NEWS FROM LONDON BY THE TONGARIRO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6999, 23 April 1884, Page 6

NEWS FROM LONDON BY THE TONGARIRO.

' IrftOMOTO OWN OOBBBSPONDENT.] XoNDCrr, Maroh7.. . x A CHEAP NEW;ZEALAND GRILL. Although the Australasian colonies have wiaelydeterminedto reserve themselves for the greatralisnial'exhibition which is to be held at in 18S6 (which' the Prince of 'Wales is determined to make as Creat a success ¥s the Figherie&Exhibifcion of last year) ; yet.through the forethought of some oldcdleniats, an effortwas made to: bring them prominently before the public, :in oonneotion with the approaching Health Exhibition, though'' thejr will nob* officially be included among-the exhibits. Some months ago, by comnsaild of H.R.H. the Prince ; of Wales,' the Agents-General were appointed VieoPrtsidenta of the exhibition, and mettibers of the General Committee. • Shortly afterwards, in the conrse of a discussion, they, ' with the Duke of Buckingham, the Chairman of the Executive, suggested that a cheap grill of frozen meat in connection with the exhibition would probably prove 68 great a popular attraction as the cheap fish dinners had "been last year. The idea was applauded by the Executive Committee, whereupon Sir Francis Bell communicated with Mr. Haslam, who agreed to eredt one of his small refrigerating engines, and made all the necessary calculations as to the space required. The prinoipal importers of'ftozen < meat were next addressed, and they responded to the invitation sent themi fend on "Monday last met 1 to discuss the scheme. The interview elicited the gratify* ing admission that the frozen meat' was certainly getting into larger consumption, and that many new shops for, its sale arebeing opened in various parts of the metropolian Some of the importers, however,.appeared'to entertain amount whether it wduld-be easy to overcome the difficulties which attend the transport -of the nieat into' the pr6vihces. The -Great ; Western and North-Western Railway Companies have for some' time cot£ templated the advisability of attaohinjg refrigerating cars to their trains, to allow-Of (the-rapid transport of the meat to the populous manufacturing districta in' the North. The Great Western, I believe, have actually built a refrigerating car for the pnrpoße of testing the experiment. It was pointed out by other importers that' even - admit' ting there were difficulties' in the way of transporting ' the meat from' London to' the provinces by train, there still remained an easy way of avoiding "that , dilemma when it was proved that profitable markets for the meat existed ont of London. It was just as .easy to send cargoes of meat direot to the Clyde, for disposal in Scotland, 1 or to, Liverpool, for sale in the manufacturing districts, as to ship all the mutton >to the metropolis. A few-of the importers took another ground -of ■ objection. ■ They thought that the increased, consumptions! frozen meat was so satisfactory ah indication that the public were becoming aware of the merits of the article that it was unnecessary to make any special effort to direct fresh attention to it. .Ultimately the-meeting resolved to give effect to Sir Francis Bbll'b suggestion, and .appointed a committee to see all the. importers who .were not represented, and secure their adhesion. It was arranged to offer the Execdtive Committee of : the.exhibition a guarantee to the extent of £1.000 to seoure. them against any loss in establishing and carrying on a. cheap-grill. : The guarantee is little more than nominal, for as the 6d fish dinners yielded a profit of£l2oo after paying all'expenses, there iu every reaion to hope.that " thegrill" would, no*. have been less successful." No doubt was entertained that a plentiful, well-cooked, ' appetizing meal could be supplied for od. Indeed, several city restaurants: have for some tiraesuppliedolerke and others with an excellent. midday. meal : ati that-; pride, giving a cut of mutton ,or beef, with vege-' tables. "■ As Splendid New ZfealaHd mutton can be bought in .the .wholesaled market at. 5Jd per lb. j and Australian carcases for a trifle less, it is clear, that the exhibition authorities could afford to supply a plato of meat for considerably less than 6d, .for no one could expect anything like a pound of mntten at ameaL Of course grilled mutton chops wonld not. have been'the only dish, bnt, in order to economically dispose of the whole carcase, -Irish stews, hashes, &0., would also have been provided. In order to instruct the public as. well as feed them cheaply," it Was proposed to erect a refrigerating ' ohambsr •in the exhibition: (in." which oarcases of frozen mutton Jjrought direct from the ship wonld be kept until required by the cook), which would be open to inspection.' "But this miming I hear that' this ■ attempt to frozen" meat is likely to be' upset by a majority of, the Exhibition Committee, who are: ,opposed to the cheap grill idea. " , THE GOVERNORSHIP OF VICTORIA. ; It sayi something for tho attractions of thfe old cohhtry when peer after pfeec refuses a comfortable sinecure like the Governorship of Victoria, though baited with £10,000 a year, rather than undergo five years' exile to the antipodes. Possibly.if they' had any knowledge of the: many charms r of> colonial or even of colonial sodiety,-they would be leas ready, to throw away the opportunity of acquiring at leatt a new and agreeable experience. - But the-Earl of : Morley, the Earl of Camperdown, and •- the .Earl of Dalhonsie, • who have all declined to embrace a- colonial! c&rder, know nothing personally of' Australia, and through sheer ignorance' most possibly grievously underrated the splendid appointment which was offered them. Sir Heronlesi Robinson is bitterly disappointed that political considerations have compelled him. to forego his claims to Victoria, but the call of dnty'was imperative. The had goeepted his South. African policy upon, the: faith that he would return to the Cape -to. initiate it/- they. had' increased his salary, 1 and treated him with high consideration,'and : thus established a claim-which'was too chivalrous to disregard. - flb is no seoret that Lady Robinson feels the disappointment also, as she has many friesdS in Victoriai 1 - THE NEW HEBRIDES , V " The gist ,of Commodore Erskine's report uponthe alleged purchase from the natives of the New Hebrides Group, by. LieUtehaint d'Arbel, of the "French, navy,, of, in islet named Iririki, which was claimed by-British missionaries, has transpired. Captain Erskihe states that Lientenant d'Arbel did unfortunately'purchase the. islet, but'after . it had been acquired by British subjeots, who held a regular title deed for it. The natives had, however,'as fir aa poßsible, restored the consideration received by them front Lieutenant d'Arbel, .'Mid the'incident Was closed. "• Captain PaUu de la Barri&re;'the Governor of New Caledonia, wrote'to Gemmodore Erekino, in September laqt, thit' th'e' missionaries of Erakor had only to pfoduAe their title deed to Iririki, in Vila Harbour,: Port . Sandwioh, and- "etferyohe coming- subsequently to them will have bo course open but to give way."' The neglect or refusal of the Freach authorities in the Paoific to demand the extradition from' Australia of some' French criminals who had' succeeded in esoaning there, has been fcronghtunder, the attention of-the French' Foreign; Office, who gave satisfactory assurances that in future extradition should be asked for. Iti, was suggested that the failure te ask forextradition might have arisen from the many formalities' which the Australian colonies insisted on before they will surrender a> criminal. The papers whioh they required sometimes had: to be sent for frem: France.; It appear* that since 1873, 247 escaped convictahad reached: Australia from New Cale-' douia. c-The larger ■ proportion of those :who had not heen extradited are to bo found aiaengßt the criminal classes bf - the colonies, ni>t more than one-tenth - earning an honest livelihood. .iw.: ■■ ( BILLS OF LADING. - -'i The'committee appointed by tU London Chamber of Commerce' t6 • consider the com- ; plaintd noade by Australian and New Zealand merchants respecting the unfairness of some , of the conditions now inserted in bills of lading had a conference on the 29th ultimo, with'some Australasianß,' who were directed ti> mj&e known the views of some Of the colonial Chambers of Commerce. Sir Franois Bell intended to be present, bnt he was pr'evbhted^txotn attending. decided that; in view of tbe Merchant Shippihg Bill submitted to.Parliament by the Government it would be better- to postpone the eonsideration of the bills of lading' question Ps>J?mg the 'diflchSMdn' oii Mr.' Chamberlain'B meaauro. J /f thorefors ,0a- - jonrned nntil th 3 28th Maroh.. — THE BRiTISH KING'S SHIPMENT. ' The frokctt'iheit bx British King is selling freely," 4 2500' carcases haviDg been already ofr The sheep are in- very good

order, but like the Tengariro's shipment they itrt-too muoh of. the-merino breed aboat them tosuit tile London market. bn.st are .Helling at per (Btone ; pf 81ba. 'Che lambs are resJising from ia . to 5s per ntone. The best Bc6tch mutton is selling at 15s 4d to 5b 8d jier stone.' / ' ' ABhockigdocident,'which has caused the death'of the pilot;'captain, *nd aecoqd offi» cer of the Australian liner Aberdeen, occurred at ■ Graveaefcd .on Saturday afternoon,, just after the vqsa?! bad. sailed for/the .colonies. James Hilson, the * second' officeiri appears to have placed'" a boi' containing rocket* arid blue-lights jusfc inside the chartthoiue, which served -aa the • pugizine.- The . explosives ignited.iii some Bnacconntable ,manner, and inflicted "fearful injuries . upon the second Officer; Captain • Mftddi«6D, and upon the pilot, from '--which .they all died.-' Tho bridge of the vessel,, .the ; okarfc room, and the cap* tain's room were .totally . destroyed. The QueeiTof Tahiti iti beiflg drawn into the .vertex' of Parisian taooial dissipation. Shebas dined'with the Minister of Marine, has declined a 'b&ll ~at'the~Elys6fc, because she had costumereidy, and has attended *,sitting of? the Chamber of Deputise." Upon her arrival,' the Deputies all rise to salute her,' but it has been Suggested that curioiity, not politeness dictated the compliment.. • . : A-box, containing,a quantity of the Bishop of Sydney*B .manuscripts, hM been gashed ashore froiri' the' wreok of- the .Simla. The' manuscripts have been , carefully driid/ and Dr. Barry will be glad to hear are . quite legible...r v•The degree of D.D. honoris caiwdhsabeen conferred by convocation upon the Rev. Sydney Linton, M. A., Wadham College, the Bishop Designate of ■ He: will be consecrated on May 1, but will not prooeed to his diocese until .the..end of the year, as he : has< undertaken some , colonial church work which will detain' hitn. in England for some' months." ~