OUR ENGLISH LETTER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 30

OUR ENGLISH LETTER

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

LORD DERBY ON TRADE, &c. London, October 22.

Lord Derby is a better authority on trade than on the colonies. This is to be accounted for partly by the fact that he is essentially a man of a philosophical turn of mind, and 1 apparently entirely devoid of that emotional, and sentimental if you will, side of human nature which is pre-eminently necessary for a statesman occupying such a position as that of Colonial Secretary. Clear-headed and logical, he would better befit a professorship at a "University than a post requiring tact and experience in the management of men. Hence his remarks on the prevailing depression of trade are interesting and suggestive. Speaking at a recent public dinner, he declared that an examination of statisticsfails to show that the laboring classes and the great middle class, at any rate of professional and business men, have suffered half as much as many of us think. For example,, Lord Derby finds that in the matter of tea; the consumption has increased from 158,000,000 lbs in 1880, to 182,000,000 in 1885. Sugar from 19,500,000 cwts to 24,000,000 ; and much more striking still, savings bank deposits have increased from £7B, 000,000, to £94,000,000. The consumption of alcoholic drinks, has declined, it is.-; true, but there is no doubt this is due to the influence of the spread of temperance principles. Again, the Income Tax Assess-? ment has risen from £577,000,000 ■ to £631,000,000, and the value of probate and succession duty was in 1882-3, £164,000,000, but, in 1885-6, £183,000,000, rising to this year by year slowly and steadily. Of course the population also has increased ; and it is indeed startling, as his Lordship- rather? strikingly puts it, that every morning the Ban, as he rises over these islands, looks upon a thousand fresh faces he has not seen, before. Not only is this startling, but it is serious, for it means nearly 4,000,000 more,, mouths to fill every 10 years ; aud, as Lord. Derby says, it is a perpetual stimulus to activity and enterprise. The real depression he considers to have been chiefly amongst farmers and landowners, whose losses during, the last ten years cannot have been less than £200,000,000. Ihe abstraction of such, an immense sum would necessarily be felt everywhere, but for the colonies it at least means money, for meat and grain, if nofc procurable here, must come from abroad; Thedifficulty, however, in Lord Derby’s calculations is'that they do not in any way. account for the depression which exists so markedly nearly all-round the world the distribution abroad of bo large a sum of money which has not been spent at Home ought to have-bad. its effects, but these are *-not in any way evident.

I may, however, oonfirm what I have written before, viz., that the trade continuesto slightly improve, and in the shipbuilding yards of the North signs of activity, are beginning to appear. Stiff we hear mutterings about the approaching winter, that it will be one of great distress and destitution; and everybody is warned to be on thequi vive. Some very sanguine persons believeina great “boom” of prosperity next year.. I cannot say I share these anticipations.. It appears much more probable that a steady aud slow expansion of the volume of trade, will take place. The sudden, and extra-, ordinary rise of 60 per cent, in wool must nob, be made too much of.

WINTER IN IRELAND'. Winter in Ireland is looked forward to with less apprehension than, was the case a short time since, though the Fall: Mall Gazette, with its usual appetite, for sensation, proclaims a coming land war between the landlord and tenant,, because some evictions and fightings have taken place on Lord Clanricardo’s estates at Woodford, iu the County Galway. Certainly no one can feel any sympathy with his Lordship’s position—an absentee landlord, whose own and whose family history is not edifying, to use the mildest expression; who never perhaps dnce, or but once, set foot on those vast estates from which he draws an income of some £30,000 a year, by the expenditure of which he is enabled to live the life of a Sybarite. He does practically nothing for his wretched tenants, and, whilst they are destitute and clamoring for bread, be folds his hands and orders his agents to evict without mercy. Still, things generally look better ; the Home Rule policy of Mr Gladstone bas done much to bring about a better feeling between the two countries, and moonlighting in Kerry has received a considerable check, partly by the activity of General Buffer and partly by the angry feeling that has been aroused against Kerry men generally on account of the bloodthirsty and hideous crimes which have disgraced the county and one of the fairest regions on the earth. The landlords have held meetings also, and denounced unnecessary and heartless evictions. Should we, therefore, have a mild winter, there may be a little peace for our distracted sister island. The Belfast riots are being busily inquired into, and a great deal of interesting evidence has been given. It seems really very much as if the whole quarrel began by the ill-advised and un : justifiable taunt levelled by a Roman Catholic workman at his Protestant fellow, that, when they had Home Rule, they (the Catholics) would make short work of their enemies. Of course fighting ensued, and the next day the unfortunate lad Curran was drowned by being driven into the sea by the Protestants from Harland and Woolf's works. Then came the defeat of the Home Rule Biff and all the subsequent excitement of the elections, with the triumph of the Conservative party, &c. One thing followed another and fed the flame, until it blazed up in a terrible conflagration, increased by the oil of po itical and religious bigotry. As to the charge against the Constabulary, that they fired on the Protestants by the orders of Mr Morley, the late Chief Secretary, why the whole lie is too glaring and monstrous, and may be traced to that pestilent Orangeman Mr De CobaiD, M.P., who had not the courage to appear in the House of Commons and defend his own allegation of “liveried assassins.”

POLITICAL. Public opinion concurs in believing there will bo ao; Cabinet; meeting for a month or so;

and Lord Hartington, who ought to know something of the secrets of the prison-house, contemplates a visit to India (it is remarkable'what attention our statesmen and public men 1 are paying to this great dependency), so that evidently he at least does not anticipate having tb attend to his duties :in Parliament for several months. The radical pronouncement of Lord Randolph Churchill at Dartford has produced a deal of fluttering in both the dovecots. A\ split in the Government itself is rumored,, and the chief Conservative journals are judiciously silent on the matter. The Radicals hardly like to have their clothes stolen in so barefaced a manner, and scarcely know whether most to laugh or cry. The amusing insolence of his lordship in proposing the cloture on account of obstruction is rather, too much, when one remembers his own and Ilia-friends’ (the Fourth Party) exploits in this direction. Anent the scandalous scenes in Parliament, which are not, by-the-bye, half reported, I recommend a perusal of a» reoent article in the October number'of the- “• Quarterly Review.” The whole thing as therein set forth would be a disgraee to the town council of the pettiest borough in the world. Something must be done, or decent citizens will not be found to come forward for election.

The attention' in Bulgaria and the East of Europe generally is much less strained dur. ing the last few days, and hopes are now entertained of peace. Not the least factor, in the calculation i 3 the want of money in Russia,. and the significant depreciation of the rouble, which has fallen nearly as low as it did after the disasters of Plevna. Bulgaria, too, sadly needs adban, and though Austrian journalists and diplomatists are exceedingly anxious that English capitalists should put their hands in their pockets and find the sinews as well as the munitions of war, to promote thecause of the South-eastern nationalities,ithero is not the slightest reason to believe that Lord Salisbury o-rthe ban kers of Lombardstreet will come-forward with either the one of the others. We are sufficiently hampered in Egypt, and* unfortunately there are no signs of any settlement in that quarter, or fenthe matter of that in Burmab, which is proving a veritable nuisance and thorn in the. flesh which, defies extraction. It is now recognised as a very open question indeed whether, as- wo were profusely promised, Upper Burmah can ever become the prosperous and; wealthy addition to our strength that Lower- Burmah has been for so many years. "

THE EMIGRATION BUREAU. The Emigration Bureau has at length been opened at Sli,. Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, under the able management of Mr John Burnett,, for many years secretary to the Society of Amalgamated Engineers. Here may be obtained full, and it is to be'hoped, reliable information as to the needs and position, of?all our colonies and dependencies ; | thus information will, in time, be scattered broadcast; through the land, and care is especially taken from time to time to indi- ; cate, not only what kind of emigrants each country requires, but almost as important—what kind it does not require. For the : moment considerable misapprehension exists .as to the nature of the help the ; office is prepared to render, and this, it need not be said, is certainly not pecuniary. Yet crowds flock to . the doorways under this ! misapprehension, and have jto be turned ! away disappointed and no doubt disgusted. In time, however, the mistake will be rectified, and then the results of the experiment will begin to show themselves, it may be hoped and believed, to the advantage of all concerned. lam glad to see that New Zealand still retains the confidence, of the investors. The recent offer of £1,567,800, New Zealand Consolidated Stock, at 4 per cent, has resulted in offers to the tune of £2,094,000, at prices varying from £IOO to £97, the minimum. These latter will get about 17a of the allotments, the average price ranging from about £97" ss.

THE LATE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY.

The late -Archbishop of Sydney was a, brother of Dr Vaughan, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, and when he died some three or four years ago in England, his remains were temporarily laid in the private chapel of his relative at. Blundell Hall, near Liverpool. His Lordship seems to have been very popular in his. colonial, diocese, and before he 6 left on a visit Home his parishioners presented him with £4OOO. This sum, together with all his personal property beside, be bequeathed to his successor in his sacred; office, to be used for charitable purposes. It appears to- be usual for members of the Catholicepiscopate to be buried in their former dibcese, and it was confidently expected the practice would be followed iu thi3 particular case, and that a first charge on the property of the deceased prelate would have been the transport of his remains to’ Sydney for interment. Archbishop Moran, however, who succeeded to both the monqy and the office of his predecessor, declines to incur the expense, notwithstanding the vigorous remonstrances which have been addressed ,to him by the late Archbishop’s brother, of Salford. At the time of the interment the burial service proper seems to have been omitted, as it was understood this would take place at Sydney. Altogether there seems to have been a great deal of misunderstanding and heartburning, and quite a scandal is occa-. sioned in Roman Catholic circles by the pub-, lication of the correspondence between Cardinal Moran and Dr Vaughan. Generally the matter does not seem to redound to the honor of that branch of the Roman Catholic. body settled in Sydney, who 1 see hare raised £2OOO for a memorial window in the Cathedral, but are for some reason, either unable or unwilling to find the smaff extra, amount for the transport of the coffin, from, its present resting place.

INTERESTING READINGS.. For those who like to dive into the past, and I pity those who can only live in the present, interesting reading will be found in the chatty “Reminiscences and Opinions of Sir Francis Doyle,” published recently by Longman and Co. The author is a fine specimen of the full-flavored high Tory that is propagated at Eton, and he is honest enough to declare he likes the days and opinions and manners of the past a great deal better than he does those of the present day. He would willingly to 1829

and ante, and desire- nothing better. Per-*-;-haps the bodily infirmities of lameness, and I : fear it must now- be added total blindness, - have a little soured him, -or rather*• if" one may coin , a word; “ pessimised ’’ him. Add to thia that -he conceives himself to have a grudge against Mr Gladstone Jor a lack of promotion, and we" have a partial explanation of his hatred for the modern democracy. Much of interest is touched on, and light thrown on the., lives and characters of many eminent men,/-in particular Mr W. E, Gladstpne, with whom Doyle was a companion both at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. ' There is a slight; allusion to Arthur Hallam, whose memory and; name have been handed down to re- ■ rootest ages in- the undying pages of ? e ln . Memoriam.” One curious story he related • about the great Duke of Wellington (amongst many others) which, Sir Francis declares, the Duke told his father at a dinner at Apsley House. If it was not for - this positive assertion one would be almost- . inclined to doubt it.'. It is, however, to tho , effect that after the Battle of Talavdra the- •< Duke wanted Cuesta, the Spanish General* , to execute a certain, movement with his troops. The haughty Castilian replied thafc.--it was impossible he eould compromise the honor of the Spanish Grown by obeying the commands of a foreigner, unless the foreigner went down on his knees and implored him,., to do so. In the Duke’s words the story runs ; “ Now I wanted the thing done, .. while, as to going .down upon my knees, I did not care a twopenny damn, so down I plumped!” " •" ’ *' " ’ Talking of literary men, most people will: be distressed to bear that Mr Escott, the - brilliant editor of the Fortnightly, and the.* author of the pungent paragraphs in the~World, under the signature “ Cosmos,” has, overworked himself,, with the terrible result « that at 40 years of age his mind has given . way, and he is now confined in a retreat from.which there is no-probability he will evexk ernerge.

THE. HARD TIMES. The hard times, have driven a number..of.; people into carious straits and shifts for making money. One of these, originated*-Ia believe, by a daily (though not., forsmoney), consists in opening competitions, at 6d o-r Is a head, to ,thosewho can form, the most words out of ,3i»ne, long work, such as “Competition,”. “ Renaissance,” &Ci. Prizes are various—£1;?£2». even up to £sf;, but it need not be remarked, that the general public should be careful,Hot-, to go in for these contests without being: pretty well assured of the . bona fides*pf the advertiser. Anyone not giving full name andi address should, be carefully avoided.,,

The same kind of thing is being worked; by the proprietors of patent or special, manu-. faotures. Fbr example, the Bellersof “Zomo coffee are constantly offering prizes x>f-£SO io> anyone who can guess nearest the numbey.ofr cwt of cofifee passed at the CustomsJn someparticular- month, the only condition’ off entrance being that the competitor- buyg,a. tin of Zbmo coffee and forwards the label, to, the works at Bermondsey. This-, appears? a. genuine concern, and to one poor mam afc / least it proved a fortunate windfall,’fei- :afi»rbeing out of work some time he now,fiudS-ha has funds to get to Australia and. maka a fresh start in life.

A NEW CEMENT.;:. A new cement is being talked: about, made, incredible as it may .appear*, by the substitution of sugar for sand in mortar; The pious grocer who sanded' his-, sugar and dusted his pepper, and afterward Galled his establishment to evening was, it appears, over-cunning ; ? he ought, to have sugared his sand, if we are .to believe, all we now hear. It is said that gomq.af the, broken tracery in the windows in. Peterborough Cathedral has been mended very effectively in this way by a t mixture; of finely powdered lime and brown,; sugar; it ia even said that broken glass can be repaired in this manner. M. should be observed, however, that; ’Mr Edward Nicholson, formerly .che.n4st to the Madras Public Works Department, throws cold water on the idea. He admits, that, experiments made have shown that the adhesive strength of mortar is slightly increased, but at the beßt it is far inferior, to good Portland, cement. The explanation of any advantage accruing from-.the use of sugar seems to be in the greatly increased salability of the lime , by the addition of saccharine matter, and he , adds that in Indie .that, fact bas been known, for centuries, and that it produces a beautU ful surface,, for plastering. There is talk,, of extracting sugar now from coal gas tar, which latter-commodity has fallen so low; invalue that it pays the, gas companies better to employ.it as fuel; than to sell it as a. residual product. Perhaps it is scarcely?; proper to speak.of M Bugar ” from tar. The.. sweetening product has, however, a, name* which,may be commended to the organisers, of spoiling. bees as a regular stumper; it haaa.name or rather three, which,require several dips of ink to write, to c *orthor> benzolyl ■ sulpbomio imide,” and it, is* satisfactory to kpo.w that its strength, is, not unworthy of its name ; a single te-aspoonful i 5.339 times, more powerful, than, the same ' quantity, of Demerara, and beetroot is not in the running. It is thought that it may. prove-valuable in destroying, the-terrible some medicines, and oven, obliterating the. bitterness of quinine.

A TERRIBLE GALE* A fearful gale visited tha> south and weak coast, of these islands on* the 15th and following days in October*. The coasts have been strewn with wrecks*, and fearful, damage was done at Brighton, on the Sussex coast. At Porthcaw.l. the. lighthouse was partly destroyed by wayes; whioh are said to have been 150 feet high above the breakwater. Many lives have been lost.