ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 7

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[FROM OUR OWN COBRESI'ON* DENT.-]

London, April 12.

THE CHAMOIS IN NEW,: ZEALAND. With reference to the recent . shipment of

"chamois to New Zealand, Mr. G. Aflalo writes:—"The chamois, that goat-like ante-

lop©, which, far 'back in the mists of European ; history, attracted; the"; boldest . hunters to the beetling ledges of 'Alps and Carpathians, has long been coveted for the sunbathed mountains of New Zealand. . . . Well, "New Zealand wanted the chamois, and/ anxious ... to avoid the expense of purchasing such elusive prizes, which, in the nature of the difficulties attending their capture alive, would necessarily fetch a high price, cast about for something to offer in exchange- There was fortunately no 'difficulty whatever about finding acceptable tender. If the land of the Maori is singularly deficient in the larger beasts,, birds, , and fishes that 7 are prized by sportsmen all the world over, if its trout come from Scotland, arid its deer from there and elsewhere, it has at any rate, in sadly dwindling numbers, but still available to the properly authorised collector, a number of birds, and at any rate one reptile which make the mouths of menagerie curators water greedily,V and make them glad that the Tenth Commandment did not include kiwis, weka rails, and the tuatara lizard: In the circumstances, it is not surprising that an amicable exchange should have been arranged with the least possible delay. So the venerable Emperor Francis . Joseph ; concerned himself with this : absorbingly interesting ; experiment of acclimatising the Austrian chamois I in the'mountain ranges of the underworld- | that basks in sunshine when we are wrapped in darkness. His own keepers were for weeiks busy searching all the likely coverts for chamois that should form healthy breeding stock, and, they at length succeeded 'in obtaining both bucks and does, which are now on their way south.and east tola, new home, in. which it is hoped that they may flourish as remarkably as the red deer that have preceded them from the Northern Hemisphere. On the other : hand, the menagerie at Sehonbrunn gains; the equivalent—more, in one sense, than the equivalent—in the shape of some " exceedingly rare New "Zealand birds, and one, at any rate, Of the aforementioned lizards (if tlf\ tuatara can rightly be called a lizard), on J which 99 per cent, of the citizens of Vienna j have hitherto in all probability ' gazed only i in books. :■--..-:"; . The exchange is, there- | fore, an' entirely satisfactory one. Austria I sends to the neW and vigorous land of the | South, a family of her most-prized animals, which may: found a permanent stock for the rifles of future generations of New Zealanders, besides adding yet another attraction to a land that already.bids,successfully, for the : affection of the .wandering sports-', men. In return, New Zealand sends from her wonderful storehouse of; survivals from fossil ages some of those treasures that no student, of zoological antiquity can content' plate unmoved. Here, is honourable barter, and all concerned deserve that the experiment should be attended by unclouded success in both hemispheres." .... " ' SHIPPING RINGS. ; During Tuesday's . sitting of the Royal Gommisision . on,-;: shipping rings a■. ■ special examination was conducted • "on his own"; by the "High' Commissioner for New Zealand. In answer to Mr. W. Pember Reeves, the witness (Mr. Edward Tredwin) said that the Germans wore, very, great at following up every detail connected with gettipg into a new V market. Standing on the deck of a German steamer in Australia,, he had seen packages coming Out marked *' Fremantle," Adelaide, Melbourne, or Sydney—optional.''' That meant that the 'German manufacturer had- persuaded : the . shipping > company" to take his goods, and so stow them that they i could be discharged : at any one - of those ports, and the decision, as to which would not be come to until the last moment. His firm (Messrs. Gilbert, McCall and Co.) could, not get the: option of more than two ports,; : and even that only with some difficulty. '" , Mr. Reevos " 1 think you will agree that the growth of -American; trade in Australia , and New, Zealand has been rather, remarkable?"—" Yes." "You have told us that you regard the ! rebate , system as, on i the whole, a good thing • for the trade of the country, ; and .for shipowners and -shippers alike:; but the American has no such system.?"— Yes; :; but, the - American ;; does not do his own carrying." Mr. ? Reeves 'marked that it seemed; to - him that the Americans, objectionable as - their ' system of combinations might be, .seemed to, be able to compete with the foreigner as well as, any country in any: part, of the world. Another member called Mr. 1 TredwinV attention to; the large shipments of wire not-: ting from Germany to. Australia, asking to what he attributed it? "•■ Mr.' Tredwin ; replied: -.'.'.''lt. is due to rabbits." ' (Laughter.) Mr. Reeves: "But rabbits ;have no preference for Germany." ... :, FIRES ON WOOL SHIPS. :" Very commendable energy has been shown," says the Times, by the New . Zealand Government in dealing with; the question of wool fires on board ship, and it is a pity that their latest' enterprise should not ha:ye resulted in any definite conclusion being reached., The subject was agitating insurers and insured a good deal last year, arid the ; Commission , appointed < to inquire into the matter arranged ; that 16 bales of wool should be made damp last: December, and afterwards, half that number shipped to this ; country. v Quantities of water, varying from ,491b, to 951b per bale, ; were added, and the bales were repacked arid- 'dumped' with steel bands. Early in February, eight of : these bales,, representing different sorts of wool, were shipped on board the steamer; Orari; ; and to-day, a party of underwriters and claims-adjusters was invited by the High Commissioner for New Zealand to view the opening of the consignment at the ! Victoria Docks. .This experiment, how- j ever; has > done ; little to prove that, dampness was the cause Of the fires of last year. In ono, bale- there were signs qf oxidation, and in a couple of bales the wool had: a musty smell, . but generally the wool was sound and dry. Throughout the.voyage the temperature of the wool had been taken, and the changes were recorded in a chart, the temperature of the bales appearing to , correspond more or less with ' that of the hold. The inspecting party was entertained at luncheon by the New Zealand Shipping Company on board the Rimutalka. Mr. Cameron, Produce Commissioner for New Zealand, speaking on behalf of his Government, said that the. Fires Commission were very anxious to . consider any suggestion that might be put forward by those interested. There can be no doubt of the Colonial Government's earnestness and intention to get at the root of the trouble, and one can . but regret that the results of this experi- 1 ' j ment should be negative." "' / " WAR OFFICE TENDERS.' ■'• New Zealand firms have been incited by : the War Office to tender for. large quantities j of tinned meat. Hitherto too brief a time j has been given. between the .issuing of the tender-forms and the date on which they, have to be in. Mr. Haldan'e lias now j given • until the ' middle of July, so '• as to allow .;' of the New Zealand firms having time to consider the matter, and to tender. In one respect, however, colonial firms will be placed at a disadvantage. Some of the meats have to»bo packed in ISoz and 260z tins, so as to form, ration allowances. These are not the usual weights which packers go in for, and, therefore, unless the War Office can be induced to change, New Zealand firms will have to pack specially for .the contract, or else to forego it. " -. .. _ PANAMA CANAL. ~ .It is stated that the representatives of the American Commercial Association, who have returned from Panama after their recent trip of inspection, are divided in their opinions over; the progress - of the Panama Canal. . Some consider that the results thus far achieved, as, for instance, with the mighty Culebra Out, arc splendid, while other members, of the party think that, in view of the colossal. nature of the tindertaking, more rapid headway is needed if its completion is to be accomplished within a generation. Representatives 'of the various commercial clubs and associations are' preparing a joint report, urging a: much more vigorous policy under concentrated direction. The., United/States Government evidently .experiences great difficulty in retaining capable men at the head of the enterprise. Wallace, then Shorits, resigned in succession the important position of general ; engineer, Shonts quitting the position to take a very lucrative one in New York City, where great constructive work is going on. , And now Stevens has" resigned, because he is dissatisfied with the situation and its many annoyances. . Furthermore, the. decision arrived at only a few months ago,, to have the; work completed by'private contract has been somewhat abruptly revoked, and, it is now resolved that all- shall be - done under the; direct supervision of' the War Office. One of the chief troubles is "that the men capable of supervision can secure; much larger salaries than; the 'Government offers. .