LONDON OFFICES “NEW ZEALAND TIMES" AND “NEW ZEALAND MAIL.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 12

LONDON OFFICES “NEW ZEALAND TIMES" AND “NEW ZEALAND MAIL.”

LORD ROSEBERY AND SAMOA. Whilst the Opposition organs have made the most they could of Mr Seddon’s “severe snub” to Lord Rosebery anent Samoa, the Daily News, Chronicle and Government papers maintain a significant silence. If they said anything it would be that the Premier’s speech at the Guildhall and subsequent attitude were even more incomprehensible to friends than to foes. The truth, I am assured by one who should know, was that his lordship blundered, and made bad worse by not admitting- the fact. The St. James says, “ The Prime Minister of New Zealand has been talking very plainly to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Alexander the Coppersmith lias got the better of Alexander the Great. To make perfectly meaningless points Lord Rosebery abused the press and by implication the Government of New Zealand. In reply Mr Seddon remarks that heaping ridicule on New Zealand to placate Germany is scarcely calculated to strengthen the bonds between the colonies and the Mother Country.” “ Just so,” comments the editor ; “ and yet Lord Rosebery is really and truly an Imperialist.” The Pall Mall adopts a similar tone, winding up, “ Lord Rosebery may consider himself sat upon.” PATTI. The colonial papers, discussing Patti’s possible tour, scarcely comprehend the situation. Her terms make the project of an Australasian visit out of the question. For six operatic performances at Covent Garden Sir Augustus Harris contracts to pay the great queen of song =£5003. the NEW ZEALAND MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Agent-General writes to the Financinl News protesting- against Mr Tlips. Salt making statements concerning the sub jndire action between the Midland Railway and the Government. He himself declines, on behalf of the latter, to discuss the merits of the quarrel now that Mr Salt has claimed that it be referred to arbitration. The facts which have led up to the present position should, however, Sir Westby considers, be borne in mind, and these he briefly but lucidly recapitulates. “As for

, the allegations,” he-winds up, “that the j Governihent has hampered the Company in -.every possible way, the best answer l ean give is that the Government and people of the Colony were most anxious to see the work go forward, and concessions in favour of the Company have from time to time been made by the Legislature.” The Agent-General admits there may have been misunderstanding with regard to the reserves made for mining purposes, also delays arising from negotiations inevitable in a large contract of this sort. It is, however, singularly bad taste on the I part of the chairman of a company which has asked for concession after concession from the Government to accuse them now of “ wilful obstruction ” and “ outrageous cheating.” Especially is this unwarrantable when the whole matter is just about to be laid before an impartial tribunal. THE SCULLING MATC H. In spite of climatic obstacles, Tom Sullivan has managed to get himself into very good trim for his sculling match on the Tyne with little “ Wag ” Harding, which will, weather permitting, take place on February oth. Sullivan has been much more fortunate than Harding in the matter of water exercise, for the Tyne has been obstructed with floating ice almost every day since the little chxmpion began his training. The New Zealander will lack nothing on the score of condition if he keeps clear of colds till the fatal day. Whether he can win, however, is an open question. Personally, I do not think he sculls so powerfully as when he made an example of Bubear, whilst Harding has unquestionably improved both in style and pace. He beat Bubear even more easily than did Sullivan, and whereas a year ago he was nervous as a kitten when about to race the Englishman, now takes matters very coolly. Whichever wins, the race will be worth seeing, for both men are pluck to the heel, and will each go his hardest from the pistol crack in hopes of finding the weak spot in his antagonist. The northerners are backing the ‘‘little ’un ” as though be was a Tynesider born, ami amongst the watermen of the Thames opinion seems fairly divided as to the merits of the men. May I be there when they settle the question !

[The cable has informed us that Sullivan was beaten by Harding by four lengths on February 17, and that lie lias challenged him to row on the Thames. —Ed. N.Z. Times.]

SIR JOHN GORST AND LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. Your very old friend Sir John Gorst first came to the front as one of the quaitette who made up the famous Fourth or Randy-Pandy Party in the last Parliament, and there can be no doubt he was for years his erratic leader’s good genius. Whilst lie had Gorst’s cool head and diplomatic genius to guide him Lord Randolph scored trick after trick. On ceasing- to be a free lance in 1885, lie insisted on his heueliman being made Solicitor-General. Next year, however, when he attained the leadership, Lord Randolph practically dropped Sir John, leaving him to a paltry Under - Secretaryship. Tlie Chronicle says they never spoke afterwards, and it is no secret Sir John was bitterly hurt and chagrined. Had that friendship not been severed, Lord Randolph’s end would probably have been different, as the member for Chatham would never have countenanced the insane blunder of his resignation the followingChristmas. It was Lord Randolph’s worst characteristic that he possessed no sense of gratitude, and dropped friends like liot potatoes directly they hurt his abnormal vanity. His conduct both to Sir John and to the late Louis J. Jennings created a most unpleasant impression. Though tlie sad change in Lord Randolph was painfully apparent to personal friends soon after liis return from Africa, no one announced the sad truth in the press. I think indeed that (as I recently mentioned) I was the first correspondent to hint at the complaint from which the poor man suffered. When one knew tlie case to be hopeless, there seemed neither sense nor honesty in pretending his lordship suffered from overwork only. My information (there can be no harm in admitting now) was pretty straight coming from a man who had recently stayed in the same country house as the member for Paddington. Lord Randolph and liis wife occupied separate suites of apartments, and lie behaved in a most extraordinary manner.

At dinner he snapped at Mr Balfour (also ' a guest), and tried hard to quarrel with Mr Chamberlain. But Joe would not be “ drawn.” THE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT. As the time for the meeting of Parliament approaches the committee for Women’s Suffrage are girding on their armour for the coming-fray. They declare that they hold the pledges of no fewer than 301) champions in the House of Commons, who will do battle for the cause, and that the Marquis of Ripon, Mr | Asquith and several other prominent j statesmen ax-e in sympathy with j it. The attempt to enfranchise women will most likely be made in the I Registration Bill, so as to provide by a small verbal amendment for the inclusion of women in tlie registration of electors for Parliament. • In support of the movement a fitting opportunity will be chosen for a demonstration en onasse, and the invasion of the lobbies by a light brigade of adventurous females, of course, attired for conquest. Meantime, in anticipation of a possible dissolution, which many people, including experienced veterans and old Parliamentary hands like your own Sir George Gx-ey, believe to be imminent, the Parliamentary Committee for Women’s Suffrage are casting about foxsuitable candidates to be set up in theninterest. Among others, Sir George Grey has been approached on the subject. He has already consented to allow his name to be placed on tlie committee, and he has now been asked to become a vice-president, and to consent to be nominated in the general elections. He lias not yet definitely acceded to the request, but has consented to receive a deputation on the subject, in order to hear tlieir views, and, I may venture to add, perhaps to gauge the strength of the support and the ultimate chances of success. It is a peculiar coincidence, though perhaps not at all surprising, having regard to the ardour with which lie has championed the cause of female suffrage, that the large majority which placed him at the top of the poll in the election for Auckland city was to a great extent due to the on--1 tliusiastic gratitude of the female voters.

The great advance in the of the New Zealand Time £ and New Zealand Mail since the two papers Weta taken over by their present proprietors ha rendered it absolutely necessary that the Times and should have a permanent representative in London,and accordingly arrangements were concluded some time ago whereby ou r regular London correspondent, Mr A. S. Rathbone, of a commodious suite of offices in the Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, which is situated in the very heart of the great metropolis and close to the famous “ "of Fleet street. Here, under the title of the “New Zealand Press Agency," Mr Rathbone has established a permanent London office for The New Zealand Times and Mail, where files of the two papers may be inspected, advertisements arranged for and the general business of a newspaper agency carried on. . Mr Rathbone, who is a journalist of wide and varied experience, both in England and in the colonies, is the author of the well-informed and very interesting London correspondence which appears so regularly in this paper. He will be at any time glad to receive visitors from the colony and to give any information that may lie in his poweLto afford. Colonists going home can inspect files of the Times and Mail at our London agency, and may, should they deem it convenient, have their letters sent to that address. .., v :

Of course, it would, be premature to hazard auy prediction at present, but anyone who imagines that Sir George Grey's advanced age will prevent his entering the lists with the scarf of women's suffrage fastened to his helmet is reckoning’ without his host. For this grand old, man, with a vitality that seems inexhaustible and a tenacity of imrpose that has been tried and proved in many political combats, is .by no means as decrepit as might be supposed. He declares that the English winter agrees with him remarkably well, and that he never felt better during the past 20 years. He takes long walks in favourable weather, only avoiding- exposure to damp, and in very cold or inclement weather drives about in a closed carriage, and when he is confined to his apartments for one or two days a week, contrives to get through an amount of correspondence and receptions which a much younger man would reg’ard as a severe tax on his strength. Anyhow, if no untoward event occur, and if his health continues to improve, I prophesy that he Avill be a candidate at the next general elections. The other day the ladies connected with the Women's Suffrage League, whose name is legion, gave a grand ball at the Institute of Painters, Piccadilly. It was quite a fashionable affair, and among the three or four hundred present were two or three lords, several generals and colonels, two countesses, some grande dames from Belgravia, and several members of Parliament, 1 did not see more than half a dozen Australians present, mostly Victorians, but among- the New Zealanders was a fair young debutante, and grand-daughter of the late Mr Shultze, of Wellington, Miss Muriel Johnston.