ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (PER R MS. RIMUTAKA.) (From Our London Correspondent.)

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 148, 3 April 1886, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (PER R MS. RIMUTAKA.) (From Our London Correspondent.)

Londox, February 32. The prophecy I ventured in my last week's letter to the effect that frequent and lengthy consultations between Sir F. D. Bell and Sir Penrose Julyan augured some new financial movement, very soon proved to be correct, though their meeting had not, as I fancied, any connection with lloating a new loan. On Tuesday morning list a most elaborate and important conversion scheme was laid before holders of Ne^ Zealand stock. The results will not, of course, be known for some time to come, but the general opinion is that they will be oven more successful than last year's attempt, which was somewhat affected, it is believed, by the Afghan war scare.

Lord Granville and the Agents-General. Having duly " sped the parting guest " in the person of Colonel Stanley, the AgenteGeneral again assembled at the Colonial Office on Wednesday afternoon last to welcome the incoming man ; or, in other words, to enjoy a little complimentary palavering with Lord Granville. Sir Chas. Tupper said the right thin^— rather lengthily— and then " Pussy '" replied, lie was urbanity itself, full of reminiscences of previous relations w ith many of the gentlemen present, and overflowing with promises to consult the Agents General on any and every colonial question To Sir F. D.Bell His Lordship was specially complimentary. With Sir F. D. Bell," said he, " I long ago had per-onal relation*, and I can appeal to his recollection with regard to the removal of the Imperial troops from New Zealand, a measure on which opinions were violently divided at the time, but which, right or wrong, proved conclusively how thoroughly Englishmen can be trusted when thrown en their own resources. I have, too, a vivid recollection of the services of Sir Y. D. Boil in connection with the important financial arrangements which -were then carried out. I speak with those feelings of gratitude which have been defined as hava prospective as well as a retrospective character." A great discussion is going on between Sir Philip Cuncliffe Owen and the Australian wine growers, who wish to exhibit their vintages at the coming show . Tho latter demand permission to sell samples of their wine in the buildings, but the refreshment contractors, who have already been robbed by India of the sale of tea, object. Sir ririlip i« trying to persuade the wine growers to treat with Speers.

Federal Mail Service. The tenders, or rather invitations, to tender for the new Federal Mail Seivice have been advertised some days, but I cannot hear of an y Company preparing to accept them. A twenty-nine days service between Plymouth and Adelaide is quite bes ond the powers of either P. and U. or Orient Companies ; indeed, it is doubtful whether there are any boats built save perhaps certain Atlantic liners that could attempt it. The P. and O. may tender for the alternative 33 days service, but even then they will have to increase the steam powers of many of their boats in order to run no risk of incurring the heavy penalties for exceeding contract time. The other main features of the advertisement are that the Steamship Companies invited to tender for the carriage of mail matter by weight, and that Great Britain and each colony is to keep all its own postage and to pay the cost of transmission of its own mail matter right through to destination. 'X Sussex county paper— which really ought to know better- announces that the " Wairarapa Observer," edited by Mr Charles Gibbs Beckett, son of a popular Lewea man, is " a most influential journal," and " one of the best, if not the best, papers in the colony of Isew Zealand." Well, every man has a right to his own opinion, I suppose ! Sir William Wiseman, who has just been appointed to H.M.S. Caroline, on the Pacific Station, is a gieat man atgetting up private theatricals, and will liven you all up a bit should his ship ever come your way. A paragraph in aßelgian paper — I think it is—stating that a great " Colonial milord " ■was recently bled to the tune of £0,000 by a jealous husband, with whose wife he had dallied not "wi=ely but too well," has excited conciderable curiosity in a certain Southern county, where the amorous proclivities of a notable K.C.M.G. are wellknown. I shall hear presently if there is any truth in the yarn.

The Colonial and Indian Exhibition. I walked through the South Kensington buildings the other afternoon, and had a look at Tshat will be the colonial courts, Messrs Gillow have about a hundred workmen busj' on the INew Zealand division, and it is Lu' more for<vard than any other, except, of course, the Indian. The space at the disposal of your colony, when one comes to look at it, does not seem largo : indeed, I expect Dr. Haa*t will have to exercise considerable discretion with regaid to the goods he really exhibits. As a rule, they tell me about half the articles sent for exhibition are shown ; the rest may never be unpacked. Possibly though, on this occasion, Dr. Haast has made special arrangements to prevent too many things being sent. I must pay again I was surprised to find the space so limited.

Special Items. The appointment of Sir Wra. De 3 Vccux to the Vice Royalty of Newfoundland if a great surprise to everyone, the elerka at the Colonial Office not excepted, as it has for some time been understood he would be the next Governor of New Zealand. It seems now certain that Mr Thurston will succeed Sir William permanent'y at Fiji. Colonel Clarke, C.8. , who was Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General in the Province ot TaranaUi from 1861 to 1566, has just been appointed Deputy Adjutant General of the forces in Ireland, under Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar. "Sister Mary" the now play written by Mr Wilson Barrett for Miss Lingard, was read last Saturday to a select coterio of theatrical managers, who one and all pronounced it likely to be a great Euccee3. Miss Marie de Grey i 3 touring through the provinces with a comedy drama called "Bela." Mies Minnie Palmer id drawing such poor houses to the Strand Theatre that her season there is to be cut short and the Australasian tour precipitated. A colonial correspondent writes to the. " Globe " suggesting that recruiting depots for the British Army should be initiated in all the chief cities of Canada and the Australias. He asserts that the measure would be most popular, and that plenty of good men of splendid physique from time to time would be forthcoming.

Bradlaugh's Visit to the Colonies. Mr Bradlaugh informs me that he haB completed all arrangement? for an extended tour of the Australias and New Zealand at the close of the present session of Parliament. He will speak — possibly formally lecture— in all your principal cities. Mr Chas. Cave, of the linn of Prescott, Dave, Buxton, Loder and Co., '.bankers, of

Threadneedle-street, has been appointed a director of the Australian andN.Z. Mortgage Agency Co. Hitherto the guai'antors of the yearly Exhibition at South Kensington have never been called on to pay a penny, but in the case of the Inventions, I hear, they will iave to disburse some small sum apiece. Had this been guessed a year ago, the list of guarantors for the coming colonial show would scarcely have looked as well as it does. Nearly all our principal New Zealand Companies are, I see, down for £1,000 or £2,000. The Thames Foreshore Gold Recovery Company (Limited) is the title of a nev-' concern being launched in London, the ostensible object of which is to test the value, and if found advisable, purchase fiom the Gold Amalgamator Syndicate the concessions of that part of the Thames foreshore granted to Messrs Tapp and Dunlop by the Thames Harbour Board. This land is situated on tho south side of tho AYaiotahi Creek, abutting on the sea. The capital is £60,000 in shares of Cl each, 3,000 of which are now offered for subscription. The Queen has approved the appointment of Mr Alex Shipley as American Consul at Auckland. " A Shipper " writing to the "Standard " complains that the great shipping companies whilst offering every possible raduction and accomodation to foreign shippers, will grant none to homemanutactuieis. For instance, he says, there is a good market for cheap pianos in New Zealand. Yet the shipping companies carrying to the colony, insist on a freight of £3 per piano to any of the leading ports, because they say "they are English," adding that if the pianos were German, they would carry them from Hamburg to Auckland or Dunedin for £2 per instrument, and in addition pay the transit charge" from Hamburg to their vessel in London. If this is true, what on earth can be the explanation ? Dr. Ogston, tho new lecturer at Otago University, fails for the colony per Coptic on the 26th inst. Mr Robert Frewer, Secretary of the Hospital Satin day Fund, acknowledge- the munificent cheque of £100 from Mr Henry Lane, of Canterbury, New Zealand, who dej sires it may go towsirds the relief of the distressed poor in London. What a capital example for your colonial millionaires ! Sir John Hall is in poor health, and not inclined to take a very active interest in Exhibition matters. He expects to leave for the colony in August or September next. At the tenth general meeting of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand," Mr Grenfell (chairman) announced that notwithstanding the depression, they were able to declare a dividend of 5 per cent., which, with tho ad interim dividend of 5 per cent, declared six months ago, would make an annual one of 10 per cent. The Australian Agricultural Company announces an interim dividend at the rate of 45s> per share. Sir F. D. Bell advertises that tho outstanding 41,4 1 , per cent. 5-30 debenture? of IS7O, 1873," and IS7-1 will be paid off on August 1 at par, unless holders choose to convert into £101 in ?4 per cent, inscribed stock. The Anglo- Australianlnve3tment,Finance and Land Company have declared a dividend at the rate of 2o per cent, per annum. Postscript to Summary.

I have arranged to interview Mr Bradlaugh next week with regard to his colonial tour. Sir F. D. Bell considers it certain that Thurston will now be formally appointed Governor of Fiji. Mr Bryce has returned to town, after a month's tour in Italy. His action is proceeding, though he is mucli distressed by the loss of his leading counsel, Sir Farrer He ?chel, who had thoroughly mastered the important points of the action. Since Sir Farrer became Lori Chanceller his brief has of course been returned. 1 hunks to the cold weather, the fro/en mutton market continues pretty firm, notwithstanding large importations per Coptic, In view of the arrival of the latter, an attempt made last Saturday to push sales, but fortunately without any damaging effect on current rates. Tug country demand, everything considered, is fair. Ivew Zealand sheep are making od to s\d per lb, and for choice carcases, which are, however, rare, a farthing more can be obtainpd. Current rates : N.Z. mutton, 3s 4d to 33 Gd ; Kiver Plate mutton, 2s 9d to 3s ; English, 3s Sd to 4s lOd ; bcotch, 4s Id to 4s lOd. Lord Capell, eldest son of the but little known Earl of E a sex, a young man of 29, starts on a colonial tour per Sutlei, P. and O. steamer, to-day. Baron De Tuyll is a passenger by the ?ame steamer, and so is Sir Francis Truscott, the late Lord Mayor of i ondon, and a very influential citizen, of whom you should make much.