OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 15

OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

(FROM our own correspondent.) London, November 16. COLONIAL. Quite a heap of patronage has fallen to Lord Salisbury in colonial appointments. Here is the list —Sir Henry Arthur Blake with titles, &c., from the arctic latitudes of Newfoundland to the torrid zone of Queensland ; Sir Terence O’Brien, &c., from Heligoland to Newfoundland ; Mr A. C. S. Barkley, from the Seychelles Island to Heligoland; Mr W. F. H. Smith, &c., is raised from Attorney-General of British Guiana to be Governor of Leewar l Islands ; and last, but not least, the Earl of Onslow, ’ Under-Secretary of the Colonies and Board of Trade, is appointed Governor of New Zealand, vice the genial Sir William Jervois resigned. Of the Earl not much is known, except that he is 35 and a good party man, and I know that he has large estates new Guildford, strictly preserved from which I was effectually warned off some years ago by a host of gamekeepers in scarlet waistcoats. The Earldom is not a -very old one, dating only, from-1801. Lord Salisbury is a good judge of character, though perhaps not rivalling his great predecessor, Lord Beaconsfield, in this attribute. I have no doubt, therefore, that he has well considered the importance of the position which he has selected for the Earl, and that his nominee will not disappoint him. Governor Blake’s career has been somewhat remarkable, for iti 1859 he wa3 merely a sub-inspector in the R.I. Constabulary, but in 1876 he became a magistrate, and in 1884 was made Governor of the Bahamas, and he went from thence to the somewhat difficult position of Chief of the State in Newfoundland. The transference to Queensland is a splendid piece of promotion, and there must be something in the man for him to have been advanced so rapidly. Curiously enough, Sir A. Musgrave was himself Governor of Newfoundland some years before he went to the South Seas. Certainly no two places on the surface of the globe could be more dissimilar than Queensland and Newfoundland. Since the announcement of Sir H. Blake’s appointment was first hinted there have been angry messages passing from Queensland to Westminster on the subject, and it is now hinted that the gentleman in question will not be sent out. It has not been made at all clear why Queensland is offended. One can understand that someone of a social Eosition more pronounced than that which elongs to Governor Blake would be preferable, but it is rumoured that the real opposition arises through the jealousy of the Irish settlers, who object to a man that was once a member of the Constabulary and afterward became a magistrate. Tho prejudice excited is therefore understandable if probably entirely unjustifiable, but in these days Ministers need to be circumspect and conciliatory, so probably Lord Salisbury will “ cave in.” The Times, however, thinks Sir H. Blake would make an admirable “society” Governor if nothing else. More attention is being paid every year to the condition and prospects of New Zealand. One can scarcely now take up a newspaper without discovering some reference to the Colony, and a strong and ardent desire exists to see it successful. Sir Ft D. Bell’s report on dairy farming, which has been received with so much satisfaction in the Colony, ought to be productive of great results, considering the immense and increasing demand in England for butter and cheese. In a a previous letter I pointed out what I see by the report some of the Agent-General's correspondents also refer to, viz., that the New Zealand cheesp is too hard and too insipid for this market ; tasty cheeses fetch higher prices apd are more readily disposed of. It is also perfectly true that the same class of butter does not find equal favour all over England. The Londoner demands a pux’e sweet butter, and gets it from Normandy at an average of Is 4d ; but in the North , of England a much salter and coarser butter is eaten and apparently preferred, though to a Southern taste it is detestable. Nevertheless these differences require to be understood and dealt with by exporters. From inquiries which I have made I have no doubt whatever that the almost constant uniformity of colour and flavour presented by the Brittany and Normandy compounds accounts for their enormous success, a success which is remarkable, for to my thinking these butters do not stand the least comparison when tested sidp by side with the produce of the Somerset and Devonshire dairies.

I cannot see that the Emigration Bureau established at Westminster is doing very much good. The expense, it is true, is not great, but its operations appear„to consist mainly in collecting information from the various colonial agencies and putting the same into a tabulated and concise form. Occasionally the department obtains and circulates news which appears to be got from private sources, but so far as I can see no particular impetus has been given to emigration itself. If, however, the Government should at any time determine to inaugur ate any system of State-aided emigration, po doubt the office would prove a useful

agency for regulating and devising the best method to be pursued. Something of this was once certainly in the wind, but probably the general improvement in trade will prevent the Government from attempting what will certainly be a difficult enterprise unless the money be advanced to the Colonial Governments, who will have to undertake the collection and repayment of advances. COINAGE.

No double standard at present, think the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the question of the relative values of gold and silver. The members are, however, so divided in opinion that the report is issued in three parts, the first of which is signed by all, and merely states the concurrent belief that the changes in value that have occurred are due to no one particular cause, but the action of the Latin Union in 1873 broke the link which had hitherto maintained silver at a constantlegal ratio as measured by gold, and thus* the baser metal was thrown open to all the factors which influence the price of a commodity. Evidently, in the opinion of the Commissioners, the main cause of depreciation lay in this quarter. The Commissioners are equally divided in opinion. Six of them state their belief that the fall in prices is mainly due to circumstances quite apart from the production or demand for the precious metals, or the altered relations of gold and silver. As to bimetalism, they observe first that it would never do to entertain such a proposition except as part of a general international agreement. The change would be “ tremendous,” and a “leap in the dark,” and finally “ we are not prepared to recommend that this country should proceed to negotiate with other countries a treaty embodying a bimetallic arrangement.” This opinion is backed by Lord Herschell, Sir John Lubbock, Sir Thomas Farrer, and Messrs Freemantle, Birch and Courtenay. Part 111. states the opinions of Sir Louis Mallet, and Messrs A. J. Balfour, Chaplin, Barbour, .Houldswprth and Samuel Montagu. Differing from their colleagues, they believe that if the bimetallism that existed in the States of the Latin Union previous to 1873 were restored, most of the evils due to falls in values would be removed ; but they agree that any step must be taken internationally, and on the following basis, viz :—(1) Free coinage of both metals into legal tender money ; and (2) the fixing of a ratio by which either metal shall be used for payment of debts at the option of the debtor. They strongly recommend a conference on the whole question. As these latter gentlemen belong mostly, but not altogether, to the Conservative party, whilst their opponents are mainly adherents of the Opposition, it is just possible that Lord Salisbury may incline to their views, and sound the Eurcpean Cabinets on the subject; but, on the other hand, Sir Thomas Farrer, Sir John Lubbock, Mr Courtney, &c., represent, I believe, the views of the great majority of the commercial classes, and I incline to think that for the present their opinions will preponderate. The report occupies fully 60 pages.

THE SLAVE TRADE. There is some roason to fear that Lord Salisbury is about to commit his country to a dangerous, or at least a very doubtful policy in East Africa, and that, too, at the instigation, and perhaps really for the furtherance of certain private objects of that astute old diplomat, Prince Bismarck. The Germans, as all know by this time, managed, not very long ago, to bounce or wheedle the unfortunate Sultan of Zanzibar into surrendering to them a strip of territory and coast-line about 400 miles long, and immediately adjacent to the protectorate set up by our own East African Company. From want of knowledge, or on account of their overbearing disposition, the Germans have managed to get into a regular hornet’s nest amongst the natives, who have almost driven the new comers from their settlements, and in fact have upset the whole country, which formerly, on the point of marked improvement from the efforts of the missionaries and legitimate traders, is now thrown back and made worse than before. In our own territories things have gone smoothly enough. The traders are welcomed by the natives, and harmony in the area of the British East African Company’s operations has reigned supreme. The contagion of disorder that exists on the border, may, however, spread at any time. Now, Prince Bismark, acting apparently on advice received from his felloweountrymen at Zanzibar, ano not knowing evidently what else to do, has taken advantage of the traditional attitude of England toward slavery to lay the blame of all the trouble that has occurred at the door of the Arab slave dealers, and he has proposed to Lord Salisbury a joint blockade of the coast, and a stoppage of arms and gunpowder now being openly gold to the natives. Now it is this embargo on firearms that is the real object of the Iron Chancellor ; if arms are not forthcoming for defence the German traders can deal with their native opponents and shoot them down without mercy. The prevention of slavery was a bait thrown out to secure England’s assistance. Lord Salisbury, it appears, consented, and without the slightest warning sent a note to the office of the Universities’ Mission advising the Board to recommend their agents to withdraw from their stations and proceed to Zanzibar at once. The Universities’ Mission to Central Africa is one of the most heroic efforts ever made to bring the native races

to a knowledge of Christianity and civilisation. Men of the highest culture and in the prime of life have gone forth and established a number of mission stations in the interior, and Bishop Hannington, so recently martyred, was the first bishop. He is worthily succeeded by Bishop Smythies to-day, who, we are given to understand by cable, is deeply mortified at the order to withdraw, and the stoppage of the supply of arms ; for, as he justly says, these arms are an absolute necessity for the present to enable the tribes, who have been brought to some extent under the influence of Christianity, to defend themselves from their ferocious enemies, who from the interior are always waiting an opportunity to pounce upon them. Abandoned by their teachers, it is feared that a general relapse will ensue, and all tho desperate efforts made during so many years of toil and devotion will be lost. It is an extraordinary circumstance that during the negotiations between Salisbury and Bismarck, which resulted in the latter’s acquisition of territory before mentioned, not the slightest attention was paid by the former to the fact that by this transaction the Universities’ Mission was thrown entirely into the hands of the Germans. The German traders are, as a body, overbearing and irreligious, and their influence and example have been most unfortunate in counteracting the humanising influence exerted by the missionaries. It is much to be feared that it is too late now to mitigate the blunders that have been made, but it is certain that great annoyance has been excited in the minds even of Lord Salisbury’s most devoted followers, and if serious complications arise the evidences of disaffection will soon show themselves at the polling booths. Punch’s cartoon of the German Fox proposing an alliance with the British Lion (after the fable) is very significant of the tone of public opinion. No news of Stanley. Much we fear, all is long ago over with him. A year and eight months ago he started on his journey, and by last Christmas at latest it was anticipated he would have reached Wadelai and joined hands with Emin Pasha, yet we know that as late as April last he had net been heard of by Emin, and some evidence that has lately been forthcoming renders it possible that he and his force have perished in the swamps. Rumouis of the White Pasha, in Darfur, from time to time, are noisrcl about, but it is hoping against hope to believe him to be Stanley ; yet who else beside Emin it may possibly be baffles conjecture.

THE ACCIDENT TO THE CZAR. This turns out to have been a much more formidable affair than the public were allowed at first to imagine ; 20 or 21 killed and 36 seriously injured is a terrible tale. The most marvellous occurrence in the business is the miraculous escape of the Emperor and his fa.nily and suite, 18 persons in all, none of whom were killed, though the carriage was smashed to atoms and one or two waiters and a dog weie killed on the spot, the former in the very act of handing the Emperor ' porridge. It is said that the Czar’s immense strength stood him in good stead, for unaided he held np a portion of the roof, and prevented it from descending upon his wife and children. The rumour that the occurrence was due to a plot is now discredited. It is more likely to have resulted from very defective permanent way, due to bad management and corruption. 1 have been shown a sketch sent from Russia of the scene after the collapse. The two engines never left the line, but the carriages' were scattered in all imaginable positions on an embankment over forty feet in height. The one carrying some of the Czar’s children hung over the slope in such a way that a touch would have sent it hurtling over the precipice. NUMBER NINE. Advices by cable will have long ago informed you that the monster who has committed such awful atrocities at the East End of London has been again at work, and added a ninth victim to his score. I say a ninth, on the assumption that all the women so brutally destroyed within the last few months have been done to death by the same hand, but even if the first two cases do not belong to the category, it is almost certain that the last seven are the victims of one hand, and one hand only. This time the wretched woman was murdered quietly in her own room, and the crime was not discovered till probably some hours after its committal. The scene which was disclosed wdien the door was forced baffles description ; the mutilations extended to all parts of the body, and the pieces cut off were ranged on the table, the face was slashed and cut beyond recognition, and the whole place bespattered with blood. What adds to the strangeness of the tale is the fact that the room where tho deed was done was so situated that anyone passing outside could have looked in and seen all that was going on, and there is some reason to think it was perpetrated in the early hours of the morning when.people might very easily have been about. Yet not a sound was heard nor a vestige of the murderer seen when ho left the place; but several persons saw and spoke to the woman late at night, and one man who seems to answer to previous descriptions was observed talking to her. Another witness f ully described a well-dressed person who he declares actually went home with her. It is a singular thing thataboutamonth has elapsed in each case between the murders, and hence a surmise has arisen that their author is a Malay cook em-

ployed on board some vessel which trades at about monthly intervals to and from the Thames. The barbarous nature of the mutilations seems to confirm the story which was cabled from New York that an English sailor had, during a recent stay in England, conversed with a Malay, who declared his intention to murder and mutilate every woman he came across, because some unfortunates had robbed him in Ratcliff of all his savings. Such men are, of course, utterly indifferent both to their own and other lives, and a cook accustomed to slaughtering would be quite au fait in the art of dissection. However that may be, not a shadow of a clue anywhere exists, and the police at present are utterly at sea. Sir Charles Warren, to the surprise of everyone, has resigned his position as Chief Commissioner of Police. A strong feeling has long existed against him both within and without the force. Resignations have taken place because highlyplaced officials could not work with their chief, and the force are drilled and punished with more than military severity. Sir Charles is a most able soldier, and such he ought to have remained. He was too autocratic to manage a civilian force, and had no tact for dealing with his subordinates ; besides which the police have not improved, especially in ’ the detective department, under his management. The crisis was precipitated partly perhaps by this fresh crime, and partly by an acrimonious correspondence which took place between Sir Charles Warren and Mr Matthews, the Home Secretary. The former, contrary to the regulations, wrote an article (rather a foolish one, by the way) on tho police of London, and published it in Murray’s Magazine ; and this infraction of duty having been pointed out to him by the Home Secretary, he wrote informing that gentleman that he declined to receive orders from him, and at the same time again sending in his resignation, which it seems he had tendered before during a previous dispute, the details of which have never been made public. If possible, Mr Secretary Matthews is more cordially disliked than Sir Charles Warren, and the feeling against him is so strong on both sides of the House that it is quite possible he may resign, for his appointment has proved an entire mistake and caused much, damage to the Government.

POLITICAL. President Cleveland has- gratified his spite, and shown that he cm "twist the tail of the lion as well as any of his Republican opponents. Lord Sackville has been given his pastport, and been insulted to boot, as far as the language of diplomacy can be employed to effect this. No one has been appointed in his place, and much ill feeling has been caused between the two countries. Despite this unworthy political manoeuvre, however, Cleveland has been heavily defeated for the Presidency, and General Harrison will reign in his stead somewhere about next March. This gentleman’s chief claim to distinction arises perhaps from his supposed relationship to the Harrison who was one of the 59 “Regicides,” so called, who ordered the execution of Charles Stuart. Let us hope he will bring back harmonious relations with this country by signing a treaty with Canada and settling the endless fisheries dispute. This reminds me that after all Mr Joseph Chamberlain is really going to marry Miss Mary Endicott, and he steamed off from Liverpool privately and unknown to all except friends a week ago to pull the little business off. I believe I am right in saying that this is the right honourable gentleman’s third venture. He went off just as Mr Gladstone arrived at Birmingham to commence a political campaign in the great Midland stronghold of Unionism. Of this reconnaisance in foi*ce it is sufficient to observe that the veteran statesman received a wonderful ovation, and made two speeches which exhibit no particle of failing intellect, but which, it must be admitted, did not add much of argument to the Home Rule cause. As a counterblast, Lords Salisbury and Hartingtcn have been entertained at a grand banquet by 250 Nonconformist ministers from Ireland. The only jarring note was struck by Loixl Salisbury himself, when he went out of his way to sneer at Imperial Federation as a word of ten letters. This was a mistake, as his Lordship will probably live to find out. Everybody will regret to hear that Mr John Bright is still very ill. He has been confined to his bed for a month or more, and it is quite on the cards that he will resign his seat. It is said that some sort of a reconciliation has been patched up between the quondam friends Gladstone and Bright, kindly messages having been interchanged during tlic former’s recent visit to the Midlands. The Parnell Commission drags on from day to day, enlivened only by the naive simplicity and occasional bulls of the Irish peasant witnesses, who have beeix brought up by The Times to testify to injuries i'eceived at the hands of those who are alleged to have been instruments of the Land League, but it must be admitted that at present nothing of any consequence has been disclosed. The prospects of an early termination of the inquiry are hopeless. Everything will centime on the famous letters, but no one knows when the evidence anent them is to be forthcoming. Parliament is sitting, but only Supply is being voted, and private members are airiixg their grievances and riding their hobbies.