OUR LONDON LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9910, 1 December 1893, Page 4

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(Peom Oub Owk Cokbespondent.) 30 and 31 Fleet street, London, October 13,

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Mr Bayne's letter of explanation as to his ! Btrange conduct in declining the Lincoln Collegeprincipalship, after evincing such keen anxiety to be appointed to that post, has at laßt reached the Agent-general. His reason proves to be that the authorities of the Royal Agricul--tural College at Cairo so urgently impressed upon him the injury he would do to that institution by resigning at that particular time, and not only depriving it of his own exceptionally valuable services, but also throwing all the work out of gear in the middle of a term, that Mr Bayne did not feel at liberty to disregard these representations, and so cabled his refusal The anxiety of the Cairo authorities to retain him is, however, distinctly complimentary and accentuates the regret which is felt that his services should be lost to New Zealand. Apparently, however, the die is not yet finally cast. Mr Bayne has cabled later, inquiring whether the appointment be still open, and stating that he has written again on the subject. Hopes are therefore entertained that he may have discovered some modus vivendi, and have seen his way to reconcile his duty to his present employers with his desire to enter upon the new sphere of action. The matter concerns all iKew Zealand, for it would be an unquestionable benefit to the whole colony to secure the presence and skill of so eminent an expert in agricultural science. The Aorangi sails to-day a full ship. Quite" a, number of the special settlers approved by the Agent-general go out in her under the reduced-fare arrangement. They take out a considerable sum in capital, and are assured to bo highly qualified for colonial settlers The Aorangi contingent number some 50 " souls " I find that the Colonisation Company's notifi cation that they will not require their settlers to "buy a pig m a poke," but will refund the land purchase money if the purchasers, on arrival in New Zealand, can find none of their land to suit them, has had a very good effect. It is a practical demonstration of confidence in the value and attractiveness of the land available, which does not fail to impress intending settlers.

Mr Leonard Harper, of Christchuroh, has been staying for some time past with his son, the Rev. Coley Harper, near Swindon, in Wiltshire, and probably will remain there until the end of the month. I understand, from a friend who met him there, that he has no present intention of returning to New Zealand The Rev. Coley Harper, by the way,' expects to leave for New Zealand early next month to enter upon the duties of incumbent of Patea, to which post I hear he has been appointed. Before starting Mr Harper will undergo a ceremony which some men—even clergymenfind a nervous and trying one. He is about to be married to a young lady of Yorkshire, the daughter of a wealthy ironmaster near Leeds, where Mr Harper was formerly curate From aU I hear of the young lady, I anticipate thai; she will be found a very agreeable acquisition to New Zealand society. Mr Harper is at present locum tenens of the Wiltshire parish already referred to. Report speaks vory highly of his personal character and abilities, and clerical qualifications, but very poorly of his physical health. As a matter of fact, I believe he has been ordered to leave England for & more genial clime, on account of weakness of the lungs. Let us hope New Zealand's famous climate will set him'up. Lunching with Mr Edward Pearce the other day, I learned that he has had an exceedingly pleasant time in Enghnd. He has been visiting relatives and old friends during the greater part of his stay, but he has also been in the thick of the London season and thoroughly enjoyed it until tbe melancholy news came of the death of his partner and beloved friend, Mr W. H. Levin, which naturally has completely saddened the concluding portion of his visit. Lord Onslow and Mr Pearce were warm personal friends during the former gentleman's New Zealand Governorship, and the Earl lost no time in renewing the friendship on Mr Pearce's arrival in England. It must be said of Lord and Lady Onslow that they have been very nice in England to most people whom they knew in New Zealand. Lady Onslow and Miss Buller were constantly seen about together, at theatres and elsewhere during,the season, and other ex-residents of New Zealand have found the former Governor and his charming wife very pleasant friends in the mother country. The Earl and Countess are at present visiting friends in Scotland, but return to town shortly. Mr Pearce leaves on his return to New Zealand by the Orient on the 20th, via Melbourne, going thence to New Zealand either direct or via JSyduey, according as the intercolonial steamers suit; but most probably, by way of the Bluff, a3 he has business to transact at'Christchurch en route. He will be accompanied by his son Mr Charles Pearce, and also by his youngest sister, Miss C. Pearce,* who is going out to stay with her brother for a year certain, and perhaps longer if she likes colonial life and ways and people. The Rev. T. Flavell—the übiquitous and indefatigable—is at present at Porlock, near Taunton, on S.P.G. duty. He does not expect to be back in London before November. He writes in rapturous terms of admiration of that "charming bit' of England—hills, vales, sea, moors, all combining in a picture of perfect beauty." " ' ' Much conjecture is rife in London as to the likelihood of New Zealand's being induced by Australia's success in the money market to bring out a new loan now that the conditions are so exceptionally favourable. It is thought in the City that such a, loan would certainly go ofl at a price well above par. But all the same, an earnest hope is expressed that New Zealand will not be induced to depart.from the wise policy of abstention and economy which has raised her credit so high in England. There is a good deal of uneasiness lest the Australian colonies, flushed with their recent success and with the .apparently strong testimony to the soundness of their credit in London, should be induced to borrow largely for the sake of the temporary relief which would be afforded to their straitened finance, to be followed oE course by a severe and paralysing reaction. So far as New Zealand is concerned at any rate, I have just received a; most emphatic and gratifying assurance from an old friend in whose judgment I can place great reliance that public feeling throughout the colony is " almost sullen in its dogged determination to make both ends meet," and that "theidea of further borrowing is held in utter detestation." I shall make this known as widely as possible. A grandson of the late Bishop Selwyn, of New Zealand and Lichfield, has just passed away. He was assistant curate of South Church, Bishop Auckland (in Durham), and was only 28 years of age. The late Rev. William George Selwyn was the ouly son of the Rev. W. •Selwyn, vicar of Bromfield, Shropshire, who was a son of the famous George Augustus Selwyn, first bishop of New Zoaland. The cause of death was the terrible typhoid fever which has carried ofi so many good and valuvablo lives in New Zealand, as well as in England. The Manchester Guardian publishes a letter signed " W. J. M. Korrow," giving his experiences of " Seven Years in New Zealand." He asks: "Why should not Lancashire with her teeming millions participate on equal terms in the frozen mutton which is coming to London in such large quantities from New Zealand ?'' He urges the desirableness of a special effort to establish direct steam communication between Manchester and New Zealand when the Ship Canal is open. Mr and Mrs J. B. Gilfillan and Miss Gilfillan, of Auckland, have left on their return to the colony. They have gone via Melbourne and Sydney by tho P. and O. line. Another Aucklander, Mr T. B. Speucer, goes back by way of America, crossing the Atlantic in one of the new record-breaking Cunarders, either the Campania or the Lucania. Mrs Richmond and Miss Bartleman, and Mrs and Miss Street, all of Dunedin, return to the colony by way of Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland. They have booked by the P. and 0. boat Himalaya, which sails on the Bth December. Mrs Burton Ireland, Miss Ireland, and Mr Ireland jun. (of Auckland) are going out by the P. and 0. Victoria on the 27fch insb. Messrs Charles and Robert Gillies leave by the Campania's next trip for America en route for Auckland. Mr George Holdship goes by the Carthage from Marseilles to Bombay, thence to Delhi, Calcutta, and other places of interest in India, finally proceeding to Auckland. Mr G. \V. Holdship goes out by the Orotava on the 17th November. Mrs M. C. Edmonds a.ud Miss Edmonds have returned from Norway, ami have kit again lor tho South of Europe, where they intend to remain for a time. In addition to tho passengers mentioned iv a former letter as being booked per Oceaua for New Zealand, sailing to-day, the following will go by that vessel : M isses Ktliie and Porritt, Mr and Mrs Proctor, Messrs Crowthev, Mather, and Ramsden (for Auckland), Miss Whyte, Mr and Mrs Phillips, Messrs Powell and Langdell (Wellington), Messrs Henderson, Morgan, Kilpatrick, and Wither (Dunedin); and Dr Kullerton (Bluff). By the Victoria (October 27) will go Mrs and the Misses Deane (2), Mr and Mrs l?ox, Mr and Mrs Rust, and Dr Carter, in addition to those previously booked. Tbe Arcadia on November 10 will take for Dunedin ?Vlrn Hazell, Mr, Mrs. and the Misses Nanier ■

(2), as w'pll as those formerly mentioned. The Orient's New Zealand list (October 20) has to be supplemented with the names of Mrs A Brewis, Mr W. Brewis, Rev. G. Mannsell, Dr and Mrs Bureau, Dr and Mrs Max Koch (and family), Misses Mcc, Mr and Mrs D M'Glashan, and Mr Croxford ; and the Ormuz (November 3) will take for New Zealand Mrs T. Taylor, Mr and Mrs J. Grice (and family), Mrs W. Grice, Messrs Claridge, Eason, and Morehen.

The Aorangi, as I have already said, leaves to-day, full of passengers. One family alone paid over £360 in passage money even on the reduced scale. The whole complement of passengers may be described as a splendid batch of new colonists.

One or two "old colonists" go too. Prominent among them are Mr and Mrs Oliver Samuel, of Taranaki, who have been several months in Europe and now return to New Plymouth. They did not intend to go back quite so soon, and they did intend to trayel by the P. and O. route, spending a little time on the way; but they have been flying abont here, there, and every where — through England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and also over the Continent,—and they declare themselves to be utterly tired out of sight-seeing. They yearn only for a little rest, and so after all they are going by the relatively humdrum bufc very straightforward and comfortable "direct" route. They should reach New Zealand toward the eDd of November.

The Times of Monday has an earnest sermon on the success of the Victorian and New South Wales loans. It 6aya that this "has marked the week that has just closed with a red letter in the calendar of colonial finance and the revival of confidence which it indicates is in some respects the more satisfactory that it was unsuspected." But The Times thinks that " nevertheless it is much to be regretted, from the point of view of the reviving credit of the colonies, that Victoria should allow herself to appear ready on the first encouragement to take more than the most absolutely essential advantage of her improving circumstances To allow the Treasury bills to come on to this market would amount to a scarcely disguised extension of the new loan, and would be in the highest degree damaging to her own reputation.

Some further remarks of The Times on the same subject are worth quoting. It says — " The colonial Governments have to remember that a large proportion of the holders of colonial stock do not of their own knowledge know the colonies to be wealthy. They are told that this is the case, and that they do on the whole believe it is proved by the experience of the past week. But, in the face of adverse circumstances, banking crises, and a deluge of searching criticism, the faith that ia in them wavers. They begin to doubt the value of the securities they hold, and by their own action create the depreciation that.they fear. If land and public works revenue were definitely earmarked and set aside in every colony for the service of the loan and the creation of a sinking fund, the public creditor would have no need to concern himself with any other portion ot the .finances. Panic would, be spared, and much of the comment on local colonial affairs so inevitably annoying to the colonial public, would be averted."

■ One more quotation I venture upon, as the counsel offered by The Times, may be digested with advantage by New Zealand. It is — In view, of the success which has already attended the promised reform of New South Wales, it is perhaps not too much to hope that Victoria, and with Victoria the lesser colonies, may follow suit, until the whole financial system of the borrowing colonies is based on the simple rule, of dividing profits from capital account and counting interest as a first charee upon gross income. To do this would be to satisfy every just requirement alike of the lender and the borrower, and would be much more advantageous to the future relations of England and the colonies than any hard-and-fast determination not to increase the volume of colonial loans. As long as the colonies have valuable resources to develop, and as long as England has money to lend, there is no reason why capital should not be borrowed on the one handjmdlent upon the other to mutual profit. Ail that is essential is that the conditions of investment should be made co safe as to render panic in regard to Government stocks impossible." .■.-■■ ■ •*

DAIRY PRODUCE NOTES.

No New Zealand dairy produce was exhibited at the dairy show, or, indeed, any dairy produce from any of the colonies. From what I can hear thera would have been no great eagerness to welcome colonial competition had it been forthcoming. I heard of a colonial inventor who was promptly shelved when his colonial origin became known. English producers are not very fond of oversea competition on their own ground. Experts tell me the only improvements worth noticing this year, as of interest to the colony are (1) the enlargement of the " disc churn," which is now made of much greater capacity than before, with the view of its applicability, to " creameries," as, I have explained to you, butter factories are called here; and (2) the Kay-Dowling refrigerator for cooling and aerating milk and other liquids. This is a colonial invention, and has, it is said, superseded, wherever tried, the ordinary form of cooler, over which it claims fully 50 per cent superiority in cooling capacity. Its special features are stated to be its separated corrugated ,oval tubes.which give increased strength with larger cooling surface and uniform distribution ; its drip wires, which assure perfect aeration; its movable ends, which facilitate cleansing;' and its general strength, lightness, compactness, and simplicity. It is alleged that this refrigerator has a coolingcapacity of 55sal per houiyas against 35gal ia the case of the best ordinary refrigerator. The reason no New Zealand produce was shown is explained to be the absence of any really fust-class New Zealand butter or cheese at the present time. There is uona in the market. Messrs Coey and Co. write: "No butter has been shown; we, however, expect some may be in the Ruahine, due shortly. It would have been a pity to show old stuff" Messrs Reynolds and Co. say they intended to exhibit some New Zealand butter, but there I was none available of sufficiently prime quality I MessrsJßeynolds tell me -to-day, by-the-bye that although the butter market is rather dull Danish butter ia up 4s for nexb week, which will help up New Zealand butter a little. '' Preservitas " seems to be speedily gaining in favour as a good preservative of butter in lieu of.Bait. The exclusion of preservitascured butter from Brazil is now clearly shown to have been due to a trick, owiDg to rivalry between two French firms. As I have specially mentioned the improved disc chum, &c—the "New Era" it is called— i" may say that its advantages as claimed include perfection and rapidity in churning, washing brining, and drying the butter; perfection of grain, and absence of danger of over-churning. Those, of course, are the maker's claims.--1 expect to hear more next week about the real opinion of outside experts who have made experiments. I met Mr Joseph Nathan, of Wellington, at the dairy show yesterday. He is looking unwell and evidently still feels his domestic loss most acutely. He thinks of returning to New Zealand next month, probably by way of America, but this is not yet settled. ' Mr Nathan tells me that his firm will go in more largely than ever for the development of the New Zealand" dairy trade. He is very sanguine about it. He has just placed at very satisfactory prices a considerable shipment of last season's butter. He does not anticipate much competition on the part of English buyers in the colony this season after the frightful way they burned their fingers last season. • Of the New Zealand flax trade and its prospects he gives a. deplorable account. Only yesterday, he Bays, 250 tons Gf "fair"Auckland flax on being offered found no bidder at any higher rate than £17 ; that was the best price genuinely offered, and the flax was bought in at a nominal £19. Even £17 would represent much less to the producer, being " c.i.f.," which means that at least 5 per cent, would have to come off. The reason is that Manila and sisal are so cheap and abundant. The • former cau be supplied in auy quantity at £20, and the latter at £18.

Sisal fibre is, he tells me, much brighter than most New Zealand flax, and so is worth £2 more.

A new flax machine has just been invented, and is under "private and confidential " trial before being patented. It is expected to do great things iv the way of thorough and economical cleansing of the fibre. I may have more to tell of this next week.

By-the-bye, Mr Gray (of Coey and Co.), who advised the dairy arrangements on board the new steamer Gothic, has been requested by the Queensland Government to furnish a report on the colonial dairy trade for their information and instruction. You may remember my mentioning that Mr M. Keever, another member of this firm, had accompanied Mr Wilson, the Australian dairy expert, at his request, on a visit to Australia and New Zealand, with the object of further developing the dairy trade. Mr Valentine, the dairy expert whose services have been retained by New Zealand, leaves immediately for New Zealand by way of America. Much regret is expressed that this eminent expert in all matters connected with the dairy trade was not allowed longer time in this country before his departure for New Zealand so that he might have delivered addresses ia Glasgow and other large cities as he did in Manchester and Liverpool, where he produced a most favourable impression aud did much toward improving the New Zealimd dairy trade so far as those cities arc concerned.

It is not thought, however, that his efforts iv the direction of establishing a direct steini service between New Zealand and Liverpool will have any immediate result. Nothing is likely to be dove iv this way at present. The connection between Liverpool and America in respect of produce is so very intimate and complete, and Liverpool is so entirely the receiving and distributing port for most American produce, that it will be very difficult for New Zealand to obtain a footing there. But something may be done in time, and meanwhile Mr Valentine has rendered good service to the colony by agitating the question so prominently.

Much is hoped from the promise of tho English railway companies to co-operate with •bo shipping liuea in arranging through rates

for New Zealand produce shipped from New Zealand for the large English and Scottish towns. Next to a direct shipment this is the best thing that can be done. But while the colonial produce has to reach the large inland and northern cities and towns by a process of filtration through the hands of intermediaries, Mr Valentine fears the trade will be limited, because the distant places will always suspect that the best qualities are retained for London, and only the inferior sent on to the provincial towns.

The gardens of the Imperial Institute have been closed for the winter. It used to be delightful in the glorious summer evenings of previous months to sit in those prettily illuminated gardens listening to excellent music and watching the many graceful and brightly-clad feminine figures that flitted by. Bat the evenings are too chilly now for this to be longer feasible or safe, and so the gardens are to remain closed until the spring. Of course this means also the temporary shutting up of the New Zealand frozen meat kiosk. Its contents—edible and mechanicalhave been removed for the winter, both to safe quarters. The same machinery may return again, but I fear the meats and butter has been so safely stowed away that we shall not see them again: However, doubtless they will have worthy successor, aud assuredly the show has done good service to the Kew Zealand produce trade.

While Mr Valentine is in America on his way to New Zealand h6 will inspect all the improved machinery inyeuted by our ingenious Yankee cousins and used in their local dairy work. He hopes in this way to pick up a great deal of information that will be found very useful in New Zealand.