ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10954, 2 May 1901, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FBOSt ODB OWN Col_ft-S_ O.TOBNT.. LONDON, March 22. "Mr H. B. Marriott Watson," says a London paper, "is a candidate for municipal honours away at Ghiswiek where he lives. A novelist at th- poll in the civic life of Loxi- , don is still rare, avid there may bt> readers ■ of 'Diogenes .in London' and 'Lady Faintj hear." and 'Galloping Dick," who will vote | on Monday for a favourite author, even more ' I than for an administrator at the Council Baard. Air Marriott Watson Was born near -Melbourne thirty-eight yeans Ago, and was educated in Now Zealand. He was at one time assistant editor of tho 'Pall Mull (hr zetto,' and ht* set Mr J. M. Barrio's pL*-y----writiug when ho co-laboured (sureilv a hvlt.r term than "collaborated,' all French preeo-di-it notwitlistanding) with him in the writing of 'Richard Savage.'" ■Mr 0. S. White, of Ohrfslchuroh, who haa beou staying at tho Palace Hotel, I_ensin_> ton, is at present paying a visit to Lastbourne. Recent callers at tha Agency-General in-ol-u-de: _Ir Mr-tague Orrcwby, of Ohristchureh; Private Frank M. A*. Nightixi.ga.lo (X.Z.1U..), of Auckland j Mr W. F. Wore, of Auckland; !Mr and Mrs A. R. Pontifex; Miss Evelyn Old, of Wellington; aud Miss Boor, of Nelson. Scottish agricultural papers are noting New Zealand s new Kiaugntering and Inspection Act, "which, if properly carried out, will safeguard tho British consumer from that quarter. Of course," it is added, "they don't do this grading and inspection for tho sake of the British consumer. Tht>y do it to assist their own trade by the formation of a character for reliable quality. Read from our side of the glass it spalls keener competition from yet another companion in tho imperial Company. Tire breeding of hon&ea for army remounts is also being taken up vigorously in New Zealand. After tho good report theso horses have got in th. Soutii Am can w;ir it is natural that more attention! should be given to the subject." In reference to army remounts, I gatber thafc Mr Iteeves, acting ou his own initiative, has brought under tlie notico of the War Ottic-a the excellent chanoos there are in New Zealand for semiring good burses for South Alriea. lam not "speaking by the book," but 1 have heard a whisper that the Imperial authorities were under tho impression that the New Zealand price would be too heavy. As they were paying £40 and over for 'bus horses in London this seems somewhat peculiar. Lord Avebury (perhaps better known as Sir John Lubbock) addressing the Charity Organisation Society, referred to New Zealand's "rushing into a system of old age pensions. Tho results were tluit the expense greatly exceeded the estimate, and the relatives and friends no longer felt it a duty to assist as they had dune previously." I am informed that tho shipping companies doing business with New Zealand have decided to raise the "reduced" tares (granted to those with £100 or so) by some 10 per cent. The "rise" conies into force at the end of the current month. It has often been any duty to uigo upon New Zealand producers the imperative need of the utmost care with regard to the packing and appearance of their products wh»n these are intended for the London market. This point has been. strongly emphasised by Mr James Boyle, United States Consul at Liverpool, who, after characterising Great Britain as the champion jam- consumer of the world, and* remarking that so far as dried fruits were concerned, South Australia was at present the most dread-d rival of America in the English market, went on to say that in the opinion of an exceedingly competent .expert, "If New Zealand and tie Australian oolonies would pay the same attention to packing and attractive appearance as American exporters do, New Zealand and Australia could easily hold their own, as competitors with the United States in this branch of industry." Rather a.n exciting time fell to the lo& of the Papanui on the voyage wliicb terminated thus afternoon. Alter leaving Tene■rifi'e, she sighted a French barque iljing signals of distress. This vessel proved to be the Marthe Marguerite, of Nantes; she had 1-osfc iier rudder thirty days before, and [ since then had been drifting at tha mercy of the wind and sea. She was towed into Vigo by the Papanui. Tbe Tongariro ha* also taken a vessel in distress into Ascension. It is expected that on the 3rd of April the New Zealand Shipping Company's ueW Ruapehu will be finished at Messrs DennyV yards. After coaling in Glasgow, and taking in some boilers for the Union Steam • Ship Company of New Zealand, site is to come to London, and take up her -sailing on the 31sfc May. She is reported to be an exceptionally fine. boat. Yesterday the Antarctic exploration ship Discovery was successfully launched at Dundee. Lady _viarklia.m. wife ot Sir Clements Mark ham, President of tho Royal Geographical Society, performed the ct.omony of christening in the usual wav by breaking a bottle of win. on ths vessel. Ftem. I may add that* Sir Clements Markham is also chairman of the Antarctic Exploration Committee. He was present at the launch, as also were Captain Scot., R.N., commander of the s.s. Discovery,' ths officers of tlie ship, and Dr. Bruce. '„> Edinburgh, leader of the Scottish An tareti. expedition. At a .subsequent luncheon. Sir C. Markham -expressed the opinio.-; that a good ship und& a resolute commander would be able to penetrate the great ice barrier, and that soma point to the eastward of the extrtm-e east miched by Sir James Ross would probably be the most suitable spot for the attempt. He felt confident that a great deal of knowledge about some of the most interesting phenomena of the world would b. gained by this expedition. Less was known oi the Antarctic regions of this planet thai? of the planet Mara. The promoters of tb« expedition thought it ought to bo undertaken by the Government and tli. Royal Navy, but as Lord Salisbury decided against them, they had taken tho responsibility on themselves. ■Captain Scott declared his confidence that the Discovery was capable of getting farther South tln-n any vessel which Lad preceded h-:-r. Dr. Bruce stated that tbe German. Swedish, and Scottish expeditions were going in a spirit of co-operation, not in a. sensational pole-hunting spirit, but in the interests of scientific research. Ths Discover*.* will sail in August next, and the expedition is expected to" extend over two years.