ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14977, 24 April 1909, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. [FltqM OCR CoRKESi'ONDENT.] LONDON,. March 12. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, on behalf of the marine engineers of New Zealand,; will shortly present Air James Adarason, secretary of tho Institute of Marine Engineers, with tho gold emblem of New Zealand, in recognition, of his services to young colonial engineers in the Old Country. At the last meeting of the Institute the following letter, signed by the president and secretary of the Wellington branch of the Australasian Institute of Marino Engineers, and addressed to Mr Adamson, was read:—" The engineers of New Zoaland, by- unanimous consent, have elected you a life honorary associate of the. Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers, and they be"- to ask your acceptance of the position. They further wish to decorate you with the gold emblem of New Zoaland, in recognition of the magnificent work yon have performed on behalf of the engineers of the Empire, and for the many acts of kindness and splendid advice and assistance which you have extended to our members who have

visited the Homeland, especially to our young engineers who have journeyed thither seeking further experience. Our honoured life honorary associate, the. High Commissioner for Now Zealand, has kindly undertaken to make- this presentation to you, and-the engineers of New Zea--laud join in wishing that you may be spared for many .years to continue the gooJJ work which is part, of your being, and to you a labour of love." Madame Carreno, the celebrated pianist, is to pay another visit to Australasia later in the. year. She has played at over ninety concerts since September. " The amusing part of it is," she snys, •'•'that every year 1 vow that I shall rest through the winter. Yet this one finds me working harder than ever. It is enthusiasm that keeps one working, and work that keeps one alive. Encouragement one must also have. At least, mine is a llature that must have it. And from no people in the world do 1 got such encouragements as from the English. I am in eonsequenco looking forward specially to my tour in Australia." Captain James William Gambier, 8.N.., who died on Tuesday suddenly, from heart failure, at his residence, Mylncroft, Farnborough, at the ago of sixty-seven, served in the Naval Brigade in New Zealand, 1860-1, and was present in several engagements in command of a fieldpiece, receiving the medal for the campaign. He retired in October, 1873. Captain Gambier was a magistrate for Surrey. 'Die Hon W. P. Reeves has been reappointed a member of the Senate of the University of London, dating from May 11 next, when his present term expires." 'Mr Patrick Campbell and Mrs George I Gould, cf Now Zealand, were present I at the reception held by Mrs Lowther, ! the wife of the Speaker of the House I of Commons, on March 5.

Mr .Charles Owen, a New Zealandcr, who has lately gone to reside in Reading, lectured a few night*? ago at the Beaconsfield Club, Reading, on

" New- Zealand and Preferential Tariffs," illustrating his discourse with lantern slides lent by the High Commissioner's Department. The colonist's ideal, fiajd Mr Owen, was essentially progressive towards one fixed and great end, and in it preference was the first stop. It would inevitably lead to.unity of interests, to a conference upon a business -basis, and thence to an Imperial Council and a virtual change of the present Constitution, was the ideal of great- statesmen, and led by deferred but certain linen to a great and federated Empire. At the close of Mr Owen's address Mr J. T. Pettfi admirably sang £■ patriotic song written bv the lecturer and set to music bv Dr W. Boggiss, of Reading. Mr H. 6. Johnstone, in. proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Owen for his interesting address, which he had also given elsewTTerc, said he was-doing a great work for the Empire, of which thev had herd so much. Recent callers nfc the High Commissioner's office:—Mr G. Coup (Christchurch), Mr Edward Percy Field (Wellington). Mr Clayton Dudley Hall (Christchureh). .Mr Gregory Watson and Miss Mollv Watson (Greymcnth), Mr Thomas H.' Murray (Dnnedin), Mr and Mrs. ■)' D. Milltou (Canterbury).. Miss F Ethel Wood (Opawa. Christehmob), Mr A. Hahwell (Napier), .Mr C. West (Wellinal.cn). Mr E. J. Stephens, managing director of Alexander Stephens and Sons, Limited, a Glasgow shipbuilding firm, who recently went to Australia and New Zealand to investigate,the possibilities of the " All-red ,; route, has returned from his mission. . "The Union Steam Ship Company," ho said in an interview. "" is prepared t'o establish a faster service between Victoria. New Zealand and Australia if the various Govern"'.'.cuts will increase the subsidies. As tho contract docs not. expire until July next, and as our firm built

the new turbine Makura, now on the Canadian-Australian run, my advice was sought by Sir James Mills. The New Zealand Government has already taken' the initiative by offering a yearly grant of £IOO,OOO. After studying the peculiarities conditional to a long voyage such as that between this port and Australia, I think thatvcargo-carrjdng reepjirements should not be entirely sacrificed to speed. Tho present service is one of 13j knots, and 1 think this is too slow, and would favour, something intermediate between this and a 20-knot service. In my opinion steamships providing an 18-knot service would meet existing needs. It must bo remembered that the conditions existing on the Pacific, with its long stretches between ports, differ from those which obtain on tho Atlantic. If a 20-knot service was inaugurated it would restrict cargo space, and involve the carrying of large quantities of coal." The NeW Zealand Government was in the money market this' week, placing another batch of short bonds—£soo,ooo worth, carrying 3J per cent interest and due in April 1912. 1 understand that the' whole amount was placed very readily, and that in addition a previous issue of short bonds to the extent of £1,000.000 wore renewed. Tho transaction was not a public loan, the bonds being negotiated privately, and the total amount required being left unstated. * According to the " Times's " city intelligence, there was some adverse comment in .financial .circles on t'ho system by which these private issues are placed on tho market without any definite information as to the amount involved or tho purpose of tho borrowing.