OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8987, 27 February 1888, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[from our own correspondent.] ■ London, January 12. MR. GEORGE DUPPA.

This gentleman, who was one of the early pioneers of the colony, died at his residence, Hollingburne House, Maidstone, in Kent, yesterday week. He went out in the Adelaide, in 1839, together with Gibbon Wakefield, and other historic personages connected with the founding of the colony by the New Zealand Company. The Adelaide was, I believe, the vessel which Lord John Russell and the Government of the day tried to stop, but it sailed a day too soon for them, and, inasmuch as there was then no cable communication between the opposite ends of the earth, after tho Adelaide had obtained a fair tart of the British Government it was no use trying to stop it. Few of those on board had any precise idea where they were going to, save that they were bound for the then almostunknown country of New Zealand. Young George Duppa had joined the adventurous party, not from any love of travel or the restless colonising spirit, but from one object which he kept fixedly in view throughout the whole of his colonial career. Like Warren Hastings, nearly a century earlier, he had noted the decayed fortunes of his family and had vowed to restore the same, and this vow ho faithfully kept. At first he and a few others, settled in the Nelson district, where they lived the free unfettered life which has fascinated so many colonists, and upon which they look back with such fond regret. At this time Sir Francis Bell became one of young Duppa's intimate friends, and the ties they then formed continued throughout life. They had hardly then settled down to the sober business of life, and George Duppa was known more for his athletic feats) his prowess as a boxer, and his recklessness and dare-devilry as a rider, than for his shrewdness and success as a man of business. However, after a time ho took up a valuable station —St. Leonard's—at Amuri, on the borderland between Nelson and Canterbury. He was the first to occupy new land for sheep in that part of the country ; and his enterprise succeeded so well that eventually he sold his station for £150,000. This, together with other profits he had made by similar investments, gave him the fortune he desired. Ho came home, settled in Kent, and by degrees got back the whole of the family estates. He married one of the most beautiful women in England, a daughter of Mr. Edward Miles, the famous Bristol merchant, by whom he has a family, a child having been born quite recently. A short time ago his eldest son died, and this seems to have preyed upon his mind. While in the colony Mr. Duppa never took any part in politics, and save amongst his intimates, by whom he was very much liked, was not a popular man. But he never made any concealment of the fact that he was not a colonist in the strict sense of the word, but had simply come to the colony to make money. DRINK IX THE PACIFIC. There has just been published a Blue Book containing a correspondence between the Imperial authorities and persons interested in the Pacific, relating to proposals for an International Agreement regulating the supply of arms, ammunition, alcohol, and explosives to the natives of the Western Pacific. At present British traders labour under great disadvantages in trading in the Western Pacific, as compared with French, Germans, or Americans. They do not complain about being prevented from selling arms and drink to the natives, but they do consider it an injustice that they should be the only foreigners who suffer from these restrictions. They say that they are deprived of the opportunity of participating in a very lucrative trade, and are punished when they do so participate, whilst their rivals engage in it with impunity. In ISS4 Mr., now jSir J. B. Thurston, addressed a strong letter to Lord Derby, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, calling his attention to the evils wrought to native life by the sale of drink and arms. At the beginning of his letter he declares that " the sale of arms and ammunition to the natives of the Pacific Islands is a discredit or, more plainly stated, a disgrace to civilisation," and that it is demoralising the natives and bringing about their rapid destruction. " The mere possession of a firearm," he says, "acts as an intoxicant upon a native. He becomes drunk with the desire to kill somebody, and so distinguish himself as a fighting man. He is never at a loss for a cause of quarrel. Outside of his own petty tribe or sept every man is an enemy, and there are always some old scores to bo paid off when the opportunity offers." In one pithy sentence Sir John characterises arms, gunpowder, and alcohol as the solvents under which native life disappears, and native lands are made to change ownership. He gives it as his opinion that this traffic can only be suppressed by agreement and joint action of the Great Powers, whose subjects constitute ninety-nine-hundredths of the class profiting by this abominable trade ; and he suggests that the sale of arms, ammunition, dynamite, and alcohol in any form, to the natives of the Western Pacific, should be suppressed by international agreement and action. This recommendation is endorsed by Bishop Selwyn, who points out that the present system is very one - sided, and tells heavily against those who trade under the English flag, making the English trader discontented and unruly, and tempting him to enlist under some foreign flag, thereby diverting the trade from England and her colonies." Negotiations to effect this international agreement have been proceeding for the past three years, and none of the European Governments consulted raised any objection to it, provided it were made applicable to all. But when tho United States were sounded upon the proposal, a difficulty at once became apparent. 'lie United States Government, " whilst recognising and highly approving the moral force and general propriety of the proposed legulations," did not feel inclined to endorse their application to its own subjects, and so refused to come into any international agreement. However, the point has not been abandoned. The British representative at Washington has been instructed not to allow the subject of the sale of drink and arms in the Pacific to drop out of the notice of the Washington Government; and Sir John Thurston has been further consulted by the British Government. Probably, therefore, we may hear something fresh later on.

FINANCE. The Victorian 4 per cent, loan of a million and a-half sterling, was floated by the London and Westminster Bank 011 Tuesday. It was a remarkable success. The tenders amounted to £3,466,500, at prices ranging from the minimum of £104, to £109 3s Gd. Tenders at £108 7s 6d will receive about 35 per cent, of . the amount applied for, and those above that price in full. The average price was £108 I3s lOd. This is .the highest average ever realised in public tender for a colonial loan, and eclipses even the brilliant success which Mr. Murray Smith achieved two or three years ago. Bub at the same timo, contrary to expectation, the amount tendered was very small. It was asserted with the utmost assurance by experts in the city that at least twelve millions would bo applied for. Sir Graham Berry's jaw quite dropped when on Tuesday afternoon he saw how small a basket of tenders was being brought in, and how little the quantity came up to expectation. But he qpickly resumed his wonted confident aspect when it became apparent that,. financially, the loan would be a great success. The practical result of the high price realised is that Victoria receives a gift of £120,000. It is calculated that if this were invested, and allowed to accumulate at compound interest it would, at the end of 30 years, when the loan is to be redeemed, amount to a sum sufficient to pay it off. On the other hand, there is some discussion proceeding as to whether Victoria has not made a mistake in ottering 4 per cent, interest instead of 3 A, like New South Wales and Canada. But in view of the measure of success achieved by the loan, calculations of this kind eeem rather profitless. fiOLDMININO IN WALES. Mr. Pritchard Morgan's goldmine continues to be, canvassed very keenly, though the discussion is falling into the hands of geologists and mining engineers and other specialists. It is now believed that gold may bo found in Wales in paying quantities, but that it exists in " pockets," not continuous veins. For instance, Mr. T. A. i Readwln, a well-known geologist, states

that he knew of a " pocket" at Clogau, out of which £10,000 worth of geld was taken. This gentleman holds the opinion that there are certain gold mines in Wales which, under the improved appliances and enlarged experience now brought to bear upon gold mining, are capable of yielding nearly an ounce of the precious metal to the ton. It is thought, however, that Mr. Pritchard Morgan has lighted upon a "pocket," which happens to be of exceptional richness. But that gentleman himself entertains no such modest views. He believes he is the possessor of a second Mount Morgan. He intends to endow his two daughters with £10,000 a year apiece, to get into Parliament, and to do no one knows what. He has been invited to come forward as the Liberal candidate for a Welsh constituency at the next election, and has issued his electoral address. In this document, which is rather wildly drawn up, Mr. Morgan says : "Iconsider the important discovery I have made in the United Kingdom entitles me to a seat in Parliament." This, however, is a point upon which the electors alone have power to pronounce a useful opinion. Meantime the Welsh Gold King, as he is called, does not seem very popular with the landed gentry of his neighbourhood. .At the Merionethshire quarter sessions he applied for a couple of police constables to protect his gold mine, and there was a strong disposition on the part of a minority of the magistrates to refuse the application, even though Mr. Morgan offered to pay for the men. Ultimately he got the constables, but only on condition of his paying all expenses connected with them. A GOOD STORY. Sir Gavan Duffy has an article in the current issue of the Contemporary Review entitled, An Australian Example." The example in question is Victoria. He cites her growth and progress as an evidence of the capacity of the Irish for self-govern-ment, and as indirectly affording an argument in support of Home Rule for Ireland. Ho commences his article by alluding to the thick mist of ignorance concerning the colonies which prevails in England, and which is only just beginning to be dispelled. In illustration of this he cites an anecdote which I think readers in the colony will have no difficulty in applying. I will quote Sir Gavan Duffy's own words :—A certain Secretary of State gave audience to an eminent colonist from Australasia, and the conversation fell upon a retired Governor, who, when his period of service had terminated, bought a charming island in the Pacific and made his home there. He had lost favour at the Colonial Office, • and marvellous stories concerning him were current in that locality. "I am told," said the noble Secretary, " that Governor So-and-So lives the life of a hermit in all respects but one. Can it be possible that ho has shut himself up on an island with no other companion than a harem of wallabies?" "Well, yes said the colonist, "that's about it. The island and the wallabies are a true bill; but he has books, and music, and ozone to boot." " Pray, sir," said the secretary, " how many wallabies may there be there?" " How many ? Well, Ine ver thought of asking. A good few, no doubt. A hundred, for certain, or five hundred for anything I know. I daresay he does'nt know how many himself." Gracious Providence," cried- the statesman in great surprise, what an example to a christian people !" " Oh, as for example, I wish all your Governors employed themselves as innocently." "I am profoundly grieved to hear you say so,' sir ! Morality must be at a low ebb, indeed, when a man like you makes light of such a proceeding." " slorality !" exclaimed the colonist, " what does your lordship suppose the wallaby to be ?" "Why, a naif-caste, of course." "A wallaby, my lord, is a dwarf kangaroo."