ARRIVAL OF THE MARIPOSA WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 99, 26 April 1894, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE MARIPOSA WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL

(VIA SAN FRANCISCO).

ANGLO-COLONIAL BOTES.

(Iteea- Ota London Correspondent.)

London* March 24. THE AGENT-GENERAL.

Sin Wests? Perceval is a good deal ptazzled at the persistency with which the New Zealand papers keep on—despite disclaimers from thiseide—in announcing his impending retirement. The files by the last two mails contained a number of "rumours " and'" alleged rumours " which certainly Were not inspired from Home. I am now authorised to repeat emphatically that the Agent-General has not, and has never had, the smallest intention of returning to the colony till the term of his office expires. Whether he would except a renewal thereof is naturally not a point upon which he can be drawn. Some think not. These say that Sir Weetby has done more practical good work for the colony in two years than his predecessors did in ton, and spenttwice ifnot thrice the official salary. In return the Government have nob exactly overpowered him with recognition or assistance, and the colonial press has chiefly concerned itself in announcing his premature resignation and in handing his berth over to the political pet of the hour. Understand, please, I do not associate the Agent' General with these viewß. I merely say there ore many people who think it would be quite natural if he held them. My owii belief is thab Sir Wesbby Perceval likes his work SO well and has bo many friends now in England that, should family reasons permit, he would accept an extended term. Perhaps I need hardly add I think that would bo the besb thing Which could happen so far aa New Zealand's interests are concerned. There is one point (and ib is so important tbab I make no excuse for mentioning ib again) in connection With the Agent-General's office. Either the salary musb be doubled or else the holder musb have sufficienb private means. For a man who had bo pinch and scrape to follow Sir W. Perceval would be disastrous. It is just that sort of mistake which has prejudiced Her Majesty againsb putting the colonial representatives on a level with the diplomatic corps, and granting them the entree at drawing rooms. Not many seasons ago a sensation of a sorb was created by a certain Agent-General sending bis wife to Court in a "common or garden growler." The regulations—whether understood or definitely, laid down, I don'b know —'require a private carriage, and 'tis comme ilfautba have your equipage well turned out. This, not for snobbish reasons, bub out of compliment to the august lady upon whom you are calling. The Australian dame's parsimony raised a langb wibh the remark, " Whab strange people Australians must be to send Home persons of that stamp to represent them." New Zealand had always been singularly fortunate in the personalities of its representatives in bhia country. Sir Francis Dillon Bell's perfect manner and easy savoir faire marked him out for years as the leader and spokesman of the Australasian Agent-Generals on all important public occasions. The success which marked the old gentleman's appearances when he could be drawn out of his shell, covered indeed (even to pressmen -Whom he consistently snubbed) a multitude of minor deficiencies. Sir Wesbby Perceval and Sir Walter Buller are quite equal to holding their own and doing credib to the colony in any society, and Sir Edward Stafford is more Londoner than colonist. PASTOR THOMAS SPURGEON. Great ii the righb, and it shall prevail. Despite petty cabals of infinite meanness, Mi* Thomafl Spbrgeon was on Thursday night last triumphantly elected to the permanent pastorate of the Tabernacle. Tho question laid before the congregation waa, ** Shall Mt* Thomas Spprgeon become permanent pastor ?" and the ballot resulted as follows ;-" Yes," 2,027 votes ; " No," 649. Majority for Mr Spurgeon, 1,378. The aftaotlttcefi-enb was received with ringing cheers. Mr Thomas Spurgeon waS nob present. Despite whab Dr. Pierson and his Supporters may have thoughb, and the jadidlOufl modificabiobß which thab worthy man is said to have made in his creed in oMef to meet Tabernacle convictions, I &M a_Btt.ed ib is a facb he has never been eligible for the pastorate. Comparatively recently (not, leb us hope, affeef discovering the grapes were sour), Dr. Pieraoil announced that nothing would perßhade him to compete for the Pastorate with a son Of Chas. Haddoh Spurgeon. Ono can flirty poignantly regret bhab this admirable determination Was nob resolved on w*fre_l the Doctor's term for filling the pulpi- ceased. It Woilld have saved many month's—ib appears, quite unnecessary— bickering and ill-feeling atnongsb the btetbrea at the Tabernacle. Amongst outsiders tbe facb bhat Mr Thomas Spurgeon has been found in all respects worthy to follow in his father's footsteps gives unqualified satisfaction.

SIR GEORGE GREY.

' SS (after may false alarms) the Great Pfe-Cohsul ii) really on his way Home ab lttStf Nothing shorb of a cablegram in the infallible " Times" and bhe Agent-General's ct.hfirm_llon bhOreof would have made me believe it. Well* the news has fluttered AhglO'Gelohia c good deal. Sir Westby Perceval bestirred himself ab once bo remind bhe Marduls of Ripon, bhe Colonial Office permanent Heads, the Lord Mayor, the Agents-General for the Cape and for Sonth Ahstralin, the Colonial and Imperial Inatitttbes and all obhers whom ib may concern of bhis Grand Old Mah Of bhe Souths Imperial services. Already Lord Stamford and many Anglo-New Zealanders have been to Westminster Chambers to discuss w*hat cart be done to mark Sir George's ad vent fittingly and to give him a suitable and yeb (remembering hia age) not overpowering welcome. The Lord Mayor entertains the Agenfa-Geheral and the leadihg Col.Indiah. in London at the Mansion House on April -^rd* and it is hoped should Sir George have arrived and be Bbrong enough, he will be one of the guests of bhe evening of] that occasion. Had Sir George come over ten years ago, the Labour Patby would, bo doubt, have fussed over him and been glad to geb him bo go "on bhe stump " in their interest. Whether, however, their gratitude for pasb favours will survive tha discovery thab presenb ones ate out of the question remains to be seen. I have not much faith in them myself. Ib is whispered bhab the purpose of Sir GSOfge'S Visit 13 to become reconciled to Lady Grey, and thab very august personagei have interested themselves in healing the long-standing differences of the old couple.

MRS GORDON BAILLIE AGAIN.

"Oncd ft gaol-bird, always a gaol-bird" is an axiom that applies with peculiar force to the fair ccx. .We never wish 'goodbye 'to a prisoner who has undergone penal servitude," said a warder at Millbank Female Prison to me when I went over that, vanished penitentiary with Dr. Haines, of Auckland, some years ago, " they always come back again. Ib is safer to say au revoir." When Mrs Gordon Baillie, alias Annie Frost, finished her AS bib of time" in 1892, greab efforts were made by kind people to help her and

keep her on the straight track, bub all to no purpose. Mrs G. B. is a predatory Bohemian, and to such the path of virtue seems not merely thorny bub deadly dull. On Thursday, under the name of Mrs Frost, of Talbot Roadi Bayswater, our old friend appeared before Mr Plowden, charged with feloniously stealing pictures and frames value £10 17s. The dodge was the old one. Mrs Frost, Sumptuously attired, called in a brougham on a city picture-dealer and selected engravings to alleged amount. They were to be paid for on delivery. When, however, the man broughb them to Talbot Road the prisoner took them in, but did nob hand over the cash. She said she would call and see Mr Joyner (the dealer) about them. Unsuccessful abbempts having beon made to obtain bhe money, bhe matter was pub into the hands of the police. Sergeant Fuller, of bhe Detective Force, deposed to arresting Mrs Frosb at Edgware Road Sbabion on Wednesday evening. She then gracefully described the whole matber as a misapprehension and undertook to return the engravings ab once (subsequently discovered bo be pawned). Mr Plowden seemed inclined to believe in the misapprehension theory. The prisoner was so ladylike and welldressed. Sergb. Fuller (dryly): I musb ask for a remand. The prisoner is the notorious Mrs Gordon Baillie (sensation), and there are probably other cases against her. Collapse of Mrs Frost.

DEPARTURE OF MR HENRY REYNOLDS.

A large party of friends and well-wishers assembled at the Royal Albert Docks, on Thursday morning, to wish God speed to Mr Henry Keynolds (of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Company), who sailed for the colony, via Teneriffe. by the s.s. lonic. Amongst obhers I nobiced Mr Prabb, of the "Times," Mr Lowe (New Zealand Governmenb Experb in Dairy Produce), Mr and Mrs Chas. Rous-Marten, Mr and Mrs R. B. Brett, Mr and Mrs Steel, Mr Hunter, Mr and Mrs Walker, Mr C. 0. Montrose, and a representative of the New Zealand Press Agency. On his arrival, Mr Reynolds intends visiting the various dairy produce cenbres, and I must again counsel all interested in tho trade to mark his advice and follow it.

I may mettbion, by bho way, bhab a week or so ago Mr Reynolds senb bhe veteran G. S. ("Maori") Graham a presenb of some of bhe anchor-brand butter. Mr Graham acknowledged ib in a characteristic lebber, in bhe courso of which he remarked bhat^ he never dreamed whon he first saw the New Zealand wilderness thab the soil would product such magnificent dairy produce, still less thab he would eat ib in Sussex. PERSONAL. To bho v Engineer " of March lObh, Mr C. RousMarben conbributes an exhausbive description of Mr James Holdon's new locomobive engine for burning petroleum and coal (or other and less expensive combustibles such as slack, lignito, peat cinders and even sawdusb as fuel), aa fuel. The special locomotive Mr Rous - Marten inspected was bhe " Petrolea," and on ib he there took a run from London to Cambridge with the 4.32 fasb express from Liverpool-sbreeb. This experience he describes with full technical debails which should be of bhe übmost use and interest to experts. Mr Rous-Marten himself is now evidently recognised as an expert of experbs on locomotives. It must be so or he certainly wouldn't have boen invited to write an article of over four columns for the " Engineer." The Star Challenge Cup which Mr Henry Brett purposes presenting to the New Zea land Rifle Association in place of tbe one captured by 'Gunner Henderson, "A *" B'abtery N.Z.V., haa been on view ab the office of the iiew Zealand Press Agency this week, and been greatly admired. It consists of a vase of Grecian design, richly engraved, with cover surmounted by a beautifully modelled figure of a rifleman in Queen's plate, tho whole mounted on a pedestal of ebony. The cup was specially manufactured by Messrs Mappin Bros., ot 220 Regenb-street. Mr W. E. Walker, M.L.C.. and his wife lefb bhe P. and O. Himalaya ab Brindisi, wibh the intention of enjoying a protracted Coutinenbal bour before coming bo England. Hardly had bhey starbed, however, bhan Mr Walker received news bhab his mother, who lives in Edinburgh, was seriously ill. Of course, Mr and Mrs Walker at once left for bhe Scotch capital, and are now in attendance on the old lady, who is seriously ill.

MrC A. Johnston, M.L.C., and family, who also travelled by the Himalaya, lefb the Bhip ab Malta, where Mr Johnston has a son (a soldier) stabioned. Mr and Mrs Johnston and family will proceed to London shortly.

Mr Charles Harris thought he saw bho Hon. W. McCullough, of the Thames "Star,'' in town some weeks ago, bub this must be a mistake, as he bas never been aear bhe New Zealand Govornmenb offices at Westminster, where pilos of letters await him.

A rocenb arrival, who meb Mr A. G. Horbon, of bho New Zealand "Herald " in the city the other day, says he looks much stouter and better than when ho lefb Auckland. He remarked, however, bhab his docbors did nob particularly approve of his growing fatter, and that in certain intei*r_al complaints appearances are apt to be deceptive. Mr Horton seemed in fair spirits nevertheless, and announced that he was off noxb day to bho South Coast for a week.

The marriage of Captain Arthur Montague Mi-Murdo, D.5.0., youngest son of Gener**' r VV. McMurdo, G.C.8., and broth.*' __ bhe Messrs Charley and Harry McMurdo, so well-known atone bime in the province of Auckland, with Mrs Estcourb, of Newclose, Isle of Wight, was celebrated ab the British Consulate, Cairo, on tho 27th ulto., in greab style. Lord and Lady Cromer were present, and all the emarb English residents and visitors, and after bbc reception the bride and bridegroom received at an *' Ab Home " specially given by General Sir Horberb Kibchener, K.C.M.G., in bheir honour. The Very Rev. Archdeacon Butcher tied bhe knob, Rogers Pasha played the organ, and H. E. Mohammed Pasba Cherif supplied the bride's bouquet, and tho Sudai lenb his carriage. Amongst the names of bhe guests I notice those of Mr Colbock and Miss Gorst, both of whom I think you know.

Bishop Selwyn presides on Tuesday Week aba meebing of clergy and laiby bo be held ab Church House " to greeb the Rev. Cecil Wilson, M.A.," his successor to tho episcopate of Melanesia. Ab presenb the dato of Mr Wilson's departure for his new charge seems rather uncertain. His name appeared in one of the passenger lists as booked per Austral, bub has since disappeared from that vessel's forward bookings. The inaugural dinner of bhe newlyfounded London Australasian Club bakes place ab Westminster Palace Hotel next Tuesday evening. Sir Saul Samuel will be in the chair, and all bhe remaining AgentGeneral have signified bheir intention to grace bhe occasion.

Tho paper which Mr C. O. Monbroso wrote for the "Westminster Gazette" on the first election under female franchise in New Zealand, attracted the abbenbion of Mrs Fawcetb (Millicenb Garrett Fawcebt), the talented leader of the women's rights movement in England, the widow of Professor Fawcetb, M.P., and mother of bhe lady senior wrangler. Sho invited Mr Montrose to call upon her at 2, Gowor-streefc, and he spent a delightful afternoon there on Sunday week, meebing Mrs Washington JEves, of the American Legation, the Misses Garrett, and other interesting people. I gather the artful Antipodean drew a fascinating picture ot* enfranchised and emancipated women (wibh a big W) in New Zealand which delighted his listeners. Ultimately, Mrs Fawcetb decided this progressionist movement ab bhe other end of the world ought

to be confided in debail to the League, and, before ho left the House, Mr Montrose found himself pledged to read a paper after Eastor to bhem. " You shall have.a good audience, I promise," said Mrs Fawcebb. The private business connected with the largo fortune lefb by his father, which brought Mr Montrose to England, is proving a good deal more complicated thah he expected, and may keep him here some months.

Mr W. J. Payne, who has been in England for aboub nine months, and has been staying principally ab Brighton, leaves for Auckland by tbo Rimutaka on the 12bb prox. Mr H. B. M. Wabson has decided bo give up journalism and devobe himself enbirely to literature. He finds it absolutely necessary to choose between one and the obher, and he has now so many commissions for stories on hand that, even from a sordid commercial standpoint, literature seems the wiser as well as the nobler path. Mr Cusb is not, however, likely to leb his chief Jiaut'enanb leave the "Pall Mall Gazette" wibhoub a sbruggle.

Mr John Banbury, of Auckland, was amongsb the callers ab the New Zealand Government Office this week. He has been doing bhe colony yeoman's service in Oxfordshire and other agricultural centres, talkamongsb farmers with means, and drawing attention to all the good things "Brighber Britain" offers such. Mr Banbury is now ab Burford.

Sir Phillip Cunliffe Owen, X.C.8., K.C.M.G., CLE., died suddenly of beart. dißeaee, ab Lowestoft, yesterday. He had been ill some bime, bub seemed rather better when tho end camo. Sir Philip was tho greatest " exhibition expert " of the ago. He commenced to be associated with these mammoth dhows in 1855, and managed British Courts in Paris, Vienna,etc.,etc., hie final achievement being bhe cycle of South Kensington displays which commenced wibh the Fisheries in 18S3 and endod wibh the Colindies in 1886. Oub of these the Imperial Institute sprang. Sir Philip was the king of tho influential band ill-naturedly known as " the 8. K. Ring" and ruled ib in its palmiest years. Though ho had many enemies they could never sheeb home anything unpleasanb to him_ Undoubbedly, he made the most of his egitimate opportunities but he did .nob amass wealth as was supposed. Sir Philip married a German lady and leaves a large family of grown-up sons and daughters.