ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.
(From Our Speeiai Correspondent.)
LONDON, November 13
Mr. C. Adamson writes from Auckland to the "Scotsman" urging the overcrowded denizens of the English cities to emigrate to a colony where they can have elbow-room, fresh air and sunny skies. All* very well, but unless the emigrant has a trade, or an aptitude for farming, he will be no better on' in Xew Zealand than he is at Home.
Sonic people have a round-about way of getting information. A man in Xew Zealand has written to the Agent-Gene-ral in London enquiring as to the best means of getting from New Zealand to Uganda. The fatal eruption of Waimangu continues to atract attention in the public press. Last week's "Sphere" publishes an article on the Xew Zealand geysers, with several photos of Waimangu in action.
The news that the special Parliamentary Committee appointed to consider Mr. Seddon's meat scheme had reported adversely, caused no surprise in this country amongst those acquainted with the trade. It is recognised that the conditions have altered materially since the scheme was first mooted some eighteen months ago. At that time there was a surplus of New Zealand meat to be gox, rid of. but at the present time there is really a shortage of meat. Although iikely to prove abortive, Mr Seddon's scheme has done good indirectly by giving an excellent advertisement to New Zealand frozen mutton.
Lady correspondents of Home papers keep Xew Zealand well to the fore. The
"Manchester Guardian" published the other day a well-written article describing a woman's day on a bush farm, and last week the Southport local paper published a glowing, but not exaggerated account of Xew Zealand's scenic eharme, written by Miss Victoria Irving, a Southport lady, who had been visiting Auckland and the Hot Lakes.
It is officially announced that on being relieved by ships sent out from England, the cruisers Mildura, Tauranga and Wallaroo will be paid off and become drill ships oi the Australian naval reserve.
When the National Antarctic Expedition set out on its perilous cruise in South Polar seas, members of the expedition laid stress on the fact that its objects were mainly scientific. The attainment of the South Pole, it was staved, was of small consequence compared with the scientiiie records and specimens which the cruise might be expected to produce. Not so, however, with Commander Peary's forthcoming dash for the North Pole. The American explorer makes no secret of the fact that the niiiin object, of his journey next year will be to reach the northernmost point of the globe. "To reach the Pole," he. told the Royal (-ieograpnical Society on Tuesday nignt, "was an object worthy of the utmost eilort. Its attainment would be the sign of man's final conquest of the. globe." But perhaps it :s not fair to compare the North Pole with the South, for, as a distinguished man once remarked, between the two there's all the difference in the world!
Mr. A. H. Chaytor, brother of Major D'Aicy Chaytor, of Marlborough, New Zealand, writes to "The Field," stating that his brother recently caught a trout of oSlbs, which was sent to the Government Tourist Department, to be stuffe-.l ior exhibition. The editor of "The Field,"' in a footnote, expresses a desir.; to have authentic measurements and description of this "record" trout from sonic scientific New Zealand source.
The Royal Colonial Institute opened iis session last Tuesday evening, when Major Ronald Ross, professor of tropical medicine at Liverpool University, read a paper on "Malaria in India and the Colonies." The chairman, Sir Goldie, referring to Mr. Chamberlain's retirement, observed that "whether the right, hon. gentleman succeeded or failed in his fiscal crusade would not affect the facts that he. was the first Colonial Secretary to grasp the enormous opportunities afforded by the birth and growth of the Imperial sentiment during Ihi last twenty years of the nineteenth century, thathc was the first Colonial Secretary to fan that spirit into flame, an J that he. as a business man, was the first Colonial Secretary to transmute the Colonial Office from a Sleepy Hollow of Rip Van Winkle's into the active and valuable machine it now was for the maintenance and consolidation of tha Empire."
With that confident air which characterises some of the most inaccurate statements of the London Press, the
"Pall Mall gazette" announces that '■extensive changes are in contemplation as regards the New Zealand AgentGeneral's Department. It is intended to remove the office of Mr Cameron, the Produce Commissioner, from Vic-toria-street to the city, and to appoint a first-class business man to assist Mr Cameron- Experts in butter, cheese and frozen juoat are. to be added to the staff." The Agent-General informs mc that no such changes are contemplated at present- Nor does it seem desirable that Mr Cameron's office should be separated from the Agency-General. It would be very inconvenient, and it is difficult to see where the compensating advantage, would lie in establishing a second office in the city. It is not in the heart of London that New Zealand produce requires to be ''pushed;" it is in the provinces, and that can be done quite as well from Victoria-street as from the city.
The supporters of the Melanesian Mission held their annual meeting last Tuesday at the Church House, Westminster- under the presidency of the Bishop of St. Albans. In his opening address Dr. Jacob said the first note of the meeting should be one of thankfulness and gratitude for what had been 'done in the past. The ship Southern Cross was now doing its work in Melanesia, and in place of a small steamer doing about four knots an hour, the Mission had now a ship capable of doing ten knots an hour. For the building of the ship a sum of not less than £22,000 had been raised. In addition the general fund had increased, and last year the income was the largest on record. It should, however, be remembered that increased responsibilities rested on people at home- Instead of £2000. which was required to support the aid steamer, at least £4000 was needeu to keep up the new ship. ■ Among the
needs cf the future were a fund whereby the new ship might be replacedwheu a fresh vessel was needed and the larger staff that would be required by the advance of the Mission work- Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, whose knowledge of the work began in ISCB, gave an interesting account of the progress of the mission, and the organising secretary having spoken of the urgent need for more male workers, the proceedings concluded with the usual Benediction.
The London '"Standard," commenting on the passing of the Naval Agreement Bill by the New Zealand Parliament, says th« right thing was done in the best possible way. Referring to Mr Seddon's speech 'in introducing the bill, the "Standard" observes: —"We are. happily, not concerned with Mr Seddon in his character of economist, but only with the success of his efforts to bring New Zealand into co-operation for the maintenance of the Australasian Squadron. There can be no question that he is Tight on this point, and it is pleasant to find him predicting with confidence that 'if encouragement was given the time was not far distant when the interest on the first cost of a first-class line-of-battle ship, together witli the cost of its maintenance, would be defrayed by the colony.' Mr Seddon's predictions come with the authority due to the fact that he has, in a peculiar degree, the power to secure their fulfilment in New Zealand. Public opinion is clearly with him, as is shown by the unanimity of the vote foT the bill, and the thorough-going support given to it by the Opposition. We have, therefore, every right to take it for srranted that the present grant of £40.000 is only a beginning. ... A
larger development may be looked for in the future."
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)
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1,326ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)
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