LONDON CHAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

LONDON CHAT.

FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.]

London - , May 18. Some surprise Las been created by the notification that the King desires May 24 to be kept as the Sovereign's birthday, and to be observed as a holiday at public offices, Today, however, an "authorised'' announcement is made to the effect that there is no foundation for the report that the King hi i directed his birthday to be kept on May 24. 1 may mention that the original statement on the subject was made by two ui the judges while presiding in Court, so that it naturally seemed to possess strong vraisemblance. But the facts of the case are now officially declared to be as follows :-- His Majesty, desiring to present new colours to the 3rd" Battalion ot the Scots Guards, recently formed by Colonel 11. jt'ludyer, decided to make the presentation on May i.-\, and it has been determined that the function shall De much on the lines of the trooping of the colour, with which it was the , use-am to mark the anniversaries of ihe hue Queen s birth. 'the function has no connection with the .Kings birthday. Again, it has been the custom "to give tiie Government oilices a. holida". on May 24, and His Majesty has been approached as to whether the departments should be closed on any special day tins year. The King's decision is that the holiday shall be given, and as he considers Mi 24 a suitable day that date has been iixeJ. .This also has no connection with the King's birthday. The question of the manner in which "His Majesty's birthday sb dl be officially commemorated has not yet been decided, but it it is ultimately determined to mark the occasion, as in the cane of Her late Majesty's birthday, by a. trooping of the colour or some similai outdoor ceremony, it is officially recognised that such- u, celebration on the actual anniversary (November 9) would be impracticable. There is consequently every possibility of a summer observance- It may be decided, perhaps, to make Coronation Day the occasion of the celebration, instead of the birthday, and, as at present intended, that anniversary will fall in the .summer.

Whatever -enemies of Edward VJI. may find to say about him, they must at least confess'that the King is a gentleman,, aud no higher title exists. This reflection is suggested by a little incident which occurred yesterday. One of the housemaids at Marlborough House has been ill for so.no lime, and it was decide-! that she must undergo a serious operation. She was being conveyed in an ambulance to the. hospital for the purpose, end the ambulance was just leaving the Marlbmougli licese grounds when the King drove in. His Majesty at once noticed the ambulance, and made inquiries. On learning the facts l lie King instantly descended from his carriage, and walking 'to the side of the ambulance, spoke some pleasant and cheery words to the sufferer, telling her to keep up her spirits and be brave, and she would soon be able to return to Marlborough House fully cured ami well. 1 hear that the girl, while naturally much touched by the act of Royal kindness, was also immensely cheered and encouraged to face the con dug ordeal, and that it is quite believed the effect will be to aid and expedite her recovery. The magic of a kindly word !

Conilicting accounts reach litis country as to the condition of the Fmpiyss Frederick. Probably I his varies from day to day, but unhappily there is not, nor can there be. any halting in the progress of 'Indread disease from which she suffers. The end may be deferred for months, or it may come any week. Recovery, however, is. humanely speaking, impossible. The result is merely a question of time. A revival of the old discussion on the question whether or not Princess Louise of Fife becomes Princess Royal by automatic process, on her father's accession to the throne, has resulted in the distinct establishment of the fact thai the matter is one wholly within the Sovereign's personal discretion, lb lias been assertedand derded —that the point turns on the date of the Princess' birth, whether before or aftei her father's accession. There are precedents on both sides. But precedents do not, help us here, because it is purely a question of what Hie Sovereign please;. And just as Edward VII. has ruled that, his eldest son shall nob be Prince of Wales for the present, in order lo avoid embarrassing confusion between th:-. identities of father and son. so ho lias ordained that his eldest daughter shall not be Princess Royal, just yet at all events, lest she. should be ironfused with her aunt, the Empress Frederick. Which seems reasonable, enough.

Sir Alfred Milner will be here in a lew days, and all the more care will be taken to recognise his great services in consequence of the persistent attacks to which he bus been subjected on the part of the pro-Boers in this country, and indeed of too mans prominent members of the Liberal party. These assailants persistently represent Ins leave of absence as a recall, and declare that Sir Alfred is being removed on account of his objection to liberal terms being offered to the Boers, and that someone more pliable will be sent out with the view of facilitating the aceomplishmeint, of the Government's desire to do a. new " scuttle," so as to get rid of the war somehow.

The Government scheme for the reorganisation of the army has been carried by a large majority. Undoubtedly it has beer. very hotly criticised from the Ministerial .side- as well as from the Opposition benches. But the criticisms have been curiously inconsistent and discrepant. One was thai Hi', establishment: of so large a force was a challenge toother nations and an incitement to them to attack us* Another from (he same side was that the scheme was impracticable, and could never be given effect to. No

attempt, was made to reconcile the two. A more serious question raised was—and is— whether it will be possible to obtain the number of men required on the terms to be ottered. This is confessed to be a difficult problem, and only time can bring its solution. The estimated cost is already so vast that the Government naturally shrink from enlarging it by raising the scale oi pay and allowance. Yet it is admitted on all hands that we must have an efficient army at whatever cost, and if we cannot get it without paying yet a higher price than now named, why then—

A great sensation has been created by the gigantic operation of certain American syndicates of capitalist--. The federation of all the chief ironworks of, the United States, with a capital of a thousand million dollars, or £200,000.000. startled (he world considerably, especially as it was plainly hinted that the object was to cut Britain out of the world's trade and "run her off the road." Next came the American buying up of the Leyland Shipping Line, so as to secure the needful transport facilities. Then followed the tremendous Stock Exchange operations, designed to secure for the winner the control of the great Northern Pacific Railway. And now the wildest stories hud ready currency and acceptance as to fresh American schemes.

That a strenuous attempt is being made by -American syndicates to .secure control of ondon's chief means of trallic is quite certain. It is still on the cards that a powerful American company may get hold of the Loudon underground steam railways, the Metropolitan and District, and convert them into electric lines. " A good thing, loo," say most- victims to the foulness and fetor of the present mode of working. '1 hat the so-called "tube" system will he largely extended is quite certain, especially now that a Committee of Iwperts- have pronounced that the vibration ■ complained of as being caused by trains running tltrough the present "Tuppetiy Tube" can be prevented In- the use of heavier rails and slightly altered rolling-stock.

A Parliamentary Commit lee has just passed the Behr scheme for a. "mono-rail'' line between Manchester and Liverpool, to be worked electrically at a speed of 110 miles an hour. The Hill was thrown out, last year, but this year it has managed, at any rate, to get through Committee. Many capable engineers doubt the feasibleness oi the whole thing., and others question it a train travelling at such a speed could C stopped in ea.se of need within a safe distance. Until questions can only bo answered theoretically, since such a speed as 110 miles ill) hour lias never yet been attained by any means or in any circumstances —various allegations to the contrary notwithstanding—and therefore nobody can say definitely as to the possibilities of stopping. The present minimum time between Manchester and Liverpool is 40 minutes. By this system the journey would be made in hals that time. The experiment, if actually tried, vnil be a very interesting one.