LONDON NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 776, 14 January 1887, Page 14

LONDON NOTES.

(from an occasional correspondent.) London, December 2, 1886.

For nearly a fortnight past we have had continuous fogs in this city, London being enveloped in dismal gloom, while the suburbs are bathed in sunshine. F*r two or three days in succession it became so thick in the portions of the city lying near the Thames that the traffic in the main thoroughfares had to be conducted under torch and gaslight. No one who has not actually experienced it can imagine what a “black” November fog really is. Not anly is it impossible to see more than a yard in advance, bub the pedestrian finds himself swallowing almost as tangible an atmosphere as peasoup, and charged with all the imparities of his immediate surroundings. So dense has been the fog on several occasions that many persons have lost their way, almost at their own doorsteps, and several fatal casualties on the railway lines have occurred. I recently paid a visit to the buildings at South Kensington, where the Colonial Exhibition was . lately held. I walked through the various courts, and found a very different display there from what was to be witnessed daily and nightly during the “ great show.” Packing operations were going on vigorously every where. The sudden change of front on the part of the authorities in the matter of the proposed Imperial Institute—making it necessary to distribute the exhibits instead of storing them in the building—has occasioned a good deal of extra labor, many of the Executive Commissioners having previously, at the Prince of Wales’ invitation, stored their exhibits provisionally at South Kensington, in view of the re-opening next year. That the Imperial Institute will be a great reality, in spite of formidable opposition in certain interested quarters, there can be no reasonable doubt. But the Sub-Commit-tee appointed by the city magnates urged upon His Royal Highness that it would be impossible to carry on the show while the building was in progress. In consequence of this there will be a general dispersion of exhibits, with the hope of getting them together j again at some future time. It is estimated that it will take at least five years to com-. plete the building, of which the Queen will lay the foundation stone on June 28, 1887. In the meantime all the New Zealand exhibits - including the contents of the fernery—will be distributed, except some Government things, which are to be stored. I hear that Sir Walter Biiller thinks of sending his Maori collection back to Wellington, although the French Government has invited him to retain it for the Paris Exhibition in 1889, and the Crystal Palace Company has offered to take charge of it in the meantime. For my own part I think he is right, for these Maori ethnological objects are really of more value and interest in the Colony than out of it. No effort should be spared to preserve in New Zealand a complete record of the indigenous race which appear to be fast passing away. I could not resist these reflections when, some time ago, I paid a visit to the ethnological rooms in the British Museum. The valuable collection of Maori carvings, meres, and heitikis presented by Sir George Grey, after his return from his first Governorship, would haveß|heen of incalculable value in the Colonial Museum. As it is, they are practically lost in the immense number and variety of similar objects from other countries that surround them. I hear that Sir George has since formed another collection at . the Kawau. I trust that he will never dream of sending that to England, but will let it accompany his prinoely gift of a library to the Auckland people. It is expected that the Exhibition Buildings will be completely oleared by Christmas, or the beginning of the new year.