ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 8

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Fnoir Our Own Coxsespondent.) LONDON, January 11. In their review of the timber trade during the year just ended Messrs Churchill and Sim mako tho following reference to kauri pino planks:—"The import was very light, and only consisted of 0110 cargo anil a few small parcels. The demand was good and steady without variation in ibices. Slocks aro much smaller than at the beginning of last year, and prospects for shippers aro satisfactory. Quotations are from 3s to 3s 6d per foot cube." Willi regard to the same timber, Messrs l''oy, Morgan, and Co. nolo that tho demand has been fairly good, especially during tho closing months of the year; and the stock in London is now rather small. Prices aro firm, but really moderate in comparison with other high-class woods.

The Morning Post, referring to the New Hebrides question, says: "Tho people of Australia and Now Zealand aro not all of them indifferent to what are called Imperial considerations. Some of them know that Great Britain is the neighbour of great military Powers, France and Germany, and do not expect her over every matter in which Australian public speakers are interested to quarrel with one or other of those Powers. The practical absence of an interest in tho Now Hebrides and in tho British settlers there is shown by the existenco of a tariff which operates against tho settlers. Our own correspondent in New Zealand tells us. that tho Wellington Evening Post thought tho convention a good one, and afterwards added tho recognition that France could not bo expected to retire for nothing. These opinions expressed in New Zealand prove that in the Australasian colonies there is an openness to considerations of Empire, and that tho people aro not entirely dominated by the idea, that Great Britain is to quarrel with her neighbours over such trifles as the group of islands to which tile Australasian colonies have not sent tho population of a small village and to which they do not even open their markets. If tlie.se colonics expect Great Britain to consider their interests and to consult them, it is at least reasonable that they in turn should consider Great Britain's position nnd the necessity laid upon her of dealing in a largo way with tlio Great Powers who aro her next neighbours. The ease of the New Hebrides Convention is not- one which contains a just causo of grievance for tho colonies against the Imperial Government. It may contain an illustration of the advantages that would accrue from any action by which the colonies could strengthen their representation in Ijondon."

Unanticipated delay has occurred over the shipment of the chamois presented to tho New Zealand Government by the Emperor of Austria. Tho shipping companies refused to take tliem on board tor England until a permit lmtl been obtained from the British Board of Agriculture. When that body was approached the officials said they could not grant a, permit to land iho animals unless they know the exact place of landing in London. And as that cannot bo stated until the chamois aro actually on board ship, there seems to bo slight chance of anything being done. Of course the High Commissioner is doing all that can be done to hasten matters.

It is estimated that t.ho South African team of Busby footballers have received nearly £10.000 as their share of the gatemoney during their recent tour, which included 29 matches in Great Britain and Franco. Travelling, hotel, and bare out-of-pockct expenses are all that constitute legal amateur payments. Not a singlo member of tho team has made a penny profit out of Iho trip. After their fixture at I'aris tho South Africans waived their right,to tho full 60 per cent, of tho gate (which amounted to £240), and only accepted tho baro amount- of their expenses—£6o. Mr Garden, the manager of the team, has not yet gone fully into the question of accounts, and lie says that the balance sheet of the tour is a document to be first banded to the South African Board, of Control before being issued to the public. Still, ho added, it will lx> found that £10,000 is very near the mark. From this amount the expenses of tho torn- will have to bo deducted, and it is interesting to note that, tho New Zealandcrs cleared a profit of nearly £9000 after everything had been paid.

Tho directors of tho Union Bank of Australia have resolved on a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, equal to 25s ncr share, and a bonus of 2 per cent,, equal i:o 10s per share, the dividend and bonus together amounting to 35s per sharp. They purpose to appropriate £10,003 in reduction of bank premises in the colonics account, £20,000 to t.ho officers' guarantee and provident funds, and £35,000 to tho bank's reserve fund, thereby 'making it £1,120,000. There remains about £31,000 to be carried forward. :

"Xew Zealand is a land on which tho gods smile," says the Daily Telegraph. "Sir Richard Baker, who represented the Commonwealth at the opening of the Kxhibilion at Christohurch, declared on his return to Australia that ho had not seen an ill-dressed person nor a. beggar. Altogether New Zealand scorns to have virtues boyond those of any other country of the world. It, seems that ' all its trades arc prosperous, there arc no unemployed, the farmers have no complaints, and tho season is most favourable.' But that is not all. The finances of the colony, we are told, continue buoyant, and Sir Joseph Ward, the Prime Minister, recently stated that on September 30, the end of tho half year, £550.000 had been transferred from rovcmic to the Public Works Account, and that thoro was still a balance in hand of £399,761. All loan renewals had been arranged for, and £900.000 of tho loan authorised had been secured, much of it at a premium of 2 per cent. of finance in some of the less forunate colonies will scarcely restrain a glance of envy."

The directors of Messrs Lovell and Christmas have declared an interim dividend on tho ordinary shares at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum for the half year ended 31st December last.

The last Now Zealand mails via San Francisco, duo in London on Saturday. December 29. did not arrive until Monday. January 7—nine days late. Consequently there was no possibility or answering letters by return of post. The grumbling in the city was ooth loud and deep, and among tho 'argo "Xew Zealand colony" in London and the suburbs the denunciations of tho present inefficient mail seivico were " doopcr and deeper still."