ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 83, 9 April 1902, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

'From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON, March 7

Mr. Williamson has sent to the Agent-General for transmission to the Sir George Grey .Memorial Committee in Auckland photographs oi the sketch model of the statue of I bir George Grey and of the unfinished model of the colossal head of the same. The face seems to lack the vigour and determination that distinguished the great pro-consul at the time of life at which he is depicted.

The colonial Premiers are to be feted on a large scale at Coronation time. The British Empire League is making arrangements for their reception and entertainment in London, and for a tour to the leading provincial cities, and is inviting special conations to enable it to "foot the bill. \mong the donors of 50 guineas apiece are the Duke of Devonshire, Karl of-Derby, Lord Brassey, Lord Rothschild, Lord Strathcona, Sir Jas. Blyth, and the Hon. E. E. Belilios. The Cordwainers Company, through Mr. Chamberlain, have contributed £100. What with the Coronation itself, discussions on an Imperial Zollverein, post and telegraphs, colonial contributions to the navy, the organisation of-an Imperial' army, me a* contracts, remounts and other little trifles of Empire, and with provincial tours, the "Royal guests1' will have their hands very full indeed.

The A "rut-General for New Zealand has issued the following bal-.,nee-sheet of the Sir George Grey Memorial Fund, of which he was treasurer: — RECEIPTS. £ sd The Government of the Cape of Good Hope u-V' The Government of South AustrnJla ■•■•• m v v The Government of. New /.ealand 1W jThe Trades Unions of Sydney, ; New South Wales *» * * ! Other donations a-" " 'interest on bank deposit • blh o £CU 12 10 Is PAYMENTS. j £ s d lE. Onslow Ford, R.A., for mari ble bust 210 lj v 1 Professor H. yon Herkomer, | R.A.. for portrait , 340 0 0 ! Bracket for bust " " Frame, etc., for portrait o Tin [Photographs ' . I insurance j. i v. I Printing, stationery, postage, j et( ,. ;.. 2G s i j Clerical assistance, etc • ls 1?) 6 £611 12 10 The contributions, though small, enabled a bust of the statesman by the late Mr Onslow Ford to be placed in the crypt of St. PauPs, and a portrait by Professor yon Herkomer, R.A., to be hung in the National Portrait Gallery. In reply to the memoranda of the Agents-General on the subject of the meat contract the War Office has intimated that the official inspectors of. meat imported for soldiers' u.se in South Africa have been requested to furnish monthly reports that shall indicate the country of origin of all meat coming from under their notice as well as their opinions on the quality and condition thereof.

The War Office further intimates that the mileage rate for the carriage of meat in South Africa shail be stated when tenders are again invited, so us to assist tenderers in calculating the cost of distribution: and they promise that for future contracts the fullest time possible shall be given, so as to enable colonial firms to tender.

Under the existing circumstances in .South Africa the authorities consider, that it is impraeticabe to provide separate contracts for the supply of live and dead meat. Finally, the War Office promise that if their inspectors' monthly reports show a divergence from the undertaking given by Bergylsin respect of colonial meat an opportunity will be given to the Agent s(1 en era! to report as to the actual position in regard thereto, i.e., if the contractor gets meat from "foreign" sources his excuses for doing so wil] be subjected to the scrutiny and comment of the Agents-General.

The War Office has met the colonial representatives very fairly indeed in this matter; indeed, the authorities have granted pretty well everything the Agents-General asked for in the memorandum drawn up by them as a result of the interview which took place at the War Office on February 14th.