Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 6 April 1885, Page 4

(Qovtiimd from Ea<ae Tm)

Personal and General.

Amongst the officers going out on the staff to the Soudan are several who made great names in the New Zealand war. Sir John McNeil, "V.C., was one of the gallant Cameron's most trusted comrades, and absolutely gained his Victoria Cross in tho colonial campaign by saving the life of one of the troopers of his escort. Equally familiar, too, to Northern ears should be the name of that excellent all-round soldier, Sir Richard Greaves. After leaving New Zealand he was Wolseley's right hand in Ashantee, and now he will not improbably resume that coveted position in the Soudan. Mr George Darrell left for Australia by the Orient steamer Garonne last week. His trip to England and appearance in London would have been tolerably successful but for the unfortunate accident he met with whilst playir.g in tho "Sunny South" fit tho Graud Theatre, Islington. Darrell is a man who might do fairly well as leading man at one of the cheap East End theatres, where they like " blood and thunder," and plenty of it, but he would have to sacrifice those rotten plays of h_s own, Jem Maco is now giving eshibition "spars" at the South London Palace Music Hall. He has come down very low.

Tho Queen h*is approved of the appointment of Mr Harry Mn'rrrot Woodhousc as Consul in Australia and N.Z. for H.M. the Shah of Persia. Tho stirring verses, "Advance Australia," by Andrew Lang, which appeared in the " Daily News" of February IG, havo been set to appropriate music by Mr Angelo A. Asher, and will be sung with tho war songs at the promenade concerts next week. Arthur Clayden's popular " Guide to New Zealand' was published last week by Wyman & Sons—a fact which makes me think it mutt be a private spec, of his own, as this firm seldom risk anything. The book is a readable enough compilation of well-known facte. Mr Clayden has naturally not scrupled to draw largely on the Government Handbook, Consul Griffins Report, Judge Bathgate's "New Zealand as it is," Brett's Almanac, etc., etc. Ho usually acknowledges his indebtedness, so there is nothing to complain of, only one wonders what is the precise raison d'etre of this " popular " guide. It certainly doesn't tell the intending emigrant anything fresh or specially useful. Mr William James Allsup, the wellknown importer of frozen meat, has been elected a Follow of tho Colonial Institute. Frozen mutton from Now Zealand having been introduced into the city of Bath, a number of the local butchers banded themselves together to "boycott" it by selling the best English at a penny per pound less. They had, however, to confess themselves beaten when several of their customers avbrred a distinct preference for _ New Zealand mutton/and announced their intention of buying it even though it might cost a little more than English meat. The " Iron Trade Circular " of the 14th inst. contained a very flattering report of tho first annual meeting of the N.Z. Iron and Steel Company at Auckland. The " Circular " thinks the Company have a prosperous future before them. The Rev. H. T. Dudley, of Bradwell, near Derby, delivered a lecture in )>*= church school-room on the 14th inst., <■ ■ " New Zealand in the Olden Time." Mr Dudley was for some time a missionary in the colony. Brevet Lieut-Colonel Robert de C. Coveny, of the Black Watch, who was killed at the battle of Kirbekan, in tho Soudan, on February 10th, is, or rather was, a son of Mr Robert Coveny, of Glanworth, N.S.W. Mrs Campbell Praed, whose stories of town and country life in Australia and New Zealand are so popular, has just completed a novel, entitled " Affinities," which will be publish _d immediately by Bentloy. William Horace Lingard, of whom nobody had heard for some time, is, I learn, travelling about the country with Mr Alex. Henderson's " Falka" company. W. H. L. plays the " Burgomaster." •Your old friend and Governor, Sir James Ferguson, has just been appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India.

" A Journey Duo South : Travels in Search of Sunshine, " is tho title of George Augustus Sola's new book just published by vizetelly. It was partly written on his way to Australia. The doath is announced of Mr Thomas Kolsey, of Redhill, Surrey, father of Mr Thomas Kelsey, of Christchurch, New Zealand. Mr Frederick Young, the Secretary of tho Royal Colonial Instituto, read an interesting paper entitled " A Short Sketch of our Colonies " at the Crown Coffee Palace, Knightsbridgo, on Tuesday last. Capt. J. C, 11. Colomb, a perfect enthusiast on tho subject of Imperial Federation, has been delivering addresses in tho leading cities of the kingdom urging immediate action. I hear from an American actor who professes to bo well up in thoatrical matters that Lawrence Barrett has given up tho idea of visiting tho Australian colonies for tho prosont. Shipping and Fassonger Notes. The passenger trade is dreadfully dull now, and tho shipping companies are at a loss what to do to attract saloon passengers. Tho Coptic sails to-day with only threo first cabin passengers ; whilst the Kaikoura, which is to leave a fortnight hence, has barely a dozen berths taken. Tho following is the complete list of passengers per Shaw, Savill's Coptic, which leaves Gravesend to-day :—For Auckland (first saloon)—Mr W. McCandlish; (second ealcon) Messrs R. F. Fitch, Chas. Nettleship, Harry Meyer, Henry Nowell, and Seaward. For Hobart (first saloon)— Mrs Yates. For Otago (first saloon)— Miss Park. For Canterbury (second saloon) — Misses Fraser (2), Mr and Mrs Baynton and infant, Mr William Baynton, and Mr J. A. Komp. For Wellington (secondsaloon)—Messrsßurnett and Charles Malcolm. For Nelson (second saloon)—Mr Hodder. Also 81 third cabin passengers. Mr Fox, the popular passenger clerk of-the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, has resigned his position there, and gone back to the Orient Company. He has been appointed purser of the Lusitania, which leaves for Australia next week. Shaw, Savill's sailing ship Crusader, which leaves for Auckland to-morrow, takes the following passengers:— First saloon :Mr and Mrs Clapperton and family, Miss Jessie Clapperton, Mr C. Mninwaring, and Mr Henry Thurley; also, seven second cabin and four steerage passengers. The Arawa is dua at Madeira to-day, so she will probably arrive at Plymouth on Monday next. The Tongariro reached Plymouth on Tuesday, and docked safely last night.