NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 22

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

THE MARKING OF IMPORTED MEAT.

Some highly significant figures were adduced by the Earl of Onslow in the course of the discussion which took place in the House of Lords oh March 16 upon the Merchandise Marks Act (1887) Amendment Bill. In July 1891 when Scotch mutton was at the highest price it reached during that year, namely, 5s 8d per stone, New Zealand mutton was fetching 3s, and River Plate mutton 2s 2d per stone. In July 1892 Scotch mutton reached 5s 4d, whilst buyers were at the same time paying 2s 9d for New Zealand mutton, and 2s 3d for mutton from the River Plate. Over the whole of the year 1891 Scotch mutton averaged 4s 11^-d per stone, the average for New Zealand mutton being 2s lid, and for River Plate mutton 2s 4d. In 1892 the averages were for Scotch mutton 4s 9£d, for New Zealand mutton 2s lOJd, and for River Plate mutton 2s 2sd per stone. The Morning Post remarks :— " As Lord Onslow said, it is undoubtedly a fraud to substitute colonial or foreign meat for English meat, with the object of obtaining for the former the price that would only knowingly be paid by the retail purchaser for the latter. The question at issue is one of the highest importance alike to English breeders and to retail buyers of meat, and, as Lord Onslow pointed out, the only person who could possibly be injured, were the bill to become law, is the fraudulent butcher. Lord Ribblesdale, on behalf of the Government, suggested that the marking of imported carcases could hardly be conveniently extended to the small joints cut therefrom for the purposes of retail sale, but in effect he conceded the principle of the bill by announcing that a 'select committee of the House of Lords would be appointed forthwith to investigate and report upon the whole question of the marking of imported meat and other produce, such as fruit and cheese. This is a step in the right direction for the removal of a crying evil, and though Lord Onslow has, in view of the statement made, withdrawn the bill, the action of the proposed committee will be awaited with interest by both producers and consumers."

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MORTGAGE (limited). The ordinary general meeting was held at the City Terminus Hotel on March 20. Mr Arthur Flower (chairman), in moving the adoption of the report, said the amount invested by the company in loans, and their distribution over the colonies, remained about the same as in the previous year. Owing to the low rate of interest ruling in London they had been able during the past year to renew or replace debentures at a lower rate. In the past few years there had been * decided improvement m the financial condition of New Zealand, and he thought this change was largely attributable to the determination of the Government of the colony to avoid any further recourse as borrowers to the London money market at present. They regretted, however, that the low rates of interest now ruling in the colony for loans on such security as the company could deal with formed an obstacle to increasing their investments there /or the present. The directors regretted the reduction in the rate of dividend from 9 per cent, to 7 per cent., which they had not anticipated last September, as the shareholders would gather from the payment at that time of an interim dividend of 4 per cent. In consequence of the difficulty experienced by owners of stations in disposing of their surplus stock, the company were not, at the date of their last advices, in receipt of a considerable sum due to them for interest last year, but this interest was represented by stock, which was available for sale when an opportunity arose. Meantime the directors recommended a further dividend of 3 per cent., making 7 per cent, for the year, and that the available balance should be devoted to further increasing their reserves. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report. The motion was seconded by Mr/ J. Sebag Montefiore, and agreed to. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD DEBENTURES. The Council of Foreign Bondholders' have issued a circular with reference to the New Plymouth Harbour Board 6 per cent, debentures, in which they notify that "in pursuance of a resolution passed at the general meeting of holders of the above debentures, on February 22, 1893, the Council of Foreign Bondholders are now prepared to receive the debentures for the purpose of giving the council and the de-benture-holders' committee power of direct representation of their interests. Certificates to bearer will be issued in place of the deposited debentures, and application will be duly made for a quotation of such certificates on the Stock Exchange. No cash payment is required on deposit, power being taken, in the event of the expenses not being otherwise received, to rateably assess the deposited securities up to 2 per cent, of their nominal face value. No additional amount will be chargeable in any case unless sanctioned hereafter hy a general meeting. Debentures will be received daily (except en Saturdays) between 11 and 2 o'clock, at 17 Moorgate street, London, 8.C., where printed lists and conditions of deposit and all other information can be obtained on application.

THE EXCITEMENT 03? MIMIC WARFARE.

A curious instance of the exciting effect produced upon bluejackets, even in mimic warfare, is found in the report of the umpires of the last naval manoeuvre?, now presented to both Houses of Parliament by her Majesty's command. During an attack in Belfast Lough the feelings of both officers and men ran so high that to avoid personal encounters, and probable loss of life, it was found necessary to restrain the action which might otherwise have been taken by the guard boatß even during peace manoeuvres. In one case, it will be remembered, a small boat was sunk by a collision with a hostile steam launch, which, after rescuing the crew, beat a hasty retreat. But when the captured bluejackets found that they were to be regarded as prisoners, they, to a man, jumped overboard and swam about until a pursuing boat of their own side picked them up. Like true Britons, they determined they " never, neyer, never would be slaves ! "

THE LAW LIST. At the Wells trial the other day Mr Justice Hawkins remarked that there are 4000 barristers. That (comments the Daily Chronicle) was the approximate number about 30 years ago, when the learned judge was at the Bar, but the number now is nearly 9000. It must give- pause to not a few ambitious young men to find the order of the Coif double its members in 30 years. The first "law list was published in 1785. The "King's Counsel" were 20 and the whole Bar of England but i 420. The Recorder of London was then paid £600. It took 40 years for the Bar to be as numerous again as at that date. At the beginning of her Majesty's reign in only 11 years the t^.O. s numbered 70, and the Bar had with astoniahrag rapidity grown from 900 to over 2000. It was in 1861 (in the days of Henry Hawkins, Esq., Q.C.) that there were 4000 wigs and gowns and 125 "silks." In another 10 years the latter class had become 180 strong, and the rank and file of the long robe totalled 5800. Now there aro 220 Queen's Counsel, trad, the members of

the four Inns of Courb could be mustered at about 10,000 strong. And yet the cry is " Still they come ! "

THE "BROOCH" CASE: INTERESTING EVIDENCE.

"Hebe," in the Gentlewoman, says :— "As a rule, what may be a cause celebre for a dajr soon fades from the memory, but the • brooch case, in which Mrs Leader brought an action against Mrs Smyth, is still too recent to be forgotten. By a slight effort, no doubt you will recall how Mrs Leader triumphantly vindicated herself against having stolen her friend's brooch. It was held that the piece of jewellery sold by the plaintiff in the action was actually her own, given her as a wedding present by one Captain Trench, then in India, and since dead. The brooch was received by Mrs Leader when in Egypt, but she did not keep the box in which it was enclosed, nor could she recall whether it was stamped with English or Indian stamps. Unfortunately, as I have said, Captain Trench was dead before the trial came on, and was unable to give the evidence which would have immediately cleared Mrs Leader of any imputations upon her character without further witnesses being called. I have now much pleasure in giving an absolute corroboration of Mrs Leader's statement. A few months ago, an Indian officer, who has supplied me with this information, arrived in England, hoaring for the first time of the trial. Had he known before, he says, he would have come over specially to give some very valuable evidence. This gentleman was in Captain Trench s verandah on his bungalow at Delhi when the captain purchased the brooch, saying he would send it as a wedding present to Mrs Leader, then Miss Thomson. Happily, Mrs Leader was able to vindicate herself, but none the less, the testimony of this officer is very satisfactory in everyway."

MR MTJNDELLA ON THE COLONIES.

A hopeful and cheering view as to the passing away of the existing depression in Australia was taken at the recent meeting of the Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom in London, at which questions of more or less Australian interest were discussed. Mr Mundella especially gave expression to this encouraging opinion. Wifch respect to the Australasian colonies, he remarked that they had been passing through a depression which was almost unprecedented in their history, largely due to accumulated debt, to i financial disturbances, and to general distrust and discredit. Trade was, however, resuming | its ordinary elasticity, and it was encouraging to notice that the colonies which the depression first touched were already recovering their usual ! energy. For instance, New Zealandwas the first sufferer, was one of the heaviest in debt, and was plunged into great speculations. There was too large an inflation of credit, and the sudden distrust brought the colony into a state of depression. He was glad to see she was recovering herself completely, and that her exports were larger than they had ever been in her history, and the gallant way in which a small population of 600,000 people determined to pay the interest on their debt, to maintain all their institutions intact, and to pay their debts to this country was a marvel in itself, and creditable in the highest degree to the Anglo-Saxton race. All the colonies, he had no doubt, would recover, and as they recovered trade would recover. The chambers, declined to commit themselves to a resolution in favour of reciprocal trade relations with the colonies as involving a sacrifice of the principle of Free trade. A resolution was passed in favour of bills of lading being drawn on the same lines as bills of exchange, with three copies as a minimum, and that one being accomplished the others stand void. Another resolution pledged the chambers, by deputation or otherwise, to press upon the Government the necessity which exists for immediately establishing an Imperial penny post. GOSSIP. A lady journalist has created some sensation in London by hieing to a fashionable milliner's in Hanover square, there arraying herself in an ultra-sized crinoline, and, thus attired, sallying forth and proceeding ,down Regent street, through Piccadilly, and up Bond street. A disorderly crowd followed her and made her endeavour "to bring the crinoline into disrepute " so personally unpleasant that it is not likely to be repeated. The new materials for the spring are a delightful study in themselves. Their hue is chameleon-like. So soon as it is decided that they are of one colour the deft salesman gives them a twist, catches a new light on them, and quite another hue is produced. The weaving of these new fabrics is a mystery, but the subtle effects which result are very charming. What seems to be the leading idea (says a writer in the Daily Telegraph) is to choose a dress of vague and undecided character, having in it suggestions of blue, strong hints of green, ripples of purple, and suffusions of pink chasing each other across the vision of the onlooker as the light; touches [more prominently one or other of the subtly interwoven hues, and then to give the key note, as it were, to this series of colour phrases by having a trimming of one or other of the shades. A terrible explosion, which it has since been ascertained was deliberately caused by a miner named Boehme, occurred on the 17th March in an iron mine at Volkmarskeller, in the Harz district. Boehme, it appears, ignited no less than 101b of dynamite. The engine house at the top of the shaft was hurled into the air, and seven men, including Boehme himself, were blown literally to pieces. Boehme, who was about 50 years of age, went to work somewhat earlier than usual, and left a letter at his home in which he stated that he should not return.

An interesting group of female beauties was taken over to the Chicago Exhibition by the steamer Paris on the 25th March. They are claimed to be living representatives of no less than 50 countries of the world. Each will wear the garb of her own country, and each will follow the characteristic occupation of her countrywomen. M. Worth has designed the dresses for the French ladies, and these are of true Parisian style, and with plenty of colour. The English, Irish, and Scotch representatives are each to have distinctive costumes. There are ladies from China, Japan, Mexico, and Cuba, aa well as the Continent. The Tyrolese are very picturesque, and with the Hungarians included in the company are a number of musicians. The work carried on by these ladies will include lacemaking, painting, wood carving, fancy work, &c. In the exhibition will also be a zither band dispensing music, and the only things in this part of the exhibition on sale will be the photographs of the ladies themselves and their temporary homes. The exhibition will not be one relating to antiquity or history, bub simply to everyday life at the present time. The organiser of the company found it much easier in Great Britain to get the consent of the parents and guardians of the ladies for their going to Chicago than on the Continent, for apparently the English people were in closer touch with the objectß of the exhibition. In Southern Europe the people seemed to have a dread of a uea voyage. Over 1500 persons were interviewed before the final company was engaged,