ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1165, 29 June 1894, Page 37

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From our Special Correspondent J ik PERSONAL GOSSIP. London, May 19. The Hon J. B. Whyte, M.L.C., is travelling in Scotland and at the end of last week was staying in Glasgow and visiting friends. He expects to be in town again at the end of this month or the beginning of June and sails for New Zealand on the Bth prox. The manager of tbo New Zealand Press Agency has received a courteous note from Mr Herbert Gladstone thanking him for sending the Grand Old Man a copy of the Star, Dunedin, containing an account of the meeting in that city of Gladstonians which followed the late Premier's resignation. *C M* A. G. Horton, of Auckland, sailed for Zealand by the P. and 0, steamer Britannia last Friday. He was unaccompanied by his family. SK" Colonel William Livesay, who as a young officer earned great distinction in the New Zealand war of 1864-0, and now commands the 43rd has just been appointed to '• boss" the first militia brigade formed at Aldershot. Some very strange stories have reached Truth office concerning Miss Kate Marsden, who is generally understood to be somewhere in the wilds of Siberia ministering to " my lepers." Truth's informant, however, maintains that differences ha/e arisen between the too often misunderstood Miss M. and the Eussian authorities, and that the latter have requested the lady to leave the country. What the differences were about has not transpired. Possibly, indeed, the whole story is a hoax. Dr Hope Lewis and Mrs Lewis who, with their family, arrived by the Britannia some weeks ago, have, after a visit to Wales, settled down in London for some time, their present quarters being in Bentinck street, Cavendish square. The doctor has come Home, after the manner of the leading medical men in the colonies ndwadays, to see for himself what novelties in medical and Surgical science are exercising the leading lights of the profession, and to pick up wrinkles generally. He is already hard at it for the greater part of each day at St. Bartholomew's % Hospital, and deeply interested in several \natters. When work permits, the Doctor ind Mrs Lewis mean to go north to Liverpool and elsewhere on a round of visits. OneHs not surprised to hear of their being * inundated with invitations. The Doctor has the manner of the jolly good fellow whom everyone is glad to see. That breezy geniality of his ought of itself to bo worth hundreds a year professionally. Miss Pierce, daughter of the late Mr Pierce, of the Zealand Insurance Company, who came home under the chaperonage of Mrs Lewis, is staying with an aunt of the same name at Holloway. Major George and Mr G. P. Williams, of Christchurch, went to Newmarket together to witness the race for the Two Thousand Guineas. The weather was cold and dull but they had a capital view of the struggle between Ladas and Matchbox, and I gathered that the Major thought the latter made a better fight of it than the reporters generally stated. Dr Henry, son of the late Medical Officer of Health at Wellington, who came Home to study medicine at St. Bartholomew s Hospital some six or seven years ago, left London by the Euahine last week for Welling. He was called to the Colony by cable, and loft in a hurry, but contrived m the short time at his disposal between receipt of cable and sailing of ship to fax matters up 'twixt himself and a certain jojing lady of Cambridge to whom he had

been some time engaged. They were married, I understand, a couple of days before the sailing of the steamer. Mrs Hanry, of course, accompanies the Doctor to the Colony. Mr Edward C. Powell, a well-known citizen of Bath, left England a few days ago by the sailing ship Eodney on a visit to his brother at Wellington. The trip he takes for health's sake only. It will be some time before Mr Powell reaches New Zealand, as the Eodney is bound for Sydney. .jfe-Mr C. A. Harris, of Auckland, had made \Sp his mind to be a passenger by the Gothic which left on Thursday, but-at thelast moment he found that business necessitated a few days longer. Mr Harris will now most probably return to the Colony by way of the Atlantic and the C.P.E. He seems to have enjoyed his trip Home immensely. Pleasure brought him to the Old Country, but he seems to have done more than a fair share of business during his holiday. New Zealanders, I notice, seem unable to suppress even for a month or two their commercial instincts.

the passengers to New Zealand who have already booked for the July voyage of the P. and O. steamer Victoria, is Miss E. Wildman, a sister of the able lady who " runs M the private hospital in Grant road, Wellington. Miss Wildman is a certificated nurse and masseur. She will, I believe, join her sister's establishment. Mr C. L. Nedwill, son of Dr Courtney Nedwill, of Christchurch, who arrived Home a few days ago, has been busy sightseeing, previous to settling down to " cram ** for the preliminary examination, success in which will enable* him to become a student of Trinity College, Cambridge. He hopes to enter into residence in October

The last meeting of the Eoyal Colonial | Institute, on Tuesday week, was a special pleading for the " all-red-route," the pros and cons of which have been discussed ad nauseam, with the result that everybody seems to be " of the same opinion still." I do not think the Eoyal Colonial Institute meeting resulted in converts to either side of the main question, i.e., an Imperial subsidy. Those who went with the idea that the British Government should put its hand into the British ratepayers' pocket came away impressed with the sound common sense and splendid arguments used by Sir Charles Tupper, and those who thought t'other way went home with the idea that Sir John Colomb had completely squashed the Canadian High Commissioner. New Zealanders were present in full force on the occasion. Amongst those I came across during the taking of seats were Mr A. Hill Jack, Mr and Mrs G. Cowie, Dr E. W. Maunsell and his wife, Mr J. Stuart, Mr Thomas Eussell (looking none the worse for his recent ordeal) and his daughter, Mr Stanley Edwards (no longer bearded like a pard), Major Nelson George, Captain Ashby (no colonial function seems complete if the ex-skipper of the Mary Ann comes not within vision's range), Mr E. M. Nelson and Mr Weddel. Probably many others were present whose faces were not familiar to me. I think I caught a glimpse of Mr and Mrs Jay in the front seats. The latter have been quartered at Morle/s Hotel, Trafalgar Square, for some time past. They left England one clay this week for Switzerland for a brief tour and expect to be back during the early days of June, when, if nothing arises to prevent, they will start for New Zealand via Montreal and Vancouver. '.■■■;'•'■• I have not met Mr Percy Adams since his return from touring the Continent with his wife, but I hear incidentally that he spent three weeks more in Florence than he intended to. The compelling power was scarlatina. Barring this unpleasantness, Mr and Mrs Adams had, I bear, a very

? good time abroad. Their future movements are uncertain. The Eev H. Collins, of Christchurch, is, for the present, located at "Avondale," Alleyn Park, Dulwich, and Mr G. F. Smithson, of Timaru, has taken up his residence with friends at Ealing. I regret to announce the death of Mrs Crisford, mother of Mr S. E. Davis and the late Mr James Davis, both some years ago well known and much respected in Auckland. Mrs Crisford was originally a Miss Putland, daughter of Mr Stephen Putland, Alderman, Mayor and J.P. of Hastings. She married in the first instance Mr Eichard Farmer Davis, of the same town, and by him had four sons. Two of these emigrated to New Zealand about 1880. Mr S. C. Davis returned a few years later to take up his father's business, but Mr James Davis, a litterateur of considerable attainments for some time in the Auckland Star office, died lamentably young. After the demise of Mr E. F. Davis, in 1860, his widow married Mr F. Crisford. She was 66 at the time a long illness carried her off. Mrs Crisford's funeral took place on Tuesday, and was very largely attended. Amongst those who travelled considerable distances in order to be present and show their respect for the deceased lady were Mr T. B. Brett and other members of his family, Mr and Mrs Dick Eussell, Mr and Mrs Putland, &c, &c. The late Bishop Smythies was a great admirer of Sir John Gorst, whose quiet and unostentatious good works he contrasted favourably with the professions of too many serious, not to say Pharisaical, laymen usually prominent at Missionary Society »,nd S.P.G. meetings.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND INVESTMENT. The report of the Otago and Southland Investment Company for the year ending January 31st, 1894, is much as one expected. The directors state that the distrust which has prevailed during the period covered by the report with regard to companies doing business with Australasia, and especially during the latter part of 1893, in respect to New Zealand has prejudicially affected the fortunes of the Company. To avoid making a call on the shareholders, and to strengthen the position in London, the directors requested the Antipodean Committee of Management to remit Home sufficient funds to meet liabilities as they matured. This demand resulted in remittances amounting to .£105,000 during the year. The directors regret the withdrawal of funds invested in New Zealand for the earning power of the business was thus crippled greatly at a time when rates of interest were on the up track. The working of the year has resulted in a debit balance of .£lO2l, and sales of securities resulted in a loss of .£2833. To provide for these amounts .£SOOO has been transferred from the reserve to the 'profit and loss account, leaving .£1146 to be carried forward. The report winds up with a hope that as a better feeling towards colonial companies revives there will be a renewal of the confidence which shareholders and debentureholders alike had in the Company for so many years. SALA'S JOURNAL. Mr George Augustus Sala's style never, as I have frequently confessed, appealed to me, but I always thought I was an exception to the general rule. It seems, however, by the failure of Solas Journal, which was turned into a limited liability company only nine months ago, that this Philistine lack of appreciation of one of the journalistic fetishes of our fathers is commoner than might have been supposed. Mr and Mrs Sala resolved rather more than a year ago to share the profits of their mus-tard-coloured weekly with the B.P. The price they were to be paid was .£BOOO (! !), i.e., .£3OOO in hard cash and the balance in shares, and Mr Farjeon, Dr W. H. Eussell, Mr J. Henty, and G.A.S. himself formed the Board, receiving a joint remuneration of .£4OO a year between them. Strange to say, "Sala f s Journal, Limited" did not catch on. Up to October last 69 persons had taken 577 shares. At that date .£2885 (the whole amount payable) had been received, leaving ,£ISBO unpaid, so that .£1305 was all Self and Partner had to run the amended show on. The Financial News offers some trenchant observations on this collapse. The editor says:—"Jt looks very much as if the 69 shareholders, whoever they may be, have lost their money. It is not a great deal, but to some of them it may be a considerable amount. Presumably, even Mr Sala realises by this

time that it is possible for a perfectly honest and well-meant joint stock enterprise to fail. He has been very bitter in his journal against city company promotions by which the innocent shareholder is victimised. Would it be altogether impertinent to ask on what basis .£BOOO was asked for the goodwill of a newspaper which certainly could not have been making any profit, and which had little beyond the name of Sala to recomment it ? The fact that the scheme has come to grief, and that the vendors will not get paid the purchasemoney, does not alter the position. If the capital had been fully subscribed the vendors would have received their .£3OOO in cash and their J 65000 in shares, and the result would have been a little more rather than a little less disappointment to investors; that is all. Yet this very Sala's Journal —now in liquidation has "been girding at city finance with as much Pharisaic righteousness as if it were paying its own shareholders dividends at 25 per cent! It is this remembrance that assuages our sorrow for the loss of a more or less vivacious contemporary. The poor, maligned city is avenged. Its deti actor — the fierce denouncer of unsound promotions and speculative ventures —is compelled by the stress of misfortune to step into the pillory itself ! " SIR GEORGE

London, May 19.

Though Sir George Grey still refuses all invitationF, and was not to be tempted by either the brilliant and exclusive banquet of the Eoyal Academy, on the stb, or the Queen's Birthday celebrations to-morrow, it seems by no means certain that he may not consent to be made much of presently. The general impression is that the right honourable gentleman is waiting to sottle certain family matters be£or9 launch-, ing out. Unless these come right he may not be seen in public at ail. The story that the Queen has interested herself in Sir George's private affairs has, I'm now inclined to believe, little if any foundation. It would be nearer the truth, I think, to say that Lord Stamford and other members of the family are trying to play providence to their aged relative and to Lady Grey and to bring about a reconciliation. As Sir George has from all accounts a high opinion of the noble Earl (whom he has told several people he considers quite a coming man) the friendly conspiracy may (let us hope it will) prove successful. Amongst other invitations Sir George has refused this week, I may mention one to meet the Duke of Cambridge, and a very cordial and pressing request from Bishop Selwyn and Bishop Butler, begging him to come to Cambridge and attend a function in honour of Mr Balfour.

On Whit Thursday, the, G.O.M. of the South fled from town for the holidays, going to stay with his relative, Mrs Curtis, at Windmill Hill Place. HON WILLIAM m'CULLOUGH.

The Hon William McCullough leaves England to-day for the Continent and means to see something of Belgium, Switzerland and Italy prior to joining the Oceana at Brindisi on June 3rd. Mr McCullough goes in the first instance to Antwerp (for the exhibition) and Brussels, thence to Cologne and via the Rhine to Basle, Lucerne and over the St. Gothard (taking in the Italian lakes) to Milan. After Milan he will as time allows visit Venice, Verona, Padua, and perhaps Florence. Mr McCullough is a champion hard-working tourist. Most people suppose the feat of squashing a quart-measure into a pint pot an impossibility, but this New Zealand legislator has achieved something very like that miracle. His ten days' tour in England and Ireland, as arranged for him by the benificent Cook, reads like a slice of Jules Verne's " Round the World in Eighty Days." Here it is:—Starting from 'Paddington Mr McCullough visited Oxford, Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick, and Stratford - on - Avon, doing Shakespeare's country thoroughly. From there he went to Chester arriving on Cup Day, and seeing the ancient city en fete, so on to Liverpool, with its overheard railway, its corn warehouses, and its ten miles of docks, and by steamer to Belfast. In the capital of Ulster the local press fell upon Mr McCullough, and entertained him royally. Extricating himself with difficulty from their generous hospitality the New Zealander visited Drogheda and the scene of the Battle of the Boyne, and then went on to Dublin. From there he railed to Limerick and Killarney, kissed the Blarney Stone, and drove through the Gap of

Dunlo to Glengariff. Bantry followed, and Cork, Mallow and Lismore. From Lismoro Mr McCullough bore down on Waterford and Kilkenny, then north again to Kildare and Dublin, and back to London via Holy* head. All this, bear in mind, in ten days. Whilst in London Mr McCullough was not exactly idle. Ho dined with the Agent-General at the Colonial Institute, and with Lord Onslow at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, was asked to the Imperial Institute last Saturday "to meet H.R.H. the Prince of Wales," and attended (as you heard last mail) the Institute of Journalists' dinner, and a Saturday night function at the Savage Club. Mention of the latter reminds me Mr McCullough. hope 3 he has arranged the affiliation of the Auckland Savage Club with its elder brother in London. Mr Radcliffe,. Mr Snazelle, Mr Christie Murray and other members have, I hear, undertaken to bear witness to the thoroughly Bohemian character of the Auckland Savages, &c, &c, &c. The legend that Mr McCullough really came over on some Government mission must, I fear, be abandoned as a myth. At any rate he showed no signs thereof. SIR JOHN HALL. Yesterday I called on Sir John Hall, who has secured a suite of apartments near Cavendish square, and found that he was looking extremely well after his voyage, lie speaks in eulogistic terms of thecomfort and civility he experienced on board the Messageries Maritime steamer, which averaged 1G knots throughout the whole passage. He has come to London on purely private business, and declares his intention to return as soon as it is completed. He will probably go by the Canadian-Pacific line,. as he is desirous of testing its capabilities and advantages as a passenger route. Sir John's fame as a knight-errant of the woman's suffrage had preceded him, and he had scarcely got into his temporary quarters at the Grosvenor Hotel ere he received an invitation from some of the leaders of the movement here to address a meeting of ladies on the subject, but either his wellknown modesty or pressure of business engagements will compel him to decline, especially as the Woman's Suffrage League are in full possession of all the facts connected with the movement and its practical outcome in New Zealand. Sir John has, however, forwarded a copy of his Leeston speech, which embodies his latest views and- experiences in regard to> the female vote. Among his fellowpassengers was Mrs Shepherd, one of the most prominent workers in the cause in. Canterbury, and this lady has already ! been in communication with Mrs Helen i Fawcett and other promoters of the enfranchisement of their sex in England. As the question of the future control of* Samoa is exciting some interest in political" circles in London, and is likely to be made a feature in the Pall Mall Budget, I elicited his views on the subject. Ho is, of course,: f opposed to Sir George Grey'b scheme of a general federation or the islands of the South Pacific, as the numerous annexations in all directions by almost every European power has rendered this no longer possible, but he praises the statesmanlike foresight exhibited by the " Grand Old Man " of the Antipodes in proposing nearly a generation ago to forestall the French in New Caledonia, which is now a point d'appui and menace to Australia and New Zealand. Sir John Hall emphatically pronounces the proposed administration of Samoan affairs by Now Zealand as being practically impossible. It opens up, he thinks, too large a question for New Zealand to deal with, as it would inevitably involve the maintenance of an armed force at Apia in order to preserve th 3 peace between the hostile and rival tribes-

and interests. Already, he says, Parliament grudges the .£OOO a year paid for the administration of Raratonga by Mr Moss, and, in the present financial condition of the Colony, the Legislature would certainly refuse to vote the enormously larger sum required to carry out the Samoan project, unless there was a certainty of some commensurate commercial quid pro quo in the form of an exclusive interchange of trade, and this could only be effected by a commercial union which Germany, which has preponderating interests in the islands, would strenuously resist. On the whole, therefore, Sir John regards the proposed administration of Samoan affairs by New Zealand as too ambitious and costly. Being preoccupied with private business, the knight of Canterbury has had little leisure for accepting those hospitalities which await the distinguished colonist in London, but among other courtesies lie has been invited by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Queen's Birthday banquet on the 26th, and by the master and members of the Leathersellers' Company to their anniversary dinner. Sir John attended the cricket match at Ewell, on Tuesday last, between the teams selected from the Australian Government offices in London, and those of New Zealand and Tasmania. SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE COLONIAL PARTY.

It was not too willingly, I fancy, that Sir George Grey, succumbing to the pressure of Hogari and Company, consented, I after two postponements, to meet the socalled Colonial Party in the House of Commons last Thursday afternoon. For once the Heaton-cum-Hogan duet gave way to a really representative gathering. Sir John •Gorst presided, and was supported by Sir €harles Dilke, Mr Heaton, Mr T. B. ■Curran, Sir Wilfrid Lawaon, Mr Pritchard Morgan, Mr Howard Vincent, Mr W. Dunn, Mr C. Bill, and Mr W. Allen. The Hon J. Inglis (" Maori ") was also present as a guest. . Your 03rrespondent naturally felt some •curiosity a 3 to the proceedings, and spent -fcwo hours at the House trying to obtain admittance to committee-room 14, or at least to get a word with the great Mr Hogan. Drawing a badger is, however, easy work compared to securing a brief interview with that potent person. The truth is that Mr Hogan has journalistic axes of his own to grind, and it does not suit him to communicate more than he can help to the press. In old days a member of Parliament utilising his position to *' make 6d a line " would have soon found Westminster too hot to hold him, but the extraordinary " tag, rag and bobtail " who •compose the ruck of the Parnellite Party have altered all that. They are, as many of them frankly admit, poor men, and they Ihave to earn an honest penny in any and every way which suggests itself. I hear from Sir George Grey himself that he was received with the greatest empressement and cordiality at the House, leaders of both parties showing him every possible courtesy. The proceedings in committae room 14 were quite informal and more or less of a conversational character, ;Sir G. Grey's remarks being made in the * form of answers to questions. The first point touched upon was one which is just mow particularly agitating the colonial mind —the proposal to place Samoa under the jurisdiction of New Zealand. Sir George made the suggestion that Samoa nhould be supervised by New Zealand in the same manner as the Island of Earatonga. The system, he said, had worked Jidmirably, and the island had prospered greatly under it. He had the strongest * abjection to European interference in the g Southern Pacific, and if hio plan were Adopted such interposition would beoome

unnecessary. Samoa would then practically govern herself —the supervision by New Zealand being necessarily restricted. Sir George had much to say about federation, but the general impression was that he had nothing of a very practical nature to propose. His ideal is a federation of the whole of -the English speaking world, includingj of course, the United States, and he is sanguine that the great Eepublic across the water might be induced to come into such a federation. His plan is that each colony should be federated with the Mother Country, and so become entitled to representation in the Imperial Parliament. Sir Charles Dilke put a number of questions on this subject, and elicited the declaration from Sir George that he could not conceive the possibility of anything in the nature of a war between this country and the United States. He did not think any serious conflict could ever arise between them, for the United States was practically a branch of the British Empire, just as much, he added, as any of the colonies. Mr Lawson inquired whether he would be in favour of the Agent-General for each colony becoming a member of Parliament to represent his colony, and got a negative reply, Sir George remarking that the Agents-General were chosen for special functions, which did not necessarily fit them for legislation. Labour representation in the Australian and New Zealand Parliaments was the next point that was touched upon. He believed that nothing but good had so far flowed from the participation of Labour members in colonial legislation. New Zealand had'adopted female suffrage last year, and he had been one of the chief promoters of the movement. He was not only in favour of their voting, but also of their sitting in Parliament. The mover and seconder of the vote of thanks to Sir George Grey very appropriately represented in their persons his wide connection with the colonies. Mr W. Allen's father was a member of the New Zealand Parliament in Sir George's time, and Mr W. Dunn had known him as Governor in South Africa. SIR GEORGE GREY AT THE S.P.G. Colonel Barker, General Booth and other Salvation Army chiefs have called at Park Place to pay their respects to Sir George Grey, and been amongst the few guests admitted to see him. On Thursday, before proceeding to the House of Commons, Sir George accompanied Lord Stamford to the annual meeting of the S.P.G. at Exeter Hall. After being cordially greeted by Bishop Selwyn, Lord Stanmore and the Dean of Hobart, who were amongst higher clergy on the platform, your Grand Old Man was presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops of Wakefield, St. Albans, Capetown, Colchester, Brisbane and China. The Archbishop, in his speech, referred to Sir George's presence at the meeting, and expressed the sincere satisfaction it gave them all to meet him in England. (Cheers.) Few men in the Southern Hemisphere had, he was told, taken a more leading part in assisting the spread of the gospel. In the early days of New Zealand, more especially, missionaries owed him mu«jh. A CURIOUS BLUNDER. Sir George Grey has received cordial invitations to visit both Universities, and will almost certainly manage to spend a short time at each. One of them (I won't say which) proposed to offer its Honorary D.C.L. (or LL.D.) to Sir George, quite oblivious of the fact that this distinction had been conferred on him years ago. SIR GEORGE AND SAMOA. Sir George Grey returned to town on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning I saw him for a few minutes. The old gentleman had caught a bad cold in the left eye in the railway carriage the previous

day, and to me looked very frail, but he ' seemed in fair spirits, and not at all unwilling to talk. My main mission (after ascertaining that the date of his probable return remained unfixed) was to announce to Sir George the Pall Mall Gazette's determination to boom the administration of Samoa by New Zealand, and warn him of the descent of Mr H. B. M. Watson in the guise of interviewer. Sir George did not seem alarmed. He cordially approves Mr Seddon's scheme, and intimated he should be pleased to back the Pall Mall. I heard his views, but as you can read them in your English contemporary, I need not indulge in vain repetition. I ventured at length to remark I feared Sir George was being tiresomely pestered by the genus interviewer. He said: " Oh ! dear no. As he wa3 compelled to stay so much indoors, what could be pleasanter than a chat with intellectual young gentlemen who went away and gave his views to the public for him." This novel way of accommodating oneself to a nuisance rather took my breath away. But Sir George was not sarcastic. His experience of newspaper men has, he told me, been particularly fortunate, especially in New Zealand. " I have on many occasions trusted newspaper men with secrets and never been betrayed." SIR GEORGE AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM. During the present week Sir George has seen a good many pressmen, but otherwise been quiet. On Thursday he spent a long day at the British Museum, whore he was received with much empressement by the principal librarian, Dr Thompson, C. 8., Dr Garnett and Professor Franks. The former acted as his escort and showed how the many handsome curios, &c, Sir George had sent Home had been distributed. On Friday the old gentleman was interviewed by Mr Tooley for the Review of the Churches. He has accepted an invitation to Cambridge for the 26th inst., when he will be the guest of the Master of Trinity and meet Mr Balfour. HIS RETURN. Though Sir George has not, as I've said, made definite plans yet with regard to his return, I fancy I am right in surmising that he does not mean to see June out in England. His conversation, at any rate, suggests that, but like everything else, it will no doubt depend on the arrangement of the matters which brought him Home. SAMOA. The Pall Mall Gazette started its " boom " in favour of the administration of Samoa by New Zealand with a rousing leader on Thursday discussing the claims of the three great Powers concerned, and winding up: —If the German Colonial Party will show us good sound reasons for its claim, by all means let us resign and give up the islands to Germany. Oiie or other of us must take them and put them into shape. Our contention is that England is marked out by the natural formation of her Empire to do so. An Empire such as we have cannot stand still; it must grow to its natural limits. Those limits seem to us, looking at it dispassionately, to include Samoa. We have already suffered in the Pacific through the folly and inadvertence of our rulers. J3ad the Colonial Office been wise we sTioufcTnok have New Caledonia as a menace in Australian waters. And by timidity and inaction we lost the major part of New Guinea and the New Hebrides. It was only by a fluke we took New Zealand. Therefore, whatever is to be done, must be done with decision. If we are going to retire, let us retire ; if not, let us settle the matter with Germany. Above all, the crisis must not be allowed to solve itself through the slackness of Downing street. Last night an interview with Sir George

Grey appeared, and in the course of the pending week Sir Robert Herbert, Sir Julius Yogel and others are to be sounded. It was not after all Mr Watson but Mr Lincoln Springfield who interviewed " the Antipodean Grand Old Man." " Strictly speaking," said Sir George, " I would rather see annexation —that is, complete annexation—replaced by some such system as is now being carried on at Karatonga. I should like to keep anybody from annexing those islands. I believe that they are quite capable of working out their own future under European guidance, with the residence among them of a guiding magistrate, or magistrates in the larger islands. If England annexed one island, other European Powers would be sure to follow suit. My idea is that we ought to keep the old world out of the new, and to avoid making the whole world a series of standing camps. The whole English-speaking people should bo federated as soon as possible, and then indeed we should have a girdle round the world of people speaking one language and obeying very similar laws. Practical difficulties? Well, if there are any I fail to see them. At all events this Saindan incident will lead exactly in whichever direction we choose to guide it." \ " But the question is, Will these Samoan islands bo left to work out their own future ? " —" I hope so/' " Are not New Zealand and Germany both on the verge of intervening ? " —" I don't think Germany will venture to interfere in the face of the treaty with England and the United States, and New Zealand only wants, I believe, to establish the system of resident magistrates which lias worked so well at Raratonga." ENGLAND TO WORK WITH THE STATES. " If Germany will not venture to interfere, why is she ordering so many vessels to these islands ? " —" Maybe it is to preserve peace for the moment, or to make a show. It is quite clear that if England and the United States join in a common policy of a wholly unselfish nature, and evidently directed to attaining the good of the inhabitants of the Samoan Islands, Germany would necessarily give way. I think the main thing is to direct public attention to the necessity of keeping foreign Powers, who might involve us in constant wars, out of the Pacific, or that part of the Pacific." " Are you personally concerned in this Samoan trouble in any way ? " —" I have received a telegram from the New Zealand Government asking me to assist in getting their views carried, if practicable, and I have taken steps to see that their views are laid before the Government. That is all. I think the whole incident ought to be terminated without difficulty by securing the perfect freedom of the Samoan people, under some such system as I have mentioned. They would then be like some of the small republics in the mountains separating Prance and Spain, securing their own happiness by perfect freedom and self-government, and being too small to excite the jealousy or apprehension of any European Powers. The very insignificance of such a little republic should secure it from interference."

"As an alternative it has been suggested that the Commissionership of the Western Pacific might be widened to include Samoa ?"—" It would have no permanent effect. If such an alteration could be effected by a stroke of the pen one day, a stroke of the pen the next day could undo it."

" The United States do not appear much concerned over the question."—"No; but they would not tolerate any interference by Germany. Without a single naval arsenal on their west coast, they repose in perfect security, as they ought to do. But with the Germans in control of Samoa it might not always be so. When* Germany before attempted to depose King Malietoa and to set up a king of their own, the frown of the United States was not without effect in stopping that move. Of course that case differs from this in this respect, that whereas Germany was then the aggressor, it is New Zealand which has now taken the first move. New Zealand has not interfered with any motive of ambition, however, but simply for the good of the Samoan people. With the support of New Zealand, Samoa could stand alone and carve her own destinies. But I should think the English Government has enough to do, with all its difficult social problems before it, without Samoa, and to me it is a source of sorrow that any question of this

kind should have arisen to make public affairs more embarrassing."