ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 25, 31 January 1887, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Pun 11 M.k.s. Ruavkhu.)

(From Ouk London Courksi'ONubnt.)

London, December IS, Tbo Imperial Institute.

Affairs Anglo-Colonial aro quiet, and likely to remain ho till nftor Christmas, Homo little eonsation was caused at the beginning of I ho wosk by I ho publication of a cablegram oeteusibly from Melbourne, giving a garbled version of tbo inesaa.t;u roIxtivc to tlao linnoriul Institute iwctsMtlv despatched by tho Agent-Generals to thoir respective Govurutnonts. The ooinuiunication stated amongst other foots tbut tho South Koneington sito was decided upon for tho building, which is not the caso, and tho report was promptly contradicte'1. I fancy, too, it has not been absolutely ecttlod yet whether tho colonial agents are to havo supreme control of thtiv respective courts. All connected with tho Inatituto secin to delight in being mysterious. It increases thoir importance, X tuppos . They havo no objection to drop hints, often quits mi-lead ing ones, but state plaiu facts straight out tboy won't.

TV}", Secretary ef Stato for tlio Colonies . c Stanhope, though a younf{ and, eompariliively speaking, untried statesman an rogardß high oflico, hus shown more practical energy and originality einco he becaiuo Colonial rioctetary than any hulf-dc/ju of bis predecessors. Thia ia entirely because the right hon. gentleman rofubou 10 be led by the noee by Sir Robert Herbert (the Permanent Secretary), who for the laet dozsn years or so has been the real head of tho department. Mr Stanhope's initial now departure took the form of consultations with loading colonials visiting England, persons, by the way, for whom Sir K. Herbert has never concealed his contempt. The Colonial Secietary sot apart Tuesday afternoons for the special purpose of interviews with antipodeans who wished to talk to him, and, needless to say, a large number availed themselves of the oppoitunitiea. Amongst other suggestions offered at these interviews was one by a Victorian gentleman, to the effect that a non-political conference of representative colonists from all parts of the Empire to discuea the practical questions of defence and intercommunication (postal and otberwiae) would be a good thing. Mr Stanhope profesaed himself much struck with the idea,andevidently was so,for he has not taken long to put it into practical form. Thecircularwhichappeared in lastTucsday'a papers, and which I append, inviting the colonies to such a conference, has been un-* onimously approved by the preee, and cannot but lead to valuable results.

lie the important question of colonial defence, Mr Stanhope, you will obterv.e, elates that he will oilor a measured atid systematic scheme for diecussioD. No doubt, if this ia ao, something really definite will be decided upon. " The mother country," en} s the "Timos," "must chow that ebo is not niggardly in the tupplies of officers and military material that the is willing to provide, and the colonists must show themselves ready to fortify, to build the ncceEgary gunboat? or guard-ships, and to lind the mon to work them,"

I^As to the second head of Mr Stanhope's programme (communication), all the papers are agreed on ono point. We want more I cables, and the Conference must suggest a way and means of providing them. The projected line from Vancouver to Australia is a step in the right direction, though its usefulness will be much marred if the Com pany persist in their intention of making | .Brisbane, and not Auckland, the antipo- ' dsan port of arrival. iMr Henniker Heaton is naturally very cocka hoop over Mr Stanhope'a reference to bis pet scli9me of a colonial penny post. Its meaning appears unmietakeablo, viz., that should tho Conference approvo tho ideo, the Government will back up Mr ■ Hoaton's bill. No one (declares tho "Times") can deny that such a postage is eminently desirable, or that ifc would do a ! groat dual towards •' the drawing closer of the bonds that unite tho various portions of tho Empiro " Ihis is the first timo tho \ " thunderor" has declared openly and without reserve oil the side of Mr Hoatou's proposition, and shows which way the wind blowe. Should tho bill pats, a baronetcy will be well within Henniker's grasp. Melbourne Exhibition: Visit of the Prince of Wales. Sir Graham Berry's announcement with regard to the holding of a Centennial Exhibition in Melbourne, in 188S, and the resolve of the Colonial Government to invito the Prince of Wales, has been well received by the English press, which, on tho whole, favours H.K.H. paying the visit. It may be safely said that if the Prince of Wales is evor to make the Australasian trip ho will make it then. The date fixed for the opening of the Ehnw (March) will not, however, do if H.K.H. id to be present. He might not object to leaving England for the V! inter months, say Desember, January, and February, but I am quite pure neither the Queen nor the Princess of Wales would consent to the Heir Apparent absenting himself durirjg the London season. Half a doden or a dozen years ago such a thing might have been

faasiblOi Now tha t'rinso practically doos all the monarch's duties, and thoy grow heavior overy yoar. 'Tis not aa if Princo Albert Victor, orovon the Duke of Edinburgh, could temporarily take tho Princo of Waloa'a place. Young " Eddy " has not tho gumption, and old Edinburgh is too niggardly and unpopular. Adelaide Exhibition. I hear a meeting of the London Commission- to tho Adelaide Exhibition was held on Tueeday laat, and 50,500 foot of space allotted to 427 exhibitors. Nothing further has been hoard of tho Canadian Toboggan Slide for Adelaide. Tho ona used so successfully at Liverpool goes to Manchoetor. Personal and General. Tbo caricatures of tho Colonial Commisbioner< to tho late Exhibition, in the (Jhcisimaa number of "Truth," aro excellent. Sir Chas. Tupper, Sir Arthur Blyth, and Sir Graham Berry oome out particularly well. Uishop Moorhouso or " tho Australian Bishop of Manchester," as he is mora gonerally called in the North, was banqtictted laet week at Sheffield, of which town he is j a native.

An International Exhibition of agriGulturalimplements,and cattle, pheop, and dairy instruments opens on 2f>th of next June at Brussels, Exhibits from all parts of tho world aro invited.

Provincial contres do not at all relish letting their memorials of the Queen's Jubilso take the form of subscriptions to tho Imperial Institute. This foeling was brought out very strongly at a big meeting in Wuikvvickshlro tho other day, tho epeakore to a man boing in favour of some local momorixl.

An article on " Now Zealand Journalism," signed "A. S. Rathbono," rccontly ufjpeared in a weekly paper published in London called " Tho Journalist." Aa a eignod artiale usually implies that tho writer is, or thinks himeolt, an authority on the subject dqalt with, Mr Rathbono is anxious it should be known that his namu waa used without hia permission boing; asked. When, in response to a request from the editor of tho " Journalist," ho jotted dosvs a few crudo and huiriod notes on tho Now Zsaland paper*, Mr R. had no notion I hoy were Lo appear in such a form, or that they would bo shot into print without his eeoing a proof or having any opportunity of revising thorn.