ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10956, 10 November 1897, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our Owx Correspondent.) London, October 2. GENERAL ITEMS. "R.R." still wields his graphic, but often misleading, pen in the columns of the Financial Times. He was disappointed with the hob Bpringß. " They did not gush," he laments, "as well behaved springs do in postry books. They simply oozed, and they smelt abominably of sulphur." He derides the geysers of Wakarewarewa and " Hell's Gite "at Tikitgre. Aa for the latter, he declares that a very good and adequate idea of it may be obtained any day by watching contractors lay asphalt pavement. Even the effects of the Tarawera eruption only suggest disparaging comparisons with Pompeii. Referring to the colony generally, he says : — " I suppose New Zealand has been more written about than any of the colonies, and has ueually been puffed up ad nauseam. It is really such a beautiful island. Its rainfall is so bounteous, and its climate so delightful that one forgets its political disabilities and its financial erabsrrassments. Its very advantages have made tha people careless. They found so little to contend against, except Maoris, that they almost loit the art of hard living and hard fighting." I should say he is clearly wrong hers, but let thit pass, for in this instance he certainly docs boom the advantages of New Zeiland.

" Life with the New Zealander," he says, " has been cast in pleasant places. He can hunt, fish, shoot, and sleep under any rock without fear of snake or centipede. IE he wauts coal he can get 'the finest the world produces' at Westport—coal that saved the Calypso [I 6uppose he meaDS Calliope, but no matter] on that memorable dayiu Apia Harbour. His timber is varied and of excellent quality. He has not the hard karri of Western Australia or the huge gums of Gippsland, bat the kauri is slmoet as fine a tree as the giants of Calaveras; and there are numberless varieties of hard woods which are of exquisite grain and texture. There are petroleum beds in the North Island which would pay to work. There are the iron sands of Taranaki and the copper mines of Nelson, which are worth consideration. There are the wonderful alluvial beds in the North Island, which never fail to yield a livelihood to the energetic prospector, though they do not pay limited companies. If you like cold you raiy live in Dunedin ; if you prefer the tropical heat of Auckland its is only a week's journey. Never waa avjy, iskrid so blessed by Nature with diver-' sity of climate, variety of foliage, or magnificence of scenery." ". ■ .

New Zealanders will have an opportunity of inepeeliug a very fine specimen of Mr Williameon's work when the memorial lo the late Bishop Harper arrives. I think all who had the privilege of knowing the former. PHmate of New Zealand will at once admit that • the recumbent figure which forms the main feature of this memorial is a singularly beautiful and touching likeness, although the sculptor had no guide but a photograph ; and I faucy New Zealaud is hardly likely to do batter than by having a replies, of his famous statue of the Queen, which I believe, he has expressed his willingness to, execute as desired at a relatively moderate price.

Mr H. X M'William, of Messrs Dempster, Parer.'on, and Co., of Glasgow (formerly of New Zealand), called oh me a day or two ago, and gave on tbe whole a rather cheering account of the prospects of New Zealand dairy produce during the cording seasou. Mr M'WiHi&ra was i passing through London from Bristol, at which place he had been making various arrangements with regard to the comiag New Zealand daisy produce, season, particularly in respect to butter.. After leaving London he was to visit Manchester and Dundee, where ho expected' to make all necessary arrangemento. In Glasgow, Mi1 M'YVilliam informed me, there were many inquiries being made for the new season's New Zealand butter, and he seemed to think tho outlook most hoptiful for this branch of thelra.de. One thing of which Mr M'William spoke with much pleasure was that at last—as a result of his own, Mr Retrves's, and Mr MacEwan's many representations to them—the New Zealand dairy produce exporters were, seriously thinking of consigning their butter and ehaeee to a few firms of high standing, instead of, as formerly, distributing it amoug so many people for sale. Before long the Danish butter season will have commenced; and Mr.*M'William was in hopes that someof the New Zealand produce would have come to hand before then, so that there would be more likelihood of higher price 3 being obtained for New Zealand bufcter.-for naturally the keen- competiciou which is expected to set in shortly will tend to keep prices on a somewhat more equal footing. But Mr M'William spoke wibh much confidence as ragards the coming season, and again rernark^d that for New Zealand butter many inquiries had already bsen and were still being made in the Glasgow market. ..

"Doubt was expressed regarding the good likely to result to New Zealand from Mr Seddon's vidit to the old.country," remarked Mr Thomas "Mackenzie, to nic the other day. " But when you see Mr Seddou moving for the repsal of that absurd tax on commercial travellers you must recognise that Mr Seddon, like other people who vieit London, has had his mind opened aud iiis views broadened. lam delighted to see the repeil moved. It will mike a very favourable impression in commercial circles everywhere outside oF New Zealand."

Mr Thomas Mackenzie thinks that much, good would result .wure the New Zealand Government to m*ke a display of the colony's products, &c, at the Crystal Palace, for, he says, millions of people pass through that place, and the display would be the means of showing them what New Zealand could do. Mr Mackenzis further remarked/ that in his opinion a refreshment stall at the Crystal Palace, the eatables consisting of New Zealand produce, would be »n excel'eut ides.

The first New Zealand.mails brought by the regular service of the Canadian-Amtraliau Royal Mail Steatn Ship Company (walked by Messrs ELiddart, Parker, and Co.) were delivered in London last Saturday, the time taker, being 34- days 12 hours from Wellington. This was done. in tho ordinary course, no special acceleration of the trans-continental psasage being feasible, pending the confirmation of, the contract by the New Zealand .Government,'bub Mr James Huddart appears confident that if the contract should be ratified it would prove feasible to secure very material acceleration on this time.

That unfortunate white elephant the Imperial Institute, comrjjo'nly and rudely known as' the "Prince's Folly," continues to bs the target for shafts of fidioule on the part of the English press. This being the " silly season "—and ia fact a sillier season than usual —the newspapers have found such a subject useful, and they caper round ifc accordingly. Certainly anything more ropeliant and desolate than the aspect of that remarkable building at the present time ifc would be difficult for the mind of man to conceive even in its moat morbid moments. -Nobody, however, seems to have auy definite irtea as to what should be done. Tbe ODly point upon which everybody is agreed—excepting, of course, tbe highlysalaritsd officials, who make a comfortable and easy living out of the humbug—is that a drastic reform in lieeded iv every respect.

New Zealand stocks have been so remarkably steady for many months that it really has not been worth while mentioning the quotations, which have scarcely altered from week to week. Inscribed 3's are as high as 101£; Bank of New Z«aland $ per cent, guaranteed stock is at 105; New Zealand Shipping Company shares still have an upward tendency, and are quoted at 5j,-. On the whole there is little change to record. '

During the Church Conference at Nottingham the Primate of New Zealand made some pointed remarks in reference to the Colonial Clergy Act. He admitted that it wae not unreasonable that colonial clergy who came to reside permanently or temporarily iv this country should be called on to show some proof of competence. But he wished that the English arcabiahops and bishops here would administer the act iv a generous spirit, especially in dealing with colonial clerjjy of long experience and Sried efficiency. He thought it desirable that there should be a free interchange of clergy between the churches of Great Britain aud those of the colonies and elsewhere. This would convey mutual benefits. It would not be merely the eolouial clergy who would b'enefic, for English churchmen might learn muoh from a-ieoeiafciou with the clergy of the f leer churches, especially when a desire existed for a return in some respects to primitive ways. In the course of. the same speech Bishop Oowie declared that he was proud of being one of the governing body of a university which was the first in the British Empire to grant degrees to women. The Bishop remarked that in New Zealand the franchise had been given to the women, and now not only did the men regard the step as by no mean 3 harmful or inconvenient, bat they even wondered why women had remained so long without the right of voting. The remarks of the right reverend prelate were

A Tennessee lady, Mrs J. W. Towle, of Philadelphia, Term., has beeu using Chamberlain's Cough Ramedy for her baby, who is nubject to croup, and says of it: "I find it just as good as you eiaim it to be. Since I've had your Cough Remedy, baby has been threatened with croup ever so many times, but I would give him a dose of the Remedy and it prevented his having it every time." Hundreds of mothers gay the snme. Sold fey all leadine chemiots.

very favourably received, and his references to the female franchise elicited gome laughter, bat snueh more hearty applause. PERSONAL ITBHS.

Sir George Grey is, indeed, a mo3t wonderful man ! Now, that sounds a very trite saying, but I really cannot help u*ing it in view of the latest developments. When I closed ray last letter Sir George Grey, you may perhaps remember, was to all appearauces in a state of collapse and sinking rapidly, after severe delirium. All his friends hsd been bidden to

prepare for the worst, and had been warned

that that worst eonld not ba delayed many days, perhaps hours. This went on until hours had grown into days and days into weeks; and now, aftor all this laceration of everybody's feelings, all this mourning by anticipation,

Sir George Grey has unexpectedly rallied once

more iv a most decisive manner. He is very much better; he is conscious ;he recognises his friends; all traces of delirium seem to have departed ; and in p.hort, to use a colloquial expression, he really would appear to have

"taken a new lease of life." It is a most surprising recoil, as it were, from the brink of the grave. Whether the improvement be of a permanent character or not no one yeb can say, bat assuredly the marvellous old man does seem to be on the fair way'to as complete a recovery as could be hoped for at his age and in his weakened condition. Certainly a few days ago no one dreamed of a possibility of any such change for tks better. Lady Grey i 3 again staying at- the Norfolk Hotel, where her husband resides She waa obliged to leave for a time, the effect on her nerves at heradvancsd age of Sir George's alarming condition being too'serious for her to remain at his side. Two trained nurses keep constant watch by Sir George Grey, who cannot be left for a moment.

TII9 Primate of New Zealand presided at the public breakfast given at Nottingham last Tuesday on the occasion of the opening of the Church Congress there.

Mr Frederick Walter Kennaway, who recently took his B.A. degree at Cambridge with high honours', has jusfe succeaded in pissing the ludiau Civil Service examination very creditably This is no mean feat, and its difficulty ia becoming greater year by year as the examinations are increasingly stiff. That of the present year isadmitted to have been far stifier than any of its predecessors, and no candidate was allowed to pass who got fewer than 1800 marks, so that the success of the young New ZeaUnder ia all the mora gratifying. Virtually Mr F. W. Kennaway's "pass" secures him a good appointment in the Indian service, for which he is instructed at once to begin a cartain course of special study, and for this he receives an allowance of £100 per annum. On its completion he will be eligible to enter upon his new duties.

Miss Emily Siedeberg, of Dunedin, who, I believp, enjoys the honour of being the first lady to take a medical degree in New Zealand, has now nearly completed the course of study for which she "came to England some time ago. She has been six months in Berlin studying various subjects, principally the diseases of women, which she makes her specialty. She was alao for some time at the famous Rotunda Hospital in Dublin similarly engaged. She has just bsen spending 10 days in Edinburgh visiting friends, and will leave nexfc week by the P. and O. s.s. Australia on her return voyage to New Zealand, via Melbourne. Her arduous studies during the year in Europe do not seem to have overtaxed her at all, for when I met her yesterday she was looking remarkably well and bright. On her arrival ia New Zaal&ud she will at once settle down to the regular profession of her practice as a lady doctor. ' Her brother, once the champion chessplayer of New Zealand, is at present in Berlin, where he has been studying electrical engineering. He intends to leave shortly for America, where he will enter upon the regular practice of his profession Mr Siedeberg was strongly tempted to compete ia the chess tournament at present being held iv Berlin, but he feared that owiag to the hard work and mental strain involved in his professional studies he would bs hardly fresh enough to contend with the great European masters of the game who were taking part in the coutsssi;. Also, I understand, he has had little leisure for playing of late, and so was likely to hsvft got somewhat oat of practice. Mr and Mrs John Bdie, of Oookstoc, Ofcago, sailed last week by the e.s. Valetta, via Melbourne, on their way to New Zealand.

Another passenger by the aaae steamer was Mr Gilkisan (of Floming and Giikison). Mr Gilkison has left his son in England, he being apprenticed to a very eminent firm of electrical engineers. , Me A. L. Fogo, of punedin, is at present in London seeing all the sights. It is his intention to leave for Brussels next month, after which he will go to America and. then to South Africa.

Dr Fooks, of Auckland, leaves to-day by the s.s Banff-shire, on his return to the colony. He goes by way of Australia. On the 31st August the marriage took place of Mr Reginald William Moorhouse, son of Mr Thomas Carter Moorhouse, of Canterbury, to Miss Mildred Adda Barry, daughtar of Mr Horace Barry, of Bush Hill Hous2,.Winchmore Hill; London. The wedding took place at St. Peter's Church, Ightham, Kant, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. D. Barry, rector of the parish and brother of the bride, who was given away by her young&st brother, Mr F. C. Barry. There was a full choral service, and the fine peal of bells was rung ab the conclusion of the ceremony.

Auother wedding of intereat to New Zealand took place on Saturday last at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, when Mr D. B. Thornton, of Auckland, New Zealand, was married to Miss Florence Euid Leigh-Hunt, eldest daughter of Mr' Walter Leigu-Huut, of 25 Queensberry Place, W. Among the passengers by fche Gothic, which arrived ou Tuesday, was Mr Ben Fuller, th« well-known popular public entertainer, who has come Home wif.h the view of obtaining fresh delights for fcbe colonial' stage on behalf of his brother, Mr John Fuller. I have reason to belieya that Mr Fuller has in his eye two particular singers—a soprano and baritone— who, as I can say from my own knowledge of them, are likely to be heard, with great pleasure in New Zoaland.

Mr J. Studholme has been staying with Lord and Lady Glasgow at their country seat in Ayrshire. He appears to have had a very pleasant time there. He leaves England tomorrow on his return to N«w Zealand.

Lord and Lady Glasgow have been entertainiug a large house party at Kelburne Castle. They are most kind and hospitable to any New Zealand friends who coma to England.

Yet another wedding Bolemnised in England, bnt of interest in New Zealand, has to bs recorded. It took place on the 14 th of September at the parish church of Painswick, Gloucestershire, when Mr Frederick Maurice Purchis, son of the Rev. Arthur Guyou Purchas, of Auckland, New Zealand, was married to Miss Alice Charlotte Cox, only daughter of the late J. H. Cox, C.E , of Madras, and stepdaughter of Mr A. J. Morton-Bull, of The Green, Stroud. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. H. Furchas, M A., Vicar of Alstonfield, assisted by the Ei-v G. Fox, LL 8., vicsr of Stroud. A New Zealand cyclist, Mr C. H. Jones, carried off the prize in a five-mile scratch race held during the Billingsgate sports. He covered the five miles in 12min sgec.

1 Mr J. Stotton, a New Zealand swimmer, won tbe second prize in the 88yds swimming handicap at the entertainment given by the Cricketers' Swimming Club. Sir John Hall, who has been touring in the North, returned to London to-day. While in Manchester Sir Johu inspected the arrangements made in that city for the reception, storage, arid distribution of frozen meat and other New Zealand produce. He also visited the well-known New Zealand Produce Stores established by Mr H. C. Cameron, with the value and usefulness of which he appears to have been very strongly impressed.