ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12213, 7 March 1903, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

; [fbom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' " LONDON, January 23. THE ELINGAMITE CASE. IN Leadenhall-street the finding of the Court ■which inquired into the loss of the s.s. Elingamite, and which was briefly cabled here, has received some amount of comment. And in view of the vessel having, as it is understood, come to grief in a thick mist er fog>— as was the case of the s.b. Wairarapa some years ago—the question is being asked: How long will it be before the New Zealand Government equips the coast of the colony with fog signals? In conversation with a leading official at Trinity House, the authority controlling British lighthouses, I learned that powerful fog signals are now being adopted here, and that the type most favoured, after exhaustive experiments at the Isle of Wight, is the "cylinder" syren, though the disc syren is rapidly coming into vogue. Red and explosive signals are not of very much use except . for comparatively small areas. The cost of a syren with its motors, all of _ the most powerful type, is only some £4000, which seems a small sum when risk to life and property is considered. But as men are required to look after it, and as lighthouse men are the most suitable, because resident in most practicable positions, it. would appear that before you get your syren you must get your lighthouse and its attendant staff. Be that as it may, the guarding of New Zealand coasts is having some attention paid to it just now in certain shipping quarters.

. THE TONGARIEO. A splendid piece of work has this week been completed in connection with the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro. The vessel has 12,200 tons cubic capacity, which was entirely occupied by cargo, and this was discharged in precisely a week to the hour. Only on one night did a gang work on without stopping; on every other night work was ceased at ten o'clock. In addition, 800 tons of coal were placed in the Tongariro's bunkers. Altogether it is claimed that a record has been set up in the discharge of New Zealand cargoes in London. MR. REEVE 3 ON NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. " Municipal Trading" formed the subject of discussion on Wednesday night at the monthly dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce, which was presided over by Lord Avebury (Sir J. Lubbock) at the Trocadero Restaurant.. In the course of the discussion which took place, Mr. W. P. Reeves said he was a, believer in State and municipal enterprise. The general results of the State management of railways in the colonies had been very satisfactory, stimulating progress, helping industry, and aiding the prosperity and development of the colonies. Referring to the debate, the Globe thinks the colonial argument in its favour brought forward by Mr. Reeves does not seem really to tonch the case. "In small and comparatively new communities." it remarks, '* the paucity of private capital and the absence of highly specialised classes make municipal trading more or less of a necessity if large works are to be carried through at all, and the objection that it competes with private enterprise, to the detriment of the public, does not apply. Here the conditions are so entirely different that instances drawn from Australia and New Zealand are of very little practical value." A FROZEN MEAT CASE. This afternoon, in tile King's Bench Division of the Royal Courts of Justice, before Mr. Justice Kennedy, sitting without a jury, the case of Kidman v. Blofleld and Lisenden was begun. Mr. Carber, ICC., and Mr. Paine appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Eidon Banks, K.C., and Mr. MoKinnon defended. The action involved important points to shippers and salesmen of frozen meat. The plaintiff was an exporter of frozen meat from Australia, and the defendants were Smithfield salesmen. In June, 1901, plaintiff entrusted to the defendants 3000 carcases of mutton, ex Indradevi, and 4014 carcases ex Star of Australia. These carcases were stowed in the refrigerating chambers of the West Indian docks. The carcases were landed in June, 1901, and a survey took place in the months of June and July. No further survey took place, but in November the Docks' Company drew defendants' attention to the state of the mutton. They cabled to plaintiff, who instructed them to sell. Defendants did so, but owing to deterioration the plaintiff alleged that he had sustained a net loss of £1100. He contended that there had been a breach of duty on th,. part of the defendants: that if there had been surveys in August and September they would have shown that deterioration' was going on, and he contended that the defendants did not give him the information to which he was entitled. The defendants disputed that there had been any tjreach of duty on their part; that if there had been los 3 it was thrrough no fault of theirs; and that they were not responsible for any loss that plaintitff might have suf- ■ fered. The case had not concluded when the Court rose. „ MISCELLANEOUS. It is officially announced this week that the Rugby Union Committee have reluctantly felt compelled to recommend to the New Zealand Union to postpone their visit to the Eeason after next. They feel that owing to clubs having made their fixtures for next season it would be practically impossible to arrange a satisfactory, list of matches. According to a paragraph which appears iii a London paper, Father Hayes, of Holyrood Rectory, Market Rosen, Lincolnshire, denies the report that the " appeal to the Catholics" bearing his signature, and issued on the general election in New Zealand, was a " get up" on the part of the temperance party. He says that the drink question, entering prominently into the election, the appeal was in its entirety written by him at the earnest request of the temperance people. On Thursday afternoon Mr. Charles Pharazyn and Mr. Edward Pearce attended at the office of the Agency-General, and with Mr. Reeves formally opened the tenders received for electric trams for Wellington. They were assisted by Mr. Wright. The tenders, I understand, will take much detailed tabulation, and this work is now being performed. According to a News Agency advices received in Paris from Tahiti report that an epidemic of what is known as " red Bourbon fever" has broken out in the islands. The disease first showed itself in the form of scarlatina, but afterward developed into a severe kind of influenza. About a quarter of the population has been attacked, and the disease is spreading rapidly. It is said to have been brought to the islands by a steamer from Sydney. . , . A paragraph which has gone the rounds of London and provincial papers, states that the steamers on the direct South African service from New Zealand are failing to obtain satisfactory cargocs ■ The agents complain that the results are disappointing. An Admiral victualling store officer is visiting New Zealand to ascertain the resources of the colony for Admiralty purposes.