OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8471, 23 January 1891, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[from our own cop.rkspondent.] London, December 12. The interest of everyone is centred in the remarkable struggle for existence which Charles Stewart Parnell continues to maintain with marvellous audacity and resource in the face of overwhelming odds. Nothing else seoms to be talked about go where one will. This, with the season of the year, and the paucity of New Zealandors in London, must account for the strange dearth of colonial intelligence. I cannot remember a time when so few subjects of colonial interest have presented themselves for treatment, but such as they are you shall have thorn.

THK PROPOSED MINING EXHIBITION. There is every reason to expect that the suggested Imperial Mining and Metallurgical Exhibition will be brought off. The organising committee of the Imperial Institute are full of the idea ; the secretary, Sir F. Abel, is undeniably relieved at the prospect of an exhibition that will " draw," replacing the proposed Pottery Exhibition, which would have proved a '' frost" and, above all, H.R. 11. the Prince of Wales has been informally sounded on the subject of Mr. \V. Knox's suggestion, and has graciously expressed the approval, which, it is hoped, ho will not withhold when the scheme is formally submitted to him for his endorsement at Marlborough House next Wednesday. The Agents-General met Lord Herschell, Sir Lyou Play fair, and Sir F. Abel at the Imperial institute last Tuesday, and had a long discussion about the details of the Exhibition. The secretary submitted a long memorandum, in which he had outlined the scheme he thought would prove acceptable. He placed the guarantee required at the comparatively moderate sum of £30,000, which, ho thought, could be raised wholly in the United Kingdom. Th« Institute, he said, had no money of its own to offer, but the buildings erected could be available, and besides, the Organising Committee might sanction the erection of three extensive galleries or annexes, which would be offered to the colonies freo of charge. In addition, the Institute would probably be able to pIiKJO at the disposal of colonial exhibitors two large quadrangles— adjacent to the present buildings, and one the other side of the road—where exhibitors could erect other buildings (at their own cost) if such were required. As regards administration, the Institute officials would give their services—Sir Graham Berry assumed this to be a mere figure of speech, and promptly remarked that it would bo safer to include the cost of such services in the official estimates. It was pretty clear he was right in his surmises, for Sir F. Abel explained that the 1*30,000 guaranteed is intended to protect the Institute in regard to the expenses of administration. In the event of the receipts being sufficient to defray all these charges, the guarantors would be relieved, and then any surplus revenne might bo devoted to covering the expenses incurred by the colonies in England, in respect of buildings, decorations, or administration. Sir F. Abel threw out the suggestion that one way of interesting the general public in the Mining Exhibition would be to secure from the Royal Family, the aristocracy, and the great civic companies large exhibits of gold and silver plate, illustrating the metal work of the artificers of the kingdom for centuries past. It was felt that in opening up the Exhibition to all workers in metals the promoters were giving what is Culled " a large order," as such a definition would admit vast exhibits of ordnance, the multifarious works of the great Midland cities, and generally many exhibits in metal having no connection with mining pursuits. However, no decision was arrived at upon that or any other point. A warm discussion ensued in regard to the distribution of space, several of the Agent-Generals arguing that the free space available in the permanent buildings and the proposed galleries should be distributed amongst the colonies in proportion to their wealth and population. This was demurred to by the secretary, who desired that each colony should apply for the space required, and I hat then a pro rota distribution should be made. This, however, would obviously place some colonies, like Victoria, Tasmania, and probably New Zealand, at a disadvantage, as their modest requirements would almost certainly be mot by the amount of space they would be entitled to in the Institute buildings and annexes. Ultimately the views of the objectors prevailed. It is thought that British metal manufacturers will make a '• rush " for space, as no Exhibition of a similar kind to that) proposed has ever been held.

THE AGENTS-GKNKCAL,. The result of the New Zealand elections appears to be regarded in colonial circle* as a practical defeat of the Government, but the opinion prevails that Sir H iry Atkinson must hold on until the House meets in April. It is considered assured that he will be the next Agent-General, succeeding Sir Francis in October next. It is whispered that Sir Bryan O'Loughliti will bo the next Victorian Agent-General, but Sir Graham Berry has hod by any means lost hope of securing a fresh term for hhncelf. He has been too much behind the scones not to be perfectly aware that an implied promise to an unsatisfied or disappointed politician does not count for much when it cannot receive official recognition for somo sixteen months. Ah a mere matter of tactics, it would be a mistake for Mr. Munro to satisfy Sir Bryan at the expense of a far more dangerous political competitor in the person of the " Demosthenes of Australia." Sir James Garrick ia quietly installed in Mr. T. Archer's seat. Hβ is pleased to regain a post of dignity and comparative ease, but he was doing so well in city pursuits that he would not have cared to have pressed for his re-appoint-ment.

The gentleman recommended by the Victorian Government for the post of Gold Commissioner in British Guiana was such an ardent disciple of the gospel of geniality that I understand the authorities—it is a benevolent despotism — thought it inadvisable to despatch him up country. They might have done worse than accept the offer of little Tim Goodman, whom many Thames miners would willingly present with a splendid certificate of practical mining knowledge and thorough reliability. He, however, has just started for Ma3honaland and the Manica as the representative of an enterprising British syndicate.

QUEENSLAND SKrAKATION. Lord Knutsford has the reputation of being the mildest mannered man in official life, *but he almost lost his temper on Wednesday last when interviewed, much against his will, by the North Queensland Separation League and its supporters. The deputation wa» numerically very strong, arid possibly as representative and influential an could have been expected, but it cannot be denied that the spokesmen selected made but an indifferent exhibition of their skill as advocates. Probably they felt disheartened before they faced the Secretary of State, for*he had let them know how averse he was to receive a deputation at the present time, but this very broad hint was not well received. The Hon. Harold Finch-Hatton, the chairman of the London Committee of the Townsville Reparation League, introduced the deputation and the subject. He had prepared a long and very possibly effective speech, but a fewinterjectory remarks from Lord Knutsford threw him off", and his eloquence soon showed visible signs of degeneracy. I won't trouble your readers with his arguments, or with the still more feeble advocacy contributed by Mr. Holler Hopkins, a Townsville merchant. Neither produced the least impression ivpon Lord Knutsford. He evidently felt that the question was quite unripe for a Cabinet decision. His reasons were incontrovertible. It was simply ridiculous, he said, to a*k the Imperial Parliament to decide a question which the Colonial Legislature had not yet fully discussed or decided. To interfere in such a way as that proposed would be to bring down on their devoted heads—and very properly—the wrath of all the colonies. Besides Mr. Macrossan, the local leader of the separation movement, had only a few weeks ago promised he would give Sir Samuel Gri'Hth's separation proposal a fair consideration. It was no use to confront him with cablegrams from the Townsville League of an opposite import. At the same time he desired to guard himself from any such misconception as that be was personally unfavourable to separation. He was not unfavourable, bub the question must bo considered in the

interests of the whole colony, and he had bcon requested a week hence to receive another deputation repesenting the central division of Queensland. In an informal discussion which the discomfited leader of the deputation had with Lord Knutsford, the latter stated that the main difficulty to be met was how to devise a scheme which would overcome the objection of investors who had lent their money to the Queensland Government on the security of the whole colony. Ho would advise the league to look into that matter, and then to submit a complete scheme covering the whole subject. The deputation withdrew in a very crestfallen condition, and one or two fiery spirits were heard to breathe out threatening of what the disaffected sections in the North might do if their requests were not granted by fair means.

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr. W. T. Holmes, who has been appointed general mauager of tho Bank of New Zealand in the colonies, will leave England to take up his appointment by the s.s. Orizaba on January 2 next. It must be a matter of congratulation for the shareholders of the Bank and all others concerned in its welfare, that the directors have been able to secure the services of a gentleman so eminently qualified to deal with the important and varied interests that will be committed to his charge. Mr. Holmes has been for twenty-five years in the service of the Bank of Madras, and on various occasions lias officiated in the highest appointments in tho institution. Since 1832 he has been manager of the Colombo branch, having been sent there at a time when the island was on the verge of ruin, consequent on tho failure of the coffee cultivation. Through the troubloustimesthatfollowedthat period,and in the no leas critical condition of things brought about by the failure in 18S4 of the Oriental Bank, Mr. Holmes steered the Bank of Madras with exceptional ability and judgment, and his directors were nob backward in expressing thoir satisfaction at his prouipb and efficient action. It is no secret that on sovoral important occasions Mr. Holmes' advice was sought by the Government of the Island and acted upon much to the public ad vantage. Mr. Holmes will bring to the councils of the Bank of New Zealand directorate a clear mind and an unbiassed judgment, and their action in reference to his appointment will meet with universal approbation throughout the colonics.

THK AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. The Australian auxiliary squadron will start for the south early in the new year. The cruisers are nearly completed, and several have been already tested with satisfactory results. The Katoomba, 8, twinscrew cruiser, which has been built at Elswick, on the Tyne, had a most successful triai in the North Sea. She ran for hours with natural draught, developing a mean horsepower 0f452S —abovo the maximum stipulated. The cruisers Ringarooma and Tauranga, which have been built at the works of Messrs. J. and l». Thomson, at Glasgow, have had their torpedo and gunnery trials this week, pussing the ordeal very satisfactorily. They will b<; rapidly commissioned, and will be ready to proceed to Sydney in a few weeks' time.

I'KRSONAL. Mr. Wilkinson, the lecturer on metallurgy at the University of Otago, sails to-morrow for America, en route for New Zealand. Mr. Mitchell Clark, the lecturer on modern languages at Canterbury College, sails in the Aorangi, early in January. The following paragraph about this gentleman jippeared recently in a London journal and ought to take the palm for crowding as many mistakes as possiblo into three lines : —" Mr. Mitchell Clark, tho well-known lecturer on Indian languages at the Canterbury College, will return to Chrietcharch, in the course of a few weeks, after liis holiday sojourn in the old country." Mr. Chirk does not profess to bu a well-known lecturer on itny subject, certainly not on Indian languages; he is not, returning to Chrietchurch, never having been there ; nor lias he enjoyed a holiday sojourn, having been uninterruptedly employed at tho Bedford Grammar bchool.

THE PACIFIC MAIL ROUTE. Major-General Bland Strange, of Canada, has beun writing enthusiastically about the Canadian Pacific Railway in one of the curront magazines, and incidentally lie deplores the delay that occurred in establishing direct mail communication between Vancouver and Australia and New Zealand. He seems to be as convinced as Sir Robert Stout —"a man of very remarkable ability" — that great commercial advantages would result from a transpacific route embracing Canadian, and nob Californian iiiteroets. He thinks it absurd tliat the colonies should draw their supplies of pine lumber from Norway and the Baltic shores, when at one-third the distance the gigantic pines of British Columbia were in millions, waiting to be felled. On the other hand, the magnificent hard woods of Australasia would tiud a ready market in Western Canada, where literally for KSOO inilus no hard wood grows from which an axe handle could be cut. In addition, General Strange predicts the creation of an extensive fruit trade, as at certain times of the year Canada could absorb large quantities of bananas, pineapples, and oranges from Australasia, as across 1000 miles of prairie and sterile land on the north shore of Lake Superior, almost until tho fertile peninsula of Ontario is reached, no fruit orchard can be found.

IMPERIAL FEDERATION. It ie significant that at last the question of Imperial Federation is beginning to really interest the British working-man. Particularly is this the case in the East End of London, where they are recognising that in many respects it is to them a question of bread and butter. The East End Workingtnen's Committee have adopted the motto, "The trade, the flag, and the colonies." A public meeting was held at Mile-end a few evenings ago to promotethe principle of Imperial Federation. The chair was taken by Sir P. Young, one of the vice-presidents of the Royal Colonial Institute. Cardinal Manning was to have attended, but being prevented, wrote expressing sympathy and suggesting a congress eveiy three years of colonial and homo representatives. On the motion of the secretary of the Watermen and Lightermen's Society it was resolved unanimously to urge the Imperial Government to "seriously grapple" with the question of Imperial Federation, and to summon at the earliest possible moment a congress of colonial delegates to draw up, in concerb with representatives of this country, the basis of a practical scheme. Copies of the resolution were ordered to be sent to the Premier, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Knutsford, and the Agents-General.

THE ENCILISiI AND COLONIAL UNIVERSITIES. The Rev. Mr. Warre, the headmaster of p:ton, and himself an old University oarsman, haa interested himself in tho proposal to raise a sum sufficient to provide a challenge cup to be presented to the Universities of Australia—presumably including those of New Zealand also—to be rowed for annually in eight-oars by their representative crews under conditions to be agreed upon. The proposal has mot with the approval of the University Boat Clubs at Oxford and Cambridge, and both have promised substantial donations. Many old University oarsmen have signified their approval, and now Dr. Warre has requested tho presidents of the University Boat Clubs to select a small number of old oarsmen each from their own University, and ask them to undertake the duties of a committee to the movement.

COMMERCIAL TREATIES. The Imperial Federation Leuguo have made formal representation to the Board of Trade Commercial Treaties Committee concerning the paramount importance of tho Imperial Government giving the earliest possible notice to the King , of the Belgians and the Emperor of Germany, of their intention to cancel that clause in the treaties of 1862 and 18C5 restraining colonial governments and peoples from according any fiscal advantage to British goods over those of Germany and Belgium.

THE SHIPPING DISPUTE. The dispute between theShaw-Savill and New Zealand Shipping Companies and tho Seamen and Firemen's Union lias become acute. This ill-feeling has been actively fostered by Mr. Wilson, the secretary of the union, who has followed a most aggressive policy ever since the foundation of the body he controls. It was his action in endeavouring to compel all masters and officers of the mercantile marine to join his union, and thus deprive shipowners of the control over their property, that was the main cause of the formation of the shipping federation. Now apparently Nemesis has overtaken Mr. Wilson in the person of the

federation. The dispute commenced about three months ago, when the union demanded that all the labour work connected with the repairs of the hulls, machinery, and boilers of the veesele must be done by members of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, and nob as hitherto by the Amalgamated Protection Union of Hammermen, Enginemen, Helpers and General Labourers' Union. The Seameu's Union thereupon attempted to prevent tho ships going to sea by preventing the shipping of crews. The company, with whom was now associated the great firm of Gray, Dawes and Co., of the British India service, refused to accede to these demands, and a strike has been in progress ever since. The Seamen's Union has resorted to violence, going very great lengths in their efforts to intimidate the crew of the a.s. Mamari. Their rowdies raided the vessel, and brutally attacked the crew in the presence and without the interference of the dock policemen. They were incensed because the owners had engaged the crew on board ship, and not in the shipping office, where the men are intimidated and assaulted. Though the Seamen' 9 Union are very confident it is generally thought they must be beaten. The Shipping Federation are rendering most valuable assistance, and chiefly through their aid the New Zealand steamers have been got off without much delay. The other unions evidently dislike the idea of becoming involved in a great and probably hopeless struggle. The riggers and stevedores and dockers have declined to interfere point blank, and the strike at the present moment seems to be fizzling out.

Aβ I close this letter the sbeamer Tongariro, which ought to.have sailed yesterday, still lies in the Royal Albert Dock, owing to the fog, which is very dense down the river. The vessel, however, has a complete crew, the Shipping Federation having procured a sufficient number of men to sign articles on bourd, which the unionists decline to do. There has been some trouble in getting the non-unionists through the pickets at the dock gates and in the localities, and the officials of the federation say the police protection is not sufficient. The constables are ready to assist if they witness any breach of the peace, but do not intervene to prevent the systematic intimidation which is carried on by supporters of the seamen and firemen on strike, and representations are to be made to the Home Office on this subject.