ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

IFroii Obb Own Coreespomdent.) LONDON, January 26. THE ANGLER'S PARADISE. "Forty years ago," says the" "Westminster Gazette, under flic heading "The Angler's Paradise," "there was not a single trout, in all t.he length and breadth of New Zealand. To-day Now Zealand trout are famous ali uvor the world for their sizo and numbers, and thousands of fishermen conic every year simply, and solely to lish—to fish all tho time and do nothing but fisli. There is no doubt at ali. says the country gentleman, about New Zealand being the anglers' paradise. Everything possible is done to help iiim and encourage him and make, him comfortable. Hotels in some parts exist solely for him, hotel managers are always ready to givo advice, a,ml in every town and village fishing tackle abound, where polite proprietors are ready wiili rods, flies, baits, and information of all kinds about the stalo of the rivers, Ihe fish ill them, iho sort, of fly to be used, and everything cl-e that the. would-be fisherman may want lo know. What a pity it is that Neiv Zealand is so far away 1" INSTITUTE OF LONDON UNDERWRITERS. In tho course of its annual report tho committee of the Institute of London Underwriters slates that communications between tho institute anil Iho kindred associations in Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, on the Continent, and in Australia, NonZealand, India, Shanghai, and Singaporo have l?eon maintained during tho past year, and the committee is of opinion, that such intercourse is distinctly advantageous to tho underwriting community. During the year 1006 several more or less important matters have been 'before tho institute, which has also been fully occupied in. that frequent interchange of views and opinions which is an important factor in the carrying on of marine insurance business. Mr R. it. Lemon aixl Air 8. Keniianl Davis have been ro-clecird as cha'rman and deputy chairman respectively of the institute. AT,IUN T TMMIGKATfOX. It. is pointed out by a Ixmdon paper thai, a problem which was iceentiy mentioned by tho l'rimu Minister of New Zealand as a. question for the consideration of the coming Colonial Conference raises malrets of Imperial concern, whov. importance cannot lie. exaggerated. "He desires." says tiio Globe, "that the colonies should possess Ihe right of restricting alien immigration into their territories ■ to a. point which, while it stops short of absolute exclusion, at anvrale diminishes tho entry of foreigner's to the narrowe.-t possible limits. That is to say, 'probably, that it shall he iu tho power, ol every 'self-governing enlouy to place obstacles in Ihe way of the alien such as confront the Chinaman in Australia, How far this should bo permissible, and how far advisable, is a ouesl.ion for grave debate: ami it is not of equal moment for every colony. Canada, for instance, save for a. small Chinese difficulty in Uritish Columbia, o:dy feels the intrusion of European aliens elsewhere. and that serious as it might. b.-como if it. reached the terrific uroportions ii. did in New York recently, is not what the New Zealand Prime Minister has at tlw back of his mind, lie is referring, as every A.niipode:in siaktsmuu has referred of '.ale, to Asiatic, immigration and its danger.!. Apart from the 'white Australia' ideal, t.l;ero is a general dislike of the Asiatic element in all the southern colonies; but this must not. blind us to possibly unpleasant faels. A Uritish Indian, for example, is not an alien in any part of Ihe British Empire, and should not be treated a.; such. On ihe other hand, Japan is now a Great Power, and her peonie, cannot, be treated as barbarians, and if the renascence of China has any meaning, that Emnire, ton, will presently become one of the Great Powers. These factors a.vc against ihe Prime Minister of New Zealand and his cothinkers; on his side, however, are considerations of racial purity and colonial nationality." A PERSUASIVE ADVERTISEMENT. " Tt would make a pretty inquiry for some ingenious statistician" (says the. Globe) "how far the sudden growth of immierration into Xe-.v Zealand was stimulated by the football tour of last- season,

It is clear, from details just published, that, the increase tor the year, which reached the unprecedented total of 29,500, occurred in a large proportion during tho months following the great successes of tho fifteen in England; and, in all seriousness, tho colony never had, so persuasivo an advertisement among the classes most likely to emigrate as that triumphal football procession. The privileges of Empire Olir jwople do not understand, but their intellect, interest, and imagination are easily captivated l>v ■' anvtliing with a bail' ill it.'"

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. At... tlio annual general meeting of tho Now Zealand Association, to be held on the 50th inst., the Hon. AY. P. Reeves will preside. In its first annual report, on tho first eight months' existence of Uie association, the committee recalls that the association tool: sha|H> at a meeting of New Zealanders hold tit Iho Hoiborn Restaurant on March 8, 1906, under tho chairmanship of Mr W. P. Reeves, to discuss a.- scheme for establishing a ix;vmanenf, New Zealand centre in London. Many promises of membership were received, and when .'the roll showed a total of 180 prospective members the Organising Committee felt, justified in leasing from tho Westminster Palace Hotel Company the two rooms which now form the headquarters of the association. Thanks to generous donations by a number of New /,calenders, the committog was enabled to furnish tho rooms in comfortable style, and on Hay 21 tho association entered upon its new career. An inaugural reception was held on-July 3 at the Westminster Pala'co. Hold, and proved a gratifying success. No entertainments were provided during the summer months, but this winter 1 a series ot monthly house-dinners and reunions have been inaugurated with success. The committee welcomes fresh suggestions as to how these monthly gatherings may bo made interesting and attractive.' Tli'o charitable fund now stands at £15 15s. Several applications for relief during tho first few months of tho career of the association were received, but at that time (lie fund iiatl Jiot come into being. Last November tho committee defrayed the cost of a. cable message to Neiv Zealand 011 behalf of a distressed New Zealander, and thus-enabled him to receive financial aid from his relatives. Tho applicant refunded flic cast, The committee finds that there is scope for much useful work in organising the relief of genuine cases of distress among New Zealanders who may find themselves temporarily stranded in this country. For some time past tho committee has had under consideration the question of the admission of ladies to membership of tho association, and recently passed a, resolution recommending the adoption of this step by the annual meeting. It is not proposed to make any alteration in subscription for ladies. Two of the commit 100 (Messrs Baird and Stewart) resigned oflico in October, as they were leaving England—tho former for New Zealand and the latter for South America. Messrs J. A. Mason and C. Ilale were elccted to fill tho vacancies. The, Neiv Zealand troop of the King's Colonials were on October 31' made honorary members of tho association until the end of 1906. NATIONAL MORTGAGE AND AGENCY COMPANY. This morning tho report is out of the Rational Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zeajand The meeting is to take glaco 011 tho 13th prox. The period covered is for tho year ended September 30 last. Thft directors state that, after paying all Home and colonial expenses, also interest 011 debentures, ■ making full provision for bad and doubtful debts and depreciation on premises, plant, etc., tho net profits of tho year amount to £34,£80, which, together with £7640 brought forward from last year, gives an available balancc of. £42,520. From this an interim dividend or Is 6d per share has already been paid, and it is proposed now to pay a further dividend at tho same rate, with a. bonus of 3s per share (both free of income tax), making 10 per cent, for tho year; to add £15,000 to the reservo fund, and to carry forward £7520. The course of business in New Zealand during tho 12 months under review has teen very satisfactory, and tho prospect for the current year also is promising; but prices of land and produce appear to bo somewhat inflated, and, under the circumstances, tho directors havo thought it well to enjoin caution on tho colonial staff. With great regret- the directors report the dcaili of Viscount Hampden, chairman of the board, who had been connected with ihe company since its foundation in 1877, and had taken an active part in its affairs till his death. To fill the vacancy the board nominated Mr Robert Logan (director), and bis election will have to bo confirmed at. tho general meeting. NEW STEAM TRAWLER. Off Grimsby on Monday a successful trial trip look place of the new steam trawler which has been built, for New Zealand waters. It. is called the Nora Niven, and is tho first vessel of its kind to be fitted with refrigerating plant.