ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6832, 21 April 1890, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

* [From Our London Correspondent.] j |] London,. Peb. 28. t vogel's plans. 1 I understand that Sir Julius Yogel has j < decided on a much earlier relurn to the ' < Colony than he contemplated a few weeks j J back, but he is very uncertain about re- J entering public life, aB he feels he has < been badly requited by the Colony for his '<■ past services. His article on Imperial 1 Federation in the Nineteenth Century, and ' his recent letters to the Times attackiug ' Henniker-Heaton's penny postage scheme, i prove than he still takes an active interest 1 in Colonial affairs. He has not, so far, 1 been very successful in his company pro- ! motions, but if a railway project in which i he is interested should prove the success it 1 promises, Sir Julius will pocket a large < sum of money. He has already benefited ' by the floating of the Taranaki Petroleum and Ironsand Company, but has consented ' to take the whole of his interest in fully- ' paid shares. SIB FRANCIS DILLON BELL. A rumour of a very persistent kind has been in circulation for a fortnight past to the effect that Sir P. D. Bell has accepted the Managing Directorship of a large Australian Finance Company and will shortly resign the post of Agent-General. 1 1 have not been able to obtain, as yet, Sir ' Francis Bell's authoritative denial of this rumour, but I have reason to believe that there is no foundation for it beyond the fact that some such offer has been made to him. Under the tevms of his re-appointment us Agent- General, he is entitled to retain the oflice till October, 1891, and although he often talks to his friends about returning to the Colony before hi 3 term expires, I think New Zealand may depend on his services to the end. In many respects it would be very difficult to replace him. Not only is he regarded as an able financier and good man of business generally, bub in high quarters he is a persona gratissima, and this counts for a good deal in a Colonial representative. PROPOSED LIFE lIF SIR DONALD M'LEAN. The appearance and favourable reception of Sir George Bowen's book of Colonial Experiences has suggested another work of a similar description which would undoubtedly have a vory hearty reception in New Zealand, that is a history of the life and jrreat pablic services of the late Sir Donald M'Lean, who did more than any other man, except, perhaps, Sir George Grey, to bring i about a good understanding between the two races, and whose extensive official correspondence if published would form a very important contribution to the history of the Colony. Hib personal career was a very remarkable one, and hi 3 influence over tho Maori race waß extraordinary. Whilst a benefactor in every sense of the word to hia fellow-eoloni3ts, he was the best friend the Maoris ever had, and it is almost entirely to him they owe their present share in the legislative institutions of the country. The book would be interesting reading. BETTER. LATE TITAN NEVER. In one of my former letters I mentioned tho names of several English gentlemen who either had received or were about to receive high rank in the Legion of Honour, in connection with the Paris i Exhibition or for other services. Among | the latter was Sir Walter Buller, who had I been officially notified of the iutention of the French Government, although he had not (as I in error stated) actually received the much- coveted ''red ribbon." He was a guest at the banquet given by Sir Polydor de Keyser to the French Ambassador at the Mansion House on Jan. 25, when the decoration was worn by all the recipients, but Sir Walter was still without it. However, when standing on tbe platform at Fenehuroh street station bidding adieu to the friends who had assembled to wish him and his party bon voyage to New Zealand, a despatch was handed to him from the Minister for Public Instruction announcing that the President of the French Republic had just signed the decree, and congratulating him warmly on the event. I mention this incident because it seemed a happy finale to the unmistakably good time Sir Walter Buller had of it both here and on the Continent. A NEW " BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NEW ZEALAND." Mr E. A. Petherick, of the Colonial Book Agency, 33, Paternoster Row, is preparing for publication a " Bibliography of New Zealand." The first thing of the kind ever attempted was tho appendix to Thomson's " Story of New Zealand." A few years ago Mr James Davi3 produced a more comprehensive list, and issued it in the form of a 12mo volume. Sir George Grey compiled a fairly complete list (particularly of Maori publications) in his catalogue of the library presented by him to Cape Colony, and there was another list of a more sytematic kind in the huge catalogue of Mr S. W. Silver's library at York Gate, prepared by Mr Petherick himself; but the present bibliography will be of a far more complete and comprehensive character than anything that has hitherto appeared. The work will be of * inestimable value to collectors, and it will further demonstrate the truth a3 to New Zealand's pre-eminence over tha other Colonies from a literary point of vie iv. I PERSONAL. j The Hon Randall Johnston is now on hie way to New Zealand. He will take his seat in the next session of the Legislative Council, and will then return to England for some years, having established a home for his family at Exeter. " A *KE'eR- DO-WELL." A returned "remittance man" — George Seaton — who for fifteen years honoured New Zealand with the light of his countenance, waa a few days ago hauled up before Sheriff Crichton, at Edinburgh, and charged with committing a number of acts of gross character with three telegraph messengers. The accused, who is in his sixty-second year, pleaded guilty. An agent appeared in Court, and said he had been asked by the relatives of the accused to make a statement on hiß behalf, and then informed the Court that the old scoundrel had never done a good day's work in his life, and that he had been sent by his relatives to New Zealand, where for fifteen years he was a good-for-nothing and a ne'er-do-well. Sheriff Crichton allowed the prisoner the full benefit of his friend's testimony, and let him off with nine months' hard labour. " MAN OVERBOARD." A New Zealand passenger by the P. and 0. steamer Victoria gives a very different account of the lamentable accident which occurred during that vessel's homeward trip to that in the London papers. It was, he says, a perfectly calm day, and the vessel (though steaming her best) was stopped! and going full speed astern in an incredibly short time of the alarm, " man overboard." The muddle commenced with the lowering of the boat, for when the order to " lower away" was given the ropes at the Btern of the boat stuck, and the crew were pitched head- over-heels into the sea. Then commenced a scene well-nigh indescribable. The Lascars (reliable enough in ordinary circumstances) completely lost their headß. In vainthe captain and officers bellowed their orders, and it was fully twelve minutes by a passenger's watch ere the second boat was successfully lowered, and by that time the prime cause of the catastrophe was a dead man, and two of the crew of the first boat were also drowned. It ia a matter for wonder that the greater portion of them were saved. We are continually reminded of the excellent system of "fire drill," &c, carried out onboard the liners of big Companies, but what earthly use are all these elaborate precautions when an accident, trifling if dealt with by men of resource, appears to ' paralyse the whole crew. Officers, however able, cannot do everything at such times. ARCHIBALD FORBES. Two days ago, Archibald Forbes, who j • has been in very bad health since his j return from hia Antipodean tour, under- j '• went a serious and complicated operation, 1 which was performed with brilliant success < by Dr Reginald Harrison, the famous J J Liverpool surgeon, who -recently took np i bis abode in London. Mr Forbes iq making J

J. good recovery, and the operation bids fair to restore him to perfect health. NEW ZEALAND BRED CAVALRY HORSES JFOJECINDIA. Lieut.-Colonel Carre, who hns travelled extensively in Australasia, reports that if [ndia intends to rely on the Antipodes for i regular and sufficient supply of cavalry horses, she must take eteflfc at once to Ensure getting them. Melbourne (sayg Colonel Carre) is the port from which [ndia at present receives its supply of Australian horses. The trade there is sntirely in the hands of a syndicate, whose wents penetrate iuto South Australia and the borders of New South Wales. The climate, unfortunately, is unfavourable, rhe large landed proprietors have runs where pasture is plentiful in what are termed the good seasons,, but in the dry portion of the year, and after continued droughts, the mares and their progeny are obliged to roam over large tracts seeking a precarious livelihood on the dried up herbage that remains above soil. Colonel Carre avers that the Northern Islaud of New Zealand, above all the other Colonies, is besf; adapted for horse-breeding, and strongly recommends the Indian Government to send experienced officers to assist New Zealand and the other Colonies in the breeding of suitable horses as remounts, and ao place them in a position to compete with Victoria, which at presents holds the monopoly. vine's success. At tho twenty -fourth meeting of the Organising Committee of the Imperial Institute on Tuesday last, H.E.H. the Prince of Wales himself moved — "That the satisfaction oi the governing body with the manner in which the AsßistantSecretary (Sir Somers Vine) had discharged the duties connected with the mission entrusted to hiru be specially recorded." A considerable advance has been made with the Imperial Institute building, the exterior walls of the upper floors having already been erected. THE CLAIMANT AGAIN. " Sir Roger Tichborne " has announced to the world at large that his case is to be re-opened iv April next, a fund oil .£150,000 being guaranteed towards the necessary legal expenses. The claimant, who is looking remarkably well, resides for the nonce at Hanley, where he delivers free lectures each evening upou the points of the last trial.