OUR LONDON LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5161, 17 November 1884, Page 2

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(Prom the "Star's" London Correspondent.) [Pee San Francisco Mail, telegraphic from Auckland.] SALA'S LECTURE TOUR. PERSONAL AND GENEEAL GOSSIP. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. SHIPPING NOTES. LONDON, Oct. 9. BALA_S peepabation. Happening to be in the neighbourhoood of Mecklenburg square the other day, I made a call on Mr G. A. Sala, who is verybusy just at present writing np lectures and stories for his coming Antipodean tour. The veteran journalist tells me he has arranged to leave London by the Becond P. and O. steamer in January, and wUI probably make his first appearance before a Colonial audience at Adelaide. MrG. A. Sala's course of lectures bears the title, "Life as I have Seen It," and will be divided into four evenings — 1. From the coronation of the Queen to the Czars assassination; 2. Politics, statesmen and revolutions; 3. Literature and art; 4. Society. For small towns where he can only stop one night, the lecturer has prepared an amusing " 011 a Podrida," comprising choice selections from his inimitable " Good Stories " and after dinner anecdotes. As the route will, of .course, be settled for him by his managers, Messrs Allison and Rignold, G. A. S. cannot definitely name the date of his probable arrival in New Zealand. I fear, however, it may be during your winter time. I sincerely hope not, for bad weather would interfere with his* seeing the Southern Sounds, the Hot Lake terraces, &c, and so deprive the Colony of having its wonderland done justice to by * practised hand in the columns of the übiquitous and inevitable Daily Telegraph. * A WEDDING TEIP. Talking of visitors to the Australasian wonderland reminds me that it is becoming quite a common thing for newly-married couples to take a run out to your part of the world by way of a wedding tour. Of course one doesn't always find them out, but now and again some case crops up publicly. For example, Mr and Mrs William Robert Bagley, who were married with great eclat at Loddington, Wilts, the other day, leave by an early steamer tospend the winter at the Antipodes. The bride is the daughter of the Eev H. Munn, Prebendary and Rector of Loddington, and a great beauty. Your lady readers may be interested to know that her travelling dress was of bronze green Cashmere, and silk bonnet to match, with pale yellowaigrette. THE MIGNONETTE'B SUEVIVOKS. Mr Thompson, of the Thames Yacht Agency, who sold the unfortunate Mignonette to Mr Want, of Sydney, has, through Land and Water, been soliciting alms for the cannabalistic survivors. As I told you in a recent letter, several Anglo-Colonial gentlemen long ago interested themselves in the case, and are ready to send Dudley and his men out of the country as soon as they recover their freedom. The action of Mr Thompson was consequently unnecessary, and not in very good taste. Possibly, however, he found it necessary to do something for the men in order to relieve his owu mind. You know it has been hinted in more than one quarter that the Mignonette was too old a boat to make the long voyage to Sydney in safety. FLATS AND SHARPS : A STORY WITH A MORAL. The danger of entering into too ardent friendship with strangers on board, was practically illustrated at the Bow street I Police Court on Tuesday, when William ! Clarke, described as a contractor and j timber merchant from Australia, but in I reality a very well known character in the Upper Thames district of New Zealand, ' prosecuted John Ward, William Don, and ; George Richards, for easing him of sums iof money to the amount of £240. The j case striking me as a peculiar one. I made ; inquiries and ascertained the following par- ; ticulars : — Clarke and Ward came home i together by the same vessel, and on the '» passage grew (as Clarke says) " very chummy." James Ward is a turfite and : blackleg well known under various aliases to Colonial Police Courts. Clarke guessed him to bo a " sharper," but thought his guidance and advice on English racecourses might be valuable. The pair went to i various meetings together, and in due ' course fell across Dan and Richards. The j latter is an ex-New Zealand bookmaker, who bolted Home three or four years ago ' after the Dunedin Cup. He changed his i name, and has since earned a precarious ! living as a welsher, confidence-trick eon- . federate and small swindler. Ward represented Don and Richards as prosperous and very lucky backers, with special sources of information, and suggested that Don should work his and Clarke's joint commissions. Don did so to such tune that Clarke soon lost .£4OO. When the latter suspected he was being swindled, he said nothing to the '* sparks," but quietly con-

talted the police, who arrested the trio l-edhahded, wit_ JE3OO in "Bank of Elegance" npba upon them. The latter Irere largely used by the racecourse swindlers, wfeo, in the scuffle and hurry of a " rush " managed to plant a flash fiver or termer on abookmaker. Tfcey are useful, too, as a bait for " flats.'* For example, when <Jlarke saw Ward faafcding or „40 m _ otes to Don to ktveet on a hor3e on his ■behalf, he no longer hesitated to trust the latter with £5. last Monday, Ward, Don and Richards were again brought up at Bow street, and after further examination •were all three committed for trial. OUB TROUT. A paper cm " New Zealand Trout," ■originally read before the Otago Institute, has been printed in Land and Water, and is attracting some little attention, as it contains mnch interesting information respecting river fisheries in general. The Globe, after snnnnarking very briefly the substance of the article, observes : — " Many instances are given which serve to show that the colonists will 30on have to be as sharp npon poachers and "upon injurious factories as we are beginning to be here in England, if the same bad results as have occurred here are to be avoided." An interesting letter from Mr A. B. Booth, of Cambridge, Waikato, describing life and labour in that apparently highly favoured locality, appeared in the Scaig ness Herald of Oct. 3. According to Mr Booth, farming even in the most fertile parts of New Zealand is anxious and trying work, the times too often being bad and trade slack. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE: ITB GROWTH AND PBOBPECTB. ■ Messrs Shaw, Savill's chartered steamer •Coptic arrived at Gravesend on Sept. 27, after a long passage of 50 days. She left lyttelton on August 8, reached Rio on Sept. 3, left again on Sept. 4, and arrived at Plymouth on Sept. 27. The Coptic brings the largest cargo of frozen mutton ever landed in England, having on board no less than 23,000 carcases. The meat is in fine condition, and the first 50 carcases "brought into Smithfield realised G£d per lb. This high price unfortunately was not maintained, but the meat is selling at an average of o'd. • The following table, compiled from official -returns by the British Australasian, shows the rapid growth of the frozen meat trade •with New Zealand and Australia during the last three years. The shipments this year, up to the end of August last, have far surpassed anything before attained, 'being 251 per cent over the corresponding period of ISS3, and 611 per cent in excess of the first eight months of 1882. The arrivals during the lost month have been the largest yet recorded : —

I see from the Yorkshire Post that last week the Borough Inspector of Keighley seized and destroyed six carcases, several quarters, and 71 other pieces of New Zealand mutton, which was unfit for use. This sort of thing does an immense amount of harm to the trade, as it prevents small Tetail butchers from selling on account of the risk they think they run of its turning had. Messrs Nelson Brothers are now advertising in the London papers that they will . forward to any address in England a New .Zealand sheep for 46s Sd. They reckon -carcase to be from 70 to 80 lb3 weight, and charge at the rate' of 7d per lb, undertaking to return any money which may be overpaid if - the sheep is less than 801 b in -weight. This is a really first rate idea, and ■w_l do a great deal of good in popularising _rozen mutton. You will be glad to hear that the price of frozen mutton ha 3 now become firmly _xed at 6£d, sometimes even rising to 6i<L for exceptionally fine carcases. The Coptic's meat has all been cleared out of the ship in first rate order, and batchers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Tongariro, which is expected at 'Gravesend to-n»rrow. The cheese which arrived in the Doric last month is still unsold. The consignees find, thai it cannot compete with new American cheese, which is now coming into Lendon in enormous quantities. The New .Zealand cheese is therefore being carefully lept in the warehouses until the glut has passed over. The market for preserved beef is very bad _ow, and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency has determined not to sell -any of the excellent shipment per Doric i Tintil prices harden considerably. A rifle challenge. The Volunteer Service Gazette of Oct. 4 -contained the following letter, addressed to • Messrs Hobson and Sons, from Major Sumpter, the officer commanding the -Oarnaru Volunteer district : — " I have the honour to enclose herewith memo of particulars of a challenge, which I shall esteem Jka great favour if you will, on behalf of the battalion I have the honour to comimand, send to as many companies of Artillery and Rifles as you conveniently can, as we axe very anxious to try our skill with Some teams and as lam not acquainted -with any oi the officers, I shall esteem it a .-great favour if you will-undertake this duty. Introduce my name to them, and ask them 4o kindly correspond with me on the subject, ahd*to at once proceed with matches, Jetting me mow the result, and I will at ■once send our scoiee. We Bhall be glad if _ie team firing will appoint an umpire outaide of their company to represent us." I think that in all probability Maj or Sumpter 's challenge will be responded to by many Tlngb'sh Volunteers. Our riflemen and artillerymen are very fond of colonial matches, and a team of Volunteer Artillery has just returned from Canada, where they had. competed with the local batteries. At the Wimbledon meeting every year there is a. competition between Great Britain and the Colonies for the Rajah of Kolapore's Cup. -Canada, India,. Jersey and Guernsey usually compete with Britishers for that trophy,. and of a surety nothing would give our Volunteers greater pleasure than to see a team of New Zealand men shooting at Wimbledon-next year. Mr Anthony -bVvude btates through the columns of -the .Athencßum that .he has not any immediate intention of visiting Australia and New Zealand. " The Sanatorium of the Southern Ocean "is the .title of a well written descriptive article, about the Hot Lake district of New Zealand in the Comhill for October. The .author's name has not transpired. Intending —chabitors, residing in New Zealand, who require space either at the Inventors' Exhibition next summer, or at . the Indian and Cdoroal Exhibition, in 1886, should apply at occe by letter to the Secretary at South Kensington. The Ocean Steaia Yachting Company purpose sending the Bcrglon on a cruise to Australia, Tasmania, 2Jew Zealand, and the-Pacific Islands next year. Sir Frederick R. Weld, K.C.M.G., is to be banquetted at Willis' Eooms one eveningthis wzekMr James Dewharst, who has been playing Holy Clement in "Claudian " through ' <the EngUsh provinces, intends after the *un of " J£amlet '"' at the Princess', to take Messrs Wi|lis and Merivale's famous drama • <oaa a tour ,of the Colonies. Mr Leonard I Boyae will, 7 j£ possible, be engaged for the ■' title .role. _Mr Biackbmn, the English Chess Champion, Reaves -England on a tour of the AnstraiUau Colonies early this month. Mr Blackburn, who has suffered from bad j health laftely, attended the meeting of the j City, of London G&ess Club on Monday ! evening, inor4er tohid his brother mem- ! hers " Crood bye/* Mr Adams, in proposing the departing champion's health on behalf at the Club, wished him " lon voyage " and " a safe return." Ah agnostic's progress from the " Known I to the Unknown/ by an Awrtralian journalist, is announced for publication by Griffith and Farran. , At the Kempton Park races on Friday, Oct, 3, My Long, the popular Australian

! sportsman, scored his first great success I this year by winning the Champion Nurj eery handicap of .£925, for two-year-olds, J with Dame Agnes, a nice-looking filly by ; Hermit, out of Belle Agnes, which beat Bellarina, Marruard, and a field of 13. Dame Agnes was ridden by Webb, and started first favourite at 5 to 1. Tour old friend Jem Mace was one of the ; spectators at an Epsom prize fight last i week, and narrowly escaped being run in :by the police. The principals and twelve ' spectators were caught, and will very pro- ; bably be imprisoned. ; " The niceties of football," says the \ Sporting Life, "have never been thoroughly ! mastered outside New Zealand, where the I Maoris bring their untutored intelligence ;to bear upon the gentle game. A match at a place known by the name of Onehunga, was entirely won through the prowess of a Maori named Dawson, who hit the half- ■ back on the other side on tho cheek, and • when he was collared on the line, struggled on with a fragment of the goal-keeper's fingers between his teeth. A real football player, that Dawson." On Oct. 1, Mr John Earl Raven, barrister- : at-law, eldest son of the Rev John Raven, of Worthing, and Christchurch, New Zealand, was married to Alice, third daughter of the late Mr Edward Coomber, of Myddleton Hall, Warrington. Mr David Smythe, of Invercargill, who came home in the Ruapehu last May, intends to return in the Kaikoura. Mr Smythe has been travelling in Scotland, looking up old friends and relations, and his stay among his native heather has con- ; siderably improved his health. Mr Smythe ; is at present in London, but will shortly ■ go down to Plymouth and spend a few weeks there before joining the Kaikoura. The Agent-General has received instructions from the Colony to forward all nominated emigrants who have been waiting, at once. Consequently, about 800 adults will be sent to New Zealand during the next three months. The first instalment, about 250, will probably leave in the Arawa on Nov. 5. The index to the third part of the New ' Zealand Handbook has just been placed in the printers' hands. It will be another month, I am told, before the volume is issued. Mr William Allbones, who took out the last lot of stoats and weasels to New Zealand, is busy collecting another batch of 200. He has already got together about 80, Mid hopes to have the entire lot ready in a month or so. SHIPPING AND PASSENGER NOTES. The Orient liner Lusitania took the following through passengers : — For Lyttelton — Messrs C. Bankes and W. B. Scott ; for Wellington — Mr James Atkinson; for Picton — Mr S. L. Muller and Mr and Miss Rogers. The following is a list of saloon passengers by Messrs Shaw, Savill's Coptic, which leaves Gravesend to-day for Otago, Wellington, and Canterbury ; — First saloon : For Otago — Mr and Mrs Cunningham and party (8), Mrs Moody, D. A. Jolly, S. ! Adam, Miss Eliza Adam, and C. E. Lewis. ! For Canterbury — Mr and Mrs White, Miss ; Mary White, and Mr W. G. Landys. Second saloon: For Otago — Messrs G. H. and F. Maitland, Samuel Reid, G. M. Homer, Mis 3 J. Jack, Miss Sarah Latham, Fred. C. Baines, Fred Norton, R. C. Cochrane. For Canterbury — Messrs J. C. and R. R. Mi'iikin, Henry Sullivan, G. M. Green, ' Isaac Thompson, H. Miller, Miss Sarah Guilkleride, Mrs C. Shannon, Mrs F. N. Lee, Mrs Demmerslie. The following are booked by the • Kaikoura from London, Oct. 23 : — First saloon : For Lyttelton — Miss Fellowes, F. Fellowes, Mrs E. Packe, H. Zender, Mrs Gall, Mr and Mrs Hall, son and daughter, Miss C. Athya, Mr and Mrs Money, Miss N. Rhind, Mr and Mrs Acland and child, Mr and Mrs Rose. For Nelson — Misß A. G. Race. For Otago — Mrs C. Wortley, Miss .L. Wortley, Mrs J. Blackie, Mrs S. Mitchell, Mr M'Master. For Hokitika — Mrs Spence and daughter. For Invercar- ; gill — Mr D. Smythe. Second saloon :Mr and Mrs Guest, Mr and Mrs Freeshney and daughter, Mr L. Cottingham. For Lyttelton— Mr F. Tell, Miss S. Richards, ' Mr and Mrs Triggs, H. Graves, 'G. Mole. For Otago — A. Cook, Mrs M. Bradshaw, J. G. D. Aimer. The P. and O. steamer Ganges, leaving London to-day, takes the following through passengers to New Zealand : — Miss Pearcy, Miss Henry, Messrs Rolland, Muller, and Handyside.

1883 Cwts. 1884 Cwts. January 7 January 15,472 February ... 11,860 February ... 29,094 March 2,164 March 8,759 April 7,154 April 20,409 I&y 3,662 May 24,600 June 7,227 June 25,954 July 14,176 Julj 44,698 August 6,846 August 23,112 September ... 6,439 September ... 58,556 October 19,079 November ... 12,340 Secemher ... 12,763 Total 103,717 . Total 250,654