ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11399, 17 April 1899, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

f (From Our Own Correspondent.) I LONDON, March 11. I Colonial writers in the London press are

•beginning to clamour for information re-

's speeting the I'acilic cable project. It is I held to be high time that Mr Chamberlain I laid on the table oi the House of Commons I the report of tne conference held some f years ago. " A great part of the findings j has already found its way into the AusI .tralian papers," says the Morning Post, I '' and if the ocxt has not been made public, 'j the contents oi the report are known n_ / every newspaper office of importance in ! Australasia, in the circumstances it seems absurd to withhold the documents from the .House." At any rate, the papers and correspondence which have taken place between Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are asked for without further delay. The present condition of Samoa, it is said, would not have been possiblo had the cable been laid, and if order is to bo restored iv those islands cable connection between Apia and Vancouver must be brought about as soon as possible. This, '" a collateral connection," could easily be cut in time of war It ;s rather a noteworthy fact that the extremo democratic papers of' Fleet street, -which have devoted columns of laudation .to the New Zealand old-age. pension scheme, are now giving a littlo of the other siae of the question. For instance, the leading pi-iiii, of this class, which sometimes has become quite hysterical over colonial "advanced" legislation, is now giving more ohau ordinary prominence to quotations from New Zealand .papers that '" the' really aged poor shrink from the ordeal of the preliminary public examination before a magistrate," while the "well-trained pauper and hardened loafer cheerfully prepares his plausible evidence." Thursday's fine weather, and ■ interest in the departure of the New Zealand Shipping Company's new steamer, the Wakamii, caused an unusual!'- large number of people to travel to Gravesend, by special express from Fenclmrch street station, to see the hew boat off and wish her the best of good fortune on her maiden voyage. As I have already informed you, her passenger accommodation is comparatively restricted, 'more space being given for cargo and refrigerating holds than was the case in the .past. Her passenger space, however, was fully taken up. She is in charge of Captain F. Russell Jaggard, who brought the Ruahme Home .on her last trip. Among her passengers were the six veterinary surgeons appointed by the New Zealand Government as meat inspectors, and; Sergeant Wright and the accused AVellington City Councillor Myers, whom he has in custody. • It is hoped by certain of the financial papers that Australasian colonies, recently ?n the money market as borrowers, " will not'be jealous of the superior credit of the Cape," whose loan of £3,107,400, issued nt a minimum of 97, averaged £97 2s 3d per £100. . New Zealand comes next on the list with aii average of £96 lis, Victoria with an average of £95 3s 6d, South Australia at £94 17s, and Natal with £94 5s being next in order. However, even with the Cape loan there is not over much to jubilate upon. The syndicate which is understood to have put In at £97 ls 6d presumably got all it. bargained for, and the: Market; celebrated the announcement of the result on Wednesday by putting the quotation down to par to _ premium, Monday's figure having been J to | premium. In their monthly circular on the timber trade, dated the 2nd inst., Messrs Churchhill and Sim, of 29 Clement's lane, E.C, state that kauri logs are only very occanionally asked for, but in planks there is a,-'steady trade at. unchanged prices. Kauri ligs are quoted at ls 9d to 2s, and .planks 2s 3d to 2s. 9d.

Pressure other than from the press is being brought to bear upon the Colonial Ofiice in respect of the Pacific cable. At a meetinr- of the Council of the British Empire League held in Westminster. Hall a few days ago, Mr W. P. Reeves moved— '" (1) That this council n/>ted with pleasure the action of the Australian colonies and New Zealand in offering to guarantee an increased proportion, of the cost of an allBritish cable, and expresses satisfaction that the Dominion of Canada is willing' to share the' remaining proportion equally with the mother country. (2) That in view of the undoubted value of the Pacific cable to the Empire and of its probable profitable result .as a. commercial enterprise, the council expresses a hope that every effort will be made to overcome any obstacles that may delay the co-operation of the mother countiy in the undertaking." An interesting discussion followed, in which Lord'Balfour of Burleigh, Sir Frederick Youne, Sir Walter Peace, the Hon. R. R. Dobell, 'and Sir E. Caroutt took part; and, eventually, further consideration of the resolutions was adjourned to j, future meeting of the council. . Disappointment was cause at the opening :. of the Eighth Fisheries Exhibition this week, jit the Westminster Aquarium, at the non-arrival of a collection of New Zealand frozen trout which had been expected from the Waimate. Waitaki, and Waikato Acclimatisation Societies. The consisnment is stated to be on board the s.s. Waikato, but she cannot expect to reach tbis country for some time .to come. ■Meanwhile visitors to the Aquarium who want to know something of the New Zealand fish content themselves with models of trout, rainbows, and char from the .colony. Seeing the good advertisement -Tasmania recently obtained through sending "half a dozen or so frozen trout to this country's museums, New Zealand might do worse than take every opportunity of letting the angling world here know what excellent, sport is obtainable in the waters of the colony.

It. is thought that the Sales of Food and Drugs Bill which the Government is promoting in the House of Commons may in its working prove beneficial to the colonial producer of butter, nnd it is expected that it will destroy the sale of margarine mixtures of the' highest class which are often found to compete fraudulently, but successfully, with the genuine article. It contains the following clause: ' It shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell, expose for sale, or import any margarine which contains more than 10 per cent, of butter fat," and the penalties prescribed run up to £20 for the first offence, £50 for the second, and £100 subsequently. Doubt is expressed whether any substantial good will be effected un.il a far more drastic punishment is provided for any person who knowingly sells as genuine an article that is adulterated.

, I notice that in one part of the colony, at least, the information I have from time to time sent you as to the claims for alleged " damage" to frozen meat has been characterised as "ancient history." Of course it is, for for years I have been throwing light upon the secret dealings of the trade; and my constant hammering away at this important topic has now had the effect of stirring up people here. My letters, published in your columns, have come back to London, and, as a direct result; a good many informal meetings of representatives of the shi-^ing companies trading to the colony have recently been held-to consider the matter. It was admitted that in spite of their efforts to make vessels as perfect as possible, and after cargoes had been landed, as was believed, in excellent condition, it had after-

ward come to their amazed knowledge that "damage" had been allowed on two-thirds, or perhaps on four-fifths, of the cargo.

Ships had been altered to meet, as was thought, every possible contingency to secure safe transit. But in many instances, after that was done, greater damage than ever had been claimed and allowed. How-

ever; the shipping companies now appear to have come tc the conclusion that many of these claims are simply "bogus." As an outcome they are, I am given to understand.

communicating with their colonial repre-

sentatives in the matter, and steps are also to be taken to move the insurance com-

panics to take action. As I liave. stated, the whole of this inquiry has been based upon the information whicli I have sent, you and which has now come, back ; and as the result of interviews I have had with him, Mr Thomas Mackenzie was re-

quested to attend the conferences. It need hardly lie stated that he availed himself of the opportunity of going fully into the question. Here T may perhaps remark that it does seem a pity that the laws of New Zealand require that, gentleman to be in the colony for months bofore he can take

up' things where he left them when lie tame to England. He has made up his mind to return, and so will have to leave here in June. The Hon. John M'Kenzie. who will go into this matter of so-called "damage." is expected here about May.

Thus there will be hardly time for the two to confer thoroughly, as 1 liave reason to believe is the desire of both. Another very important inquiry has recently been concluded by n committee of the London Chamber of Commerce, who bad been investigating secret, commissions, charged by people in the city who acted as agents for " houses abroad," a term whicli, of course, includes New Zealand. _ There aro black sheep in every flock,'ami it is no reflection upon tho straightforward to say that, at the inquiry, revelations were made which show that most improper payment, were made, secretly. These aro not shown on tlio invoice, nor is credit given for them, while thoy are in addition to the ordinary commissions. In the report the 1 body of inquiry state that it was almost impossible to get at-the bottom of the system. That was only tn be expected. But the evil, it is said, has been greatly accentuated by reason of houses of Business requiring their London work to be ■ done too cheaply. How far this system applies to New Zealand it is of course hard to say; but it is a well known, fact that for years it has been impossible to sell a single carcase of ment direct to certain establishments controlled by an employee, and not by the principals. A present, tlio second of its kind, is on tho way to tlio Diniedin Acclimatisation Society. While touring in England, Mr Ewen secured n couple of fine deer from Lord' Pavers-ham's "forests. One was shipped by the Rualiine, and the second left on Thursday on the Wakamii. With some in the city the Midland Railway Company of New Zealand is a very sore subject. At the meeting of the International Investment Trust held this week, Mr Samuel Hoare, M.P., "again protested against the way in which that company, as well as others, as debenture-holders, had been treated by the New .Zealand Govern-. ment," m reference to the venture which has occupied so much of the tune of the Chancery Court during the last few days. Mr Hoare expressed the hope that " as the railway had been made by the debentureholders' money " more consideration .would be shown them than had been expressed in the past. It is not for me to go into the merits of JJie case, but had Mr Hoare read the evidence in the case of AVilson v. Lub'bock—of whicli, by the way, not a line has appeared in any London papers—he might have slightly modified his opinion as to who paid a share of the money at any rate. ! ,

On the authority of a Vienna correspondent it is stated that communications are passing between- the Austrian and the British Governments respecting the treatment of the Dalmatians who make their way in such numbers to New Zealand, "where the colonial port officials demanded fines of £100 for every Austrian emigrant landed." This procedure, avers the correspondent referred to, is deeply resented in Vienna, and " indignant protests are made against including Austrians in the same category as Chinese." "What has happened?" asks one of the non-vegetarian public in an evening paper. He used, he says, often to buy a joint of New Zealand lamb or mutton, or cut of American beef, and find them very good indeed. Some of-the lamb was particularly good, "but recently it has been uneatable." Though perhaps it is. going a little too far to characterise recent consignments from New Zealand as " uneatable," yet I have found, and others also, that the high standard of, say, last year, has not been maintained. How is this? Is it the growing magnitude of the trade? It is now enormous, for Dr Collingridge, the. Medical Officer of Health, puts down last year's trade from New Zealand at two and threequarter million carcases. In the House of Commons Mr Brodrick has stated that no formal proposal for the partition of Samoa has been made by any Power. Negotiations',..he added, are proceeding between the three. Powers on the subject of the recent disturbances in the group, and-he'"could not make any statement at present." This reads as if the

suggestion of partition was being considered, though the " formal". stage may not have been reached.

PERSONAL.

It is stated. I see, that Dr John Stuart Smith, of Edinburgh, the elder brother of Lord Strathcona, Canadian High Commissioner, was formerly an army surgeon, and served with distinction in New Zealand during the Maori war. Ho refilled from active service many years ago on account of failing health, but evidently took out a new lease of life, for he attained the great age of 84. Mr A. W. Marshall, of Pinner, as to whose intended visit to New Zealand on important business I made some reference in a recent letter, sailed '<• from England on Saturday last by. the s.s. Etruria for New York, on his way to San Francisco, whence lie will travel by the mail steamer to Auckland.

The following story in relation to the New Zealand House of Representatives is published in a London paper. It does not seem particularly clever, but it may perhaps be read with, interest in New Zealand, so I quote1 it:—"The most magnificent man in the House was Fergus, and the least was Scobie. Mackenzie. These two attended a semi-political meeting up country. Fergus, being a convivial man withal, enlivened the proceedings by asking, various other brother Scots' opinion on a certain brand of whisky he had. brought with him. Later, one of these, who had taken more interest in the whisky than in the meeting, came across Scobie Mackenzie wandering about on the, outskirts of the crowd. 'Ay, man,' he asked, 'can ye tell me wha's yon magneeficeiit. lookin' pairson whit cairries himsel' like the king o' a' the Scots?' Scobie followed the outstretched finger with his eve, and saw Fergus with an admiring crowd round him. 'Ah,' he said;' 'yes, that's Scobie Mackenzie.' 'Ay, an'-which is Fairgus, then?' was the next question. 'I'm Fairgus!' replied Scobie, and walked away, conscious that he had scored." Mr Alfred J. Pease, if Manchester, continues his active efforts in respect of encouraging direct trade between New Zealand and Manchester. A Manchester paper publishes a whole column of quotations from the views expressed on this subject by various New Zealand journals.

The Misses Sievwright have returned to town after staying forborne days with Miami Mrs D'Arcy. at Stanmore Hall. Miss Therese Sievwright has an engagement to sing next,-Tuesday evening at a concert of the Colonial Club.

Mr H. Otterson,' Clerk of the. House of Representatives, took liis departure for New Zealand on Thursday last by the N.Z. Shipping Company's new steamer Wakanui. I am- sorry to say that the latter part of Mr Of.terson's stay in this country has been spoiled by illness. When the recent influenza epidemic was at its worst he unfortunately caught the complaint, and making the mistake that is committed by so many victims of that insidious disease, he persisted in going about in the wintry weather and in struggling gamely against it, till at last he was worsted in the fight and had to

submit to confinement to bed for a week. He is now considered to be convalescent, but when he called on me to say good-bye lie was still-looking far from well. -T trust, however, that the outward voyage will thoroughly restore him to his health and strength-

Two or three dnvs aco I happened to run accidentally against Mr Edward Wakefield on the Thames Embankment! He is looking, as usual, remarkably well arid prosperous, and told me that he is now residing^ at Bush.ey, the pretty Hertfordshire village whicli has become famous through being the residence of Professor Hcrkomer and the locality of his remnrk-

ahie efforts in the wav of art culture. One of Mr Wakefield's daughter's is among Professor Herkomer's pupils. Mr .Wakefield has returned to London recently from a visit to the Continent.

Miss Grace Russell, youngest daughter of the late J. B. 'Russell, of Auckland, who took her medical diploma in Edinburgh last October, hits just obtained the degree of M.D.. which she has gained 'with distinc-

tion." I believe that Dr Grace Russell is tho first New Zealnnd girl who has attained this honour, the news of whicli will doubtless be read with much interest by

the numerous friends in New Zealand of the family.

Mr W. P. Reeves has returned to town

from the Midlands, With the Bishop of Hereford, who took such a prominent part in The Times "Industrial War" contro-

versy, he addressed a "crowded meeting at the Birmingham Town Hall on a subject closely akin, "The. Industrial Act and its

Working m New Zealand." Among those on the platform was the Bishop of Coventry. Dr M'Donald. who left this country as the surgeon of the Wakamii, is a son of Mr

Simon M/Donald, of Dunedin. At Edinburgh he greatly distinguished himself, and 1 gather that, it is his intention to return in the Wakamii for the purpose of devoting further time to sciontilic research in Europe.

Mr Dyiiiock, of Dunedin, who has been on the Continent for tho last few months, has returned to London.

Mi- Thomas Mackenzie has had a short but very sharp attack of internal inflammation—the second or third since-he has been in England. Tho original cause was exposure during his explorations, and the further attacks have been brought nbour by too much work in cold stores and freezing chambers. He is under one of the best specialists in Harloy street and is required to be exceedingly careful, for the future, to prevent a recurrence of the seizures. Many congratulations have been sent tn Mr C. P. Ti-evelvan, M.P., on his success in the Elland division contest, ir. ■which ho was returned by a majority of nearly 1000 over the Unionist candidate. Mr Trevelyan has not long since returned froni New Zealand, and I learn that ho made good use in his speeches of the knowledge he gained during his stay in the colony. Of course, being the Radical candidate, he had plenty of material, of ex actly the kind to suit those who belonged to the advanced party; and not a few attribute the Radical' increased majorit. to this.

Miss Jessie Weston, I hear, is writing, or is about to write, for the Broad Arrow, a well-known i" service " organ. This week it has an article on "The Pacific and the Powers," which I have heard ascribed to her.

Mr H. P. yon Haast had the task of reading up New Zealand land and mortgage law for the Wilsoii case, which has occupied such a prominent place in the Chancery Court this week.