ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11953, 30 April 1902, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[FROM OTO OWN CO-RESPONDENT.! -, ' London, March 27. r MR. SEDDON AND JBB COLONIAL \ '" .■'"" 'OFFICE. ' ; This week the Colonial Office issued to the press copies of cable messages /which had passed between Lord Ranfuriy and Mr. Seddon on the one ham! and Mr. Chamberlain on the other, Mr. Seddon in particular urging that the war should bo prosecuted by other than what lias been called kid glove'' methods. These messages, and the fact that New Zealand is sending a Tenth Contingent, have been commented upon enthusiastically. The Daily Chronicle says:—"The Colonial Office has some time long since learned not to snub the zeal of the colonies. Will the Colonial Office also take a lesson from the colonies and make the efforts for which young Britain across the seas is so earnestly calling? Mr. Chamberlain has warmly recognised the gallant services of the New Zealand contingents, and Lord Kitchener has declared that he could not desire better troops. Will Mr. Chamberlain be as ready to impress upon the War Office the advice of New Zealand that the way to end the war is to pour mounted troops into South Africa, vith unstinted prodigality?" Other papers * illow in a similar strain. The Daily Graphic' remarks that " the whole Empire is grate/til to Mr. Seddon and his fellowcolonist;! for the patriotism which has dictated tins offer" (the Tenth). Even a proBoer paper says: "There can bo no two opinions about the splendidly patriotic conduct of New Zealand." This paper, however, goes on to add: "Whether even New Zealauders will say as much about the unnecessary urgency with which Mr. Seddon exhorted the Colonial Office not to refuse the offer is more open to question. It would be charitable to .Mr. Soddon'to assume that his telegram was not meant, in the first instance at any rate, for publication, and to Mr. Chamberlain, in view of his peculiar attitude to--1 ward private correspondence, it might be do. ing a great injustice. Even as the message stands wo will not. ask by what authority Mr. Seddon lectures the, Empire. Such inquiries are not part of the taxpayers' business, which is exclusively to pay. But we will ask, by what authority ho lectures it in the name of Canada and Australia? Does Now Zealand offer any adequate scone for a man of Mr. Seddon's activity? If we did not possess Mr. Chamberlain it looks as if ho might find time to run the Empire. Indeed, but for Hie existence of the Herman Emperor he might be invited to run the earth." THE MOKAU ESTATE. On .Monday hist an application was made in the Bankruptcy Court, before Mr. Justice Wright, in reference to the Mokau Estate. Counsel for the trustee in the estate of Messrs. C. C. Hopkinson and Sons applied for leave to sell Mr. Hopkinsou's interest in the Mokau block, as ordered by the Court of Appeal, .Mr. Joshua Jones not having prosecuted his action to set. aside the foreclosure nor paid into Court £7000. MY. .(ones opposed, and asked that Mrt Wickham Flower and others, against- whom he alleged fraud, should be ordered to appear before the Judge, in order that, be might examine them. Ho contended that they had " snapped their fingers" at the Judges' order, staying them from dealing with the estate. Ho mentioned the Cadman-Smitb negotiations as instances in support of his allegation. The Judge said he had no option but to make the order, but lie would see that possible interests behind those of the trustee should not be overlooked. Mr. Jones threatened criminal proceedings. SPORTING. " Both Australian Star and Seringapatam (late Screw Gun) occupied inglorious positions in the rear of the field," says a sporting writer in reference to the Lincoln Handicap of Monday last, "the latter horse finishing absolutely last. The time (lm. 47 2-55.) seems remarkably slow, especially since the Lincoln mile has the reputation of being rather an easy one. It is, indeed, strange how completely Australian Star seems to have lost the good form which distinguished him in the early part of' last racing season. In the Chaplin Stakes on Monday' Sir Edgar Vincent's Pistol (by Carbine) and Mr. ■L. Robinson's Trenton filly Cooeo took part. Both were ladling in condition, and occupied backward positions in the race. Pistol has furnished into a very fine colt, and should do his sire some considerable credit during the coming season." ! BANK OF AUSTRALASIA, Shareholders in the Bank of Australasia were in a generous mood at the annual meeting, held to-day. In. moving the adoption of the report the Chairman said that in New Zealand trading conditions were satisfactory. The wool sales now in progress showed an improvement in price, which, however, was only moderate. Frozen meat had been subject to considerable fluctuations, but as the principles of supply and demand became better known in Australasia this might be altered. The Chairman then went on to refer to the magnificent way in which Australasia had volunteered aid to the Mother Country. (Cheers.) The public utterances of the political chiefs there had been endorsed by the population. He then.moved the adoption of the report and the declaration of a. dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, or £2 per share for the half-year. This having been carried, simultaneous generosity displayed itself in the body of tie room. One shareholder proposed, and the motion was seconded in two or three places, that tiro directors' remimoration be increased from £5000 to £6000 a year, while another shareholder aleo advocated the paymont of a bonus of 5 or 10 per cent, to the staff on account of it being Coronation year. The Chairman said an extraordinary meeting would be called in October to consider the proposals. THE CITY AND THE PRINCE OF WALES. I have just received " with the compliments of the Corporation of the City of Loudon" a beautifully-printed and " got up" little publication entitled " The City of London, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Colonies," published in connection with the memorable visit of their Royal Highnesses to the city after their return from their Imperial tour. Beginning with excellent portraits of the Royal couple, the book first refers to the tour itself, next to a description of the historic visit to the city, thpn the luncheon menu, and a list of guests, copies of the addresses and replies, and finally the notable speeches made at the luncheon, including that by the Prince of Wales himself, which has won recognition as admittedly the best speech ever yet made by any member of the English Royal Family, so far as records exist. The little book forms an interesting souvenir of a memorable historic occasion. f MESSRS. HOULDER BROTHERS. In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Alfred Davis asked the Secretary for War to state the total amount of indebtedness to Messrs. Houlder Brothers incurred by bis Department during the South African war. Lord Stanley said tho amounts paid to Messrs. Houlder Brothers were as follow: — Freight for horses carried to South Africa in their own ships, or ships chartered by them, £1,572,3+7; purchase of alfalfa, including extra freight, £70,473; passage of discharged horse attendants to the United States or elsewhere, £10,272. * It must bo remembered that that firm acted as brokers for other firms, and that in consequence the above sums included many sums paid by Messrs. Houlder Brothers to others. Those charges were incurred between November, 1899, and April, 1901. Mr. Arnold-Forster, answering the same lion, member, said that no percentage had been paid by the Admiralty to Messrs. Houlder Brothers on transports hired by the Government, or on any other transaction. MISCELLANEOUS. In the opinion of the St. James' Gazette the splendid " send-off" accorded the North Island Battalion of the Ninth Contingent at Auckland is "an object lesson to the proBoers."

"Trout Flies in Now' Zealand' was the subject of an article which appeared in a recent number of the Field. Mr. Frederick Whitley now adds some interesting details to the subject for the benefit of English anglers.

A windfall for a pauper in the Boston workhouse is announced this week. An old man, whose name is not given, has been for years an "inmate," and recently he came in for a legacy of considerable property from relatives in New Zealand. Ho was, however, dying. Before his death he made a will, appointing the workhouse master his executor, and directing that the cost of his maintenance should be repaid to the guardians out of the legacy. I hoar it is practically settled that the colonial troops, who are expected over here in May, to attend the Coronation, will have a camp provided for them at the Aloxandra Palace, Muswell Hill, oh the north side of London.

A first meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr. J. F. I.ydali was held in the Bankruptcy Court yesterday, before the Official Receiver. The debtor, it was stated, was a solicitor, and formerly a member of the firm of Messrs. Lydall and Sons, of John-street, Bedford Row, London, the partnership being dissolved last November. The receiving order was made upon a creditor's petition, and the debtor, who has not attended under the proceedings, is said to be in Now Zealand. The extent of his indebtedness was unknown, but it was believed that it amounted probably

"to about £500. The value of the asset* was unascertained. " Mr. F. S. Salamon, of Bucklersbury, was nominated as trustee to wind up the estate in bankruptcy, and a committee of inspection was also appointed. ine, security to he given iby the trustee was •■ recommended at £700. , . ■ . Referring to Arctic and, Antarctic exploration, it is stated' here that the whole nature of the hazardous work may quite conceivably be changed if the plan of" Captain .Bernier should succeed. ;. The cwptajn. is in command of « American expedition, win* is to start for (be North Pole this year. it k said that ho propose* to take a ™»»" telegraph transmitter wife him, in the hope of being able'to report his movements, and possibly send for assistance. Signer Marconi interviewed on the subject recently m the United States, saw nothing impracticable, in the idea, and said that the electrical energy required to send messages for thousands of wiles could easily be developed. -,-,. ■~.• • . Bristol papors are noting the fact that Mr. Herbert Kaston took up in New ./-ealam) the question of improving gold mining matters, and they print a sort, of testimonial : given by Mr. Seddon to Mr. Eastou before he left the colony. - l_ii : i"'l» Sneaking at the Free Church Congress recently, the VBe*. .T. fJrectihough, who has just returned from New Zealand and Australia, gave an address on the Federation movement in Australia. He pointed out that their brethren there smiled at the bellicose and militant attitude of Nonconformists here. "They jest at sear*i who never felt a wound." He was struck with the progress of the Roman Catholic Church there. Everywhere magnificent cathedrals were to bo seen, and also convent schools, more than half-filled, he wis ashamed to say, with the children of Protestant parents. Protestants seemed asleep, and he had seen Presbyterian ministers, in the name of charity, taking part in the proceedings at a. Catholic bazaar. ("'Shame.") Tho B,of. J. Cwymie Owen spoke on the work in the United States, where, like the last sneaker in Australia, he noticed a wide toleration which failed to understand tho position of Nonconformists here. ~ , . An eighth dividend of Is Id per share has been declared by the Board of the Progress Mines Company of New Zealand.