ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 9

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, February 24. Lord Sheffield's Tour.

Regarding Mb proposed visit to your part of the world as commander-in-chief of an English cricketing team next winter, Lord Sheffield wrioea mo as follows :—" Since writing you betore, negotiations have been entered into with the principal English players—so far very succesef ally: . I have now reached such a stage in the preliminary proceedings that I shall wait to see whether public opinion in England or Australia is favourable to the expedition. 1 care very little tor English opinion, but look forward with great anxiety to the views of the Australians, which are much more important in this case. . . So soon as I am informed of the general Australian opinion I shall decide whether to make the venture or not."

According bo present arrangements, Lord Sheffield's Australian team will leave England next October, and be composed of halt amateurs and half professionals. The . services of Shrewsbury, Attevrell, and : Gunn (Notts), Lohmanti (Surrey), Briggs (Lancashire), and Feel (Yorkshire) have already been secured, and a provisional promise obtained from W. G. Grace. South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand will be ths colonies visited. Slavin's Benefit. Her Majesty's Theatre promises to present a peculiar spectaclo to-morrow evening, when the Australian champion will make hi« final appearance in England for the present, and take a benefit upon the stage there. The programme includes a grand assault a* arms, Charles Mitchell in a scientific boxing bout, and a host of prominent lighbe. In addition, Slevin will attempt to knock oub an unknown in four rounds, forfeiting £100 to his antagonist it he fails. The name of tha doughty challenger is a secret at present. The Totalisatok. Amongst recenb visitors to your parb of the world was one of either the Sandown or Kempton executive — I don't know whicb. Anyhow, he was greatly struck with the working of the fcotalisators on colonial racecourses, and tbe manner in •which they abolished many of the disadvantages of betting. The ring are naturally terribly against their introduction here, but I understand this official hopes to introduce one to his " members' enclosure" (only) thie summer. The Australian Navy , . The authorities appear to be " fooling round pretty considerable" with the Australian ciuisers, and from recent happenings it seams likely that by the time i the vessels are all fit and ready for their \ mission they will be about as much up to date as the Snider rifle. A week or so ago bho Tauranga. and the Ringarooma were accepted from Messrs Thompson after most successful steam trials on the Clyde. They arrived at Devonporb in such a condition of apparent readiness that fchey were at> once commissioned. Now, however, I learn that they will be considerably delayed for certain improvements to be carried out. The Admiralty has decided to make important alterations in the boiler fittings of the Tauranga, and to divide the combustion chambers in the same manner as those of its own particular pet bugbear, the Barracouta. The starboard starting engine has also been removed owing to defects that havb been discovered. Similar alterations are to be made in the Ringarooma. It is to be hoped that after the dockyard people have worked their will upon these boats they will be capable of steaming the 19 knots which the contractors so easily got out of them. The cost of alterations in both cases will be borne by the Dockyard vote. Tbe gunboats Boomerang and Karrakabta arrived at Chatham from the Tyne this week, but the cruisers Katoomba, Mildura, and Wallaroo will not be ready till the end of March. Whichever dockyard these latter i go to, it is tolerably certain that the officials ■ will discover a large quantity of alterations that in their opinion must be carried out before the vessels can go to sea. The question that naturally occurs to one is, " YVhat are the duties of the Admiralty overseers at the contractors' yard?" The "Globe" opines that it " would not be a very rash experiment to commission a ship in a private yard when the contractors have declared her complete, and send her straight ' oft to sea without allowing her to go into a Government dockyard at all."

Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. The shareholders in the Shaw, Savill and AJbion Company are to be congratulated on the splendid results of the past year's working of their fleet, for the directors, after liberally writing down all round, are able to announce a 10 per cent, dividend and also to carry on £3,355 to the next account. The recent additions to the fleet have nob as yet increased the savings of the Company in a manner proportionate to the outlay upon them, but this is owing partly to the fact that they hare just got properly to work. The Company's indebtedness is about £100,000 more than last year, but this fact does nofc at all events cause alarm. Scotch shareholders in the concern, who, rather than renew tbeir debentures at a reduced rate of interest (as they are compelled to if they wish to renew), prefer to deposit their money with the Company at 5 per cent., remaining as open creditors. This fact alone is strong testimony to the credit in which the Company stands, and to the faith in its future of thoee intimately connected with it. Makriott Watson's Play. Mγ H. Marriott Watson and Mr J. M. Barry, have arranged to produce their fouract play " Richard Savage" at a matinee at the Criterion Theatre in Easter week. The title rple will.as I mentioned last week, be taken by Mr Fred Terry, the popular Haymarket jeunt premiere, and brother of the famous actresses of the same name. The important part of the hero's mother, Lady Macclesfield, has been accepted by Miss Louise Moodie, and Misa Helen Forsyth and Misi Phyllis Broughton undertake the minor characters. The first rehearsal is today.