LATE HOME NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3256, 4 March 1885, Page 3

LATE HOME NEWS.

(By Telegraph.) (Per s.s. Eimutaka at Wellington.) Wellington, March 3. When the Rimutaka left London Mr S. 0. Farr, Secretary of the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society, was m Edinburgh endeavoring to collect a quantity of ova from the northern streams for shipment to New Zealand . Professor Ewart, a noted pisciculturist, promised to assist him, and the cold weather then prevailing was considered favorable to Mr Fair's efforts. It is understood that the AustrianHungarian Lloyds intend to establish a monthly line of steamers to run from Trieste via Colombo to the Australian ports on the Southern coast. The service will commence m about six months. The intelligence received from Wellington respecting the intention of the New Zealand Government m regard to Samoa created a great sensation m Berlin, and was angrily criticised by the Press, which protested that both Germany and America would refuse to recognise the absorption of the Navigators Island by Great Britain or one of her dependencies. Princeßismarck referred to the subject during a debate m the Reichstag on Jan. 10th stating that Germany had hitherto had a tacit and unexpressed agreement with England that neither of the Governments would alter the statu quo m that quarter without the assent of others, but he had received, he said, still another laconic telegram of about half-a-dozen words : " That the natives of New Guinea had expelled the Germans occupying the island." He was at a loss to make out what that meant, but to his mind it was a remarkable coincidence that the natives should thus have simultaneously risen against the Germans m New Guinea and on the West African coasts. In Samoa, too, it was the natives who had prayed for annexation by the English colonies. "In short," Baid the Prince, "we boo others actively employed everywhere, while we spend our time m convoking committees and m citing Reichs Kanzler to appear before them." In another speech the Chancellor declined to indicate the direction m which he should seek to promote the colonial expansion of Germany, remarking " If we indicate to-day whatpoint we have our eyes upon a foreign flag will be hoisted over it to-morrow." He approved of colonisation far more from the standpoint of gaining markets for German industry than from that of emigration. He did not contend that the English Government prompted the hostility which semi-indepen-dent colonial officials were exhibiting to German designs. Owing to the extent of the English colonies all round the globe, she was scarcely able to superintend them, not to speak of governing. The Prince insisted that Germany was on good terms with England, and rebuked a Deputy for suggesting the possibility of their differences of opinion leading to war. He, however, made a significant remark that should the English Government fully adopt the opinion of many of the British subjects regarding Germany's colonial policy, ho should scarcely be able to support the English policy on other questions which deeply interested England, without incurring the disapproval of the "German people. Germany would be forced to support, without wishing it, those who were adversaries of England. He believed that Germany's differences with England could be settled by honest goodwill and skilful diplomacy. The London correspondent of the Post sends the following news per Rimutaka : — London, Jan. 16. W. Delisle Hay, of "Brighter Britain," contributes to the current number of tho Field an interesting paper entitled "Sharking m New Zealand." The Colliery Guardian of January contained an article entitled "The Wealth of New Zealand." The writer speaks very brightly of the future of the New Zealand coal fields. Most of his information has been taken from the last report of the Secretary for Mines. Morrison, the newly-appointed English master of the Dnnedin High School, has decided to leave for New Zealand m the Tainul on the 18th January. The Federation Bill is at present under discussion. Westgarth, an- American millionaire, is trying to_ form a trust agency, with, a capital of ten millions, to undertake the construction of a huge " subterranean " to accommodate all modern changes m water supply, electric lighting, sewage, etc., and a patent " to lift foot passengers out of danger of the streets," and the formation of " recreation parks and gardens m upper regions." The daily papers on Monday were very guarded m their expressions of opinion m reference to New Zealand's action regarding Samoa, evidently wishing to do tho friendly thing by New Zealand without incurring the enmity of Germans. The Times said it might be a natural impulse on the part of New Zealand to desire the annexation of the Saruoan Islands, though they were separated from that colony by a wide sea, but the question was not one that could be settled by the wishes of the colony alone. The United States would probably want a say m the matter. Moreover, it had yet to bo shown that annexation waa expedient, either m the interest of New Zealand itself or tho Empire at large. The Daily News supposes that what New Zealand wants is to be beforehand with. Germany. The Colonial Government may, too, have remembered that through, very similar procedure on the part of Queensland England was compelled to " protect " New Guinea. The Daily Telegraph opines that the Germans will be permitted to annex Samoa, as we could have no adequate object m fighting for land not really required for colonisation or the safety of our possessions. For -us to impose any obstacle would be specially absurd, considering that eight years ago we were asked by the native chiefs to take over the : islands, and formally refused the request. The Standard considers we ought to consider' the wishes of the rich and populous colonies already established, which are of far more importance to the Empire than the doubtful friendship of France and Germany. The St James' Gazette says it is probably safe to a3snme that an understanding has been come to between Berlin and London on the subject ; that Lord Derby will inform New Zealand that their steamers will not be wanted, and that Germany m return will giro an undertaking that they will not annex or protect the Islands. The Manchester Guardian thinks that if there is one spot m the world whore Germans would resent, and legitimately rosent, being anticipated by another Power, that spot is Samoa. It is, on the other hand, impossible to maintain that the possession of the group is a matter of vital interest to New Zealand. The death is announced of Captain Franz Eagar, tho eldest son of the late Colonel EdwardHungerfordEagar, sometime Quarter-master-General m New Zealand. The death is announced, under peculiarly sad circumstances, of Mrs Bloxatn, wife of the second officer of the R.M.S. Tongariro. Mr and Mrs Bloxam were .married m November last, and within a few days of the wedding the husband was obliged to join his ship and sail for New Zealand. He left promising to write from Plymouth and Teneriffe, but owing to stress of weather the vessel wan unable to put into either port. Not hearing from hex 1 husband for so long threw Mrs Bloxam into a very depressed and anxious state. On Saturday lost she was missed, and twenty- » four hours later her body was found on the 1 sands at Southend, drowned. It is thought a that she was drawn on to these fatal sands b by some impulse, and that tho tide came m c upon her unperceived till too late. On the -, very day the poor girl's body was recovered, c letters arrived from the Cape from Mr a Bloxara, explaining that was the first port c the Tongarivo had put into, and that although 9 extremely anxious, he had consequently been i unable to forward letters before. It is feared the news of his bride's death under 9 such painful cLrcumßtancei will be a terrible blow to Mr Bloxam,

At Newport a tradesman named William John Eskdaille, a married man with one child, formed an illicit connection with a woman named Price and determined to elope with her to New Zealand. He secured two berths m the R.M.S. Rimutaka, and bad got away to London with a lot of luggage when he was arrested at the instance of his partner, Thos. Dawson, on a charge of embezzling tho firm's cash. Dawson discovered Eskdaill's crime m a strange manner. The abßConder wrote to a London firm of passenger brokers, ordering them to secure him two berths for New Zealand. This letter was blotted on a new office pad, and Dawson, who was writing afterwards, noticed some words which aroused his suspicions. He cut out the uppermost leaf and read the whole epistle. The New Zealand one million loan was a great success. The total amount applied for was £4,129,700 at prices ranging from the minimum to £100, some of the tenders being for very large amounts. One syndicate with, it is believed, Westgarth at its head, wanted no less than £775,000 and offered £98 17s. There were five offers of £100,000 at £98 17s and £98 19s, one for £52,000 at £98 12s, one for £46,000 at £99 6s 6d, one for £45,000 at £99 17s 6d, three for £40,000 each, besides numerous tenders ranging from £10,000 to £30,000. The loan will not bo held by a largo syndicate this time, but almost wholly by the public, as only tenders above £99 6s 6d will be allotted m full, those exactly at that amount receiving about 65 per cent of what they asked. The extraordinary success of the loan is put down by those who ought to know to the slackness of the times, which makes the brokers grasp at anything (really safe) likely to lead to business, and also to circulars sent round with prospectuses by the Agent-General which explain New Zealand's resources and financial position so clearly and ably as to greatly enlist public confidence m the colony's credit. The £ uUionist alone throws cold water on the loan, and misdoubts tho colony's financial position. It reviews the Hon E. Richardson's Public Works Statement not altogether unfavorably ; but whilo recognising the boldness of the proposed policy of finance, questions its safety. I^Truth tells the following story apropos of the frozen meat trade : — A few weeks ago I mentioned tho names of some butchers m the West End who sell New Zealand multon. A nobleman residing not 100 miles from Grosvenor Square called upon one of them md asked him whether it was correct. On his replying that he had furnished New Zealand mutton to some customers who had asked for it, the nobleman informed him that he should withdraw his custom because the butcher did. not support Home agriculture, and yet this man probably voted with glee for the Irwh Crimes Act, which makes boycotting a criminal offence.