ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 139, 13 June 1892, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

- (FROM OUB. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

:" •■/ , , ~): , ; LoKDON, April 30. THE/;- WOMAN'S' SUFFRAGE ' BILL?. The :Bmallnea3 of the majority by which Sir Albert Rblleb's Women's Suffrage Bill, {notwithstanding Gladstone's opposition) was thrown out on Wednesday afternoon,' has caused great jubilation in the Fawcett-. Maclaren brigade, and, doubtless surprised you New Zealandera, who learnt the result by cable. Barely half the House voted. Many honourable members declined to. take the Bill seriously, whilst others, who knew there " was 'v a sure majority against it, calmly anriexecl a holiday. It • was, curious ..■/'to note how honourable members seemed to invariably approach the women's suffrage question from' the point of view of their own feminine belongings. Thus Mr Balfour, and Mr Maclarea (the Radical M.P. for Crewe), who disagree on almost every other eubject, were at one that clever, capable, and intellectual creatures, like the former's Bister and' latter's wife ought not to be denied the franchise. On the other hand, the philanthropic Mr Samuel Smith (described with greater candour than politeness by Mrs Fawcett as that "fussy old frump") naturally contended that the comfortable body who saw to his linen being aired, and combed his whiskers for him occasionally, would nob know what to do with a vote, and would use it simply as reeted by her clever husband's, hand.?, PRODUCE NOTES. In happy contrast to the fruit cargoes of the lonic and Ruapehu the Tainui complement of apples have arrived in really good condition. As, however, the factors are not yet in posaessien of the auction returns, I must leave the interesting question of prices till next mail. I have made it a not unpleasant duty during the past week to enter into the question of the "eating" qualities of several kinds of 'apples from the Antipodes; There are, of course, so many named varieties of New Zealand apples shipped, and one variety differs so little in appearance from another, that only an expert can tell which is which.' But I classify apples into three sets—first, the "showy," which has nothing bub its good looks and size to recommend; secondly, the apples pleading to'both eye and palate ; and thirdly, the unassuming fruit which musb be eaten to be appreciated. Of the first description are the Bismarck tribe. Place six in a basket laid oii nice pink paper, with rosy face to you, and marked "3s per basket," they would tempfc. nine ladies out of ten, because they will look well at desaerb. Bub they, were mostly "turhipy," and nob at all grateful to the palate. Cox's Orange Pippins! are very different, but look well, and are essentially a first-class eating fruit. Reinefctes dv Canada, though not particularly showy, are eminently desirable in the most important respect. Stone Pippins are of the third description. However, the .quality of apples is perhaps better known to you than to me, so I will turn to the retail trade in them. In the many districts I have gone into in search of copy I have only come across one fruiterer who has marked his Antipodean apples as from New Zealand. Most tradesmen content themselves with ticketing the fruib Tasmanian or Australian. As to prices, the "3s per basket of six" mentioned above is merely a PiccaHlly price for a specially Bhowy half-dozen of Bismarcks. You can buy apples from the Antioodes ab. almost any price from 2d a 1b- (these' are " speoky ") up to 6d each, bub for good, sound, fair-sized fruit you have to pay 2d and 3d each even in Leadenhall niarkeli. ;• ' ■,„ ' ' buttJr and cheese. ;." ■. is little to report this wee'fc in con Inection with dairy produce. The market has been flab and trade dull. Small lines ef best factory cheese have been disposed of ab 565, top quotation, bub poorer qualities are down "to" a very low'level, and are hard tosell. ■ Tip-top American sells slowly ab 62e. In butter, very little has been doing. First-class factory is disposable at 98s downward, whilst other sorts range from 66s to 85s. Best Danish is worth about 112s. Arrivals recently have been in fairly good condition. FROZEN MEAT. New Zealand mutton is steady, and Australian slightly firmer. The following comparison ot prices may interest you :—Scotch mutton (wether) 4s lOd to 5s per Blb, English mutton (wether) 4s 2d to 4s 6d per 81b, New Zealand (beat) 2s lOd to 3s per 81b, New Zealand (middle) 2s 3d to 2s lOd per 81b, Sydney and Queensland 2s 7d to 2s 8d per 81b, Rivar Plato 2s 5d to 2a Gd per Sib, English lamb 5s 4d to 6s 4d per 81b, New Zealand lamb 3s 8d to 4s per 81b, New Zealand beef (hind-quarters) 2s 8d to 2s 9d per 81b, New Zealand beef (fore-quarters) 2s 4d to 2s 6d per 81b, Queensland (hindquarters) 2s 8d per 81b. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. ; The Rev, Browning, who has been chosen by Bishop Selw'yn to augment tho Melanesian Mission stafl; has arranged-to leave England by the Doric in June next. Mrs Davy, wife of Colonel; Davy,, who. accompanied Dr. Arthur to the colony in the Port Chalmers, sails in the Victoria today with her sons and daughters to join her husband;-' The Rev. David Arthur, exChaplain of the Force, with his wife and family is s also bound for New Zealand by the same vessel. " ~-, , ;'.-....',''

The "Globe's" own special jokist, familiarly known as, "Mr By-the-Way," endeavours to extract a little fun oub of, the much, discussed subject of Lord O.nslow's resignation. Here is: his contribution :— "Ib was recenbly sbatedvthab Lord Onflow's resignation was due to a difference of opinion with the.'., Government of MLr ; Balla«cei? This .rtin^qßJ!. &'-■s<s cohtr^ dictedi and the cotibra^jction is natural. It wap on the face of it improbable that the balance of ptyver Bhould be disturbed by the power. of Ballance."., Ab the ' " two Macs" say,. "Ha, ha I I'll laugh tomorrow."

The Hon. W. Johnstone returns bo bhe colony ab bhe end of June with his wife and family, and the Hon. Randall Johnstone contemplates returning home io time for the next session.