LONDON GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 30

LONDON GOSSIP.

(from our own correspondent.) Middle Temple, February 12. I.ORD CARRINGTON AT THE KOVAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE. This has been the event of the past fortnight. As everyone expected, the hall in which the Institute met —the Princess Hall, Piccadilly—was all too small. It was crowded to excess, but even then numbers of people were unable to gam admission. Of course the faat that the Priuoe of Wales was in the chair had something to do with this; but even had he not been there would still have been a squash. Everyone wanted to hear what one of the most popular of Governors thought of the governed. Well, in this case a good deal of what they heard was praise. The greater part of his Lordship’s speech was, however, taken . up by a discussion of Imperial Federation. In the main the idea iu its, so . to speak, crystallised form, had no attraction for him. He thinks that Federation is a growth, not a manufacture —that the very 'way to thwart it is to be always examining and meddling with it—that the means to ensure its certain and speedy development is to let well alone. But he also gave it as his opinion that we must show on this side of the world that we remember our countrymen beyond the seas very kindly. Lord Carrington acts up to his words. Nor is he singular in this respect. There is a very warm feeling for the oolonies here everyone shows it more or less. At all the big political conversaziones one hears knots of persons discussing ways and means for uniting more closely the different parts of the Empire. I am bound to say most of the speakers have an idea that it can be done by some “Morrison’s Pill” Scheme, bub the very fact of so much attention being attracted shows that the chilling indifference on the subject, which so long existed, has been dispelled. And where, as here, the question is really one of a “union of hearts,” indifference is the most fatal of bars. There of course a most brilliant concourse, practically all the notabilities connected with the colonial world being present. Lord Knutsford and Lord Granville represented the Colonial Office —the former Conservative, the latter Gladstooian. Admirals Tryon and Fairfax were both en evidence, while Sir William Jervois, Sir Frederick Young, Lord Brassey, .and Sir John Pope Hennessy were not missing from the scene. Earlier in the evening Lord Carrington entertained the Prince of Wales at dinner at the j Marlborough Club. The guests invited to meet His Royal Highness included the Duke of Fife, Lord Granviile, Sir Hercules Robinson, Sir Henry James, and the Hon Julien Solomons. MR GLADSTONE ON THE STRIKE. ■ Mr Gladstone and Mr Fitzgerald, the Australian labour representative, have been comparing notes. The latte'- gentleman was accorded an interview of half an hour at the House of Commons by the leader of the Opposition. Mr Fitzgerald, in answer to a question, frankly admitted that strikes seemed to him a brutal mode of redress. He thought that they caused so much suffering to the wives and children of the strikers, as really to hurt workers more than the employers. In this Mr Gladstone was almost entirely agreed. .Still ho thought strikes were of great value. The effeot of a threatened strike often proved very effective. Mr Fitzgerald then opened his mind. What he really desired was legislative inter, ferenoe. But here the Grand Old Man could not follow him. He thought that the workmen would suffer. Freedom* both, of the individual and of labour, was of the utmost importance. He had been engaged all his life in unloosing the fetters of the lower classes, and he saw no reason in favour of changing this policy. Mr Fitzgerald then explained that what he asked was the establishment of State Boards of Conciliation or Arbitration in case of disputes. “In other words,” said Mr Gladstone, * *a Board to fix wages.” Mr Fitzgerald allowed that this was so. To this, however, the Opposition leader was clearly adverse. State interference, he was sure, would prevent freedom in the future, and he added that be. feared the tendency to refer all to the Legislature would prevent' os much progress in the future as in the past. DEATH OF MR BRADLAUGII, It is no figure of speech to say that death has just removed from among us tha most remarkable politician this century has seen. For many years an absolute Ishmaelite, his hand against every man, and every man’s hand against him. and regarded with a feeling of hatred and horror, of which we can qoy7 form but a faint idea, his ultimate triumph was unique. He lived to be one of the most weighty factors iu the House, to open the door of politics to all men, agnostics, atheists, or otherwise, and to see the resolution expelling him from the Houso expunged. Two days afterwards he passed away. His opinions were advanced, but they were his opinions, and he acted on them. Nor did he concool them. His views on, or rather against, religion, on the social system, especially over-population, on labour questions, and on politics generally, he advocated frankly, unsparingly, almost brutally. But he was a man of conviction. Unlike many of his contempearies, he was too strong to betid with the popular current. Whether he outran popular opinion, or whether popular opinion gladly ran -with him, it was only an incident. Ho forced the mob to follow him. Tho reverse was never the case. And when in latter days hia step became too Blow for tho ever-quickening march of socialism he pursued his way with the same superiority to the public voioe that he had ever displayed. As a speaker he. was remarkably successful. No rhetorician, the force and earnestness which characterised the man, gave him such success as few rheotoricians have enjoyed. Great powers of hard hitting of reasoning and of memory made him a formidable opponent, and never shall I forget the speech T heard him deliver in tho House on the eight hours question. Cunningham Graham, the labour representative, made an admirable speech. Bradlangh followed, and absolutely pulveiised tho man

and his argument!. A more complete disoomfiture could hardly be imagined. As Lord Randolph Churohill, who supported Cunningham Graham, remarked, the banter was not perhaps first class. It certainly was effective. REPORTED IRISH RECONCILIATION. It is said that the Boulogne Conference has not been without fruit. Rumors of an ap• proaching compromise are rife ; and we are told that before long we shall again have a United Irish party. This may or may not be so. Darnell and O’Brien are pretty certain to join forces, and this would of course prove a great stimulus towards .a truce between the two factions. O’Brien is a man whose personal popularity in Ireland is second only to that of Parnell. He is also one of the weightiest Irishmen in the House. His speeches are always listened to. Then he is for peace in camp ; and, it is reported, has suggested a mode of temporary comso that it is quite within the bounds of possibility that the Irish Party—at anyrate until the elections —will resume their former happy family appearance. If that should happen, one thing Beems to loom out distinctly from the general haziness. I mean Parnell’s regaining his old position.. With half a pretext, especially if it be aided by O’Brien, the majority of his opponents will come over to him. The rest will lose their However, be that as it may, the reconciliation will define more closely what the Home Rule party do want exactly. Something precise must be said as to tho points of vital importance—the points on which Mr Gladstone and Mr Parnell had the difference of opinion. The exact amount of control that the Irish Legislature is to have over the police and tha land question calls for definition. Probably we shall hear something of this later on. At present, all that we are sure of is that a truce seems im. minent. If it be so, the friends of Home Rule will rejoice, its foes will draw rather long faces. In this connection I may mention that Mr Balfour’s fund Is steadily increasing. Already close on £60,000 has been subscribed for the relief of the distressed peasantry. Nor has the limit by any means been reached. It seems reasonably certain that close on £IOO,OOO will be raised in one way or another. Luckily, too, warm weather has succeeded the late severe cold, so that at present the distress is far short of what was at one time feared. THE SCOTCH RAILWAY STRIKE. I don’t intend to do more than mention this. As seemed not improbable from the first the men have lost. There were no terms —no conditions. The Directors have offered to take back as many men as pos. sible ; but this will by no means represent all that went out. A great number of places have been filled up with outsiders during the progress of the strike, and these, of course will be retained. So that the practical outcome of all Is that some men have loßt the means of earning their livelihood, all their wages for the past month or more. ’Tis true, and in many senses 'tis pity. THE NEW ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE. To turn from grave to gay, last week was marked with a white stone by musical people. Sir Arthur Sullivan is, of course, our greatest musician, and the production of a new work by him always arouses interest. But last Saturday marked a distinct advance. We have usually had operetta —graceful, charming, tuneful no doubt, but little more. However, the new work is more ambitious and equally successful. It is an opera “ Ivanhoe ” by name, founded on Scott’s novel. Owing to the split between Gilbert and the other two of the Savoy truimvirate, Sullivan and D’Oyly Carte, a new librettist had to be secured. The person selected for the post was Mr Sturgis. And right well he has done his work. The character of the novei is remarkably retained, and beyond this, the adaptation merits praise for its intrinsic virtue!. It would be too much to say that great genius iB shown. That we expect from few. The work is, however, sound, in places powerful, and throughout showing trace of great care. But, naturally, the words are but a conveyance for the music. And this may rank with the best that Sullivan has yet produced. Some parts are as bright and melodious as anything he has given us. But the much greatei oapa[ city, afforded by such a tneme as Ivanhoe for majestic inspiring, and pathetic music has also been taken duo advantage of. It is rash to predict tho success of anything; more especially a new opera in a country like England; so I won’t do it. But, judging from the crowds which day by day wait for hours outside the doors of the pit and gallery, the new venture promises not to fail on the score of lack of patronage. REMOVAL OF RELIGIOUS DISABILITIES.

A very animated debate took place on Wednesday in the House of Commons. The Government almost sustained a defeat. To many persons, who are by no means Gladstonians, such an event in this particular instance would have been far from displeasing. The debate I refer to was on the question of the ex pediency of permitting Roman Catholics to hold the position of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and of Lord Chancellor of England. Mr Gladstone introduced the Bill. He was in his happiest vein. In a speech of singular dignity he urged the removal of the disabilities now attaching to Roman Catholics. The Government opposed the Bill. It was not, however, considered a test of confidence, and each man voted as seemed to him best. There was not really very much argument against the measure. Most of the hits on the Government side were personal, based on Mr Gladstone’s periodical awakenings when in Opposition, bis periodical somnolency, or even active attack on the principle of the Bill when in power. To many Sir Henry James must have seemed to hit the right nail on the head. He urged with all his eloquence that the Bill be passed, provided that the ecclesiastical patronage vested in the Chancellor were, when occassion asked, transferred to someone else. However, notwithstanding all the efforts in favour of the measure it was defeated. There is much cause for regret in this. Nothing would tend to give greater satisfaction in Ireland than the appointment of such a man as the Poke of Norfolk to be Lord

Lieutenant. The measure, of course, is merely postponed. Sooner or later it must pass. SARAH BERNHARDT. The greatest of living actresses has already taken wing with a large company—some thirty persons in all. She has been in New York now for some days. Per opening performauce there was advertised to take place on Monday last. It has been stated that “ the divine Sarah” is herself running tho company, but thia is not so. She is merely one of the actresses and in nowise principal. However, her salary is something enormous. It is said that she is to be paid by the performance, so much for each night; and people add that never has actress received such a fabulous remuneration. After spending two months in New York, the company leave for California. There they stay for about the same time, when a move will be made to Australia. As at present proposed some considerable stay will be made there, and this will give New Zealanders a chance of running across to see the wonderful French tragedienne. Nor must her dresses be forgotten. In themselves they are, next to their owner, the most remarkable feature in tho company. Fancy forty.five large trunks of gowns. The number is bad enough, seeing that each holds two or three gowns ; but what do you think of the cost ? It is said to he close on £12,000. It is said that she is takings quite new play by the Italian dramatist Giacone. Report speaks highly of it; but as very few probably have so much as seen it, as likely as not report is but an “economiser of the truth.” I don’t know whether the fighting son i 3 to accompany his mother. If so, woe betide any critio who may allow his pen license, ot even liberty. Already he has washed out attacks upon h«s mother in the blood—not very much, probably—of at least two Frenchmen who had incurred that lady’s displeasure. He is a good son. THE ANGLO-SAXON IN THE SOUTHERN lIEMISPHF.RE. The February number of the Century Magazine contains a long article by Mr Georgo R. Parkin on this subject. Mr Parkin, as no doubt some of you know, is a Canadian who has been recently touring the Colonies. He had the advantage of being present during stirring times, and he seems to have “ taken notes.” Hia picture is a very bright one. Australasia he considers to be the workman’s paradise. This he ascribes to exceptional circumstances, bat he sees no reason to doubt that, with care, it may not be permanent. Mr Parkin dwells at some length on the natural features of Australia, and raises the question how this will affect, for affeot it must, the colonial of the future. This, however, he does not answer, but leaves to others. One thing noticed by Mr Parkin, as read by the light of Lord Carrington’s speech, is of iuterest. He thinks that the tendency of things is towards Imperial unity rather than colonial nation-' ality. NATIONAL MORTGAGE AND AGENCY CO. OF NEW ZEALAND, LIMITED. The fifteenth ordinary general meeting of this Company took place on Wednesday at Winchester House, Old Broad street. Mr Henry R. Grenfell was in the ohair. He referred with pleasure to the continued and steady improvement which had taken place in the trade of the' colony. On the 31st December the securities held by the Company had bean written down to the lowest market value. Since then many, in fact almost all, had risen in price. The net profits, after making due provision for bad and doubtful debts and for depreciation, amounted to £8045, and a balance of £1554 had been carried over the pieceding year, so that in all there was a sum of £9600 to deal with. An interim dividend of 5 per cent per annum had been paid, and he recommended that a farther dividend at the same rate should now be authorised. It was also proposed to increase the reserve fund by £2500, and to carry forward £2IOO. The motion was seconded by the Hon R. W. Grosvenor, and carried unanimously. The retiring directors, Mr Grenfell and the Hon Mr Grosvenor, were re-elected, and the proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks. MISCELLANEOUS. I see that Bishop Moorhonse, late of Melbourne, but now of Manchester, has brought out a new book on “ The Dangers of the Apostolio Ape.” I hope that the sale will realise enough to pay the £2OO which hia Lord-hip so rachly promised to General Booth’s scheme. If so, the dangers of the apostolio age will help to combat the dangers of the age of “ salvation.” You are promised a visit by the champion billiard player, John Roberfs, jun. He intends leaving Eugland about April for a visit to Australia. His tour round the oolonies will extend over two or three months. Afterwards he leaves for India. While in the colonies he does not mean to be idle, but will play exhibition matches against all the best men. Just now ho is playing a match against North. The latter receives 12,000 start out of 24,000. Up to date the figures stand North, 15,900 ; Roberta, 7600.