OUR LONDON LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 50

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(Fhom Ooh Special Correspondent.) 30 and 31 Fleet street, London, November 24. A GREAT TEMPEST. Those showers of rain and gusts of wind ■which drenched and chilled the waiting crowd last Friday evening proved to be the precursors of a great and terrible tempest — one of the most violent and destructive storms of the century. Indeed it is declared that if other storms of modern times have attained a higher wind force, which is doubtful, at least none have accomplished such large and widely-distributed damage. There was a sort of preliminary meteorological canter on Friday night, but Saturday morning was moderately fine. The barometer, however, had fallen an inch within 24 hours, and even the slightly weather-wise knew that that must mean mischief. 4.nd it did. Early in the afternoon a northerly gale came on to blow in nearly every part of these islands. Soon afterwards snow also set in, and as darkness closed round the gale increased to a hurricane and the snowstorm to a " blizzard." During the whole of last Saturday night every portion of the United Kingdom was buffeted by the furious tempest. Kvrn iv a sheltered London street the roarioy of the gate was terrific. On every coast «, mountainous eoiv was breaking. A bitterly cold temperature prevailed in all parts of the country. On Sunday the fury of the sfcorm abated somewhat, but it increased again on Sunday night and Mondsy morning, alter which iv gradually died away. Monday brought a shocking record of human lives lost on land and at sea through the violence of the tempest, ap.d a lamentable list of casualties on sea and on shore. I cannot pretend to attempt even a summary ■of the disasters. They were almost innumerable and often most singular. From all quarters come records of shipwrecks, of buildings destroyed or damaged, of trees uprooted, and houses unroofed. Even in London itself an extraordinary amount of damage was done. Many buildings were unroofed and chimneys prostrated. In ■one street three shops were blown down. Iv the parks havoc was made among the fine trees, aev< ral of which were torn up bodily by the roots. The placid Serpentine lake was lushed into aucb mimic fury as to swamp various pleasure boats. But it is from the coast and from the country that the saddest accounts come. Several deaths are recorded from sheer exposure on that dreadful Saturday night. Many tuora were occasioned by falling chimneys oi' bnildiugs. In several cases high factory chimneys fell in and crushed the workern bfilow. Iv one case a chimney stack crashed through the roof of a girls' boarding school, killing one girl as she lay asleep in bed, and injuring another. A railway porter was blown right in front of a passing engine and instantly killed. A Yorkshire miner's family were at dinner when the ■chimney of the house was blown down and broke throHgh the roof, killing two of the family on the spot and badly iujuring another. Two soldiers at Portsmouth lose their way in the. dark, and their bodies were found in the morning i they had perished from exposure. In Scarborough, Sunderlaud, Southampton, and other large country towns, the streets were literally strews with chimney-pots, tiles, slates, and broken window glass. Actually the gentle Lake Wiuderiueru' became aroused to such savage fury that the waves swamped both of fcbe large iron steamers which ply up and down, and they sank in 100 ft of water. On several railways the trains were stopped by the sheer force of the wind, and in Scotland one was thrown off the rails. Even within 40 miles of London, trains were buried 20ft deep in snowdrifts. How many hundreds of valuable lives have been sacrificed is not even yet known, perhaps never will be. But enough has been learned to show that the loss of life has been frightful. Accounts continue to come from alhparts of the country of death from exposure and from falling housee, trees, or chimneys. Authorities say there is no record of an equally severe and widespread career of destruction in the case of any previous storm iv these islands. However •this taay be, assuredly the accounts which have filled the papers for .days ainc« the 6lorm have ibeen most eaddening. Our worst New Zealand tempeßts teem mere babies to this " Rude

Boreas ! " Personally I watched the progress of the gale Vith much interest, being anxious to compare ' *m English " buster " with those New Zoaland ■experiences of which I have had so many. Ido not think the force of the wind was greater than I have observed on two or tome occasions in Southland and once or twice in Wellington. Iv London, of course, one is very largely sheltered by the high houses. But on that terrible Saturday evening I went uofpe little distance out into the country and studied the storm, its most severe feature seemed to mo to he the excessive keenness of the bla3t owiug to its (ay temperature, and to the driving snow which Accompanied it, rather than its actual force, tremendous though that undoubtedly was. )But it was much worse during the night when I was not there, and certainly the way it •tumbled over chimneys and .chimney-pots, scattered tiles and slates, uprooted trees — aioaffly every one on one Scptch estate — tore off (roofs and smashed iv thick plate-glass windows, was soauithing amnziiiK to sea ,or even read fibosvb. 'f he storm of November 18-19 will live in aiter years aa oue of England's g^aal historic tempests. OBITUARY RECORD. It is a little odd — rather grimly so — that at the very moment when new and menacing complications have manifested themselves es regards JEngland's relations with the Triple aud Dual Alliances respectively, that this country should lose somewhat suddenly the invaluable services qf two of her most experienced ambassadors — one a.t the cour,t of a Triple Alliance Power, the other at that .of one. of the parties to the Pual Alliance, JTeb bo it is. Lord Vivian's death in Borne has been quickly followed by tfa»fc of Sir jfjoberb Morier in St. Petersburg. The latter ip perhaps the more serious loss of the two from a national ■view point. His large experience and special conversance with matters affecting the Eastern question in its relation to our traditional British policy -will be gravely missed at this present juncture, when all sorts of complex problems appear to be presenting themselves. At such a time the presence of a tried and trusted representative at the Russian Court is peculiarly dnsirablf, and apart from the sorrow .felt for the doiita of a ijj(i.n so deservedly esteemed 1 , there ia a prevalent (cfil'mfr among tho.«o who «an -best realise the situation, fcfagfc Nngland has fcustaiurd a very severe diplomatic lps». AL.ott.er n.ime of hjgh eminence in £$s pa.Bfc week's obituary in that of Lord Ebur> . Just as JE»rl Russell was best known to thb last as " Lord John,'-' so Lord Ebury i» en* jsnrjned ttt the memory of ,tho English people

as Lord Robert Grosveuor. As a legislative philanthropist be at one time ran a good second to the late Lord Shaf tesbury . Lord Robert Grosvenor had a large share in the passing of the Ten Hours Factory Bill. But the reform most specially associated with his name waa that by which polling in county elections was confined to a single day. A third movement of which he was the parliamentary parent would seem in New Zealand a mere matter of course. Ib was to close all London publichouses on Sundays. This was fiercely resented by the lower orders in London, because the upper classes were permitted to keep open their clubs. The distinction made by Sir Robert Grosvenor maddened the populace, already seething with discontent, and for four successive Sundays in the summer of 1855 Hyde Park and its vicinity became the theatre of disgraceful riots, in endeavouring to quell which the police displayed much brutal violence. It seems strange to read of the proved conduct of the police 38 years ago, after my recent personal observations of their singular gentleness and tact in dealing with the three great London crowds of this year. But such was the fact. . ; The Hyde Park riota of 1855 practically ended Lord Robert Grosvenor'u public career. Two years later he was raised to the House of Lords as Baron Ebury, and thenceforward he took little part in public affairs. He passed away last Saturday, at the patriarchal age of 93 years, having been in Parliament — Lords or Commons — for the amazing period of 71 years ! Yet one more obituary has to be recorded. Prince Alexander of Battenberg, the brilliant hero of Bulgaria, has been suddenly called nway at the comparatively early age of 36. It is a matter of relatively recent history how he distinguished himself iv the Russo-Turkish war of 1878 ; how he was elected Prince of Bulgaria on the emancipation of that State from Turkish misrule; how, when only 23 years of age, he organised the Bulgarian Army and led it to a series of glorious victories against the Servians who had wantonly made war against Bulgaria, these successes being mainly due to Prince Alexander's military genius and personal courage, and how after being kidnapped by a band of conspirators at Russian instigation he abdicated, retired into private life, renounced his title, and married a beautiful and amiable actre3B, Amalie Loisinger.

His short life-hisbory is that of a veritable hero of romanca — worthy of the brightest days of chivalry. He was unquestionably one of the most noble, brilliant, gallant, and highminded men of the age, and had a favourable career been open to him ha would havo been one of the greatest figures in all history. But his rising brilliance and sturdy independence soon excited the bitter animosity of Russia, whose todl he resolutely refused to be, and to the end of his life he experienced the relentless animosity of the Czar and of all the Russian Court. The world would be all the better were there more public men of the General Gordon and Alexander of Battenberg type.

ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.

While tho friendly agreement arrived at between the British Mission and the Ameer of Afghanistan is very satisfactory -pyq faiito, there are not wanting shadows in the pleasant picture. In the first place, England now stands definitely committed Jbo the position that any encroachment on the Afghan dominions is to be regarded as a ficcsus belli and resented with the whole force of the British Empire. That is in itself sufficiently serious. If the Russians henceforward "try on " any more of their wellknown "little games" on the Afghan boundaries, Great Britain is bound to declare war, and Russian cruisers may pay New Zealand a visit with scant notice, or none at all.

This cannot ' be too closely realised in New Zealand. Let there be no mistake at all about it. If England and Russia go to war, Russia will "have a shy "at New Zealand. All her plans are' prepared, and though we may hope that the colonial squadrons and colonial forces would succeed in repelling any attempt, ib is morally certain that the attempt would be made. So the colony cannot be too thoroughly prepared for contingencies which may be much nearer at hand than anybody dreams.

Another point in the agreement tends 'to accentuate this probability. In case of war England would not necessarily send troops to defend Herat or Cabul, but would use her presumed naval superiority in attacking Russia in Europe. Russia would therefore be all the more auxious to effect a diversion by threatening or, if possible, seizing the most accessible Pacific oolonies, and it is recognised on all hands that New Zealand's commanding position enables the Power possessing those islands to dominate the Pacific. So be both forewarned and forearmed.

A PATHETIC STORY.

Surely no more pathetic story was ever told than that to which the coroner for Marylebone listened yesterday at an inquest touching the death of Georgiua Barrett, aged 70 years, who was found dead at 80 York street west. The sister of the deceased, a feeble old lady of 72, said that she and her sister were both single. Her sister had not complained of illhealth, but did not want to go into the workhouse. " She was very clever," said the poor old lady in fireoiulous tones, " and could earn £2 a week when iihe got enough! work, but lately work had been scarce and we had to pawn our things one after another. Our furniture wpnt fjrgb and then our silk d,resßes~for we had seen ' better days,' added the poor creature with a touch of family pride, infinitely pathetic — and then our other clothes went. We could only get balf-a-crown for some minatureH and other things that cost £5. At last everything was gone, and we had to live, on bread and water for weeks. We were note*) for being a very affectionate family," said Miss Barrett, wue.ping, " and we could not bear to be separated. So I would nob go to the workhouse unless she would too. But she would iiot." "And po," said the coroner, "you lived on bread asd watpr rather than go to the workhouse ?" "Yep," 'replied M^-sb garret!;, f'rny sister was bo proud, poor Going ! Bae pledged all her linen and boxes of beautiful clothes. A pennyworth ef coal lasted us two weeks, and all we lived on was a cup of tea in the morning and a piece of dry bread. I did say to her, .' Why don't we give up ? we can't keep ourselves i!' and my sister said, ' God will hear our

prayers

And that sad confidence was justified. Relief goon came to her. But it caixie in the form in which th/j angel — \n Adplajde Proctor's exquisite poem. " the Requital "-^-byoughi; it to the weary sufferer. The angel

Kissed the woman and left hor — dead !

When human aid tardily arrived the soul of poor Georgiua Barrett had fled from the weary and suffering body. Tho landlord of thn poor sisters noticed at last their deplorable condition and mentioned it to the local relieving officer, who ab onse called and found the one sister " lying dead on a few old clothes in a corner of the room," and the survivor silling 1 by watching her iv tli'o oalinjQ£jjjs pf helpless jind di»fiolu.'fe despair. Anj/tiilug aUJrp fpi'johinfe than the noble, if m^ijlacfccl'/ hfky^-y &>l4i wnjch fcjieae t^fi Pp««P old dears, ift their cherished family pride and cbngden^e' in Divine Providence, bore their

long lingering torment of cold and starvation and misery I never heard or read of. It is nob wonderful that there were few dry eyea in the Coroner's Court during that most pathetic recital of the bereaved and lonely sister. I could only marvel at the stoicism that could hear or read such a sbory unmoved. Bub I hope and believe that even at this late period something will be done to alleviate the lot of the survivor during her few remaining days. It is melancholy to think that such a case could occur in the very heart of London, amid all those surroundings of wealth and luxury. Truly London is the most marvellous of all social problems.

END OF THE COAL WAR.

After several rather uneventful weeks, this one has been ushered in by two events, each of firsb-class importance. Necessarily, you will have received telegraphic intimation of thwir occurrence, but there are many features with which the cable certainly could not deal. So I shall take up my history where it left off at the close of last week's mail.

First in importance, as in order, came the settlement of the coal strike. When my last letter was posted the Joint Conference under Lord Rosebery's presidency was sitting in the Foreign Office at Westmiuster, and thousands of anxious hearts were eagerly awaiting news which might mean to them the restoration of the comparative prosperity which they had recklessly sacrificed, or the indefinite prolongation of their self-imposed miseries.

The conference opr-ued at 11 o'clook last Friday morning in the Cabinet room. The representatives of the Coal Owners' and Miners' Federations had previously held private, meetings to determine finally the course of action that should be adopted at the conference. It was agreed that tho conference should nob be open to the pres», and that its actual proceedings and negotiations should be deemed strictly confidential. All that is known of whab parsed during the morning meeting is that Lord Rosebery on taking the chair delivered one of his judicious and tactful speeches, which admittedly gave a favourable tone to the proceedings that followed ; that next certain proposals were put forward and were earnestly discussed for more than two hours.

An adjournment then took place and the delegates were entertained at luncheon by Lord Rosebery. This over, the delegates meb the other members of their respective federAtions and lengthened discussion of the proposals followed. The delegates then returned to the conference, which resumed its oibting until long after darkneßS set in. Rain set iv as well as darkness, and the condition of the waiting crowds became far from pleasant. Still they waited on.

As hour after hour passed by the anxiety and suppressed excitement of the drenched but eager concourse becirae piiinfully intense. It was not until nearly 6 o'clock that the welcome intelligence at last arrived that the conference had ended and that the members were coming downstairs. The keenest suspense now prevailed until tho result should be known, aud the first of the miners' delegates who made his appearance was almost overwhelmed with the rush of questions. Bui the actual facts were easy enough to state briefly and intelligibly,

As you know by cvble, the minors are to resume work at tihn old wages until February 1, by which time a Board of Conciliation, to ba constii ufci'd forthwith, in to have determined what shall be the rate of wages after that date; the bonrd to be composed of equal numbers of codl-owncrs and miners' representatives — 14 of each — and to hold office for a year, the chairman to be elected, if possible, from outside, or failing this the Speaker of the House of Commons to nominate one ; the first meeting of the board to be held on the 13bh December,

The official notes of the conference are not to be published or even printed at any time. Three manuscript copies alone will be kept — one by Lord Rosebery and one by each of the federations, whose representatives gave an undertaking that on their part nothing should be divulged.

Thus, for the time, ends this most deplorable aud disastrous struggle. Whether ib will be resumed after the expiration on February 1 of what may bo termed *,he armistice no one can safely predict. It tnupfc be remembered that the whole question of the " living " or " minimum " wage has yefc to be settled. But, on tho other band, it mny be hoped that the terrible suffering of the past 16 weeks must havo taught a lesson. lam convinced that the prutractio'i of the wretched dispute was duo iv a largo measure to the inborn John-Bullish, deteatatioa of "giving in." More, doubtless, was thft work of th« paid professional agitator. How far the influence of thta latter nuisance may have been affected by the outcome of the strike lam unable to say. Ho may succeed in convincing his dupes that they have won the battle, and won through following his advice ;v; v in which case he may cause much more trouble yet, for it should ba remembered that peace and prosperity to the men is so much lost opportunity forfhim. Wo can only hope that, in the words of the trite old saying, " wiser counsels may prevail." Blue indeed is the outlook dark for England aud English trade ! For what one paper aptly calls the " Butcher's Bill " of the late war has still to be reckoned up. It must be a terrible one. Apart from the loss of human life caused directly or indirectly by the coal war, and tho grievous amount of personal 'suffering caused to the wives aud children of tho strikers, thora are many othep items which tend fco swell tho bill.

An absolute Io3«, estimated at thirty millions sterling, to British trado is no insignificant unit in the great total. Then the wages of the whole army of colliers and other workers in oonnccti'in with tho mines have noli been earned or paid for four montht. These would total a vast sum. Next, all the small shopkeepers who make their living by supplying the miners and their families, all these have lost four months' trade. Many have been ruined ; all have been gravely injured. A number of manufacturers in ajl parts of fehe" kingdom havo hftd to oloue their works owiug to scarcity of fuel. This has not only lost ho much to the country and its trade, but has also thrown out of work many thousands' 'of people, caused acute distress to their families, and half-ruined the tradespeople- who supplied them. The coalowners have received no income ; their capital has returned no interest. All the great railway companies suffered in loss of traffic, and that involves decrease of employment to their men arid lenqe^ed. dfoi; deiijls to th,6|r eba^eholdfsra, wnb. iri'tUeir turn will 'spread the loss hy ourtailing expenditure and denying themselves luxuries. In faot, the entire upending power of the whole nation has been diminished, and that must act and react upon trade in all its branches for a long time to come

And lhn on tcoiue of all this widespread loss and inconvenience, and even suffering, is — " As you were ! " The coal-owners can and will reidily nay the old rate of wages while the enhanced prices caused by the strike still la rr 3 r €, bub when coal c raes down to its normal 'Wei— what then ? Will the Board of GoncyUation \$ able to dominayu e^qPCiVJ'? Jiyi? C ' ( -t&fs P^espiofl PfllY M^SW Vusweie. Meanwhjle v^e must rest satisfied with the fact that so valuable a step in the right direotion has at

last been taken. The Opposition papers censure the Government for delaying so long to take the initiative. Ido not think this censure is just. Intervention at an earlier stage would bave been alike futile and mischievous — futile because neither party had arrived at a frame of mind favourable to the toleration of any outside intervention ; mischievous because failure would have seriously discounted the likelihood of any future action on the part of the Government proving beneficial.

It seems to me that Mr Gladstone in this instance acted with consummate wisdom. He chose the right time and the right man. Had he moved earlier or delayed longer, or had he nominated another man — say, Sir William Harcourt or Mr Asquith — to preside, failure and discredit to the Government, and a prolongation of the miserable war might, and probably would, havo been the consequence.

But there is' another result which perhaps few people have yet discovered. The outcome of that conference has in all human probability settled also the question of Mr Gladstone's successor in' the Liberal leadership. That successor will, in my opinion, be Lord Rosebery. He is the one and sole man who can keep together the miscellaneous elements of which the present Liberal party (like the present Conservative party) is composed, and who cau save ib from otherwise inevitable disintegration when Mr Gladstone disappears from its front, as of course in process of time he must. Sir William Harcourt bids high for tho reversion of the leadership. But Ido not believe that his lead would be tolerated by the party or his Premiership by tho country. Mr Aaquith will one day load but not yet. Mr Chamberlain would, beyond doubt, have been Gladstone's successor but for the Home Rule split.

It is an old saying that a man who has no enemies is generally of small uccount. But Lord Rosebery is the exception to that rule. Ido not believe he has an enemy in the world. But that is due to his tare and consummate tnc l ;. Now Sir William Harcourt and Mr Asquith make brilliant speeches, but they seldom if ever do this without offending somebody. They are always treading upon somebody's toes. Not so Lord Rosebery. Ho contrives to be brilliant and witty and incisive without hurting anybody, and he has succeeded in impressing all parties alike with a deep conviction of his remarkable sagacity.

Foreign complications loom darkly on England's eastern horizon, and next to Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery is the one living man to whom, in the view of tho British public, English interests abroad* can be safely entrusted. With either Lord Salisbury or Lord Rosebery at the helm the nation would feel reasonably secure. Not so in other hands.

In this connection I may remark that a curious aud sinister tendency toward the isolation of England as a European Power has suddenly come to light. The Franco- Russian entente is regarded as mainly aimed at Great Britain. Tho Ppwers forming the Triple Alliance are exasperated at England's persistent aloofness from active association, and hint vaguely but disquietinglv that she may be left to settle by herself with France and Russia as to India and Constantinople and the colonies, while France and Russia would do better' to tackle isolated England than to try conclusions with the Triple Alliance.

These are portents which neither the mother country nor the colonies can safely afford to ignore, and it ia nob surprising that an imtnomediate result here should have been a loud demand for the prompt strengthening of tho British Navy.

THE ENGLISH NAVY.

Meanwhile Lord Charles B.ereaford has pub-, licly proclaimed his dissent from Mr Gladstone's complacent conviction that the British Navy is equal to all requirements and to every emergency. Lord Charles Beresford, on the contrary, holds that to make it adequate for national defence in case of need a further sum of about 23,000,000 sterling will have to be expended, the process occupying over three years. The arguments by which Lord Charles supports this startling view are disquietingly cogent. It is admitted that Great Britain's very existence as a nation depends in case of war upon her having a navy equal to any other two that may combine against her. At the present moment that practically- means the French and Russian, navies. To attain this standard of efficiency, we need, in Lord Charles' opinion, six more first-class ironalads of the Royal Sovereign type (14,000 tons) ; 12 second-class, Barfleur type (10,500 tons) ; 10 cruisers of the Blake type ; 10 smaller ironclads ; 50 torpedo-deatroyers, Havock class; and 30 torpedo boats, besides extensions of shelter at Gibraltar.

But as part of this work is already undertaken, that strikes off £5,000,000. Taking the average ship-building votes the expenditure in the three years and a-half would be £10,500,000. Deducting these two sums from the total leaves some £7,500,000 still to be provided, and Lord, Charles Beresford proposes that this shall be taken from the consolidated fund. Such is the scheme advocated by one of tha foremost naval authorities. It is understood, to be under the careful consideration ' of the Cabinet. ' : ' > m » 1 -

Pj3.cem.bQe 3, ANGLQ-COILQNUIi NQTBS.

I have a New Zjealand wedding to record. A few days ago Dr John Drysdale, health officer of Port Chalmers, was married at St. George's Chnrch, Bloomsbury, to Mrs Oldfield, widow of the late Mr P. A. R. Oldtield, of London aDd Bombay. Mrs Oldfield was formerly Miss Elphinsfcone, a daughter of the late Mr Alexander Elphinstone, H.E.I.C 8., of Molyneux, Otago. Thus both bride and bridegroom are New Zealand colonists. Dr and Mrs Drysdalo. leave for New Zealand in January, gq as^ft arrive early in March next.

The aonual general meeting of the New 2jaa» land and Australian L.anti Company was held at 54 Cftstle afereot, Edinburgh, on December 1. It was explained in the course of the proceedings that the company had in no way suffered direct loss by the recent bank failures. The report, recommending a dividend of 4 per cent, on preference stock, and a dividend at tha rate of 7 per cent, on the ordinary atock of the company, also that £50QQ be caftie'a $6 the reserve fund account, was' aHpji'ted) Tb'9 *e\ election of Mr "vYilJtf 0 . 111 Dtysdalp an^ Mr Melvin as directors' o£ tll^ cfttn.na.ny was moved by lsr, WiUianj SMeU, and seconded by Mr H. T. Smith, and unanimously carried. Mr Robert Lumsdon proposed, and Mr Andrew Forrester seconded, the re-election o£ Mfl^srs Kerr, Andersons, Muir, and Jtf* t n CA , Glasgow, as auditors of tb«i company' fo«'uie year to 31st March 1894, which v^s unanimously agreed to. On the motion of Mr Walter Berry a vote of jjhanks was accorded to the directors and executive," and tho meetwia' terminated with a vote of ' thanks to, "tyus efcair. \ tjkM % c n esjb' rep'csC "of the Tyser Shipping Line will, s.how a debit balance to profit/ afyl Ijoaa Rflcwnfc 0? £57,994, of which »2fyQQfl w^-i toraughfe forward from the previous yeftF- fh.e depression in Australian trade i* ibe alleged cause. The report, I un^eririaud,. will state that the Tyser Com^nj'ti, working agreement with the dir^fc shiaping oompaaios has answered awi express a

hope that a si mihr agreement will bo concluded with Australia.

Before tho splendid new White Star steamer Gothio, which has just been built for the New Zealand trade, leaves on her maiden voyage to New Zealand, which will be about the middle of this month, her owners intend to give a grand luncheon on board so as to inaugurate her career with all possible eclat. Sho is being fitted up with the Hall refrigeratiug machinery, and her appointments are. pronounced to be in all respects as perfect as modern knowledge and Bcience and experience can make them. Argument iv the New Zealand appeal case — Black v. Christchurch Finance Company— has been concluded, and the court has reserved its judgment.

Replying to an inquiry by an intendiug investor, the British Australasian states that "the Bank of New Zealand is one of the soundest of those which weathered tho recent cmis, and, were it* capital increased, would have an excellent opportunity of taking up some of the pick of the extraordinarily profitable banking business of the Australian colonies. "

Many readers of 'the popular works which have found circulation in the colonies by the Anglo-Australiau publishing firm, A. Petherick ami Co., will be sorry to hear that the firm has fallen ioto financial difficulties. As a result of Mr Pethorick's visit to the colonies, the firm has had to offer the cioditors (whose clnima amount to about £23,000) a composition of 10s iv the pound. The ctfor, I hear, has been accepted.

Mr Graham Hill, who is well and favourably known in connection with the Anglo-Austra-lasian press has just completed the libretto of a one act trngic opera, which has been accepted by Mtssi;» Ascherbt^rg and Co , who wore the pnrchaxers or Masoigni's .nnd Lcoucavallo's worka for England, and who have given Mr Hill a haudßoiuo cheque for the acting rights of tho work. They any that in their opinion it fully rivals " Cavalleria Rusticana " in dramatic intensity, and havo commissioned one of the most popular composers of the day to provide the music, lp is expected to be produced at Covent Garden during the opera season next spring, with Madame Melba in the title role. The scene is laid in modern Greece, and the present title— which may possibly be altered — is " Phrynia."

Marie R. Handle's book of poems, "Lilts and Lyrics of New Zealand," reprinted from the Otago Witness, is very favonrablyreviewod by the British' Australasian, which says: — "Miss Randle has treated on all the phases of a settler's life, ennobling "with her fancy the struggle and sordid cares of a humdrum existence in the New Zealand bush."

Mr D. S. Buckley, from' Dunedin, arrived in London this week by the P. and O. steamer Parramatta.

By the Oruba, which sails from Plymouth today, Misses Currie and Wright, Messrs Batty, Cochraue,, Maries, Negre, and Rose leave Soy New Zealand. By the Himalaya next week go the following New Zealand passengers < — Mr and Mrs Thomas Brown, Captain and Mrs Tasker, Dr and Mrs Wine, Mrs Garrod, Misses Stevens (2) and Tasker (2), Mr and Mra Turner, Colonel Boyle, Drs Hogg aud Symous, Messrs Andrews, Ford, Mulligan, Newman, Pickard, Rat, Spring, SteVens, and Woodroffp. By th,o Anstral, on tbe'lsth, go to New Zi>a-v }and— Dr and Mrs Hislop, Mr and Mrs Pearfion, and Mr Donald. By the Pawamatta, <u\ the 21st, Mrs Hirst, Misseß Landell (2) and Williamson lea,ve for New Zealand, Many New Zealand readers will remember Chevalier, the eminent artist^ who did so much to sprfcad the knowledge of New Zealand's n,aturaj beauties by hjs superb depictions of her wonderful scenery. Perhaps more still will recollect b,is magnificent picture of Mount Cook, which was one of the artistic glories of the Duinedin Exhibition. It bas often been regretted that that noble work was not purchased for the colony:* It is too late now, fo? the picture has just been bought at a very WgH price by an enthusiastic lady admirer. At one afternoon reception whiah Ohevaliei* gave lately he placed tfys la.rge picture oS Mount Cook in an alcove, \\'h,e»e i,t formed the, appropriate background of a Swiea entertain* ment iv which m&ndolm players, Jqb. took parfe. The idea was mi^ch admired, arid spread f urthei; the fame of tb,e painting. Mr Rivejsdale Walrond, who was perbups the most (deservedly) popular private secretary that any New Zealand Governor ever had, ia just as popular and efficient »nd successful in hin present position as Secretary to the Education Office at Whitehall. On all handH he has won golden opiuiuus, and I need hardly say he is a special uocial favourite. I had a pleasant chat at the Salon Oonvor.n BBzione lust Tuesday fevering with Mr Edwu>r*3 Wukefield, who looked top picture of yi^oroua health aud well-being. He told isß he was living with .his children and, hi^ aister at Pauin France, but that his bu^fop interests w^ in America— prospeipus, *op, I should gather. Ho writes occapip'-^Hjr still and always effectively, as 9J yore ; but $ understand: tw uo longer 1 (Wcis.es. literature a. regular profession. Hja li,ttle, war* HNew 25©aland Afte* F.ifty Years"- is \jerv popular in London, and \ think deservedly sy\ Jiust hefaws closing my letter I have had a fl.nal chat with some of the leadiDg financiers and business men in the City, and they all agree in the opinion that things ara looking very well so far as New Zealand ia concerned and that the prosprets of trade {genera.Ux< sw^ colonial trade in particular, are on, t^e vfholo deoidedly favourab'e.

Dunedjn residents will pjoj^bliy recoHeofc Dr Bulau, who was at qs\© fc^p liead of one of th« Dunedin High,- Schools. $c and hte family are now livioj,' »j J^npn, in Pvance. They are all well $_y>a prospering, Dr Biil.iu's sou has go;j«s o,ui f,o JJfjmfcrAijft, as a sugar plancer, $#fi \ believe has axoellenb prospeobs. Mr Tegetmeier, and Mr Mictieu 0* tke Banl? of New Zealand, bave beeu *w.ay for a short; holiday trip, which th.os; made in oompevny* going to the Coiifcteisn.tj j^rid spending a. wsy pleasant time i» Var?s. SomQ vf rv Wour^bja ]pa?tic«lara «s to the. Ach^es^ (the company owning thtit 3iffc<;cnix mine, i» N,ew Zealand) are given in the 1 guardian," which states that " the mine is said to be one of the yii«heat in New Zealand," and that " people, ite, nod take fche same kind ot risk in investing ift, s,. New Zealand mine as they do when, investing in South African mines," because tip New garland properties and their upst petfor-nsaiacesi aye reoorded in " some kind of a, register ke^ at the New Zealand OoJppiaJ, Offtce & VleWa street. Westmi^feer,'! 1 ' Jn, Westminster AVfißjT h day or two a#i, £ acroßß the "much travelled" and ajxuostr. übiquitous R> & Smythe. He and his sou arc> otayiflg &t present at the Savage Clvb s bob lea.TO Tor Paris in a few days, l|o was aofc to fee "drawn" as to his nex.t colonial move. He. looks as well and as kt\aa as ever.

Mrs H. P. Lance, widow of tho late Mr H. P. Lance, of Canterbury, New Zealand, was married, ia&fc week at St. Peter's Church. Cr%u>ay CJiairdend, to Lieutenant-colonel Wads/ Ja,t& Qf the Bth King's Regiment, the fifth. se». of B|v K. O. Wade, of Clonebraney,, Counts Meatb, Ireland. Mrs Lance aysvi the fourth daughter of the late Hon., T#; ijtpbinuoa, otf Cheviot, New Zealand,