LONDON LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4906, 22 March 1894, Page 1

LONDON LETTER.

•- ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. [PBOK OUB BPBCIAL CO-RESPONDENT.] London, Feb. 9. The statement cabled to the New Zealand papers in December, to the effect that the Agent-General might be obliged by Lady Perceval's health to retire even before his term of office comeß to an end, was not inspired from Westminster. I felt surprised when I read it in your columns, and book the first opportunity of questioning Sir Weatby on the subject. He states distinctly ho has never' contemplated retirement, and will not even begin to think about what is to happen when his term is up for six months or so. One fact which your papers are rather apt to overlook in discussing the Agent- General's successor ia that very few of your leading men could afford to accept the post. Owing to Lady Perceval's delicate health the present holder does not entertain, and yet it is no secret that he spends between twice and thrice the official salary- Whoever replaces Sir Weßtby will have to do quite this much, if a married man. Nothing, indeed, is more certain than that as the importance and dignity oE the AgentGeneral's position increase so will his expenses. A new paper, called ComtMrce, contained on Jan. 31 a long interview with your Agent-General, in which Sir Weatby, whilst affording interesting information concerning the frozen meat trade, dairy produce, &c, is represented as a facetious person exchanging " retorts courteous " with the reporter. Really and tiuly, all the AgentGeneral did was to answer a few questions and supply the Commerce man with a certain amount of literature. On this slender foundation a long serio-comic interview was raised. Sir Westby's natural impulse was at first to repudiate the reporter's jokelets, but the main facts about the colony being accurate, he ultimately decided to suffer in silence. Though Or Abbott has not been able to prevent the appointment of a good man to succeed Professor Aldis, he has managed to give the Agent-General an immense amount of bother. Three gentlemen approved by the New Zealand Government were at last persuaded to undertake the task of selection, but they would only do so on receiving assurance that their names would not be made public. This Commission has alveady sat several times, and sifted the applicants down to three. for each post. The nine, who are all, the Agent-General says, good men, and quite up to the usual average, will in the course of next week be interviewed personally and their antecedents sifted. It is probable we Bhall know the result of the Commission's deliberations before the departure of the San Francisco mail. Deprived by the privacy of the proceedings from gibbeting the members of the Commission, Dr Abbott can do no more at present. That he will make an endeavour by- and- bye to get at the successful candidate, seema probable ; but, it iB most unlikely that fortunate individual will listen to him. In a short time the whole tiresome business will be ancient history to everyone but Mr Aldis. The Athenceum this week baa a little "par" in whioh the good doctor's hand can be observed, but the Press generally haa entirely done with the subject. If the names of the Selecting Commissioners leak out, it will probably be through one of the six unsuccessful competitors. The Earl of Onslow has been taking an active part in the debates in the House of Lords on the Parish Councils Bill, which is being bo altered that the Cuinmons will hardly recognise their bantling when they get it back. Sir Wilfred I.awson has started an agitation against the Peers. Speaking at a big meeting on Wednesday, he aaid the Libaral Party had a number of useful measures on the rails and were doing what they could to push them through, but were jammed and blocked by four hundred political bandits of the House of Lords, who stopped and cried, " Stand and deliver !" The Lords toiled not, neither did they spin; but over their door should be placed a sign, with the words, " Mangling done here." The straight question to be put before the country was, "Do you wish to be governed by the people or by the peers ?" The sooner Gladstone said, " Up, Guards, and at them," the better. Mr Alfred Bncklaw, who spent some time in Australia, about three years ago, has, with Miss Olga. Nethersole, whom you also know, Bcorcd heaviiy in The Transgressor at the Court Theatre. The play is poor, but Miss Nethersole's and Mr Sacklaw's fine acting may cause it to hold the boards for some time. Sir Geoige Cheaney, the author of " The Battle ot Dorking," "The Dilemma," and other excellent novels, will lecture at the Colonial Institute next Tuesday on " The British Empire." Sir Henry. Bui wer ia to preside. Mr Best, the veteran organist of St George's Hall, Liverpool, who not long ago visited the colonies, has been compelled by ill-health to resign his office. IP the three brothers Marriott- Watson fail to set the Thames afire it certainly will not be for want of trying. Just at present all three are engaged on plays for different managers. Mr H. R. M. Wat-son has managed, in the intervals of composing leaders for the Pall Mall Gazette and short Etories for the National Observer, to write a three-act piece for Mr Comyns Ciirr, and is now busy polishing it up in caso it should be wanted to follow Sheridan at the Comedy Theatre. His brother Frank has evolved a melodrama, for which he borrows the title of Mies Braddon's "The Trail of the Serpent "j whilst Mr Frederick Marriott Watson is busy on a sketch for one of the beßt-known troupes which is working the London Mu=»ic Halle. New Zealand journals are asked to insert a notice of the marriage of Mr Willia Edwin Tamer, of Morfe Lodge, Taviatock, only son of the late Julian Turner, Esq., of Fleetwocd and Plymouth, to Eosalie Helen Isabel, second daughter of Major-General Augustus D. Farrant. The ceremony tcok place at St Paul's, Upper Norwood, the Rev Lee Harnett, asaiatid by the Rev Allan Ellison, officiating. An advertisement, "more especially directed to the children of John Dun-kerk-y," who is supposed to have died about 1860, and who was a brother of William Dunkerley, late of Macclesfield, who died in December, 1863, appears in the personal column of the Times advertisements to-day, Friday, Feb. 9. Some of these children are supposed to be resident in New Zealand, nnd are, apparently, entitled to money under the will of Mr William Dunkerley. Claims must ba proved at the chambers of Mr Justice Chitty, at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, on or before June 15, 1894. Communication should be made to Messrs Stephens and Stephens, Eol ; .citors, 29, Eseex Street, Strand.