OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7001, 25 April 1884, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[fbom oua owh cobb»spokdent.J ■--■•-'•' - : ' London, Ma'roh 14. THE WESTERN PAOIPIO RKPORT.

This report of the Western Pootfio Commission has created no email stir amongit saoh of the Agents-General who have followed the development of events in the Paoiflo euffir ciently closely to realise what an ; important bearing some of Sir Arthur Gordoa'e recommendations have upon the annexation policy which the Governments of Australasia appear inclined to adopt. At the instance of Mr. Murray Smith, the Agents-General were invited to meet at th e Victorian office y eaterdayyto consider what could be done in view of r ;the - hOßtile attitude'of: the. commiflr sioir in'regard to any Ads tralaaian control •over'.'' the islands in the Paolfic.' With the exception'of .Sir Arthur Blyfch, who did " fnot ieel-." himself ' justified in attending in the absence of any instructions from the . Government "of, South Australia, all' the Agente-GeeeraT We're present. ' soon became apparent that absolute unanU mity of opinion did \not .prevail;" foriMiv Hammond, the Aoting-A'gent-General', 'foe Queensland, expressed his decided approval! of the report of "the commission, and Kβ believed the Government■w.puld! eadorse its recommendations.' Sir Frincis Bell 'remarked/that'' Mr." Griffith' had' ■prbsaed , to him' opinions which;' tatnly" place' him. in hostility'' to'"certain important recommendations of the commission. It seemed to'him that the : attitude : taken up by Sir Arthur Gordon, if s'nppprted :by'the Imperial Government, strnok at .the very root of' the Aidstrrilajian policy, in tegard to thi Pacific. I'fce report, it remeiabsred, , ad»i!eed that ' the authority exsr-rdeing control over the ielaida boyc-Hd I tht Jonfines of Australia, should be whe.'V Tmpeiial, as to place the deetinien ofmillions of Bljoirigities entirely in'ihe hands of colo-' nints, whc3e interests would.be alwftya alien and frequently antagonistic to their, own,, ■would he » meaeure it would be to juetify. Mr. Murray Smith generally concurreti in the argnmente ot Sir" Francis. Dltiscately, it was considered desirable not to arrive at any definite conclaeioL:. bat to repoi*fc the circumstances to the respective Goyernmeuts, and .await their instructions. It is much to be regretted Shat the representatives of South Australia and Quscns« ileud thould adopt an attiiusia which, if it 'expresses tha views of tbeir respective Govsrwnents,' is fatal to' asyjhir>g like. I federal action. .

FKOPOSED ANNEX -YilOU OF SAMOA,

Apropos of th's paragraph which appeared in your jouinul in September laet with reference to Mr. John Luudon'e suggestion that the Samoaese should petition for the annexation of the Navigator Islands to New Zealand, Sir W. F. D. Jervois, in a despatoh to Lord Derby, written on December" 8, makea the singular assertion that the paragraph escaped the attention of himself and his advisers until the reoeipt of a despatch from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific relative to it. As Hii Excellenoy very truly remarks, "This may leetn strange, considering that it was published in an Auckland newspaper, but the fact is that amidst the numerons local journals of the colony the paragraph escaped attention." Possibly you are already aware of the contents of Sir G. W. Des Voeux'a despatch to the Governor of New Zealand, but if not, his views regarding the proposal to annex Samoa will be interesting. The Acting High Commissioner admits that the arrangement concluded with Maltetoa and Tamasese four years ago, though it has preserved the peace for four years, has not suppressed the elemonts of discord. Indeed, he thinks the nature of the settlement such as to afford a specially favourable opportunity for creating agitation to those who are desirous of doing so. Any attempt to bring about a cession of the Islands would inevitably produce a renewal of civil war. Whether the annexation of Samoa to New Zealand were desirable or not, it must be borne in mind, says Sir G. W. Des Vosux, that it would not probably be sanctioned without the previous consent of Germany, which has interests in the Islands considerably greater than those of any other Power, aud'whioh deserves special consideration as having afforded for years past the principal proteotion to all white settlers bj keeping ships of war almost continually in Samoan waters. As Germany is not a colonising Power, it is not impossible, the Acting High Commissioner thinks, that her Government might regard with favour the annexation of the gronp, by England in the assusance that the possession of the private property of German subjects would be thereby guaranteed, but, however that may be, such a disposition would not be induced by an agitation which plaoed in immediate peril interests which had hitherto been preserved at so heavy a sacrifice. Aβ the aotion taken by persons from New Zealand was oaloulated to defeat the objects of the Permissive Annexation Aofc, to create Imperial complications and imperil the interests of the Samoans, Sir G. W. Des Vceux earnestly asked the New Zealand Government to exercise all ita influence to check the mischief. King Matietoa, it was added, had requested the Foreign Consuls to prevent the departure of Tamasese, the vice-king, to Mew Zealand, lest he should cause a civil war. Sir W. F. D. Jervois informed the High Commissioner in reply, that neither he nor his Government had any knowledge of the proceedings referred to, and would not in any way countenanoe them. .The Annexation Bill, it was pointed ont, would not authorise the course taken by Mr. Lundon. The British Consul at Samoa does hot estimate the blessings of peace quite as highly as the Acting High Commissioner. In his last report to the British Government he states that the great hopes that were entertained of the natives applying themselves to industrial pursuits if they were freed from incessant conflict amongst themselves have been altogether disappointed. Nothing, he states, can overcome the antipathy of the natives to doing any more work than is absolutely necessary to their immediate existence, and consequently no more copra is made during a year of peace than during a year of war. The Consul refers to the moral impossibility under the present circumstances of speculators obtaining an indisputable title to any parcel of land that they might purohase, and to the impossibility of attracting capital to the islands so ; long as that condition of affairs lasted. . It ! is evidently impossible for 30,000 lazy natives to close one of the most fertile and lovely groups in the Pacific against European enterprise and civilisation. It is a singular fact that while horses and cattle imported into Samoa from Australia breed and thrive well, the introduction of sheep has proved a failure.

In the House of Commons last night, Mr. Ashley, replying to Mr. Gorst, said he had already stated that Her Majesty's Government had not yet taken any steps for "placing upon a more satisfactory footing the control over British subjects in the Western Pacific." Until they saw'the results of the action of the Intercolonial Convention at Sydney, Her Majesty's Government could not come to any datermingtion. Lord E. Fitzmauriee said : There have been no remonstrances received from, or addressed to, any foreign Power with regard to cruelties by British sailors in the Western Paoi6c other than the communications received from the German Government on the subject. No negotiations with any foreign Powersj or other correspondence, have taken place; but the Western Pacific Committee, whose report has lately been laid before Parliament, was appointed with a view to the consideration of the course to be taken for the repression of outrages and acts of violence, and it , , will be a principal question whether any foreign power should be invited to co-operate in this matter. Mr. Gorst gave notice that he would take the earliest opportunity of moving a resolution on the subject, in order to stimulate the action of the Government.

THE CHEAP NEW ZEALAND ..-,-.,■ "GKILL," e ..-

When the executive of the Health Exhib i tion ascertained the apace required to give adequate effect to the views of the promoter*: of a cheap "grill" they were somewhat taken aback, and seemed inclined to raise difficulties which would put an end to the whole scheme. Sir Francis Bell went to the rescue, i and the. representation he made to the Dulfe of Buckingham, the President cf the Commission,' were so cogent,' that all obstacles were removed. Yesterday the committee of the importers of frozen meat, with Mr. Haalam, met the exoeutive, and were allotted apace sufficient to ereot a refrigerating engine and two chambers. In one chamber a large number of carcases will

bo stowed as if on board ship ; m the other —the ohilling chamber—the c»rcaß e ? will be mbjeotod to the gradual thawing quired to fit the meat for consumption, items. Bertram and Roberts, tbo f*™"™ for tho Jiihibitioa, as well as for tne Crystal Palace and Royal Aqnurinm, have boen allotted a lirge site in .t&e grounds in oloie proximity to the refrigerating oham per, and hero thoy will eraot a suitable dininghall. . Thus, the onriouß observer will be able to' trace the meat from the time it was packed on board ship, to the time at which it is presented to him for coniumption. The caterers appear desirous to do all in their power to render the experiment a success. To those who require only a snack for luncheon, andareinduced toenter the diningroom more by curiosity than hunger, ■ the oaterers will supply a sixpenny grill of mutton. - Others who require an ordinary dinner of meat, vegetables and bread, will be abla .to bare their wants supplied for 9d or la. A refreshment bar will be attached to the dining-room. To make the thing complete, colonial wines should be sold there. Mr. Haslam -intends to erect, at- a cost of £1000, a maohine on an entirely new principle, which is designed to carry out a novel experiment, which was suggested during a recent conversation between. Sir Francis Bell, Sir James Maitland, tmd Mr. Haslam, in connection with the shipment of salmon ova on the lonic. j THE FROZEN HEAT TRADE. I Ab the consignment ex British King is nearly cleared 16435 carcases of sheep and 300 lambs having been sold)_ there is not much Nevr Zealand mutton in the metropolitan meat market at the present time, but the Aorangi is expected with a cargo. Althongh the prices realised are considerably lower than they were some months ago, no difficulty ia experienced in disposing of very large quantities of frozen meat, for instance, no less than' 8000 carcases were Bold on a recent Saturday. The Potosi's cargo of Australian meat was opened ont this week, and it is celling at from 5Jd to 6d per lb. If it were not excessively "as it would readily bring 6d all round. The meat looks splendid, but salesmen complain that there is grest waste in ever-fat shfiep. The British Sing mutton sold at frcm 3s lOd tu 4s per stone, and the lambs itfc from 4s to ss. In- the ret»il market; at Leaden-hall-aiccet. joints of New Zealand mutton can be purchased at the following rates:— Sides, ?Jd per lb.; hind quarters, 9d; fore qnarters, 7d:; legs with necks, BJd; legs with brasses BJd; logs, lOd; saddles, , shoulders, suit loins, Sid; shoulders with : nocks. 7inshoulders with breasts, 7Jd : necks/ 7d~; breasts, od. The retail butcher* in some .instances are supplying their customers with printed directions for hanging .jsd cooking frozen meat. - The Pall Mall Gazette, which has recently shown itself a strong advocate for the development of the frozen meat trade, has published a description of the new arrangements made at .the Victoria Docks for the reception and storage of frozen cargoes. It states that the Dock Company have built thirty or forty cold storage warehouses or chambers, each about twenty-five feet by twenty feet. Two of these chambers are occupied by coldproduoing machinery, the principle being that compressed air when suddenly allowed 'to expand creates intense cold. The cold air i« admitted into Buch of the chambers as are required for use. When a cargo arrives the requisite chambers are at oncc frozen for its reception, so that the meat is only exposed to the outer air for the short interval of its passage by the dock railway from the wharf, where it is landed, , to the. refrigerating chamber, where it frequently remains some weeks before it is .sold. The extreme cleanliness with which the meat is transferred from the ship to the'chamber seems to. have created a marked impression. The chambers are.kept at a temperature of from 20deg. to 23deg. Fahrenheit, it having been found that about lOdeg. of frost best preserves the good qualities of the meat without drying it up. The carcases are placed so that a draught of air reaches each tier. South American mutton and Russian beef are stored here as well as Australasian caresses. It is stated that the company's charge is Jth'of a penny per lb., for which they take the carcases from the ship's side and carry them to. the cold chamber, keep them there for a week at a low temperature, and re-deliver "them as required to the vans, which carry them to Smithfisld. The company groan at the low remuneration they are compelled to accept,, but the.shipowners who convey the meat from the. Antipodes to the dooks for 2£d per lb. do the same, and yet, it is said, both are doing well with the new trade. - THE CONFEDERATION AND ANNEXATION ACT. The Colonial Office have not yet advised Her to assent to the Confederation and Annexation Act, 1833. In a despatch to Lord Derby, Sir W. F. D. Jervois expressed the opinion that the powers conferred by the Act are of a very limited character, as the Commissioners for whose appointment it' provides can only report to the New Zealand i Legislature, no action being taken on their i Recommendations without the consent of Her i Majesty. As the measure had a bearing on matters of Imperial polioy, he had decided, in accordance with the advice of the New Zealand' Government to reserve it for the Royal Assent. It is understood that the Colonial Office will deal with it when they have fully matured their Pacific policy. ' MISCELLANEOUS. Emigration to Australasia is not nearly so brisk this year as it was last. During the first two months of ISS3, 9035 persons sailed for the southern colonies, bnt, during the corresponding period of this year, only 6878 have sailed, the number last month being 2315 as compared with 4847 "in February, 1883. The numbers proceeding to Queenslaud are at present limited to 1000 a month ; there is a strong probability that the New South Wales Parliament will pnrsue an economical policy in regard to immigration, and both New Zealand and South Australia have reduced their as distance to emigrants to a very low ebb, comparatively speaking. Tasmania is prepared to absorb about 4000 during the next three years at the rate of 100 per month. They will proceed by a new line of direct steamers to Hobart. The London syndicate responsible for the outward service consists of Messrs. Staley, Radford, and Co.Gilbert J. McCaul and Co. ; and Messrs. Devitt and Moore. The Orient Company have undertaken that eight return trips from Tasmania shall be made during the year.

The Redmond Brothers, M.P.'a, have returned to Ireland, after completing an extensive tour through Australia and America. They have been warmly welcomed by the Irish National League. They intend to submit a report to the League detailing the difficulties they at first encountered in the colonies, but "the final triumph of their mission." In response to an address of welcome read by Michael Davitt, Mr.. J. E.' Redmond asserted that some 300 branch Leagues had been established in Australia, and that they would act altogether when a orisis arose. But he warned his bearers that the support of Irish-Australians depended on two conditions : first, that the movement at home must bo conducted* on uncompromising, vigorous, and determined lines; and secondly, that the League must suppress everything in the shape of outrage or crime by its instruments. Hie visit to Australia end America had, he said, convinced him that anything like crime in Ireland tended to alienate the sympathies of the people of other nations.

The Arawa arid Tainui, the two fine steamers, now, being built by W. Denny and Brothers, of Dambarton,- for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), are being pushed forward, but will not be "completed for some time. Their principal dimensions are : Length,- 430 feet; beam, 46 feet • depth. 32 feet; gross register, 5200 tons. A description of th» luxurious 'style in which they will be Stted has already been given. These ve«sels, in conjunction with'the "chartered steamers lonic, Dorio, and Coptic, will constitute the Shaw/' Savill, and Albion Campariy'a monthly line of steamers to New Zealand.

TheJlew Zealand Shipping Company's s.s. British Kiog, with 300 . passengers, sailed from London for New Zealand yesterday. The s.s. Aorangi arrived at Tenerifie on March 7, and sailed for London on the 9th, so she may be expeoted in London within a few ..days.- ■" ' '...-.

, The'steaaaer CSty of Paris, the pioneer boat of a new line intended to trade between Liverpool and San Francisco, will leave Liverpool about the: end of the present month for 'Frisco via Honolulu. She will call at the Azores for 1000 Portuguese emigrants who'intend to settle in the Sandwich Islands.- ! •• ■ ■ ;.-.-. • - : -

: . The news of the departure of the Australian cricket team has, given satisfaction. The-professional team whtch will visit ! Australia nest season, is still incomplete. M

Read, Barnes, and Shrewsbury are to be included. Dlyett and BateT a»a»? tioned, bnt. are still uncertain. "^ A handsome guide-book descriptive ef tv. Orient line of itcamen between Eaeiann e » Australia has jart been publiahed bv h, Orient and Pacific Steam Navigation O~? panies. It is well illustrated with nueTS photographs of interesting places on the ii, of route. The floet of the cb»pa n , iad scribed, the advantages of the route foUoerf explained, and mnoh information add!!} which will be mnch appreciated by TayaJS to and fiora the Antipodes, ineludi ß jf »n account of the Australasian colonies, thri, histories-, climate, and industries. A paper "On the mineraliraalth of Oaten*. land" was read before tie Eoyal Colonic Institute, on the 11th instant, by Mr. C 8 Dicken, tbe Secretary to the QneeniUni Agent General, who was fer many yeajj " police magistrate on the northern goldfieldi of the colony.' Mr. Dicken'e paper was fan of useful practical information and was calculated to impress his audience with an idea of the vast mineral wealth of Qneen*. land. Mr. Arthur Hodgson, C.M.G., oldest Queensland squatter in existeact" presided. Sir Thomas Mcßwaith, and otkU leading Queensiandern addressed the meeting. The foundation of the new institute buildings are being laid- The council ha T , about £9030 in band »nd are determined to push on with the building, beliering that in ! active policy will be best calculated to enable I them to raise the balance of the sum reqnirjj | to complete the srruefiare. : Miss Fliz»beth Thompson's (Mrs. Colond Butler) famous battle picture, " Qaatns Bras," which belonged to Mr. C. J. Gsllo. way, of Manchester, has been purchased fothe Victorian National Gallery for £Ijoo. jj is now on exhibition in Bond-street, London. Nicholas Chevalier has not yet completed hia fine picture of " Buddha's Renunciation" for Sir W. J. Clarke, as he has suffered severely from rheumatism. Mr. Bowling's painting of " Lord Melbourne,"' which Sir W. J. Clarke hss just purohased for the Melbourne' Gallery, has been submitted to the Queen for her approval. V A resident of Christchnroh created a ailj sensation a few days ago by walking into the Bank of England and tendering one of theii own £1 notes issned some sixty years ago for payment. Probably few in the bank had ever seen such, a note, for they eridently questioned- its genuineness. Ultimately, however, the bank recognised its liability* and haadfd over a sovereign. Tho New Zeala&der paid rather dearly for his practical joke, for he could have obtain id quite tirioe the mrsaey had ho.sold the note as & cnriosily. Of course it must be understood that the Sank of Eanland don't now issue any note j lower tijau £5. i

JMarahu, Qacea of Tahiti, is itill an object of attention in Paris. . She appears to hi fascinated by the brilliancy of che'theatrieu enSertaiamsats. When at the opera, thV, other evening, her ose complaint was that smoking was fic-t allowed either in the ualoons, the corridors, the boxes, or behiaJ the scenes. She conaoled herself by visiting Che Alcazar the following night to hear Theresa sing, and here she was allowed to smoke to her heart's content. Some of the "London society papers are endeavouring to create a sensation about her by describing her personal charms in detail. It strikes at that they are a trifle too minute in their sketch of individual features. The following description of tbe Queen's mouth is "too utterly too ":—" It advances a little, is wide, aad the lips are thick, and more bine than red. The gums also advance, and are long; but the teeth are horizontal, and would be good if they were not diaoolonred by the smoke of cigars and cigarettes. When aha shows them one thinks of tho time when cold missionary was held a delicacy in the Isles of Oceans."