(From the " Star's" Special Correspondent.)

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5819, 7 January 1887, Page 3

(From the " Star's" Special Correspondent.)

ANGLO-COLONIAL TOPICS. NOTES AND NOTIONS. GOSSIP. FAREWELL EXHIBITION DINNERB. The weather on Wednesday was of such a deplorable character (soaking rain from morning till night) that the attendance at the " Colindies " fell rather below that of a normal half a-cro wn afternoon and evening. There were, however (as I have said), several farewell dinners going on in the building, and towards closing time the appearance of a number of gentlemen walking about in evening dress showed there was something unusual on. The chief dinner in the Quadrant was given by Mr Tallerman, to " illustrate the high character of Canadian fish and Australian wine," and, thanks to considerable pains having been taken with the cooking, proved more successful than the same gentleman's entertainment the previous week. Among the guests present were the Prince Lucien Bonaparte, Mr Colmer (of Canada), Dr Isambard Owen, and Captain de Sisson. The menu included aU sorts of , queer fish, such as masquallongs, pickerell, pike, Jake trout, and Canadian herring, estimable enough as edible curiosities, but none of them fit to compare with what we get from our own waters. The Australian winea, however, made up for a good deal, They had been carefully selected and (for once in a way) really showed that the Colonies eon produce really fine vintages. The New Zealand Commission at the , Indian and Colonial Exhibition was < formally dissolved last week. THE WORKING CLASSES AND THE " COLINDIES." ' Deputations of workmen attended at Sandringham on Monday, to thank the Prince of Wales for securing the working classes the boon of a visit to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition on nominal terms. The total number of persons who entered the Exhibition was 5,550,745 and of these no less than 812/141 adults and 255,669 were admitted at from 3d to 6d a-piece. It was no doubt a grand scheme and has unquestionably had the effect of lifting the hearts and minds of many thousands of industrial people from the narrow limits and occupations of the workshop to a keener interest in all that relates to the welfare of their countrymen beyond the seas. But none the lees did it cost the Show dear. In the opinion of good judges, at least two-thirds of the working folk visitors would have come and paid a shilling a-piece even had there been no reduction. You may think, perhaps, that many of them came two or three times instead of once only, and that matters were thus equalised, but it wa^ not co. Such " goingd on " would be dead against the principles of the sons of toil, who consider it a primary duty when " out on the tpree" to get the fullest value for their money. The majority of working folk visitors used to assemble outside the South Kensington chow long before the gates were open in the morning, and to remain till closing time, usually taking their grub with them. But they went once only. Did I ever tell you how, one cummer morning, between 4 and 5 a.m., as I was returning from some special work in Fleet street, I met » band of country "yokels" promenading the deserted Strand in the direction of Charing Crosß. I couldn't think what they were doing out at such an hour, till one of the party elucidated matters by asking the way to the Exhibition, explaining that they proposed to spend a long day there. A long day indeed, I thought. ADELAIDE EXHIBITION. There is every hope that the Imperial Government will grant an extra subsidy of JJIOOO in order that the representation of British art at the Adelaide Jubilee Exhibition may be as perfect as possible. Upwards of 40,000 ft of space have now been applied for, and in the course of the next ten days should be much increased. The wounded feelings of "poor old Bo" (as I regret to say Mr Bosisfo is called by his friends) are to be soothed by a farewell dinner at the St George's Club on Jan. 16. Sir G. Berry will occupy the chair. ILL-NATURED BTORIEB. A number of ill-natured stories are flying about with regard to the alleged coolness between the Prince of Wales and Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen. The version of the affair the latter gives is, however, I believe, the true one. Sir Philip says that, Beeing the City people and the papers were making a dead set at him, he went to the Prince and Baid, " I am very unpopular just now, and if I am connected in any way with the Institute the enterprise may suffer. You had, therefore, better sacrifice me." H.B.H. replied he was very sorry, but admitted what Sir Philip Baid was true, and that it would be best he should retire into the background, for a time at least. Poor Owen was naturally not altogether pleased with this ready acquiescence, and looks very hipped and low-spirited, A BTJGGEBTION PEOH THE QTTBBN. One suggestion in connection with the opening of the Imperial Institute, which emanated from no less a person than the Queen herself, will be carried out if at all feasible. Her Majesty would like to have representatives of every race and every nationality in her Dominions present on the occasion q£ the laying of the foundation stone of the new show, i.e., Maoris of New Zealand, Aboriginals of Australia, Fijians of Fiji, Hindoos and Brahmins of India, &c, &c. The idea is far from being a bad one, and no doubt every endeavour will be made to cai-ry it out. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Sir Walter Buller, Mr James Mason, Mr Hugh Romilly, Mr Swettenham, Sir John Stapleß (late Lord Mayor), and Sir John ; Coode were invested at Windsor yesterday j with their respective orders of Michael and George, and Sir Francis Bell, who did not j accompany the other Agents to Osborne in August, had his C.8., duly attached by Her Majesty. The Economist makes a calculation which ■ if correct, shows that the additions made : between 1876 and ISBS to investments of ( capital amount to no less than nine hundred and thirty- five millions. Of this vast sum Colonial Loans have taken sixty millions. Notwithstanding dull trade, the national wealth continues to increase by leaps and bounds. Miss Lingard's unlucky venture at the Comedy Theatre, comes to an end tomorrow. The failure of her London season has induced her to re-consider the desirability of re- visiting the Australias. " Sister Mary " would in all probability do as well there as it did in the English Provinces. The new Comic Opera which William Horace Lingard has purchased to succeed the evergreen " Falka," is Lecocq's "La Princesse de Canarie" which has been anglicised and re-christened " The Peasant Queen." It will be produced in Liverpool at Christmas, and the Colonial rights (if the work is successful) may be purchased by a company at present forming for a tour in the Australias. Mr B. L. Farjeon has just issued a sensational "shilling dreadful called the " Nine of Hearts," which is in considerable demand at the railway book stalls. 818 F. D. BELL. Sir F. D. Bell has finally accepted the New Zealand Government's offer of a further term of two years as AgentGenerftl. The news giv?h y*-a*-- ►*-.«:«.-f »*•- lion, mb notwithstanding Mr frauo.s' i. i- i sociable habits he in many respects ti.ua the office to perfection. Lady Bell's friends in N.Z. will be glad to hear she is ever so much better. Although whilst staying at Oban in the summer her lady- ! ship became, as I told you, alarmingly ill, a subsequent visit to Eastbourne was | attended with the happiest results. Lady ! Bell is now in better health than she has been for some time. AQUATIC. A four-oared race between a crew composed of Perkins, Wallace Ross, Lee and Bubear, and a crew composed of Haulan, Teenier, Kamm, and Ten Eyck, wa3 rowed ■ on the Thames last Monday, and won by 1 Hanlan's crew after a terrific struggle by

j a short half length. So close were the boats < together at the finish that those on the steamers could not make out which had won. A BBNBATIONAL SPORTING BUGGB6TION. What a sensation it would create if the Daily Telegraph's suggestion could be carried out, and a meeting arranged between Ormonde and Trident, or eonae other famous Australian "crack." In a recent article the Daily Telegraph discusses the fact that at Kandwick, in September, j Trident ran the Derby course of a mile and a half in 53ec less than Kettledrum, our own speediest Derby winner, according to the time test. It urges that something might be learnt by measuring the exact length of stride taken by Ormonde and Trident when galloping at their highest speed. It is said that Ormonde strode over a distance of 21ft during the last huudred yards of the race for the Leger, when, however, he was not pressed. The late Joseph Dawson used to declare that Prince Charlie when extended could stride 25ft at full gallop. It is on record that in the final tussle between the Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur the former covered 24ft 4in, and the latter 24ft 3in in every stride. It would be a matter of universal interest if the approximate merits of the English and Australian champions could be ascertained. ' POSTSCRIPT. '■ At the inve3titute on Tuesday afternoon the Queen showed herself especially gracious to Sir Walter Buller, giving him her hand to kiss both before and after the accolade. Her Majesty looked painfully ill and worried, so much so indeed that on the way back in the train, many fears were expressed less she should not live to see her jubilee.