ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7176, 29 May 1891, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[Feom Odb London Cobbkbpondknt.J London, April 18. AW AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS* CMJB. A Club, which has for its object the promotion of friendly intercourse among Australasian students residing in L .ndon, has been opened at 61, Chancery Lane. The Hon Secretary, Mr W. Kemp Hughes, haa issued invitations for the inaugural "Bmoker" on May 2. A Club of this description has long been needed, and deserves support, if only for the reason that it may induce a percentage of the young antipodeans who frequent the shady "Supper Clubß," which abound in and about Bloomsbury, to mend their evil ways. A NEW OBIBNT LINES. A week ago to-day (Saturday ) there was launched from the yards of Messrs Napier and Son, at Loran, a new steel twin-screw Bteamer for the Orient Company. The new vessel is named the Ophir. The Ophir is 482ft long, 53ft in beam, 6700 tons gross, and has been constructed under Lloyd's special survey for the 100 Al class, and to meet the requirements of the Admiralty bs an armed cruiser. Two sets of triple expansion engines capable of propelling the vessel at 18 knots an hour will be fitted in. Steam will be supplied by seven boilers working at a pressure of 1601b. Tho fittings and passenger accommodation arrangements will be of the most complete a,nd fin de sidcle description, so »b to ensure comfort on the voyages between London and the Antipodes. BCIHNCB AT THK ANTIPODES. The inaugural address of Sir James Hector at the opening of the Australasian Association at Christchurch has been most favourably received and commented upon by scientific men in England. There is a breadth and catholicity of spirit about it that is quite refreshing— a genuine modesty as to the value of his own scientific labours, and a generous recognition of the achievements of others that are very creditable to one holding so distinguished a position. No one, however, haa done more for tbe promotion of science in New Zealand than. Sir Jameß Hector himself, and his lengthy address on this occasion is pronounced by competent authorities to be a very able review of the rise and progress of scientific research at the Antipodes during the last fifty years. Lord Onslow's ex tempore address, too, dealing as it does with abstruse questions of science and local problems in natural history, is highly Bpoken of, and it was certainly a surprise to most of ub - y for, although he was known to be a capable politican and an excellent Governor, no one seemed to be aware that he had devoted any thought or attention to biological science. DEATH OP MB BRYCE DOUGLAS. I regret to record the death of Mr Archibald Bryce Douglas, Managing Director of the Naval Construction and Armaments Company, Limited, Barrow, which took place at Ardrossan, last Sunday week, after a brief illness. The deceased, who was only in his fifty-third year, was one of the prime advocates of the scheme to connect Vancouver and Australia by a f ast service of steamers in conjunction with the Canadian Pacific mail route, as opposed to the San Francisco service. Mr Douglas; was the son of the Bev Bryce Douglas, minister of Ardrossan. At an early age he displayed signs of mechanical ingenuity, and in due course waa apprenticed to Messrs Elder of Glasgow. Later he went out to New Zealand (in what capacity I know not), and thence went to the west coast of South America to fill the place of Resident Engineer to the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. Whilst holding that position he erected the Company's works at Callao. Returning to Scotland, Mr Douglas was appointed chief engineer to Messrs John Elder, and Company. In 1889, Lord Hartington persuaded him to accept the Managing Directorship of the Naval Armaments and Construction Company, a position which he filled with great credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. BVIL COMMUNICATIONS. A young man named Alexander Munro. whose parents ate said to be living in Now Zealand, was sentenced by the Croydon Magistrate last week to twelve months, hard labour for "till tapping " (i.e., creeping round the counter of a shop and abstracting the contents of the till). The detective who arrested Munro, stated that he was a well-known character, and associated with the most daring gang of till-thieveß to be found in the Metropolis. "THE BEAMT BIDE OP AUSTBAMA." In the current issue of the Nineteenth Century there appears an article entitled "The Seamy Side of Australia," by the Hon J. W. Fortescue, the object of which seems to be to cry down the credit of the Colonies. Certainly it is calculated to make patriotic Australians swear vigourouHly. According to the writer, the Colonies have only attained to euch prosperity as has come to them by the lavish and reckless use of English capital. 'Moreover, he maintains that the average Briton is utterly in the dark as to the actual condition of the Australian Colonies, and it is quite time he was given a fair and square view of the "seamy side." If Mr Fortescue is correct, the debt is growing in all the Colonies alike faster than the revenue. Of course, he recognises that the resources of the continent far outweigh her debts, but he is not satisfied with the method of development. Everything, he argues, is being sacrificed to the " working man," who is supreme m Australia, and who cares for nothing so long aa he can live in a town and enjoy high wages and short hours. Then, too, Mr Fortescua quarrels with the anti-Chineße edict. By preventing the influx of Chinese labour, withont which the resources of the tropical portions of Australia cannot betapped, the Australians really "cancel a laTge proportion of the assets on which they have borrowed and are -till borrowing millions of money." The writer does not apparently fear any repudiation proposals at present, but opines that the ugly word will be Bpoken by and bye if thingß are not mended, and he urges British investors to reverse their present policy for the Australians' sake and their own. The abject failures of the last South Australian and Victorian loans would seem to indicate that the British investor really is getting decidedly uncomfortable if not auspicioue.