OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 8

OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

(FBOSI OUB LONDON OOBBE3PONDBNT.) London, April 10. . COLONIAL. The little discussion which took place in the House of Lords on the 16th March showed «ff that ancient assembly to more advantage than when it is dealing with matters not quite so agreeable or uncontroversial, the subject being the moving of a unanimous address to Her Majesty, thanking her for having accepted the services of the various Colonies proffered -*o generously on the occasion of the Bad news from the Soudan, and Lords Derby and Salisbury, as the mouthpieces of Government and Opposition, rose to the occasion, and they very properly did not for-get to notice also the loyalty of the Indian Princes, who came forward also in so noble and generous a spirit. The Australian Contingent arrived at Suakim just in time to join in the general advance against Osman Digna, and received on landing a great ovation. Everyone is loud with their praises of the fine appearanee they make both as men and soldiers. Doubtless they have been disappointed, like everyone else, that the Arab commander declined to try further serious conclusions with his foes, and prefers the unsatisfactory method of retiring into his desert wastes, doubtless because his men are disheartened at their recent -terrible losses, and are said to be deserting in large numbers. As it was, however, fn the-slight brush that took place the New South Wales Contingent lost two men wopnded, and had besides a taste of marching

across the frightful desert under terrible heat. Sir Gerald Graham telegraphs—“ The Australian Contingent have cheerfully b >rne their share of our hardships, and showed themselves worthy comrades in arms. I regret they have two men wounded.”

On March 26 the Fishmongers entertained Sir Saul Samuel, Sir Charles Tapper, and ocher Colonial representatives at dinner, and the former observed in his speech that the forces of the Australian Colonies were established. not to protect themselves against an internal enemy, but against the foes of the Empire. Sir Charles Tupper, alluding to the question of federation, said he saw great, if not insuperable, difficulties in the way of a Parliamentary federation of the Empire. While expressing a negative opinion in regard to one feature of the question, he had witnessed with intense pleasure the union of leading men of both parties with a view to discovering and carrying out any conceivable measure by which the Colonies might be drawn into closer union, and the connection with tbe Empire rendered perpetual. He expressed his opinion that a scheme might be adopted by which representatives of outlying dominions might occupy seats in the House of Commons with power to speak, but not to vote. Speaking for himself as the representative of Canada, he said he should infinitely prefer to feel free from party ties, and his influence would be great ;r, stronger and more useful to the country he served. The question was worthy of the most careful attention of the ablest minds in this country. This suggestion, which) does not originate with Sir Charles Tapper, bnt with Mr Ecelyn Ashley, the present Under-Secretary for the Colonies, has been often fut forward, and seems to indicate a basis on which those who, like Sir Saul Samuel, are directly opposed to federation, yet de-sire to find some firmer bond of union than what now exists, and those who go in for the entire scheme may meet and work out a solution of the difficulty. AN EMIGRANT’S PARADISE Is the name applied by a recent settler at Canterbury to the England of the Southern Seas. Writing home to friends in Liverpool, be gives a glowing account buth of the weather, the scenery, the social surroundings, the laws, and the educational system that prevails, and his description, if to be relied on, ought to make the mouth ot every poor man, struggling at home, water to be out there. “ Ever since I left London,” he writes, “I have not seen one miserable, thin, half-starved child ; indeed, tbe people here do not know what such a thing is.” Some information he gives will be news to people at home, for, of the licensing laws, he observes that local option is in full force, and that “if any man is a notorious hard drinker, any householder can appear before a magistrate and apply for a hearing of the -case. The man is summoned to answer the charge, and if it is proved to tbe satisfaction of the court, they prohibit all the publicans in the district from supplying the mam with intoxicating drink.” It is to be feared that if this system were carried out at Home, the force on the Bench would have to be quintupled, and even then be unequal to its duties. “ Swearing and profane language is an offence punished by 48 hours’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.” However, there appear to be some flies mingled with the pot of ointment, for “ Things,” he goes on to say " were never so bad or quiet in the Colony as they are at present No one has any money ; their is no trade going on.” He naively remarks, “ There is one thing needful in this country, and that is money ; for there is but little in the place.” But he sums up his encomiums by remarking, “If there was more money in this country, England could not hold a candle to New Zealand.” Unfortunately, New Zealand is not the only place that needs a little more hard cash, and even the Old Country would, perhaps, show up a little better if there were more of it knocking about. Still, it is obvious that New Zealand is just the place for a hard-working farmer who has a small capital, and letters such as these do good, if only they are not too highly colored to be true. Unfortunately, there are not nnfrequently complaints here on this score, made by persons who have been induced by land speculators and others to invest their money in paradises which have no existence but iu imagination. This remark applies more particularly to Canada and the States. The same journal (the Liverpool Daily Post) which prints tbe letter above referred to, gives also a lamentable Btory told by a man who was induced to go out to the State of Florida, which he finds little better than a desert or a fever swamp.

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. The report of the Medical Officer for tbe port of London shows that during 1884 the imports of frozen meat reached the enormous quantity of 619,324 sheep and 115,377 quarters of beef. Most of these supplies arrived in magnificent condition. Of course there were cases of loss, as with one consignment in August, where 2279 quarters out of 2289 had to be destroyed, bnt this was quite exceptional. In the opinion of the officer this important trade has now reached a reasonably safe condition, thanks to the knowledge gained, unfortunately through repeated failures, of the best way of maintaining the requisite degree of temperature iu the storage chambers on board ship. It is remarkable that while the imports from Russia and the United States show a tendency to fall off, those from Australia, New Zealand, and the Plate District, are increasing enormously. During the first quarters of last year, only 99,537 carcases sheep came in, bnt in the last quarter the number amounted to 168,104 at the port of London alone, a fact which speaks volumes for the increased favor with which the frozen meat is now regarded by consumers. A GOOD SIGN OF THE TIMES. The depression in trade seems to continue with unabated vigor, though the war alarms have stirred up some activity amongst the shipbuilding trades. An evidence of the depressed state of business is, however, afforded by the recent meeting of the Cunard Company. The profits for the year 1884 are only about £87,000, after paying debenture charges, and as this balance, as well as £23,000 from the reserve fund, has been passed to the credit of the depreciation account, there is nothing of dividend available for the unfortunate shareholders. The Company own a magnificent fleet of 27 vessels, varying from 7718 gross tonnage down to 772, besides seven

tendera and barges ; the gross total is 100.643 tonp, with an effective horse-power of 103,093. Yet with all these great resources freights are so low and competition so keen that the Company have great difficulty in holding their own. The national revenue returns for the year reach a total of £88,043,000, or more than £1,310,000 than was anticipated, which would be eminently satisfactory were it not that the expenditure is expected to be about £89,169,000, ora deficit of £1,126,000 ; and what is still worse, owing to the war in the Soudau and troubles in Central Ada, the outlay in the year now commencing is likely to be greater still. It is anticipated that what with one thing and another the Chancellor of the Exchequer will want an additional income of about seven millions. This, too, with the income tax at 6d. Even if it is put up to 8d he will still want three millions more, so that some anxiety is not unnaturally felt to hear the coming Budget. Our troubles seem, however, to have brought about indications of a better feeling between workmen and capitalists, which justifies my writing about a good sign of the times. Not long since a Sheffield firm received an offer from their workpeople of a week’s work without wages as some help towards struggling against the financial pressure, and now the good example of the Yorkshire men has induced their fell-'ws in Lancashire engaged at Subden, at the Cobden mills, to come forward and make a similar offer. The mill is engaged in cotton manufacturing, and was established about twenty years ago, and of late has got into financial difficulties. Owing to this a notice was posted that the works would be closed in fourteen days. Upon this the workmen assembled, and made an offer of four weeks unpaid work, to be spread over twelve months, and equal in money to about £IOOO, if it would enable the managers to hold on a bit loDger. This generous offer is under consideration, but it is feared will hardly avert the threatened calamity. POLITICAL. ' By the death of Lord Cairns' at the comparatively early age of 66, the Conservative party has lost one of its most honored and trusted members—one who formerly stood a good chance for the leadership of the party, and would certainly have gained it in the House of Lords had he not been eclipsed by the greater position and perhaps greater talents of Lord Salisbury. The influence of the late Earl on his former chief, Mr Diaraelf, was most remarkable, and illustrates once again how well suited men of dissimilar tastes and feelings often are for companionshiD and mutual support, for nothing could well have exhibited a stronger contrast than the Oriental imagination and religious indifference of Beaconsfield, compared with the solid judgment and strong evangelical principles of Cairns. To the last the ■ latter continued his Sunday school class, and when a friend remarked to him soon after his acceptance of the Great Seal “ you will no longer be able to take your Sunday school,” he immediately rejoined, “ Why not ? ’ He was ever ready to aid any good work by money and speech, and was one of the chief supporters of the noble work of rescuing destitute boys, carried on so successfully by Dr Bernardo in the East of London. The late Chancellor’s rise to power 1 and place wai very rapid, for he only entered Parliament as member for Belfast in 1852, and in 1858 was made Solicitor-General by Lord Derby. When that MinUter returned to office in 1856 Mr Cairns became Attorney-General, was promoted to a Judgeship in Chancery the same year, and at the beginning of the succeeding one received a peerage, and the woolsack followed in 1868. Though a strong, not to say obstinate, Conservative in politics, he was a reformer of the radical type in his efforts to improve legal procedure, his acquaintance with his own profession being unequalled. As an orator, he pe3sessed high capacity, and many of his speeches are of the very finest type of lucidity and eloquence. Lord Rosebery, one of the rising politicians of the Liberal party, and the most recent accession to the Cabinet, has been put up to state the Government case for the present Egyptian c impaign. At a meeting of the National Reform Union at Manchester he denied that tbe policy of the Government is “butcher and bolt,” as it has been described with alliterative facility. He declared that the expedition to Suakim was recommended by Lord Wolseley as necessary for the safety of the forces on the Nile. Had Osman Digna’s power remained unbroken he considers it not improbable that the Mabdi would have advanced from Khartoum down the Nile, and be re-affirmed the oft - repeated determination of Mr Gladstone to endeavor to plant some stable government in the Soudan, and to arrest the course of the Mahdi, whose future movements might, unchecked, suffice to set the whole East in a blaze. Much, it is obvious, depends on the False Prophet himself ; if he is ill-advised enough to continue his crusade further north, he must be crushed at all hazards, but if he is content to remain where he is, there are not wanting signs here that pressure will be brought to bear upon the Cabinet to retire as speedily as possible from the hateful desert and to abandon the autumn campaign, nnless their hand is forced by the enemy. People are getting sick of reading pitiful tales of bloodshed, of our brave men falling by scores from the bullet and the pestilence, and even more so of the thousands of dead Arabs dotting the plain (amongst ■ whom it has been asserted even the bodies of women and children have been discovered) rotting beneath the sun, and the prey of dogs and vultures. Truly the accounts have been awful to read about, and nothing but the very strongest, most dire neceseity can justify the terrible carnage that has taken place. Nevertheless there is no slacking in our work, the railways from Snakim to Berber and up the Nile towards Dongola are making progress, and pumps capable of lifting water 2000 ft are being tested at Woolwich. The pumping stations will be three in number, placed in the desert along the line of railway at intervals of 50 miles, so that the three sets of boilers and pumps will drive the water a distance of 150 miles. THE AFGHAN DISPUTE. There is little to tell about this that the cable has not informed you of already, and the issue of peace or war will have been decided long ere this reaches you. At present the balance happily inclines in the former direction, though it is known that the diplomatic cords are still straining, and the vessel of State is in anything but still water. No official news is allowed to leak out, and such

aa finds its way through the columns of the Pall Malt Gazette, the mouthpiece of Russian intrigue, is necessarily tainted and untrustworthy, The Darhar at Rawul Piudi has been a great success, and . the A mpp.r departs to his own place highly gratified at the presents made and the assistance promised. The antecedents of the wily Mohammedan, however, are not very satisfactory, and,, rendered cautious by past experience, the Indian Government intend to pay him his subsidy monthly instead of yearly, as in the case of his predecessors. Thus at the first glimpse of unfaithfulness the supplies can be stopped at a minimum of loss.

A movement in connection with the Volunteer corps has been set on . foot in Manchester with success that may tempt imitation elsewhere. The War Office has for some time issued a set of rules for the formation of a Volunteer Cadet Corps, but owing to something unworkable they have not been put to a practical issue under official sanction. Manchester, however, as I have remarked, is a partial exception to the rule. It seemed a pity that boys who left school at 13 or 14 years of age Bhould forget their drilling lessons, so the authorities at the cotton metropolis have organised a corps of 300 lads, and these, with the permission of the School Hoard, receive a fixed number of drills under competent sergeants in the playgrounds during the summer season. The lads take very kindly to the movement, and the War Office made a free grant of 300 Snider carbines (rendered useless for firing) for the purposes of the exercise. For uniforms the boys must pay, but as it consists simply of a neat blue jersey with gilt buttons and scarlet braid, value 3s fid, and a glengarry or forage cap equally inexpensive, such outlay is not prohibitory. Details, of course, are only partially worked out as yet, but as a training school for the Army or for the Volunteers, the cadet corps is to be commended as an excellent institution, better a good deal than conscription for the manufacture of citizen soldiers. “ SOCIETY IN~~LONDON ” is the title of a book likely to make a stir this season, and to cause, perhaps, not a little heart-burning, as it is the mirror held up to certain distinguished persons to enable them to see how they appear to other eyes than ,their own and their countrymen’s. The volume is supposed to be written by a certain Count de Monteglas, for many years an atof the Austrian Embassy. Many distinguished foreigners, such as M. Taine, Max O’Rell, and others have been very free of late with their criticisms, so that it must be presumed there is something attractive in these islands and their inhabitants which induces our friends across the Channel to give us so much fatherly advice with a view, no doubt, to our moral and intellectual progress. The present volume mingles much praise with some chastisement, but the Count is good natured enough to say of society in the metropolis that it is always misrepresented—by foreigners because they never mix with it long enough . to understand it as a whole, by English writers because they are only acquainted with one or two aspects. “ Society in London,” says the author, (and when yon have seen that you have seen everything) “ mav be compared to a piece of patchwork, which you look at from one point of view, and it is all very familiar from another, and it is very strange.” . . . ‘•People feel both more at home and more strange in London society than in any other society in the world. The explanation is that London society is the most cosmopolitan of any in existence. I shall not err if I say that London is the only city in Europe which possesses a society upon anything like its own scale.” In his opening chapter, the author dealswith the Queen and Court life in a free manner—“ With the exception of the Duke of Richmond, the Queen has, among statesmen of her epoch, no personal friends who would dare openly express their opinion. to Her Majesty. Lord Baaconsfield, who by his adroitness, patient courtiership, unbounded and extravagant adulatioo, had completely overcome the Royal prejudices against him, which at one time seemed insuperable, and had won the heart and trust of his sovereign, was the last minister who fully enjoyed the royal favor. Mr and Mrs Gladstone periodically visit Her Majesty, but the personal relations between the Sovereign and the Premier are of a tepid kind, and have been known to be actually strained and chilly.” The lot of the Maids of Honor is then described, and it is asserted their peßition i 3 entirely unenviable. They are expected to know no fatigue and be always within call, as Her Majesty seldom even reads the paper herself. The Queen likes young people, and has few favorites past middle age, and it often becomes the unpleasant lot of the Marchioness of Ely, who is the Queen’s confidante and manager, to have to tell some servitor or other that her Royal mistrees is wearied of her presence, aud desires a change ! Thus the author; but the tale he tells is not by any means in accordance with what has been generally understood about Her Majesty’s private character, nor does It agree with many of her known and public acts. As to the coming marriage of the Princess Beatrice with Prince Henry of Battenberg, it is alleged that the engagement began really four years ago—the Princess got rather tired of her humdrum life, and secretly espoused herself. When Madame la mere came to know about it there was a scene, and a rather warm one, too, whilst it lasted. Space forbids me to quote much more, but the work is full of interest. The account of the Princes is amusing. The future heir to the Throne is set down as quite a censor of the proprieties. He is most particular and fond of sitting in judgl meat and giving an opinion. Whether it be on the cut of a lady’s dress, a marriage, or anything else, the Prince volunteers advice in the best and most genial spirit; but in all matters of ceremony he is a firm reprover of any deviation from the proper standard. It appears, however, that Her . Majesty in her turn sits upon her Bon and heir, and gives him a piece of her mind upon occasion. The portraits of public men, from Mr Gladstone downwards, are equally entertaining. Writing of Lord Hartington, the present War Minister and future Duke of Devonshire, the Count says, 11 He is the embodiment of ‘Le spleen.’ He is the embodiment also of English commonsense, One of my compatriots once fairly summed. up the air and demeanor of this distinguished nobleman, when he said to an English friend, ‘ What I principally like about your Lord Hartington is his you bedamnedness.’ He has hauteur, but he has

not insolence ; for insolence implies something which is ill-bred or under-bred, and no onecan accuse Lord Hartington of being either. He says little, and presents to moat people the front of an impenetrable reserve. He is an Englishman to the backbone, and* he understands and manages certainly better thanMr Gladstone, and probably better than any other Englishman could, that peculiar amalgam of prejudice and shrewdness, passion and judgment, emotion and sound seme the House of Commons.” The sketch of the almost certain to be successor of Mr Gladstone: at no distant date is eminently interesting.

COURT NEWS. Her Majesty having gone to Aix les Bainsat a very awkward time, having regard to the momentous dispute with Russia, and other troubles, the messengers who have to travel to and from Germany and Westminster are enjoying a lively time, and their expenses add something to the Budget. There are twelve m all engaged on foreign service, each at £4OO a year, and £1 a day expenses, besides tra veLmg. In addition to the twelve foreign runners, there are ten at home whose businessit n /to make journeys between London, Windsor, Balmoral, or Osborne, or wherever the Court may be. One of these has £250 ayear, five £2OO, and four £l5O. These, it should be understood, are only the Foreign Office' messengers. All the other Departments have their own staff, but not sowell paid. The Queen has taken some work away with her, to wit, the editing of the literary remains of the Duke of Albany, ffhere will not be much interest in them except such as attaches to the guileless life of an accomplished and amiable young man. At. last the Prince and Princess (the latter looking very charming in green poplin s-nd Irish lace) have set foot on the green shores of Erin’s isle, and contrary to the savage and sullen advice of the Nationalist " leaders, have received an enthusiastic welcome from the great mass of the Dublin populace. As the Prices has come oyer in connection with his.duties.as chairman of the Commission now sitting .to inquire into homeless and houseless poor, his visit will be prolonged some time, as he intends to make inquiries in most of the chief.towns. So far as the national feeling is as. yet displayed. Punch, with usual happy felicity, ha 3 hit. off the situation, wherein Erin,, with her family, is depicted as turning ontfrom the cabin to welcome their Royal Highnesses. All are glad except one member of the family circle,, the little scowling dwarf, who turns muttering away, and to whom the mother says, “ Arrah, thin, ye little divil, are ye goin’ to disgrace the family ?” Of course,, too much faith must not be placed on what is after all only the good tempered enthusiasm of a crowd bent on holiday-making. The deepseated discontent which finds its vent in returning fanatical members to Parliament, will not be appeased by spectacles of this description ; but it is equally certain that mush frothy disloyalty would be smothered in the good sentiment that would be aroused if any member of. the Royal Family could be induced to make his home iu some part of the island.. Excellent as Her Majesty’s qualities of hearthave ever been, she has committed a. fatal blunder by showing such ill-considered preference for one] portion in particular of her dominions. •

Lord Mayor O’Connor’s declaration that be would haul down the city flag d rectly the Prince landed at Kingstown, has been forestalled in his intention by some students (soit is supposed) of Trinity, who stole the flag itself one night ; at any rate, it is gone, and though £IOO has been offered for its recovery it is not forthcoming.' It was supposed that some wag intended displaying it from the College or other conspicuous place whilst the Prince was making his entry, but it was nowhere seen, and it is possible the Lord Mayor, having found himself iu an awkward preye* dic.ament, first by insulting his intending visitors, and then by alienating his Natiomal friends by eating his first defiance, has rendly stolen the bunting himself and hidden it under the bedstead, so as to have a good excuse to fall back upon if assailed by any section of his enemies.