MAIL SUMMARY FOR Europe and America.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1902, Page 6

MAIL SUMMARY FOR Europe and America.

OUR HOME LETTER

AUCKLAND, January 31, 1903,

New Zealand'sEighthContingent for, South Africa is on the eve of departure from our shores. It will bear comparison favourably with preceding contingents from this colony, and will, we have no doubt, do us credit. On January 20 the Premier received

intimation from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that His Majesty's Government -would be glad to have another 1000 men raised in New Zealand on the same terms as the Eighth. The Premier consulted members of Parliament by telegraph and received replies almost unanimously approving of the proposal. He therefore cabled to the Imperial Government that another contingent would be raised. Kecruiting will be started out of the 3000 men who lately applied for enlistment over and above the 1000 required for the Eighth Contingent, and a larger proportion will be allotted to country districts than in the former case. Probably nowhere throughout His Majesty's dominions has more intense indignation been felt and expressed on account of the slanderous attacks recently made upon the British army in South Africa than in New Zealand. Emphatic protests have been made By the Government and by every public body throughout the length and breadth of the colony. A very strong feeling prevails that these attacks should be resented in some emphatic way, and most of the resolutions passed on the subject have indicated retaliation in the shape of a boycott on German goods. It has been noticed with considerable satisfaction that the action taken in Great Britain in reply to these attacks has had the effect of very considerably modifying the tone of the German press in discussing the conduct of the war in South Africa. At an indignation meeting held in Wellington tho Premier emphasised the necessity of bringing the war iri South Africa to a conclusion, and declared that if more men w Tere wanted at the front after the Eighth Contingent more would be forthcoming from New Zealand. Whatever number of men was required tq help to bring the campaign to a conclusion they should go. In one "way, regrettable though they were, the slanders of the German press were a blessing in disguise, for they had brought home to the world the homogeneous nature of the British Empire, and the determination of the peoplq to uphold the honour of the country and flag.

The cabled announcement that the War Office had accepted a tender for the supply of meat to the .army in South Africa, including Argentine meat, has aroused some 'irritation here, and the Premier has made strong representations to the Home authorities on the subject. Speaking at a luncheon given on the troopship Surrey prior to the departure of the Eighth Contingent, Mr. Seddon said he had read with amazement in the newspaper that the meat contract had .gone to the Argentine. That in itself was hard to bear, but when it was said that Australia and New Zealand were unable to supply the quantity of meat required he declared that this was a gross insult, and was absolutely untrue. The various Chambers of Commerce have passed resolutions on the subject, with a view to bringing under ' notice of the War Office the capabilities of this country in supplying the South African market, to cultivate which the Government is about to subsidise a regular line of steamers.

Speaking at a Liberal gathering1 recently the Premier declared that it was obvious that someone had blundered in regard to the acceptance of the Argentine meat contracts, and he had only acted rightly in drawing pointed attention to it. If the press cables were accurate, tenders had been called under certain conditions, and totally opposite conditions had been accepted. He went on to say that the Government were prepared to give the people of the Mother Country and British manufacturers - preferential tariff, and were also prepared to give rebate n on British manufactured goods carried in British ships.

The prosperity of New Zealand continues to give cause for satisfaction to ourselves, and to elicit high praise from visitors, the latest testimony being that from the Hon. Mr. Wise, Attorney-General for New South Wales. After a lengthy stay in this colony, studying its labour legislation and resources, Mr. Wise said: "He did not see how any visitor, to New Zealand could but be impressed at the very great prosperity and extraordinary fertility of the country, enormous advantages which certainly appeared to have been made the most of." In another column we reproduce a speech by Sir Joseph Ward, showing that the finance of the colony is in a sound condition, and that the outlook for the future is a bright one.

The, very ntrong feeling which exists in Auckland on the subject of the German slanders on the British Army and the war methods of the Imperial Government found a vent on January 23rd at +he City Council meeting, which was attended by a, crowded gathering of citizens. Jn the motion of the Mayor (Mr. Kidd) a resolution was unanimously carried and enthusiastically endorsed by the public present, indignantly resenting the slanderous attacks made on the honour of the British Empire, and on the Imperial and Colonial troops engaged in South Africa, and thanking Mr. Chamberlain for his prompt reply to the attacks. The scene when the resolution was carried was one of loyal enthusiasm. The whole gathering rose and cheered with unbounded heartiness, sang " God Save the King," and gave loud cheers for the King, Mr. Chamberlain, the Premier, , and the Mayor. His Worship was a :thorised by the Council to cable the resolution to the Sec-

retary of State for the Colonies. Several councillors thought the Mayor should call a public meeting on the subject, but Mr. Kidd pointed out that time was the essence of the matter, and that it would not be advisable to call another meeting and send another cable to Mr. Chamberlain. He had not prior to this meeting been asked to convene a public meeting, and he considered what had been done that evening would verywell express the sentiments of" the people of Auckland on the subject.

Some time ago Lord Eanfurly was asked by the Government to consent to serve a second period of office as Governor. His Excellency agreed to accept an extension of his term of office by one year, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies hafi signified His Majesty's approval. The commission under the extended period will expire in April, 1904.

The famous Ariadne case was disposed of at the sitting of the Supreme Court in Christchurch just concluded, and resulted in the discharge of Kerry, against whom the jury re. turned a verdict of not guilty, while Mumford was sentenced to imprisonment for four years. The charge against Freke was dismissed at an early stage of the proceedings, it having been proved that a document forming the only evidence against him had been tampered with so as to add certain incriminating words not appearing in the original.

Auckland's 62nd birthd.ay was celebrated by a public holiday on Wednesday. The day was fine, and passed off most pleasantly. The principal amusements were the annual regatta (in which the Union Company's steamer Taviuni was flagship) and races at Takapuna. ,

The first month of the year is usually a quiet one as far as business in mining shares is concerned, and January, 1902, has not been an exception to this rule. Practically, the only de^ mand was for shares in companies carrying on operations in the Ohinemuri County, and the prices offered did not lead to much business. Waihj shares eased a little in price during the month, the latest sales being at £6, -with buyers left at £5 18/6, and sellers quoted at £6 3/G. Accounts from the mine am highly satisfactory, as ore averaging over £3 per ton is now being broken out-at the low level for a width oi one hundred feet, and other reefs are looking as well as ever. . During 19.01 this mine produced bullion worth £454,386, and paid £164,687 3/4 in dividends, making the total returnee: to shareholders amount to £795,651. Naturally, there are steady buyers of shares in mines situated in close proximity to the Waihi, but generally speaking the offers were not accepted. Waitekauri shares had a little more attention this month, Crowns and Talismans were in steady demand, but Coromandel and Thames stocks were neglected. Now that tho holidays are over no doubt business will be more settled. ,

Speaking at Wellington regarding the Auckland g-oldfields, the Hon. J. McGowan,. Minister for Mines, gave voice to the steadily growing impression about the good future prospects of the Waiomo district, where the Monowai Company has carried on operations for the Jast few years. After referring to the fact that some of the English companies being short of capital had affected the labour market, especially at Coromandel, Mr MeGowan said boring operations on the Thames foreshore had not so far proved the success lie would have liked, but at Waiomo a large area of mining ground existed, which was likely to be heard of in a reasonable time. Mr McGowan said he had visited the ground and was struck with the extent of the reef. In the Monowai mine the manager was faking out the full width of the reef, thirty feet, and getting a highly mineralised refractory ore. The ore was being concentrated, and the concentrates sol to a company at Dapto, in New South Wales. They contain gold, silver, copper, iron, etc. Outside of the Waihi district the reef is one of the most permanent Mr McGowan has seen. At the northern end of the peninsula Air McGowan stated that very good granite is being worked by local capital. If .the proposed Jubilee Exhibition at Coromandel is ; held an obelisk of the granite will probably be one of the exhibits.

Apparently there is little doubt now that the amalgamation of the Waihi and Union Waihi properties will be accomplished, as the meeting of shareholders in the W'aihi Company held this week in London agreed to tmite the holdings of the two companies. Roughly speaking, the Waihi Company will give shares at present market rates worth about £14,500 for the Union Waihi Company's . property, which includes the Silverton battery of 40 stampers. This will give the Waihi Company a total crushing capacity at Waikino and Waihi of 330 stampers.

The Premier received by tht 'Frisco mail a letter and cheque for £260, being the' refund of the money paid for the special article on New Zealand in the Australasian edition of the "Review of Reviews." It is not decided to what purpose the money will be devoted.

Major-General Babington arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Jan. 22. He was received by the Premier, and attended by a guard of honour, while a salute was fired from the shore battery.

Major-General Babington, speaking in reply to the toast of the defence force of the Empire at the Surrey luncheon, said he could speak from personal experience of the work of the New Zealanders in South Africa. As they knew, he had had the honour —he could truthfully say, the honour —to have under him the Fourth Contingent of New Zealanders for six months, and during that time, and during the time he had been in South Africa, he had never heard any words but those of praise for the New Zealanders of that contingent, and of any other contingent from this colony. (Applause.) As to the colonial forces taking their position alongside the regular army, he would only say that when it was heard that fresh contingents of New Zealanders were coming to South Africa, everyone who knew anything at all about the war applied for them. (Hear, hear.) He had had no idea at that time of coming to New Zealand, but he knew what the New Zealanders were, and when the Fourth. Contingent was dis-

persed he parted from the men with as great regret as he had ever felt in parting from men who had served him well. (Applause.) He would devote the best of his time and his ability, such as it was, to the defence forces of New Zealand, and he would not stop a day longer in the colony if he felt that he could do no good in it.

At the annual' conference of the Primitive Methodist Church of New Zealand, which closed on January 14, it was resolved, by 45 votes to 22, "That this conference heartily reciprocates the kindly spirit of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of New Zealand in again inviting us to consider the question of union. We do not see our way to accept the present basis, as no concessions are offered, and the distinctive principles of our Church are sacrificed, but we reaffirm our willingness to consider union with a view to the formation of a Methodist Church for New Zealand, in the direction of the basis drawn up by a joint committee of the four Methodist churches in the colony in 1884; and that inasmuch as this question has not been formally brought before the notice of our officials, we submit the question and our findings thereupon to the March quarterly meetings for approval or otherwise; and, further, that a committee of six be appointed by this conference to prepare a statement to be submitted to the quarterly meetings."