ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1892, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUK SPECIAL CORKESPOSDENT.)

London, December 11,

T " E Ladios Mabel and Nesta Fitzgerald, who eail for Australia this month on a Vl3lfc to their brother Lord Charles, are tha y° u iKeßt daughters of the fourth Duke of Leii>st er> and two charmingly independent da msels. Theyonly recently returned frem b tour round tho world. G °VERNMENT HOUSE BALLS IN

THE COLONIES. A lady tourist recently in Adelaide and -writes in terms of amazement to ™°toan " concerning the " smartness " of spo Government House balls. Both Lady fvintore and Lady Jersey appear to make i&eal ho*tesses, and the gowns worn in \ydney (especially those of the Hon. Mrs Harrington and Lady Charles Scott) were worthy of Marl borough House. Lady Kintore > in a palo blue satin, is specially ueecribed as being resplendent in diamonds. BUTTER. ■"■he initial consignment for the present 89ason of New Zealand butter arrived per ... early this week in good conation, Ul ,d for the most part is in the hands °: "he various consignees, some of it having already been sold. The condiment is, I'm told, o f ver y f a i r quality all round. Certainly, with the packages I have per l fionally inspected and tosted. little fault can be found. Iv one case tha use of milk too soon after calving had given the butter a Peculiar smell and flavour, and in a couple of tubs it was evident that m?.° c °aree-graiued salt had been used. few sales effected up to time ot writing tnay be considered satisfactory, Prices ranging from 112s to 1225. Tiio latter figme was paid for only a small quantity of very good produce. By next waill shall be in a better position to particul&rieo re quality, price, etc., as by that tune the major portion of the Tainui'scargo should bo sold. The arrivals of butter from. Australia and New Zealand this week total nearly 200 tons, but the market chows attlo signs ot weakening.

TOO MUCH MUTTON. On the authority of the New Loan and Mercantile CompaDy th 'Standard " sounds an alarmist note wit" regard to the importation of frozen mutto n into England. It says: "It has become obvious this year that the exportation frozen mutton to this country ... can be overdone. Although shipments from the River Plate have fallen off considerably latterly, and the importations from New Zealand have been lighter . . . th6euppliea are still far in excess of current requirements. During the past month the wholesale prices of New Zealand mutton have ranged between 2Jd to per lb, whilst the last Australian cargo, which arrived in good condition, is priced at 3d." "TRUTH'S" TATTLE ANENT THE

RINGAROOMA. A very serious allegation is made in "Truth" this week concerning the relations between the officers and mon on board ttaa new colonial cruiser Ringarooma. A Launceaton gentleman who went aboard the veaaol- as she lay in the Tamar with a feeling of loyal prido, says he returned from his visib of inspection with that sentiment considerably diluted. Whilst looking around, the Taemanian casually hazarded a hope (speaking to one of the seamen) that) the crew were comfortable. He waa considerably taken aback when the. fellow replied vehemently that he would gladly leave the ship if he could. He wont on to say that the men were treated like slaves or doge, that they were incessantly badgered and bullied, and put to unnecessary work. Several, of the speaker's mates standing by confirmed his statements, re* peating much the same story. There whs no time to outer into details, but the visitor felt convinced, the men were speaking what they believed to be the truth. Evidently the colonial paper** will do well to keep a sharp eye on H.M.s. Ringarooma. The " Hawk " likewise comments on the alleged mutinies on the Orlando, remarking that " there seems something in the air of the Australian station which is injurious to discipline." All the trouble, it thinks, cannot be wholly due to severity on the part of the officers. It appears more probable that the sailor*, when ashore, imbibo notions anent the " Rights of man," etc., which are not consistent with inan-o'-war life. A NEW ZEALAND LADY MARRIED. There was a smart little wedding afc the Marylebone Presbyterian Church on Thursday, when Mies Agnes Hay, the third daughter of John Hay, of Barbrahold. Temuka, New Zealand, was united to Mr Charles Hampton Hall, of Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent. The " holy bond " was forged by the Rev. Donald Fraeor, D.D., assieted by the Roy. John Dickson, M.A., of Temuka, New Zealand.

MR HENMKER gEATON. The übiquitous promoter of "Universal Penny Post," Mr Henniker Heaton, arrived at Marseilles a few days ago, and at once apprised everyone of the fact by writing to the "Times " on the subject of Australian mails. He contends that tho London mailfl to Australia ought to bo delivered at Albany in 25 days, and at Adelaidein i! 8, instead of 34£ as at present. iJrHoaton ventures to predict that 20 days to Albany will be accomplished erelong. This should interest New Zealand, us with the stoppage of the Plytnoath-cum-Cape route a large parb of the mail matter from England must) go via Brindisi and Australia.

THE CHEESE CASE. The actiou pending between the New Zealand Shipping Company and the consignees Of the cheo?e which waa spoilt whilst in transit on board the Rimutaka will not after a)l come, on b>lor,€LC,hri.?£nj.&s, jtiid it W»y bo well on iij W$ New Year ere the matter reaches the courts,

THE MELBA DIVORCE SUIT. It appears more than probable that the question of jurisdiction raised in the Melba divorce euit will prevent the case being tried in London, even if ii> doesn't quash it altogether. Tbo.Duke of O>leans contends that"neither he nor Captain Armstrong are British subjects. The latter was born in Ireland emigrated and married in Melbourne. H.R.H.'s lawyers intond to pres3 this iu'risdiction point, and to allege that Armston" can only proceed against his wife in the Dublin law courts and in the manner prescribed in crini. con auiti?. They hope ttiia will embarrass him considerably. STR GRAHAM BERRY'S VALEDICbIK TORY BANQUET.

Judging from present appoarances.it will be Sir Edward Braddon's lecture at the Colonial Institute, and not the valedictory dinner to Sir Graham Berry, which will suffer from being fixed on the same evening Covers at the St. George's Club will be laid for °00 L° r( 3 Brassey presides, supported by Lord Ivtiutaford and Lord Batemun, and amongst the guests anxiou3 to do donour to the departing AgenbGenoral are Sir W. C Robinson, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir baul Samuel Sir Charles Mills, Sir Frederick Abel Sir Thos. Sutherland, Sir A. Clark, Sir Charles Clifford, Sir Robert Herbert, and Sir Bomers Vine. Sir Samuel Wileon's name ie conspicuous by its absence, but (as the smart wedding on Saturday week conclusively proved) Sir Samuel has lorgotten he ever wae a colonist, and wishes Ins erstwhile Australian friende to forget ib too. 'Twixt Ercildowne and Grosvenor Square there is a great gulf fixed. In future, I scarcely think either colonial or Anglo-colonial acquaintances are likely to give the great man much trouble,