ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 16

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

PERSONAL NOTES. London, February 9. Mr Harry Vogel, after spending some weeks at the paternal mansion at Moulsey, is up in town having a good time, and putting the final touches to a longer story than he has yet published. In Temple Bar for February will be found a simple little love tale, entitled "The Higher Law," the scene of which is laid chiefly in Auckland, or rather on the waters of the Waitemata. The anOnymous author belongs to the fair sex, and must, I should think, be young. In real life her heroine's behaviour in jilting an uninteresting fiance for a handsome and seductive boatman would not improbably have excited unkind remark. But in romance all things are possible. It may interest those who see and hear the Rev H. R. Haweis during his trip round the world to know that he was the original "Chas. Osmund" of Edna Lyall's "We Two," and also figures prominently in "Joanna Traill, Spinster." The grandfather of Lord Yarmouth, whose exploits as a skirt-dancer appear to have gained him renown in Australia, was, unless historians wrong him, an ardent admirer of ballet-dancing and coryphees. He figures, you may remember, as Lord Steyne in " Vanity Fair," the genuine first editions of which contain a portrait which was so painfully like the Lord Hertford of that day that it had to be promptly suppressed. Mr Morley Roberts has since his return from Australia written a powerful " pathological romance " entitled " The Degradation of Geoffrey Alwish," the scene of which is laid in your part of the world. Mr Roberts boasts that he waa the last representative man of letters to spend a day with Stevenson at Valima, but therein blunders. The magazines attest that W. H. Triggs and others were much later visitors.

A rumour reached me on Monday to the effect that Mr T. A. Browne (" Rolf Boldrewood") and his son were over here on su visit, and had been on view at one of Mr Douglas Sladen's " literary lion" shows. I learn, however, it is Mrs Browne and her son whom society seems to be entertaining. They were amongst the guests at the Countess of Warwick's much-talked-of fancy dress ball last week, and received a good deal of. attention from the Midland County folk, My lady informant assured me the Australian novelist was a squatter possessing untold gold, and that Mrs Browne and young Browne were now spending "pots of money." Asked how she knew that, the dame declared their fancy dresses excited remark owing to their costly character and good taste even in the plutocratic gathering at Warwick Castle. I believe as a matter of fact Mrs Browne and her son simply placed themselves in the hands of a costumier Lady Warwick suggested and wore (and paid through the nose for) what that expert prepared for them.

SIR GEORGE GREY. With the thermometer standing at 16 degrees below freezing point in the gas-lit Strand, it was manifestly impossible for Sir George Grey to fulfil his promise and attend the opening of Parliament. He remained, instead, by his cosy fire, being, I fancy, one of the few truly warm men just then in London. As a Privy Councillor, Sir George has the entree of the galleries of both Houses, and he expressed a plaintive regret that he had been unable to see Lord Spencer and Lord Carrinsrton in their robes in the Lords. Of course the right honourable gentleman has been interviewed regarding the Federation resolutions Of the colonial Premiers, but his observations contain nothing new to you. Sir George, in fact, merely repeated the substance of his speech on this subject last summer at the National Liberal Club. Sir George Grey is taking a warm interest in the movement to purchase Carlyle's house at Chelsea as a national nropertv The committee formed some months ago have raised £IOOO of the .£I7OO required, and, at the suggestion of Sir George Grey, an endeavour will be made by Dr Gurnett, librarian of the British Museum, to obtain further subscriptions to the fund in Australia and New Zealand. It is estimated that .£3OOO will be needed altogether to put the house in a proper state of preservation, provide for its maintenance, and ldßgL°P en for sightseers.

THE AGENT-GENERAL. Sir Westby Perceval received from the Government a selection of fine photographs of New Zealand scenery, including a large panoramic view of the Tasman Glacier. These pictures, all worthy specimens of New Zealanders skill in photography, and beautifully framed in native woods, are at present "cumbering the ground " in the Agent-General's official sanctum, but they will not remain at Victoria street long. For the time being, Sir Westby is waiting for a happy inspiration as to how to make the best use of them. I suggested the New Zealand Court at the Imperial Institute, but the Agent-General did not seem to take to the idea of placing all of the pictures in the Somers' Vineries

permanently. They will, however, form a section of the great photographic exhibition to be held there in May next. This affair is to be the biggest and most comprehensive show of the kind ever held, and is one of the particularly happy inspirations which only come at rare intervals to even executive councils. Unless grievously mismanaged the exhibition will attract more people to South Kensington than even the display of Prince George's wedding presents. How best to use the photographs as an advertisement for New Zealand pending the opening of the Imperial Institute show is a puzzle the Agent General tries to get his daily visitors to solve. Sir Westby, by the way, has accepted the invitation of the Executive Council of the Royal Colonial Institute to become a member of the governing body. He had no wish to add to his engagements outside of the AgentGeneralship, but could hardly refuse to serve. I believe he nourishes a wicked hope that the Radical Party of the. R.C.1.'., membership will refuse to uphold the \ Council's selection at the next general meeting, and so let him free. Personally I think it would be " picking up money " to lay long odds on members approving unanimously Sir Westby's appointment. The Agent-General assures me that the rumour that he intends to compete for the thousand guinea prize offered by the Statist for the best practical essay on the fiscal side of Imperial Federation is quite unfounded. He considers that a month's close study of the financial position of the integral portions of the Empire would be necessary before putting pen to paper. With this view I agree thoroughly, but I am afraid few of the competitors for the Statist prize will prepare the groundwork for their essays at such a cost. Sir Julius Vogel will undoubtedly enter the lists, and no one would be much surprised if he carried off the prize. Finance must necessarily be the first consideration of essayists, and there are few men who can give Sir Julius points on that head. ,- . ■ ■

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION. The proceedings at the Colonial Conference in Hobart have been watched with much interest on this side, some of the daily journals, and especially the Times, being well supplied by cable with reports of the business day by day. Sir George Grey has been interviewed on the subject of Australian and Imperial Federation by a representative of the Exchange Telegraph Company, and has practically reaffirmed the views he expressed in his speech at the National Liberal Club, shortly after his arrival in England, a full report of which was furnished to you at the time. As you know, what he favours is an extended union of the whole Englishspeaking race, a Court of Arbitration for the pacific settlement of international differences, the preservation of local selfgovernment, and the non-intervention of the colonies in European complications. Substantially this is what he is made to say, in a great many words of a rather ambiguous character, by the Exchange Telegraph Company interviewer, who, owing to his own vague knowledge of the subject, has obscured it under a cloud of verbiage. Several of the papers have commented on the results of the Conference. The Times is hopeful that a direct issue will now be submitted to the people, while it confesses to some doubt on the question " whether behind the technical difficulties the real cause of delay is not to be found in popular indifference, which has tolerated, if it has not encouraged, the inaction of the popular assemblies." It ventures to think, however, that "the body of sound Australian opinion is in favour of a practical scheme of federation, which would delegate Continental powers to the central Government, and reserve full provincial powers to the provincial Governments." The Pall Mall Gazette, under the heading " State or Vestry," is also glad that the colonists will soon have a direct issue submitted to them. At present, it argues, they are, in spite of their vast territories, smaller communities than some of the subdivisions of the County of London, and they can only continue their separate existence " under the penalty of remaining small communities in a world which is rapidly organizing itself into great States." Moreover, the colonies are over-governed, " Prime-Ministered and Parliamented out of all proportion to their size," overrun with professional politicians, though none of them approach the unlucky eminence of Newfoundland, which, albeit only about the size of a large fishing town, is " absurdly overdressed in a political sait cut to fit a real nation." Meantime the people of New Zealand will be interested in knowing that Sir George Grey adheres in his belief that New Zealand is acting prudently in remaining aloof from federation with Australia, from which she is politically isolated by geographical conditions.

NEW ZEALAND AND RIVER PLATE LAND COMPANY. The general meeting of the shareholders in the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company to confirm the resolution regarding the reduction of capital passed on the 10th January was a very tame affair. Only nine shareholders put in an appearance, and the whole proceedings were over in less than ten minutes. Mr A. M. Mitchison presided, he having been elected chairman of directors by the board prior to the-memorable meeting at which shareholders expressed a desire to dispense with his managerial services. In a curiously unsympathetic voice the chairman read out the resolution to reduce the capital, and having insisted on the necessity of shareholders confirming the same, and pointed out that no amendments thereto, or motions regarding other matters, could be entertained at the meetformally moved that the capital be reduced to £1,800,000. Mr Nathan.

seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The chairman then thanked the shareholders for their attendance, and the meeting dispersed without even passing the usual vote of thanks to the chair.