Servico]journals cordially approve this alteration, one of them expressing nn opinion to tho effect that tho colonies have too long beon loft in a comparatively defenceless condition, and tliafc it is the duty of the mother country tc kco that thoy are adequately protected. Ail Anglo-Australian Romance. "Vanity Fair "tolls tho following as a true story -.—Last autumn among the guests of a certain shooting lodge in Stratlierrick there was a young and boautiful Australian lady with tho additional attraction of £3,000 a year of her own. Slio moved about a good deal with the shooting parties, and in doing so had frequent opportunities of observing a rather good-looking young undor-keoper of her friends. Observation begat fancy, and fancy begat love. We are told that if there is one thing which distinguishes Australians from both English and Americans, it is decision of character and promptness of action. So when she reulised her feelings, this young lady at once procieled to business. She proposed, was of courts accepted, and is now married to the lucky game-keeper. Tl c happy pair aro about to proceed to Australia. Dramatic and other Gossip. Mrs Langtry will give a performance at Honolulu on her way to Auckland. "Australia " is the name given by Sir Y. YVilloughby to his tilly by Hermit, out of Adelaide, now first favourite for the coming Derby. Mr 11. Bracey, a tenor singer well-known in all the principal cities pi Australia and Now Zealand, has achieved a great success .is Prince Hilarion in Gilbert and Sullivan's new comic opera, " Princess Ida." The right of performing "Princess Ida" in Australia and New Zealand has already been sold permanently to Mr J. C. William son, but 1 cannot be certain on tho pcin% as Mr D'Oylcy Carte declines to afford ful information.

The new Bishop of Sydney preached his farewell sermon at St. Margaret's, West minster, last Sunday, before a very largo congregation. There was not a seat to do had anywhere ; in fact, many people stood in tho aislea throughout the service.

Mrs Lingard ends her engagement at the Globe Theatre tomorrow (January 12th). On the 18th inst. she opens at Mr Edgar

Bruce's now house, "Tho Princes" in Coventry-street as " Prineops Zeolide" in W.S.Gilbert'sfairy comedy, "Tho Pnlaceof Truth." Mr Kyrlo Hollow, who, I fancy, is also known in your part of the work!, plays Prince Philamir. Emily Soldene's "farewell" benefit merely signified a descent from tho operatic to the music-hall stage. Tho dear old lady now appears nightly at the " Trocadero, where she opens her largo mouth to warble "Dream Faces," "Golden Love," and other amorous ditties. " Truth " on Australian Annexation. In the course of some remarks about the Now Guinea "annexation" question, "Truth " commonts satirically.on the way in which public opinion in Australia and N.Z. is being worked from London. Tho writer points out, for instance, that great stress is laid in English cablegrams on a trumpery meeting of a score of working men at Portsmouth in favour of theannexa tion of New Guinea, and that extracts from insignificant nowspapers liko the morning "Advertiser" and London "Figaro" fl.ro telegraphed as though they fairly represented public opinion in England. "Truth," of course, opposes annexation, urging tl.a1; 'The case against annexation is even stronger from an Australian than from an English point of view. Australians havo moro than half Australia to annex fid it i.; ; and as to the argument that the unncx.itiou of tho outlying islands if necessary in soildefence, this is about as reasonable as it would bo to say that a nation that held all Europe (Australia) and tho British Isles (New Zealand) could not feel sale unless it possessed also Iceland, Sardinia, Con-ica, the Azores, and Toman Archipelago." Mr Groen, the Mountaineer. Mr Green's interesting work on the "High Alps of Now Zealand" was, as I think I told you, published by Messrs Mao- ; Millan a few weeks ago, and is being very favourably reviewed on all sides. I liad an opportunity of glancing through tho book yesterday, and found the account of the successful ascent of Mount Cook quito enthralling. It is omplmticnlly a work that should find a place on the shelves of ovcry Now Zealand library. On Monday evening last (Jan. 7) Mr Greon gave an account of his explorations amongst the Southern Alps of New Zealand, before the Hoyal Geographical Society, Lord Aberdare presiding. Tho paper has not been printed, but some idea of it can be gathored from tho newspaper reports. Having briefly alluded to the expeditions of Sinclair, Hector, Hochstetter, Van Haast and Dodson, Mr Green proceeded to describe his first attempt to ascend Mount Cook in 1881, and hie later and moro successful attempts in company with the Swiss guides Boss and Kaufmann in FebruaryMarch, 1882. On tho last occasion he started oarly on the Ist March, reached the highest peak of the mountain, 12,300 feet above sea levol, and returned to his starting point lato in tho evening of the 3rd March. The scenery around from prominont points of view on Mount Cook was magnificent, tho Alpine peaks being innumerable, and of every cencGivablo shape. In conclusion, Mr Green entered at length into tho geological formations in the district, and remarked that there was still a comparatively small tract of country unexplored between Lakes To Anau ami Manapouri, and the western coast, from Milford Sound to Resolution Island. Tliia district was, however, very inaccessible, and roads that appeared on tho maps had no actual existonco, while tho vegetation was dense. It was probable, however, that important dlHcovorics would be made by explorers in that rogion, especially with regard to tho birds that now or in formor ages were indigenous there.