ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 53

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Fbom Otjk Own Corbespojsdent.) London, March 18. Ifc is announced by the Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company that warrants will be issued on and after the Ist April for the interest then due on the prior lien debenture stocks of the company. "The growth and strength of the New Zealand frozen meat trade is strikingly shows," says the Financial New*, "in the official statistics for the six months ended December 31 last, which have just reached UB. Whereas in the half-year ended Jane 30 the total' shipments were 43,593,1021b of matton and 2,129,1401b of beef, tor ibe last half-year the totals were 60 030,5211b of nmtfcon and 6,111,1841b of beef — an increase of no less than 16,437,4191b in the former and of 3.962,0441b in the latter. No doubt the seasons in some measure regulate the trade, but not to anything like the extent shown in these figures. It is gratifying to notice that from the very first shipment the increase has been a steady one, and the outlook for the future is said to be even more promising', for it is announced that four steamers of 8500 tons, expressly designed for the frozen meat trade, are about to be built for one of the great exporting firms."

Under the heading " A New Zealand Lodger Going to the Poll " the Westminster Gazette gives one of Mr F. O. Gould's sketches, which represents a bnliock travellie g at a very rapid pace, his nostrils emitting plenty of steam. The text is as follows :—": — " Sir Charles Dilke gave an amusing illustration in the House of Commons last eight of the fraudulent way in which the lodger franchise " is manipulated. In New Zealand, he said, before universal suffrage was established, it once happened that six bullocks were successfully registered as lodgers. But the House was not told whether they went to the poll voluntarily or were driven there."

A very fine new cargo steamer is being built for the S SA. Company on the Clyde by Messrs Denny, of Dumbarton. She will measure 425 ft in lengtb, with 54ft beam, and 32£ ft depth. Her exact registered -tonnage is not yet known, but she will be able to carry as much as 9000 tons dead weight. She will have limited, but very comfortable, accommodation for third-class passengers only. Her name is to bo the Waiwera. In conversation with Mr Potter to-day, I asked him what likelihood there was of the Arawa and Tainui resuming their running in the New Zealand passenger trade. " Very little, lam afraid," suid Mr Pott6r. •• The truth is, the passenger trade to and from New Zealand has dwindled down until at present it is next to nothing. There sre so many competing lines, some cf which give the passengers tbe opportunity of seeing Australia and other places, and the first-class passenger trade by the direct; service, without any mail subsidy, is far too small to warrant the employment of such steamers as the Arawa and Tainui. We find the Gothic and lonic quite enough, and if we were to run any more it would simply mean lesing money." ' Ik, is announced that the Bank of New Zealand will pay the coupon, due March 31, on the issue of L 750.000 New Zealand Assets Realisation Board 3£ per cent, debenture scrip; also the' interest due on the Ist pros. on the City of Ghristchurch 5 per cent, loan, 1885, the City of Ooiistchurch drainage loan, the Borough of Invercargill 4£ per cent, consolidated loan, and the Danedin 5 per cent, consolidated loan.

Captain and Miss Russell are again staying at Torquay, where the latter- will remain for the present. Captain Russell, I hear, dine 3 with Lord Napier of Magdala on Tuesday next, and with Lord Balfonr of BurleJgh on Wednesday. He ia expected to be present at the Oxford and Cambridge boat race. I jtather fancy that the nows oJC Sjfr Bobarb

Stout's resignation came as " a bolt from the blue " to the New Zealand leader of the Opposition, who is naturally much gratified at the election of Mr Dathie by so large a majority against the strenuous efforts put forth by the Seddon Government.

The Rev. Leonard M. Ititt called on me to-day. He appeared, as usual, full of life and vigour and go. He is at present crusading at Newbury, in Beikshire, his previous bombardment of the liquor camp having been at Kenda), in Westmoreland, He goes next to Hoylake, in Cheshire, and thence successively to Lancaster and Leeds. Tbe whole of his time in England is now filled up with temperance lecturing engagements until April of nexb year. His present intention is to leave for New Zealand, so as to be in time to take part in the local veto agitation at the next general election.

The Earl of Glasgow, one day last week, spoke at a meeting at Paisley, convened to consider ways and means of restoring Pais'ey Abbey. According to a local paper, the Earl, whether intentionally or not, was rather nasty at the expenge of the Marquis of Hamilton, who was present representing the Duke of Abeicoro. Lord Glasgow said : " You may not be aware that 499 years ago an ancestor of mine left the abbey a portion of his land. If be had left it to me I should be able to subscribe s good deal more toward the restoration of the'abbey." Lord Glasgow's little joke was rather malicious, for the land which one of his ancestors left to the abbey now belongs to the Duke of Abercom, one of whose ancestors "conveyed " it at the Reformation.

On Saturday afternoon, at Kempton Park, Mr Spencer Gollan's Ebor, the well-known New Zealand steeplechaser, with his engagements, was offered for sale, but failed to reach the reserve price. He was, however, subsequently and privately gold to Captain Lambton for, it is stated, 1200gs.

Ie is with deep regret tbatl have to record the death of Captain Li'vack, of the s.s. Manoari, which occurred on Monday last. Captain Levack bad been ailing for some time, and on the arrival of the Mamari from her last trip he was compelled to relic qu'ish bis command and place himself in the bands of doctor and nurse. He became a confirmed invalid, and it was soon recognised, that he waß suffering from that terribly prevalent and fatal disease consumption. He passed away very peacefully at bis home near London, his wife and family being with him to the end. The f nneral took place yesterday at the Ilford cemetery, and was numerously attended by friends and comrades of the captain, whose death is very widely regretted. He leaves a widow and seven children, who, I fear, are none too well provided for. Captain Levack was formerly chief officer of the b.s. Tainui when she ran in tbe New Zealand passenger sorvice, and he was always a special favourite with passer-gers by that steamer.

Captain Stuart, the genial and popular commander of the s.s. Arawa, was back in this country for a short time recently on-~a holiday, most of which he naturally spent with bis family sod relatives in SooUand, chiefly at Aberdeen. He has now rejoined the Arawa in bis former position as superintendent on behalf of the owners, the once favourite New Zealand liner being still chartered to the Spanish Government, by whom she is being worked very hard just now in connection with the American difficulty as to Cuba, and the Maine disaster.

Mies Ada Theresa Sievwright intends to give a concert in the course of about a fortnight's time. It wi)l take placa at the Salle Erard.

Mr E. A. Fitzgerald lectured at the Imperial Institute last Monday on " The Alps of New Zsaland," Lord Reay presiding. Mr Fitzgerald said the exploration in the Southern Aips of New Zealand was attended with many drawbacks. Bufc he felt amply rewarded for his own exertions by the closer knowledge he had gained of thi« region and the magnificent views afforded him of the splendid alpine ' scenery. A vote of thanks to Mr Fitzgerald was moved by Mr W. P. Reeves, who stated that the lecturer had risen from a bed of sickness to keep his appointment. The Agent-general pointed out that Mr Fitzgerald's expeditions had given valuable results in the shape of knowledge as to practicable saddles and feasible tracks over the mountains between the east and west coast of the South Island. Lord Eeay remarked that Mr Fitzgerald had done one thing peculiarly new in accounts of mountaineering : he had given nearly all of the credit of his exploits to the guide. — (Applause.) Lord Reay suggested that' the time was coming when Messrs Thomas Cook and Sons would issue tourist tickets to the New Zealand Alps.

Lord Onslow is suffering, I am sorry to say, from laryngitis, and has been ordered to go abroad as scon as he is well enough to undertake the journey. He was to leave to-day, if well enough, with Lady Oeslow, for Cannes, and will spend some weeks in the South of France, not returning to London until after Easter.

Mr Henry Stockwel), the New Zealand tenor, has been sustaining the chief tenor part in the " Geisha " during the recent tour of that opera in the provinces. He seems to have made a distinct success in his sieging and acting of the part of the Japanese lieutenant, Katana.

Mr A. L. Fogo, who wan formerly well known as a miDing engineer in New Zealand, has decided to leave for South Africa, where he will practise his profession in connection with the mines in that part of the world.

The bronze statue which for some time past has been in course of construction for erection in New Zealand to the memory of the late Dr Stuart is now completed and ready for shipment. It was inspected on Wednesday last by several old friends of the late Dr Stuart, some being ex-colonists of New Zealand, and all seem to agree that the likeness is a good one, and the statue a distinct success. It will be forwarded to New Zealand by an early steamer.

I have received an advance copy of Mrs " Alien " Baker's new noval, " Wheat in the Ear." From a hasty glance I am inclined to think it will be found equal to " Alien's " earlier efforts, if not a step in advance. The scene once more is laid in New Zealand, mostly in the Canterbury Province, and I feel sure there will be a large demand in New Zealand for the book as there was for its predecessor*. The following are the current quotations iv Lonaon to-day for New Zealand mining

shares :— Achiles, nil— 6d ; Aroha, 1-16— 3-16 ; Blagrove, 3d— 9d ; Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, 1 15-16—2 1-16 ; Glenrock, Is 6d— 2s Hanraki, 4a 6d— 5s 6d ; Kapacga, 33 6d-4:8; Kathleen, 7£d— lo£<3 ; Kathleen Crown, 6d — Is ; Kauri, l^d— l£d ; Komata Reefs, 6s — 7s ; London and New Zealand Exploration, 3-16—5-16 ; New Hauraki, 9d— Is; New Zealand Crown, 13-16—15 16; New Zealand Joint Stock, — 1^ pai., ex div. ; do Founders', 6—7,6 — 7, ex div ; New Zealand

Talisman, 7-16—9-16 ; Preece's Point, 3d— 9d ; Royal Oak, Is 7id— ls 10£ d; Taitapu Gold Estates, f— £; Thames Hauraki, 7-16—9 16; Union Waihi, 3-16-116 dis. ; United New Zealand Exploration, J—s;J — $ ; Waihi, 4£— f ; Waihi Grand Junction, 1 1-16— 316; Waihi Silverton, 116— 3-16; Waitekaurj, If— 2; Waifcekauri United, 3-16— 1-16 dif. ; Waitekauri Extended, 2s 93— 3s 3d; Waitekauri Gross, J— | ; Woodstock, I— Hi.