OUR LONDON LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 28

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(Feom Our Own Cobbespondbnt.)* London, April 27. THE FUTURE OF SAMOA. Quite a boom — indeed, quite a boom — in this "silly season," to the London newspapers, has bsen that cable message from New Zealand which intimated that the Government of that colony were fully prepared to take charge of Samoa, if the Imperial authorities could arrange matters with the other powers interested, and notably Germany. I need hardly say that if the New Zealand Government really entertained any desire to bring about that annexation, they most effectually squashed it .by the extraordinary publicity Jjthey gave to so delicate a diplomatic business. The Renter and Dalziel telegrams afforded abundance of " copy "to the London papers, but they killed the whole thing as dead as a doornail. This is how the matter was put by Reuter :— " The New Zealand Government intends to suggest to the Imperial Government to put an end to the difficulties created by the present tripartite control in Samoa,- by allowing New Zealand to annex the islands as proposed by King Malietoa some years ago, and placing them under a British protectorate similar to that established over Rarotouga. Should the treaty Powers object to this plan, the New Zealand Ministry will offer to govern the islands for them." Anybody mighb have guessed the "hullabaloo " which such a proposal as th ; s was certain to kick up in Europe. It was the old, eld, story ! British greed again ! Out upon it ! Tho virtuous Continental press were quite shocked at this newest instance of England's insatiable gluttony of annexation. They almost wept and quite swore over such incurable national depravity ! It wag plainly stated in Monday's papers that •' Sir Westby Perceval, Agent-general in London for New Zealand, has received a telegram from his Government suggesting that as a means of putting an end to the present situation in Samoa, New Zealand should annex the islands, which should be placed under a British protectorate." On this hint the papers spoke, and they have spoken quantities. All that tho New Zealand Hansards and Blue Books could tell on the Subject is being ransacked with a liberal hand and flung as lavishly at the heads of a bored public. Matters were not smoothed by the more recent publication of cable messages from Australia to the effect that the Governments of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania have cabled to their Agents-general in London instructing them to support the Samoan proposals of the New Zealand Government. The National Zeitung (Berlin) refuses to accept the allegation that the natives of Samoa desired to come under British protection, and wore averse to German rule. That journal contends that German interests are greatly predominant ia the group, and that this must be taken into account. The Kceuz Zeitung holds that, this demand on the part of New Zealand should be taken to indicate that the time has come for Germany to "maintain her national rights" in regard to Samoa. It cays v—" Should fresh negotiations take place Germany's prestige demands that we should advance our old but just claim." This shows the utter silliness of those who, while entertaining the idea which has been i cabled to the, London papers, could commit the huge folly of " blabbing." The only possible chance of success would have been by means of most skilful and secret diplomatic negotiations. It is too late for that now. The New Zealand Government have "blown the gaff "—pardon the vulgarism — and there is practically an end of the whole affair. . Next time, they want anything off a European Power they. had better exercise some slight degree of reticence. I may, mention that Sir Westby Perceval duly communicated to the Colonial Office the views of- his Government, and did all in his power to further those views ; but in the first place the matter was one entirely for the Foreign Office — not the Colonial — to deal with, and secondly the premature publicity necessarily "forced the hand" of tho latter whatever their own ideas might be on the subject. | So although negotiations may be undertaken their failure is virtually predestiaed. THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY. It is currently reported in city monetary circles that the directors of the new New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, in addition to Messrs B. Martin, Oswald, and Beaumont (whose names I sent you last mail), will be Mr Garriok, a brother of the Agent- | general for Queensland, and Mr Bristow, one of the- directors of the old company. Mr Bristow will thus be the connecting link between tho old and the new company. Some remarkable evidence was given by Mr Thomas Russell last Saturday, just before the closing of my mail. He said he made enormous sacrifices in connection with the arrangement of 1887 between the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company and the Land Association, and it had cost him £200,000 to carry through; he had thrown his whole time and property into it and bad placed behind it everything he bad accumulated during 30 years. The association was now in a position to pay a 5 per cent, dividend. He never had a harder task in his life, and it had been performed without remuneration. Directly he heard of this investigation he took the first steamer and came Home, travelling day and night, that he might be in time to give his evidence. The following striking passage from Mr Russell's report on New Zealand affairs in 1887 (before the retrenchment era established by Sir Harry Atkinson toward the close of that year) was read in court : — " It would not have required much" (writes Mr Russell) "to haveeet the ball rolling in the very highest circles, and it is difficult to tell what the end would have been. At all events, in New Zealand, a great national bankruptcy was staring us in the face. With fullest knowledge, I do not hesitate to say that in 1887 we very narrowly escaped the greatest fioancial convulsion that has ever visited the colonies. If it had come about, it would not have been con> fined to New Zealand and New Zealand institutions, but would necessarily have affected other colonies and the institutions in them. It is very doubtful if any New Zealand institution whatever would have survived the crash ; while, to' my certain knowledge, many gentlemen in prominent positions as directors, or connected with the management of large New Zealand institutions would have had to seek relief in the insolvent court." Mr Justice Vaughan Williams's examination yesterday of Mr Moore, one of the auditors of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, was, as many a delighted listener averred, "As good as a play, or better." Ifc was scathing to a degree, and the sarcasm of the keenest ever heard in a court of justice. You will be able to realise this in some degree from the report I tend ; bub no report oan give any idea,

of the judge's display of facial expression ; of ' his significant gestures ; of the extreme and most dignified politeness with which he deals his terrific stabs. Never was the phrase, un mauvais quart d'heure, more applicable than to every 15 minutes spent by Mr Moore under the stinging lash of Judge Vaugaan Williams's terrible sarcasm ! MISCELLANEOUS. Lord Ripon has been laid up with a bad knee, so Sir Westby Perceval has not yet been able to have the desired interview with him on the Samoan question, but it will probably come off (the interview, not, I hope, the knee) next week. In the Colonial Office the adjective applied to New Zealand's offer is, I very much regret to say, the vulgar one — " cheeky." Mr Lowe has reported to the Government upon the frozen poultry scheme. He has simply stated the ascertained facts as to prices and carriage, leaving it to the New Zealand producers to judge whether, at such obtainable prices, the exportation would be remunerative. He tells me that the 250 tons of butter on its way in the New Zealand Shipping Company's next boat will be utterly unsaleable by the time it arrives, except at such a nominal price as 70s or so, as the unusually forward spring has brought Home feed and dairy produce on the market to an unprecedented extent, thus utterly shutting out imported butter. As you will have learned by cable, Sir George Grey has been appointed a member of the Frivy Council, and so he becomes Right Honourable. But people are wondering at this honour being only conferred on go eminent a man years after it had been conferred on Sir Henry Farkes and Sir George Dibbs. The proceeding has not at all given general satisfaction, and I hear that wires are being privately pulled in the direction of some more suitable recognition of Sir George Grey's admittedly great services in the past. When the Queen returns I shall be much surprised if something more be not done. I still anticipate a peerage for New Zealand's "grand old man." There are now no fewer than 110 members of the new London Australasian Social and Athletic Club, which has taken a room at the Westminster Palace Hotel for social Wednesday evenings. Chess, draughts, cards, and other games are provided, and ample supplies of English and colonial newspapers. A ground for athletic sports has been secured in Lordship lane, and the first scratch cricket match of the season will be played on Saturday week, the sth May.