ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 245, 18 October 1886, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[FROM OUR LONDON COBBESPONKKNT ]

Londos, September 0,

A Mr P. S. Lamas has discovered that Englishmen can no longer boast of being the biggest beef-eaters in the world. Australians now top the record. According to the economist'^ computation the annual consumption of beef in Europe amounts to 451b por head of the population in the year. Tho Australians consume 1501b per man, tho Americans 1301b, while the other great Continent of Argentine (from which Mr Lamas hails) eats level with Australia Tho plantors of Fiji have rewarded the " Hon." Jameß Mason for his efforts in collecting subacriptions on behalf of the sufferers by the hurricane of March last with "a flea-inhid-ear." They declare he hud no right to degrpde the colony by " taking round the hat," and have ordered all Hubscuptioos to be returned. Mr Blaud Holt has purchased tho Australian rights of tho highly succepeful laciug drama, " A Kun of Luck," produced laat week at Druiy Lano. Alice Lingard will not, after ali, re-visit Australia next year. She has sold the coonial rights of "Sitter Mary" to J. G. Williamson. Tho Rev Percy Custs, son-in-law of bir W Jervois, i* on his way out to Wellington. Walter Road may, after all, join Lillywhite's team for the colonies. If he should decide to go, the team will cousist of Shaw, Shrewsbury, Scotton, Barnes, Flowers, Gunn, Sherwin, Bates, Barlow, Lohmann, Brings, Maurice Read, and Lillywhite. Geo. Vcsscy Stewart fende the " Times' this morning a letter addressed to him by the Hun J. Macandrew, in which the latter describes the bock of land at Waikana set apart for the Crofter emigrants. The inevitable Kerry Nicholls is also to the fore in the " Time?" again with an analysis of the volcanic dust distributed by the recent eruptions in Now Zealand. Mr J. A. Pond is Korry'e authority. It is only fair to the compiler of Zadkiel a Almanac to point out that in his edition for 18S5 at p 71 the man prophesied that 188G would be signalised by a series of great, earthquakes. Considering that there have already been earthquakes in New Zealand, Greece, Spain, America, and (veiy slightly) In England, this was not such a bad guess. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says an infringement by France Of the contravention of IS7S (such aa the annexation of the .New Hebrides) would be a clear cams belli. That, however, is of course mere jingo nonfceneo. If the French insist on keeping the islands to themselveJ there will be a good deal of tall talk possibly, but nothing more. The Colonial Office would have gUdly handed them over long ago in consideration of a distinct promise that the exportation of recidivists to the Pacific should cense, and (as I have already hinted elsewhere) Sir R Herbert and hii subordiuites have no patience with Sir (J. Berry's " worriting." Visit of tho Australian Cricketers to New Zealand.

"The Australian cricketers," says the " Pall Mall Gazette," " are thoroughly de moralised, aud their home • going will pcarcely be the occasion of an ovation or eveu of a banquet. No ; they return with their tails between their legs beaten all round." This criticism is severe, but not on the whole undeserved. It 13 sincerely to be hoped we shall never again have to chronicle such an ignominious collapse on the part of a colonial eleven. The team, with the exception of Spofforth, Garrett, and Mcllwraitb, sail for New Zedand by the Arawa on Oct. 7th, and are to play matches at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, reaching Sydney in time to meet Shaw and Snrewsbui-y'e eleven on Boxing Bay. Mr Spofforth will bo married on the 24th of this month, and will sail with his wife, Mr and Mrs Garrett, and Mr and Mrs McIlwraith by the new Orient liner Orizaba on Sept. 30th. These three men will pick up the re^t of tha team (and the Arawa) at Hobart Town.

The annmacement that exhibitions are o be held in Sydney in ISBB, and Auckland in ISOO will materially benefit the coming show at Adelaide. Many tradesmen, etc., who would not have cared to eend valuable exhibits to South Australia alone will gladly do co now there is a prospect of their being shown also at Now South Wales and Now Zealand. Sir Arthur Gordon and Sir Bryce.

Inspired, no doubt, by the eeneo of injury which makes nearly all unfortunate M.l'.'s detained in town during the present sultry weather long to " make things warm for souicboiiy," Mr (,'obb List weok revived the puinlut charges ugainst Sir Arthur Gordon disclosed during the trial of Bryce v. Kusden, If the member for Rugby expected to do more than temporarily redirect public attention to an exceedingly unpleasant matter, he muet be somewhat disappointed. Sir Arthur's " own familiar friend," Mr Gladstone, may no longer be Premier, but another old comrade—to wit, Sir Robert Herbert—is still permanent " boss " at the Colonial Office, and well able to look aFter your ex-Governor's interests. Nevertheless, those capable of reading between the lines of an official reply will doubtless draw certain inferences from Mr Stanhope's guarded answers the other day. It seems, though Lord Grauville considered it unnecessary to cull formally or. Sir A. Gordon for an explanation with regard to his alleged dishoDomable conduct towards Mr Brjce, the latter felt it absolutely imperative to supply one. Whether the said explanation satisfied the Colonial Office or not, we are left in doubt. The presumption is it did not, as, if Sir Arthur's answers to the charges had seemed conclusive to his friends, they would readily enough have published them. Instead of that, however, the Department declines all information on the point. Sir Arthur's statement was supplied for the benefit of Ministers only, and (one can readily comprehend the fact) wouldn't look well in the form of a Parliamentary paper. The subject is not to be re-opened.

On the whole, Mr Bryce can afford to eirila. Sir Arthur has a defence (so his friends say ),but 'tis not of the eort that will bear the light of day. Perhaps if we could penetrate between the leaves of Sir R. Herbert's private letter book we should find that His Excellency Sir A. Gordon did not pull through the affair without a sharpish official rap over the knuckles. It will certainly tell against him,too,in future, more especially if the Conservatives remain long in office. Gossip About the Sculling Championship I sent you separately a full account of the races for the sculliug championship last week. Beach went down to Kain^gate directly afterwards, and spent a few daya quietly by the eea, but is now in training again ior his tussle with Gaudaur. The latter professes to be in no way daunted by hia rival's successes, which he declares he fully anticipated. Ross and Teemer are, however, fully convinced that they were beaten by a better man, and openly pronounce Beach a phenomenon. Hanlan's offer to meet Beach again is looked upon as the merest blustar, as he knows perfectly well that under no circumstances whatever would the Australian continue in training much longer. Goseipers about last week's doings aver that Matterson's victory over Ross was gained solely by the former's superior condition, and must not be considered conclusive. Ross had the foot of the colonial for fully three-quarters of the distance, and was winning easily, when he collapsed. Beach's friends have not captured as much coin as they expected, though they backed the champion for every penny that could be got on. Nominally, 3to 1 was laid on Beach for the final heat; in reality twice the oddb wouldn't have persuaded anyone to deal. The race itself seems to have been a hollow affair indeed. The real : sensation of the day was the accident to the press launch, which well nigh resulted in sundry notable sporting reportera being prematurely translated to "kingdom come." A good deal of fun has been made out of the affair, but I am told by a gentloman who was present that the situation at the time seemed the reverse of humourous, and that the party on board were thoroughly well scared.

A musical entertainment will be given at St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, next Friday evening, in aid of the Ladye Cbapol at St. Patrick's Cathedral.