ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4817, 4 December 1893, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

«, [FROM OUR LONDON COBBBSFONDBNT.J London, Oofc. 20. The Agent-General informs me that the negotiations with Mr John Bayne are now finally and 6atis'actorily closed. The new Principal of Canterbury Agricultural College returns from Cairo shortly on a visit to his friends in the Old Country, and will leave for New Zealand about Christmas. Further on I shall give you particulars of the aeries of lectures whioh are presently to be delivered at the Imperial Institute. What I wish to remark here is that the one on New Zealand will not be undertaken by Mr Perceval. The AgentGeneral has said his say on the Colony very fully, both in print and at the Colonial Institute already, and he is now willing — indeed, anxious — others should blow its trumpet a bit. The same tune played too often by the same performer gets monotonous, however good it may be, and loßes effect. I had just written the above when authentic information reached me that at the instigation of Sir Walter Buller, Sir Julius Yogel has been asked to deliver the lecture on the Colony at the Imperial Institute and consented. Sir W. Buller was himself invited to undertake the task, but, in his own words, " thought that for a first lecture it would be desirable to have heavier metal." lam not sure this was wise. Sir Julius Vogel's matter may be good, but his manner when last I heard him in public was asthmatic and inaudible. The Earl of Onslow has returned to town after a visit to the Marquis of Breaualbane at Taymouth Castle, where he enjoyed excellent sport deer-stalking. Dr Maunsell (erstwhile of Dunedin) has after all relinquished hia purpose of returning to the Colony, and purchased a comfortable family mansion in Cromwell road, : S&uth Kensington, where he is now establishing himself. i Mr Vandyk, of Gloucester road, an artist ■ photographer of great merit, has been . commissioned to execute a life-size enlarge- ! ment from bis excellent negative of the j late Mr W. H. Levin, of Wellington. I I trußt either this portrait or a copy of it j will find its way into the Free Public | Library at Wellington, an institution | which, as everyone knows, owes its very existence to the large-hearted liberality of this good citizen. The expression in the picture is a very pleasing one. A Daily News reviewer- — who may or may not be Mr Andrew Lang— pronounces the "Early History of New Zealand," recently published by Mr' Brett, of Auckland, a work of importance, and predicts it will form "a useful record for ethnologists in the days, not far distant, when the Maoris Bball have disappeared from the face ofthe earth." The Agent-General has just received from Measis Valentine and Sons, of Dundee, a valuable addition to his stock of slides illustrating the soenio beauty of New Zealand, the which are reductions from the pick of a large series taken by this enterprising firm's representative, Mr Powell, who recently spent some months travelling about the Calony. The result of Mr Powell's tour is a series of nearly 350 views from all parts of the two islands. Messrs Valentine have made slides oil the greater portion of these, and in their new catalogue of lecture sets for the coming winter session New Zealand is given first place. The amateur lecturer can now lecture interestingly on New Zealand without the bother of study, for Messrs Valentine will supply him with fifty slides of North or South Island scenery, &c, and a descriptive lecture also, for a very modest sum. The elides are the best I have seen yet, and the set 3 are excellently chosen for use in ordinary cases. But one fault must be found. The elides give no idea of the everyday life of colonists— of their work in the field and fold. Amongst the large number of photoa I looked through not one picture showed a field of corn, a flock of sheep, or gave any idea of tbe life aiftt labour of New Zealand agriculturists. Of course Messrs Valentine cater simply for the tourist and the lecturer, whose business it is to amuse. Mr Perceval and some others, however, give lectures in tho hope of stimulating desirable emigration, and to such men scenio slides are but spicing— a something to relieve the monotony and " stodginess " of their main theme, viz. / the productive capabilities of the land. It iB this main theme that requires illustration, and the means of doing co effectively are at present lacking. Amateur photographers in New Zealand might, in addition to what I said last week on this subject, take a note of the fact, and when they get a particularly good negative of a flock of Bheep, a herd of cattle, a shearing, reaping, or ploughing scene, a view of an agricultural homestead, a butter factory, or, iv fact, anything connected with the agricultural and pastoral life of the Colony, send the same to the AgentGeneral. He would gladly get the negative turned into a slide, and it would serve not only to enliven his own discourses,butthcse of the many men who will leoture upon the Colony as a farmer's parad ; se during the next twelve months. During the past week or so I may mention that Mr Perceval has received Beveral applications for materials whereon to prepare lectures upon the Colony, and also sundry requests for. tho loan of lantern slides. New Zealand, in fact, is becoming a prime favourite with provincial amateur lecturers, and she is in request also with the professional speaker. By this time next year I fancy Mr Herbert Jones, who I am told meditates giving a thousand lectures upon the Colony in the Old Country, will find it a matter of extreme difficulty to hit upon " a pitch" that has not been worked before. The complaint that the average Britisher is densely ignorant of the Colonies is still quite justified, but by the time Mr Jones, Mr Pennefather (now enlightening thegood folk of Surrey on the wonders and wealth of the Colony) and others have run their course, the plaint will not hold good in the case of New Zealand. The Agent-General, by the way, is en- . deavouring to perßuade Messrs Valentine to have some of their New Zealand photo s enlarged for exhibition in the Colony's courts at the Imperial Institute. The large bromide prints ofthe publio buildings of the Colony in the Victorian court attract a great deal of attention, and help to' interest people in the other exhibits. Pictures are always a safe " draw." ?£ -auarrsdn, of fihmtchurcb, who has been Home for about three months, returns per Tainui on Nov. 23. Though several gentlemen continue to be mentioned as likely to fill the See of Wellington, I cannot learn anything defl* nite on the subject. A vigdrom exchange of letters and telegrams with the Rev Eobert A. D. Bookor, Private Secretary to the Archbishop ot York, has elicit 3d the fact tbat no appointment had up to I Wednesday been made. The post has beeu offered to and refused by two clericß, ganerally believed to be Canon Clarke, of Dewt>bury, and the Bey Mr Ingram, but outside Bishopthorpe Palace no one really knows anything. I have now addressed a series of respectful queries to Mr Booker, who writes that he will lay them before the Archbishop when he returns home to-day.