ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7841, 10 January 1887, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[rBOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, December 2. You will have heard by cable of the sad death of Mr. R. Sherborne Murray Smith, tbe only son of the late Agent-General for Victoria. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mr. Murray Smith in this sad bereavement, the circumstances of which are especially painfuL The family are away in the colony, and the young man had boon left in England to complete his education at Oriel College. He caught a chill while playing at a college football match, and, after a very few days' illness, a throat affection with which he was seized developed so dangerously that medical aid was useless, and the end came with the bursting of an abscess in tho throat. There was not even time for him to be seen by his married sister, who is over here. He had gained the affections of a large circle of Friends, and all Oriel College followed his remains to the grave. A prominent colonial passed away last week in the person of Mr. Thomas King, one of the proprietors of the South Australian Advertiser, and many years a member of fiarliament in the colony. He had suffered or many months from an incurable disease, and he died at his residence at Hyde Park on the 20th inst. At bis funeral at Kensal Green Cemetery a large number of colonists assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to him< The Hon. Malcolm Fraser, Colonial Secretary for Western Australia, sails for Perth this week. He is not taking in bis pocket a commission as Lieutenant-Governor far the North-Western provinces of the colony, as it was reported in Australia he would do. The rumour did not reach his ears until within the last few days, and then he gave it a vigorous denial. He was banquetted at the Holbora Restaurant, as all colonists of any note are nowa days, and he made the usual speech in favour of Australasian federation, which is equally inevitable with a dinner. He also took occasion to attribute the non-realisation of this policy to the jealousy existing between New South Wales and Victoria, and his remarks on this point have grievously wounded Sir Saul Samuel, the Agent-General for the parent colony, who has serious thoughts of complaining to the Colonial Office of the attacks made by an Imperial Officer. One distinguished colonial visitor and legistor still defers bis departure for his Australasian home, having evidently been detained by the preparation of a unique and characteristic souvenir. Mr. R. Burdett Smith, M.P. for Sydney, has gone to the expense of publishing, as he says, at the expense of friends, and for private circulation only, a record of his life and a speech delivered by him at the opening of the Macleay District Hospital over 40 years ago. It would be interesting to know how maoy persons in England will read this pamphlet of 36 pages. At the last meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute, Mr. John F. Franckeis, of New Zealand, was elected a Fellow. Mr. Davltt, of the firm of Davitt and Moore, who is associated with the movement against the Australian freight "ring," is about to visit the colonies, and his visit is supposed to have reference to the scheme that is being promoted by Messrs. Winoott, Cooper, and Co., to start a rival association under the name of the Australian Mutual Shipping Company, Limited. Efforts will be mado to enlist the support of colonial importers for the Mutual Shipping Company, who hope to dispatch their first ships to Melbourne and Sydney in March next, and who intimate their intention to protect shippers in Liverpool a* well as in London. The Umpire Club difficulty has cropped up again. An appeal of the committee to the members has not produced a sufficient sum to wipe off the somewhat heavy liabilities that had been Incurred. Consequently some of the creditors have brought actions against members of the oommittee. One was brought by a butcher who had been supplying, meat for some time to the club. He obtained a verdict against two of the members of the committee, the Judge holding the managing oommittee must have made a oontract with him. Mr. Justice Day expressed a deoided opinion that the members of the club could not be held liable became a club was not an entity which the law could reoognise as a party, to a oontract, which in this case must have been made by the managing committee. The Judge was somewhat sarcastic upon the constitution of the committee, remarking that a casual glance would suggest it included half the peerage. An appeal case has been before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in which New Zealand has some interest. The appellants are the Insurance Company of New Zealand and the respondents the Adelaide Marine and Fire Insurance Company. The action was brought to enforce an executory oontraot for the reinsurance of part of a policy of marine insurance effected by the respondents with the appellants in 1882 on a cargo of wheat on board the Duke of .Sutherland, since lost in the roadstead of Timaru. The amount involved is less than £2900, and judgment has been reserved. Apropos of the mania for floating colonial mines, although frequent announcements are made of fresh companies, which generally get subscribed for, the speculative movement has been nearly killed by the warning telegram that was received some weeks ago from the Queensland Government as to the Red Hill mine. Nelson Brothers have made a fresh advance | in the direotion of supplying the West of England with frozen meat. They have just established a place of business at Exeter, one of the principal towns in the west of England.. I hear the consumers who will take a .' carcase at a . time will obtain New Zealand mutton at 4Jd per pound regularly, and those who take half a sheep for s£d per pound. It may interest some to learn that Messrs. J. and G. Hall have written to deny that one particular firm possesses a monopoly in the manufacture of special machinery for producing frozen meat. As the statement originated with the New Zealand correspondent of a London financial authority, it may be as well to give the correction circulated in the quarter from whioh the rumour camp. - Some days ago one of the London jamais published an extract from a leading 'financial journal in Australia, which tinted at the I probability of difficulty arising in the payment of interest on >omo bt the Oamaru

Corporation loans. The prominence given to this damaging statement had a momentary effect on the Stock Exchange, but its influence was not. sufficient to do any 1 material harm. Any timid , holders of the stock have since been reassured by the prompt payment of the interest doe on the" Oamaru Corporation Gasworks Loan. A few evenings ago, at the Park Congregational Church, Buy ton, an address and cheque for 230 guineas were presented to the Rev. J. W. Walker, late pastor of the Church, an his return from New Zealand. It was given as a token of the warm affection and esteem in whioh Mr. Walker is held by his late congregation, who rejoiced at his complete restoration to health, and trusted that he would soon be led to a new sphere of labour. v /. V An interesting sketch "Of a part of New Zealand (seen from a Missionary point of view) has been written ' by Miss Annie I Butler, and published : by the Religious Tract Society, under the title of "Glimpses of Maoriland." She.forms a fair and favourable estimate of the Maori character. Mr. Alfred B. Burton is pursuing a successful career as a lecturer in the provinces. He' received quite an ovation a few days ago when lecturing in Leicester, his native town. He Repeated the lecture to whioh reference has been already made in this correspondence—"From Tongarlro to the Terraces, a Photographic Flight through a Fireball." The photographs with whioh be illustrated his eloquent address were greatly admired. At a meeting of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, just held in London to alter some of the articles of association bo as to oonform with the requirements of the Stock Exchange, Mr. T. Salt, M.P., spoke in sanguine terms of the prospects of the railway. The company were on friendly relations with the Government of New Zealand, from which they had expeoted to obtain a grant of two million aorea of land, whereas now it was understood the Government were prepared to make them a lump grant of two and a half million acres. Mr. Harvey l Drew, the London solicitor who passed himself off for a' short time in Sydney as Sir ' Arthur -Adair, "a wealthy globo-trotter, has just pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of £4000 from the Bermondsey Leather Company,' of whioh he was the secretary. He has been sentenced to penal servitude for 10 years, the Recorder 'declaring that the case was a very aggravated one, and that there was absolutely nothing to be said on behalf of the prisoner. Mr, MoCoy, Professor of Natural History in the University of Melbourne, has just bad conferred upon him by the University of Cambridge the degree of Doctor of Science, whioh was conferred upon M. Julius Von Haast some months ago. There is a school of practical engineering at the Crystal Palace, and it prepares students for life in the colonies or abroad, as explorers or settlers. To meet the demands of intending colonists who do not want to spend a year in going through the whole course, arrangements are to be made for instructing them'in one or two subjects, suoh as quick surveying, carpentry, cart-wheel making, forging, horse-shoe making, &c. Among the optional subjeots practioally taught are butchering in all its branches, veterinary work, rough riding, and ploughing with oxen as well as horses. Mr. Callia, of Wellington, will return next month in the Kaikoura. A small number of nominated emigrants, together with a few families of assisted farmers, are booked by the Ruapehu, about 200 in all. Mr. Robert Wilson, the engineer of the Midland Railway, sailed for New Zealand, via Melbourne, on the 26th Inst., in the R.M.B. Iberia. Sir John Stoell's statue of the poet Burns, which is intended to perpetuate his fame in the city of Dunedin, was sent out to Otago in the s.s. Rimutaka. It has not been seen by many, but the few who have seen it describe it as a fine work of art. An interesting paper on the New Britain Group in the Pacific was read before the Royal Geographical Society a few days ago, by Mr. H. H. Romilly, the Deputy Commissioner for tho Western Pacific. His re* marks indicated his belief that England had allowed a very valuable possession to slip from her grasp when she permitted the Hermans to acquire these islands, which had been discovered a long time ago by British navigators. The climate, he affirms, is better than that of New Guinea, and the islands are capable of yielding all tropical products. It was almost certain that the tribes were cannibals or, at least, had canni balistio proclivities, but he thought they were capable of being utilised for labour purposes, if they were managed with firmness and kindness. What the Germans will make of all these advantages remains to be seen. The Rev. George Brown, a missionary of many years' experience in the group, confirmed what was said about the islanders being cannibals, but believed that the eating of human flesh was a custom indulged in only as a religious rite. The Agent-General is endeavouring to revive the entente cordiale which formerly prevailed amongst the colonial official representatives. Owing to the Laodicean attitude of South Australia in regard to New Guinea j the disposition evinced by Victoria to play a lone-hand in respect of the New Hebrides, and the general " cusaedneaa" of New South Wales on almost every question where federal action was desirable, the AgentsGeneral have gradually drifted apart; not that they are at all unfriendlyquite t.he reverse. They profess unbounded respect for each other privately, but they have got into the habit of visiting Downing-street each on " his own hook," with the inevitable result that their individual and, in some degree, divergent remonstrances receive but scant attention. Sir Francis Bell, always practical, was the first to recognise the inutility of continuing suoh tactics. His overtures have been kindly reciprocated, and there is a good prospect of the colonial representatives again presenting a united front on most questions affecting the relations of Australasia to the mother country. It is whispered abroad that Sir Francis may shortly take a trip to Paris. As he never ventures into that delightful capital In pursuit of pleasure, it can only be surmised that he is going on business. As he is known to have the early settlement of the Recidiviste and .New Hebrides questions muoh at heart, It is conjeotured that he may be contemplating a visit to the Quai dOrsai to talk matters over with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. It mar interest the ladies to learn that Dr. Robt. Withers, of Lawrence, Otago, was married at Southsea, on November 27, to Miss Bryson, eldest daughter of Colonel T. Bryson, chief paymaster (retired), Army Pay Department. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England has just granted warrants for the following new lodges -The Ruabine Lodge, Woodville, Hawke's Bay, and the Lodge of Harmony, Otahuhu, Auckland. The Colonial College a nd Training Farms Company, which proposes to ; establish at Holleiiley Bay, Suffolk, a college for the praotioal training of youths intending to emigrate, have issued a fresh prospectus. They propose to issue 10,000 (or half) new shares, in order to raise £50,000, with whioh to purchase the property and make a commencement. The time is scarcely opportune for the movement. The Liverpool Exhibition has given so much satisfaction this year that it is proposed to reopen it next as the Imperial Jubilee Exhibition of Liverpool. An Emigration Court will be one of the new fea» tares. It will, it is thought, enable the colonies to represent the enormous growth, and present resources of the colonies on a scale that the oolonial Governments have never yet been able to realise. What this grandiloquent language means, after the extraordinary display of oolonial resources at South Kensington, this year, it is difficult to say. It is proposed to "enliven " the Court by pictorial illustrations of eaoh colony, and representative groups of animals and products, and in addition to supply statistical maps, tables, books, etc. Lectures are to be given with the aid of of lantern views, illustrating the life and scenery of each colony. Mr. Burton should keep his eye on this movement in case he remains in England. The Redhill Gold Mining Company will probably proceed to allotment next week. The P. and O. Company are evidently hopeful that their tender for the conveyance of the Australian mails will be accepted. They have ordered four steamers of large size, 6500 tons eaoh, with proportionate steam power, from builders at Greenock and Belfast—The names of the new boats areBritannia, Victoria, Oceana, Arcadia. The depreciation in freights must be bad indeed when the P. and O. Company can find consolation in the fact that last year their freight revenue showed a loss of £79,000 only as oompared with the previous year, instead of £120,000 as they bad feared. Quite

recently homeward Australian freights show an improvement, and there ■ has been more ; activity in outward freights generally. In, spite of bad times the grand old company? keep up a 6 per cent dividend. The Christmas number of Trath is worth glancing at, even in distant New Zealand, lb is written with humour,' and its political cartoons are wonderfully 1 clever. The portraits of some three hundred celebrities in the political, legal, clerical, literary, journalistic, and artistic world are , introduced in a satirical panorama of English society. The Prinoe of Wales is represented' "tooling" the Exhibition ooaoh, whioh is full of colonial notabilities. Sir Julius, disguised as a Maori chief profusely - tattooed, is a prominent; figure. The late Bishop of Melbourne has been getting into hot water with the Noncon-. formists in his diocese of : Manchester. Although he is an advanoed Radical in many points, the Bishop regards a policy of disestablishment and disendowment as robbery, confiscation, and; spoliation ,by process of law. " This trenchant denunciation has greatly irritated the Nonconformist ministers, and a rather heated controversy has been raging for some time. The clerical critics of the Bishop deolare that they can justify to their consciences the position they have assumed, and they insist on being credited with honesty of purpose in their advooaoy of the policy. Mr. F. W. Chesson, the indefatigable secretary of the Aborigines Protection Society, has again been endeavouring to obtain redress for the alleged wrongs of the natives of Fiji. He declares that he has reoeived conclusive, proof that a native Wesleyan has been brutally flogged by order of a council of chiefs for no other reason than that he had complained of the pillage of his garden. Mr. Chesson admits that the Lieut.-Governor was in no sense responsible for this outrage; he declared that under the existing system the natives do not get adequate legal protection, and he urges the Colonial Office to take further steps to protect them from illtreatment. ~