LONDON LETTER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1727, 5 April 1905, Page 72 (Supplement)

LONDON LETTER

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTEB (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, February 11. Miss Beatrice Grimshaw’s articles in the “Daily Graphic” on a cruise amongst the South Sea Islands have fired the imagination of quite a number of people in these cold northern latitudes. During the past week or two the Agenttreneral for New Zealand has had a whole string of requests for information as to the best means of reaching the Fortunate Islands depicted by Miss Grimshaw in such glowing colours. Truth to tell the picture painted by the good lady was as unreal as it, was Reductive. She saw the islands through the rose-coloured glasses of an imaginative tourist, and passed serenely over all the drawbacks and hardships of the life in the South Seas. But as I say, some of her readers over here are burning to set off forthwith for Raratonga, or Takutea, or Tahiti, with vague ideas of renouncing civilisation in favour of the life of a lotos-eater. ‘ f Why phould we toil, and make perpetual moan?” they ask in effect, and imagination and Miss Grimshaw combine to picture in their minds an idyllic existence bn some distant coral strand, where palm-trees wave and the league-long toilers break in foaming surf at the edge of the blue lagoon. No doubt the dream includes a pair of browneyed, dusky maids to fan the lotoseater’s brow, and unnumbered bowls of “kava,” the nectar of the Sunny South. One gentleman called at the Agency to inquire if he couldn’t rent a coral island and keep his steam yacht there. “I am siok of civilisation,” he said. “I Want to get away from this fog-ridden eld city to a place where there are blue 6kies and green trees and a yellow beach.” He was told that his best plan was to go out to New Zealand and negotiate with the Government on the epot, and he seemed seriously inclined to carry out the idea. Another wouldbe Islander said he wanted to take out forty people and start a colony on Takutea, which he understood the New Zealand Gov eminent was opening up for settlement. It is to be hoped that the golden dieams of those who seek the happy isles will not be too rudely shattered. THE ANGLO-COLONIAL MAILS. I am afraid the San Francisco Mail Service is achieving an unenviable reputation for irregularity so far as the delivery in London is concerned. Seldom during the past year have the mails been delivered on the time-table date. ItXsually they are two days late; frequently three or even four days late, and this week the mail which left Auckland on January 6 arrived in London five days behind time. Instead of getting our letters iast Saturday they were not delivered until Thursday afternoon. Thus business men have only one clear day in which to go through their New Zealand correspondence and reply by the outgoing mail; whereas according to the tiine-table of the service there should h<3 a full week between the arrival and departure of the ’Frisco mail. Such a state of affairs is anything hut satisfactory. The fault does not seem to rest with the Oceanic Steamship Company, for their boats are usually extremely punctual on the running between R tv Zealand and San Francisco. The time is tvrdently lost on the railway journey across the United States, and if the mails are at all late in reaching New York they miss the connection with the fast Atlantic liner which ought tr? bring them over. The Atlantic mail-steamers will not wait if the train is late, and in that case the New Zealand mails have to com© from New York by one of the slower vessels. Last week they should have come by the Campania, which brought the American mail; but having missed that vessel they had to follow in the German liner Vaderland, which takes eight or ten days on the voyage instead of five. Hence the annoying delay.

Tli© deadlock in connection with the Suez mail service to Australia has naturally caused a good deal of irritation in business circles. Last week, as you are aware, there was no opportunity of despatching any mail to Australia, and this situation will under present conditions recur once a month. The interim routes, moreover, hy which mails will he sent at poundage rates are all much, slower than the Orient route, and doubtless in many oases mails despatched a week earlier than the P. and O. sailings will arrive on the same day. The Chairman of the Australian Merchants’ Association here declares that the result to Australian merchants in England and in the Commonwealth will he “disastrous." The “Times” and “Standard” have both devoted considerable space to the subject, and the former, in the course of a temperatelyworded leader, remarks, after referring to the inconvenience to English correspondents:—“But, as a matter of fact, its disadvantages will be far more heavily felt hy Australia. Here is a great group of colonies, very imperfect-

iy developed as yet, whether in manpower or in industrial production, and made still more dependent on regularity of communication by their great distanoe from Europe. An all-round poucy of development would, one might suppose, leave no stone unturned in such a case to build up trade connections, foster inter-communication by all possible means, and generally strengthen Australia’s foundations. Yet at this critical period we find the Commonwealth Government taking a course which threatens serious damage to .Australian trade interests in the Mother Country, and against which, so far as we can discover, the chief cliambers of commerce in Australia have unanimously protested. Those protests were echoed a few weeks ago by the Australasian Chamber of Commerce in London, whose plain, hut very temperate, language should leave no doubt as to the genuine risks of the newdeparture.” DO THE NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS PAY ? In the “Times” Financial and Commercial supplement this week there is a letter from Wellington which will probably provoke a good deal of acrimonious correspondence between the newspaper defenders of New Zealand and her financial detractors. The ‘ Times” correspondent points out that the gross public debt amounted, on March 31st last, to £57,522,000; that the increase in ten years has been no less than £18,692,000; that borrowing is still being indulged in to the extent of over a million a year, and that during the six years, 1904 —1909, loans to the amount of over ten millions will have to be renewed. It is not, however, till 1929 that the bulk of the debt—namely, about forty-five millions —will have to be dealt with. Commenting on these things the city editor of the “Pall Mall Gazette” remarks that though 1929 may be far enough ahead to be ignored by the market.' “the present position is sufficiently formidable, and one wonders what the effect on New Zealand credit will be of renewing ten millions within the next five years. The usual apology for the colony’s extravagance is that the bulk of the money has been spent on railways and other reproductive works. Even so, the total debt would be a heavy load for a population of 883,000 all told; but it is much to be feared that many of these works are reproductive onlv of losses.” The “Times” correspondent hints that profits are concocted by the simple method of charging certain items to capital which should come out of revenue, but Mr Samuel Vaile, writing from Auckland to the “Investors Review” goes much further. He roundly asserts that calculations based on official records show that during the past nine years there has been an average loss of £564,000 per annum on the working of the railways, taking interest on the capital expended at per cent., and he declares that it cannot be less. The total loss for the nine years he puts at £5,076,000, and he challenges anyone to dispute the accuracy of his figures. Mr Vaile, I feel sure, will not have to “trail his coat” around long before somebody will deliberately tread on its tails. ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

According to the thirty-seventh annual report of the Council of the Royal Colonial Institute the number of candidates elected during the past year comprised 61 resident and 255 non-resident Fellows, or a total of 316, as compared with 67 resident and 259 non-resident, being a total of 326, in 1903. On December 31, 1904, the list included 1484 resident, 2977 non-resident, and 11 honorary Fellows, or 4472 in all, of whom 1233 have compounded for the annual subscription and qualified as life Fellows. Th© bon. treasurer's statement of accounts shows that the loan of £35,020 which was raised in 1886 for the acquirement of the freehold of the institute had been reduced on December 31 to £4780 12s. Last year’s income was £7268. Vacancies on the council have arisen through the death of Sir 'Henry W. Norman and Sir James A. Youl, vice-piesidents. They have been filled up by the appointment of the Duke of Marlborough and the E'arl of Minto. The additions to the library comprise many rare and valuable works. For some time past the want of a representative collection of the legal publications of the colonies and India has been much felt, especially by barristers and others visiting England in connection with Privy Council cases, and steps have therefore been taken to add to the library not only the various legal handbooks and works of reference, but, what is more important, a complete set of law reports of those parts of the Empire where such reports are issued. Owing to the co-operation of the colonial Governments and the law societies the law reports of the following States and colonies are now available for reference purposes. South Australia. Queensland. Western Australia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, the North-West Territories (Canada), the Cape of Good Hope. Natal, Transvaal, Straits Settlements,, Ceylon, Jamaica, British Guiana, and Cyprus. On December 31, 1904, the library contained 57,889 volumes and pamphlets relating to the colonies and India, and 327 files of newspaper's.

LECTURE ON NEW ZEALAND. Under the auspices of the League of the Empire, a lecture on “New Zealand: Its History, Scenery, and Conditions, illustrated by lantern views, was delivered at Caxton Hall, Westminster, Last Sunday afternoon, by Mr I. VV. Pennefather, LL.D. Sir Charles Lyall, who presided, said the League of the Empire was an educational association intended to instruct the people of one part of the Empire in the conditions of all the other parts. Many of the leading colonial Governments had taken an interest in its operations, and among those who had done mosn in that respect was the Government of New Zealand. Mr Seddon was a membei of the Council of the League, and he had been most active in promoting the distribution of its publications among the schools in New Zealand, while Lord Ranfurly had done much to spread the popularity of the leotures given there. Dr Pennefather, who has lived some years in New Zealand, and was formerly a Judge of the Supreme Court of the colony, said the country whioh New Zealand most resembled was Italy. Its great characteristic was variety in geological formation, climate, and scenery. In the far north oranges and lemons thrived as well as they did on the shores of the Mediterranean. One point in whioh New Zealand scenery was very much inferior to that of fv.u land was in the matter of wild flowers. Beautiful ferns and flowering shrubs to some extent took their place. Of ferns there were at least 140 varieties, varying from magnificent tree-ferns 30 or 40ft high down to tiny specimens that could hardly be seen without the aid of a microscope- One strange thing

was the absence of animal life in the higher varieties. On© of the most interesting races in the world were the Maoris, amongst whom poetry and oratory was carried to a very high point. An interesting series of views of the colony was afterwards trown upon the screen. Miss Elsie Hall, pianist, and Mr Richard Nitschke, the Australian baritone, supplied the musical part of the programme most acceptably. BRITISH EMPIRE MOTOR TRADE. An interesting sign of the times, in view of French (endeavours to secure the lion’s share of the motor trade of the world, is the formation of a new assocition with the object of “obtaining supremacy for the Byitish Empire in the motor manufacturing industries of the world by endeavouring to influence the Automobile Club of Great Britain, other automobile clubs and kindred societies, and trade societies within the Empire, to encourage the use in the United Kingdom, the Colonies, and India of cars built within the Empire.” The association, entitled <£ The British Empire Motor Trade® Alliance,” will be confined to directors or principals and secretaries or manufacturers of motor vehicles, marine motors, and agricultural motors made within the British Empire, of sole agents for such vehicles, and of manufacturer's and sgole agents for motors made in the British Empire for road vehicles. Associate members may be manufacturers of parts of these motors, or proprietors of journals devoted to automobilism, while honorary members may he elected by the committee of management from persons who have rendered conspicuous servioe to the

cause. A provisional committee has been elected consisting of Messrs Herbert Austin, T. B. Browne, S. F. llklge, E. M. Instone, Charles Jarrott, E. Lisle, C. S. Rolls, C. Sangster, F. R. Simms, John Thorny croft, and Claude Johnson, hon, secretary. A NEW ZEALAND LAND COMPANY. The 28th ordinary general meeting of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) was held at Winchester-house on Wednesday last (February 8), Viscount Hampden presiding. In moving the adoption of the report and the payment of a dividend at the rate of 71 per cent per annum, with a bonus of 6d per share, both tax free, making, with the interim dividend, per cent for the year, leaving £7400 to be carried forward, the Chairman observed that during the twelve months endec! September 30 last, New Zealand had enjoyed prosperity, the prices of the main articles of export, meat and wool, having been very satisfactory. This condition of things had benefited the company, and their balance of profit last year was £BOOO more than was obtained in the previous year. This balance of profit had been carried to the increase of the reserve fund—a policy which he stated at their two last meetings had been adopted by the directors with the view of augmenting the reserve fund to at least £IOO,OOO before they considered the question of increasing the dividend. The shareholders must be prepared, he thought, for an increase in the company’s charges. In all probability, with a view of carrying on the business and meeting competition, they would have to appoint in the colony travelling agents, who would bring them more in touch with the small traders and occupiers, whose requirements were best ascertained by personal communication. Prosperity was still with New Zealand, and there was every prospect of a very successful year, but this state of things could not be expected to continue indefinitely, and, therefore, the directors asked the shareholders to support them in continuing a policy of caution, so that, in the event of prices falling, as they must do, the company would be able to meet the position with the equanimity which was sure to follow on the possession of ample reserves. Passing to the balance-sheet, he stated that the item of “debentures issued” was slightly less. The reserve fund stood at £55,000, and the directors proposed this year to add £15.000 to it out of profits, as against £7OOO in the previous year. The increase on the other side of the balance-sheet in “premises, plant, and furniture” was owing to a considerable extension of their business premises at Dunedin. The loans on mortgages, secured accounts, and property held exhibited an increase, hut this was merely in the course of the company’s business. * The advances on wool and produce, including consignments in transit, also stood higher; there •were more consignments unrealised at the date of the balance- j sheet. The current accounts, were trade accounts —advances on produce—and they were well spread. The cash at bankers and investments showed a considerable decrease, owing to the fact that more money had been employed in the colony. 1 Mr William S. Davidson, (a director) stated that he was in New Zealand about a year ago. The prosperity of the colony was largely owing to a combination of events which had helped it - very much in the last three or four years. The war in South Africa and 1 the drought in Australia had increased the demand for New Zealand produce, ! and the farmers had saved money and had increased their holdings. The effect of cutting up the land in the colony for closer settlement had caused the company to have on their books hundreds of accounts now instead of only a few dozen, and their risks were thus much more scattered. When in New Zealand he interviewed the branch mangers, and asked them about the various accounts under their control, and he was well satisfied with all he saw and heard. If there was a doubtful account here and there, it had been very well provided for in this country, and lie did not anticipate any loss. Taking the company as a whole, i

he thought it could be safely said that it was never in a stronger position than it was at the present time ; in fact, he did not believe that it was ever in such a strong position. The motion was unanimously adopted. JOTTINGS. Frank Dyson, stated to be a New Zealand sheep farmer on a visit to this country, was charged, at Bow street, on January 26, with assaulting a young woman named Annie Gray. Prosecutrix stated that she and a friend met the prisoner in Tottenham-court road, between one and two o’clock in the morning. He asked them to have a drink, and took them to the Bedford Head Hotel, Tottenham-court road. They remained in a room drinking for about an hour. Then the prisoner “turned nasty,” and they were requested to leave. When they got outside prisoner struck witness in the mouth, knocking her down. Dyson now pleaded that he had been drinking heavily, and said the prosecutrix struck him, and lie pushed her away. The magistrate directed that the night porter at the Bedford Head should be called This witness stated that the prisoner had sometimes stayed .at the hotel, and ho thought Dyson was going to do so when he let him in on this occasion. He admitted that the man was not quite sober.

In ordering the prisoner to pay 40s, Sir Albert de liutzen said he was not sure that some good might not come out of the case, because he had often heard it asked how it was that people got drunk after the public-houses were closed.

An important point in connection with the assignment of calls by a liquidator under liquidation proceedings has just been decided by Mr Justice Warrington. The action was brought by Mr F. R. Jutsuin as the assignee of the liquidator of the New Zealand Minerals Company, Limited, to enforce payment of calls in arrear. with 7 per cent, interest. The company was incorporated in 1896, and the defendant applied for shares. A certain amount was paid up, but the company was now in liquidation, and plaintiff claimed £215 odd, with interest, from defendant as arrears of calls due. The directors had resolved that 7 per cent, should be charged on overdue calls, and the liquidator (Mr Tasman, formerly the •secretary of the company) had assigned £4543 worth of calls to plaintiff for £175. or at the rate of 9d in the £. Mr F. R, Jutsum, who admitted paying Mr Tasman £175 for the assignment aaid he had recovered certain amounts from other shareholders. In this case, however, Mr Scott Fox pointed out that the assignment produced was only made by the liquidator, and was not under the seal of the company. It was, therefore, invalid, as the liquidator could assign nothing. This objection was held to he fatal, and judgment was entered for the defendant, with costs.

The Bisley Rifle Meeting of 1904, at which the New Zealand team achieved such distinction, was a record meeting in many ways. The annual report issued by the National Rifle Association j this week states that the total number j of entries, viz., 43748, was 2305 in ex- I sess of those of 1903, which were till I last year the largest total on record J since the meetings have been held at Bisley. The ammunition, of which 501,032 rounds were expended, was j satisfactory, and 3182 targets were i used. The average number sleeping in camp was 2168, the largest total at- j tained being 2545. The total value of prizes given, exclusive of challenge cups, was £13,708, the highest total yet reached. The number of entries for the King’s Prize was 1534; for the Prince of Wales’s, 45i; Alexandra, 1259; St. George’s, 1488 ; Stock Exchange, 1376; Wantage, 1254; “Daily Telegraph,” 1315; “Daily Graphic,” 1308; and “Graphic,” 1306—a1l these being competitions for the service rifle. The demand for the use of the ranges throughout the year was in excess of all former years. In finance there has been a surplus in favour of the Association on the working of last year, the mcrea&e.-&mounting to £991, and the standing at £36.923. Entrance fees and pool and practice shots

produced £15,466, as against £14,839 in 1903 : the surplus on revenue account v/as £284, and on practice ranges account £590. The “Pall Mall Gazette” waxetb sarcastic over the Australian Mail muddle. It suggests that the Federal Government should consult an _ occulist, and adds:—“it appears to he growing colour-blind. It refuses to make anv contract with a mail line employing black labour —with the P. and 0., that is to say, which employs Lascars. At the* other end of the world the P. and O. is a ‘black’ service. But when the Federal Government. is offered on ‘all white’ mail service it refuses, on the ground that it cannot afford to let the ‘all white’ service see the colour of a Federal Government’s money. The result seems likely to he that, though the Federal Government is prepared to wink the other eye at the conveyance of its own mail by a ‘black line with which, it has no contract, such conveyance will be fortnightly, instead of weekly; that bills will be longer on their way; aud that the colour of Federal money will be subject to the deteriorating influence of an increased rate of interest. One is somewhat reminded of the forgotten poet who once apostrophised ‘the Antipodes of com-num-sense.’ ”

Helen of Troy, N.Y. (Lane’s Colonial Library) is a modern Iliad of decidedly farcical character. Like its classic proto type, the theme is one of arms and the man--the arms a pair of old i'apiers in a West End study, and the man a choice spirit whose soul revolts against the prosaic routine of a workaday life, and whose wits, nimble enough in other ways, have never repulsed that “small but well-armed body of examiners” which guards the portals of the various professions. Three rival claimants . for the hand—and millions—

of the rich Miss Helen of Troy, New York, call in a. passing stranger to decide which shall be the first to undertake the quest. Two of them quarrel over the umpire’s decision, and the party adjourns at midnight across the garden to the Green Park, Piccadilly, where a duel is fought with the rapiers brought from the study. One man is wounded, and the others take to flight on the approach of footsteps. The only clue left behind—for the wounded man will tell the pursuers nothing—is the visiting card of the “umpire,” on the strength of which two amateur detectives proceed to track that worthy down. To detail the story further would be to spoil it; as well try to outline the complications and absurdities of a stage farce. It is an amusing conceit in its way—a jeu desprit which, cleverly worked out and written in a breezy style, will serve to while pleasantly away an idle hour. Mr Wilfrid Jackson is the author.