ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 30, 4 February 1905, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, December 23,

Lord Glasgow, presiding at the annual dinner of the Edinburgh Ayrshire Club last Saturday, launched out into a criticism of what he described as "the policy of Australia and New Zealand in restricting immigration." Why, he demanded, had they not filled their country with their own countrymen? Their idea was Australia for Australians and New Zealand for New Zealanders. He hoped they would think better of their policy, and before it was too late encourage immigration, which would relieve this country and give them more people to pay their taxes. Despite the fact that he is an ex-Governor of New Zealand Lord Glasgow seems to imagine that the immigration policies of that colony and Australia are identical. In any case, it is regTettable that a man of his position should spread so erroneous an impression of the New Zealanders. and give the Government no credit for the •efforts it is making, in the way of reduced passages and otherwise,* to encourage immigration. In consequence of complaints from the Austrian settlers in New Zealand regarding various alleged grievances, the Austrian warship Panther is to leave Pola on New Year's Day for the 'colony, and Captain the Chevalier yon lllohnel, the commander of the vessel ! has been instructed to inquire into the condition of the Emperor Francis Joseph's subjects in New Zealand- The Captain was received in audience by the Emperor this week. On his way out he will visit the Negus of Abyssinia, and convey to that potentate various presents from the Austrian Emperor. Apropos of the "rollicking choruses" and the cheering which characterised the close of the last session of the New Zealand Parliament, the "Western Daily Press," of Bristol, has this to say:— "The British Colonial has certainly none of the 'starch' which 'he views with displeasure in English officials, including officers and others. The colonial idea of dignity is not that of the average Englishman. The colonist has not been brought up in an atmosphere impregna ted with reverence for authority and fondness for ceremony. In England such a scene as that reported from New Zealand would mean a really seri ous degradation of manners; an Englishman would no more think of behaving in such a way in the House of Commons than of creating a disturbance in a church or in a court of law. But the New Zealander sees no harm and means none. This report is sufficient, by itself, to account for the difficulties of colonial volunteers in getting on with some British officers." The Naval Victoria Cross awarded to leading-seaman William Odgers, of H.M.s. Niger, on March 28, 1860, and the New Zealand medal awarded to Odgers bearing scarce dates 18G0-1861, were soM by auction in London this week. Both decorations, which are in fine condition are extremely rare. Since the institution of the Victoria Cross "under 50 have been awarded to the Navy." The lot realised £95. The results of the annual schools of the Empire shooiing match were ma.de known this week. The team from the Charterhouse won the match, last year's winners (Brisbane Grammar School) finishing seventh. The number of schools which entered were: Great Britain 44, Australia 14, Natal 18, giving a total of 76, as against 69 of last year. Now Zealand were unable to take part, owing to their schools being armed with an inferior rifle, the .310 Martini-Henri miniature rifle. Canada also could not enter, owing to very few of their schools having done any ride practice. The match was won by Charterhouse with an excellent score of 490; Eastbourne was second with a score of 483; MarlboTough third with 470; Clifton fourth with 475. The general conditions of this match were: (1) Open to one team of eight pupils from each of such schools as have a bona fide volunteer corps (either constituting an enrolled corps by itself or also a company or companies attached to some enrolled eorupe) or volunteer cadet corps, possessing a minimum strength of 25 files per company that is annually inspected and reported on to the military authorities; (2) targets and scoring as for the Ashburton Shield at Bisley; (3) distances 200 and 500 yards; (4) seven rounds at each distance; one sighting shot compulsory at such distance; (5) rifles or carbines of Government pattern. Shareholders will not have much to complain of in the annual report of the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company for the twelve months ended 31st October. The statement of accounts, issued on Saturday, shows that the net revenue amounted to £33,100, as compared with £35,200, a level at which it has kept for some years now. The dividend is again 7 per cent., and £12,000 is carried to reserve, as against £ 14,500. The reserve is thus raised to £202,000, which is over two-thirds of the subscribed capital. Interests in New Zealand remain small, and the bulk of the revenue—over 90 per cent.—continues to come from South America. The uncalled £4 on the £5 shares having been extinguished, in accordance with the decision of the proprietors, the shares are now £ 1 fully paid, and have been rendered much more marketable by the removal of the liability. LONDON, December 30. The mail which arrived from New Zealand last Saturday brought news of the new regulations concerning the sale of patent medicines in New Zealand. The effect has been immediate and unmistakable. One after another the proprietors of the leading patent medicines have instructed their agents to withdraw all New Zealand advertisements after the expiry of the period of grace. Thwy deelisn ah*-->\v*j&jr to «w»-

pry with a regulation which requires that tie exact proportion of the ingredients used in their patent medicines should d* published on the wrapper. To do this, they say, would be to destroy toe value ol their patent rights by publishing their secrets through the world. They prefer to lose their New Zealand . trade rather than disclose the formulae on which their success depends. I was shown to-day a letter from one of the leading pill manufacturers in England, whose name is a household word from China to Peru, and whoae business is reputed to be worth at least £80,000 a year in profits. He pointed out in bis letter that to publish the formula upon which his business had been built up would be a ruinous proceeding, for it would instantly be copied all over the world, and the value of his patent would vanish. Failing a relaxation of the stringency of this new regulation, he finds it will actually pay him to wind up his New Zealand business. All the other letters I have seen are to the same effect. It is perfectly certain that if the new regulations are enforced a large number of valuable household remedies will be excluded from the colony and thousands of pounds' worth of business lost to New Zealand every year. The Royal Horticultural Society is anxious to make its second show of colonial grown fruit, which is to be held on March 30 and 31 next, as representative as possible. In order to allow intending exhibitors and others time to make the necessary arrangements the Council has issued a schedule showing the soepe of the exhibition. In Division I. there are 18 classes, in which apples, pears, pineapples, bananas, mangoes, grapes, oranges, limes, shaddocks, pomelos, plums, melons, tomatoes, and nuts each" have a separate class, and there is also a class for any other colonial grown fruits or nuts not enumerated, and one for collections of fruit in which such things as yams and sweet potatoes may be included. In the Second Division there are two classes—one for yams and other tubers, and one for vegetables other than tubers, whilst in the Third Division, in which colonial grown dried or preserved fruits of any sort or kind may be shown, subject only to the condition of their being tested by the judges, there are five classes—one for bottl«d fruits in clear glass, one for tinned fruits, one for dried fruits, one for preserved vegetables (either bottled, tinned, or dried), and one for fruits made into jams, jelly, syrup, etc-, these to be shown in clear glass bottles. The Council offers medals or other prizes in each class, charges no entrance fee, and provides space and tabling free of expense. If desired any produce intended for exhibition- may be consigned direct to the Society, and it will be properly stored, and staged by the Society's officials in good time, but the Society cannot undertake to repack and return any exhibits. In addition to private exhibits the Council will afford each colony an opportunity of making a collective display. The idea of holding 'exhibitions of colonial produce has only been rendered possible for the first time this year, by the completion of the Society's new haH in Vincent Square, Westminster. The Council are doing all in their power to make the exhibition a success, and they express the hope that all others in any way interested in the trad* of our colonies will assist them to make the show widely known among possible exhibitors, so that each colony may be worthily represented.