MAIL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 120, 22 May 1900, Page 5

MAIL NEWS.

(VIA BRINDISI.j

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON, Good Friday, 1900.

The "ties that bind, etc.," were in sad clanger at the Colonial Institute on Tuesday evening, where some of Sir John Colcomb's proposals for Imperial defence set Messrs Iter ton and Dickson simply snorting-. Mr. Barton took no sort of trouble to conceal his views, and promptly threw overboard sentiment and all the affectionate assurances usually kept in stock for such occasions. For weeks past no public speech has been complete without a. glowing reference to the "splendid loyalty of the colonies in sending troops to South Africa." Mow,, however, we learnt that the colonies didn't consider us particularly. They wanted to help their brother colonists in South Africa and perhaps have a little "flutter" themselves. If, indeed, there had beeh the smallest indication on the part of the. Old Country -<*f obliging the colonies to join issue In the war not a foot would anybody have stirred. The colonies were loyal, but they were touchy and must not be interfered with. If, for example, the Commonwealth Bill were not passed intact there would presently be royal "ructions," as we. should see.

I need scarcely add Mr. Barton did not use precisely this language, but if you compare what he did say with it, you'll see it was much the same thing, clothed in Parliamentary decency. Evidently be definitely' meant (us he frankly said) to give warning and to make if, clear the situation (re the Commonwealth Bill) was not to be played with.

I understand that counsel's opinion is in favour of an appeal from the Magistrate's decision at Blackpool dismissing the case against Wiggins, a local butcher, for selling Argentine mutton as New Zealand. The appeal Is therefore proceeding, a, case will be stated, and in due course will be heard by the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, which Mr Cameron feels pretty confident will reverse the Magistrates' decision.

A good report of the case against Wiggins is appearing- in the Meat Trades Journal, which circulates among all the butchers and meat traders throughout the United Kingdom. This wide publication of the proceedings should convince all meat merchants of the determination of the New Zealand Government to stamp out the practice of palming off upon the customer inferior mutton instead of succulent New Zealand.

The "Gazette" of Tuesday last announces that Lieutenant T. L. Wood, of the New Zealand Local Military Forces, has been promoted to a second lieutenancy in the King's (Liverpool Regiment), Lieutenant Holclerness to be second lieutenant in the Essex Regiment, and Lieutenant Russell to be second lieutenant in the Northamptonshire Regiment.

The Karl of Stamford who has not so far fulfilled Sir George Grey's prediction and become a prominent politician, continues a bulwark of the more thorough going evangelicals, and is a favourite preacher in aid of all missionary enterprises. He was turned on the other day at a noon service at St. Ethelburgas, in the city, in aid of the Sierra Leone missions, and attracted a large congregation. His Lordship preached a simple business-like sermon, and I should fancy the collection was extra special.

Mr Henniker Heaton's son, Lieutenant Beaton, belongs to the Oxfordshire Yeomanry, which took part in the satisfactory little skirmish at Boshof the other day. Mr Heaton was much concerned for his son's safety until the numbers were up.

The "Daily Chronicle," commenting on the seizure of "The United Irishman" newspaper containing a seditious article entitled "The Famine Queen," by Miss Maud Gonne, says:— "This is not the first time that a newspaper called the "United Irishman" has been suppressed in Dublin by tho Castle authorities. In the stormy days of 184-8 a volcanic journal of that name was conducted for a brief period by John Mitchel, who addressed a series of letters, couched in the most violent, language, to the then Viceroy, the Earl of Clarendon. Miss Maud Gonne, it is safe to predict, will not be transported to Tasmania in a convict ship, as Mitchel was. His Mail Journal' contains some capital descriptions of Tasmanian scenery. His nephew is now Attorney-General of the neighbouring colony of Victoria."

Sir Charles Dilke is quite of* a mind with Lord Rosebery and Mr Chamberlain anent Imperial Federation, and considers it would be unwise to force a scheme of any sort at present. "When" he told an interviewer, "Mr Chamberlain pointed out that the Colonies had made no proposal for such representation, he made the only reply possible. Mr Hedderwick's motion was a dangerous one, as anyone understanding the feeling in Australia would see. The Colonies have not all the same view of the matter. We have yet to learn that there is a united feeling on the question in the Australian Commonwealth. Hitherto New Sotith Wales and Queensland have held one set of views, while Victoria and Tat-manlia (have held another. Victoria and Tasmania are more like Canada in their feeling, while New South Wales and Queensland favour more the old Australian, democratic feeling of the early clays of self-government. This question of Imperial Federation must be spoken of with great reserve, as we do not know what the common feeling in the Colonies may be."

THE HIBERNO-COLONIAL BABY,

The latest arrival in the York family appears likely to have a heavy burden to carry through life in the shape of a job lot of. assorted names. As his earthly debut coincided with the Queen's visit to Ireland and the Imperialistic epoch, he is to be named Patrick for certain, and it is rumoured that he is also to be christened with a series of names representative of the various colonial groups. The "Daily Chronicle" gives the following example of the way in which the idea C-ould be worked out:—"Australia might be represented by Yarrumbuncei or Kroajingalong; while New Zealand could no doubt be satisfied with Tioniwhaicrongomai or Wiremu-he-kaurangi. Canada could send over a name in the most authoritative Indian

for the "Great White Biter of the Clouds"; while South Africa might be represented by Umslopogaas. Singapore and Hong Kong could be settled by the adoption of Ah Sin, Ho Ivai, or Chai Ak. So far, then, we should have for the newcomer's name AlbertVictor Chi-whokkee-Cherokee-ha-ha (Great White Cloud Biter) Yarrumbiingel Tioniwhaiorongomai Umslopogaas Ho Ivai, with the West and East Indies to come in at convenient points."

ARGENTINE OK AUSTRALASIA?

The "Financier," in dealing with Australian trade affairs, says: —"it would be well it all persons engaged in the Australian frozen meat, trade could be induced to prepare and select cargoes with the same care as is done ;in the Argentine, for it is notorious iin London that Australian and New i Zealand meat is not so regularly good as that from South America, and that large lossies were incurred in those branches of the trade last year owing to good and bad carcases being mixed in. the same cargo. As Australia has to compete at a disadvantage with Argentina owing to its greater distance from 6ur shores, the quality oi Australian meat ought, if possible, to be better, as, were it able to acquire a high reputation of quality and reliability it might fetch a price that would make up for the extra expense incurred." BAGS AND BRANDS, On Wednesday last I paid a visit to Smithfield market to see some Sydney sheep which had come over protected by a new wrapper known as Furlonge's Patent. This new style of carcase envelope consists of a fairly stout, sheeting lined with paper, which has apparently been treated so to render lit more or less waterproof. The salesi men at the market were not particularly impressed -by the new wrapper, which, though it must be considerably .more expensive than the old style of | muslin protection, does not so far as I can judge serve any particular purpose, except that it may prevent carcases getting dirty in their travels ! after they leave the ship's cold room. I A fairly stout wrapper, say, about the same style as Mr Eurlonge's makers j used, without the paper is all that is ! necessary to prevent damage by dirt iin the ordinary course. That, at any- ! rate, seems to be the opinion of the j market salesmen, and their views upon j subjects of this kind are worth more than that of the casual Government |"expert" who may spend vsix months in the study of the meat trade at Home. »

A point upon which something may be said occurs to me in connection with wrappers. In the course of exchanging views with sundry salesmen this morning I learned that some Antipodean exporters are very heavy handed with the ink or dye with which they brand their wrappers. Their liberality has no ill effect so long as the carcases remain .hard frozen, but when thawing process beginsi'the accumulation of moisture on the sheep causes the ink in the clinging sheets to run and disfigure the carcases. A good many Sydney lambs and New Zealand sheep have been spoiled tor shop show through this mania, for branding clearly. It is quite unnecessary to use so much ink or dye m branding. You don't want marks you can see at a mile but only brands legible to the casual passer by who may stop to look at- you wares, or easily discernible to those who may be sorting- a ship's cargo of cold meat.