ANGO- COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 224, 28 May 1896, Page 54

ANGO- COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Ora Own Corbespondbnt.) London, April 18. Last Tuesday evening a meeting of tho Royal Colonial Institute was held, Lord Looh presiding, when Mr Juslioe L. B. Clarence, exjudge of the Supreme Oourfbf Ceylon, read a very interesting paper entitled " One Hundred Yeivra of British Rule in Ceylon," in which he reviewed at some length and with much acuteness the development of the island since its acquisition by Gteat Britain in the year 1796. Mr Charles R. Valentine, manager of the dairy produce department of the C. C. and D. Company, and formerly produce expert for New Zealand, left this- week via Brindisi on a visit to New Zealand and Australia with reference to the interests of the colonial produce trade genei ally. Among the arrivals by the s.s. Tongariro from New Zealand are Mr E. M. Smith, M H.R., aud Mrs D. J. Nathan and Miss Na*han. New Zealand Threes have reached par — that is to nay, they are worth more in the market tban British Imperial 3 per cent, consols were not. so niauy years ago. New Zealand and New South Wale 3 now^ stand exactly equal in the price of their 3 pti 1 cents., and the other stocks of the two colonies are practically on an equ«l footing. Do you remember Athena Claudius, who was a member of Mr George Rignold's company wheu it last visited New Zealaud ? It seems she is connected with the Leiuster ducal family. She is going to stay at the ducal seat in Ireland, and then will try her fortune on the London stage, where it is believed she is likely to make a success. Muoh regret is expressed in England among the numerous ex-colonists of New Zealand who are now resident in the mother country at the death of Mrs Suter. Most of them have p)e«sant recollections of the genial hospitalities of Bishopdale and or Mis Su tor's admirable qualities as a hiud and geuial hostess. Mies Ada Croasley, the Australian contralto, continues to go steadily up the musical scale in more senses than one. She hap been engaged as chief contralto of. a oompany formed by Adelina P»tti to tour in the provinces, and she ha« secured a number of excellent engagements ex) er ding far into. next year. Theieis no doubt she is a singer of great promise. Her voioe is certainly superb, even>when heard in tho largest London concert halls. I heard her sing " Caro mio ben " the other day at the Queen's Hall, and it was one of the chief successes at that concert, notwithstanding that Belle Cole, Margaret Macintyre, Edward Lloyd, and other famous vocalists took part. Ada Cros&ley, as the French say, " wiil arrive." According to the panittiry report for the Board of London for the past half-year, 283 carcases and 356 pieces of New Zealand mutton and 78 tins of New Zealand rabbits were condemned. The other colonies have about an rqual share of bad luok in this respect ; but a much worse stroke of this kind ,has fallen upon the shipment of frozen rahbits and poultry by the s.s. Aberdvffi, from Australia, nearly 2000 cases, virtually the whole of which has been condemned, as well as 2000 caresses of mutton. As much' of the Aberdeen's cargo had been sold "to arrive," it is feared that a good many claims may be made for the loss of expected profit, and some litigation is expected. Sir Edwin Arnold and Viscount Barrington wen* pafsengers by the s.s. Tongariro on her last trip from Teneriffe. Sir, Edwin Arnold brings with him some now and interesting discoveries relative to the unsuccessful attempt on Teneriffo just 100 years ago, which was Nelson's one failure, and in which he lost his right arm as well as the battle. An appeal is being made in certain English papers for assistance to Professor Morris, of Melbourne, who, it is stated, is compiling a dictionary of " Australasian English," and is anxious to collect all the new words and phrases, and English applications of words in former use whioh have come into vogue in Australia and New Zealaud. A friend ia the North writes to me that the president of the Royal Scottish Academy (Sir George Rrid) has purchased on behalf of the MacK<-lvie. Trust Art Gallery, of Auckland, New Zealand, the following pictures, now ou view at the Academy's exhibition at the Mound :— " A Border River," by G. W. Johnstone; "The Cottar's Saturday Night," by W. Hole ; " Summer— Sunshine and Shadow," by J, Denovan Adam ; an " Idyl," by Alexander Roche ; " Rowan«," by G«orge H*nry ; " The Haven Und«r the Hill," by A. D. Reid ; •' Glencairn," by James P&terson ; " Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before," by R. Pavton Reid; and "A Border Ballad," by W. S. Mac George. This is the third year that the trustees of this New Zealand gallery have requested Sir George Reid to do them a like service. The ninth annual report of the Noith Biitish aud New Zealand Investment Company states that during the year the debentures anSfcuuting to £27.350 matured, and were, as far as necessary, renewed or replaced. At the close of the year the investments in the colony amounted to £112,744 69, distributed over 51 leans. At 31»t of December all interest thereon had been ptid with the exception of £490 3s, which has since been paid. The result of the past year's working has left a balance at the crpdit of profit and loas account of £2615 18s 3d. Out of this the directors have transferred to reserve fund £600, leaving £2015 18s 3d, out of which was paid the interim dividend for the first balf of the year at 5 per cent, per annum (£645 15*), leaving an available balance ot £1370 3s 3d, which it is proposed to appropriate as follows :— (1) In payment of a dividend at the rate of 3£ per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company, which, with the 2£ per cent, already paid, makes up 6 per cent, ror the year, £904 Is ; (2) remuneratioß of directors, £200; (3) balance to be carried forward to next account, £266 2s 3d. It is officially notified that her Majesty the Queen has authorited Mr William Pember Reeves, Ageot-general for New Zealand, to retain the title of Honourable, Mr Reeves having been for more than three years a member of her Majesty's Executive Council for the colony of New Zealaud. In my previous letter I quoted a curiouslyworded paragraph from the Financial Times, which accused the Ageut-general of making an appointment with a representative of that paper and net keeping it. The explanation, I find, is this : Mr Reeves was obliged nt a moment's notice to go into the uty in corn ec t v with a board meeting of the Bauk of New Z «land. He was detained at the bank much longer than he expected ; but the business was important, and it was absolutely necessary he should noli leave until his part in it was finished. Meanwhile the Financial Times reporter had taken buff at Mr Reeves nob being in waiting to receive him, and he departed in high dudgeon, which exploded in the columns of his paper next day. It co happened feiiati mm t&

the Agency-general when the Financial Times reporter came ip, and I must confess that his atbitude was distinctly brusque, not to say aggressive— and I mght use a much stronger word. Certainly I can testify that he was treated with every possible courtesy by Mr Kennaway and. the other officers of the department. But he seemed uoable to comprehend that any public business could possibly take precedence of tbat on which he had come. Seeing that Mr Reeves had only very reluctantly consented to the i nterview, on the urgent solicitation of the paper, it aeoms to me that altogether they might have been a little more polite about the matter, eipeoially- as the Agentgeneral, immediately on his return from the city, despatched a courteous note of explanation and apology. Tho Hon. W. M'Cullough. M.L.C., arrived in London a few days ago from New Zealand, via the United States. Mrs W. H. Levin and her family are still staying at the South Kensington Hotel, but will move to Gledhow Gardens, South Kensington, in the course of a few days. The Hon. Sybil Cholmondeley, who was araying with Lord and Lady Onslow in New Zealand several years ago, was married last Monday to Mr Algernon Edwyn Burnaby, of Baggrave Hall, Leicestershire. The wedding took place at St. George'n, Hanover square, quite a number of clergy officiating. The bride was given away by her mother, who afterward* h a d a reception at her residence in Upper Gr svenor street. The presents were of coarse " numerous and handsome," one of special interest being a massive silver bowl from the officers of the Royal Horse Guards, in whioh regiment Mr Burnaby served. Another marriage which might interest New" Zealand readers is that of Mr Henry Oct-vvius George" Harrison, youngest son of Mr O. H. Harrison, late secretary of the department of the General Post Office, now m New Zealand, to Mies C. Sophia Frances Ferguson, the youngest daughter of Mr C. A. Ferguson, formerly of Lea, Kent. The wedding took place at St. Paul's Church, Chiswirk. St Eiwin Arnold, who returned from TeneriffK by the Now Zealand Shipping Company's Tong*riro, complains very much that homeward passengsrs from that island are never able , to oount upon securing passages by the homeward colonial steamers which call there. He says:— "Visitors live in terror of not being able to return when they desire. The vessels of tho great African and Amtralian lines which have borne them hither coma b*ck from the Cape and New Zealand too often full to the laet dozen berths ; and a rouud robin has to be got up by the excellent agents, Messrs Hamilton and Co., to obtain extra berths." - I am aorry to say Sir Edwin Arnold is by no means complimentary to all the passengers who visit Teneriffe. He says : — " Those with tastes less refined, like some am«ng the third-class passengers of the C*pe and New Zealand steamers, come a°b.ore aud get sadly ' off their heads ' with the vino tinto and vino bianco— common but strong liquors, — which lead to disgraceful cows with the Spanish I boatmen and police, and make the temperate \ islander — who takes a glass at most — look upon the English as an utterly brutal and inebriate race." Great interest h«s been excifcpd among all the life insurance companies, hobh in England and America, by the telegram relative to the proposal put forth by the New Zealand Government that all consumptives should be prohibited from landing in New Zealand. This proposal is regarded by some London financial and insurance papers as a very ingenious dodge for bolstering up the New Ze*l*nd Government Life Insurance department by improving the " expectation of lite" in New Zealand and by diminishing the death rate in that favoured colony. In the United Sates the idea has been caught up with enthusiasm, and I should nob be surprised to see it pushed into prominence there. In a letter I received the other day from Mr F. W. Fr&nklnnd, formerly Couimi c sioner of Insurance in New Zealand, but at present chief actuary for the New York Life Company, he pays : " Many of us here are very auxious to learn the details of the proposed legislation, which, to judge from the brief telegram, is co much in a line with sociological thought and hearing." Aud he characterises the proposed legislation as "semi-Darwinism',' — "that is to say, making a dißciioaination in regard to the admission of emigrants — a discrimination to be based both on moral and physical characteristics." Evidently the new experiment, if it be really tried, will be watched with interest in Europe and America, especially as the impression which has long been growing of the infectious nature of consumption ia now solidified into fixed conviction, and the suggestion that consumptives should as a matter of safety be as rigidly isolated as smallpox patients, is being more and more seriously oonfcidered. The Rev. J. B. Finlay, who was recently in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Akaroa, and is now on a visit to the mother country in search of renewed -health, is at present on a c)cliug tour through Ireland. He intends to include the Lakes of Killarney and the Giant's Causeway in his programme. Subsequently he goes to Scotland and cycles through the Highlands, paying a visit to the immortal " Thrums." The details of his tour in England proper are nob yet settled, but he means to" be in Keswick in time for the convention in June. Mr Finlay expects to be passing through Loudon abo it the end of next month. He has already benefited greatly by the trip, and he hopes to leave in October next for New Zealand by way of Italy, spending some little time in Rome. Before he leaves Great Britain he means to see and hear all he possibly can that may prove useful to him in his future religious work in New Zealand, spending some time in several of the chief centres of population, including L >nrl< n, Edinburgh, and Belfast. Mr Finlay's brother-in-law, Mr A. P. Smith (eon of Mr James Smith, of Te Aro Houce, Wellington), is accompanying him on his tour through Ireland. Mr Smith has obtained a good appointment in a leading London house, where he will remain for two years with the object of getting a fuller insight into all matters connected with the management of that class of business in London. Among the recent arrivals from New Zealand is Mr E. M. Page, of Auckland, who comes to place on the market a mining property adjoining the famous Hanraki claim. Mr H. D. Bell, M.H.R., tells me he has •finally decided to begin his return journey to New Zealand next Snturday. He will go first to Amerioa, and will spend some little time in the United States, finally crossing the Pacific to New Zealand by the next mail steamer. I learn from Mr Bfll to-rlay that, he is slill not at liberty to disclose full parciculats as to the progress of the negotiations in which, as you are aware, he has been engaged with reference to the possible reconciliation between the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand and the Grand Lodge of England. Lord Onslow and he have worked very hard in the matter, and they hope not without result, but at present the matter is nob considered to have arrived at a stage when any publicity is desirable.

At thia week's meeting of the Royal Colonial

Institute, Mr f. E. N. Crombie, of Now Zea» land, was elected a fellow of the institate. " Sir Maurice O'Rorke embarked on board tbo s.s. Gothio on Thursday upon his 'return voyage to New Zealand, and sailed fronl Flymoath to-day. He was looking remarkably well, bettor than I have seen him look for years past, and seems to have benefited greatly by his trip, in spite of having twice been lalij up with a severe cold. Notwithstanding thfy drawback he seems to have eDJoyed his visit thoroughly. With the exception of the great function at the Dublin University, of which I sent you fall particulars 80019 weeks ago, Sir Maurice has studiously kep6 dear of all public gatherings with the view of obtaining as much rest as possible. He was strongly pressed to deliver an address to the Colonial party of the House of Commons ani aho to address tho membors of the Hoosq generally on the subject of the " timo limib " rule for parliamentary speeches and its working in the New Zealand House of Representatives. But he steadfastly declined to do so, holding that such an explanation would come bstter from the Agt-nt-general than from the Speaker himself. A good part of his time in England has been spent by Sir Maurice with his brother, the Rev. Henry O'Rorke, who is rector of Peltwell, Norfolk, and ha 3an exceedingly pleasant rectory there. Somo time ago I told you that Mr Reeves was going to read a paper on New Zealand before the Colonial Institute next month. Now he tells me ho intends to deal as much as possible with the attractions of New Zealand fos tourists— that is to say, with the picturesque aud interesting phase of the country. " I mean to brighten it np as much as possible," ho added. Mr Herbert-Jones lias been deliveriug more features on New Z? aland at Newcastle and ia other populous centres of the north. He seems to bave had large and interested audiences, and nil the local papers speak of his lectures in terms of the highest praise, D. F. W. Pennefather, formerly Jprivatc secretary to his Excellenoy Sir William Jervofc, and more recently author of John Murray's " Handbook to New Zealand," htm jaat arrived in England from Adelaide. I uuderstand tonf; this time his stay ia the mother country will probably be permanent. A subscription list has been opened by the Agent-general on behalf of the sufferers of tae Brunner colliery explosion* The following contributions have been received up to dtte :— Mr J. A. Scrinageour £105, Hon. R. Oliver £50. Hon. W. Gi«bomo £5 Mr S. 8. Blackbun: £1 1», Mons. Lau«eiguo (Paris) £1 1«, Mb F. Douglas Fox 10s, Miss Grconstreot 6s. Mr B. Metcalfe Smith, M.H R., who is ia London, is actively employed in pushing various New Zealand interests, especially those in connection with ironsand. I mat him yesterday at the Agency-general, evidently up to his eyes in business and as enthusiastic as ever He is endeavouring to bring uuder the favourable uotic* of city capitalists the excellent openings for profitable investments which he believes to be afforded by the mineral resources of Taranaki, especially ironsand, and ho seems sanguine of success, although * ho informs me that he considers it would bo premature at present to furnish any detailed information as to bis progress. Afc a recent- m- tuigof fch<> Royal Agricultural Society of England, on the proposal of Sic Jacob Wilson, Mr George Jameson, oF New Zealand, was duly elected a fellow of tho society. Mr Jameson has also been elected a member of the London Chamber of Commerce. He has shown great tact and judgment since his arrival in London in promoting the interests of the N«w Zealand farmers' co-operativo societifls, which he represents in this metropolis, and has already won an unusual degree of popularity in the •• city." A few days ago I received a long letter from the R?v. H. Vere WhiteJ formerly of Canterbury lam sorry to say he has been for some little time on the sick list. ; first with influenza, which prostrated him for a month, and then with a severe sore throat, which proved very obstinate. However, he is fortunately much better now. Mr Thomas Russell, C.M.Gr., who has been wandering on the Continent, is expected to arrive in London this evening. I hear he is much better on the whole for his sojourn abroad, although the late winter has been so mild tbat even a' New Zealander need hardly have dreaded it. A statement has found publication in various papers that a cargo of splendid apples had arrived from New Zealand in first-rate condition. After much troublesome inquiry, occupying a great deal of time and labour, I find that these famous apples did not coma- from New Zealand at all, but were shipped from Tasmania. ' Lord Glaßgow'has sent to Land and Water a copy of the Obristcaurch Press, containing a long account of Mr John Grigg's farm at Longbeach. Tbis is reprinted, with various complimentary remarks. The British- Medical Journal does not view very favourcbly the proposed attonapt to exclmie consumptives from New Zealand. It c»Hs it "The Propo-d Q'i-ra»Mno agaihsb Ti-berciiLsis," and exprtssus strong doubts as to its possible (-fR. acy. Mr Bl'Cullough, M.L C, called on me the day before yesterday, and we bad a long and interesting conversation. He crossed the Atlantic in the famous s.s. Paris, after a very enjoyable stay of three weeks in the. United States. He lella me he was very well treated by the press representatives alike in Ban Fraucif co and elsewhere. I need hardly say ha was •' interviewed" to an enoimous extent, and certainly his interviews made very good " copy "in the American papers. Landing at San Francisco, after a short s.tay there Ms M'Cullough proceeded to Salt Lake City, where he remained a short time, and tbenca went on a journey of 120 miles to the mining camp at Mercur, where he made some important investigations, whose result is dealt with in my mining column. Then he proceeded to Colorado Springs, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, and Washington. Congress was sitting at the last-named city, so Mr M'Cullough. had an opportunity of being present and hearing several debates both in the Srnate and in tho House of Representatives. HaviDg good introductions, he was able to meet a number of leading men in American politics, including the President, the Vice-president, the Secretary of State, and others, with whom he bad lengthened interviews. He spent a whole day exploring the capitol and its numerous points of interest. Then he proceeded to Boston and finally to New York, whence he came on by sbeamer to Southampton. He expeots to be ia England about a month or six weeks longer, returning to New Zealand in time for the coming session of Parliament. . Mr E. W. Page is among the latest arrivals from Auckland, and I need hardly say he comes on mining business, which is referred to more fully under its proper heading. Mr Henry Reynolds returned to London last Saturday mghfc, having been absent nearly three months on. a visit to South America, I met him yesterday, when he was looking re« i markably well, and he tells me he h»fl had % mosb enjoyable trip. Having good introdoc

tions, he was able to see everything worth seeing in the Argentine Repnblio, and he hos come back full of valuable information, of whioh I may be able to tell you in a later letter, and come of which will he found ia my column devoted, to New Zealand produce. Mr Reynolds regards the future competition of Argentina in the produce trade as a factor in the problem with which New Zealand will iiave to reckon very seriously. Mr Harold Large, who arrived ty the h.s. Gothic, is having a very pleasant time visiting bis old college chnina and revelling in London mueio. He looks forward, however, to jrefcurn , to New Zealand in the course of a few moufclis. - Mr J. Burns, of Auckland, who had the misfoiiuoe to break his leg almost immediately after landing, hss gone to Scotland to efcay with his friends. Very complete arrangements were made for his conveyance by rail in an invalid carriage, without any inconvenience to his fractured limb, which -was safely secured in a plaster of Paris jacket. Mr and Mrs J. L, Wfl«o«, and llr M. Wilson, are expected to reach Rome next week, on their way to London from Palestine. Dr MacDowfll, who is a nephew o£ Mr WilaonV bas left for Home to meet them. Dr H. C. Barclay, of Hew Zealand, has had conferred upon him the M R.C.B. of England and L R.C.P. of London. Drßarclny is making a very close and attentive studyof all the latest phenomena of the Routgen phonography and of hypnotfsm as used in modern medical practice. The many New Zealand admirere of ' Mrs - Baker ("Alien"), the New Zealand novelist, will be sorry to hear that she has been suffering from a long period of ill- ; health, largely due to overwork, but complicated with brorebitis. Sbe and bee daughter have removed to the bre zy heights of Hainpstead in f earch of more invigorating air than Biys water affords. Mrs B.iker's illness has- unfortunately delayed considerably tbe appearance of her third important novel — "A- Life in c, D*y,"— but -she hopes to have, it ready for "" publication by the autumn, wh^ch is always considered a good time for uew bo^k« to come out. No fewer than 1000 copies of Mis Baker's last j book — "The Majesty of Man" — were ord> red for New -Zealand alone. • She has just staited a new serial story in " The Christian World," which promises to hare all the churm of her other works of fiction. Gre*t admiration haß been expressed on all sides at the exceller.ee or. 'the Christmas numbers of tbe Auckland Weekly Ntws. Christchurch Weekly Fiese, and Otago Witnrsa. j Many very capable judges have expressed to me the u'most astonishmeQt that, work of auoh a , high- class and of such distiucb artistic merit cobM be produced in so 6mall a colony us .New . Zealand.