ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

(Ff.ou Our Own Coiirespokdent.) LONDON, July 26. Sir Iridore Spielman, Director for. Art, British Government exhibit at the New Zealand International. Exhibition, writes . from 47 Vicioria street, Westminster, is follows:--"Will yoto permit ihc to draw attention to tho succces achieved by the British art section at the New Zealand International Exhibition which was recently held at Chrfetchurch ? At previous exhibitions the British art fiection has frequently scored a success of ostocm. At Brussels. 1897, Paris, 1900, and St. Louis, IS.O-1, it was by common consent proclaimed tho bc6t of all tho foreign art sections, but the sales (for sale is a matter of great consequeneo to exhibiting artists) at these exhibitions, with tho oxccption of St. Louis, were insignificant. At' the New Zealand however, to which there waJfcse-nt at (he request, of tho High Commissioner, tho Colonial Office, and the Board of Trade, the largest, the moet important, and the most roprescntatiye display of our modern school evor seen in a British colony, tho sale of British pictures, sculpture, drawings, and arts and crafts exhibits, has, exceeded "£17,000. This amonnt is, as far as I am able to judge, the largest/ever expended in any art section at any international exhibition i most certainly is this tho case as regards recent international oxhjbitions The result indicate that (hero is a growing appreciation of, and demand for, British art in our colonics, and this indication should bo welcome, not merely to British artists, on obvious grounds, but likewise as forging a new and a useful link between the colonies and the Mother Country." On Monday Sir Isidore Spielman entertained, at tho Savoy Hotel, somo of those associated with him in the British Government exhibit of tho New Zealand International■' Exhibition. Thise present ineludod the High Commissioner for New Zealand and Mr C. \Vrn.y Pallisor. In reply to tho toast of his health, the Hon. W. P. Reeves thanked tho British artists for their participation in. the Exhibition. Captain Percy Atkin, who has lately returned from the ooloaiy, where he . had noted as British Commissioner at the Exhibition, also responded, and referred to the favourable reception which had been accorded by the people of New Zealand to tho works of art bv British artists. Tho artists present at tho dinner included: Sir 13. J. Poynter (president of tho Royal Academy), Mr Thomas Brock. R.A., Mr Alfred Eiist,' A.R.A.. Mr, E. J. Gregory, R.A.. Mr Alfred Parsons, A.R.A., and Mr Solomon J, Solomon, R.A. The following notice has just boon issued by the Imperial Post Office: l -"In view of tho largo number of bulky packets sent by parcel post to Now Zealand, and of tho inadequacy of tho oxist'ing rates of postage on such parosls, it has become necessary to raisß t.he postage charged on pareols for New Zealand oxoeeding 4ft- in length and girth combined. The postage on pareols not oxceoding that size will remain unaltered. Tlius, on and from tho 24th inst. the rates of postage payable on .parcels addressed to New Zealand will bo as follow:—For a parcel not exceeding 4ft in length and girth combined, not over 31b in weight, Is; over 31b but not over 71b, 2s; over 71b but not over 111b, 3s; for a parcel more than 4ft Infc not more than 6tt in length and girth combined—not. over 21b in. weight, Zs; over 31b but not over 71b; 53; over 71b but not over, 111b, 4s. In other respects the, conditions of the service will remain unaltered, and tho maximum length of a parcel for New Zealand will still be 3^ft. At this week's silting of tho Royal Cominiasion on Shipping Rings! evidence was given by. amongst others, Mr F. A. Edelston, who slid lie had boon engaged in the Australian a-nd New Zealand trades as a general merchant since 1867, as well-as in tho American export trade, the China and Covlon import trade, and ho had no reason to complain of any disabilities. He said ho had found the system, of conferences and rebates advantageous, and so long as the present excellent services and conditions wero maintained ho had no desire for any alterations save those which timo and experience might demand. When freight wars had been in progress he had suffered no inconvenience, 'nor had his correspondents, and ho did not think tho occasional low freights resulting therefrom equalled the advantages of regularity, speed, and class afforded to regular traders by existing Combinations. . There appeared to him to bo no cause for an alteration in tho system as at presont carried on, and _he did not think there wns a general desire on the part of those most competent to judge and most interested in the maintenance of effective service for remedial action. Messrs Onyon, Lake and- Co., who some timo ago opened offices in Manchester for the purpose of dealing with colonial', produels of all kinds, ha.vo recently mado arrangements for a London branch of the busincfs, and office? have been secured at 9 Oraccchureh street for looking after tho interests of the. firm in London and the South of I'-ngland, tho headquarters at Manchester being the distributing centre for the Midlands and tho North. I understand that 'the last three shipments of Now Zealand white piuo which were consigned to Messrs Onyon, Lako anil Co. Jiavo brought very -good .prices in London, Liverpool, and Manchester, and tho demand for this wood is likely to increase. The Tasmanian blackwood which this firm is handling in oonjuiiction with tho Tasmanian cutters is now upon the English market, and is also bringing very good prices. This wood is matching Honduras mahogany, and the firm expect to ho able to place every plank of it that is exported from Tasmania. Mr Onyon has ; been up in London recently arranging for sailer cargoes of stringy bark and myrtle and shipment _to Hamburg; the; former is",intended to lie used for railway earriago construction, for tools, etc. Altogether this firm is beginning to bo recognised as ono of jho loading of the younger enterprises which makes a specialty of dealing with the _ products of Now Zealand and Australia. Up to tho present the shipments have gone direct to Manchester by way of the Ship Canal, Messrs Onyon. Lake, and Co. 'having stores at the dooks there. An Internal ional Dairy Congress is to be held at Tho Hague in September. Npw Zealand will l>o represented by her High Commissioner, who will ho accompanied by Mr 11. 11. Hooper, of the produce department. ilr Hooper is etill in Dublin looking after the interests of the colony and its exhibits in connection with tho Dublin Exhibition.

It is announced that good progress is being mado in connection with tie organisation for sending out to Now Zealand noxt spring- .1 British team of Paigby Union players. Tlio Scottish, Irish, and Welnh Unions are considering what help they can give in tho mat-tor bo that tlin side shall bo It is hardly expected that the constitution will bo finally decided upon until the coming- eeiiscn. Among English Rugby Unionists there is said 1o bo great enthusiasm about- iho proposed tour, and Mr 0. IT. Harnett has almost enough promises to comolote the ljarty. In the report of the directors of Mellin's Food (Australia and New Zealand) is was stated that tho balance, of trade profits, after deduction of . advertising, gonoral expenses, etc., amounted to £5035. After dividends received for the year 1906 upon investments, also providing for tho expenses of management and other charges, and for tho dividend of 6 per cent, paid nu the 'preference shares, tho balance to tho credit of profit and loss account was £41.15. The directors recommend that, £3000 bo devoted to fcho reduction of the amount standing to purchase account, and that the balance, £1115, be carried forward.

Next week Messrs Robert Campbell and Co. will hold n special meeting for the purpose of passing a resolution to reduce tho capital from £1EO,0()O to £60.000 into 60,000 £1 shares, fully paid, by returning to holders £2 per share. The directors have issued a circular slating that a enlc of the company's stalion at Otekaikc has recently been made lo (ho New Zealand Government on satisfactory terms, and that, resulting from it and previous sales, the amount, of rash in hand will shortly bo much move than the directors can eeo any prospect of being able to employ profitably either in New Zealand or Australia. They, therefore, proproe to apply to the court for authority to reduce the capital of the company by the repayment of £2 per sharo to tlio proprietors. In the report of Millars's Karri and .Tarrah Company, issued 10-day, it is mentioned that, for the, purpose of' carrying on business in New Zealand, a' subsidiary company under the title of Millars's West Australian Hardwoods Comnany, has been formed with a capital of £10.000, the whole of the shares being held by the ICarri and JaiTah Company. The Financial .Times contains the following paragraph: •" A cable advice received from one of the partners of. a well-known Australian and New Zealand house, who has been travelling for some months in tho colonics on business, speaks most favourably of the condition of mercantile business generally throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The firm ill question is a shipper of all ola6ses of merchandise, but the major part of its business is devoted (o the softgoods trade, which is in a most flourishing eondiiien throughout tlij various Australian States,"