ARRIVAL of the P.M.S.S. ZEALANDIA WITH THE English and American Mails, VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 6 April 1885, Page 2

ARRIVAL of the P.M.S.S. ZEALANDIA WITH THE English and American Mails, VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

London, February 20, Colonial Troops for the Soudan.

The gracefully spontaneous offer of New South Wales to equip a contingent for the Soudan has caused on immense furore here. Though the tenders of Victoria, Queensland, and Canada to supply troops were nominally considerodj there was never really any idoa of accepting them. Long before Mr Gladstone made the complimentary and explanatory speech in Parliament (which you will find further on in my letter), it-was known to exports that the addition to tho expedition of a large body of troops for whom no commisaariat or other arrangements had been made was simply impracticable. Tho Government reaolvod to accept tho New South Wales contingent partly bocauso of the generous spontaneity of the offer, partly as a " sop to the (colonial) Cerberus " generally, and partly in order to ascertain tho utility of employing colonial troops in Britain's future campaigns. Further on in my letter you will .find a goodly budget of press opinions commenting on tho various offers of assistance. After reading a few of them, you will, I think, agree with me that this happy thought of New South Wales !ms done more to bind the Mother Country to her colonies than a decade of Federation congresses. The announcement that tho Government had rosolved to accopt the generous and sympathetic offer of Now South Wales to provido a battalion of troops fpr service in tho Soudan was ovorywhere recoived with tho utmost satisfaction. Victoria's proposal, raado later, did not howevor, excito so much enthusiasm. Owing to the semisarcastic wording of Mriorviso's cablegram, tho proffor had rather the appearance of a resolvo not to bo cut out by Now South Wales than of a voluntary desire to assist tho Mother Country in a good cause. What made Now South Wales's message bo specially acceptable was its unmistakeablo spontaneity. All the newspapers comment on this, and naturally draw tho conclusion that though recent grievances may have temporarily excited a littlo sore feeling against the Mother Country—or rather against Lord Derby and Her Majesty's Government—tho absolute loyalty of the colonios remains unshaken. The Federation BUI.

In answer to a question put by tho Earl of Bolmore in tho Houso of Lords on Monday evening last, Lord Derby arid ho Bhould shortly introduce into that Houso a bill to enablo tho Australian colonies to fodorato for certain purposes. He might remind the noble Earl that in December last ho sent out a despatch to tho various colonies roforred to, suggesting that certain alterations should bo mado in tho Draft Bill. That dospatch wan laid on the table. Ho had as yot recoived only one answer to thoßO suggestions, and that had como from Wostern Australia. Ho was in doily expectation of receiving tho other replies. Obviously tho noble Earl would coo that it would not bo courteous to consulted to proceed without waiting until tho reply which thoy might have to give had beon retho othor colonies who had boen expressly ceived. Therefore he could not pledge himself to bring in the bill before Easter ; but it was tho dosiro and intention of the Government that there should bo no unnecessary delay. Lord Derby also said the delay in tho acceptance of tho offers of the other colonies besides New South Wales did not ariso from any coldness or lack of appreciation on the part of tho Government. The arrangements for tho Suakim oxpedition had already beon made when tho colonies mado thoir offers and tendored their services, and largely to increase its numbor would probably be to raise quostions of transports and supply which might considerably augment tho difficulties of the undertaking. Banquet to Admiral Wilson. Rear-Admiral Crawford Wilson, who was for some years Commodore of tho Australian station, ana nuo nmuu, u««~ _~,,.i_tof ) jq the covotod position of Superintendent of Dovonport Dockyard, dined on 16Hh inst, with tho mombers of tho Empire Clirft>, ttfro availed themselves of tho occasion to congratulate him on his promotion. Viscount Bury presided, and there wore also present Sir Saul Samuol, Mr Honniker lloaton, Hon. H. Lyttolten, Lord Bangor, otc, etc. Admiral Wilson, in replying to the toast of his health,proposed by Lord Bury, said that ho was specially glad that Now South Wales had boon the first of the colonies to proffer troops for the Soudan, as ho hod a groat affection for Sydney and Sydney people There could be no doubt it was a grand thing to havo initiated such a movement. The first decisive step towards federation had now unquestionably beon token by the colonies themselves. "Truth" on Australian Mourning.

With respect to the senseless habit of buying new clothes in order to mourn for a deceased rolative, an Australian writes to "Truth " to say that both in Now Zealand ond Australia the announcements of deaths in tho press aro often followed by the words: ■' By the wish of the decoased his relatives will not wear mourning." " I hove always myself admired," Bays the editor, commenting on this, " the sense of tho Pa-onions, a nation described by Herodotus. When a Ptvonian died, his friondi and relatives met together to foast, in order to celebrate his having been transferred to another and hotter world, and to console themselves for .losing him." Tbo Next Governor of Now Zealand. Sir |Goorgo De_ Voeux will succoed Sir W. Jervois as Governor of New Zealand. The desirability of the appointment was discussed and affirmed at tho Colonial Office tho other day. Exploration of New Gulnoa. Mr Honry Ogg Forbes, an explorer of vast onorgy and experience, loaves London to-morrow en mute for New Guinea, which country he is about to investigate thoroughly on behalf of tho Royal Geographical Society. Mr Forbes will have exceptional facilities for immediately com_nuideating any discoveries he may make to tbo English and colonial press, as well as to his employers, for Sir James Anderson has, with thoughtful kindness and generosity, placed the cables of the Eastern Telegraph Companies at his disposal gratis. Special Items. Tho Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Under-Secre-tary for the Colonies, responding to the toast of " Our Colonies" at the annual dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce last Thursday, said he would like .to see, and he hoped the time was not far distant when he should see, the High Commissioners and Agents-General for the various colonies admitted to take their places and to speak in the House of Commons, but not to vote. This remark, coming from such a source, is significant of impending changes of importance. Mr Thornton, a young actor of great promise, who was associated with the Savoy Theatre during the run of " Patience," has purchased the Australian rights of the prodigiously successful "Private Secretary," and will, at the conclusion of his American tour (now in progress), play the comedy systematically through the colonies. Mr Kerry Nicholls is not at all the sort of man to let the effect of his literarj success with the "King Country "die out for wont of a little oxortion, or shall I say impudence. In order to bo recognised as a leading authority on North Now Zealand, it was necessary he should be invited to lecture before the Royal Geographical Society. This at first was not easy of achievement, but Nicholls is not a man to be daunted by trifles, and set himself to get "chummy " amongst|the Fellows of the F.It.G.S., and in due course (i.e., on Monday last) was duly installed in the rostrum of the Geographical Society's theatre delivering an eloquent discourse on tho beauties and wonders of the King Country. There was not—truth to tell—much of an audience. Mr Vesey Stewart, looking a bit bored, eat in the well or pit of the house, and towards the end of the discourse one or two Fellows strolled in. The affair was, however, a very decidedly different sight to what it is when such bona fid, explorers as H. H. Johnson or H. M. Stanley lecture there. The Rev. H. M. Kennedy, of Plumpton Vicarage, Cumberland, writes to the " Leeds Mercury" eulogising the pluck and bravery of the Maori race, and suggesting that if New Zealand cannot conveniently proffer a contingent of white colonial troops, she should recruit and arm _ regiment of- Maoris for service in the Soudan. The 'suggestion has at least the jnerit of novelty, '

Arthur Clay._en'_. Leeturiag Totif. What Mr Vesey Stewart tried to do for To Puke, and Mr Courtney is still trying to do for Taranaki, Mr Arthur Clayden means to attempt for Nelson, The two former lecturers have now vlthdrawn from the rostrum temporarily, so Mr Clayden has a fair field. He opened fire at Oozoll Board Schools, Birmingham, one evening last week, with Rev. Charles Leach in the ohalr. The locality is not a promising one for such a purpose, yet the room was crdmtned with an absorbed audience, which listened to Mr Clayden's highlyColoured photographs of tho "Lond_ of Plenty and Promiso " with rapt attention. Afterwards many present out tho lecturer and asked his advitfe. On the following evening Mr Clayderi repeated his lecture at the Temperance Hall, Birmingham, undor vory similar conditions. He also attended the Emigration Conference at Birmingham, at which Mr Grant, of Grant and Fostor, was a speaker.

The Year Boot Of New Zealand. Mr George Vesey Stewart announces that tho first edition of his "Year Book of Now Zealand" will be published in about a month. I have before mo a prospectus of the book, which gives a general summary of its contents, and from this I gather that it will not be so much a guide for emigrants as a work of referenco, containing all the statistics, etc., of the colony. The price to subscribers is ss, and to non-subscribers 7s Gd, Tho book is divided into three parts. The first deals with matters statistical and financial, including also details of tho steam and railway lines and roads of the colony, and a gazeteer of New Zealand. Tho newspaper pross of the colony is also described at length. The second part is mado up of accounts of the political and physical divisions, natural resources, industries, manufactures, farming and agriculture of New Zca'and, while useful hints are given to settlers, tourists, and immigrants. The third part deals with tho " trade and commerce of Now Zealand, the tariffs of New Zealand, tho merchants and traders of New Zealand," and last, but not least, tho future of New Zealand. Mr Stewart has dedicated tho work to the whose Handbook has beon frocly used in tho compilation. Mr Stewart has received 60 pages of advertisements, and has got a fair list of subscribers, so if tho book gets as large a circulation as the editor prophesies, ho will find it a far more paying venture than tho getting up of special parties. Arrival of tho R.M.S.S. Tongarlro. Tho Now Zealand Shipping Company's fine stoamor Tongariro arrived at Plymouth on the 21th, and after landing her mails and a few passongors, went to London, .where ?he docked on tho 25th. Captain Bone must bo compli mooted on tho splendid Eassage made by his vessel. She left ytteiton on January 17th, reached Rio on February 7th, and Teneriffo on the 19th, February, Plymouth being safely made on' February 24th. The Young Princes of Wales at tho Antipodes. Tho March number of the "English Illustrated Magazine" will contain an illustrated article ontitled, "H.M.S. Bacchante at tho Antipodos," by Prince Edward and Princo Georgo of Wales. If I can procure some copios before the mail loaves, I will post you one. The fact of the young princes having chosen to describe Australia in preference to tho many other colonies and countrios which they visited in the Bacchante speaks favourably for the character of their reminiscences of and regard for your part of tho world.

AUSTRALIA'S MOTHER.

('England stands alone without an ally.') "She stands alono; ally nor friend hath she," Sold Kurope of our England—her who boro freedom's own captains, warrior-queen wh 0 woro Tho glaive of conquest but to make men freei. Then out from Summer's home came o'or th c 800, By many a coral Islo and scented shore. An old-world cry Euoopo hod heard of yoro From Dover cliffs: " Ready, aye, ready wo!" And England smiled: "Europe forgot _ny boysForgot how tall, in yonder golden zone Neath Austral skies, my youngost boys had, grown (Bearing bravo swordß ond bayonets now fox toys); Forgot, mid threatening thunders—mainly noise— The sona with whom old England ' Stoncls olonor" Thoodoro Watts, in tho " Athenroum." Tawhlao's Landlady Complains. Accidontly meeting tho proprietress of tho boardine-houso in Montague Plaoo, at which Tawhiao and his chiefs stayed when in London, I was surprised to iind tho good lady full of grievances. It soom.i that; during tho time tho Maori chiofs woro hei' guests Mrs Saintsbury paid out all sorts «{ oxponaos on their behalf undor the du__:._. (ivi.i.l. .i,» MV » Skidmoro on couraced) that either tho Colonial uiuco u« the chiefs thomsolvcs would ropay her. When tho natives wont away Mrs S. sent in her little bill to Mr Fuller, of the Colonial Ollico, with what result may be imagined. I must say I think it altogether wrong that Mrs S. should have boon lot in thus. Tho amount duo to her is, blio avers, far from trifling, It includes every conceivable item from multitudinous cobs and carriages to surroptitions brandies and Bodas, and small sums lent Skidmore. Moreover, poor Mrs S. has not benefited as she expected to bonetit, from tho fact of having receivod undor her humblo roof tho King of Now Zealand. Instead of that monarch's white subjects following his example and flocking to Montague Placo when thoy come over to England, they appear, she fancies, rather shy of the locality. This odds insult to injury. Let mo, howover, once more assure intending tourists that they will find Mrs Saintsbury's establishment very well-managed and corafortable. It is, indeed, much moro like a colonial boarding - house than ordinary London "apartments." Tho residents all dine together, anS aro quite a happy family.

t Continued on Fourth Page).