THE ALL RED CABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5458, 9 January 1896, Page 2

THE ALL RED CABLE.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ME

CHAMBEELAIN.

« MOATLHODI."

[PBOM OUB LONDON COBBESPONDENT.] Last Wednesday Mr Chamberlain donned once more his new mantle of Imperialism for to meet, at the Colonial Office a private deputation of colonial representatives, who were desirous of discussing with him the much-discussed project of a transpacific cable. The deputation included the Agents-General for New Zealand, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland, the High Commissioner for Canada and the representatives in London of .the Cape and Natal. The Agents-General for South Australia and the Cinderella colony had other engagements. But Mr Chamberlain' was pleased with the deputation in spite of these absences. He observed that such a meeting of the Council of the Empire, brought together for the purposes of common interest, and attended by representatives of the. Cape and Natal, which were notf concerned with the project in its present form, was an ; evidence of solidarity ahd sympathy. He had looked into the object of their visit, and thought the project showed a very fair prospect of remunerative return on the capital required, and was of opinion that a joint commission should be formed to report on the subject. He suggested that a commission consisting of two representatives of Great Britain, two of Australasia, : and two of Canada, should be got together, j After some discussion v it was arranged that the colonial representatives should be named by the Colonial Governments knd appointed by the imperial' Government,' • and that the commission should consider :ahd. report , upon ; the ; subject in all its .jaspe'cts: It' was" also arranged that the AgeJits-General and the High-Commissioner :would refer totheir Governments 'to appoint representatives on this understanding. : The deputation, I understand, "then withdrew " exceedingly we'll satisfied with their reception, and with Mr Chamberlain's attitude toward their pet scheme. And I daresay " Moatlhodi " (the man who rights things) — so the Bechuana chiefs have named Joseph of Birmingham — was satisfied with his morning's work also. Artful man! By throwing this Commission sop. to the unfortunate backers of the "All Eed Cable," "Moatlhodi'' has protected the treasury from the demand for a subsidy for some time to come, without committing himself or his Government to anything in particular. The whole matter of this transpacific cable has been thoroughly ventilated, and to start a commission thereon is simply a waste of time and public money. The Imperial Government has sufficient information regarding the project to say "yea" or "nay" to the demand for a" subsidy to-day, and most people will look upon Joseph's proposed commission simply as a small extravagance designed to cover the Government's unwillingness to. further increase the Treasury's expenditure on subsidies for the present.

By the way^ regarding Mr Chamberlain's new title. "Ariel" sends to the Daily Chronicle thefollowing lines, which aro by way of being " smart " : — , r

Say, in what measure shall T hymn thy fame ? Choose in what lyric, dithyramb or ode I Shall rouse the echoes with thy novel name, O Moatlhodi!

" Silo mo" serves for Ashmead-Bartlett's need, " Buffalo Bill " for migbty Colonel Cody ; Thy title ismore.fHunptnouff'inileed, '-•,•.:.'-. -Great Moatthodi l ■'•>"-

What ancient Briton, fiei-cely- farge and fine, - With brawny liriibs,, magnificently woody, Cobld spoil so wonderful a name as thine, v . Q Moatlhodi I

Let choirs of singers, chanting through the seile From high soprano C to thrilling low D, Tako up the musical and mytic tale Of Moatlhodi !..

"The man that rights things," bo the Afric chief Has Birmingham's Bight Honorable Joe di- • stinguished hy titlp. rather bright than brief Of Moatlhodi! ■ y

The name' will stick even as "Silomo" has "to; Ashmead "Bartlett. •. Let :tisyhopa Joseph will continue to:""right' things." No. one can. ..deny that -the Colonial Office; affords, him plenty of opportunities for prdving the. Bechuana chiefs' honour rightly bestowed.