OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 9095, 29 March 1893, Page 4

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. London, February 17. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND UNDERWRITERS.

The annual dinner of the Australian and New Zealand Underwriters' Association was held at the Albion Tavern on the evening of the Bth inst., Mr H. J. B'ristow presiding. Representatives of all the leading companies—l hardly think I need name them—were present, and a number of guests. Mr Edward Hill, in proposing " Prosperity to the Australian Colonies," referred sympathetically to the depressed state of affairs in some of them. He had, however, no want of confidence in the renewal of their prosperity, and submitted the toast with great heartiness, coupling it with that of Mr James M'Cosh Clark, of Auckland.

Mr"*M'Cosh Clark, after regretting the absence of Sir Saul Samuel, whom he would have liked to respond to the toast, said that as an old colonist he must express his thanks for the friendly manner in which the toast had been proposed, and especially for the allusion that had been made to the national feeling that animated both the Mother Country and the colonies. He thought all must be proud of the progress of the latter and of the strength which they imparted to the Empire. He was both hopeful and confident of their future. Knowing their natural resources, and the indomitable energy of the people, he was sure that by refraining from increased expenditure they would emerge from the present difficulties, seeing what strenuous efforts were being made to increase their exports, which he looked upon as the only hope of their salvation. He touched upon the new and growing export of colonial butter, the increasing production of wool and meat, and the precious metals, and alluded to the improved methods of treating refractory ores, which must be of incalculable benefit with regard to the last-named product. The growing taste for Australian wines was another hopeful symptom. There ought, he said, to be an enormous trade also done in the hard woods of Australia, for road-paving, etc., for they were reported to be three times as durable as Norway pine. Referring particularly to New Zealand, he said that this colony had alreadv turned the corner, and was roally a good* way ahead from the corner, so that he entertained a pleasant prospect of the future. He just referred to the question of Federation, and concluded by repeating his thanks for the cordiality with whioh the toast had been both proposed and received. The chairman then reviewed at length the work of the Association during the year, touching specially on the Walter Raleigh and Port Pirie cases. Mr E. T. Doxat (Dalgety and Co.) proposed " The Visitors," which was replied to by Mr A. J. Malcolm (J. M'Ewen and Co.), and Mr L. C. Wakefield, of Lloyd's, praised the tact and guidance of Mr Bristow, which had done so much for the Association.

THE HOME RULE BILL. At this moment it may be interesting to recall the fact that Mr Gladstone introduced his first Bill into the Commons exactly forty years ago. It was the Colonial Church Bill. The feature of the new Home Rule Bill Sir Charles Dilke specially dislikes is the institution of an Upper House. Mr Gladstone, said Sir Charles, appealed to the usage of the Empire, but my knowledge of colonial Upper Houses has only intensified my dislike to Upper Houses in general. The Radicals will divide against the Upper House even if supported by Conservatives. The 'Westminster Gazette' on Tuesday, evening spoke as though Mr Gladstone had freshly minted the designations " Legislative Assembly" and "Legislative Council" specially for the constitution of Ireland, The writer was evidently ignorant that most of the Australian Lower and Upper Chambers are thus styled, Mr Balfour also forgot the same faot when predicting the speedy sweeping away of the Irish Upper House, and thereby laid himself open to an effective retort from Mr Bryce, The latter hon. member replied quietly that the Irish Legislative Council is modelled on Austra- '

lion bodies, which are both popular and strong. Mr Balfour was not in good form on Tuesday evening. He began by/accusing the Government of oasting Ireland off tod Cnting her virtual independence. Then forgot that he had said anything of the kind, and taunted the Irish members with accepting a position inferior to that which the self-governing colonies enjoy..?' The truth is the moderation of the Bill has put the Tories in an awkward hobble.

Several of the Agents-General would have liked to hear Mr Gladstone introduce his Home Rule Bill on Monday evening last, but their passes to the "distinguished strangers' gallery" are of a very partial character, being only available "when there is room." Naturally, on extraordinary occasions there is not room, as the various embassies swoop down on the gallery, and the representative of the paltriest two-penny-halfpenny South American Republic takes precedence of an Agent-General. MR PERCEVAL AT THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

Mr Perceval made a few remarks at the ] Colonial Institute on Tuesday evening in the courseof the discussion on Professor Wallace's paper anent' Australasian Agriculture,' but he had intended to say a good deal more. The Professor's observations were (as will be gathered from my special article) open to considerable criticism, and your AgentGeneral had gone through the paper beforehand and prepared a tolerably exhaustive series of comments thereon. When, however, he at last rose to speak, he saw he would be obliged to let them go by the board. Sir Robert Hamilton and Sir James Garrick had already orated at considerable length, and the audience were restless and anxious to get to conversation and coffee, so Mr Perceval generalised with a few remarks, in the course of which he expressed his pleasure that he had listened to a lecture on the inherent wealth of Australia, instead of having the " seamy " side once more placed before him. The turning of the coat inside out had certainly not been uninstructivc, and he hoped it would have good results. He was happy to say that the Australasian colonies had determined to set their house in order, and to economise. His own colony of New Zealand had led the way, and the results had been most encouraging. He was pleased witli Sir James Garrick's remarks concerning the farmers of this country. He quite agreed with him that the time had arrived when it was worth the while of the English farmer to consider whether lie should not turn his attention to the colonies. He (Mr Perceval) felt sure that lie would get a better return for his money than he could ever get here, and the Empire would be not one whit the worse off. In Australasia they had got past the first stage of settlement, and were now in the second, which necessitated improved methods of agriculture and irrigation. With these he felt that the future of the colonies was assured. Mr Perceval went on to speak of the disposal of the surplus stock of colonial produce in this country, and, in connection with the Bill shortly to be introduced into the Imperial Parliament, stated that, while the colonists were quite prepared to have their produce sold in the English market as " colonial," they would most strenuously object to it being labelled "foreign." He once more recommended the appointment of an industrial expert in this country, whose duties should be to advise the colonists as to the markets, the methods of packing, distribution, etc. Such an officer would be a great aid to Australasian agriculture.