ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 7

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

[From Our London Correspondent.]

London, October 8.

The excitementof the coming General Election is beginning to make itself felt all over the country. Next week Mr Gladstone goes to Midlothian, and then the campaign will commence in earnest. Even the shrewdest judges of political feeling and public opinion confess themselves utterly at a loss to say what, under the extended franchise, th result will be. The Radical oracles of the National Liberal Club reckon on a party m&jerity of 40,givlug the Irish vote wholesale to the Conservatives. The Whigs, on the other hand, shake their heads and prophesy disaster. In their case the wish is probably father to the thought. Modorato Liberals would most certainly prefer tho Tories retaining power to the country being handed over to the tender mercies of Mr Chamberlain. And Mr Chamberlain will be all powerful should Mr Gladstone return to office. In the last Liberal Cabinet there were a majority of Whigs and a few Radicals In the next there will be a majority of Radicals and r. few Whigs, If Sir Julius Vogel had stay odin England, this would have been his opportunity to try and enter the Imperial Parliament. The recent interchange of courtesies between the colonies and the mother country has favourably disposed constituencies to Anglo-Australasian candidates. At Canterbury, for example, Mr Henniker-Heaton can always bring in references to the New South Wales contingent in hia speeches with effect. Sir Samuel Wilson, too, finds the local yeomen take more interest in his colonial possessions than they ever did before. At one of the county public meetings tho other day a burly Buckinghamshire farm-labourer, about for the first time to exorcise hie privileges as an elector, bawled out, " Wa'at aboot assisted omigration ? Will't get Goovm'nt t'help poor folk to Australie 2"

Sir William McArthur has very little rhance of becoming member for West Newington, and is getting himself much disliked there. The seat is a safe one for tho other Liberal candidate if Sir William would withdraw, but the result of the split in the party will probably be a Conservative victory. Captain Selwyn is almost certain to be returned for his division of Cambridgeshire. He seems to be exceedingly popular there.

Other Anglo - Colonial candidates may present thomselvos during the next few weeks.

Nelson Bros.' Now Refrigerating Stores.

A largo company of gentlemen interested either directly or indirectly in tho New Zealand meat trade, aseombled, at the invitation of Mr E. M. Nelson (managing director of Nelson Bros., Limited), on Friday last, to inspect the extensive new refrigerating stores of the Company at Cannon-street Wharf. These Btores have been erected under the superintendence of Mr A. S. Haalam, of tho Haelam Foundry Company, and occupy the western half of the twelve arches supporting Cannon-street Station, between Upper Thames-street and the rivor. There aro at present nine chamber*! situated on either side of a twelve feet wide passage, down which runs a line of rails from the river frontage to Thamesstreet. The refrigerators have capacity for about23,ooo carcases, but they can begreatly extendodwheneverrequired. Thomachiriery consists of two Haslam dry-air refrigerators of 60 h.p., delivering air at 50 degrees to SO degrees bolow zero, and circulating 96,000 feet of air per hour. The water for cooling purposes is taken direct from tho river into a large subsidising tank. InBulated lighters capable of carrying about 800 to 900 carcases convey the meat from the vessel to the wharf, whbre it is landed under the cover of a railway arch, protected alike from sun or rain, put into tram cars, and convoyed to the refrigerating chambers, in which a temperature of about 21 degrees is maintained. Tho entire vaults are illuminated by the electric light. It was stated that tho Company had stored close upon 100,000 sheep, 4.000 lambs, and 8,500 legs of mutton since January Ist. They receive regular supplies of 8,000 to 10,000 carcases a month, as well as occasional smaller parcels from their own works at Napier. A butcher's Bhop at Cannon-street Station retails the Company's frozen mutton, and does v fair business. After the inspection the visitors adjourned to the Cannon-street Hotel, wkore a capital

lunch was spread, sundry joints of New Zealand mutton playing a prominent part in the'menu. Toasts of course followed tho meal, but as the proceedings were strictly private, I mustn't betray confidence. Suffice it to say tho ouesta having lunched,, wisely and well inclined to see the future o:f tho meat trade through roseate spectacles, invoked special blessings on Nelson Bros. (Limited). Among those present I noticed Sir Francis Truscott, Hon. K. Kussell, Mr F. Nelson, Col. Martindale (Manager of London and St. Katherino Dock*-), Mr E. H. Bailey (Manager of East and West India Docks), Messrs Coster and .Strickland of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Mr Parke, of Shaw, Savill's.

An Anstr Han Claimant.

An Australian claimant, whose pretensions far outrival those of the renowned "Sir Roger," will shortly appear—backed up by a phalanx of colonial witnesses- as the horo of an almost unparalleled came celcbre. . According to repo>t, a lady has arrived from Sydney in order to prosecute the claims of her son to a title which has within quite a recent period, and of course by the death of the holder, passed with the family property into otbor hands. The 'new peer, who is not the son of the deceased, will bo asked to surrender to the nowcomer, who professes that ho is. It is declared that the lady will bo able to produce a certificate of her marriago with the late peer to prove that her son is the lawful issue of that union. The striking fact in this pretension is that allowing the documentary evidence to bo unimpeachable, tho marriage must have taken place when the lato peer was about sixteen years of age. " Truth " warmly supports MrHennikerHeaten's proposal that the British and Australasian Governments should unifco tolay an alternative cable via the Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius. Besides breaking what Sir labouchero calls tho "Cablo King," it would — should, in event of war, the Mediterranean and Red Sea cable be severed and communication with the Colonies be cut off—be most important.

I hear Mr Michael Davitt may shortly pay a lecturing tour to your part of the world. He is a most eloquent speaker, and quite the pleasantest and most cultured of the extreme Irish party. His "Prison Diary," now obtainable for Is Gd, is capital reading.

More About the Australian Claimant. The peerage to which the Australian claimant above-mentioned aspires is, I learn, the Earldom of Lonedale. The late earl was one of the most unspeakable ruffians that ever disgraced the House of Lords. He drank, gambled away a largo fortune, ill-treated his beautiful wife, and eventually rotted to death, tormented by a loathsome disease, v/hilst still quite a young man. Great feara are entertained that there may be considerable foundation for the new claim. When the late earl was quite a boy it was common gossip on the estates that ho had crowned an unprecedented number of youthful follies (to call them no coarser name) by marrying one of the housemaids at the ca3tle. The scandal was, however, promptly burked, and the girl disappeared; shipped off, it was gaid, to Australia. Subsequently his lordship married Lady Gladys Herbert, the most beautiful girl of her day. She soon learnt to hate and despise the wretched man, and he returned her dislike with compound interest. It is now remembered that when Lord Lonsdate got drunk it was his common habit to repudiate his marriage and declare Lady Gladys was no more a Countess than any of the numerous "Tottiea" of his acquaintance. At the time very little attention was paid to what people took to be tho ravings of a tipsy fool, but in the light of recent events such reminiscences attain disagreeable significance, After the lato Earl's death tho Countess engaged hereelf in turn to several men, whom she threw over one after another. Report credited her with an unfortunatoattaehmenttoher cousin the Earl of Durham, and it was believed that, had that unfortunate nobleman been able to divorce his imbecile wifo, he would have married her. Anyhow, Lady Lousdale took a keen interest in the latv proceedings, and it was not till all hope of Lord Durham's obtaining a decree had to be given up that she accepted her present husband, Earl De Grey, the heir to the Marquigate of Kipon, and the greatest matrimonial "catch" of tho decade, save, perhaps, the Duko of Portland. With two powerful families interested in disproving the new claimant's case it will have to be a very strong one indeed to succeed. Even should the facts as stated prove correct, a compromise will probably be come to. A life interest in the Lonsdale property is not—as times go -worth much from a monetary point of view. Besides, the estates were left much embarrassed by the late Sari, the present Earl clearing them out of his wife's purse. All such eurna the newcomer would of course have to repay. Then his social position would be most unenviable. : The upper ten usually thaw to such persons in time, but even the most lenient would find it difficult to be civil to tho offspring of such an utter blackguard as the late Lord Lonsdale, and of an intrigueinjr housemaid—more especially as the young peer would be poor and his housemaid mother etill "en evidence." On the other hand the Ilipon family are enormauely rich, and would certainly readily part with a fortune rather than have it known, aa an assured fact that Lady Ie Grey bad been the late Lord Lonsdale's mistress. The present Lonsdale, too, would probably offer liberal terms. Altogether, I shall be Burprised if the case comos to trial.

The Indo-Colonial Aquarium.

Quite one of the most interesting features of|gthe Indo-Colonial Exhibition next aummer will be a magnificent aquarium showing the various lish indigenous to Indian and Australasian waters. All the principal colonial Governments havo been communicated with on the subject, and requested to send as many representative collections as they possibly can. Elaborate preparations are being made to receive the fish in a largo new aquarium, which will be supplementary to the superb aquarium of British fresh and salt water fish, which has been yearly enlarged and improved ever since the Fisheries Exhibition. Taken aa a whole, the joint Anglo and colonial aquariums next summer should be incomparably finer than anything of the kind ever exhibited before. The first consignments of colonial fihh are expected at South Kensington at the end of the present month.

Now Zealand and the Iron Trade.

In the course of a particularly interesting article in the last issue of the "Colliery Guardian" on the subject, there occurs the following passage, which seems weith quoting :— "Wo do not think British ironmasters ought to epeculato with too much coufldence upon a prolonged continuance of a New Zealand demand for rails and iron. So long as the population of the colony is limited the bulk of the railway material required in New Zealand rvill no doubt come from Great Britain or the United States. New Zealand is rich in coal and iron and stone, and being a country of comparatively limited extent, steel and iron will clearly bo turned out thero as cheaply and readily as in Europe. The only circumstances which will avert thia inevitable contingency are, first, the delivery of rails on tho New Zealand market upon relatively cheap terms; and secondly, tho lengthened period which must probably elapse before the New Zealand population will have become sufficently dense to? admit of a vigorous prosecution of metallurgical industry. Of course under present circumstances tho New Zealand Government will havo no difficulty iv purchasing rails in England at remarkably cheap rates, and the protectionist system enforced in the New United States, which keeps rails at a slightly higher level than in Europe, is also calculated to clear tho way for the products of tho British rolling mills, notwithstanding the great distance they have to be carried before thoy can be brought into uso at the antipodes." Tho great George Augustus, writingtoMr Labouchere from Melbourne on August 26th, says ho has made a pot of money in Australia, and hoped to make more in New Zealand, whither he was just setting off, Genevievo Ward "collated" £10,000 during her colonial tour, and Boucicault was doing tremendous business. Then cornea the following passage, which will enrage a certain club of journalists in Melbourne not a little : " A small clique in Melbourne, members of a gang of cads, calling themselves a club, enraged at my having been prevented by an attack of bronchitis from dining with them, have been industriously circulating rumours that I couldn't lecture; that I was inaudible, and that my lectures had been a financial failure. Ifthis libel has by any chinee reached London, please contradict it." The Scottish Australian Investment Company. Mr Charles G. Grainger has retired from tho Secretaryship of the above Company, and from thafcalsoof tboScottish Australian Mining Company, both of which he has held from their formation, and has been elected to the eeat at the Board of each Company, vacant by the dtith of Mr A. L. Elder. Mr F. VV. Tumor U-a beon.appointed Secretary, , ; . si:

The Now Educational Appointmonta. The Agent-General i? inviting/.privations for Sic i-.rn tv-.n-^cr.-iMo nppin.^.o >< ■ DOW open In your col.my. to umvm.-ii.. mn-tho pvofwsoiv..-,1 '-> <:UU:M-:.- •«.> i English at Auckland, uud tl.o rectorship of the High School for Boya at Otago. Foi the former, applications will ba reeeiveaiip to the last day of this month (I am told botween 50 and CO application? have already been font in), and for the latter up to tho 14th of November. The professor, it ia announced, will bo expected to take up h8 duties on the Ist of April next, and the rector probably about tho same time. 1 ho "Educational Timos," in conrnenting on tb«e"invitot,ionß,"?.iy.»»ppoint.i--. -in the colonies aro not reckoned such valuable prizes as they onco wore, good educational posts at homo being more numoroufl and lucrative than they used to bo. ' lno Nonconformist," in a littlo paragraph, notes With approval the proviso in the statement Of qualifications for tlie rectorship that a candidatowho la not a clergyman' will bo deemed more suitable; it heartily wishes such a disqualifior of clergymen woro more oominonly known at homo.

A Fool and His Money Again,

Yesterday there was quite a scono oyor this resumed money-lending case. Iho Public Prosecutor had boon communicated with, but when tho caso was called on it was said .that tho prosecutor himself, tho young man Paltfor, was now on tho high aoaa having failed for Australia on September 30th. The defending counsel asked, thoreforo, for a dismissal of the sirnmons, upon which tho Magistrate grow angry, and said in effect that the whole affair was very fishy and evasive, and as good as implied that tho young man had been ppirited away. Thon ensued a scono as "good as a play." Gounsolinstated on makin" a "statement," and the Magistrate insißtod on their sitting down. Friends ot the defendants applauded, and the Magistrate, turning angrily round, saw a spectator smite, and said, "Turn that man Out !" The end of it was the summons was adjourned sine die.

New Zealanders In Manitoba.

Travelling through Manitoba this summer with a view to comparing tho Great North West and its opportunitieb with Australasia, a Melbourne gentleman, whom I met tho other evening, wan surprised to como upon a rancho owned by two ox-colonists from your part of tho world. Tho gentlemen in question wero Messrs Cowan and Smith, who will be remembered as farming for Bomo years in tho North Island of New Zealand. In the year ISS2, finding times bail and tho prospect unpromising, they abandoned Now Zealand, and making for Manitoba, bocamo tho first sottlors in a now district. Their ranohe, Glen Holstoin, is about throe miles from Beausejour Station (on the main line of tho Canadian Pacific Railway, and 35 miles oast of Winnipeg), and on tho bank of tho charming Brokenhead River. Tho place contains 4CO acres, well wooded with mixed 'timber, and has large hay marshes, cutting from ono to throe tons per acre. Tho day of Mr W 's visit, Messrs Cowan and Smith were haymaking, putting up about ten tons daily with a forco of five men, two lads, fivo horses, two oxen, using two mowing machines, a horse rake, a waggon, and a hay loader, tho latter a great timo and labour saver, as with it a ton of hay can be loaded and unloaded in ten minutes. The stock on hand was 120 head of cattle, Shorthorn and Holstein gpades, 160 sheep, high grade Leicosters, and more were to be put on, as they are found profitable and are little troublo, getting thoir feed in tho woods. Tho wool clip this year averaged 51bs a fleece, which was sent to Toronto. Messrs Cowan and Holstein are thoroughly well pleased with their new home, and consider they acted wisely in moving from New Zealand. The long severe wintora arc of course a trial, and the work is Altogether rougher than in the colony, but on the other hand chances abound of making money. There are no greedy banks ro suck tho settlers' liie-blood, and Gion tloMoin is far nearer civilisation than at the Wflikato, fin the mail train from Toronto drops letters, newspapers, and books, kc, from all parts of the world at Beausejour every morning. When thoso enterprising Now Zoalanders came to Boausejour in Soptembor, 1882, they wero the first settlers. Now thero are scores about. Already thoy havo mado quite a comtortablo homo at Glen Holstein. Thero is a noat dwelling-house, stablea, and a dairy, tho lattor with a nover freezing spring behind it. A pieco of ground had been cleared for growing grain, and a gardeninitiatedthelatterwithsomefinopotatoes. MessrsCowanandSmith.havobeenexceptionally fortunate, or else the stories one hears of the terribly hard lives settlers lead in Manitoba must be moonshine. No doubt, however, men with some experience from New Zealand would in many ways have a great advantage over the " new chum" from England, besides thinking leaa of "roughing it." I am glad to see from New York papers that strong preseure is being brought pn the United States Government to contribute towards the subsidy of tho Pacific Mail Service.

Tallerman's Affairs,

The first meeting of tho creditors of tho proprietor of the defunct Oity and Colonial Club was held the other day, and proved unpleasantly stormy. From accounts filed it appears that Mr Tallerman's gross liabilities amount to £17,129, of which £G,30l is expected to rank against the estate for dividend; asserts £3,000, and the deficiency £3,415. The debtor admitted that he had been in business in America, Australia, and New Zealand, and failed in each country. The City and Colonial Club was only started in April last. He attributed his present misfortunes to the non-success of various enterprises for which he has beon held responsible, and other causes. After a long and angry discussion, in which tho debtor's conduct was -very roughly criticised, a proposal for the payment of 7s Cd in the pound was entertained.

Capitation Foes on Immigrants

A London woekly remarks that tho example of Tasmania in placing a prohibitive capitation" fee on deaf, dumb, blind, and other undesirable immigrants will not improbably bo widely follpwed. Our colonies (it opines) are getting tired of having all the physical and moral human rubbish England desires to get rid of shunted upon them. The time is coming when immigrants on landing will bo called upon to produce certificates duly vised by the Agent-General guaranteeing that they are reputable people—at least neither exthieves, prostitutes, nor drunkards. Now, whenever a trapped rogue of "Tottie" expresses a desire to repent, ho or sho is at once shipped off to " begin again " at tho Antipodes.

The Indo-Colonial Exhibition

The preparation of a curious exhibit at next year's Exhibition is announced from India. Twenty-two models of soldiers of the native army are being made in Calcutta, for which purpose men have been selected from the various regiments. The figuros are to be furnished with arms, accoutrements, and uniforms, which will include those of the moat famous corps of cavalry and infantry, and of a set of men that few people have heard of before—the Indian Marine Seamen. Capablo officers are supervising the preparation of the models.

Tho Telegraphs Again.

Mr Charles Todd, the Postmaster-General of South Australia, who represented that colony at the recent Telegraph Conference, writes to the "Times" from Dresden, in amplification of some particulars given by its Berlin correspondent regarding tho reduction oi charges on Australasian telegrams. Mr Todd points out that the share borne by the South Australian Government in the reductions is more considerable in proportion than that of any other party. To meet the reduction to 8s 8d on private messages, South Australia lowered her rate overland between Adelaide and Port Darwin from Is 3d to la Id ; and for the very notable cheapening of press messages she lowers the rate from Is 3d to 4d, and thia in spite of the fact that this line has been worked at a loss. South Australia has spent half-a-million in the first erection of the line, and in its subsequent repoling with iron poles, and she sustains a regular losb of £25,000 a year, including the interest on the outlay.

Death of a Famous Telegraphist.

The death was recorded last week of Mr John Wbitehead, at his residence at Norwood, London. His name is a familiar one all over the telegraphic world ; it was for many years notable in the title of one of the best-known firms of the telegraphic engineers, and it will be always associated with what all telegraphists know as "the SVhitehead Duplex System.''-

The New South Wales Contingent.

A correspondent of " Truth," who signs himself "Sydney," thinks it desirable that at least one paper should know the real faota with regard to the New South Wales contingent. "It is," he says, "of importance to remember that at the date of Mr Dalley's offer the colony had no troopa except 500 artillery, called generally the permanent force. The rest were volunteers of varying degrees of efficiency. Imme-

fiiatoly on the -;ccepfance of the offer, men were nsko.l to voluuirer for service, and r.c-r inlinwly about 750 j iueiiforthe Soudan. 1,-i'i" about; '.:.:><.) frir-i the permaiißnt; twr-< and 500 men from all ;-or!.- and condition ■„ Tlioso were placed in barracks for a fortnight, before they sailed. Tho otlicors woro selected in much tho fame haphazard fashion same being etiicient, others much thoroveree; .Tiid so with civilian officers and civilian men,the contingent started. Tho dutios of the officers were such as would have demanded tho most efficient and experienced comraandon. They had to break into discipline on a campaign 500 men who wero voluntoers.and wero ignorant of one another and of their officers, and who camo from every grade of society. Instead of boing export, many of the olliccrs wero as ignorant as tho men they commanded. In eonseqnonco there wero throughout tho campaign of four monthsdifficulficsofallkinds—commissariat and disciplinary—and since tho return to Sydney the air has boon thick with stories of tho incompetenco of tho officers and their unpopularity with tho mon. Tha wholo affair culminated by a banquet given to tho contingent, at which tho commandant, who suffered for tho faults of dthors, was hooted and groaned by his mon, so that his whole speoch was almost inaudible Had tho campaign lasted much longer, thero would have been some tragic ludicrous diaistdr, and the wholo affair, from a military point of viow, must bo looked upon as a complete fiasco. "lhopo," tho writer concludes, "England does not really expect a contingent of any valuo from Australia, for wo have neither tho trained mon nor tho trained otlicers. Wo have enough for defence, and every sonsiblo man ought to do hisbodt to decry filibustering expeditions which coat £200,000 from a peaceful population of under a million. As a result, the colony which borrows cloven millions in a yoar has incurred a largo expenditure for no appreciable bonolit, and wo havo a crop of military ideas turning us aside from tho true and proper aim ot Australians."

The Conserv stives and tho Colonies-.

It scorns more and more manifest us tho electoral campaign proceeds, that, as I intimated in a rocont summary,thnso Consorvatives who arc responsible for tho policy of their party, intend to make "our connection with tho Colonies " a notable plank of their platform. While all Liberal speakers of authority (with tho solitary exception of Lord Rosobery) curiously ignore this question and hammer dingdong at homo reforms, all Tory speakoi-s of repute, without oxception, insist on the necessity of "drawing closor the bonds which unite tho colonies with the mothor country." Tho most notable instances within the last fortnight are tho Earl of Dunraven, Undor-Seeretary for tho Colonies, tho Attornoy-Gonoral, 'Lord Goorgo Hamilton, Jlr Ashmoad Barflott, and MrStanhops.

The Panama Canal In Low Water.

Tho Paris financial correspondent of the "Daily News" reports that tho Panama Company is seriously oinbarrassed to find capital for tho works. At tho prico to which the old bonds havo fullon, a new loan could not be iloated at less than Sot i) per cent. ; and oven at that rate the succor of a subscription would bo doubtful. The Government hesitates to authorise the lottery loan which was suggested somo timo sinco, and a cali of tho unpaid half of the sham capital would be considered a breach of faith towards the syndicato, which has been buying sharos on the market in tho vain hope of supporting prices. Thrco months ago Panama shares stood at 4SO ; to-day thoy stand at 390. At the same timo Suez sharos are declining, because of tho continued contraction ot receipts, so that. altogether M. DeLosaeps is experiencing a very bad qnnrtor-of nn-honr ;it present.

A Deceased Wife's Sister Melodrama.

With a dew to showing the com plications that may ariao through marriage with :i deceased wifo's sister being legal in tiio colonion and illegal in Groat Britain, .1 Mr Groon tlio otlior day produced a harrowing melodramn on tlio subject (at tlio Olympic Tlieatro) culled " I'eor or I'anpor." It was (so the author announced) brought out solely for the purpose of promoting tlio passing of a mnch-to-bo-dosirod Act of Parliament, and could only bo played for soon nights. I'orhaps this was just as woll, for it certainly wouldn't have run longer. 11 Peer or I'aupor" is in a probguo ami four acts. The business of tho prologuo takes placo in Australia, and it is like this: Sir Goo. Ferguson haviug secured a commission for his son Alfred, sends him to fight for tho "old country" in the Soudan. As soon as Alfred lias departed thore comes a message to Sir George, from England, giving tho information that through tho death of eomo one ho has become a peer of the realm and inheritor ef the Talgarth estates. Sir George is jubilant for a moment, and then ho turns pale, and addresaosa his wife thus : " My dear, you havo often hoard mo ble.S3 tho old country. Now hear mo curso it. Perhaps you don't know it, but I now havo to inform you that you wero my first wife's half -sister, that by the law of England you are not my wife at all, and that your darling Alfred ia illegitimate." Then ho gurgles "How dark it grows," and as usual on the stago after this original observation—proceeds to oxpire gracefully, first binding his unhappy spouae not to disclose " tho eecrot." In tho following four acta young Alfred, after flashing it about for a timo as "a, poor," suddenly rinds himself a pauper. The socrot has como out. Owing to the iniquitous conduct of the House of Lords ho is an impostor, not entitled by law to what is his by right. In a frenzied speech Alfred curses tho dilatory legislators, and is preparing to Australia, when an old iervant confounds tho villuin of the play,who is also Alfred's next-of- kin, by a wholly unexpected piece of information. Lady Ferguson No. 2 was not, it sooms, after all,tho sister of Lady Ferguson No. 1. Sho was tho hoary-headed butler's daughter, whom ho confesses to havo swapped at birth after the manner so dear to novelists and playwrights. This sets things right, and Alfred is once more tho peer and tho wicked " villin " tho pauper. Tableau ! Tho " Sportsman" notices tho death of David Jones, lato private trainor to Mr G. G. Stead. The deceased was well known at Newmarket, having served some years in Blosß's stabloe, and tho news of his death excited general regret. Mr Long's Tonans, the horeothat so nearly won the Cambridgeshire Stakes for the popular Melbourne sportsman a few years ago, has been turned out of training. Some interest has been oxcited by tho death of the widow of the notorious Arlhur Orton, who (so the deceased averred) died about seven years ago in Parramatta Lunatic Asylum, near Sydney. Mrs Orton of course often saw the Claimant during tho Tichborno trial, and scoil'ed at tho idea of his being hor husband. Sho always doclarod he in no way resembled Orton. Moroovor, years afterwards a photograph of tho lunatic in tho Sydney Asylum was recognisod by hor aa that of her husband. Sergeant Ballantino and other good judges have always opined the Claimant was not Orton.

Proposed Separation of North and South

Queensland

Tho movement for eoparation grows amongst those interested in Northoni Queensland. Tho promoters protest that their action doos not spring from pique or dissatisfaction with certain recent acts of the Queensland authorities, but it is yot strangely coincident with the recent settlement of tho labour traffic question. Advantage was taken last Thursday of tho proEenco in London of Mr E. Rawson,"of the North Queensland Separation Council, to call a meeting of sympathisers, so that the movement for separation might, as the Chairman (Mr H. Finch-Hatton) declared, " make itself heard in this country." It was, he said, not a movement of planters seeking to form a slave state; it was tho legitimate longing of an energetic and expanßive communitytomanageits ownaffairs, which it considered were either mismanaged or neglected at Brisbane. Tho desire for separation was neither unnecessary nor premature. Nortti Queensland had now threo times as great population as Queensland had in 1859, when it was separated from New South Wales, and it had only eight out of 56 representatives in the Colonial Parliament, and these eight found the distance to Brisbane too great to attend comfortably to their legislative duties. A resolution was carried appointing a Committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of furthering " complete separation." It is hoped, I hear,that great progress in the movement will be made during the ensuing year through the presence of so many Colonials in London.

Lord Wemyss and the Empire Defonco

League,

The Empire Defence League, which is a kind of warlike birth of the Imperial Federation League, has written to Lord Wemyss (better known to the world in general as Lord Elcho) requesting him to become its President. He gratefully accepted the presidency in a letter which has one or two points of interest for you. An anxious consideration to obey the desire for economy on the part of the electorate has been, ho declares, the besetting em of all

Governments', both Liberal and Conferva live' ..i",id has uvodiiOM: Iho timid band-to

R.niith policy which I- ponaittod the ,!o'>iro" of l-tui Empire to slip into l.ho ciDiiUiUoii in v.ln.'li thoy nov.1 an.'. lfciiUf.'go-i(:! thnl tho objciiisoft.hu Lciiguo should bo-(1) To obtain uceurato information concsming tho stato of all defence-;, homo and colonial, naval and military— particularly naval, and on the exposed coasts of ihe Australasian Colonie?—an 1 also information concerning tho expenditure on these. j'J) To enlighten British electors on the?e matters, showing their necessity, and to roenrn a'i members of Parliainont men plogcd to further tho objocta of tho League. "(3) To inlhionco tho (Government of tho day without regard of party by every available means for tills end.

A Now International Exhibition. Next year promiaes to bo par crecllatei a yoar of exhibitions. Tlioio aro in full preparation, tho Indian and Colonial and tho Amorioan, and now it is announced there is to bo n grand International Industrial Exhibition at Edinburgh. It promises to bo a succoss ; tho Quoen lias agreed to bo " Patron," if not to open it, and though tho scheme has been beforo tho public for lofb than a fortnight, something liUo .C-10,000 has been already subscribed in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will require, it must bo admitted, Porno very strong attractions to compote with the American and tlie Colonial ill London.

Ban), of Australasia.

At, tho half yearly meeting of the Bank of Australasia, held tho other nftornoon.undov tho presidency of Mr K. Hnmilton, a divi doml of twelve and a-half per cont , with a bonus of 10-! por share, or in all i"i per sharo for tho half-year, being at the rate of 15 per cent, por annum, wa-i doclarcd. Tho not profit for tho half year was £147,046. From this sum, incrensed by .€14,100 brought forward, tho directors transferred .C' 20,000 to tho Uoscrvo Fund, and applied £C,Bf)2 to rodueo tho average prieo of socuritioH representing tho invested resorvo. The Chairman said that comparing thn balauco-sheot with that dated October, IS7O, ho found that in tho Hank's circulation theie was an increase of G2 per cont ; in deposits an incroaso of nearly 100 por cent ; in capital an incroaso of X\ pur cent.; in rosorves an incroaso of KiO por cont; in prolits available for distribution an incroaso of 02 per cent; wlulo their total liabilities had increased from 13 and a-half to 13 and a-half millions, or Si 2 per cent. As to the prospects of tho colonies, ho said (lie only adverse feature was tho fail in the price of wool, tho Australian clip of which in ISS-t was valued at l"20,000,000 storliug, Tho adoption of the directors' report, moved by the Chairman, was seconded by Sir Win. MeArthur, an 1 agreed to. A long and exhaustive article, occupying two columns, and entitled '"Now Zealand and tho Irish Dwolling Thcroin," appeared in tho Dublin "Freeman's Journal of September ."Oth. Tho writer is evidently a Wellington man,

Frozen Meat Market.

Thero can be no question that tho excessivo supplies of frozen meat arc seriously affecting the market. Ho re wo aro in tho second week in October, and cargoes which arrived in July aro rtill unsold. Ovor 90,000 carcases wore in store at the end of last week, and s-inco then close on SO, 000 havo arrived from tho Plato, in addition to largo consignments by tho Potosi from Melbourno and tlio Tainui from Now Zealand, There can, I foar, bo no doubt that, for some months tho popular demand for frozen mutton has not materially increased. In many quarters there h still ,1 prejudice. Sorrantu will not, n?.i rule, touch it, noil her will tho gveat manses of tho poor, at livi^t ~o a. butcher told mo tho other day. "Wo :iiv blarnod,' said ho, " for spiling No.v Zcahml mutton nn tingiUh, but if wo didn't wo should hurt instea-3 of hmiotiting tho tr.-ido I put up a placard ' Plenty of priniii cheap mutton tn-dny at, sn inurli n prnind,' nnrl my nozi'ii meat v. -non cleared mil, mil if 1 wcro to pay' Now Zealand mult 11 so much :i pound' I should have no oustomui ■<." "Surely," 1 replied, "suulinonspkayi prejudice would soon give w.-iy before tho c\ colleuco nt the moat." "Well, yim soo," ho contiuuei!, shaking hi* In ad, "tho frozen mutton in no! uluayj lined; on tho contrary, its quality i- voi-y variable, and that's what prevents me securing as many regular cuMoinor* as 1 might amongst the hotter chis families. Mrs Jones tries a joint off a primo Canterbury carcase that has not been toro>l loiij/, and is consequently in lino condition, Sho comes to me and says, 'Mr Binks, send us New Zealand mutton in future.' I'orhaps tho next lot of carcases wo buy aro not Canterbury mutton n< nil, but Auckland or Melbourne or River I'lato, and mayhap they have been stored a long timo. Mri' Jones comes to mo with -■' That meat you sent last night was downright bad ; tho cook hardly liked to roast it. Wo all thought, too, it was quite different to tho other you lot u.s have.' " Tho best thing importers and others interested in tho trado could do would bo to form n Company for tho establishment of Now Zealand grill rooms in London and tho provinces whero chops, steaks, and roast and boiled Now Zealand mutton could beobtainednicolyservodforrea sonablu rates. Not only wonldthose restnurantsinoroasothecun?uinptionandoU'eeliially dissipate both poor and middle-class pro jiulices. hi manufacturing centres like Manchester, Leeds, Bolton, Wig.lll, Sa, I believe a great busino-a might bo done Another good idea would bo to sub-idiso tho Workmen's Coffee and Dining Rooms all over tho country to provide Now Zonland mutton only. I havo not hoard yet what arrangements aro going to bti made for a New Zealand grill at tho Exhibition next year. Tho thing ought to fjo done, and on tuuoli moro extensive uncl nttrnctivo scalo than at tho Healtherios.

Frozen Moat Market.

To-day's " British Australasian " nays : Trado oxcoodingly, dull, and prices rather oasior than last week. Scotch mutton sold as low as 2s Sd pei- stono on Wednesday. For tho first timo sinco tho establishment of tho frozon meat trado tho shipments last month from tho River Plato exceeded those- from Australia and Now Zealand. Whilst English and Scotch mutton sells so cheaply, tho demand, for frozen meat will continuo very limited.

Tho Northern Investment Company of Now Zealand will, at thoir annunl meeting on tho 20th inst., declare a dividend of S per cent, on paid-up capital, add £5,000 to tho Reserve i'und (which will then amount to £15,000), and carryforward £25S 14s Sd.

At thoir half-yearly meeting on tho loth inst. tho Bank of South Australia will doclaro a dividend of 10 por cont. per annum.

Personal and General.

Mr XV. Giaborno is busy correcting tho proof sheets of his forthcoming book on "New Zoaland Rulers mid Statesmen," which will bo published immediately by Sampson, Low, llarston and Co.

Mrs Howard Vincent lias also a book raoro or loss affecting the colonies in the press. It is entitled "Forty Thousand Miles Ovor Land and Water," and will doecribo tho impressions formod by Mr and Mrs Howard Vincent during their recent tour of Groater Britain. Mr Vincent, you know, waa bo mystoriously affected by what ho caw at tho antipodes that ho ineon tinently foroswore Mr Gladstone and all hi* worke, and became a rabid Tory. Perhaps we may now loam why.

Mis 3 Joanie Leckett, a lady who seoms to have had wide practical experience of colonial life, contributes an interesting article on "Feinalo Labour in Australia" to tho October "Nineteenth Century."

Miss Lingard mado her ro-appearanco i:i London, after a long rest, at the Haymnrkot Theatre, on the 2Gth Septombor, when sho created tho role of " Phillippa Lafargo " inMr Comyns-Carr's dramatic adaptation of tho late Hugh Conway's " Dark Days." Tho part does not offor tho actress any groat opportunities, but what there are she makoa the most of. On tho first night sho and tho othor leading performers woro rocalled sevoral times.

Mr Ohas. Lyno ia preparing an account of the establishment of tho British Protectorato in Now (-uinoa for publication. It will be i^Bin d in book form by Sampson, Low, Murston and Co.

Your late Govornor, Sir A. Gordon, is paying a visit to his old friend Mr Gladstone at Hawarden Castlo this week. Should the Liberals return to power after tho general election, Sir Arthur will almost certainly follow Mr Grant Duff as Govornor of Madras, a po3t ho has long hankered for.

The full diaries kept by Prince Albert Victor and Princo Goorge of Wales during tho cruise of H.M.B. Bacchante will be publishod next month by Sampson, Low, Marston, and Co. A Inrgo portion of tho book deals with tho Australian experiences of their Royal Highnesses.

A series of special articles on " Our Maori Neighbours " ia naw appearing in a wookly paper called "Travel."

MrChas. Rous-Marten. F.R.G S., sends tho "English Mechanic" some ?ntere&ting facts with reference to the voyage from Plymouth to Otago, which he recently made in the s.s. Arawa. I daresay you may remember that tho special feature of this particular run waa that it was ac-

complfoliod iv MS day*, with a consumption of only •"■-! ronsnf coiil per diem. For a ship ol 5,00*1 ions going at an a^erago speftd cf II knot*, Ihiabiia (so Mr Marten declares | niivor boon appro .died befora : I, hnwover, doubt his bom;.; right. UnUvM lam much mistaken, unino of tho famous " Glon " liners trading between China and London havo mado phenomenally fast pas?aees on us littla aa 45 ton? per day. Tho "Mining Journal" of October 3, reprints Mr Jamoa M'Kerrow's report on the Goldfiolds of New Zealand, recently laid on tho tablo of tho House of Reprawjiilativos.

Mr Bonwick'fi now book on tho Australian will not bo ready till next spring. Tho Tair.ui, which only arrived in tho Thames last Sal unlay, ban not mado a vory ppeody passage. From Madeira slio lost way a good deal, through rough weather, with head wind".

Major To Whooro seems to liko tho notoriety of lottor-wriring. Ho has again, I hear, sent an epistlo to a London friend, this time urging that adviudago should bo taken of tho " recent change" of Government to press tho Maoriland claims. Meanwhile, he says, moro than 350 chiefs havo signod a pledge of united action to aecuro a peaceful settlement of their grievances.

In spito of the warning pessimistic strictures for which "Tho Standard" and tho " St. James's (lazoUo " mako themselves responsible, Colonial Securities aroovidently much in favour with tho investing public Yestoiday tenders for tho Now South Wales loan of fij millions '.)}, per cont. woro oponod at tho Bank of England. This is tho issue which when proposed last July tho " bulls " and tho " bears" had such a prott.y quarrol over. Tho iasno was postponed, and now it has been allowed to appear quietly. It has been successful, though not so successful as soino other Australasian loans. It lias boon covered moro than twice ovor, and is already quoted at a premium.

Shipping and Passongor Notes.

'I ho P. and 0. .steamor Kaisor i-Hind, sailing from Oravofond to-day, carries the following through passengers for Now Zealand ports :—For Auckland : Rev, Air and Mrs Surtcea, Mr Spicor, Mr Dwarris. For Duncdin: Mr Smith. For Lyttolton :Mr and Miss E. Hirst, Miss Harbor.

Messrs Shaw, Savill's steamor Coptic, sailing for Now Zealand ports this aflornoon, carries Hie following lirst saloon pas songors: l.ady Whitinoro, Mr J. C. Williamson, Mi.~a llargravo, Mrs E. J. Ilellor, Mrs and Miss Motcalfe, Kov. T. D. C. Firmingor and Mrs tfirmiiiL'er, Kov. ('. 11. and Mrs Knowlys, Mr and Mrs Mackenzie, Dr. and Mrs Kankin, Mr Kankin, jun., Mr and Mrs Williams, Messrs .1. K. Alston, Jamos Brougliton, F. Bennett;, Dames, Dyson, \V. 11. (lavin, <!raham, and (iraham, jun., W. 11. Hill, 0. 11. Maxwoll, W. 11. Maxwell, John Marsham, .Mule, Nelson, Palmer, C. Parkin, F. Popham, Roquilo, \V. B. Tanner, (i.'i in tho second cabin and LOO in steerage

Bishop Selu-yn, and Mr and Mr* Quick; uf Auckland, have arrived in London. They travelled vi-i' San Francisco, crossing tho Atlantic by Iho Cunard steamer Etruria.

Mr and Mrs Barker return to tho colony by the lvaikoura next month.