OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8947, 3 August 1892, Page 6

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, June 24, THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. The press of the Empire, so far as its representation is known in London, was received at tin! Imperial Institute, on Saturday, June 18th, in a manner worthy of both hosts and guests. For the time the Empire, so far as it is embodied in the Institute, was first represented by Sir Somers Vine, and afterwards by his chief, Sir Fredk. Abel. Sir Somers stood in the porch of the palace that has slowly sprung up in the space between the National History Museum and the Albert Hall,.and received his visitors, who represented every class of journalism—daily, weekly, architectural, colonial and foreign, English, Scottish, aud Irish. London seldom produces so cosmopolitan a gathering. Mr. G. Augustus Sala was one of the best known of the company, and was cordially welcomed by several friends, who were apparently surprised at his attending "one niore function," as if his appetite for functions must have been satiated long ago. The majority drove up or hurried up to the entrance without stopping to criticise the facade, the reception being fixed for noon, which is rather early in the d;vy for many pressmen. Truth to BJ-γ, the facade is somewhat disappointing; it does not strike you as imposing; the architectural features seem to be dissipated in attenuated distribution. This maybe partly owing to the non-completion of the central tower, because in the views of the building which represent it as complete there are equipoise and proportion suggestive of unity in dosign and of regard to the impression made by the whole. Mill the outline seems to be too much cut up by detail in small windows and pointed gables. There is an absence of bold and sweeping lines, except in the tower, and it is probable that the front will be looked at With enquiring curiosity rather than surprise and admiration. There will appear to be a great contrast between the exterior and the palatial magnificence of the iuterior, over which the visitors were conducted in tvyo or three parties by Sir Somera Vine and his assistants. The wide and lofty Corridors anil tho noble rooms with their wtried decor rations, specially contributed in some cases by the colonies with which they are to be identified, were much admired. One might linger for hours—for days—over the exhibition of Indian art metal work, all splendidly arranged. A guidebook by Lieutenant Colonel T. Holbein Hendley is in type and proofs of it were distributed. Perhaps the most practically interesting feature in the internal arrangements is the systematic classification and arrangement of natural products, in samples aud in bulk. The samples are in air-tight glass cases on shelves like books, aud locked in by side bars, which can be opened only by an official key. The larger quantities are iu tin cases in the basement. _ Descriptive catalogues will assist tho inquirer to learn all about the samples,and then, by a formal application, resort can bo had to the larger quantity stored below. Nothing apparently could be better than the methodical way in which the samples are arranged and labelled, aud the corresponding larger quantities are kept in easily-accessible order in the vaults'* below. When over an hour had beeu spent iu rapidly following Sir Somers Vine from point to point a capital luncheon was served m one of the liirge rooms below. Here the chair was taken by Sir F. Abel, who was supported by some of the specialist members of hia stall". There was no speaking, except that when the champagne was first poured out Sir F. Abel proposed the toast of "The Queen," and he afterwards gave that of " The Prince of Wales." The only anomaly was that in this temple of Imperial Britain the menu was printed in French, as if the most widely diffused language of to-day was inadequate to describe the dishes of a complimentary luncheon. The Institute is to have its year - book, a statistical record of resources and trade, compiled chiefly from official sources, and issued under the authority of the executive. Mr. Fitzgerald, the editor or compiler, states, among other sources that he has drawn upon, that he has derived assistance from the official reports of the statisticians of the Governments of Tasmania and New Zealand on the otticial data published annually by their respective (Jovermnents. COMMERCIAL. FEDERATION OF THE EMPIRE. Several of the Agenta-General were invited by Mr. Howard Vincent to read brief papers before the Empire Trade Conference held on the 2.3rd inst., in London, under tho auspices of the League. Mr. Westoy Brook Perceval, however, felt it was manifestly impossible to crush within the limits of a paper not to exceed a quarter of an hour the manifold merits of New Zealand, He, therefore, compiled a valuable statistical statement upon the productions of New Zealand, which tills some three and twenty printed pages, and sent thin little pamphlet to the Ltague, as he was unable to attend himself. It will also serve admirably for the Information and Reference Bureau, at the office of the AgentGeneral, and will doubtless be extensively distributed. Mr. Perceval abstained from any advocacy of the fa.vourite doctrines of the League, but, doubtless they were comforted by hisexpectation that the rapid growth of the Australasian population will largely increase the demand for British products, and that the future of the trade between the United Kingdom and the Australasian colonies will probably be such as to make them by a long way the principal markets for those products, and very important factors in the progress of the Imperial Commonwealth.

The object of the Conference was to acquaint tiie empire, and particularly the mother country, with the unparalleled resources of the empire, and to show its independence of foreign nations and the practicability of commercial federation. The attendance was fairly influential, but more so from the colonies than the purely British standpoint. The High Commissioner for Canada, the Agents-General for the Cape, Natal, and Victoria, Sir Julius Vogel, Sir George Bowen, and the Hon. G. Dibbs were present. Several of these gentlemen were induced to speak, aud some of them endorsed the principles of the League with considerably more directness than would have been anticipated. Sir Charles Tupper insisted that it was impossible to doubt the practicability of producing within the borders of the empire all the food products required by Great Britain, and it was equally obvious he thought that the competition between India, Australasia, and Canada would pieveut an increase in the cost of such commodities. A policy which would make the British nation independent of foreign countries for its food supplies would, he argued, be much wiser than that which had hitherto prevailed, under which the population and capital of the country had largely gone to increase the power of nations which, at any rate from a commercial point of view, did not show any excessive friendship towards Great Britain. The Hon. G. Dibbe followed in an outspoken speech, very largely on the lines of that of the High Commissioner. He had, however, nothing to say in favour of Imperial federation; though he avowed his sympathy with a policy of commercial federation, even if it involved the establishment of preferential relations between the colonies and the mother country. Mr. James Munro, the Agent-General for Victoria, said almost au much. The result of the discussion was the adoption by the Conference of tho following resolution: — "That this Convention impresses upon the Empire the unlimited productive resources of the world-wide realms under the British flag, and their full ability, on the expiration of adequate notice for development, to supply the needs of the inothc .■ country and the other portions of the Empire in every substance required by any British subject, independently of foreign nations. It urges the concentration of all patriotic efforts in Britain and Greater Britain upon pressing this home on the minds of the people, with a view to the ex-, teusic i of inter-British trade, the territorial security of Her Majefaty's possessions, and the personal advantage of each individual." Sir Julius Vogel spoke on the general question, and said he thought Imperial federation impossible, unless preceded by some welldelined <tnd rational fiscal arrangement. He also quoted statistics to show that by far the greater proportion of the duties paid by England on imports was paid to foreign countries, and only a small proportion to our own colonies, and urged that this state of things ought to be reversed. CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. The second Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire will meet in the Hall of the Merchant Taylors' Company, London, next week. Some 250 delegates from all parts of the British Empire will assemble. The Chambers of Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Christen urch, Cooktown, Dunedin, Geelong, Hobart, Launcestou, Melbourne, Napier, Newcastle, Sydney, Townsville, and Wellington will be represented. One of the principal subjects for discussion will be the commercial relations of the mother country with her colonies and possessions, with special regard to the renewal of European Treaties, and recent commercial legislation iu the United States. The Imperial registration of trade marks, and the adoption throughout the Empire of the Merchandise Marks Act will also be considered. The Congress will be invited by the Bradford Chamber of Commerce to identify itself with the movement for the establishment of uniform penny postage throughout the whole Empire, and Sir George Baden Powell will advocate the extension of direct telegraphic communication between the componeat parts

of the Empire. These, however, by no means exhaust the busiaess to be snbmitted to the Congress. The delegates are to be treated to a regular round of entertainments. On June 27. Sir John Lubbock and Lady Lubbock will hold a reception and conversazione at the JJatur&l History Museum, South Kensington. Oe June 28, Lord and Lady Brassey will hold a. reception. On June 29, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress will hold a conversazione at the Mansion House. On June 30, there will be a banquet at St. James' Hall, Piccadilly, with Lord Kuutsford in the chair. On July 1, the delegates will view the Imperial Institute and Exhibition of Indian Fine Art Metal Work at South Kensington. On July 2, a garden party by Sir J. W. Ellis, atßuocleuch House, Richmond; also, a dinner at the Star and Garter. On July 4, the delegates will view St. James' Palace, the Royal Mews, and Buckingham Palace. On July 5, a trip down the Thames aud a visit to the Arsenal at at Woolwich. On July 6, an evening fe"te at the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park. Not a bad outing by any means. A PREMIER ON THE JAUNT. Whether any particular benefit will accrue to Australasia from Mr. Dibbs' mission to England may be open to question, but. there is no disguising the fact that socially tie is a Eucccsa, and that in that way he is giving his colony an excellent ad vortisement. The Grand Panjandrum of Botany Bay, as he is somewhat irreverently termed, nad the nous to came armed with exoelleut letters of introduction, chiefly from the Jerseys, whose popularity lias secured Mr. Dibbs a welcome which he would otherwise have failed to receive. The Leighs, the Cadogans. the Northcotes, the Carringtons, the Knutsfords, and many others have all vied in showing him attention, and the example thus set has been imitated in other quarters until the Colonial Premier bids fair to be the best-dined man in London. A few evenings ago he received five invitation cards, all with a coronet in the corner, inviting himto dinner. Can a Colonial Republican desire more ? Other moro distinguished honours have been his. Republican though he has avowed himself to be, ho has accepted with alacrity the opportunity offered him of meeting the Prince of Wales, and also has obediently obeyed the " command" of Her Majesty to attend the First State Concert of the season at Buckingham Palace, even at the cost of procuring a Court suit which, sword and all, will run him into an expenditure of £70 for one evening's pleasure. Mr. Dibbs appears to find it easy to Ret along with all classes, and yet to assert, though not offensively, the bluff independence for which he is famous in Sydney. His appearance is in his favour, and, as a san of Anak, he is credited with all sorts of commanding cjualities, which his compeers in the colony have never discovered. One thing must be mentioned, Mr. Dibbs has made no effort to establish amicable relations with the regular otticial representatives of the colonies. Whether he regards these semi-ambassadorial functionaries as subordinates deserving of no special consideration, or whether his time has been too much occupied to devote any special attention to them, I cannot say, but his treatment of thain betrays a remarkably lax interpretation of social ethics on his part. Though feeling considerably hurt and chagrined at the light in which Mr. Dibbs appeared to regard the " powers" he claimed to have received from the other colonies, the whole of the Agents-General, in the absence of official instructions, called upon the Premier of Victoria directly he arrived at the Hotel Metropolo, and left their cards. He, apparently, did pot consider it necessary to return the compliment, or if he called at all in return, he did so so late that the visit could not atone for the slight which the Agents-Gen-jral felt they had received. This has caused the more annoyance, as since their instructions have arrived, the Agents-General find they have not been superseded, but only invited to co-operate with Mr. Dibbs, whose powers to represent the colonies unitedly appear to be limited to the question of the investment of trust funds in colonial inscribed stock 3. He seems in no hurry to apply for any co-operation, and it is scarcely in human nature that it should be voluntarily tendered him.