ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 20

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Special to the New Zealand Mail. London, March G. LOUD SELBOKNE ON THE COLONIES. The Under-Secretary for the Colonies (Lord Selborue) has not hitherto been much iu evidence, but the other day he made a rather important Imperialist speech at IJilston, in Northamptonshire. Proceedin';' to show the importance of Imperial affairs to working men and the necessity of maintaining 1 an efficient navy, he said if once our countrymen beyond the seas thought our right arm was weakened, and it was known that the strong man no longer kept his house firmly but unostentatiously, then the tie which bound them to us would be lessened, and finally snapped because their pride in us would be undermined, and they would lose the sense of security in upholding that which was to them such a tower of strength. (Cheers.) Our colonial lelutions were no mere matter of sentiment. They were to our commercial and industrial classes a matter of bread and butter. The statistics relative to colonial trade prepared by Sir Robert Gillen in 1891 showed that Gieat Britain derived overwhelming commercial benefits from its colonial connections, and this fact showed that British tiade flourished best under the British flag. Great development was in store for our colonies, and if our Empire remained intact that development would be increasingly beneficial to tho trade of the Mother Country.

One of the lessons we should derive from these considerations was the necessity of maintaining a poweiful navy, in order that wo might, in case of need, defend our colonies, protect our maritime C"mmeree, and maintain communications with the regions whence we receive so large a proportion of our food supply.

Lord .Selborue said that “at no cost whatever would they ever allow any other country to interfere with the intend all’aiis of South Africa.” A remark received with loud cheers.

THE COLONIAL MA URIAH US ACT. The Agents - General have been approached by Air T. Paynter Allen, the secretary of the Marriage Reform Association, with a view to obtaining their support for the “ Bill to Legalise Certain Colonial Marriages,” prepared and brought into the House of Commons by General Laurie, Mr Thos. Curran, Air Hogan, Mr Harold Finch-llatton, Mr Henry M. Stanley, Mr Faithful Begg and others. The Agents-General, one and all, have promised to do their best for this measure, but so far they have not decided upon any united course of action. Probably when they meet to discuss tho matter, as they intend to during the next few days, they will decide to doputationisc Air Chamberlain with a view to inducing him to got the Bill taken up as a Government measure. THE SALVATION All MV IN AUSTRALASIA. On dil tho American schism in the Salvation Army will ere long be followed by similar divisions in your part of the world. It was really to increase the cohesiveness of tho Army that General Booth took Iris r ecent .tour. Whether lie has done much good you know better than we do. The course of events in Australia and New Zealand will now bo eagerly watched. Should their branches follow tho American example tho fate of the Army as a united church will bo sealed. Meanwhile here is a ballad from the Westminster Gazette on— THE BATTLE OF THE BOOTHS.

’Twixt Billy Booth and Bally Booth The course of friendship runs not smooth, ’J'lio fight’s begun, the stubborn son must victory’s colours fly, Or young 8.8. by old 8.8. be boater, by-and-bye !

Now, pause, good General, pause and think, Fro longer lines of strife you link, What myriads fond (beyond the pond) of Ballington will storm If you essay in U.S.A. a new S.A. to form. IMPERIALISM AND FINANCE. It would, every good-natured person will I am sure feel, be a sad pity if an honest penny or two could not be turned out of the gust of Imperialism which at present is agitating Great Britain and her colonies so profoundly. Let us, therefore, welcome with effusion that “great enterprise” the “Imperial Dress, Limited,” which certain philanthropic patriots are bringing out for t’" sole purpos- “of ailing lim noble movement, now progressing for Mrengtboning t-iie ties wnicli unite the Mother Country to the splendid lollies which are the pride and t he power ot ‘Greater Britain.’ ’ < >h 1 those ties. How varied and bow beautiful are their u.-.e.-i. “Colonial Joe’’and the enterprising company - promoter find mem come in equally bandy. COLONIALS AND CHEAP MONEY. In a lengthy leader on “ Colonials and Cheap Money,” the Financial Times includes a table which shows at a glance the enormous appreciation in Colonial Government securities since the close of 1893. The profits shown in this table to a patient holder aro startling. The New South Wales 3.1 per cents., redeemable in 11)21, stood at 95 in December, 1893, whilst at the end of February the market quotation was 1101 —a rise of lo). New Zealand 4’s in tho same period have risen from 105 to 115, Queensland 3)’s from 9ul to 1071, South Australian .31 fr0m92.1 to 109, Victorian •!• per cents, from 102) to i pit, and percents, from 92 to IuGJ. These prices do not show the lowest point reached during tho paralysing bank crisis, for in 1893 the New South Wales 31 per cents, touched f-’fft, New Zealand t per cents. 97, and Queensland 3.1 per cents. 75. Rich indeed must have been the harvest of those having faith in the ctdeliriitml and much-advertised “recuperative powers of the Australian colonies.” Of course the fact that to-day Australian Government stocks cannot ho bought to pay the investor more than £3 per cent, has

nothing whatever to do with tho British public’s faith in the colonies. It is merely the result of “cheap money”—according to financial editors. The Financial Times is not surprised at tho appreciation shown in its table, but deems it strange that tho colonies havo taken so little advantage of the high prices ruling to increase their indebtedness. “ The demands of the colonies for fresh loans,” it says, “ havo been oil a very moderate scale, and chiefly for conversion purposes.” London, March 21. COMPANIES FLOATED. Two New Zealand goldmining companies havo been floated this week, to wit, the “ Waihi Consolidated Gold Alines, Limited,” and the “ Waitekauri Cross Goldmining Company, Limited.” ’The flrstnamod is capitalised at =£200,000 in £B shares. Of this amount the vendor takes £170,000 in shares in part payment of the purchase price, 50,000 are appropriated to working capital, and 130,000 wore offered for public subscription. The properties to be acquired by the Company are the 100 acres leases known as the “ Brilliant ” and “ Favona,” which adjoin tho “Silvorton” and “ Grand Junction” mines. For the properties, Mr J. W. Walker and his coowners demand =£150,000, payable as to £ISOOO cash and tho rest in shares or cash or both at the option of the directors. The price is big, but from the reports of Messrs James Dark, If. If. Adams, J. W. Cornhill and Air Walker, tho Company would seem to be getting the property “dirt cheap.” It is claimed that 1 lie Martini lode traverses the entire length of tho two claims, and that the Siiverbm No. 2 reef strikes into the Favona block at a right angle to the Martha. The directors of tho Company are Major-General Diiilip D. Henderson, (J. 5.1., Colonel A. Le Messurior, C.1.E., E.E., Mr Alex. R.aeside (a director of the Waihi-Silvei ton Extended), Air J. W. Scott and Air G. A. Withheld. The Company will also have the services of a local “committee” in the Colony composed of Messrs C. E. Dure Ims, J. J. Craig and C. McLean.

Tho Waitekauri Cross, which went to allotment on Wednesday, has a capital of £.'100,01)0 in £JI shares. Of these, 35,0<X> were offered to the public. The properties acquired by the Company are tho leases Taranaki, Taranaki Extended, "Waitekauri North and the Mikado, making in all about 100 acres. For this the vendors (the New Zealand and General Aiming Syndicate) ask =£50,000, payable as to £.'10,000 cash and .£IO,OOO in fully paid shares. Shares to the amount of .£50,000 ’nave boon set aside to provide working' capital, of which 25,000 were included in tho public issue, the remainder being held in reserve for future requirements. The directorate includes Messrs J. W. Broomheau, Alexander Kaesido, Daniel King and W. 11. Mi Is toad, the latter being a director of the vendors’ syndicate. The managing director in tho Colony will be Mr Samuel Iletherington. TIIE NEW AdKNT-GENERAL. It was not anticipated that the successor of Sir Wcsthy Dercoval would meet with a very cordial or enthusiastic welcome from the Anglo-Colonial community in London. This, however, bad nothing whatever to do with the new AgentGeneral’s personality. People simply didn’t want to lose tho good man they had all known and proved. A. feeling of irritated amazement prevailed that Air Seddon should have desired to deprive himself of such a colleague, and in a manner, no doubt, it generated a tendency to hypercriticiso tho stranger succeeding him, whoever he might provo to bo. Tliis inclination would have shown itself even moro emphatically than it has but for tho position taken up by Sir Westhy himself. He has never pretended that be wished to give up the AgentGeneralship, but he lias told everybody that if it were taken from him ho would sooner it were handed over to bis old friend, W. D. Reeves, than to anybody. Alereover, since the latter’s appointment, .Sir Westhy lias borne frequent testimony to the coming king’s strong points. With W.P. in the stirrups, no one need fear that the. policy of progress and enlightenment which has marked the last four years would not be pushfiilly pressed forward. The attitude of the new Agent-General in an exceptionally delicate and difficult position is generally commended, and augurs the possession of greater tact than advance reports led us to expect. Alany people undoubtedly called upon him ju.xi,lies to pay (heir respects, yet in more ca /ffius mood. '1 i.ev came away (Vc "aisi.ig a capable, earnest m ill, without “side” or pose, evidently only desirous lo do lus duly iitiingly, and prob.dily possessed of considerable reserve force.

A Now Zealander, who is well known to you all, an I has long been a friend of both Sir Westhy Dercoval and Air Reeves, contrasts their public characters rather effectively. “ Both,” he says, “ are recognised as able, honest men and good workers. But their methods aro absolutely dissimilar. Sir AVestliy is the nearly ideal bureaucrat, suave, wary and diplomatic to bis linger tips, ever Hie right tiling to the right man. Air Reeves is more the strenuous lighting politician and reformer, impatient oi any road savo the directest, ami not particularly reg.ndfiil of appearances.” The Hon W. D. Reeves arrived in London on Sunday the Bth, having left tho Ormuz at Naples and come through with the mails. He caught a slight cold en route, and finding' the Channel in angry mood experienced a rare tossing between Dieppe and Newhavcn. Mr Edward Blake, Aid’., who acted as the umpire in tho New Zealand Midland Railway case, was a passenger by the Ormuz, and so were Mr Salt (the chairman of the luckless Company) and his daughter, Air Burchell (solicitor to tho railway), and Sir Bruce Burnside. They were all excellent comrades, and quite sorry to part with one another. Mr Blake proved an early caller on the now Agent-General, and on Tuesday took him down to the House and in-

troduced him to a number of bon members.

In Australia Mr Reeves, as you know, is persona grain with labour parties, politicians and trades councils. Several of the latter availed themselves of his passing through their colonies to present complimentary addresses, and at Adelaide thero was a big public dinner in his honour. The ex-Labour Minister felt at liberty to accept this compliment, as ho was then merely Agent - General in posse, but tho shadow of coming office led to his speaking with reserve on his favourite topic. Since ho arrived in London many papers have tried to draw Air Reeves on New Zealand politics, Labour legislation, Ac, but ho wisely declines all interviews on such subjects.

Sir Westhy d parted from "Westminster Chambers with the quiet good taste which is one of his most felicitous possessions. Ibe average man would not; have been able to resist a little ceremony over tho business. “ Well, good night,” Sir "Westhy said ; “ I shall be looking in in a day or two, so I won t say ‘ Good-bye/ ” and with a nod was off.

immediately on its being notified tho Hon \\ . )’. Reeves had taken over cilice from Fir "Westhy, a stream of callers set in—officials, Agents-General, city bankers, Anglo - Colonial and personal friends, journalists, Ac. Bishop Sehvyu, like Air Blake, was ail early visitor. Ho came with a two-told object', desiring to renew bis acquaintance with Air Reeves and to talk ov ( 1 r the contemplated seizure of Norfolk Island by New South Wales. 1 Lis Lordship, needless to say, objects strongly to (lie projected annexation, and was relieved to learn the New Zealand Government were of tho same mind.

I may point out in this connection that should the Vancouver cable over become an accomplished fact (Air Reeves, by tho way, considers it a certainty), Norfolk Island would ho the last Dacilic station before reaching the mainlands, as well as the dividing point of the Australian and New Zealand sections. Whoever therefore owns it will also control tho cable, and in event of any little differences of opinion that might become an important matter.

Tho now Agent-General called on Monday at the Colonial Office, and was received willi marked cordiality by the Under-Secretary for the colonies (the Earl of Selborue) and Sir Robert Hondo (Permanent Chief Secretary of the Colonial Office). “ Aloatlliodi ” was not in, but Sir Robert agreed to arrange an interview between the great man and Mr Reeves at an early date. A specially warm welcomo lias also been extended to Air Reeves by the representative of .South Australia, the Hon Thos. Play-ford, who spent a long time with him on Tuesday discussing matters of interest to them both.

I spoke to Air Reeves about his policy and plans, but found him wisely reticent. He did not deny that ho had several schemes in his head, hut to talk about them now would bo absurd. He couldn’t yet tell if they were feasible. “ You seo,” ho said, “ it’s not as though I had succeeded to an Augean stable which needed immediate cleansing, On the contrary, I find myself in an office which has been raised to a very high pitch of perfection by my predecessor and Mr Kennaway. Naturally, then, my simple duty is to carry on their good work in essentials, and to look about me. People keep asking mo whether I’m going to move the Government offices to the city. How can a man bran new to London answer such a question ? Six months henco I may possibly have an opinion on the point.” MR RITCHIE ON TEMPERANCE REFORM. Air Ritchie, M.P., speaking on tho 3rd insf., at the annual dinner of tho Croydon Licensed Victuallers’ and Beersellers’ Protection Society, said there was no trade, be considered, which required associations for its protection more than licensed victual-

lers, because there was no trade which had been more the subject of Parliamentary attack, and bo would go further and say that Micro was no trade which was more interested in real temperance than the licensed victuallers’, for, after all, temperance did not refer alone, to drink, and there were associations and political parties who could be convicted of intemperance in language and injudiciousness in legislation, lie claimed that the party with which bo was associated was tho real temperance party, and ho bad himself, in bis earlier Parliamentary days, introduced a BiJl which gave magi.-' rates tho same powers over off - license., as over others. Since be bad been a member of the Government they had made certain proposals founded on equity and justice, and they were defeated only by the extreme temperance party, who had always stood in the way of real temperance reform. In these proposals they wore suppoited by tho trade. His party held that they had no right to intertoio with tho vested interests of men engaged in currying on a legitimate business. The ideas of t heir opponents would never bo adopted. What the Conservatives wanted to regulate, they wanted to abolish, and this would never be acceptable to the people of this country. It was unfair legislation, and it was class legislation winch their opponents required. They would leave the club or private cellar alone, while they would prevent tho working man enjoying- himself in moderation. Such legislation was unEnglish, unjust, intolerable and inequitable. The latest idea, was a Commission of Enquiry into the whole circumstances. He had no objection to that. No class of people had less to fear, or would court more full enquiry’, than tho licensed victuallers. The position of the Government was this : They bad no objection to enquiry based upon an agreement as to what it shall bo upon by both parties concerned. If the licensed victuallers nud the temperance party could agree on the reference, the Government had no objection to the enquiry, but they did not desire confiscation i or intolerance,