ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7191, 4 March 1885, Page 3

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

<Psb United Pbess Association.)

Wellington, March 3 The London correspondeut of the Post sends the following news par Rimutaka :— Lohdon, January 16. W. DeLisle Hay, author of "Brighter Britain," contributes to the current number of The Field an interesting paper, entitled "Sharkingin New Zealand," The Colliery Guardian of January contains an article entitled " The Wealth of New Zealand." The writer speaks very brightly of the future of New Zealand coalfields. Most of his information has been taken from the last report of the Colonial Secretary for Mineß. Mr Morrison, the newly-appointed English master of the Dunedin High School, has decided to leave for New Zealand in the Tainui on January 18. ' The Federation Bill is at present under discussion at the "swellest" of the debating societies, the Kensington Parliament. Mr Weatgarth, the American millionaire, is trying to form a trust ngency with a capital of 10 millions to undertake the construction of a huge " subterranean " way to accommodate all modern changes in water supply, electric lighting, sewerage, &c.; also a terrace "to lift foot passengers out of the dangers of the streets," and the formation of "recreation parks and gardens in upper regions." The daily papers on Monday were very guarded in their expressions of opinion in reference to the New Zealand action regarding Samoa, evidently wishing to do the friendly thio^ by New Zealand without incurring the enmity of Germany. The Timeß said it might be a natural impulse on the part of New Zealand to desire the annexation of the Samoan Isles, though they were separated from that Colony by a wide sea; but the question was not one that could not be settled by the wishes of the Colony alone. The United States would probably want a say in the matter. Moreover, it had yet to be shown that the annexation was expedient, either in the interest of New Zealand itself or the Empire at large. The Daily News supposes "that what New Zealand wants is to ba beforehand with Germany. The Colonial Government may, too, have remembered that through a very similar procedure on the part of Queensland England was compelled to 'protect' New Guinea." The Standard considers that we ought to consider the wishes of the rich and populous Colonies already established, which are of far more importance to the Empire than the doubtful friendship of Franco and Germany, The St. James' Gazette says it is probably safe to assume that an understanding has been come to between Berlin and London on the subject. Lord Derby will inform New Zealanders that their steamers will not be wanted, and the Germans, in return, will give an understanding that they will not annex or " protect" the islands. The Manchester Guardian thinks if there is one spot in the world whero Germans would resent, and legitimately resent, being anticipated by another Power, that spot is Samoa. It is, on the other band, impossible to maintain that the possession of the group is a matter of vital interest to New Zealand.

The death is announced of Captain Eagar, eldest son of tho late Colonel Edward Hungerford Eagar, sometime quartermaster-general in New Zealand,

The death is announced, under peculiarly sad circumstances, of Mrs Bloxam, wife of the second officer of the R.M.s. Tongarirc. Mr and Mrs Bloxam were married in Noyember last, and within a few days of the wedding tbe husband was obliged to join his ship and sail for New Zealand. He left, promising to write from Plymouth and Teneriffe, but owing to stress of weather the vessel was unable to put into either port. Not hearing from her husband for bo long threw Mrs Bloxam into a very depressed and anxious state. On Saturday last she was missed, and 24 hours later her body was found on the sands at Southend drowned. It is thought that she was drawn on to these fatal sands by some impulse, and that the tide came in upon her unporceived till too late. On the very day the poor girl's body was recovered, letters arrived from the Cape trom Mr Bloxam, explaining that that was the first port the Tongariro bad put into, and that although extremely anxious, he had consequently been unable to forward letters before. It is feared the newa of his bride's death under such painful circumstances will be a terrible blow to Mr Bloxam.

A Newport (Monmouth) tradesman named William John Eakdaile, a married man with one child, formed a connection with a woman named Price, and determined to elope with her to New Zealand. He secured two berths in the R.M.S. Rimutaka, and had got away to London with a lot of luggage, when he was arrested at the instance of his partner (Thomas Dowson) on a charge of embezzling the firm's cash, Dowson discovered Eskaile's crime in a strange manner. The abaconder wrote to a London firm of passenger-brokers ordering them to secure him two berths for New Zealand. This letter was blotted on a new office-pad, and Dowson, who was writing afterwards, noticed some words which roused suspicion. He cut out the uppermost leaf and read the whole of the epistle.

The New Zealand one-million loan was a great success. The total amount applied for was £4,129,700, .at prices ranging from the minimum to £100, some of the tenders being for very large amounts. One syndicate with, it is believed, Mr Westgarth at its head, wanted no less than £775,000, and offered £98 17s. Them were five uffaca of £100,000 each at £9& 17s .And: £98 19*; odo for £32,000 at £98 12a; "one for £46.000 at £99 63 6d ; one for £45,000 at £9917 a 6d; three for £40,000 each, besides numerous tenders ranging from £10,000 to £'30,000. The loan will not be held by large syndicates this time, but almost wholly by the public, as only tenders above £99 tw CJ will be allotted in full, those exactly at that amount receiving about 65 per cent, of what they asked. The extraordinary success of the loan is put down by those who ought to know to tbe Blackness of the times, which makes the brokers grasp at anything (really safe) likely to lead to business; and also to circulars sent round with the prospectuses by the Agentgeneral, which explain New Zealand's resources and financial position so clearly and ably as to greatly enhance the public confidence in the Colony's credit. The Bullionist alone has thrown cold water on the loan, and misdoubts the Colony's financial position. It reviews the Hon. E. Richardson's Public Works Statement not altogether unfavourably, but whilst recognising the boldness of the proposed policy of finance, questions its safety. Truth tells the following story apropos of the frozen-meat trade: " A few weeks ago I mentioned the names of some butchers in the West End who sell New Zealand mutton. A nobleman residing not 100 miles from Grosvenor square called upon one of them and asked him whether it was correct. On his replying that he had furnished New Zealand mutton to some customers who asked for it, the nobleman informed him that he should withdraw his custom because the butcher did not support Home agriculture. And yet this man probably voted with glee for the Irish Crimes Act, which makes boycotting a criminal offence!"