OUR LONDON LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5456, 7 January 1896, Page 4

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. JjBXOK <HJB OWN COBBESf&NDENT.]

London, Nov. 30.

THE AGENT-GENEBAIIBHIP.

Thejpersistenoy of the rumour that Mr ~W. P. Beeves will succeed Sir Westby 3?ereeval as representative of the colony in Xondon has not yet induced colonists at Home to believe " there's something in it." For some unexplainedieason the generality of Anglo-New Ze&landers,' while admit'<ting (grudgingly, fee it said, in some cases) the present Minister of Education's igreat abilities, decline utterly to view him -in the light of a suitable occupant «f the Agent-General's chair. "Why, I have never to fathom,-, but it is a fact that ©ver since Mr Reeves's name was mentioned ■in. connection with the London office "Colonists at Home have pooh-poohed the notion. And the idea that Mr Seddon would succeed Sir Westby, which was pretty strong a year or more ago, has now been 'dismissed by most people. The general notion is that Sir W. B. Perceval will . continue at Westminster for at least another twelve months, and the cable from Melbourne announcing that Mr Reeves would probably succeed to the post, which saw light in the Times the other day, has not disturbed this belief. Sir Westby himself either is, or professes '■" to be, prof oundly ignorant of his Government's intentions regarding the AgentOeneralfihip. Some people aver that he is . ) a little tired of the office, and longs to re- .' enter active political life in the colony, but, personally; I have never heard from Sir i Westby's lips anything which could be: v, so. construed, and his continued lively in all matters affecting. New Zea<lan'd which transpire at this end, and his unabated efforts to direct public attention to the colony's many virtues (golii- _.■' mines, beautiful scenery and butter factories are all virtues, an' it please you) tend to an opposite view. Just at present, he is busy advertising- New Zealand scenery by means of the Melbourne Leader .summer number, of which over 4000 copies have been sent Home for distribution. The Leader supplement is a very creditable production, and should induce many a y moneyed idler to take a trip to the colony. BIR "WESTBY. PEBCEVAIi.

On Dec. 11 Sir Westby is due at the "Whitehall Booms for the purpose of opening a debate on " Colonial Trade " amongst members of the Article Club and their friends. The subject seems one it will be difficult to exhaust in the space of one evening. Indeed, I should think it would yield sufficient material for papers and dis--oussion during : several sessions of the Eoyal Colonial Institute. Perhaps, however, Sir Westby t.-'H, ,by his opening, manage to confiL^ the debate to one particular aspect of colonial trade, in which case we may get some good suggestions. : „ In the current Citizen there appears an interview with the Agent-General, which, alas, contains several inaccuracies and gome crudities, owing to the fact that Sir "Westby, believing that the article was not to appear until the week following and being at that time very busy, failed to correct the proofs sent him. i The errors, however, are not of particular moment, and Sir Westby chiefly regrets its premature appearance because an hour's work on the interview would have made it a much better advertisement for the: colony and would have enabled him to correct Mr Thomas Playford, the AgentGeneral for South Australia, who in a previous interview ; had given the public' - -an' idea 'that th 6 representatives of the other colonies were ornamental figureheads whose chief duty was to pay calls at Marlborough House and attend "func^ tions." The Hon Thomas, as you know, is intensely commercial, and in order to escape the importunities of society, has moved Ms office into the heart of. the <nty; A Court suit (even the third-class diplomatic uniform which Agents-General are required 'to wear when attending levees, &c.) Js an abomination to Mr Playford, and, it is said, when his Government insisted that he should make his ■ .bow .to Eoyalty the sturdy old fellow refused point blank to do so, unless the Lord .Chamberlain would allow Hrn to appear ■ in either a frock coat or a dress suit. Ido

not guarantee this yarn, but it is a fact that Mr Playford has not up to the pre- ', sent attended a single levee, and I believe f it to be true that his Government has remonstrated with him for his neglect in this matter. But after all the South Australian Agent-General merely behaves so from motives of economy, and, economy will surely cover a multitude of social shortcomings in the eyes of the Government of South Australia.

THE DTJKE OF TOBK. ; Alas ! A paragraph has been going round the newspapers which states (1) that the Duke and Duchess of York are going to •-' pay visits to Canada and Australia next year j (2) that preparations for the expedition are shortly to be commenced at the Colonial Office ; and (3) that Mr Chamberlain's recent visit to Sandringham was con- ' "nected with this matter. All of which was

entirely satisfactory. But now -comes Mr — Jjabquchere with the disturbing tidings that the whole story is a "farrago of ficteon." "No such trip is contemplated," 1 • says he, " and Mr Chamberlain's trip to '■;-■ Sandringham (about which sxich an elabo-

rate.noise has been raised) was merely one of the periodical visits which are paid ,•■ every winter by the principal members of the Cabinet in turn." This may be taken, of course, as absolute Truth, for Mr Labouchere, as you are doubtless aware, is on the most intimate terms with the Royal Family, and being also a bosom friend of Mr •Chamberlain, is not likely to be ignorant on any matter connected with the Colonial Office. He knows also, of course, that for the purpose of discus; ing arrangements with Royalty proposing to take a : trip round the world, a special fisit to Sandringham would be necessary on Mr Chamberlain's part. To talk upon such ■ . things during a mere "periodical visit " .i would be simply -'out of the question." Yet after all, I, think loyal Australasians 1 may -harbour hope a little longer. ; DOMESTIC SERVANTS. The 8t James's Gazette opines .. that if the Domestic Servants Wednesday Half-Holi- - Where there's a will there's a way smoke away at Indian Chief Cigarettes. .. Japan and the Japanese have never so completely monopolised the attention of the world as at the present time. The \ stories told of them — the people and the country — have hitherto been of the : "pretty-pretty" type, and they have been indulgently considered as interesting, * ; "thougV pititql^bjirlesques" ■" of Western : civilisflCßW' ' lint, as the French proverb says, "we have changed all that," and the determined character of the Japanese nas been forcibly illustrated in the course of the memorable struggle between the -great races of the Orient. So near and yet so different, and with all their difference, how absurdly alike. Japan has been aptly named the "land of opposites " and truly, if we except tho "mimicry of tl»« Occident," one could hardly have gone astray (a. few years back) in reversing in Japan the best established codes of etiquette of England and France. ■■•■■■ Pierre Loti, the French novelist, has i given in his little book, " Madame Crysantheme," an insight into Japanese customs. This story of life ashore during the visit- of the French fleet is instructive as well as ! interesting, especially in the light of later events, the Japanese war not being .tlttraght of at the time even of publication. Unfortunately the "opium habit" has to a. certain extent established itself in this beautiful country. It is'- not so prevalent as in China, and it is more than likely th.at' ,5t will give place to. a much more healthful and, enjoyable pastime. Vanity Fair Cigarettes are establishing themselves firmly here, os indeed the woi*ld over, and already promise to expel their predecessor. A Keliable limekeefer may be had by taking your Watch or Clock to be cleaned And* examined by R. Kennett, 183, High Str&t. 1527

2s Matchless Tea Eoducedto Is 10d.— TAdvt.] .■.■»■ JDUBYEA'S MAIZENA,

day Bill becomes law in Zealand, the inspectors appointed to enforce its provisions will have a lively time in interviewing mistresses of households on Wednesday afternoons. Thia anticipation seems to be based on an extract from a letter indited by "An Indignant Colonial Housewife," who says of the Bill:— "Did you ever hear anything like it-? * * * What good will these meddlesome idiots in Parliament do for her by unsettling her mind with their legal half-holiday nonaanse? Who would think that men could be such fools? If I am not to keep & servant in my own way, I won't keep one at all, but will get in a charwoman and do without, and so will a great many more, mark my words." What hysterical nonsense ! The " indignant housewife" betrays herself in these few lines, and writes herself down to the level of the child who cries for the moon, and the moon being denied it refuses the doll its mother proffers. As for the "meddlesome idiots" who grace the New Zealand Parliament at present (I was told not so long ago that the women of the colony had been instrumental, in no small .degree, in putting them there), I hope they will make the Bill into a law. Some such measure is badly needed •in the Old Country, and if New Zealand will only give us a lead we shall soon follow suit. The cry nowadays is "How shall we find good servants?" The only answer to make is "Render the conditions of domestic service less irksome," and the Half-Holiday Bill is a step in the right direction.

! ■ - . PEBSONAL. Mr Harrison Davis progresses only slowly toward perfect health, his 'recovery being retarded by his anxiety on account of Mrs Davis, who, I am sorry to hear, is still seriously ill. She underwent an operation early' this week, the only value of which .was to assure her physicians that the complications they feared did not exist. ...

Lord Onslow gave a lecture last Sunday afternoon ,' at Stepney, to a meeting convened ' by the " Men's Sunday Union/ on the "Duties of Citizenship." Tour ex-Governor impressed upon his audience that the size, wealth and influence of London cast an enormous responsibility, not only upon those who were called upon to administer the government, but on the electors also. He did not think Londoners were either wicked or foolish, but they were most certainly apathetic in municipal matters. London did not lack public men of eminence who were willing; to assist in its government. Only a few days before the present Cabinet was formed, Mr Chamberlain told him that he would rather be the Chairman of the London County Council, and guide its destinies, than accept the highest post the Queen could offer. It was necessary, said his lordship, if London was to be properly governed, that the citizens should study the questions which affected their interests much more than they had hitherto. Similar counsel, be it said, might be given to the municipal electorate in almost eyery' big town. Apathy in municipal affairs is not peculiar to London.

I heta that Mr David Ziman, who made what most men would deem an ample fortune in South African mining specula^ tions, and who recently paid a lengthy visit to New Zealand, is going to. systematically exploit the West Coast gold area. lam told that he believes most thoroughlyin the future of that auriferous region, and is ready to back his belief to the tune of .£50,000, and that others possessed of wealth are ready to embark their money on Mr Ziman's recommendation. Well, the .gentleman, in question is ho greenhorn' 7 in : mining matters. He has seen, all that is worth seeing in South Afric^i, and if the West Coast is good enough for his money it is worth New Zealanders' while to venture some of their own in developing the field. More on this matter anon.