ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 78, 1 April 1905, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL CASE. LONDON, February 17.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is at present engaged on a New Zealand appeal of more than ordinary interest. It is in the case of the NJZ. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., v. William Reid. The appeal is from the decision of a majority of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in an action brought by Mr Reid to set aside an agreement made between the parties, and obtain a reassignment of certain mortgages. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, who are now the appellants, had exercised an option to sell the securities. Mr Reid entered his action in the New Zealand Courts to set aside the option, and judgment was given in his favour. On appeal, this decision was upheld by a majority of the judges. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile now appeal to the Privy Council. The hearing lasted a full week, and judgment was reserved. JOTTINGS. The United Empire Club, which was recently started by the Tariff Reforan Party, and which is housed in the premises of the old South African Club at 84, Piccadilly, has just been turned into a limited liability company, with a capital of £5000, in £5 shares. The Royal Colonial Institute ended its first year in 1869 with a membership of 174 and an income for the year of £1224 14/5. In 1872 the income was only £478. But since then the membership has risen to 4472, and the annual income to £7628.

According to the "Times," the Board of Trade Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence have in contemplation the despatch of a commercial mission to Australia and New Zealand on similar lines as those recently undertaken to South Africa and other destinations. The principal objects of the mission will be to ascertain the extent and degree of effectiveness of the competition which British goods have to meet in the Australian .market with a view to the indicaton of such further openings as may exist for British trade in that quarter; but the Commissioner to be appointed will also be charged with the duty of nominating, for the consideration of the department, suitable persons in the different colonial centres to act as permanent correspondents of the commercial branch of the Board of Trade. Precise and detailed instructions under both heads will, of course, be furnished to the Commissioner. It is anticipated that the conduct of the mission will occupy about 12 months; and that the cost, including travelling and remuneration to the Commissioner, will not exceed £ 1250.

The King has been pleased to accept a copy of Mr W. H. Maxwell's lecture on "British Progress in Municipal Engineering," just published by Messrs Archibald Constable and Co., Ltd., and now available for reading before technical societies, Chambers of Commerce, and like institutions in all parts of the world. The object of this lecture project, initiated by Mr Ben. H. Morgan, is the promotion and expansion of British trade in colonial and foreign markets, by means of lectures written by leadiug experts and illustrated by lantern slide views, showing the progress which Great Britain has made in recent years in various industries. Copies of the lectures and sets of lantern slides will be sent free of charge on loan for reading before responsible societies in any part of the world, on application to Mr Morgan, at Orchard House. Westminster, London.