[PER SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.] (From "Star" London Correspondent.) The Colonial Reception at Drury Lane. London, May 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 159, 3 July 1886, Page 5

[PER SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.] (From "Star" London Correspondent.) The Colonial Reception at Drury Lane. London, May 30.

Last Thursday night, Augustus Harris— •lways on the look-out for an effective advertisement — invited the Commissioners of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition to a performance of " Human Nature" and subsequent reception on the great stage of Drury Lane Theatre. A number of the Commissioners, tempted by the prospect ef meeting theatrical London, put in an appearance, but there were many notable absentees. The scene about midnight, when I arrived from the Princes Hall, was striking and liriUiant. The Duke and Duchess of Teck represented royalty, and the Turkish Am'bassa&or and numerous attaches the corps -diplomatique I did not see either Sir Saul -Samuel, Sir F. D. Bell, Mr Graham Berry, or Dr. Von Haast; but Captain and Mrs Xoftus and Mr and Mrs Henniker Heaton were present, representing New South Wales ; and so were Sir A. and Lady Blyth, Sir Charles Tupper (Canada), Hon. J. E. Mason (Fiji), Mr Bosisto (Victoria), and Mr Malcolm Fraser (Western Australia). Before supper Mr Gus Harris read a lengthy address of welcome, in which he requested coleuial visitors to remember that there were other shows besides South Kensington, and to patfonise the theatres. Sir sPhilip Cunliffe Owen replied, and after a capital supper hir Charles Tupper gave the toast of "Our Host," which was drunk with three times three. The stage was then cleared for dancing, and day had long dawned ere the company dispersed. New Zealand Exhibits at the Colindies. Amongst the notable New Zealand exhibits so woefully exiled to^he lofty and •almost inaccessible gallery of the Albert 'Hall may be mentioned Mr Charles Blom"field's interesting series of oil paintings of the Lake District, no less than 15 in number, and giving a capital idea of that wondrous region. Equally interesting and informing are Mr Douglas Moultray's *• Mount Earnshaw" and "The Remarkables from Franktown Road, Lake Wakatipu," Mr Lawrence Wilson's (Dunedin) " Milford Sound," Mr Charles Barraud's " Mount Cook " and *« Dusky Sound," Mr John Gully's "Storm in the Kaikoura Mountains,"' and Mr Samuel Moreton's (Invercargill) " Mitre Peak." Most meritorious and promising, I too (though quite Ioat in their present position), are the paintings and drawings of the Christchurch School of Art exhibited by clever Mr D. Blair ; nor must I forget to mention Mrs McCosh Clark's unpretentious " Summer Evening in Auckland," Mrs Hetiey's seiies of "New Zealand Flowers,*' •and Miss Helen Stuart's " Maori Portraits." Why, I wonder, have the water colour | aaubs of Miss Gordon Cumming been given a preference over the pictures of local artists, aud huug below. There are no less than 27 of them. In the New Zealand Court proper the Maori relics and portraits attract just 'enough attention to show what a hit a model whare or runanga with natives (wax) in full war paint would have been. A model of the terraces at Rotomabana on the same scale as Dr. Von Haast's instructive geological model of the Islands would also have attracted swarme. But its no use crying over what might have been. The Government that appointed Dr. Von Haast must have known of his penchant for geology and science, and might have been sure that in his hands the New Zealand section would turn out what it is — a small museum, pood of its kind, but popularly uninteresting.

The New Hebrides Difficulty. Bearing in mind", the strong line Sir Francis Dillon Bsll has taken throughout the New Hebrides imbroglio in favour of compromise, you can imagine his feelings last Monday on receiving instructions from the N.Z. Government to join Victoria in protesting against French annexation. It seems Vogel and Co quite share and appreciate Sir Francis's views, but they find it necessary (or, rather, politic) to conciliate the Presbyterians, and eo have decided to join the protesting colonies. When 1 6aw Sir Francis yesterday, he professed to be quite unmoved by his Government's change of front, and said he should now work loyally with the opposition. I feel sure, though, that inwardly he resents it bitterly. He has written a long letter to Vogel, fully explaining the position of the matter, and detailing his own views and tnose of the English and French Governments. This will doubtless prove a most valuable State paper.

Graham Berry and Lord Granville. Mr Berry had an interview of threequarters of an hour with Lord Granville at the Colonial Office yesterday afternoon, when hi3 lordship eulogised Mr Murray Smith, and quoted his personal views as having been in favour of the proposed compromise with France re the New Hebrides. Mr Berry, after listening to this, begged permission to be perfectly frank, and said he spoke as the representative of all Australia, for he believed the public of New South Wales to be thoroughly against the annexation of the Hebrides, and opposed to the declared policy of their own Government in that regard. He protested trenchantly against any arrangement with France. Lord Granville replied that the views of the colonies would decide the matter. It was, however, evident to Mr Berry that both the Colonial and Foreign Offices entertain considerable dread as to the future of the recidivieit question, and fear French reprisals.

The Federal Mail Service. The Treasury having considered the tenders sent in on 30fch ult. for the new Australian mail service, cabled details to the colonial Govern merits concerned. It appears the P. and O. and Orient are the only tenderers, certain arrangements having been come to with the Mesaageriea and Lloyds to disarm opposition.

The Sydney Branch of the Bank of NewZealand, The ugly rumours for some weeks current relative to the heavy losses inflicted on the Sydney branch of the Bank of New Zealand by its defaulting bank manager have at last got into the newspapers. The " Standard " (always glad to decry Australasian Companies) referred to them ominously last Monday. Mr Larkworthy, promptly dissipated all uneasiness by stating in the following day's issue that the amount involved would not at most exceed £10,000 ; that tbe delinquent had bean captured, and that a searching investigation was progressing into the busineas of the branch.

Colonial Visitors at " The Shipperios." A large contingent of our colonial visitors ■went down to Liverpool on Monday, 9fch inst., for the opening of " The Shipperies," as the Navigation Exhibition has been promptly christened. They were cordially -welcomed by the Mayor (Sir David Radcliffe). and entertained hospitably during their stay at the country houses of Mr Koyden, Mr_ Horafall, Mr P. H. Rathbone, Mr L. It. Baily, M.P., and other local magnates. The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Connaught, Princess 'Beatrice, the luckless Prince Henry of

Battenberg (who looks more and more luguI brious every time one sees him), ana a brilliant suite, arrived early on Tuesday morning. The weather, as usual in Liverpool, was raw, wet, and cold— in fact, a worse day for a pageant couldn't have been picked. For once the Clerk of the Weather had played Her Majesty false. Proceedings at Lime-street station were cut very short, and the Royal party drove rapidly off to Newsham House in close carriage, to the great disapointment of the tens of thousands lining the route. At four in the afternoon, the Queen and the other Royalties proceeded to the Exhibition, where the ceremonies were almost precisely the same as they were the previous week at South Kensington. The only departure from the Albert Hall programme wa8 that before declaring the "jShipperiea" open, Her Majesty turned a golden key in a model lock fixed on a pedestal close to the Throne, and immediately the twelve main doors of the Exhibition simultaneously flew open. This was highly effective, which is more than can be said for the performance of Mr Cowen's cantata, composed especially for the occasion. The acoustic properties of the vast nave are nil, so that the choruses were alone audible. An unexpected incident of the proceedings was the knighting on thespot of the Mayor (Alderman Radoliffe), whom the Queen bade to kneel, and then, borrowing General Gardiner's sword, touched lightly first on the right and then on the left shoulder, crying, "Rise, Sir David Radcliffe," in quite approved fashion. The 30,000 persons present cheered until they were hoarse, but as His Worship (who has been twice Mayor of the city and received more than one royalty previously) fully expected to be gazetted a* baronet, it may be doubted whether he was as delighted with this impromptu dubbing as the onlookers. Most of the colonial visitors dined at the Town Hall in the evening, where the Mayor entertained a large party, including the I>uke of Connaught, Prince Henry of Battenberg (less dolorous than usual at meal times), Lord Granville, and the members for the borough Of the later, Mr Baden Powell is becoming the most popular, and met with a very cordial reception. By virtue of telephones, the Queen and Princesa Beatrice (spending a quiet evening at Newsham House) were able to alternately listen to the speeches at the Town Hall and the performance of " Les Cloches de Corneville " at the Court Theatre. On dit, they preferred the opera bouffe to the post-prandial eloquence of Lord Claud Hamilton, and switched off the Town Hall direcMy after the Duke of Connaught had orated.

! The Australian Cricketers. I Eight of the Australians were engaged on | Saturday, the Sbh inst., Scott, Garretfc, i Bruce, and Trumble going down to Ester, and playing for Broadwater against the local 1 club : while Evans, Palmer, and Blackham took part in a little match at Dalurch between Lausanne and Spencer Clubs. In each case, of course, the presence of the colonists decided the game, Broadwater beating Ester by 121 runs on the first innings, whilst the Lausanne Club knocked the Spencer into the proverbial " cocked hat." The Australians didn't make any remarkable scores in either match — Blackham's 2S for Lausanne was the highest ; but Garrett and Palmer bowled beautifully, the former taking 7 Ester wickets for 57 runs, and Palmer dismissing 7 of the Spencer team for 10. Though the latter performance looks well on paper, it won't compare for a moment with the former, for whereas there was not a single batsman worth a dump in the Spencer team, Garratfc was bowling at T. D. Walker, A. J. Webbe, G. B. Studd, C. M. Hadow, and M, C. Kemp. On the Monday, the whole Australian team went down to Chiswick to practise. Spofforth making his tirst appearance in the cricket field since his arrival in England, and seeming quite himself. On Tuesday, they vieited the Exhibition at South Kensington, Sir Philip ||Cunliffe Owen and Mr Trendell doing the honours of the big show.and entertaining the team at the inevitable luncheon. On U ednesday morning, an early start was made for Sheffield Park, where, at Lord Sheffield's invitation, they practised in preparation for Thursday's mitch. W. G. Grace is in splendid form, and promises to do the " old country" Yeomans service in the representative matches again3t the Australians. At Lords, en the J?th instant, when he made his first appearance this season, he went in at five minutes to 12, stayed two-and-a-hali hours at the wickets, and scored SO out of 143 runs before the Kent bowlers saw the last of him. It is nearly twenty-two years since W G. made his first appearance at Lords. He was then a lad of sixteen, playing for the South Wales Club against the M.C.C., and scored 52. It is an extraordinary fact, and a unique one in the history of cricket, for a man to have become the best bat in England at eighteen and to be etill the best bat at thirty-aeven. The Australians have wisely selected three of the best umpires in England to stand for them at their early matches — Thorns, Pullen, and Farrands. Since writing the foregoing, I have heard some additional particulars of the visit of the team to the Exhibition. Only 8 of them, it seems, went. They were received in the Victorian Court by Mr Bosisto, and in the New South Wales section by Sir Alex. Stuart. Mr Graham Berry, assuming for the first time in public, his functions as Agent-General, accompanied them round the building, as did the Hon, W. Wilson. The puncheon was eerved in the School of Cookery Dining-rooms, and consisted entirely of Australasian viands, notable features being a splendid haunch of New Zealand mutton, thawed upon Mrs Marshall's system, and perfectly cooked, and some delicious South Australian fruit. Mr Bosisto presided, and after the usual loyal toasts, proposed, "Success to the Team," Mr Scotfc returning thanks.

Arrival of William Beach. William Beach, with his trainer (Kemp), and backer (Mr Beeble), arrived at the Albert Docks, in the Cuzco, on Monday afternoon, where they were met by various aquatic notorieties, the representatives of the sporting papers, and the music-hall agents, who have arranged for Beach's appearance nightly at the Trocadero and elsewhere. The " Sporting Life " reporter says :— •' One of the first persons he inquired about was George J. Perkins, of Rotherhithe, with whom he was on very friendly terma during the latter'8 visit to the colonies, and ha was rather surprised to hear that Neil Matterson had succeeded in getting on a match for so good a stake with him, but remarked that if Perkins had improved since he was in Australia his countryman would have no easy task to lower his colours. Beach was very anxious to ascertain if Hanlan had challenged him, or if he proposed to visit England, remarking that from what he had heard many people on this side of the water thought he could not beat Hanlan on neutral water. If, however, Hanlan came over to England, and was disposed for another match, a? he professed, Englishmen would have an opportunity of judging for themselves. On being asked if he had any boats with him, he replied in the negative, stating that he should have brought the

one he defeated Hanlan and Matterson in, but when in the act of shaking hands with the latter after their race he unfortunately knocked a hole in her bow, and he thought it unwise to convey a patched-up boat, adding that he was quite sure he could have a craft built here to suit him, he being no harder to pleaae than others, dtill, he retained his slide seat, which unquestionably suited him. In reference to the match between Nelson and Bubear, Beach was of opinion that the first-named was flying at rather high game. In regard to matchmaking himself, Beach stated he had nothing definitely settled, preferring to have a look round and to get accustomed to the climate for a short time before getting to work." On Tuesday afternoon Beach and Mr Deeble visited Putney, where they were warmly received by Neil Matterson, Christian Nelson, and H. Clasper (the great boat builder), the party dining with the latter at his private house. Beach then returned to the boat-house, and after carefully inspecting all the boats— both finished and unfinished — gave an order for two new racing craft— one for himself, and one for Kemp, the trainer. The champion hag no intention of going into practice at once — moans, in fact, to enjoy himself for a week or two before settling down. During this afternoon numerous aquatic celebrities visited Mr Clasper's boat-house, and made the acquaintance of Beach and Mr Deeble, who held quite a small levde.

Hanlan and the Australian Oarsmen. Neil MatterBon has commenced practice for his match with Perkins He gives great satisfaction to the waterside cognoscenti, who are unanimous in prophesying his success. Hanlan, in a letter expressing his dseire to meet Beach solus rather than in an open match, over the Thames Championship Course, says:— "All I want is a fair chance, which I did not get on the Pairamatta River. As every Australian {at least) knows that Hanlan both publicly and privately in Sydney expressed himself fairly and squarely beaten by Beach, it ie scarcely snrprising that the Canadian has been called upon by more than one wrathful colonist to explain his meaning." Christian Nelson is also in steady practice, but even in short spurts cannot live beside Matterson, whose staying powers are evidently unique. If a match cannot be arranged between Beach and Hanlan 'twill be because of the latter insisting on fixing the date late in the year. Beach has authoritatively stated he will not row in the autumn. New Zealanders at the May Meetings Arthur Clay den represented New Zealand at the meeting of the Congregational Union last week. The Chairman (Re^. Edward White) referred to Mr Claj den's presence in his opening address, and said that he hoped by the visit of this delegate from the Congregational Union of New Zealand, fresh energy would be given to their colonial work. There was much land to be possessed out there. Subsequently, Mr Clayden himself addressed the meeting, not on New Zealand, but in favour of Irish Home Rule. He urged his hearers to have the courage of their convictions and stand by the " grand old man." He was particularly glad to find the Congregationalists looking more to the secular interests of the people. Each tunehecameHomehefoundthe masses were sinking deeper and deeper, and lived in such houses as were a disgrace to England.

Convocation of Canterbury. At the Convocation of Canterbury a communication was read from Mr dassard, Registrar of the New Zealand Synod, thanking the Church authorities for the revised version of the Scriptures. A resolution adopted at Auckland, moving that Fiji be included in one o£ the New Zealand dioceses, vvas also read. The Bishop of London said he had talked over the matter with Bishop Selwyn before the latter left for England, and had given full authority to include Fiji in one of the New Zealand diocese?. The Queen has approved the appointment of Viscount Alexandrede Jouffroy d'Abbans, United States Vice-Consul, at Wellington, New Zealand. The Admiralty Court have awarded £750 salvage to the owners of three tugs for assisting the ship Brilliant, bound from London to Sydney, in a gale on Auguat 27th last.

Personal and General. The annual conversazione of the Colonial Institute is, as usual, to be held at South Kensington Museum, in the last week of June. Special eclat will be given to the affair by the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have notified their j intention of being present. The Deceased Wite'a Sister Bill will bo moved in the House of Lords by the Duke of St. Albans, on the 24th inst. All hope of the spiritual peers abstaining frotn voting has been knocked on the head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is heading an agitation against the bill. The Australian fruit (apples and pears chiefly) recently sent over from Victoria and South Australia is excellent, and has realised tip-top prices. No thoroughly satisfactory method of preserving fresh grapes seems to have been discovered yet, but the applea and pears arrive in prime condition. I ate some Adelaide pears at the Exhibition yesterday, and thought them delicious. Such fruit will alwviye be in demand, and command high prices at this time of the year. Lord Lamington has given notice of a motion in the House of Lords which directly affects Australian and New Zealand frozen mutton. On Tuesday next ho intends to ask the Government whether they mean to take any steps to prevent the sale of im ported meat as Home produce, which entails great injury on the Home producer as well as the consumer. The will of Mr Robert Alex. Brooks, the well-known Anglo- Australian merchant and bank director, has been proved under £176,000. Lord Carrington'e country seat, Wycombe Abbey, is to let for the term of his Viceroyalty in New South Wales. Mies Fortescuo will start on a tour of the United States and Australian colonies in the autumn. On dit that Spofforth has backed himself for £100 to take more wickets than Evans during the present tour. The Commissioners Club at the Exhibition was opened on Monday by Sir Philip Cunliffe Ovveu, acting on behalf of the Prince of Wales. Of course there was a champagne lunch. Nothing can be done at South Kensington without qne. The amount of money spent on this sort of thing already muBt be prodigious. The Hon. James Mason (Executive Commissioner for Fiji at the "Colindies") appeals through the " Times " for aid on behalf of the sufferers by the late hurricane at Levuka. He is also exerting himself actively privately, and as he seeaaa popular both with his brother commissioners and newly made acquaintances, will probably coliect a goodly sum. Scott, the captain of the Australian Eleven, when returning thanks after lunch at South Kensington, on Wednesday, said he was quite sure the team would always treat their opponents with unvarying courtesy whether they came from the turnip-field or the Houee of Lords. So far

as they were concerned, at least, every care would be taken to guard against such regrettable incidents as had partially marred the pleasure of certain previous tours. The " St. James's Gazette " suggests that when a title is conferred on Prince Albert Victor of Wales it should be that of '"Duke of Melbourne," and adds that the present would be a most suitable time for paying thia compliment to *♦ the chief of colonial cities."