OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8404, 4 November 1890, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[FROM ottb OWN CORRESPONDENT. J London, September 19. EKOIJSH OPINION ON THE COLONIAL STRIKES Mr. Arthur Claydkn declares that his residence in New Zealand has convinced him that British reformers might profit by a closer study of the colonial example. He asserts with pride that in no part of the Queen's dominions is there "such social quietude, and nowhere more Law-abiding citizens." These arguments might have produced a stronger impression upon metropolitan readers had not the cable very inopportunely flashed through the intelligence that in this workingtnan's paradise it was now proposed to throw idle 100,000 men for tho assertion of no higher principle— we correctly gather the facts—than that a " free man " shall not be permitted to earn his daily bread unless his views are in accord with those of the union of his trade. This attempt tc legitimatize the right of the associated working classes to remorselessly crush out free labour is being watched with painful interest by all well-wishers of the colonies. The colossal struggle between capital and labour which is now being waged there will, it is felt, largely determine the course of events on this side of the world. The appeals that have been made to the working classes to afford practical evidence of their sympathy with the Australasian strikers have quite failed to elicit the expected response. Many resolutions expressive of admiration and sympathy have been passed, but little m.iney has been forthcoming. Ben Tillett talked confidently of sending at least £40,000, but it is very doubtful if a fourth of that amount has been remitted, and unionists evidently despair of raising more than £12,000 or £15,000. "Money not sentiment," according to John Burns, is what is required to win a great trike, but very little of that is likely to be sent. The fact is, that the strike leaders in this country cannot but feel that they have difficulties of their own to face. Their funds have been considerably depleted by various unsuccessful struggles, and they dare not ignore the powerful organisation which has j been called into existence by the immensely j influential confederation of capital known i tis the Shipping Federation. Out of the J 10,000,000 tons representing the English mercantile ships, adherence has already been made to the federation to the extent of 6,000,000 tons, representing a capital of £60,000,000, and some of the large passenger lines which have not yet joined, are expected to do so at once. Those who have opportunities of knowing the inner views of tho unionist leaders in London, are aware that they entertain the opinion that the struggle in Australia has been precipitated without sufficient calculation of the consequences, and fears arc expressed that capital may obtain a temporary victory over labour. The Australian labour party had better not calculate too confidently on the English unions consenting to back them up unreservedly. The latter have been sounded as to whether they would refuse to unload wool ships whose cargo had been handled in Australia by union labour. The leaders here are very guarded in their replies. They won't commit themselves to a direct refusal, but indicate their want of alacrity by postponing a decision until the vessels arrive. On the other hand, the wool importers anticipate no difficulty, and the employers of labour are confident that they can defeat any hostile combination. The cold-blooded policy of the Dockers' Union has al'enated much of the sympathy at first expressed for it. It is felt that 23,000 close unionists cannot arrogate to themselves the right to shut out from employment all the thousands of free-non-unionist labourers in London. The callous, cynical policy of the dockers' leaders, in advising all non-unionists to go to the workhouse. has opened the eyes of thousands of casual labourers who expected to participate in the benefits of " the great dock strike."

COLONIAL LOYALTY AND THE VATICAN. The London Spectator prides itself upon holding a conspicuous position in the list of " well informed journals." It is particularly prone to point the finder of scorn at the bulk of Englishmen and English who live and die in unimaginative ignorance of the real conditions of life in the British realms beyond the seas. It has been enlightening its benighted countrymen as to the future policy of the colonies in a style that will provoke a smile at the Antipodes. It foresees grave dangers to the Empire in the ever-increasing power of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada and Australasia. It believes that should the mot d'ordrz arrive from Homo, the Jesuits of Quebec and Lower Canada can initiate a revolution, which may involve the loss of the Canadian Dominion from Halifax to Vancouver. The writer asserts that the Vatican is equally resolved to carry out a bold and striking programme in the Southern colonies. At present it is content to dazzle the fluent and superficial civilisation of the colonies by show and display, which are deemed to be signs of energy and success. "In Sydney, or Melbourne, or Wellington, and in the humbler cities and towns of the interior," says the writer, "the most striking sites and the most stately edifices mark the ambitions and resources of Rome. Her perfect—almost military—organisation conceals and dignifies the comparatively scanty numbers of her followers, and she claims for herself the future with no want of confidence. Audacity, not untinged with swagger and self-assertion, are qualities which lead to success across the seas, a truth the Roman clergy in no ways despise. To-day display, to-morrow conversion, is their idea, and it promises to be a fruitful one. Nor do they neglect any field of promise ; already the task of providing secondary education in New Zealand has become identified with the Marist Brothers, whose discipline and skilful training leave them masters of the field. Tho Protestant Nonconformist bodies, weak in their insane divisions, can offer little effectual opposition, save in particular localities, such, for instance, as Dunedin or Melbourne, where Presbyterian ism commands the local wealth."

The Spectator declares that the Romish Church would not hesitate to flatter the new democracy, and so identify herself with it, even if it had to advocate both secretly and openly the separation of the colonies from the Empire. In the composition of her hierarchy it foresees danger. Of the Australasian clergy, two archbishops and at least six bishops are Irishmen, and it is well known, says the writer, that the appointment of the present metropolitan of New Zealand was strongly resisted on the ground that he was an Englishman, and opposed to the Irish separatists. Of the Marist Brothers, many, if not a majority, are Home Rulers, and support the cause of Mr. Parnell. Under these circumstances the Spectator holds that the eventual severance of the Australasian colonies from England is only a matter of years, and that unless the Vatican controls and restrains the Australasian hierarchy, their influence may be thrown into the scale against the mother country. Imperial England, it contends, cannot ignore the Vatican.

A CLERICAL SCANDAL. Some years ago a good-looking young clergyman named William Radcliffe left New Zealand under circumstances which induced the police authorities to secure his arrest in Adelaide on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy. He posed as a martyr and enlisted a good deal of sympathy, and what was of more value the legal assistance of one of the leaders of the Adelaide bar, with the result that he was able to continue his journey to England without having to face his clamorous creditors in New Zealand. Curious rumours have been afloat for some time respecting his career in this country. He seemed in flourishing circumstances, always well dressed > and not long ago he was presented at court, though for some * unexplained reason the presentation was later on expressly cancelled by a gazette notice. This was brought to Mr. Radcliffe's notice and he professed to be extremely indignant, and intimated that he' should call the Lord Chamberlain to account for the insult offered him. Whether he did so I cannot say, but probably not, as tho next news about him was that he had met with a bad accident in being thrown from a cab, and since then nothing has been heard of him until it was suddenly announced that he had been arrested in London, and committed for trial at Margate, on a charge of larceny as a bailee. At the investigation a good deal came out which leaves little doubt about the highly suspicious character of the

prisoner's antecedents. It was just a twelvemonth ago that he conceived the idea of victimising the Margate tradesmen. He went to tho shop of a jeweller named Woodruff, and asked to be shown some ladies' rings. He desired to take away two gold diamond rings, worth £30, on approval; but, as ho was not known, this was objected to, until a reference to a lady named Laws, who recognised him as a former pupil of her's, inspired Mr. Woodruff with sufficient confidence to entrust him with the rings. He subsequently obtained a third ring, worth £22 10s, which ho promised to pay for next day by cheque, and to return the other two rings. Instead of doing so he left the town, and writing from an address in London, he apologised, and promised to call in a day or two anil settle. On inquiry, the address proved to be a place where the prisoner had lodged twelve months before, and nothing more was heard of him by Mr. Woodruff. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and towards the end of August a house in Great Ormond street. was watched, under the belief that Radcliffo paid flying visits there. On September 5 the police inquired if he was at home, but were answered in the negative. Persisting in their inquiries, they searched the premises, and found tho prisoner in the front kitchen in the basement. When the warrant was read he said, " All right, I will go quietly;" and added, "If 1 had known you were polico officers I would have come up before, but I thought you were creditors." Later on he declared he had never concealed his name or whereabouts, but had preached in various churches. His application to be admitted to bail was not acceded to, and on the 10th September he asked to be allowed to plead guilty to a charge of larceny. The Bench, however, decided to adhere to the original charge, and committed the prisoner for trial. The polico, particularly Chief Constable Buck, made various statements incriminating the prisoner in other offences. It was stated that he was " wanted at Christchurch for setting his place on fire and for embezzlement;" t.hut he had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for some offence committed in France, but for which he could not be extradited, and that numerous complaints—five - and - twenty at least had been received about him from various parts of the country. It was stated further that he had used influence to secure a mitigation of sentence on a man named Thomas, who, it was said, was sharing in the plunder of his frauds. A jeweller at Tunbridge Wells stated that Radcliffe had in September last obtained a valuable ring from him under circumstances almost exactly similar to the present case. The prisoner reserved his defence. It is hinted that it will be pleaded that he is irresponsible for his actions.

MEsSRS. TVSER AND CO. Messrs. Tyser and Co. arc again proving a thorn in the side of the Associated Brokers, as the combination familiarly known as the " Shipping King" is officially called. The trouble has arisen out of the despatch of the Tyser line steamers to Australian ports. .Messrs. Tyser and Co. have contracted to carry home frozen -neat from the colonies in their steamers, and they are naturally anxious to fully load their boats for the outward voyage. The ring, however, have not been able to give them loading facilities for all their steamers, so Messrs. Tyser arranged to provide cargo for their steamers themselves, and entered into contracts with several large shippers. This action did not suit the "ring," who reduced their rates and offered extra rebates to shippers. Not to be outdone, Tyser and Co. announced their intention of taking goods for Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney at sailing-ship rates, and of putting on a steamer at these rates every three weeks. This has led to a further cutting down of rates by the "ring," who have to-day reduced their sailing ship freights to 17s lid for Melbourne and Sydney, and '20s to Adelaide, and steam freights to all ports to 25 Tysers have responded by making a similar reduction, and the light goes on without any present prospect of coming to an end. Messrs. Tyser are receiving a considerable amount of support, and are by no means likely to give way without a struggle. The position of Mr. \V. H. Tyser in this business has been rather a curious one.. As manager of the Colonial Union line Mr. Tyser was a member of the ring, but when he was remonstrated with by the associated brokers on his breach of faith in putting on his ships in opposition to them, he maintained that in his capacity of head of the Tyser line he wu.s outside the control of the ring, and at liberty to do as he pleased. The brokers, however, thought otherwise, and Mr. Tyser is noJonger a member of the combination.

MISCELLANEOUS. The financial decadence of the Ancient Order of Foresters, which is credited with a deficiency of £2,770,251, attracts attention, and is contrasted with the prosperous condition of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The position of the two great friendly societies at the end of 188!) is said to have been as follows :—Foresters, (375,918 members, funds £4,392,1if<2 ; Oddfellows, 651,890 members and funds £7,058,198, so that the Manchester Unity with 24,01)0 fewer members possessed £2,tjf>sJX)o more capital than the Foresters. The secretary of one of the Forester Lodges declares there is nothing to be alarmed at, since the alleged deficit if divided by the number of members, 075,918, would only re fire sent a deficiency per member of about £4, so that if every member were to declare on at once the Society would be able to pay about £7 per member. The same self-complacent official remarks : —" There is no friendly society m the world solvent according to the present system of valuation, and there is no friendly society in the world that stands on a more substantial footing than the Ancient Order of Foresters."

The emigration statistics for the first eight months of the year .show that 13,453 souls left for Australasia, a« against IS, 101 during the corresponding period of 1889. The Glenrock .--Company (Limited) held their first ordinary general meeting yesterday. Mr. G. F. Tavelor, who presided, stated the reconstruction had been carried out in a remarkably happy and fortunate manner. The share capital— shares —had been over-subscribed for by thousands, and the company are placed in sufficient funds not only to carry out the programme for the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Premier Consolidated Goldmine in New Zealand, but also with sufficient capital for the Glenrock people to form a little nest egg of their own. In other words, they had been able &to raise £30,000 required for the Glen rode interest in the Premier mine, but £0000 beyond. Mr. Farrell. the managing director, had started for New Zealand, and was expected to arrive there by the first week in October. The directors anticipated solid returns from the crushings of the mine. If 17 dwts. per ton was obtained it would secure a dividend of 8 per cent, on their entire capital, but, as they were likely to obtain 2! (lwts., that would mean a dividend of 11 per cent.

The amount collected at St. Barnabas Church, Mount Eden, on Sunday in aid of, the Anglican Home Mission was £14 10s 9d. The Rev. J. K. Davis, M.A., was the special preacher both morning and evening, in the absence of the Rev. T. H. Sprutt, M.A., who was taking services at Te Awamutu. A special meeting of the congregation will be held on Tuesday night to elect vestrymen and churchwardens for the newlyformed parish, by order of the Bishop. A choice selection of tea sets and dinner services, and a large assortment of specimen cups and saucers, ex Zealandia, are now on view atßoylan, Tanfield and Co. Queen-street; also, a large variety of articles in ruby glassware, ex Rangitiki. Mdmk. Adelin'A Patti writes "I have found Pears' .Soap matchless for the hands and complexion."—(.Signed) Adelina Patti. Pears' Soap for toilet and nursery. Specially prepared for the delicate skin of ladies and children, and others sensitive to the weather. The latest edition of Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons' catalogue of properties for sale or lease has just leTt the hands of the printers. It contains nearly 120 of closelyprinted matter, and {jives a very Rood idea of the extensive business carried on by this firm, which, nothing daunted by the hard times, continues to push and extend its connection both in these colonies and in the older _ countries of England, India, and America. The present edition of their catalogue is a great improvement on the last one. _ It has been re-arranged throughout; the indexing is very much better, and it is some 20 pages larger. With regard both to its contents and "get up," it is, without doubt, one of the best property catalogues issued in any part of the colony. As usual, it contains a large amount of valuable statistical information.