ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 54

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Fboh Oce Own Correspondent.) London, December 24. LECTTJBE ON THE HOT I,AKES. At the Imperial Institute, on the evening of the 14tb inst., the Agent-general delivered his promised leoture on the Hot Lakes and Thermal Springs of New Zealand to a large and attentive audience. It was noticeable that his hearers were mostly Londoners, and comprised only a very small sprinkling of the colonial element. So far as I could see, there were not more than half a dozen New Zealanders present. Lord Ouslow, as an ex-Governor of New Zealand, had promised to take the chair, but was prevented at the last moment by a severe attack of bronchitis. The Earl was particularly anxious to be present, and had intended to deliver a speech on the occasion, but was too ill to leave the house. He went bo far, however, an to send specially for his doctor,, and asked whether he might safely venture out of doors ; but the medical autocrat sternly forbade any such proceeding, pointedly warning Lord Onslow that if he disregarded this prohibition there would not be the remote»t chance of his being able to be in his place as leader of the Moderate party in the London County Council when the great public works scandal came on for rediscuseion. This culminating threat did the business, and Lord Onslow sent a very courteous and regretful note of apology. In his absence the chair was taken by Sir Donald Smith, High Commissioner for the ! Dominion of Canada, who briefly introduced the lecturer, expressing his regret at the unavoidable absence of Lord Ouslow. Mr Reeves then delivered his lecture, which occupied about three-quarters of an hour. It is unnecessary that I should give you any lengthened or detailed account of it, as that would.be somewhat like sending co&l« to Newcastle. It may suffice to say that Mr Reeves set forth very ably and eloquently the manifold wonders and beautiep, and charms and eccentricities, and utilities and potentialities of that marvellous district of New Zealand which he depicted in a manner so attractive that I fully expected to hear or everyone present having booked a passage next day for New Zealand with the object of visiting the wonderful scenes described. I have since learned with much surprise that this expected rush did not take place. Seriously, however, the lecture was one of a kind which is bound to do the colony much good, and I should say that the more of them Mr Reeves can Had time to deliver the better. The lecture was profusely illustrated with limelight views. When Mr Reeves had concluded amid well merited applause, Sir Donald Smith rose and moved a vote of thanks for his able, eloquent, 1 and interesting lecture. But Sir Donald had

one exception to take. Mr Reeves had with some degree of rashness committed himself to the statement that New Zealand was tho British colony which possesses active g .' e»3 . Thai, was au assertion which Sir Donald . culd not allow to pass undisputed, so he proc'cu<:d to say that tbe British dependency which ho had the honour to reprejent possessed no. end of, gejsers of the most vigorous and exciting kind. He mentioned that arrangements were in steady progress for the establishment of a through mail service by way of Canada and Vancover, and ho felt sure when that was in regular working order the numerous passengers who travelled that way to Now Zealand would make a point of visiting the Canadian geysers an route, which he recommended them to do became they would be able to compare them with those of New Zealand, which Mr Roeves had so powerfully described. This gave " the Agent-general a nice little opportunity for exhibiting that smartness and readiness in debate which he has to often effectively displayed in the New Zealand Parliament. Mr Reeves, if he evor knew that Canada possessed geysers, had evideutly let that geographical fact slip his memory. However, when Sir Donald hwd finished he promptly spang to his feet and said Sir Donald's remarks showed how wise he (Mr Reeves) had been in omitting to say anything about the Canadian geysers. Ho was very glad he had not done so, because he conld not have described them half so well as Sir Donald had done, and he rejoiced that he had thus afforded Sir Donald an opportunity of dilating on the natural wouders of the great British dominion which he so ably represented. This neat little bit of fencing on Mr Roeves's part wan greeted with much laughter and applause. Mr Reeves was much gratified at Sir Donald Smith taking the chair in Lord Ooalow's absence, and he felt it to be a special compliment and act of conrtesy towards himself, ai Sir Donald was on the sick list at the time, and in ordinary circumstances would not have ventured out of doors. THE NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS. Comments on the late general election in New Zealand still continue frequently to decorate the pages of the London and provincial newspapers. The Dublin Independent, foe instance, remarks that the eleotion has resulted in a victory for "a Government, the mosb democratic and progressive in the world." Later it says, with a sigh, " Ireland would be a happy country to-day if it were as far from England as Naw Zealand is." Another paper says : " The general election in New Zealand has not ended quite so satisfactorily for the Seddon Government as Mr fc'cddon and his colleagues anticipated, and with tho slender majority they have now obtained it is hardly likely they will be able to carry on for any great length of time. In the opinion of the Manchester Guardian the moral to be deduced from the resmt of the general election in New Zealand is that " whatever good m*y coma from Mr Seddon's Ministry, New Zealand is committed to another long term of Protection, and of the most extravagant restrictions on immigration." Ifc seems to be the cue of the Protectionist and Fair Trade journal! to hull the outcome of the New Zealand election as a great victory for Imperial commercial reciprocity. For example. Sh-ffield Teletfranh says: "Tlie large »nd important) colony of New Zealand, speaking for itself, has not been long in giving an effective reply to the Duke of Devonshire's observations with reference to the commercial federation of the Empire." It next quotes Mr Seddon's manifesto on the subject aud the results of the polling, and then says : " There is no nrifttakiog a verdiot like this. It means that New Zealand at any rate ck'siret to diycuss tho subject afresh with a view to it* solution." Sir Charles Dilke, addressing a meeting of Radicals at BUkenoy, said that the Radicals should take encouragement from what was happening in New Zealand and in the Australian colonies generally. In New Zealand the people did what on the whole, with & slight set back at the last election' the Welsh had done, and what in England Dfian Forest had done, but what the English constituencies generally had never yet done —namely, in the face of opposition, become more and more Radical. He believed that the preseat example of the suocesstul New Zealand Administration, which bad twice appealed to the ''people without being forced to do so, and been supported by them, wou'd noc be wholly lost upon this country. In New Zealand they had, as in South Australia, the franchise, part of bis own scheme, well in operation. In South Australia they also had the most advanced social and tradt legislation in the world, and it worked satisfactorily." " Fairplay " thinks that the news from New Zealand is nob altogether reassuring as the Seddon Ministry have obtained at the general election a new lease of power." The same writer goes on to say "that Ministry which succeeded the Government formed by Mr : P "ance h»s departed from the principle laid ! down by the latter that there was to be no more borrowing in London, Instead of adhering to that recommendation the present Government have managnd to pile up a very substantial amount of fresh debt. . . . The outlook of the colony is far from satisfactory, and it would be mrrely giving encouragement to a vicious system if the British investor were to advance any more money to the colony." A much lees pessimistic view is taken in another financial journal, " Money," which says :— " Despite the fact that New Zealand is tor its population the most heavily mortgaged country on earth, as the people of the colony have come to stay and the money has been well and wisely utilised in developing the resonrces of the colony there is no cause for serious alarm." MRS BAKER'S NEW BOOK. Mrs Baker ("Alien") is, I am pleased but not surprised to see, receiving excellent notices of her new book, •• In Golden Shackles." It has made an unquestionable hit, and its brilliant power and originality are thoroughly appreciated in British literary circles. I glean a few extracts from the numerous favourable reviews, which I feel sure will be read with interest by Mrs Baker's many friends in New Zealand : — Dr John Clifford writes of "Alien's" "In Golden Shackles'* as follows :—" The reading of it has been a great pleasure. It is full of power, and is in my judgment a decided advance upon her former works in many ways. The style has gained in nervous streDgth and incisiveness ; and the feature of New Zealand scenery, life, and character are vivid and magnetic. Ralph's character is sketched with insight of the keenest, as well as with strong sympathy for the finer qualities of his nature developing under enormous difficulties. The fearful grip of the gambling mania is to described as to give a powerful warning." The "Christian World" in a long and favourable review says : — " 'In Golden Shackles ' is her third book, and confirms tho impression made by its predecessors that • Alien ' is no common writer. She has the gifb of invention, her characters are stroDgly individualised creatures of flesh aud blood, and her styla has natural force and colour. The author

is not one of those who wave aside the sordid tnd saddening, but happily she can see 'the tout of good in things evil.' The camp scenes ire as realistically pictured as those of Bret Harte. We venture the prophecy that ' Alien ' will take her place in the foremost half dozen of cur women novelists." ''The Gentlewoman" speak? of it as " another very original story by the author of * A Daughter of the King,' which made a good deal of stir at the titre it came out. We are given seine graphic sketches of ' New Zealand scenery. The descriptions of Miner's Alley at nightfall are graphic and real. ' The .father, with the natural instinct* of a gentle- j man occasionally asserting themselves in a nature given up to BRvage passions, is cleverly done. This book should be a favourite with bath sexes. The plot is well thought out and j developed, and there are passages of striking j originality." . The B nningham Gazelts says :— " Thi« is a thoroughly well-written and interesling story. The plot is distinctly original, and the cha-racter-drawing unconventional. The descriptions of New Zealand scenery, especially that portion of the book dealing with the rough life of a miner's camp, are full of strength and vigour. 'Alien' displays a remarkable aptitude for writings of tho rnore^ picturesque in nature, as well «s painting the ba.«e3t and most .sordid side. The character of Arthur Searell is most powerfully drawn. 'In Golden Shackles' provides a well- studied and carefully-worked-.oufc problem in life's philosophy which will well .repay consideration." The Manchester Guardian says : — "' AlieqV power is born of an accurate observation of life, and a sympathetic understanding of its 'possibilities " The Dundee Advertiser refers to "In Golien Shackles" as "an excellent work of fiction. There is a power and a spirituality, in this writer's work which elevate it high above the commonplace, and a distinct originality of sentiment rarely met with in works of tbe kind. There is & welcome frethness about the scenes peculiarly agreeable after a seatou in the patchouli-scented purlieus of Bdgravia. The characters are all strong after their separate fashion*. Ralph is the strongest character in the hook, and this inner story makes the book great. The pitiful condition in which he emerges from prison lends genuine pathos to the l«ter pages, and there are faw passage* in recent fiction to compare with that descriptive of the Mlf-made martyr's end." The Scotsman and others speak much in the game strain. GENKHAt. Mr A. H. Gee, the New Zealand bsritone, and Mr George H. Clatsara, the New Zealand pianist, are aniODg the artists who have been engaged for the annual concert of the London Colonial Club, which is to be given on the 12th prox. Mr H«n-y Reynold* returned to London on Eriday last from New Zealand, having arrived by the s.s. Rvuhine. Mr Reynolds is looking very well, an>l appears to hava enjoyed his trip, i excepting as to its last part, for the steamer was j stuck for two days in the Channel by a dense fog. Mr Douglas Johnston, Mrs. Pe.rcival Johnston's »on (who in captain of his football team at his college at Cambridge, Trinity Hall), had rather an interesting experience Utely. He went by one of the expeditions to "the land of the midnight sun," and one of his fellow travellers happened to be th» King of the Belgians. It came out somehow that Douglas Johnston was a shining light in the Cambridge University football world, and th»* King gave { him the most flattering invitation to bring hi« I team to Brussels and play there, his Majesty < promising that he would personally attend all ' their matches. On his retnrn Mr DougUs j Johnston accordingly endeavoured to make the , needful arrangements, but at the last moment ' the affair proved impracticable owing to the different dates at which the Cambridge and Brussels students broke up, while another diffi- , culty was that the Cambridge team played the Rugby game, while the Brussels men played under Association rules. However, it is still hoped that the mutch may come off sooner or later. The death is announced of Mr Robert Russell, formerly of Wangaimona, New Zealand. He died at Quarrthorp, Binstemd, I*le of Wight, and had attained the age of 77 years. Df Clifford, the well-known pastor of We«tbourne Park Chapel, in the north-west suburbs of London, will be one of the passengers by the B.s. Aorangi on her fint trip eince her reconstruction. Dr Clifford has decided to pay a visit to New Zealand, Anstralia, and Canada, making a stay for some little time at each place, although tbe total duration of his soj )urn in Australia and New Zealand cannot exceed three months. Dr Clifford's present intention, after reaching Melbourne by the e.s. Ao-angi, i is to go to New Zeafand by the Miowera two months later and stay in New Zealand for four weeks, then proceeding from New Zetland to Vancouver by the second trip of tbe Aorangi. Dr Clifford, who will be accompanied by Mrs Clifford, is everywhere so popular and to deservedly esteemed that he is sure to be •warmly welcomed. The South African Argosy Association, of which Mr W. H. Tyser and Mr Montague NeUon sra leading spirits, have instructed Mr Edgar Rathbone, M.1.M.E., to proceed to New Zealand in January next with a view to acquiring on their behalf any promising mining properties which require financing. Mr Rathbone is an elder brother of Mr Wilfrid Ratbbone, of Auckland, and up to the recent troubles in the Transvaal held the post of Inspector of Mines to the S.A A. He bad 13 years' experience making reports in Europe, the United States,. and South America before his seven years in South Africa, and is reckoned one of the first authorities on the Rind. Mr Rathbone'a stay will be very brief, as he is due Home again at midsummer, and will only bo able if time permits to undertake private reports. Mrs W. P. Tanner, of Christchurcb, and the Misses Tanner are spending their Christmas in London, their place of residence being, as usual, Bayswater, but early in the spring they are going to take possession of a charming little cottage orrU which is being specially built for *them near Petwortb, in Su«sex, by the Rev. H. Lascelles, rector of the parish, who is a cousin of Dr Jenner, the first Bishop of Danedin, New Zealand. It is situated in the midst of some of the loveliest Sussex scenery, and there Mrs Tanner and her daughter purpose spending the spring and most of the summer. The Rev. Joseph Campbell, who arrived recently from New Zealand with the object ot delivering a series of lectures on that colony generally, and on its mines in particular, made a start on his crusade by reading an excellent paper before the Institute of Mining Engineers at Newcastle-on-Tyne on Saturday evening, his subject being " The Mines of New Zealand." He gave a. very interesting and instructive account of the mineral resources of New Zealand and of tbe development of mining operations there. His lecture was listened to with much interest by a larg« audience, and he received a cordial vote of thanks at the close. On the 13ih of January Mv Campbell will lecture at Manchester on "The Wonders, *<fiautie«, and Gqldfields of New Zealand."

He has been spending a day or two by invita- ■ tion with Lord and Lady Jersey, and he left ! town to-day for Burton-on-Trent, where he intends spending his Christmas. Mr and Mrs Thomas Russell and their family are just now at Nice, staying at the Hotel Grand Bretagne. They will not return to England until the spring. The Hon. Edwiu Mitchelson, formerly Minister for Public Works in New Zealand, is referred to in one of the London papers as the "Sir Wilfrid Lawson of New Zealand," his defeat at the late poll being attributed to his prohibition proclivities. I really don't know whether Mr Mitchelson will take this as a compliment or not, but id may interest him and his friends to know how he is regarded at this end af the world. Mr Wilding having made satisfactory arrangements for the carrying forward of the business which brought him to England, has decided to j leave in January on his return to New Zealand. Mr Jospph Gould leavps London to-night en route tor Brindisi, where hs joins tha P. and O. s.s. Cnina on his return voyage t» Nsw Zealand, after spending several months very j pleasantly in the mother country and enjoying a j "real good time" in the way of shooting and j hunting. Mr J. H. Witheford, who came over from Monte Carlo with his daughters for the wedding of Miss Ida Witheford, returned thither yesterday, and purposes making a somewhat lengthened stay at that pleasant winter resort. The Misses Sievwright are spending their Christmas in London, but on New Year's Day ] they go to Southend, where Miss Therese Sievwright has an excellent engagement to sing at a large musical reception which is to be given by the mayoress. Bishop Jenner, formerly of Danedio, New Zealand, was in London a few days ago, looking remarkably well and vigorous. The bishop had come to town to take some confirmations in the Kentish suburbs of the metropolis. An inaugural luncheon was given on the 16th inst. by tha directors of the P. aodO Company on board their magnificent new steamship, the China, on the eve of her departure for her first voyage to Australia. The Coma is the largest English vessel that has yet gone to Australia, I and it is only exceeded in size on that route by | the huge new German steamor Fridrich-der- ! Grosse, which lefb about a fortnight ago. In point of size the China is rather more than 200 tons larger than tho Gothic, while she ia able to steam 184 knots an hour if required. She in one of four new steamers, all sister vessels. One — the India — in already at work; the ! others — the Egypt and Arabia — are building. They are, of course, fitted up with every modern appliance and luxury and convenience. I understand that when all these four new steamers are running, the older and smaller vessels at present afloat — beginning with the Parrnmatta and Ballaarat — will be tik 'ii off the service ; while I believe the Carthage, Valetta, a:,d Massilia are to be rebuilt aud materially i improved. The Agent-general for New Zea- , land was one ot the invited guest? at the | luncheon, which passed off well in spi'e of the i dense fog which prevailed, and which rendered i sccess to the docks a matter of -some little difficulty, if not peril. j It was rather uufoctunate for the rival line that Mmcst simultaneously with this successful new departure in the case of tb» P. and 0., the Orient Company should experience a serious disaster, and one which curiously enough was ] almost an exact replic* of a mishap sustained some years ago by the same line. The capsizing i and sinking of the Austral iv Sydney Harbour j is not yet forgotten in New Zealand, and now ! oue of the newest and finest of the Orient I steamers, the Orotava, ban experienced the same | fate in the port of London. She was being j coaled and cleaned in dock preparatory to start- j iug on another trip to the colony this week whoa through some mysterious cause she began ! gradually to list over. Soon the water first | dribbled and then poured into the port holes on the lower side, and in a comparatively short time the steamer fell right over on her side and sank to the bottom. S »me 300 men wore at j work on board, and the majority of them had all j their work cut out to get ashore before it was too late. In the case of five who were cleaning the lower tanks escape proved impossible, and the unfortunate men perished. For some days all efforts to raise the Orotava proved vain, and it was not until yesterday that she was onca more got afloat in a condition which will involve j some six weeks' active work in the way of repairs aud cleaning — for of all filthy things the Tilbury Dock mud is perhaps the filthiest. A miserable likeness of the New Zealand Premier appears in this week's Sketch. I should not hive known in the least for whom it was intended, and I read with much surprise that it wai supposed to be Mr Seddon. But either the Sketch must have got hod of the wrong photo or else its subject muss have changed wholly beyond recognition in the cou«e of a few months. I could mention at least two New Zealandern of whom it would be a much better representation. "A serious blow has b?en dealt to prohibition in New Zealand," the Globe thinks, by the report of the Yen. Archdeacon Clarke on the deplorable results of prohibition as tried in one of the Northern Maori settlements. The archdeacon's experiences and conclusions are set forth at considerable length by the Globe. The Westminstpr Gazette also observes that oiae result of the election has been the "smashing" of the prohibitionists. It regards this as highly significant. Mr Seddon's old age pension scheme comes in for some very rough usage at the hands of the BritUh Review which subjects the scheme to strongly hostile analysis and treats it as highly chimerical and impracticable. The Review remarks casually that "the machinery is, considering the nature of the scheme itself, surprisingly practical and business-like." But this little spark of credib is merely used as a gleam of light to m»ke darim°ss all the more j visible, and to show the provisions of the i scheme itself as all the more hopelessly impos1 sible. The article ends in the following agree- , able strain : — "New Zealand is young even for its tender yeara, otherwise Mr Seddon would hardly have ventured to introduce such a childish measure into Parliament. Under the circumstances it is satisfactory that Mr Seddon his been returned to power with a considerably diminished majority." One of the principal objects which Mr Wilding (cf Auckland), who has been|staying for some time in England, had in view when he came over wss to form a company that should deal with some of the Auckland suburban land, laying it off in suitable allotments and letting or selling these on favourable and ea<y terms to eligible people desirous of obtaining residences in the neighbourhood of the city. Mr Wilding has arranged with a strong London syndicate to take this scheme in hand. I understand it is proposed to assist in certain cases the tenants or purchasers with advances towards the cost of building on the sites rented or bought.

The Advocate understands tha*; Messrs C. Samson, A. Douglas, W. Snow, W. Kirkland, and J. F. Leary will be nominate i on the "moderate" ticket for the Taieri Licensing Committee-