OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 6728, 9 October 1885, Page 2

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL SUMMARY. Our London correspondent, writing on August 28, says What with the late rising of Parliament and the fine weather, the “dead” season appears likely to be prolonged well into September this year. Usually the end of August witnesses a partial return of “ seaaiders ” and Swiss tourists who hare taken their holidays early, but not a sign of homecoming is visible at the West End up to the present. Blinds are all down, carriages have disappeared from their accustomed drives, and, worst of all for poor men left in town, the principal clubs are either dreary with an excess of emptiness, or in the hands of painters and paperhangers. Though the Inventories is by no means over yet, the authorities at South Kensington are already hard at work endeavoring to prepare for next year’s Colonial Exhibition. Several hundred Indian workmen arrived a week or two ago, and have been established in a long range of new buildings, where they are busy preparing Oriental splendors for the great Durbar which will open the show. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen declares the “ Colonies as it has been universally christened—is certain to be the exhibition of the present series. “ The Fisheries,” he says, “was all very well; the Healtheries was not much better; the Inventories is a little monotonous ; but wait till you see the Colonies! That will be an exhibition ! ”

great social scandal. The principal figure in a great social scandal at present exciting public attention is well known in New Zealand, Mr Pearce, of Elder and Co,, was the other day appointed one of the Royal Commissioners to inquire into the depression of trade, and came up to London to attend the first sitting. On the steps of the East India, House he was met by Mr Francis, a Collector of Customs in Glasgow, and a muchrespected citizen there, Francis seized Pearce by the collar, and, throwing him down, administered a sound thrashing, at the same time calling him a scoundrel and accusing him of having seduced Miss Francis, his daughter. {Statements vary as to the extent of the punishment administered. Mr Pearce says a few random blows were aimed at him, most of which missed their mark, but the clerks and passers-by tell a different story. One yotmg man declares that he saw an elderly gentleman prone on the stone steps and another elderly gentleman belaboring him mercilessly with a stick. At last he desisted, and then Mr Pearce was carried rather than led to a cab. Francis proceeded to the office of the * Pall Mall Gazette,’ where he stated that he had thrashed Pearce in order to make public the shameful way he had behaved'to his (Francis’s) daughter. It was his fixed intention to ruin him socially. Pressed to further divulge the facts of the story, he declined, observing he had not done with Pearce yet. Mr Pearce, called upon for explanations, was equally reticent, merely saying it was a particularly bad case of “blackmail.” Asked whether he intended to prosecute, he said he did not think so, as Francis was not responsible for his actions and there were other people to consider. It is, however, practically impossible that this resolve can be adhered to, as Mr Pearce’s brother royal commissioners will not welcome him to their counsels until an explanation of , the affair is forthcoming. Mr Pearce is a married man, and has always borne the reputation of being very steady. His friends aver that, like Sir Charles DUke, he is the victim of a hysterical woman, excited by reading the unwholesome lucubrations of the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette.’

Apropos of the Dilke case, I may mention that since the publication of Mrs Mark Pattison’s cablegram from Madras announcing her engagement to Sir Charles he has been as completely acquitted by the public as though the Crawford v. Crawford and Dilke case had been tried. Mrs Mark Pattison is one of the most ''harming and intellectual women of the day, and to conceive any man honored by her attachment indulging in a vulgar intrigue with a married woman would be impossible. Since writing the foregoing Miss Francis has written to the papers indignantly -‘ff'vin" ' til'"* clu) auu—lutr-yni) J»y Pearce, She states that Mr Pearce had nothing to do with her leaving home. She went because she was unhappy with her father, and wished to earn her own living. Ever since she has been living with a female friend, a married woman of unblemished respectability. Mr Pearce's lawyer has also written to the ‘ Pall M*ll Gazette, 1 announcing that he means to take legal proceedings of a far more serious character than an action for common assault against his late assailant. It is characteristic of the new and thoroughly depraved tone of the ‘ Pa}| Mall’ that, instead of suspending judgment it should hint at Mr Pearce’s guilt, and endeavor tp bias public opinion agaipat- hup. A similar unfair attempt was in Sir Charles puce's case, but the loyal way in which his friends, his fiancee, and hia constituents publicly stood by the right honorable gentleman effectually burked Sir Stead’s villainous ii niendoes, PERSONAL, "Ir George Pogson, of the firm of Smith and _Gelh brand, has cut himself loose from London during this dull season, He has e^°y the BCmery 80(1 thea i p Tie friends of Captain Baldwin will be sorry to hear that he has had an accident which may prove of very serious inconvenience to him. About a fortnight ago he trod on a stone in getting out of a cab and dislocated his right angl*. He tells me that the doctor says he must not expect to use the foot foe : six or eight months; he therefore thinks of cutting short his -stay in England and returning home. At present the only exercise he can is an occasional drive. Mr Noel Buchanan, of the Manlototo Plains, is now in London with his family. A BATCH OP MARRIAGES, One or two Anglo-colonials have for Some weeks known it as an open secret, which was in nowise to be divulged, that the Hon, Richard Oliver, M.L.C.. was engaged to the sister of Mr Leonard Courtney, fate Financial Secretary to the Treasury, chief leaderwriter of the ‘Times,’ and a leading exponeut and advocate of proportional representation. Oil Monday he was married. The .following day, by special license, at Richmond, there was another noteworthy marriage. Marion Baird, the charming third daughter of Hon. John Martin, M.L.C., of Wellington, was married to Mr John Cemme 1 Cameron. And on the same day the son of Mr John Milne, of Auckland, married Rhoda, the daughter of Mr Edward Stuart, of Paddington, Loudon. The marriage ceremony took place at the Catholic Apostolic Church. THE WOOL TRADE. Since the 10th of last month very little has been doing in wool. The greater number and regularity of public sales has almost abolished purchase by private treaty. The Antwerp sales, which closed more than a week ago, have been very unsuccessful. At their close 10,558 bales of Australian and Tfew Zealand remained unsold, and those which were sold bronght from 8 to 10 per cent, below former prices. The salesmen are now looking forward to the fourth series of sales in London, which will begin on the Ist September and continue till the 10th October. Of a total of 286,728 bales from all parts awaiting these sales, 95,432 are from New Zealand. THE NATIONAL BANK. A new article has been added to the Articles of Association, and the capital reduced. £hc new article reads: “That the Company may from time to time reduce its capital, in accordance with provisions of the Companies Acts.” This was no sooner carried than it was pnt in force—a motion that the capital be henceforth reduced to LI ,900,000 being carried. A - sum of LIOO,OOO is thus cancelled os lost capital.