ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 145, 20 June 1891, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

TEE ORIENT COMPANY. At the fourteenth annual meeting °- Orient Steamship Company on Wednesday, a dividend of 3 per cent*, only was declared, £56,057 bsing carried to tho resorro hind. The Chairman, in tha course of his speech, referred to the lecent trouble at tho docks C'a strike for domination," lie called it). The Australian Companies were able to crush it by banding themselves together. The strike in Australia cost the Orient lino about £10,000, Coal rose from 10a to 44s and 45s per ton. Owing to the labour troubles at the Antipodes, there had been a biy; falling oil in tha third-class passengers carried out. Tne decroass on the tvvelve months amounted to £12,000. Tilings were now, however, improving again. Expenditure enforced under the Life Saving Appliances Acfc had been considerable, viz., £11,645, and the Cuairman did npfc appear to approve some of the alterations ordered. T!se Company's new sreamer tho Oohir would, he said, be one of the finest: vessels afloat. On the whole the prospects of the line seemed fairly encouraging. Tho great tiling during comparatively hard times such as tho present was to keep a tight hand on tho expenditure. CAELE REDUCTIONS. After innumerable delays and much diplomatic negotiation, Russia has at length allowed herself to bo persuaded into agreeing to tho reduction of the cable ratus to your part of the world. Tho Imperial Government's final decision was only wired to the Agonts-General on the 27th. In celebration of the reduction of the cable rates tho Agents-General are to be permitted to forward any social mossasjes they may wish to send to Australia or New Zealand free of charge. This brilliant idea is, needless to say, Sir John Pender's. The loast the Agents can do under the circumstance is to include a dolicate compliment to"fcho enterprising and energetic Chairman of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company" in their gratis communications. COLONIAL BORROWING. The "Economist " seriously advises tho Australian colonies to re-assure tho London money market by giving a joint undertaking nob to borrow further for a couple of years or so. Other papers smile satirically at the proposal, remarking that you have got so accustomed to living on loans, you really couldn't exist without) one for a twelve month, much less for two years. The Australian " Trading World " grimly congratulates Victoria on having been able to raise two millions. With the market in its present mood,fchiawas, it coneiders.asutficiontly remarkable achievement. A MISSING LLOYD'S BROKER. A .Lloyd's broker who recently disappeared had effected insurancos by the illfatod Now Zealand trader Aesayo with underwriters at Lloyd's. The gentlemen who wrote tho risk to the absconding broker now find that tho loss which they paid to thab gentleman has nob been passed on to the assured, on the plea that the Committee of Lloyd's were investigating the case. The assured now claim tho losa from the underwriters direct, bufc the latter naturally object to "fork out" a second time, and in all probability the matter will find its way into the law Courts. TARIFF PREFERENCE FOR COLONIAL PRODUCTS. Answering a quoation put by Mr Howard Vincent in the House of Commons on Thursday last, Sir James Forgusson said that tiie Government wore awiire of the resolution unanimously adopted by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on 27th April, 1890, to the effect that no treaties of commerce should in future be renewed or ontered into which preclude preferential arrangomonts between the United Kingdom and the British colonies with regard to their respective products. This view would be borno in mind in any negotiation for the renowal of expiring treaties. ERNEST BENZON. Mr Ernest Benzon has reappeared in London, but in somewhat ditlorenb circles to those which the "poor Jubilee" once adorned. Mr Benzon seems to have fallen only slightly in his own esteem, and his manners are just as—well —shall we say engaging as of yore. The Plunger will talk of those two royal years of folly to his dying clay. In the provinces many folk still look up to him as a " knowing card," JACKSON REPLIES. Mr Jackson's "reply" ie quite as lengthy, trivial, and todioue as his good lady's " vindication," but ha writes in rather better taete. Tho husband's friends advised him to lot tho small-minded vulgarity of Mrs J.s composition spenk for itself, and keep silence. This would have been wise and strong. Unfortunately, Jackson is neither. Ho declares most solemnly that he went to New Zealand at his wife's urging. Several times both before and after the marriage ceremony he offered to stay at home if she wished. He did nob go to New Zealand to buyland, nordid ho tell hia wife so. He went to take up a block that belonged to him, in consequence of his services during tho Maori war. Miss Hall (as she was then) always knew her lover to bs a poor man. Often when they wont boating together she would insist on paying, observing, " 1 know you are not rich." Jackson goes at length into tho squabbles with the Baldwins after his roturn. He admiti3 ho used strong language. So did they. He, however, frequently apologised for his subsequently. As to the allegation thab he treated his wife with brutality during the siege, Jackson— metaphorically epoaking— gknpiy smiles. No one, ho declaras, knows the absolute falseness and absurdity of this statement botlior than tho lady herself. Jackson winds up by eaying he always loved his Emily, and loves her still. Even now this indulgent and forgiving hubby offers to let bygones be bygonea, and to fold her to his manly bosom.