ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1895, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

- (fsom our special ' cokbesposdest).

London, February S,

THE AGENT-GENERAL. Sir Westby Perceval has received from the Government a selection of fine photographs of New Zealand scenery including a large panoramic view of the Tasman Glacier. These" pictures—all worthy specimens of New Zealand ekill in photography and beautifully framed in native woods —are at present cumbering bhe ground in the Agent-General's official sanctum, but they will nob-remain ab Vic.oria:sbreeb long. For bhe bime being Sir Wesbby is waiting for a happy inspiration as to how to make the best use of them. I suggested the NeW Zealand Courb ab bhe Imperial Institute, but the Agent-General did nob seem bo cotton to the idea of placing all of the pictures in the Somera Vineries permanently. They will, however, form a section of the greab Photographic Exhibibion to be held, there in May nexb. This affair is bo be bhe biggest and mosb comprehensive show of the kind ever held, and is one of the particularly happy inspirations which do come ab rare intervals to even executive councils.' - Unless grievously mismanged the Exhibition will attract more people to South Kensington than even the display of Prince George's wedding presents; How best to use' the photographs as an advertisement for New Zealand, pending -the opening of the Imperal Institute show, is a puzzle bhe Agent General tries to "get his daily visitors to solve. *.'• '' '-.. .'■''■ 7 7

Sir Westby, By the way, bas accepted the invitation, of tbe Executive Council of the Royal Colonial Institute to become a member of the governing body. He "had no wish to add to his engagements outside of tho Agent-Generalship, but could hardly refuse to serve. I believe he nourishes a, wicked hope thab bhe Radical party of the Royal Colonial Institute membership will refuse to uphold, the Council's selection at the next general meeting, and so leb him free. Personally, I think it would be "picking up money" to lay long odds on members approving unanimously Sir Westby _ appointment. The Agent-General assures me bhab tbe rumour that he intends to compete for the Thousand Guinea Prize offered •by the " Statist _ for the best practical essay on bhe fiscal side of Imperial Federation, i_ quite unfounded. He considers thab. a month's close study of the financial position of tbe integral portions of the Empire would be necessary before putting pen to paper. With this view I agree thoroughly, bub I am afraid few of bhe competitors for the "Statist" prize will prepare the groundwork for their essays ab such a cost. Sir Julius Vogel will, undoubbedly, enter the lists, and no one would be much, surprised if he carried off the prize. Finance must necessarily" be the fir_t consideration of essayists, and there are few men who can give Sir Julius poinbs on that head. SIR GEORGE GREY. To-day, Sir George received a long communication from Mr Baynes, Secretary of tho Leeds branch of the Imperial Federation League, asking him to deliver •an address ab the annual meeting next March. Mr Baynes points out that Lord Play fair Is Presidenb and Lord Saliebury vice-presi-dent, and bhab bhey hove promised to attend the annual meeting, as well-as Mr. Jackson, Under-Secretary for Ireland. A similar request haß been received from the Liberal Association ab Manchester. 1$ Sir George Grey is at all fit, he will accept both I invitations. ' '

Subject to the contingency of a dissolution, and bis beooming a candidate for tlia| Houi>o of G6ihn.bii-i':hl9'.tftll--, of retjifehing I to New Z^aiand about Juno rtes't. :'H6;ir| s^Lih fairly;grod''hea|th:,---tboog _^dj_^)v|li|ih-'6pggh. "'.''•'■ -"7 . ■''/-■'] Regarding thegreat subjeot of Impebiftl Foderation he is not .sanguine that much progress will be made by the prespnt methods adopted. So far, he says, "it has been treated too much as a subject for post-prandial sentiment, and no etle(j,tual eteps have been taken to make it a! live question among tho masses, without whose sympathy and support it mu_c continue to be, as Sir Henry Parkes once remarked, "in the air," and too far elevated above the ken of tho people. He is more hopef ,1 of Australian Federation as a foundation for the larger question. .'. .Speakingof tbeConference now being held at Hobart, the " Chroniple " says : " The federation question has boo long been classed among the pious opinions of Australian statesmen, for while the politicians on each eide have been busy discussing the sincerity of their opponents' motives, the debts of each colony have- mounted up for wanb of some simpler form of government."

With the thermometer standing at 16 degrees below freezing point in tho gas-lib Strand it was manifestly impoisible for Sir George Grey to fulfil his promise and attend the opening of Parliamenb. He remained instead by his cosy fire, being, I fancy, one of the few, truly warm men \osb then in London. As a Privy Councillor, Sir Georgo has the entree of the galleries of both Houses, and he expressed a plaintive regreb that he had been unable to see Lords' Spencer and Carringtbn in thair robes in the Lords. Of'course the Right Honorable gentleman has been interviewed regarding tho Federation resolutions of the colonial premiers, but his observations contain nothing now to.ypu. Sir Ceorge, in fact, merely repoated the substance of his speech onbhis subject last summer ab bbc Rational Liberal Club. - *X X

Sir George Grey is taking a warm inter* est in the movement to purchase Carlyle's houso at Chelsea as a national property. The Committee formed some months,ago have raised £1;000 of the £1,700 required, ."fchdat!. he suggestion of Sir George Grey an endeavour will be made by Dr. Garn^tt, Librarian of the British Museum, to: obtain ijirbher subscriptions to the fund in Aus--I*-W**l. P& • ft■■"-e .tino*>.?^ Ithab v ;£_iobo? will be' : needed altogether;: to •i&pfthe house in a proper abate of preserya: j Ma, provide for its maintenance, and;keep titppen for sighbeers. •?'•.!/ i, - ••'. 1M; .).. MANDENO JACKSON. ! ~'! %sMr\ Mandeno Jackson,: Xthe, Auckland tepor who came home with Madame-Belle Cole, has, despite two rather nasty attacks of cold, every reason- to* congratulate himself op bis transplantation. He did not expect to '• set the Thames a-fire," or to rival straight off-cither Edward Lloyd or De. Reske.- This is the least most tenors from your part of tbe world look forward to. Mr Jackson modestly planned to combine learning and earning. He is studying hard with Philip Newbury's maestro, fib bets, of Edgware Road, and sings ip public whenever good engagements- are forthcoming. These seem tolerably numerous. I told you of Mr Jackson's bril. liant debut at the Royal Alberb Hall, when he and your old friend Amy Sherwin carried off the honours of the evening.' It was Carter's Scotch concerb, and Mr Jack* eon sang "Mary of Argyle," and was recalled five times. He has also sung several times ab the Queeu's Hall with Madame Cole, Ella Rusßell. Henry Piorcy and Andrew Black, and on Tuesday evening replaced Philip Branscombo in a recitation of - "Pagliacci." Mr Carter has engaged Mr Jackson for his Irish concert at the Alberb Ball next month, and he will also sing during the next few weeks at Southsoa, Clifton, Lincoln and Manchester, as well as at the People's Palace and Victoria Hall. Mr Vert, the famous agent, has half promised to run Mr Jackson on his return from America. Whether he does or not, 1 think bhe young man will make a name here. He's modest, he's painstaking, everybody likes him, and he's gob " grit.'' - Mandeno Jackson tells me there is a young colonial soprano studying ab Paris

with the renowned Marches!,- who will do a reab things presently. She comes from Victoria and, her name is Ada Crossley. This, by.the-w'ay, doesn't happen to be the damsel of robust; physique and commonsense,: who, when' Marchesi in a transport of artistic wrath slapped her. face, roundly and soundly returned the compliment. , You heard .no doubo that Mr Clutsam, the colonial pianist, had sometime ago taken a number of lessons from Padereweki, but possibly may nob know- the Pole waß greatly -pleased with his pupil's possibili-, ties. Herr.GorlityfPaderewski'a agenb and Amy Sherwin _ spouse) says the Rosetti-red-haired.genius declared he-could make Clutsam play aa well as he did himself if only:he'd " put.hie back into ib." : Ondtt Paderewski's notion of " putting his back into work moans from 10 to'l4 hours' practice per diem. Madame Ristori is,, I regret to learn,dangerously ill and unlikely to recover. The veteran, Charles Wilmot, who ran the- Dunedin T.R. in the! days of Lady (Don, and worked in harness for a time with Hosk|ns and Capping is the subject of an interview in the " Era" this week;

NELSON .BROTHERS,

, The ordinary general meeting of Nelson Bros. (Ltd.) was held at' Nelson's Wharf, Lambeth, on Tuesday, but as the directors object to •■ chiels amang 'em takkin" notes" on such occasions, you must be satisfied with tho bald official report of the meeting. Apparently shareholders-never raise any questions which can be beprd by the tame pressman employed. He'; writes :" Mr E. Montague Nelson, who presidedj said the lasb balance -sheet ehowed a 'profit of - £6.239, while the _ present one showed a profit of' £35.012.The i volume of business :haud been well maintained, and the result' of the trading bad been satisf actor j" in face of the greatly reduced values of all colonial products. The main amount of the profits had arisen from tha London business, the revenue in New Zealand- being largely required to meet the losses incurred at Ha,.wke's Bay through the. disastrous floods, Sinco tho close of the financial'year more favourable advices had beep received from New Zealand.' The report was adopted. Two new directors were appointed, viz., Mr J. W.Margetts, of Warwick, and Mr M. C. Thompson, lately of Queensland. Reference" was aIBO made to the'defrosting'procesß discovered 'by the Chairman, --which' was likely to prove of great vatye in the eale of meat, I and the' Company were making special arrangements to meet the requirements of the trade. The Company-also intended to undertake the sale on commission of Australian and New Zealand dairy produce." * :. 7" ' ' "'" X' : S