LONDON GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2211, 21 May 1894, Page 4

LONDON GOSSIP.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 30. THE NEW MAIL SERVICE. It is impossible to heljj noticing that when Canada and Australia want something from the Home Government —as, for instance, the heavy subsidy for the new Vancouver mail service—they talk very grandly concerninglmperial obligations.” The colonies are, they admit, alone to benefit by this fresh departure, but the Old Country must bear a large part of the expense for Imperial reasons. When, however, the boot is on the other leg, and the colonies are asked to play and pay their part in a big reform, such as Imperial penny postage, “ Imperial obligations ” are conveniently shelved, and “ financial necessities ’’ compel a refusal. The statement in several the effect that the Government has decided to renew its contracts with the P. and 0. and Orient Company for one year from January, 1895 (when the ISBS contract expires), is, I learn, correct. In 1896 the Indian and China mail contracts also expire, and that will consequently be a convenient time for the Imperial Government to renew the whole question of Australasian mail routes and subsidies. If Mr Huddart has 'by then got his new Atlantic service in order the Canadian-Australasian companies may capture a share. The money for the new CanadiauAtlantic service is to be obtained from the public, but no attempt will be made to float a company till the .£150,000 a year subsidy Bill has passed the Dominion Legislature. Then, Mr Huddart sanguinely anticipates, the British public will gladly shell out the essential capital—a bagatelle of two millions. LITERARY NOTES. Mr B. L. Parjeon has been “ studying the Jews,” and the result of three years’ work will shortly appear in a novel called “ Aaron the Jew.” I heard the other day, by-the-way, of a veteran colonial litterateur who had known Parjeon in his ante-“Grif” days in New Zealand, and who, coming to England, thought his old comrade would be glad to see him. He soon discovered his mistake. Mr Parjeon dispenses hospitality only where it will prove remunerative and keeps his charity strictly for home consumption. Ho has a charming house X am told, and some show r children, geniuses of course, nothing loss. When the interviewer descends on “ the popular novelist ” these phenomenons are duly trotted out. In the bosom of his family, as in “ Bread and Cheese and Kisses " &0., Parjeon bubbles with benevolence, but his acquaintances only know him as “ a devilish hard nail, sir.” Very different was the experience of the same colonial scribe with Sir Julius Vogel. His memory required no jogging, and though in ill health he came up to town to see him, gave him letters to publishers and newspaper men, and wrote out a ream of shrewd hints and suggestions founded on his own experience. Mr Fergus Hume’s novels follow one another so rapidly nowadays, and attract so little attention, one is apt to overlook them. I hear, however, greater hopes than usual are founded on the three-volume effort he has now in hand, and which will

be published next week. The new novel is called “The Best of Her Sex,” and will

be published by Allen and Co. Mr G. A. Henty makes the Kellys the pivot of his new boys’ story which will be called “A Desperate Gang,” . and commence to run serially in Boys next week. Mr Lusoombe Searello, F.E.G.S., in ad-

dition to being composer, impressario, explorer, and native of Dunedin, is also a poet. Messrs Trubner have just brought out “ The Dawn of Death," a poem running to 148 pages, over his signature. It is a very worthy effort. Musical and flowing as befitting its origin in the brain of a musician, the poem has high qualities as a piece of literature. The ideas, in themselves worth powerful expression, are expressed powerfully. I understand that a cheap edition of this poem will bo issued very soon, and that the poem as it now stands will some day be supplemented by others. If Mr Searello’s future efforts are as good as “ The Dawn of Death,” the cheap editions should enjoy both fame and circulation.