OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 9775, 3 August 1895, Page 2

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

London, June 21

I'ERSONAL AND CiENERAL Mrs- Leonard Harper has all but decided to leave her children with their relatives in England and to return with her husband to New Zealand.

Mr Goodman, of the Tasmanian Offices in London, who at one time held a position in the New Zealand Government Offices, died suddenly on Sunday last at his residence in Camberwell. He was chief clerk in the Tasmanian Office and greatly respected. The engagement is announced of Miss Huddart, daughter of Mr James Huddart, to Mr Henry Sigismund Schwann, son of Mr Schwann, M.P., of Park House, Wimbledon. Mr Sigismund Schwann visited Australia and New Zealand two years ago, travelling in the Miowera at the same time as Mrs and Miss Huddart.

Messrs Stevens and Howells have engaged Miss Thudichuin, Miss Marion Mackenzie, Mr Branscombe, and Mr Douglas Powell for a concert tour through your part of the world, commencing next June. Miss Ada Crossley has been engaged by Madame Patti to accompany her on her tour of the provinces, commencing next December.

Mr Max Fliess (of Messrs King, Engel, and M'Cullagh), who left Wellington in December last with his wife for a tour in Europe, reached London at the commencement of the present week. Mr and Mrs Fliess wintered in Egypt and Italy, and then went on to Germany, where they have been travelling since March. They leave today for Cornwall on a visit to friends of Mrs Fliess, and expect to be in the West of England about a fortnight. In August Mr and Mrs Fliess return to Germany. Dr Purchas, who has been very busy surmounting difficulties in connection with his wonderful machine, leaves town to-day for Liverpool. Aftor picking up Mrs Purchas there he proceeds to Staffordshire, and will stay some time with Mr Uhaloner at Pickwood, Leek. Amongst recent callers upon the AgentGeneral I may mention Mrs Philip Hannier and her son, Mr Norman Hamncr, of Christchurch, who have made Westminster Palace Hotel their temporary headquarters ; Mr J. E. Hewitt, of Palmerston North, who is spending the first part of his holiday at Walton-on-Thames; Mr Julius C;e3ar, of Poverty Bay, resident for the nonce in historic Camberwell; Mr G. D. Greenwood, of Canterbury, who is studying the problem of Argentine v. Australasia in Cavendish square; Mr William Gib3on, of Wellington, who has chosen Burgess Hill, Finchley, for his temporary home ; and Mrs Hannah Briley, of Napier, who came home a short ims ag>, intending to spend the rest of her days at Grantham, but who has already determined on an early return to the colony. New Zealand papers are asked to notify the fact that the wife of Henry Hill, o'f Sanderson road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, presented her husband with a daughter on the 16th June.

Up to the present very few New Zealanders at Home have taken any active part in the promotion of Weatraliau gold-mining ventures, but I notice that both Mr W. T. Holmes and Mr Patrick Comieky figure in the directorate of the latest West Australia mina offered to the British public-rthe Kalgurli Gold Mines, Limited, to wit. This is a £100,003 affair, but the promoters are hardly likely to get the whole amount subscribed. £BO,OOO tor eighteen acres of auriferous ground is a trifle "steep," even though the vendors take 65,000 iu shares. Dr and Mrs Fell, who arrived in England a few week 3 ago by the &.a. New York, spent

a full HioiitH in America, Jit fo& tkl do6tor ticked „ tip, 4s frflM' i profekiipjfi wrinkle*Ttf tflHe wa fee duties <JdghH fieeiiig /allowed. Since setting foot in London Mr Fell has spent most of his time at St. Thomas's, Hospital, "where be graduated in the art of healing, and in the evening he and Mrs Fell barajone the rounds oj[ concert! and are spending the present - week *, at Oxford, where " Cbmmem'.* isln full swing. ,; < ! ' Mr W. Dawson, of Dunedin, did not stay long in London. He is now at lnTernese, ; > - and will remain in that neighborhood during' '.•:■ the present month, and will return to towa«v early in July. ■■'■■s/ Mr L. Bchatz, of Christehurch, yntir. arrived by the Gothic last week, tells mi that it is his intention to' stay in the Old Country about three months. At- present his arrangements are somewhat indefinite!" but he intends to pat in a couple of days at Ascot races this week by way of a start. * I missed out of my 'Frisco budget, j# . rather interesting item—•joameiy<jjthe marriage of Mr William W. Griffin, M.R, M.K.CS. (law of Dunedin)-, to Annie Hamilton Dinniddie, second daughter of the . late Commissary-general G. Hamilton Din* widdie. 'The ceremony took place on June 4at All Souls, Langham place, W. The master of St. Katherine'a officiated, and was assisted by the Rev. J. Gear, rector of Faroham, Essex. Dr Griffen, bypthe way, has established himself for the practice of his profession at New Cavendish street. ' Mr John Campbell, of Nelson, who came Home some eight years ago intending to stay a couple' of years in the Old Country/ is about to take upon himself the responsibilities of matrimony. He will shortlt espouse Miss Emily Himing, a .lady weft, known in musical Circles as the possessor of a magnificent contralto voice and the ability to use it to the beßt advantage, Mr Campbell, who is attached to the office, of Mr Carruthers, the consulting engineer to the New Zealand Government, is himself pot?, sessed of a fine tenor voice. He is a member of the St. Albanß Church choir, and oould, if he chose, live by music alone. Miss Himing is a granddaughter of» Major-General Himing, of the Bengal Army. The wedding is to takep|ace on July 31,.probably at St. Mark's, Hamilton terrace, N.W. Mr Davis Canning, of Hawke'sßav, who came Home some months ago on pleasure intent, has decided to retun? to New Zealand by one of the direct boats, leaving here in August—probably the &.&> Rimutaka, which vessel, in spite of being rather slow and not quite up to date as regards accom-'-modation, seems to be favored by New Zealanders because she is commanded by Captain Greenstreet. Mr Canning has spent his holiday entirely in .England, barring a bftef trip to Paris. He has studied in a diUllante fashion the produce markets here, and, contrary to the general run of Home-coming colonists, seems quite satisfied with the prospects of the future, especially as regards wool, in which- staple he looks for higher

prices. Mr G. D. Greenwood, of Christchurcb, who came to England by way of the Argentine Republic, has, I hear, formed a very high opinion of the capacities of the Plate for producing for export all those food stuffs which New Zealand and Australia are now pouring into the Old Country,' The South American farmers can, he believes, produce beef, mutton, cheese, butter, and the like at prices which Australasian folk cannot rival, and he seems to take a rather pessimistic view of the Antipodean pastoralists and agriculturalists' future on that account. The Argentine is certainly a " coming country " as regards produce etj ports to the Old Country; but personally I fancy Auetralia and New Zealand will take as much "knocking out" as Sweden and Denmark, even if peace reigns in Argentina to the end of the century. Which is unlikely. ( Sir Westby Perceval goes down to Bafcombe this evening to lecture on New Zealand to the local "Association." This society is run by the local magnates for the benefit of the local workers, and so, in'spite of the season, the Agent-General IB sore of a good audience. Mr and Mrs A. R. Carrington,' of Whangaree, who came to the' Old Country in November last, have decided to return to the colony by the Kaikoura, which leaves London a month hence. The Gafrington'a have spent the major part of their stay at Home with Mrs Carrington's mother afc Tunbridge Wells. I hear that Captain Ashby, who wag last week reported to be "getting on like s house on fire," has had a slight relapse, brought on by indiscretion in the matter of outdoor exercise. The captain is slowly recovering the use of his arm and hand. Ik was feared at first that the stroke had been fatal to these members.

Mr F. S. Batchelor, of Dunedin, represented Guy's Hospital at the united hospital sports on Wednesday in the 440 Yard* Challenge Cup Race, but could only get second to Butler, of St. Mary's, who beat the New Zealander by 10yds in 52 3-ssec Guy's, however, won the sports by half a point from St. Mary's. I understand that Mr W. Mendelson'B little quarrel with the 'Varsity authorities will not prevent the Temuka crack representing Cambridge in the long jump at the forthcoming inter-'varaity sports. I hear also that Mendeleon will try for the championship in this event. He should stand a very fair chance with Fry out of the way, providing his knee does not give way in training.

BLUB SPUE COMPANY. The report of the Blue Spur and Gabriel Gully Consolidated Gold Company for the twelve months ended February 28 states that the accounts arranged according to tbe agreement with the banks show the incon>e amounted to £14,953, and the working expenses to £6,849, leaving a gross., {front of £8,104. From this has been paid: Interest on mortgage, £B5l, preference dividend due on February 28, 1894, £B9B, and sinking fund to bank for the past rear, £2,000. The directors also have a right to deduct for fees £1,250. This leaves £3,105, from which has to be deducted £717, tbe dividend to be declared on the preference shares for the past twelve months. There thus remains £2,388. The amount realised by sale of plant, £2OO, less charges, has also been paid to the banks in redaction of the mortgage. The banks were entitled under the terms of the mortgage to one-half the balance of £2,388, which has been more than- satisfied by the payment of a second £2,000, making the total payments in redaction of the mortgage daring the year of £4,200. The directors forego their claim to fees as they also now entirely forego the claim for the previous year—»at that time only waived pending the assent of an absei)t colleague. He has given his assent on cod' dition that the amount of fees thus renounced should be applied to the reduction of tbe debt to the banks. The" directors in London are of the same mind, and as the funds of the company permit it the Board therefore have directed that a further £2,000 be repaid, which will further reduce the debt to £5,600, a sum which may well be paid off in the current year if the yield of gold goes on as satisfactorily as it has dene in the last twelve months. The company will then begin the financial year 1896-97 free of debt, and the probable surplus of net profits will be available for dividend on the ordinary shares. The working of the mine during the period under review was carried on without any accident or drawback, a pleasing feature being an increasing yield of gold, both as regards time and quality of cement The yield averaged for the first six months 300oz per month, and during the second six 3310z per month. In 1893-94 the average value of the cement worked was Is o£d per cubic yard. In 1894-95 it was Is 4id per cubic yard, or an improvement of 21~£ per cent. Another very satisfactory feature was that whereas in 1893-94 it cost £4,662 in wages and explosives to work 161,841 cubic yards of cement, from which 2.1660z of gold were obtained, it only cost £4,799 in 1894-95 to work 221,503 cubic yards, from which 3,7890z of gold were won—that is to say, the cost of wages and explosives in 1894-95 was only £1 5a 3d per oz as against £2 8s 5d in 1893-94, or 52 per cent, oiily of that of the previous year.