ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our London Correspondent.) (Via Brindisi and Sydney.) London, October 15.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 131, 5 December 1885, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our London Correspondent.) (Via Brindisi and Sydney.) London, October 15.

Though the Ruapohu, leaving noxt Friday, makes Auckland her first port of call, I think I had hotter perhaps send what matter I have got roady to-day in case this mail should beat her. I hope, by the way, that for the New Year the New Zealand Company and Shaw-Savill's will publish' tables showing the exact dates their steamers are due at the various ports. We shall then have a better notion by which route to post our letters. ! I am very sorry to sco by files of the Now' Zealand papers to hand recently that some well-meaning but most misguided people are opposing tho erecting of a Maori whare or village (or whatevor native display was proposed) in the New Zealand Court at South Kensington, next summer I sincerely hope they will not bo listened to. The expense may bo considerable, but the money will be well spont. Unless something is done to qualify tho dreary sameness of tho piles of heecee, pyramids of gold, and small mountains of tinned meata, wines, &c., whi^h usually form the staple features of an Australian exhibition, the antipodean courts will be dead failures. To compete even remotely with the Indian palaco and ba?.aar with H,s native policemen, scoros of Hindoo workmen busy at their trades, and grand Durbar Hall, you must have some display that will excite interest, and arouse curiosity. A Muori village -would do admirably.

Tho Frozen Mutton Trade. —lmportant Expression of Opinion by an Export. In answer to the question, " Is the frozon meat trade paying and aro importations likely to incieaae or diminish in the futuro?" tho head of a large firm doing business as commission agents in Australian and New Zealand produce gives me leave to publish tho following : ll The present position of the trade in London id that supplies of New Zealand mutton are received in such quantities that it is impossible to find outlets save at a sacrifice. The top current price in Smithfield market is now 3d per lb. Expensos of freight from New Zealand, rent and selling charges amount to quite 2.1 d per lb, so that the colonists only get 2jd per lb for thoir carcases. This, of course, does not pay, and shipments aro continuod eithor because they hope to establish a trade some day at better rates, or because contracts have been entered into to supply certain steamers with cargoes, and these contracts must bo fulfilled or a very heavy penalty paid. Bitter complaints come to tins country from New Zealand about the un remunerative character of the trado, and threats are made to the eHect that it must bo abandoned. Against this must be set the fact that large sums of money havebeen invested in tho construction of freezing works and the adaptation of steamers to this now industry, and, however the farmers in New Zealand viow the position of the trado, they must almost certainly be under the nece?sity of maintaining it. "When the price here rises, a& it has frequently done, to either s^d, Gd, or even Ghd per lb, the colonists are quite satisfied, and it may bo taken for granted that at about 5M or Gd per lb in London or Liverpool there will be no hesitation in sending forward supplies. Apart from the question of prices in this market, the work of selling New Zealand mutton up the present has been ivther an up-hill one. There were three- years ago few f acilities for distributing it. Prejudices were strong, both in the, trade and amongst consumers ; in fact, it was despised. Things aie different now, and have been so for the last two years. Abundant railway facilities for distributing it have been provided all over England, partially in Scotland, and in a few cases in Ii eland. Trade prejudices have! beon practically overcome, and agents are to be had in every town willing to sell frozen mutton. Private or domestic prejudices have not beon overcome to anything ; like the samo extent, but the majority of the poor-houses, workhouses, hospitals, and also to a limited extent the army in England, are ready consumers. Tho authorities in charge- of these institutions aro not always cognisant of the fact that frozen mutton is being supplied, but even if they did know the terms of their agreement with the contractors it would not prevent the use of it, more especially as thoso who have to eat it prefer it to inferior home-fed j meat. Frozon mutton will never compete with prime English and Scottish mutton. The recognised freezing process must alwaysinterfere with the qualitiesand (lavour of the meat. It is already admitted that tho New Zealand sheep for frame and flesh is quite equal to best homo fed, but the freezing has the effect of detracting ! from its value quite 2d per lb. This cannot bo altered under existing circumstances, but the possibilities of invention in freezing are, of course, unknown, and might any day alter the position. As things are, frozen mutton can only compete with con tinental and secondary English, and until there is some radical change in opinions as to what i& the flavour of good mutton it will continue to find ics chief outlet through contractors who supply schools, prisons, &c, &c. That the above is a dispassionate and, on the whole, fair representation of the present state of affairs must, I think, bo admitted. I must say, though, I think that tho fact that no attempt in made to classify the different qualities of antipodoan mutton has much to do with domestic prejudices against it. There is (as I pointed out to you in my last notes on this subject) all the difference in the world between a joint from a prime New Zealand carcaeo comparatively fresh from the ship board refrigerators and a leg of Australian meat which (like some of the Lady Jocelyn'a cargo) has beon hanging three months in London, and, of courao, deteriorating every time the door of the refrigerator opened and fresh air enterod.

I The New Guinea Business. The London correspondent of the " Sheffield Daily Telegraph," who is always singularly woll informed on all matters relating to tho Colonial Office, wirad that journal the other evening the following enigmatic prophecy : " You will remember the New Guinea business. Lord Derby was implored by the Australian Government to declare a British protectorate over the island. Lord Derby refused, but had to acknowledge as an accomplished fact the presence there of a number of Australian settlers. Subsequently he became involved in negotiation with Germany, and sent an emissary to Prince Bismarck in order to eettle the conflicting claims of the two countries. The true story of the negotiations between the Foreign Office emissary and tho German Government has not yet been published, but I heard it the other day from a candidate for a Northern borough who is muoh interested in colonial matters, and at the same time associated with the German Government. I shall not be surprised if in the course of

his approaching campaign my friend lets oat a th'ng or two as to the contempt and derision with which Lord Derby allowed himself to be treatod which will keep him out of the Colonial Office for the rest of his career. I had no idea that any foreign statesman would so dare to treat even the most insignificant English politician."

Rabbit Skin Sale. Messrs Flack, Chandler, and Company, who are the principal importers of Australian and New Zealand rabbit skins, inform me that at the public sales on the 9th inst., 3,500 bales were offered, and 1,200 sold. The attendance was fair, but bidding slack, and prices ruled low. Good New Zealand skins attracted most competition, but wore in ehort supply, whereas common and low sorts were plentiful. The latter, not being wanted, were moat difficult of sale For the small portion cleared a decline of 3d per lb was accepted, the remaining lots being practically unsaleable.

Northern Investment Company of New Zealand The report of the directors of the above Company to be presented at the annual meeting on the 20th inst. announces a credit balance of £10,848, which they recommend should be applied (1) to the payment of a dividend of 8 per cent, which will absorb £5,590 , (2) 5,000 to resoye fund, which will then amount to £15,000 ; (3) In carrying to next account the balance of £258. N.B. — 1 am not quite certain whether this was not one of the Company's meetings I sent you last mail. A rifle-shooting match of a novel and curious character will take place on the 28th of November between tho 4th Australian Riflemen and the Devonshire Volunteers. The latter will shoot on thoir ground at Exeter, and the Australians at Woodend, near Adelaide, SA. Major Beach will rej present, the IJevonshires in Australia and Colonel Freeinantle, of the 16th Regiment, tho Australians at Exeter.

Personal and General Lord and Lady Carrington, who leave for Sydney on the 26th instant, will bo accom panieel by their children, and by LaJy Carrington'B sister, the felon. Julia llarbord, a young lady who, without being a iocognL«ed beauty, possesses a very fuir share of good looks. His Lordship has appointed Capt Lee and Captain Terry his aides-dc camp. Mr J. Sharp, junior, returns to Nelson by the Ohimborazo, which sailed for Melbourne on the 1 6th inst. At tho first meeting of creditors of a man named George Smith, who appears to have blended the curious occupations of vinegarmaker and bottled beer merchant, the debtor, in answer to the Official Assignee, said that ho attributed his failure to heavy loseea on consignments of boer sent to New Zealand. The people out there were absurdly particular: they would only drink the best Bass. Other brands were unsaleable. Mr R. S. Kan kin goes through to Port Chalmers per F. and O. steamer Miraipore, next Fiiday. Kopi'esentativos of the various colonies interested are expected in London daily to make arrangements in regard to tho new Australian mail contract. Tho Hon. K. (J. Baker, who acts for fclouth Australia, has already arrived.