ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11950, 25 January 1901, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Fboii Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, December li "Whilst the purblind British politician," says ft London paper, " i 6 bleating over the Anglo-American rapprochement, which exists in name rather than fact, the New Zealand Government have taken a practical step in the direction of communication and co-opera-tion with the United States by ontering into a now contract with the J. D. Sprcekels and Brothers Company for a renewal of the San Francisco mail Eervice' on /improved lines, and with a moderate subsidy. ..." We confess," says 'the same journal, " we wish, with Mr Thomas Mackenzie, that some local or Imperial, company had risen to the occasion, and thus frustrated this agreement with a Power which, whilst it. seeks to exploit Now Zealand trade, puts an embargo on all New Zealand and.British vessels touching at Honolulu, which, by tho bye. is a port of call between Auckland and San Francisco under tho renewed contract. It is a great Imperial grievance that through the apathy of our Government tho United States were allowed to annex the Hawaiian Islands in faco of what, we admit, was the-rather belated protest of Mr Scddou, acting on behalf of the Now Zealand Cabinet. AVe have got to pay dearly and to smart severely in all sorts of directions, notably in South' Africa, for similar displays of official indolence and ohtusity on the part of the Imperial authorities." •

It is remarked that New Zealandcrs could hardly be expected, even in the interests of Imperial patriotism, to submit to 40 days being occupied in the delivery of their letters instead of 26 by the 'Frisco service. Tho remark is made that " it is idle to argue in favour of the American connection being maintained by the local shipping companies when wo find that usually enterprising corporation the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand expressly desiring to be relieved of the share in the 'Frisco service, which sho holds as a.sort of co-partner with the American Oceanic Steamship Company under tho existing contract." It is suggested that " tho Union Company is backing out owing to her inability to place vessels of the inoreasoi tonnage which tho Oceanic Company has undertaken to put on the berth alongside of the latter company's leviathans," and that " the company which ought to maintain the connection of New Zealand with the American Continent is. without doubt, the Canadian-Australian Company, which has only been debarred the business by unpropitious circumstances."

A strong desire is expressed thai " an allBritish service via Canada should he substituted for this hybrid New Zcaland-American-British conglomeration "—which is tho way the new San Francisco service is characterised. The prediction is hazarded that Sir Wilfrid Lanrier will go on from Australia to Now Zealand, and that in that case almost certainly "he and that hard-headed, practical statesman, Mr Seddon," will "adumbrate between them some cqmpreliensive scheme of New Zealand-Canadian inlorcommunciatimi which will at least obviate tho patent iniquity of a British colony subsidising a non-British shipping combination."

I am indebted to Messrs Ismay. Imrie, and Co., of the White Star line, for the following interesting information relative to the launch of the newest leviathan steamer which has been built for the direct steam service between Liverpool, Australia, and New Zealand, a noteworthy feature of the occasion being that this would be the last launch of the year, and therefore of the century, from the vards of Messrs Harlnnd and Wolff, who 'have sent forth so many fine vessels to the New Zealand trade.

The Suerio is identical in dimensions and tonnage with the Runic, which was launched in, October, and which is to be despatched on licr first voyage on the 3rd of January; length (over all) 565 ft, breadth 64ft, gross tonnage 12,400 tons. The White Star Australian fleet will be a remarkable one, inasmuch as it will consist of five high-class steamshins of the same dimensions—among the largest afloat— all propelled by twin ECrews; and also because it marks the introduction of an interesting experiment in ocean-passenger travel. The latter consists in the accommodation being arranged for one class of passengers only, at moderato fares, instead of tho usual separate classes. The Suevie will be fitted with refrigerated capacity for 100,000 carcases of mutton, and, in addition, will be able to carry 20,000 balos of wool. Tho advent of the Suevie will bring up the total tonnage of the White Star line engaged in the trades.,botwcen Great Britain and the colonies'of Australia arid New Zealand to 80,000 tons.

• Messrs Ismay, Imvie, and Company; write to mo further about tho results hitherto achieved by the new service, as follows:— ." Thus ,far, in the Afric, Medic, and Persic, the second of which inaugurated tho new 3er : Vice in August, 1899, the company have had every reason to • feci satisfied with the result of their experiment, which seems to have been much appreciated by the travelling public. The great width of these vessels has rendered it possible to provide light and roomy cabins, with ample hath and lavatory arrangements. There is a capacious dining room capable- of seating 400 persons, beside comfortable reading and smoking rooms; and tho largo deckhouse, in which is the passenger entrance, is fitted with seats to form a sort of cosy lounge or shelter. The promenado extends to a length of 500 ft, and on the spacious deck there is abundance of room for such outdoor games as cricket, deck quoits, etc., which are favourite amusements of passengers of both sexes. When the weathor is not favourable for outdoor enjoyment thero is the well-stocked library, music, or other indoor recreation to fall back upon, so that lifo on those great Australian liners must bo anything but monotonous."

It is -rumoured that the Australasian Club is considering carefully tho question of securing premises for itself, as the arrangements mado for tho accommodation of its member? at tho Ship and Turtle Inn arc npt considered at all adequate to tlio requirements of tho club. I understand that tho club's finances are in a, 'satisfactory condition, and that it is deemed quite practicable- to incur the responsibility of securing special separate premises {or tho use' of its members.

A writer in the British Australasian, whom, from its context, I assume to bo Sir Philip Menncll, makes the following observations, which aro distinctly suggestive:—"l found a strong feeling prevailing in Australasia that Mr Reeves, the Agent-general for New Zealand, should seek a seat in the House of Commons, and from his place in that august assembly advocate Australasian interests genorally in the snmo able fashion as he has dono thoso of his colony before all sorts of miscellaneous audiences in all parts of the country. The Australian Commonwealth and Mr Scddon'a Government may come to Inirirorhend" over the latter's laudable annexation policy in the South Seas, but there aro broad principles of 'Imperial policy and social amelioration on which' all genuine Australasians aro practical!}- agreed. These Mr Reeves would admirably champion if political conditions and his personal convenience would admit of his soplcinor the suffrages of an I'lnglish constituency, without, of rnur?c, reigning the official position which lie (ill? with so thorough an absence of official incompetency and conventionality." The second number of tho new "Imperial and Colonial Magazino and Review," whirl) is just, out, is in all respects nxcellont, and in somo oven belter, than the first number. Among tho fcaturos that are snrc to attract prominent attention aro an article by Sir Charles Dilko on "Tho Conlury in . Our Colonio?," " Glimpses of India in 187, V' by Lord Stanmoro, formerly Sir Arthur Gordon. ex-Governor of Now Zealand; "Imperial Telegraphic Communication," by Sir Edward Sassoon, M.P. This number also contains a second New Zealand fairy tale, entitled " Rata, and the Christmas Flowers," by Miss A. B. Bright, '.illustrated by Mr Frank Wright, both of Now Zealand. One of tho best things in this issno is a- very humorous and brichtly-written "Imaginary Interview)" by Mr E. I l '. IScnr-on—it is supposed to ta'ko plnco botwocn Kruger and Chamberlain. As before, there aro several special paragraphs devoted to Now Zealand. With reference to tho contention of Mr Labouchere in Truth, that members of I he New Zealand contingent should, receive thmr_ discharge in South Africa, instead of obtaining it on their return to the colony, tho "Imperial and Colonial Magazine" says:—"That is to say, because Now Zealand has lent somo of her best and most promising young men to tho mother country as uelp in time of urgent need, tho mother country is to keep altogether as a gift what she received only as a. loan'. This scorns to us n- very curious bind of morality. If A lends B £100 at a limo of sore necessity he hardly anticipates that, when that special necessity shall havo passed, B will rofuso to repay the loan, but will coolly retain tho money for hy own permanent benefit. Yet this is the return which is being made to Now Zealand for her very valuable and timely assistance.''

Them is still further reference to New Zealand in tho current issue of the new mnqazinr. The paragraph says:—"The New Zealand Promier's references to Australian federation are somewhat rryptie, but this may he the fault of Hie telegraphic condensation. Perhaps it would he wise to await the arrival o[ the full text before attemptine; any criticism. But assuredly Now Zealand will never willingly consent to surrender hor cherished autonomy or to become a inero dependency of a dopendency. As for Mr Ward's idea that New Zealand should be represented in tho Imperial Parliament, that raises tho old question of representation with or.without taxa-

tinn, find it is, to say the least, doubtful whether the colonies would consent to have Imperial taxation levied on them in consideration of having a voice, which must needs ho merely nominal, in the Imperial Parliament, without an Rtom of real weight in influencing its decisions." To-morrow the New Zealand Shipping Company's new steamship Rimutaka undergoes her trials. She is expected in the Thames about Tuesday next, when a luncheon will take place on board. Her first voyage will start about the middle of January. According .to the Evening Standard, "many New Zealand barristers arc preferring to migrate to tho Transvaal and Orange River Colonioß.'' In the opinion of The Hospital, the " swooping charge " made by Miss Emily Nicol,"of"Auclfland, as To the non-employ-ment of colonial nurses " is really unfair," for the Government availed themselves of the scrvico3 of a considerable number of colonial nurses. "Miss Nicol, no doubt, mwns that applications from New Zealand nurses wore declined. It is a pityif, as New Zealand soldiers fought, and are still fighting, side by side with soldiers from the old country, the offers of Now Zealand to send nurses was ignored," remarks this writer. "But even such a mistake in policy and sucli a breach of courtesy would not justify Miss Nicol's assertion that ' our men were left to die for want of attention.' This is one of- the questions which must come before the Hospitals Commission, and it will be well (o. awnit the issue of their report before founding any conclusions on the unsupported statements of Miss Nicol."

On Tuesday and Wednesday and again today the Committee of the Law Society has been engaged on the "Mokau Scandal." The Messrs Hopkinson, the bankers, other witnesses, and, to-dsy, Mr Wicklmm Flower (who acted as solictor to Mr Joshua Jones) were examined. The inquiry has not vet con-clndr-d, nmUtho proceedings are still kept strictly private.