ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9315, 16 January 1896, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, December 6,

It is consoling to find that, according to the Citizen, New Zealand is quite certain to be represented by a heaven-born AgentGeneral, even if the proposed chaDge in the personnel of that office be carried out. "If Sir Westby Perceval is no longer to hold the Agent-GensralsLiip," says the CiiLen, "no better successor could possibly have been appointed than the Hod. W. P. Reeve?, who ha 3 ever taken the deepest interest in the colony which gave him birth."

But the writer is not content wilb giving his " decision," he must, also give his reasons. Thesa take t.ia form of a brief biographical notice, which has rather surprised those New Zeabnders in London who have '-he pleasure of knowing Mr Reeves and his history. For instance, I should not have thought him to be so much as fortyeightyears old. From my recoil ctions of him I should have put him quite eight or ten years younger, aud so say several other excolonists wuo "knew him well,"as the song goes. Also, although 1 was aware that he was distinguished as a youth for brilliant parts and high educational acquirements, I never understood that he was '• so fortunate as to win a scholarship of tho value of £40 at the age of ten," but the Citizen sajs " This is what youcg Reeves succeeded in doing at the Christchurch College Grammar School," and that " he won it a second time and held it seven years in all." I thought he was considerably older when he gained that first distinction It is stated further that Mr Reeves won the " Soames " scholarship, and that he "studied at Oxford." I do not know that these biographical notes quite "prove the case," but that may be only my densenesp.

The Agent-General has sent out a number of large framed photographs of New Zealand scenery to the chief hoiels in all the principal British cities, and also in the favourite pleasure resorts, such as Brighton, Hastings, Eastbourne, Torquay, Scarborough, &c. These are to be exhibited io the vestibules of the hotels for the eulightenment of the guests as to the snporior grandeur of the scenic attractions that New Zealand can offer as compared with anything accessible in these islands. Already the >iewa have attracted much attention and inspired many enquiries. There is little doubt that the result will be an augmented iuflux of tourists into New Zealand, unless these should be excluded by some new " undesirable immigrants," &c. Many letters of enquiry about the position aud prospects of the colony are beiDg daily received in the Agent-General's department, and it seems as if a movement of population New Zealand-wards were setting in. Indeed the Gothic's huge passenger lisc last week went far to prove this,

The Rev. Leonard Isitt finds time amid all his tremendous temperance crusading to sing the praises of the colony whence he comes. He is holding a big meeting next Tuesday in the Council Hall at Stockton-on-Tees, and he means lo "go in a perisher" in the way of New Zealand trumpetblowing. He has written to the AuentGeneral's department asking that 3000 or 4000 handbills, referring to the reduced fares to the colony, may be sent him for distribution at this meeting ; also copies of Sir Westby Perceval's book on New Zealand, of tho New Zealand Handbook, of the New Zealand Tourist Guide, and other publications. These have been duly sent, and you will probably hear from Stockton-on-Tees very shortly.

Among your titled tourists this season in New Zealand will be Lord Massareene and his son the Hon. Oriel Sheffington, who, as well as Lord and Lady Magheramorne and Lord and Lady Carbery, are now en route for the colony.

A late resident of New Zealand whom I came across a day or two ago was Mr H. G. B'iorns, of Christchurch. He is still actively engaged in musical studies in addition to his regular business duties. I had the pleasure of hearing him sing, and was much struck with the five quality of his voice and with the improvement; in his style and method. A list has recently been prepared of the various books on New Zealand. It turns out that more than 600 books have already been written your colony. This far transcends all previous experience of the kind. About no other country in the world whose history is so brief have anything like so many books been written as Hew Zealand has inspired. One would really think there could not remain much more to be said about the favoured Isles.

But I am sorry to say that some of the papers have lately found a great deal to say about the prevalence of terrible distress and destitution in New Zealand. A writer in the Echo a few days ago gave a truly horrifying picture of the state of things which, according to hi 3 account, exists in the chief New Zealaud cities. I can only hope it is untrue or at (east exaggerated.