ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10085, 21 March 1896, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,!.]

London', February 7. PERSONAL. Sir Maurice O'Rorke is still in Dublin, but is expected iu London in the course of a few days. He has been conspicuous in several newspapers as the Speaker of Tasmania, in another ease as Prime Minister of Tasmania, and there is a rumour, which I have been unable to verify, that in one case he appeared very prominently as "Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Governor of the colony of Mew Ireland." If he receives a few more decorative appendages of this kind lie will be a person of considerable importance by the time the British Parliament meets. The personal estate ot Mr. Frederick Huth Meinertzliagcn, of Waimarama, Napier, has been sworn at £38,9;")?. He died last year at Tun bridge Wells. The bulk of his property is left to his daughters when 25 years of age, or previously married. An excellentapnoin tinent has been made of a produce expertin London tor the New Zealand Government. I daresay you will remember that some months ago I mentioned the name of Mr. Henry Gray, formerly of Messrs. Goey and Co., the well-known produce merchants of Tooley street, as the best man the New Zealand Government could possioly get if they wanted a new produce expert in the room of Mr. Samuel Lowe and Mr. C. R. Valentine. The Agent-General having received authority from his Government to appoint such an officer, has very wisely conferred the appointment upon Mr Gray, who has accepted it tentatively at the rather small salary authorised to be offered,_ viz., £250 per annum, and will enter upon his new duties atonce. An odico has been set apart for him at the New Zealand Agency-General in Victoria street, and he will begin operations without delay, or at any rate so soon as any produce-laden vessel arrives for him to operate upon. Mr. H. D. Bell, M.H.R., and bis daughter are at Milan to day. Thevare expected to reach London in about two days' lime. I met Mr. Amelias Smith 111 Victoria-street two days ago looking remarkably well. He told me he was enjoying his English visit immensely—save for the lack of sunshine— and only deplored its unavoidable brevity. He leaves for New Zealand in about three weeks. An ex-Governor of New Zealand is to move the Address-in Reply in the House of Lords. Lord Staumorc, formerly Sir Artluu Gordon, litis undertaken the duty and I have no doubt will do it very well. Sir William Jervois, who is an ex Governor of South Australia as well as of New Zealand, has consented to act on the committee who are organising the first annual dinner of South Australians in London— movement which follows the example set by London ex-Queenslanders, and which is not unlikely to be in its turn followed by ex Zealandians in London. Another ex-Governor of New Zealand, Sir James Fergusson, who also in his time governed South Australia, is to preside. Yet a fourth ex-Governor of your colony, Lord Onslow, has to be mentioned. H>' is now the recognised leader of the 44 Moderate" party in that important sub-Parliament, the London County Council. Recently, a movement was started to follow the House of Commons' practice and allow members to remain covered save when speaking, because when sitting uncovered the bald men caught cold through the excessive ventilation, upon which the Council's scientific officers plume themselves so highly, but which mere common practical people abuse as "an infernal" draught. It was wished that Lord Onslow should head this movement, but 011 reflection tho promoters forbore to ask him for the reason that "it would be so very personal." I wonder why?

SETTLERS WITH CAPITAL. During the three years In which the reduced rates of passage money to New Zealand, arranged by Sir Westby Perceval, for the encouragement of settlers with capital have been in active operation 1110 passengers have gone to New Zealand under this system, taking with them declared capital to the amount of £131,000. This it must be remembered does not represent the full extent of their possessions, but merely a minimum sum that in accordance with the regulations they had to prove to the Agent-General that they possessed. As a matter of fact it is known tint in many instances they elected to declare simply a minimum sum, while in reaiitv they possessed three or four times, or even eight or ten times as much. A rough estimate has been made of the probable amount of capital which has thus been introduced into the colony during the three years. Although, of course, any such calculation must necessarily be in the' nature of a conjectural estimate, there are reasons why it may be accepted as fairly approximate, and the calculation is that these 1110 people have taken with them not less than a quarter of a million sterling, and more probably from £300,000 to £-100,000. As all this number were specially certified as being capable and desirable settlers they ought to be a very valuable acquisition to New Zealand's permanent population.

NEW ZEALAND AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY. Pleasure is expressed by the Pall Mall Gazette that-"Now Zealand has not been ashamed to follow Canada and Australia in sending ft congratulatory message to Her Majesty's Government," and it expresses the opiuion that the Auckland resolution may be taken to represent the views of the colonists, who say they &ro •' prouder than ever .0 belong to the Empire of Great Britain. The P.M.G. adds "And we are prouder than ever to bo the Great Britons of that Greater Britain. The sympathy which the colonies have extended to the Government during the recent crisis is of more value than many leagues with high-sounding names. It has been void of unnecessary offence to foreign Powers, while, at the same time, it means business. Still, resolutions are all very well in their way, but they will not build a jolly-boat or equip a single rifle corps. We should like to see the Imperial defences made impregnable, and to that end colonial contributions are necessary. Now that Australia and New Zealand have weathered their own little crisis, they might come forward with cash down."

The Auckland Provincial Christian Endeavour Union will hold special services on Good Friday, as notified elsewhere. No job or old stock, but latest novelties in gents' neckties, scarves, and mercery.— W. Shaokelford's, 2G2, Queen-street.

Fifteen to Twenty PER Cent. INTEREST should satisfy in these hard times, and some of the bargains in houses show these returns. Apply for cataloguo to J. Thornes, Land Agent, Queen-street.

For summer and holiday wear, toreador sashes, kummerbuud*, and vestettea; also, cricket and .knockabout coats, trousers, shirts, etc., at Shackelford's, Hatter and Mercer, next Auckland Savings Bank