ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6886, 23 June 1890, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

I — • — [From our London Coeresfondent.] London, May 2. THE DECEASED WIFE'S BISTER BILL. ■ The galleries of the House of Common ■' contained a strange mixture of Anglo ! Colonists and High Church folk on Wed • nesday afternoon, when the Marriage witl a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was read i second time. This unfortunate incaaur< has now been before the country nearlj fifty years, having been first introducec into the _ Lords by Lord Wharncliffe ii 1841. Since then it has several times passed through every stage in the Com- • mons, and been on nine occasions rejectee i by the Lords, i.e., the Bench of Bishops ; Tne present measure contains one new ; provision, which it is hoped may act aa a ■ sop to the clerical Cerberus. Parsone ■ who conscientiously disapprove theee 1 marriages are not to be forced |to solemnise them. If you desire ' to wed your deceased wife's sister, and your parish priest has religious scruples 1 anent officiating at the ceremony, you : must respect them and send for some more enlightened cleric. The debate lasted for several hours, and a House of 377 voted on the question, the majority being 67. The ; arguments for and against were of the old ; worn out description. Sir James Fergusson made his Antipodean listeners prick up their ears by stating that he happened to be Governor of South Australia when thiß I very measure came before the Colonial Legislature. It was not true the colonists wished for it. The movement which carried the Bill was artificial and factitious. The whole religious feeling of the Colony was againat it, and to this day Anglican clergy in Australia declined to celebrate euch unions. The papers this morning profess to consider that yesteiday's proceedings have forwarded the Bill. I scarcely think so. COLONIAL POSTAGE BATES. Sir Arthur Blyth, Sir Charles Tupper, Mr E. N. C. Braddon, Sir C. Mills, and most of the Agents-General, bar Sir Francis Bell and Sir Graham Berry, made a point of attending the annual dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening. Mr Goschen, who was the guest of the evening, availed himBelf of the opportunity to discourse on the Budget. Apropos of the modification in the Colonial postage rates, the Chancellor expressed a desire that it should be understood that the representations of Mr Raikes, and of Mr Kaikes alone, induced the Government to set aside a portion of the surplus for this reduction. " I feel it a duty," he added, "after the erroneous reports on the subject, to tell you the real facts, and show you who ought to have the credit and the gratitude." This is the second nasty jar Mr Heaton has publicly received from the chiefs of his own party ■within a fortnight. The Agents-General duly met Mr Eaikes on Friday last (aj I told you they would), and were formally informed of the postal modifications. They, of course, intimated that they would have to take the opinions of their respective Governments on the subject, and yesterday despatched a joint cable message recommending the Imperial twopence-halfpenny. PERSONAL. Notwithstanding the reports of theatrical agents to the contrary, it daily grows more improbable that Mr Stanley will carry out his lecturing engagements in Australia and New Zealand. The general impression now seems to be that he will be wanted again shortly in Africa, and return thither. Though I Baw an early copy of Mr H. B Watson's "Lady Faintheart," the work was only issued to the public on Saturday week. It has already been very favourably reviewed by the Manchester Examiner. Hutchinsons to-day publish a cheap two shilling edition of Vogers "Anno Domini 2000." Mr E. S. Dawes, the "boss" of the British India and New Zealand Shipping Companies, was amongst the smart folk who went down to Dover on Saturday to welcome Stanley. Bank of New Zealand shares have risen during the week, owing, it is said, to comforting news from Auckland. Sir Francis Bell made his appearance before the Colonisation Committee this week, and, according to report, gave that body small satisfaction. He had, he let them know politely, slight expectation of any practical good emanating from their deliberations. Major and Mrs George, of Auckland have arrived in London, and are staying at the Metropole. Mr De Lisle left for Napier per Kimutaka yesterday. Who, one would like to know, is the "prominent citizen of Auckland" who boasts that he has in his possession an unpaid laundreßß' bill of H.R.H. the Dnke of Edinburgh. He must, I imagine, be the same worthy who alleges that the wearing of gloves went suddenly and permanently out of fashion in New Zealand because one afternoon during hi 3 visit the Duke of Edinburgh happened to appear without them, having, in truth, quite accidentally left them at home. THE MTJEDER OF MARIE DAVID. They certainly manage things oddly in France. Listen to this little Btory of jealousy and revenge. Madame Laurent, of Chartres, a young married woman, and devoted to her husband, returned home from a visit one nighb unexpectedly, intending to give him a surprise. This she did, and thoroughly, for the faithless wretch was caught in the very act of kissing and cuddling Madame's pretty maid, Marie David. The outraged wife was uriouß, not, curiously enough, with her husband, but with the unfortunate girl. Although ifc was past midnight, and bitterly cold, she there and then turned her into tLe streets with kicks and blows. Marie (a good girl in the main) fortunately found shelter with one of the neighbours, and next day returned home, thinking little more of the contretemps. Madame Laurent, however, could not forget the incident. She was consumed with jealousy, and laid trapß innumerable for her husband, but wholly without result. Nevertheless the miserable woman persuaded herself he met Marie David somehow. At length, hearing the girl had taken a place at Dourdan, Madame resolved to go there and force the truth from her lips both with regard to the past and the present. En route she bought a pistol, and gradually worked herself up into a state of hysterical fury. Marie met her with the calm indifference of innocence. This so enraged Madame Laurent, that she produced the pistol, and, before anyone could interfere, cruelly shot Marie David dead. At Versailles assizes the woman was tried for murder and " acquitted " by a sympathetic jury, the Court being of opinion that a fine of .£6O, paid to poor Marie's father, would meet the case. This is the more remarkable, as Madame's suspicions concerning Marie and her husband were shown to be groundless. THE QUBEBCUS CLTJB. Mr George "Abington" Baird having been expelled from the Pelican Club has provided what he gracefully calle " the spondulicks," to Btart a rival establishment, and last Sunday night the Glaucus Club was formally opened. Curiously enough the one thing that Mr Herbert Standing (the Secretary) and his Committee appeared most anxious to impress on possible members was that Mr George Baird had no locus standi whatever in the place. He has, we were told, been elected an ordinary member, but ho will not be permitted to disport himself noisily in the establishment, nor to introduce therein any of the noble brethren of " bounders." Altogether Mr Baird's position seema at once dignified and useful. George R. Sims suggests Queercus as a more suitable name for the new Club than Glaucus, and offers for the Committee's consideration the following rules : — _ The Queercus Club shall consist of a limited number of members and unlimited | drinks. | Any member convicted of conduct unbecoming a gentleman shall have tho option of standing drinks round or fighting the proprietor.

| Tho members of the Committee will wea j gold knuckle-dusters, with which they wi] knock one another down in tho event o any disagreement during the Conimittei meeting. No member to throw another membe: out of any window higher than the secon< floor. No member to irritate any member wh< may be under remand for assaulting him. s Every member may bring his own poker ,- but must leave it in the umbrella stanc - until required. i The proprietor to have the privilege i of introducing six professional pugilists 3 . during the day, and twelve alter midnight. f j A respectable solicitor and skilled i j surgeon will bo in attendance day and x night. 3 Telephonic communication with the . principal police stations aud hospitals. I All overdue (subscriptions will be col- . lected by a champion, r J N.B.— The housekeeper has strict orders t j to take charge of all ears, eyes, teeth, i : noses, fingers, whiskers, or moustaches ( ( found on the Club premises after they are I ; closed, and to return them to the owners ! on application the next day.