OUR LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2517, 22 May 1895, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

From Oar Special Correspondent. PERSONAL. London, April 5. Mrs Ballanco returns to New Zealand with tho ilon ,L G. and Mrs Ward. New Zealand, -in tho persons of Mr C. Nedwill mid-Mr- J. M. Marshall, was very much to the front in tho annual “Freshmans" tennis tourney hold at Cambridge a few days ago, for tho twain contested the final. Mr Marshall, who had beaten his previous opponent with consummate ease, disposed of his countryman without exerting himself unduly. Mr Nedwill ako reached the final without being very herd pressed, ho the form cannot have been particularly good, unless, indeed, Marshall is a marvel. Tho Wanganui player is certain of Ins Blue, and it is also “juston tho cards " that Mr Nedwill will find a place in the ’Varsity Six. The Conservative wire-pullers have succeeded in “bouncing" the popular frozen meat importer Mr Montague Nelson out of his safe seat at Leamington. It is a great shame, as Mr Nelson has carefully nursed the constituency for some years, and it seems quite incredible the Tory Party leaders can have been unaware of the fact. If, as th y aver, the seat is one of those which the Liberal Unionists have by virtue of their unholy alliance with tho Tories a prescriptive right to, why did they let Mr Nelson spend his time and money upon it? Had Mr Nelson fulfilled his first intention and adhered to his just rights there can bo little doubt the bulk of the electors would have stuck to him. But “in tho interests of tho party” he has immolated himself. 'Tin said young Mr George Peel will also retire to avoid friction, and another Unionist altogether bo put up. It is a wretched muddle, and an exemplary object lesson in Tory mismanagement. As 7 imagine Christie Murray’s “ Mount Despair " must have originally appeared in an Australian publication, I don’t suppose you will need telling this is the story of Broken Hill, freely rendered. Mrs Patehett Martin’s translation of “ Gyp's ” “ Marriage of Chiffon " will form the second of Hutchinson’s “ Zeitgeist" series of novels. I have not seen a copy yet. S Mr Fleming Norton, tho entertainer, who died last week, was a third-rate Maccabe and a sad “frost" when ho visited your part of the world some years back. He belonged to the Savage Club, and was an ideal Bohemian and an excellonb comrade. K.I.P.

Poor old Toolo is recovering very slowly, and cannot yet leave tho house. It seems rather doubtful whether ho may not have to make a merit of necessity and retire altogether from tiiu stage. The date of ids reappearance remains quite uncertain. Tho mining market has been busy with Now Zealand gold mine scrip lately. Haurakis are in strong demand, and have improved to Us 9d, ami Kapangas have changed hands freely at Us 6d. Even Olenrocks have improved, and Archills aro booming a bit, being largely dealt in on Tuesday at 4s. AVailii and AVaihi Silverton also show slight improvement. Mr Withel'ord’s “ L’oyal Oak ” Company was successfully floated early in the week, tho shares being applied for several times over, Scotty’s llauraki shares (ss) are now selling at 5s (Id to (is, and Boyal Oaks will probably show applicants for shares a nice profit before the month is out. COLONIAL STOCKS. The present high prices quoted for all colonial. Government stocks so clearly indicates the public belief in tho solidity of the security offered that tho question whether tho inclusion of colonial-inscribed stocks in tho list of investments available to trust funds is not desirable and justifiable is again being raised. Trustee stocks are now becoming so difficult to obtain in the market owing to tho absence of sellers at current quotations that some extension is badly needed. And surely the natural extension is to bo found in tho inscribed stocks of tho various self-governing colonies. The Echo says that the “ only safe plan under which certain of tlieso stocks could bo admitted would be by their

being divided into a prior and a secondary charge upon the revenue of the respective colonies. AVero Egypt a British colony, for instance, it might bo well that the preference 3.j per cent, should ho entitled to rank as a trustee security, and that the 4 per cent, unified should not. Similarly New Zealand and New South AVales would have to divide their existing inscribed stocks into a preferred and an ordinary if tho colonies desire to bo included in the sacred trustee circle.” Of course such a plan is obviously impossible. But surely it is not necessary that the gfcatsolf-governing colonies should bo asked to create a special charge on their revenues in favour of a portion of their inscribed stocks to meet tho requirements of English trustees. It is, as the Echo points out, absurd that Capo Colony, which can float a 3 per cent, loan at par, cannot have its securities listed with thoso of n guaranteed Indian State railway. Tho Capo is in a far better financial condition than India, is less liable to foreign attack, and is practically safe from any internal mutiny or rebellion. The arguments in favour of tho Capo apply with equal force to Canada, the Australian colonies and New Zealand.

PRESERVED EGGS. Tho Agent-General recently received a choice consignment of preserved eggs from an enthusiast in the Colony, who ingenuously suggested that after sampling them himself ho should invito a number of distinguished persons to breakfast in order to partake of tho Antipodean delicacies. Sir Westby did not immediately issue "at homo ” cards with “ New Zealand eggs ”in the left-hand corner. Ho looked at tho oggs, then ho smelt them, and finally by a supremo exercise of self-donial he delegated tho sampling process to Mr Kennaway. That much respected votoran camo down to tho office the following morning rather palo, He said his devotion to the Colony was limitless j there wore few things, from suppressing a boro to appointing a bishop, which ho would not do-to oblige, but (firmly) ho must respectfully decline to sample any more preserved eggs. Sir Westby thereupon faced sorao of tho consignment himself. He declines to say what occurred or to commit himself to any opinion either on tho oggs or on the abandoned colonial fowls which perpetrated them. All that can be definitely stated is that Now Zealand eggs preserved in fat are not a success. I should doubt myself whether under any circumstances at any time it would pay to send over oggs to us. Londoners nro particular about them and I can’t believe that any useful process would induce us to look upon a six or sovon weeks old egg as new laid. THE MARSDEN CASE. The date of the trial of tho libel actions brought by Miss Kato Marsden against tho Timea and tho Rev A. Francis is at present only a subject for conjecture. So ’far, tho plaintiff’s solicitors aro in the unique position of putting toohnicnl obstacles in their own way. You will remember that tho filing of particulars of claim was delayed so long that there was reason to doubt whether tho action was bona fide, or merely a clever ruso to prevent further exposures in tho press while tho case was supposed to be sub judice, Tho defendants promptly filed a plea of justification. Then, after a further delay of several months. Miss Marsdon’s solicitors called upon Mr Sonmes, solicitor to the Times, and tho Rev A. Francis, to file particulars of their charges against the plaintiff. This tho defendants defeated by ranking tho charges as comprehensive as possible. This, I boar, is to bo followed up by a decisive step on tho part of tho - Times. Mr Sonnies will, in tho course of a few days, apply for an order for both sides to show papers. THE FUTURE. lire Agent-Gonoral was present at the annual dinner of tho Institute of Civil Engineers hold at Merchant Taylors' Hall oh Wednesday. Tho Duko of Cambridge and Lord Salisbury made speeches. Sir Westby has received an invitation to attend the banquet of tho Royal Academy on the last Saturday in April, and it is hoped Mr Treasurer Ward may also got ono of the much coveted cards for this incomparable function. As Sir George Grey declined last year’s dinner, I fear he wUI not be asked this.