OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 7226, 31 May 1887, Page 1

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[From Odb Special Cobbespondjbnt.] London, April 20. Owing to the Easter holidays there has really been little or nothing doing since I last wrote. The colonial delegates, almost without exception, left town on Thursday week, and returned on Tuesday, when the business of the Conference was resumed.

It is an open secret in society that Lord Salisbury is having a lot of trouble with Her Majesty about the Jubilee arrangements, as in many important respects she altogether declines to study either propriety or public convenience. The selection of Westminster Abbey instead of St. Paul's for CETJubilee service will of itself spoil the pleasure of thousands. Not only was St. Paul's in every way the moat suitable place for such a ceremony, but a Royal progress by water from Westminster to Blackfriars (as was proposed) would have been a novel and beautiful sight, and could have been easily witnessed by half London, Then, again, the Queen will not stay in town, as she clearly ought, for Jubilee week. There in to be a garden party, to which the colonial delegates may be invited, in that terra incognita the grounds of Buckingham Palace, and also a State ball. Possibly, too, if (as seems probable) Patti has arrived in London, there may be a State performance at the opera. This very limited programme does not at all meet with the approbation of the West-end tradesmen, who hoped for at least a month of brilliant festivities. Probably, however, the deficiencies of English royalty will be more than made up for by the swarm of European majesty*, highnesses, and serene transparencies who are expected over in June, The German contingent alone will, it is calculated, number nearly a score. Lord Onslow, the new Under-Secretary to the Colonies, seems much taken with Mr Deakin and Sir John Downer, to whom he is paying a good deal of attention. His lordship lias invited all the colonial delegates down to Clandon for St. George's Day. At Bow street Police Court on Saturday the captain of the Ada Melmore pleaded guilty to the charge of contravening the Mercantile Shipping Act by not carrying lights on the night of the 20th of January, when the collision with the Kapnnda occurred. It was nrged on his behalf, however, that he had already been sufficiently punished by the withdrawal of his certificate. As for the offence, it was not a very serious one. The weather was fine, and the Ada Melmore was out of the ordinary track of vessels. Captain Milliken had been thirtyfive years at sea, and only lost one ship. That was in mid-ocean. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of Lso—surely an altogether inadequate punishment considering the loss of life; but after the Board of Trade assessors' culpable leniency in not cancelling MiUiken's certificate, it was perhaps "scarcely possible to do more. The importance which Sir Henry Holland and Mr Raikes obviously attach to the views of Mr Henniker-Heaton is a source of continual exasperation to many of the Australian delegates at the Conference, who find it difficult to keep their tempers when the weighty opinions of the member for Canterbury are quoted to them on mail contracts, penny postage, etc., etc. Sir Patrick Jennings (so the story goes) could not resist a dig at the Postmaster-General re his protegi. " If," said he, " a solitary and insignificant Australian of our friend Heaton b calibre can get so much attention from the Imperial Government, it strikes me that a few really representative colonists, such as ourselves (meaning the delegates), would, if we could enter your Parliament, soon ' boss' the concern." One thing Mr Heaton will certainly never do, if the Australian delegates can prevent him, and that is successfully carry through the penny postage scheme. At the Conference the other day they were against it to a man. Mr Raikes Beemed surprised, and remarked sotto voce that colonial opinion and Anglo-colonial opinion appeared to differ somewhat. '.".

Mr Deakin has after all sensibly resolved not to worry the Prince of Wales farther re visiting Melbourne next year. To tell the truth, I believe Sir Graham Berry consulted His Royal Highness's secretary on the point, and what that gentleman said convinced him of the fatality of asking for an interview. The notion now seems to be to invite Prince Albert Victor instead of his father. The youngster would gladly accept, and the Prince of Wales be quite ready to let him, but there appears to be doubt about the Queen's consent. The Colonial Conference has held several sittings since I last wrote, but the proceedings are strictly private (why, no one can conceive), and the delegates seem to delight in making a mystery of tilings. Opinions differ as to the eventual usefulness of the deliberations. Some of the delegates profess themselves disgusted with the casual nature of the discussions, which (bo they say) never seem to end in any practical move, whilst others express themselves perfectly satisfied. One thing is quite undeniable. The delegates are having a thoroughly " good time." Lady Holland has taken a lot of trouble to get them asked out, and those who, like Mr Downer, brought their wives and daughters with them, are congratulating themselves. On Saturday evening her ladyship was "at home " to all colonists and Anglo-colonists of note now in London, and next week most of them are invited to meet the Prince of Wales and other royalties. Much dissatisfaction is expressed with regard to the wretchedly small dividend of 3 per cent, the Orient Company have just announced. There will probably be something of a rumpus at the annual meeting next week.

If (says the 'St. James's Gazette 'Jilt is true that a Durham engineer has discovered a method of raising steam that will effect a saving of 70 per cent, of coal, the greatest reform ever known in the history of oar naval and mercantile marine is at hand, and four-day passages to the States will at once be possible. ' '.' '" ' ~ The colonial reception at Drury Lane-on Friday evening last was not as brilliant an affair as Augustus Harris's theatre parties usually are. The guests (most of them elderly folk) seemed uncertain if they were doing what was quite proper, and eyed Miss Connie Gilchrist and her dashbg companions with suspicion. Mr Harris bustled about valiantly playing host, but things were really very dull till the buffet opened. Then the company fell to with a will on lobster salads and plovers' eggs en aspic, and thepopping of champagne corks made musio in the air. Of course Augustus Druriol&nna made a speech. After welcoming the delegates to "our national theatre," he reminded the company that just twelve months ago it had been his privilege to receive another (and, he might nave added, a much livelier) party of colonists on that historic stage. He referred to the Commissioners to tno Indian and Colonial Exhibition. It gave him (Gus 'Arris) great pleasure to reoeivfe colonial visitors. The traditions of Old Drury in the past were doubtless as" mucb venerated by them as by Londoners, and he believed all colonists were glad to make * personal acquaintance with the old .playhouse. At any rate he bade them cordial greeting. Sir Henry Holland replied in & semi-humorous speech, in which he .contrasted the dulness of the House ,of .Commons with the life and light and brilliancy of Drury Lane. If he had only known it, the House was anything but dull at that particular moment; indeed a few mutate* later Sir Henry had to hurry off to assist at the final scenes between the ParhelHteß.'nnd Colonel Saunderson. . i; >■■■ :u\? Charles Langdon, a defaulting bn&'uW, afc Truro, who made a bolt for New Zealand by the Kaikoura (I think it was) in January last, has. been captured and btongwlejk. He was arrested at Gape Town.: ;,'^o.r The Colonial Secretary has intonwtefito Sir F. D. Bell that the Goveronait-will take steps to. remove the disabilifylqMler which separate probate has to betaken' oat in England in the estates of Wydste <b|ng

in this country possessed of shares entered on the colonial register of Jwglish comPa During the past ten c!a,s i.w.en meat has been quoted slightly higher, in sympathy with Scotch and English carcasses, which advanced considerably. The supply of New Zealand sheen continues, however, far too heavy. At the beginning of last week it numbered 2,700, to which the Elderslie cargo must be added, making a total ot 50,000. Current rates: New Zealand mutton, 2s 8d to 3s ; New Zealand lamb, 3s 8d to 4s 4d; Melbourne mutton, 2s 8d; River Plate, 2s 6d; Scotch, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ; English, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ; German, 4s to 4s Set. Sir George Bowen, whose urbanity—not to use a coarser word—makes him very popular in Anglo-colonial circles, is to be entertained at the St. George's Club before leaving Home to resume the governorship of Hong Kong. There was something approaching to a panio in Australasian city circles on Monday afternoon when it became known that the well-known firm of Mann and Stogdale (of Melbourne and London) were bankrupt. The liabilities depend, it is understood, upon the realisation of goods in Melbourne. The Government emphatically deny"tnat " forced benevolence " of L 200,000 on behalf of the Imperial Institute is contemplated. Nevertheless, the 'Pall Mall Gazette continues mysteriously sceptical. Oue thing seems certain, viz., that unless some such sum can be raised in the course of next month tho scheme must be abandoned. Every touting device which the ingenuity of Sir Somers Vine could suggest has been tried ; but quite fruitlessly. A mere tithe of the money required has been subscribed. Up to date Sir S. Vine has neither denied nor explained the categorical accusations of ♦ Truth ' and the ' Financial News' re his connection with the South Kensington Exhibitions. He simply says tho Prince of Wales and the chairmen of the four shows have confidence in hiin, and that is sufficient. We shall see. _ Miss Fanny Leslie, who is quite the best of our English variety actresses, states that she is negotiating with two different Australian managements for a tour through the colonies with George R. Sims's successful *' Jack-in-the-Box." • „,,„,,, The Australian rights of " The Bells of flaslemere," the new melodrama now in rehearsal at the Adelphi, have, it is understood, been secured by Rignold and Alison. Alfred Cellier arrived in London on Friday last, and occupied a box at " Dorothy the same evening. He was recognised by some of the audience, and cordially clapped. Last night Mr Cellier conducted the twohundredth performance of " Dorothy." It was a gala occasion, and attracted a brilliant house, which applauded all the familiar morceaux enthusiastically. Mr Cellier and Mr Stephenson are busy on their new opera. An important work on " Australian Defences and New Guinea," compiled from the papers of Sir Peter Scratchley by Mr C. Kinloch Cooke, is to be published immediately by Macmillanß. George Perkins, the ex-champion sculler of England, sails for Australia by the s.s. Iberia to-day. A "bumper" benefit was provided for him at the South London Palace on the night after the race for the City and Suburban, when he modestly announced his intention of "knockingspots out of some of your Australian oarsmen. Mr Herbert Maude brought over a shorttailed wallabi with him from Australia, which he has presented to the Zoological Gardens. Colonists who met Mr Mowbray Buller (younger brother to Sir Redvers Buller) during his visit to the Australias in jLB§2 will regret to hear of his death after a long and painful illness. The second professional examinations for degrees in medicine were held at Edinburgh University during the last fortnight. The following New Zealand students passed : Mr W. J. Catcan and W. G. Trotter. Mr R. V. Fulton passed in anatomy and physiology. Sir Francis Dillon Bell has, I understand, consented to repressnt New Zealand at the centenary banqi:ot of the famous Marylebone Cricket Club (better known as the M.C.C.), which is to take place on May *. The Agents-General of the other Australian colonies have also been invited to attend. The delegates still here then will probably go too. Lord Charles Beresford's capital speech on Australian defence at the Federation banquet consisted, in the main, of facts gleaned from his old «i»am Captain Thomas, R.N., who came home io the same ship as Mr Lorrimer <the Victorian Defence Minister), and spent much time discussing this important question with that gentlemaa. On Tuesday Lord Charles Beresford conducted a large party of the delegates to Portsmouth on an expedition—so it was understood—for the purpose of selecting from the numerous types of vessels in the ■dock-yard the particular typfe or types best fitted for the colonial service. RearAdmiral Hopkins and Lord George Hamilton acted a* cicerone* to the party, who certainly enjoyed themselves thoroughly, though whether they got through much business is questionable. ■One piece of gossip current in naval circles is to the effect that H.M.S. Warspite will be commissioned in September next as flagship of the Australian squadron. This vessel was, according to competent critics, a powerful ship, as designed. As completed, most of her belt of armor and torpedo discharge ports are below water line—two defects which manifestly impair her efficiency as a vessel of war. He masts are to be removed, in order to lighten her, and bring the torpedo ports above water, but it will fee impossible to lighten her sufficiently to allow of her armor belt being above waterline.

Dt A. Von Tendenfeid is announced to deliver three lectures at the Royal Institution this month on "Recent Scientific Researches in Australia." By way of partially making up for his inability to be present personally at the Melbourne Exhibition, the Prince of Wales has graciously agreed to accept the honorary presidency of the London Commission. The Australasian Jabilee addresses to the Queen will be presented in the usual way on May 4. Phil Robinson, a more or less well-known joarnalbt, has chartered the great R. S. fimythe aB his agent, trod starts on a lecturing tour of the Antipodes forthwith, sailing by the Parramatta on May 6. Oscar Wilde, J. Cordy Jefferson, and "Ginx's Baby" Jenkins also talk of trying their luck with you shortly. Sir Samuel Griffiths wa? enthusiastically fgted by his old friends and neighbors of Cardiff on his return Home after thirty years' absence last week. The Premier of Queensland; is unquestionably a most striking and interesting parson, and has perhaps excited more attention than any of the other colonial delegates, save Mr Deakin.