ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 22

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

The recent movements in the Pacific are wakening up the Dutch, who have for the first time appointed a Governor to Dutch New Guinea. This gentleman's same is Kraetke. The lonic takes out 200 nominated emigrants at the beginning of the"year. Sets of beautifully bound copies of the " Handbook to the New Zealand Mines " and the " Report on the Mining Industry of New Zealand " have been forwarded within the past few days to the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Roßebery, and the Earl of Aberdeen. The copy intended for the Earl of Dalhousie was not forwarded, as he is dead. Her Majesty's copy was beautifully bound in royal blue, the Prince of Wales' ia crimson morocco, and the others in less brilliant but still splendid binding.

Sir George Bowen's appointment as one of the commissioners to arrange for the division of Malta into electoral districts shows that he is anxious to supplement his pension by a littlo outside work. He commenced his official life as secretary to Mr Gladstone, when he went on his mission to the lonian Islands, so that he is not without Mediterranean experience. The Orlando is to be commissioned early in the year as the new Australian flagship, and the Nelson is to be brought home and dismantled. The Admiralty have further directed that the j Stork, a second-class gunboat, is to be commissioned for service on the Australian station in place of the sailing schooner Lark. It has been decided to replace all sailing vessels on the Australian squadron by steamers. The Stork has been mounted with a new armament and breechloading guns. The Lizard, a new gunboat, is to bte sent out to replace the Harrier and the Undine. She is a fast gunboat of an improved type. One of the most notable pictures in the Grosvenor colonial collection now on view at Melbourne is Mr Watts' " Love and Death." A week ago Mr Watts was offered £3000 for it by the Manchester authorities. He declined this offer, but with great generosity made a present of it to the new Art Museum which is being erected in that city. Bishop Harper will be in his element when he comes home next year. There is to be quite a gathering of synods — pan-Anglican Synods, panRoman Synods, pan-Presbyterian Synods, and what not. Mr "Long-drive" Walker will return to the colony shortly. The Newbery-Vautin process is not considered suitable for ores such as those from the Waihi district, as it does not save the silver. The 6tone lately received has been bought by Germany, and is beiDg successfully treated there. Mr Walker intends to rely upon a Californian process.