ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8931, 15 July 1892, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, June 11. The Agent-General never loses a chance of directing the attention of the travelling public to New Zealand as a wonderland and health resort. He is now seeing whether visitors to the Chicago Exhibition next year cannot be induced to extend their tour to New Zealand. He is very desirous that everything should be done in the colony to promote the coni venience and comfort of tourists. Mr. Patchett Martin, the editor of Literary Opinion, was an Australian civil servant, who exhibited a penchant for literature. He is considered to speak as an authority upon colonial opinion. But does he always do so Hear and judge! In a recent appreciative notice of Mr. Fronde lie observes:— "'Oceana' was immensely popular, and well deserved its fate—that of being read by everybody and abused by fools." 1 suppose I may write that down as a libel upon New Zealanders at any rate. It is reported that the tower of the Imperial Institute is endangering the stability of the building. This is hard to credit, and the more so that the I'rince of Wales has this week inspected the works and expressed great satisfaction with the progress shown in the building operations. The current number of the Cosmopolitan, a high-class American magazine, edited, I believe, by Mr. Howells, the novelist, at a salary of £3000 a-year, contains a very readable account of New Zealand, embellished with some remarkable Maori portraits. A story is told about Wahanui's fondness for a good square meal. The great \\ aikato chief, though still a redoubtable trencherman, frankly confesses that lie cannot now repeat the gastronomic feats of his youth, when he " could eat a whole pig and a kit of kumeras besides."

Madame Melba is again delighting London audiences with her beautiful rendering or the role of Juliet in Gounod's opera, " Romeo et Juliette." Madame Karnes, the American singer, has been playing the same part, so that comparisons are certain to be drawn. The critics do equal justice to both ladies, declaring that the Opera Company contains the two best Juliets in the world. It is not recorded whether the Duke of Orleans is frequenting Covent Garden much. Madame Melba continues in favour atCourc, as is evident by her being asked to sing at the next State concert.

The death of Mr. Johnstone Dougal, the inventor of the flax-stripper, has not escaped attention on this side. I saw that one journal of repute expressed the opinion that he had done more than any single settler to increase the exports of New Zealand. The Rev. Dr. Pierson, who has been officiating at Spurgeon's Tabernacle since the death of the great pastor, lias postponed his return to America until after the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon. Bishop SeJwyn has not yet selected his successor, but the matter is receiving attention. The rapid development of the frozen meat trade is now recognised by the directors of the I Suez Canal as one of the causes which have just enabled a dividend of lOofr. 50c. to be declared per share. [ lam afraid Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson's great reputation as a writer of fiction operates against him when he poses as the exponent of the political wrongs of the Samoans and the white residents at Apia. The picturesque language in which lie arraigns Chief Justice Cederkrantz find Baron von Pilsach excites a certain amount of interest and rather more amusement, but it is impossible in Europe to attach any considerable decree of importance to the events which he describes at such inordinate length. Of one thing Mr. Stevenson may perhaps feci proud. He has so far compelled the Times to follow iiis example that it actually devotes an article of nearly two columns to the review of his lecter of the same length. It scarcely treats the domestic politics of Samoa with becoming reverence. It suggests that Mr. Stevenson's " amazing story " is irresistibly suggestive of opera bourfe. The German Press, however, treat the matter more seriously. They foresee that "perfidious Albion'' is, as usual, employing willing agents to overthrow the interests that Germany has laboriously acquired in the Pacific, etc.

It is stated that the s.s. Doric has conveyed to New Zealand three beautiful Southdown ewes from the flock ot H.R.H. tiltPrince of Wales, at Sandringharn. They have been purchased by Mr. John Deans. The Duco, a new steam tug on her way under canvas from the Clyde to New Zealand, went ashore at Ballyferis Point, on the County Down coast, submerged at high water, and at first there appeared little prospect of her being floated. However, these efforts succeeded, and she has been towed into Greenock.

The South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, has intimated that on the 30th ins;., the " National Insurance Company of New Zealand wili cease to underwrite in conjunction with the South British, but all claims arising on policies issued by the two companies will be paid at the office of the latter as hitherto. The South British will continue marine business, and will, on the Ist of July, if no objections are previously raised by the assured, take over all open slips and contracts accepted on behalf of the two companies." The brood mare Engagement arrived safely on the Bth by the s.s. Pakeha, and will be mated with Torpedo. Her blood is so rare in this country that she is regarded as a great acquisition. Mr. Guthrie's horses have arrived safely in the s.s. Arawa under charge of Lord Onslow's stud groom.