OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8810, 27 April 1892, Page 1

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES,

London, March 18,

AN OLD THEOBY AND SOME NEW FACTS,

At the time of the last and most atrocious of £be series of murders and mutilations which took place in the squalid alleys and by-ways of Whitechapel there was a widalyaccepted theory that the fiendish ghonl who perpetrated the horrible crimes was a cattle man from aboard one of the foreign cattle boats constantly running to and fro between London and Oporto. But, although the police were eventually induced to keep an eye upon these Bay of Biscay “ tramps,” they could find nothing to justify even the detention of any of the Portuguese sailors or cattle men belonging thereto. The (1 mystery "has remained a mystery, and moat folk have been contentto consider the problem past solution. To nine people out of ten perhaps it is that the murders, horrifying as they were, are but a vague memory. In the hurly-burly of London life one is apt to soon forget the happenings of the recent past. Bat there is a gentleman who thinks he has unravelled the tangled skein, who says he knows who the criminals are, and where they are to be found. This is the case he has put into print and is circulating. He maintains that a priori the murderer or murderers might be expected to be Portuguese of Oporto, because (so he avers) Portuguese of Oporto are more likely than other people to commit crimes of that sort; and to drive home his contention he quotes a familiar, yet ghastly, passage from Napier’s ‘Peninsular War,' showing the ways of the Oporto Portuguese three-quarters of a century ago. This is not very conclusive. He farther asserts that the murders invariably happened just after two vessels trading with cattle from Oporto to London had arrived in dock, and atnoother times, save in one instance. When these boats had been “ spotted ” by him the police took to watching them closely, and thereupon the murders ceased. This, however, does not conclude his case. He bays that on each occasion there was on board these ships one or other of four Portuguese cattle men, whom be names, and can identify. On the only other occasion when a murder was committed in the absence of the two boats referred to, another cattle boat bad just arrived, and one of his four suspects was on board of her. All these men are now living as reputable citizens of Oporto, being engaged either as boatmen or bathing attendants, and the gentleman (a man of respectable position) thinks the police ought to have their eyes, if not their hands, upon them.

THE POLYNESIAN SOCIETY,

la commenting on the formation of the Polynesian Society in New Zealand, the ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ seems to view the movement from much the same standpoint as the gentleman who was asked by a lady friend, whom be did not care to refuse, to subscribe to one of two things—a bazaar in aid of a missionary fund, or toward a peal of bells for the local church. Though he approved of neither thing, he gave a “ fiver ” to the church bsll fund, “ because,” said he, “ there are no lives to be risked.” The ‘ Chronicle ’ says of the Polynesian Society: —"After all, it is better to spend money and time in this direction than in organising Quixotic expeditions to the Antarctic regions.” Now, so far as one can see, the only difference between the two undertakings (the results of exploration and research in both cases are bound to be most interesting) is that money spent in "Quixotic expeditions to the Antarctic regions ” may result in the commercial aggrandisement of New Zealand, whereas the Polynesian Society will only result in the reception of Major Gudgeon, Mr Seth Smith, and a few others into the bosoms of various scientific societies. The moving spirits may even attain to the proud distinction of F.R.S. I hope that, whilst adopting Major Gudgeon’s project for preserving to posterity the customs, language, etc,, of the South Sea islanders, and lavishing thereon "much enthusiasm” (vide * Daily Chronicle ’) and pecuniary assistance, New Zealanders will not lose sight of the undoubted possibilities of the Antarctic regions as a whaling ground. The whales, we know, are there to be caught; and we also know that the fur-seal used once upon a time to be regular visitors at the Falkland Islands. It is possible, therefore, that the habitats of this valuable animal may be found within the Antarctic Circle. The failures of the past should count for nothing (save as showing how things should not be done) in the sight of the fact that Captain Grey, of Peterhead, has already formed an "Antarctic Whale and Seal Fishing Company,” and that both in Sweden and America schemes to a similar end are in process of crystallisation.

HENET HOAEE’s BANKHCPrCY.

The public examination of Mr Henry Hoare, of whose failure I told yon some mails back, was held on Wednesday last. The liabilities were returned in the statement of affairs at 1472,539, of which £124,419 are unsecured, with assets estimated to produce £12,802. The debtor, who was formerly a member of a banking firm, attributed hb insolvency to losses in companies, and to

heavy outlay in respect to hla landed property—particularly an estate in New Zealand—having largely exceeded the returns. Examined by the Official Receiver, Mr « Hoare stated that his retirement frona the banking firm was caused by heavy losses incurred in financial transactions. Since his retirement he had been engaged principally in the management of his various estates and in financial dealings generally. His estates comprised 3,000 acres of land in Kent, 20,C00 acres of freehold land in New Zealand, and several minor properties. He farmed the New Zealand estate himself, and ho went out to the colony in ISSO, 18S2, and again in 1885. The management of tho estate resulted in disastrous He had sunk large sums of money, amounting in the aggregate to LSO.OOO, in improving the property, but, owing to depreciation in values, had reaped no profit. The debtor also stated that he had incurred very serious losses in company transactions, the whole of the concerns he had identified himself with having proved failures. Eventually Mr Hoare was allowed to pass. TUE M-RELVIE WILL.

On Wednesday Mr Justice Chitty, presiding in Court 11. of the Chancery Division, had before him the case of the will of iha late J. T. M'Kelvie, of Auckland. The direction of the Court was asked with reference to the trusts of the will. Tho testator had by hia will given residuary property in Unhand to English trustees, and property in New Zealand to New Zealand trustees, and directed the English trustees to pay the proceeds of the sale of his English property to the New Zealand trustees, who were directed to expend them in building, supplying, and keeping up a public art museum at Auckland at a c-it of LIO.OOO. There was already LlO/.100 available for immediateexpenditurc, ii.iil about 1.5,000 was in the hands of the English trustees, who, however, were uawfiling to pay it over except by direction of the Court. His Lordship directed that tho funds should bo handed over to the New Zealand trustees upon their undertaking not to apply them otherwise than in accordance with the trusts of the testator’s will, or unless ordered by a Court of competent jurisdiction in New Zealand. COLONIAL INSTITUTE,

At the Fellows’ dinner, which invariably precedes the monthly meetings of tho Colonial Institute, Mr W. B. Perceval was, on Tuesday week, the guest of the evening. Lord Aberdeca presided, supported by a bevy of Anglo colonial notables, including yjur new Governor, the Earl of Glasgow, m i two ex-viceroys of the colony—Sir Arthur Gordon and Sir George Bowen. Sir John Bray, Sir James Garrick, and Sir Edward Garrick wero also among the guests. At the subsequent meeting Mr Ferguson read a paper on ‘ Ceylon,’ in the course of which ho advisod Australians and. New Zealanders to come Home via Colombo, and if possible break the journey there. A few weeks could moat pleasantly and profitably be spent in Ceylon, either sightseeing or in sport. Sir John Bray backed this up, describing a delightful expedition to Kandy undertaken by thirty ■ four pisaengeru onboard Hie Britannia, eii route to England, a short time ago. Mr Perceval did not speak, but of course Sk Arthur Gordon did, Mr OTlalloran (the secretary of the Institute) has, I may mention, formed a highly favorable opinion of your new Governor, and expects him to become genuinely popular whan known. Lady Glasgow, be tells me, is the ideal Viceroy’s wife, possessing not merely a handsome presence and attractive manner, but brilliant convessational powers. Mr Perceval attended the dinner of the Associated Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday last, but was not called upon to respond for “The Colonies.” This duty <(evolved upon Sir Charles Tapper and Sir Edward Braddoa, who did not make any remarks of special interest,