OUR LONDON LETTER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 32

OUR LONDON LETTER

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Middle Temple, E.C., February 20. WHITECHAPEL MURDER. London was Btartled the other day by hearing that another frightful murder had been committed in Whitechapel. In the victim, the time, and the surrounding circumstances the latest tragedy bore a great resemblance to those which so horrified London two or three years ago. However, in many pointß of detail it differed considerably from the previous ones. The woman, though savagely killed, was not mntilated, nor did the murder seem to have been committed so dexterously or scientifically as the former ones. The first circumstance may be accounted for, even if the assassin were the same man as in all the other cases, by the fact that a policeman approached the scene within two or three minutes after the crime had been done. Indeed, the woman when found was still alive. The police have arrested a man named Sadler on suspicion of being the murderer. He was proved to have been in the woman’s company earlier in the evening. She was found dying at 2.15 a.m., and at abonc 5 a.m., some three hoars after the murder, Sadler presented himself at the London Hospital to get his head dressed for a small cut, his hands then being covered with blood; He also sold a large sheath knife to some man within an hour or so after the murder must have been committed. However, it must be added, he has by no means sought concealment nor acted as guilty men usually do. For this reason it is all the more to be regretted that a few of the morning and evening papers should have thought it incumbent on them to seek interviews with the wife and mother of the accused. Interviewing in itself may be a harmless craze ; but in the present case the words, put in the mouth of persons, not on oath, and spread broadcast through the land, are calculated to do the prisoner an immense amount of harm. We are given a detailed account of his former life, of his bloodthhsty jind brutal nature, of his desperate character when under the influence of drink. Obscure hints are cast out, under the gnise of a reluctantly extorted admission, that he was in the East End, when many, if not all the previous murders were committed. Such things should not be. Journalistic enterprise is a very fine thing in its way. But there is a limit to legitimate enterprise, even in journalism. And when, for the sake of sale and sensation, statements are made calculated to seriously imperil human life, that limit is clearly overstepped. THE IRISH PARTY. The Nationalists are to remain disunited. The Boulogne Conference has been unavailing, and the rival factions are going to fight to the death. But only at the polls. An arrangement has been come to by which personalities are to be dropped. The more moderate men on each side deplore the scurrility and the virulence of the past conflict; and wo are to have no more of it. The first result of the negotiations breaking down was to consign Messrs O’Brien and Dillon to prison. As soon as all hope was at an end they returned to England, and were arrested upon landing. This is not sn unmixed evil for them. They wish, they tell ns, to remain neutral in the ensuing struggle, though publio opinion whispers pretty loudly that O’Brien has cast in his lot with Parnell. But at any rate during the next six weeks, while they are in durance vile, they must perforce preserve a strict neutrality. When their time is up I should think it doubtful whether this position can be maintained. Both politicians, and especially Mr O Brien, are Irishmen to the core. When a fight is on an Irishman is bound to be there, and when one feels that one’s party, one’s country, one’s all hang in the balance, as I am sure O’Brien, whose sincerity none has ever ventured to question, mnst feel, it is very difficult to avqid interfering. However, be that as it may, neither of the opposing factions means

to let the grass grow under their fe6t, Westward ho ! is the cry, and both Parnell and the leading lights of the other branch aro arranging to “ stump ” Ireland. Elaborate tours have been organised, and the sister isle is promised a pretty lively time during the next few months. “ THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” The literary event of the month, if not of the year, has been the publication of Sir Edwin Arnold’s new poem “The Light of the World.” Opinions are much divided as to its true merits, but by a pretty general oonoenaus it is voted somewhat disappointing. Of course it is good. All Sir Edwin Arnold’s poems are. But we expect some thing more from him. “ The Light of Asia,” a wondrous piece of word painting, possessing passages of rare tenderness, deep feeling, great power, and round and about which played the fascinating light of novelty, Bpoilt us for anything inferior. Of course, the charm of novelty must needs be, more or less, lacking in the new poem. Few and far between are those who know the life of Baddha. Few and far between are those who do not know, in some form or another, the life of the founder of Christianity. That iB the theme of the latter poem. It is a which, in many ways, lends itself to the highest treatment; it is a theme which, in some respects, defies treatment ; it is a theme which Sir Edwin Arnold has signally failed to treat. But despite this the poem is well worth reading. It 1b but short : chiefly composed of two conversations, one between Mary Magdalen and Pontius Pilate, the other between Mary Magdalen and one of the Magi. In both there are passages of signal beauty, and he mnst be made of callous stuff who is not stirred by Pilate’s description of the unjust judgment, and still more by Mary’s account of the “ alabaster box of precious ointment.” The author, too, has a rarefaculty of bringing before ns Eastern soenes. Some of his efforts in the latter poem compare favourably with anything he haß yet written. And then, again, there is here as in his other poems, a refrain. It is supposed to embody the spirit of his subject. Whether that be so or not, in the refrain of this, his last poem, there lingers a pathos, combiued with a sense of rest, hard to describe, but which makes one lay down the book quietly, and stay awhile thinking. THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. Last week, saw the Colonial Defence ships Boomerang and Paramatta leave Els wick for Sheerness, where they are to commission for Australia. This almost completes the squadron. They will not, however be ready to start yet a bit. Defects are said to have been discovered in the boilers of the Bingarooma and Tauranga. It seems wonderful how many defects there always are in the machinery of these new ironclads. Those detected, in the ships I have just mentioned, will take some time to remedy ; but, as soon as this is done, the whole squadron, consisting of five armoured cruisers and two gunboats, or those that have not sailed before then, will make a start for Australia. I hear that several of those who were on the Australian squadron before have been already appointed to the new ships. No doubt all would have liked the chance, for I hear that thero is tremendous eagerness shown by naval men to get on to the Australian station. With one voice they declare it is out and away the best there is.

By the way, talking of naval matters, the 26th of this month, i.e., next Thursday, should be a red letter day. It will witness the launch of two large ironclads, a unique occurrence. To add fresh eclat to the ceremony Her Majesty theQaeen will herself christen both the ships, aud formally launch them. One of the two, to be christened the Boyal Sovereign, is a cruiser of some 7200 tons. She will be one of the fastest vessels in the British Navy, as, when steaming her best, she is supposed to do 19J knots an hour. The other, the Royal Arthur, is one of the modem leviathans. Her tonnage—that is, her displacement—is 13,500 tons ; so of course she is not such a slippery customer as the other. Still, she is expected to do knots when fairly pnt to it. This looks as if we still wished to “ really rule the waves” and were willing to spend a little in order to do eo. BACCARAT SCANDAL. The world of fashion is in a flatter. At a house In which the upper crust of the upper ten only were guests an event of great gravity has just taken place. The story is Bhort. In last Doncaster week a small but select party of the very cream of .society, ineluding the Prince of Wales, was staying at Tranby Croft, the hause of Mr A. Wilson. In the evenings—as is not unusual—cards, chiefly baccarat, whiled away the time. The play was not high ; it is stated that the pool was never more than £IOO. Among the players was Sir W. Gordon Cumming, one of the guests. He was a man well known in the fashionable world, a distinguished officer, and a mighty hunter. It is asserted by Mr Septimus Wilson, who is a son of Mr Wilson’s, that he saw Sir William change his stakes according to the card turned up. Hardly believing his eyes, he communicated the fact to several others—four in all. Every one of them watched Sir William’s play the following night, and all came to the same conclusion. Lord Coventry and General Owen Williams, who were among the guests, were communicated with, and were comrais' sioned to deal with Sir William. On being accused he denied the acocusa' tion with scorn; and before the Prince of Wales reasserted his innocence. The Prince however, was compelled to believe five witnesses against one. The upshot was that Sir William, acting under pressure by Lord Coventry and General Owen Williams, signed a deed, by which he agreed never again to play cards. Upon this being done strict secresy was promised. However, the promise has not been kept, and the story has leaked out. Sir William on learning this immediately issued a writ against Mr and Mrs Green, Mr S. Wilson, Mr A. Wilson, and a brother officer for slander. Pending the trial hie obtained leave of absenoe from his regiment, and is now on his way to Madeira. The trial is bound to prove a nine days’ wondeb, more eapeoially if, as is rumoured, the Prince of Wales if)

put in the box. ’Tis a strange story, and in any case a sad one. THE FEDERATED SHIPPING COMPANIES, Fresh trouble has been felt at the docks, and more is feared. On the 13th of this month the Shipping Federation issued a great manifesto. It sot forth very clearly the reasons which had led them to do so. The present manifesto was the outcome of one issued by the Unionists on the sth of December last. That document, which has gained some notoriety under the name of the Wade Arms Manifesto, was an ultimatum. The Unionists declared that they would boycott any line or owner who refused to be bound down to the following terms—(l) To sign and discharge crews at the shipping office only ; (2) Not to engage any seamen and firemen not members of the National Amalgamated Sailors’ and Firemea’s Union. This produced a counter flourish the following day from the Shipping Federation, in which the New Zealand Shipping Co. and Shaw-Savilll and Co. aro inoluded. They declared in effect that their employ would be open to all, anion or nonunionists alike, who were willing to work in harmony. The immediate result of this was the threatened boycott. All work had to be done by non-Unionists, who were lodged on board and worked under police protection. The Shipping Federation continue that. Hoping for wiser counsels to prevail, they brought in as little outside labour as possible. However, the wiser counsels in question have not prevailed. The situation grew no less strained, and finally things resulted in the manifesto of the 13th inst. That document, put shortly, lays it down that from Monday next, the 23rd :—(1) No member of the Federation will employ any man, not willing to adhere to the following regulation, that every seaman engaging shall carry ont his agreement on the terms of the Mercantile Shipping tActs, and will be ready at all times to proceed to sea, though some of the crew may not be Unionists, and (2) the Shipping Federation is determined at all cost, to maintain the right to sign crews anywhere most convenient. The manifesto winds up, declaring that there is no desire to interfere with the Unions, save in so far as to preserve the right of free contract, nor to in any way reduce wages. Of course, this declaration has put all the fat in the fire. There ate very ominous signs at the Docks. It is said that thare will be a general strike, unless the manifesto be withdrawn. The men have themselves withdrawn the Wade Arms manifesto ; but they still iuslst upon the first clause being agreed to. There seems to be a desire for conciliation, but I doubt if the Federation can yield this point. You see, they are to all intents independent of the strikers, and the latter could only gain their end, if at all, by bringing outside pressure to bear. Let ns hope this may not be necessary, and that some compromise may be come to whielu will satisfy both parties. A fresh dock strike would be truly deplorable. NATIONAL MORTGAGE AND AGENCY CO. OF NEW ZEALAND, LIMITED.

This Company held their general meeting the week before last. Mr H. B. Grenfell (the chairman of the Company) in moving the adoption of the report, believed that the shareholders would be satisfied on the whole with the last year’s working. Favourable accounts were being received from the Colony. They showed that although prosperity was not growing by leaps and bounds, yet the business of the country, both agricultural and pastoral, showed good steady progress. The exports of the past year were £9,700,000 against £8,900,000 in the previous year. The imports in the same period had increased from £5,780,000 to £6,500,000. There was an increase in the export of wool, of frozen mutton, and of hemp. The cereals harvested showed an increase of 10 per cent, and both the number of sheep and acreage of land disposed of by Government exceeded those of the previous year. The net profits of the Company, as shown by the report, after providing for bad and doubtful debts and depreciation, came to £3046. Adding to this £1554, the balance from theyear previous, there was a sum of £9600 for disposal. From this an interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent per annum had already been paid. It was now proposed to pay a farther dividend at the same rate, to" increase the reserve fund by £2500 and to carry forward £2looto next account. The Hon R. VV. Grosvenor seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried. The retiring Directors and auditors were re-appointed, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the directors and officers. NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY CO. It is quite pleasant to hear the sanguine reports that companies, chiefly engaged in New Zealand, are putting forward just now. At the Loan and Mercantile meeting, held in the same week as that of the National Morcgage and Agency Co., we had to all intents and purposes a repetition of the report of the latter company. There was the same 10 per cent dividend, the same rose-tinted remarks as to the Colony’s commercial position and outlook, the same hopes for future prosperity. According to Sir G. Russell, Bart, who was in the chair, their business in Australia was also on a most satisfactory basis. One transaction the Melbourne branch plume themselves on, to no small extent. They found their wool stores too small, so they sold their old and acquired new ones, in every respect satisfactory. Besides this they made nearly £12,000 on the transaction. The Chairman also re-' ferred to the fact that a new London office had been secured at Portland House, Basinghall street, larger aud more suitable than the then existing premises. Sir E. Stafford seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The usual votes of thanks terminated the meeting. ENGLAND AND THE COLONIES. A very interesting debate was that which took place in the House of Commons on the 17th,inst. It dealt with the commercial relations between Great Britain and the large self-governing colonies. Mr Howard Vincent assumed to be the “deus ex machinA,” He rose to move “ That in the opinion of this House an early opportunity should be taken

of inviting the self-governing colonies to confer with the Imperial Government upon the best means of developing the trade of the Empire.” In a speech remarkable for nothing bnt mediocrity he advocated commero al federation of the British Empire free trade between the members, protection against all outsiders. After several members had aired the little eloquence they boasted, the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose and made an admirable speech. It was not sentimental, it was not perhaps over • encouraging, but it was sensible. He pointed out some of the many obstacles which exist when we are dealing with a question of fiscal policy, such as that under disenssicu. He allowed that fiscal union would tend to consolidatirg the Empire. But at what cost ?—at the oost of dearer bread. Even that might be worth submitting to, if the colonies would really agree to absolute Freetrade with the Home country and each other. Bathe thought they would not. The extent to which they seemed inclined to go was to keep a 10ft wall against ns, and to make lb lift high against foreigners. He thought there was no good in asking such a conference as proposed, without having some definite idea what was to be done, some basis on which to discuss the matter. He wound up by saying that the Colonies would not ask us to achieve impossibilities, or to take any stepß which would substantially raise the price of food. This speech damped Mr Howard Vincent’s ardour, and on the first chance he asked leave to withdraw his motion, 'ibis was not given, bnt on Mr Smith moving the previous qnestion it was agreed to after some demur. MISCELLANEOUS AND PERSONAL. The County of Sussex, which has long been at a very low ebb, in a cricketing way, is promised the aid of Murdoch shortly. At the last meeting of the County Committee a letter was read from the famous Australian batsman, saying that he would be glad to play for Sussex as soon as he could gain a qualification. Lord Carrington has not yet got through with his banquets. The City Liberal Club are going to “dine” him on the 11th of March. Lord Granville is to be in the chair. It was hoped that Chief Justice Way, of South Australia, would have been able to attend, but unfortunately he will not then have arrived here. The Royal Military Tournament Committee here have behaved very generously towards the team of Victorian Mounted Rifles, which is expe.cted so take part in this year’s tournament. They mean to provide £2OO towards the expenses of the team, and to provide free quarters during their stay here. Colonel J. Draper, one of those who distinguished themselves in the Maori war, died last week at Gibraltar. His death was very unexpected, as he wob in excellent health to within a day of his decease. Great interest is being taken in the forthcoming general meeting of the New Zealand Bank, to be held on the 25th inst. Rumour has it that the bank has done so well lately that a dividend is actually to be declared. A few days w»ll set the matter at rest. It will be a great move in the right direction and no small help to the financial prestige of the Colony, if a dividend, however small, is declared. However here, as elsewhere, discretion may be the better part of valour. I see Madame Melba is one of those announced for the coining opera season at Covenfc Garden. She is a very popular singer here, in fact she presses Patti olosely in publio favour. It may interest some of your readers to know that during the severe frost we have just experienced the thermometer went down to 0.6 deg at a place called Stokesay in Shropshire, while at a village in Surrey it it registered 21 degrees of frost. The ice at Regent’s Park in London was 9 inches thick. The frost in London was the longest on record, lasting as it did for 59 consecutive days. ar. Mr Santley, together with two other very famous musicians, Edward Lloyd and Madame Nordica, had a peculiar experience at Leeds the other" day. All three had been performing atSa concert, on behalf of the Railway Servants’ Orphan Fund. On being conducted to their carriages after the performance they found there was to be procession in their honour, of which they were to be the nucleus. The procession was headed by the Chief Constable and a body of mounted police, Then came a number of torch bearers and a hand playing old English airs. The carriages in which the Mayor and the artists were seated, followed with a large escort of torch bearers, while more torch bearers and mounted police brought up the rear. In this manner they were all escorted to their hotel, and afterwards serenaded by the band. After some little cheering the demonstrants dispersed. The whole thing smacked of the Continental.