LONDON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1816, 29 July 1891, Page 5

LONDON.

From the Dunedin 'Evening StarV London Correspondent.)

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

London, May 29. THE DERBY. Bitter were the execrations heaped on the British climate by the soaked and besmirohed Australians whom the hospitible invitations of Mr D'Arcy and Mr D S Cooper had lnred to Epsom on Darby Day. The morning broke delusively bright and aunny, and thousands feet out tor the Eowns in the highest spirit*. Ala«, long before afternoon every atom of good feeling had been drenched hopelessly out of the dejected crowd, tnd betting and bad language remained their only consolations, i The three animals most admired in the paddock, before the downpour developed into a severe shower bath, were the favorite, The Deemster, and Dorcas . Mr Cooper told everyone Mat Dawsou feared only Common, »nd that he fully expectedhis filly to be place i. The mad, however, he admitted would be against her. Ia the ring nothing appeared to be backed but the favorite, and for almost the first time ia the history of the Derby *' Ten to one bar one 1" was theory. Thousands of pounds teemed in the market for Common ; yet, sttange to say, the layers tired not. Finally, however, odds on were asked for, and almost .the last big wager noted was one of 5,500 to 4,000 on Common, laid by an ex- Melbourne bookmaker. Dorcas started second favorite, as I anticipated, and ran very well for a mile ; in fact her colors were well in front till nearing Tattenham C >'rner. Gouvernenr then took up the ruoniog, attended by Common, and the pair to<>n parted company with the rest of the field. At the Bell the favorite had won, beating M. Blanc's colt as muoh as Ormonde beat The Bard. Martenhurst was a bad third, and Dorcas (pulling up) finished eighth. A FATAL OPERATION. When I wrote you of the death of Captain Hayter, of Timaru and Chriatchurch, I was unaware of the circumstances attendiog the sad event. It seems the deceased had suffered for some time from an internal complaint, and came Home to be operated upon. He seemed in robust health, and might have lived many years, the doctors admic, without anything of the sort being exactly imperative ; but tbe attacks the poor man underwent were horribly painful, and the operation, if successful, would have given bim, comparatively speaking, permanent relief. Unfortunately, Ciptain Hayter was a very stout man, and operations affecting the kidney of such subjects are always difficult. This one came <ff at Middlesex Hoi-pital three weeks ago ; Mr Henry Morris, the famous surgeon, conducting matters. Dr Ned well, of Christchurch, an old frfcnd of the patient, was present and witnessed what occurred. He tells me the operation proved unexpectedly difficult acd dangeron?, even for the case of a stout man, but was got through with Morris's usutl skill and coolness. Tne shock, however, proved too great for the patient, and in a few days he sank and died. I imagine, from what Df Nedwill says, Captain Hayter was fully alive to there being a good deal of danger in the operation, but I should doubt his understanding that the balance of probabilities was against his recovery. A MUCH MARRIXD MAN. Mr Henry Fwon alias Burgess, alias Payn, alias Watts, alias Watson, the enterprising " polygamist' whose numerous matrimonial adventures are being investigated at Bow street just now, lived in Australia and New Zealand from 1884 to 1888, and I dare say has a wife or two knocking about in ye ur colony. Mr Fison's methods have thror ghout been characterised by a* audacious simplicity truly admirable. Whenever chance brought him into contact with a girl or woman possessed of a few hundred pounds he made love to and married Her. Having done so, he, by hook or crook, got possession of the money and decamped. Sometimes, having persuaded the victim to part ' with her little bag of coin, he left her standing in the street, without house or home, and was seen no more. At; others he start* d off to buy a business fdr self and wife and failed to return. The wretch, has been carrying this daring game on ever since 1871. Some five or six wivea are already in evidenoe, and there can.be little doubt the years this much-marrying person spent at the Antipodes will prove to have been equally well employed. An amourette with a young person rejoicing in the curious name of Snook' cut short Mr Fison's career. Miss Snook had L 237, which Mr Fison covjted. He was more than usually indiscreet in attempting to gain possession thereof, and a suspicions policeman intervened. GREAT FXPECTATIONS. The caae of little Todhunter, erstwhile of Tauranga, Rotorua, and Gisborne, should be a warning to New Zealanders of moderate means with relatives at Home not to spend money over vague "expectations" until they are quite certain what the said expectations amount to. Some fifteen months ago Mr Todhunter, who was then earning from L 3 to L 4 a week iv New Zealand, received a letter from Home urging him to return, as his mother was dying, and stating that unless he promptly came back and looked after his rights a younger brother would probably get all the property. Had Mr Todhunter consulted a lawyer in New Zealand, and sent Home for particulars before acting, he wonld soon have found out that his mother had really only a little furniture and a few odds and. ends to will away. The property proper — i c, three or four small houses, worth L6OO perhaps— was hers for life merely, devolving at her death on Todhunter, his brother, and (I think) a sister, Todhunter might therefore just as well have stayed in New Zealand and simply instructed a local lawyer to get a London solicitor to watch his interests. Instead, he borrowed money on bis "expectations" and came Home. Meanwhile, the old lady recovered, and when Todhunter arrived in London seemed hearty as ever. This, was decidedly embarrassing. I advised the little man to leave his interests in the hands of a lawyer and return to New Zealand. _ But he was suspicious of his brother making free with his share of the furniture, etc., and wonld not budge. Ultimately, I heard he obtained employment on an Orient boat. A few weeks ago the old mother did die, and now at last Todhnnter'a great expectations are realised. After lawyers' expenses, etc., have been paid, the amount coming to him will, I fear, be inconsiderable. He does not, at any rate, talk of returning to New Zealand. It would be too painful to have to confess that tbe cost of looking after the "expectations" had swallowed up the expectations themselves. MADE ABSOLUTE. Mr Stead's stories concerning the intervention of tbe Queen's Proctor in O'Shea v. O'Shea and Parnell have proved, like so many efforts of that good man's imagination, the purest fudge. On Monday, when Mr Justice Butt's deciee nisi was duly pronounced absolute by Justice Jeune, none of the parties to the suit cared even to put in an appearance. Mr Parnell.will now forthwith marry the released lady; and set himself right with " society." He has not been seen at Westminster since the recess. A MODKBN MONSTER. The heroine of the strange story of the Scotch peerage, which (using feigned names) 7. M. Barrie told in a recent number of the * National Observer ' under the title of ' The family Honor,' was, I am assured, <your exViceroy Lord C.'s aunt, the Countesti of S.

I My informant states that 'for many year it wa« a* legend of the country side that an ; unnatural inoncter <>t unspeakable hideousaess aui ferocity was concealed in an unused or walled-cff portion of G. Castle, the Glendowre of Barrie'a story. Folks whispered that this "thing" was brought home from India or Africa many generations ago by the then Lord S., whose offspring it was, and who hesitated to destroy it, believing it could not live long. But the strange creature proved to be possessed of quite abnoimal vital powers, and outlived two or three holders of the title. It was guarded and cared for by a powerful negro, and no human being ornv it or knew its whereabouts ■*ye the Lord S. of the period and I ia eldest sun. The latter evidently learnt the family sec et when he came of age. Ihu wildt-st descriptions were current in the county as to the fearsome appeal acce of this bo • calltd " mooster." 1 suggested that if such^ a horror existed ac all the p ob Abilities favored its being nothing more unnatural than a particularly grotefqua and r*pul*ivelooking idiot. But the story-teller would not have his yarn belittled. Some, he said, vowed the thing had a goat's head ; others declared for a frog's enout. All, however, agreed it possessed phenomenal strength, aud that its squeals were marrow, curdling and awful. According to this authority the monster only died comparatively recently. Barrie, you remember, makes it fond of and kind to children, but I can hear nothing of that. The final catastrophe is supposed to have taken place during a ball at G. Castle. The monster escaped, and towards midnight an uneaithly yell- (something betwixt the cry of a lost soul and the screech of a Kilkenny cat) soiely affrighted the dancers. The Earl and his son, summoned by the terrified negro servant, left the hall, and the Countess, placing herself before the door, would allow no one to pass. A shot was presently heard, and it is conjectured that the Earl had to choose between risking his own and his guests' lives and killing the monster. Barries yarn is, of course, a freely embroidered version of the original legend. PERSONAL AND GENERAL, Mr Champion is acting as private secretary to Mr Charles Hoare The manner in which the Labor party treated him, for acting as seemed honest and right in Aurtrali-t, has thoroughly disgusted and disillusioned bim, and he has " cut " the lot. This was not at all what Burns, Mann, and Tillett expected or wished. To turn a nun out with ignominy ii one thing, but for him to walk off and leave you with his tongue in his cheek is quite another. The faculty which Lord Charles Scott appears to possess of getting into rows with the colonial authorities is making him anything but a favorite at the Admiralty, and, unlike previous commodores who have risen to the best posts in the service, be will nut be rapidly promoted. Mr William Courtney is sill hard at work trying to drive the magnificent prospects of New Zealand in general and Taranaki in particular into our thick English heads. He lectured at the People's Palace on Tuesday evening, and, with the aid of some capital lantern slide*, passed away an hour both profitably and agreeably. Mr John Roberts, of Dunedin, has gone to Scotland for a month's trip in the Highlands. His headquarters for the time will be at Wallwood Park, Selkirk. I understand that a marriage has been arranged between Mr Edward Martin (of the well-known firm of Turnbull, Martin, and Co.) and a daughter of Mr E. S. Dawes, the chief controller of the fortunes of the New Zealand Shipping Company and the British India Company. The Rev. Francis Innes Joneß. of Melson, died last Wednesday week in London from an attack of influenza. The same scourge claimed also for a viotim the Rev. Dr Turner, the well-known Congregational missionary to Samoa, who died yesterday. A steam mission yacht, intended for the use of Dr Selwyn, Bishop of Melaneti*, and his party, was launched on Tuesday at Wyvenhoe. The New Zealand Shipping Company notify shippers that the rates by cargo steamers (outward) will be reduced as follows : — Medium measurement, from 45a to 40a; fine measurement, 50s to 455. The reduction commences with the s.s. Elderslie Mr Albena Thomas, a well-known Cardiff citizen, sails for your colony by the Aorangi. He purposes settling at Oitnaru. The illness of the Rev. David Bruce, of which I have apprised you ia a former letter, has been of a much more Berious character than I surmised. Mr Bruce has not yet left his bed,, and is daily attended by Dr Cooper Key and another physician. The. latest news is that he is progressing favorably, but, as the influenza leaves its victims very weak, it will be many days before be can leave bis room. The following I take from the current issue of the 'Christian World' :— "The key to the problem of baptism ia to be found, thinks Mr James Tyeth Hart, of Wellington, New Zealand, in the ' whereunto ' of the Acts xix., 3 : ' Whereunio then* were ye baptised ?' Any sufficient, satisfying, and at the same time Scriptural doctrine of Cnriatian baptism, he believes, ia still lacking, and he endeavors to supply the need by an exhaustive * inquiry into the purport and purpose of Christian baptism, 1 published by Mr Elliot -Stock under the title of 'The Mane and Its Clue. 1 The idea of washing, of ceremonial purification, was always, he ho'd-i, implied in the symbolic act of bap" tinn ; but as a Christian rita it is washing unto something — a symbolic purification of the person baptised, in order to that person's designation by God for Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghoat. *Itis a sanctification for and unto the great name of God, as manifested in Jesus Christ.' . . . Mr Hart unfolds his - argument with much earnestness, and with modestly concealed learning." . Mr Henry Reynolds, who intended sailing by the Aorangi to-day, has delayed his departure for a fortnight on account of pressure of business. Be will leave by the Coptic. There is nothing new to report in conection with dairy produce or the fruit trade. Mr John Hay, who has now entirely recovered from his recent indisposition, was one of the unhappy beings who were tempted to Epsom to see Common romp home for the Darby. Wednesday morning broke fair and fresh, but the rain simply poured down by the time Mr Hay and Captain Ashby arrived on the course, and continued, with brief intermissions, daring the day.' Mr Hay goes to Hamburg in a few days. Mr Hugh Hastings Romilly and Mr Alfred Romilly, whom so many Australians (Queensland ers especially) know, are only cousins of the unfortunate peer who lost his life in the South Kensington fire last Saturday evening. Lord Ooslow contributes an article on 1 Colonial Horses ' to the Badminton volume on ' Riding,' just out. The cabling companies are getting very expert in the matter of speed nowadays. The Derby field got of at 3h 16min on Wednesday afternoon, and Common passed the post a winner 3b 18min 56«ec. At 3 SM> the result was known in London, and at 3h 20min SOsec (English time) in New York. Every club in London bad the winner by 3min 20sec. [ tf.B.— The fact that the winner was really known several seconds before it passed the post of course materially assisted .these phenomenal records ] I hear, by the way, that one eight during the worst period of "our HennikerV illness he was reported dead. The * Standard,' indeed, actually set up bis obituary notice,

whioh was highly flowery and flattering, and a column in length. Fortunately tbe editor discovered the mistake before going to press. Mr Atnory Sullivan sailed for Melbourne by the Orient last Fridoy, whuh (an I mentioned last week) has Miss Laura Villiera'a " Dancing Girl " Company aboard. This troupe was trained at the Haymarket by Beerbohm Tree, and Bhould be a good imitation of the real thing. The buiden of the 'Life of Lord Sherbrooke' and other great works Mr P. Patchett- Martin is engaged upon has not prevented that energetic litterateur from pledging himself to assist Lord Ctrringtnn in a pjpular account of the ex-V-ceroy's Australian sojourn. The precise method in which this work will be carried out remains to be decided upon ; but it appears probable Hit) ex Excelleooy will supply diarie 1 . docu- 1 ments, and what not, leaving the " writingup," condensation, and arrangement to his experienced coadjutor. A feature of tne book, of special interest to S >uth Australians, will be a chapter on Political Crues in Australia by the Hon. S. J. Way. Australian articles (i < , articles either by Australians or about the Antipodean colonies) have recently become even more numerous than American ones in our magazines Every mouth seems to bring a fresh orop. The June ' Eoglish Illustrated,' for example, contains a paper on ' Life in a Bush Town,' by Charles D.umareeque, and the ' Ludgate ' describes, or affectu to describe, a busb journey. Ia the former our old familiar friend, the Australian servant girl, who asks her mistress for a latch-key, is trotted out. I am afraid I never altogether believed in this liUtorie "slavey." Mr Damareeque is more on the spot when he marvels at the simplicity of hotel accomn o dation, even in tairly pretentious townships. This astonished all tourists. Mr R L. Stevenßon'd new serial story, ' The Wreckers,' will appear B'multaneously in England, America, Australia, and Hvw Zealand. It will b« followed by a romance called ' The Pearl Fisher. 1 | Mr Gladstone resembles Royalty, iv that he cannot bear to be thought ill, and always insists on belittling any ailmeut he may happen to be suffering frnin. Thus the reports given to the world of the exPremiei'a recent attack of influenzt represented it as a very trifling affair. Everybody,' however, acquainted with this fell entttmic knows that the three or four days of fever with which it commences are terribly weakening, even to the strongest constitutions, and must have pulled down an old man like the Liberal leader considerably. He will certainly have to exercise the greatest c«e for some time to come, and is not likely to return to the House for several weeks. The epidemic, lam glad to learn, has disappeared as mysteriously as it came in the North of England, and at Sheffield last week the death rate resumed its normal figure. The Southern counties are still pretty bad, certain London suburbs especially suffering severely from its ravages. Lord Rimilly, who set his house in South Kensington afire on Saturday night, through the overturning of a lamp, and was suffocated, with two of bis man servants, whilst trying to escape, was a son of the late Master of the Rolls, and grandson of Sir Samuel Romilly, the great jurisconsult and advocate. The second Lord Romilly took no part in public affaire, but seems to have been a Rood landlord and greatly respected on his Barry and Cardiff estates. His antipathy to gas was well known, and had once before resulted in a similar accident. Then, however, hie lordship had the nous to run out of the house, and gave the alarm at the fire station. On. Saturday neither he nor the butler displayed much oommon sense. No alarm was attempted till escape bad become almost impossible, and then the butler seems to have rushed out of the front door slamming it behind him and leaving hia master to suffocate. The whole story sounds preposterous, unless Lord Romilly was ill or otherwise not himself. Advices from the States with reference to the seemingly impossible and preposterous scheme submitted to the Commissioners of the Chicago Exhibition for transporting the Colosseum at Rome to the shores of Lake Erie show that the idea was broached iv all seriousness, and that exhaustive calculations as to the probable cost and the mode of carrying out the plan have been made. Dr Aitken, who has drawn up the scheme on behalf of an American syndicate representing many millions of capital, says that the hopes of his backers are based upon the financial difficulties of the Italian Government, which will not allow them to disregard the offer of a large sum in ready cash. A prominent Amerioan engineer is already in Rome on behalf of the syndicate, and ie is proposed that remains of the ancient building shall be divided into twelve sections, the stones carefully numbered, and the whole transported to America by means of special steamers, to be re-erected in the vicinity of the Chicago Exposition, and shown to the curious [public of the Western Hemisphere at so much per head. Dr Aitken estimates that the completion of this fin (It siecle project would occupy only twelve months ! But up to now they have not even approached the impecunious Italian Government, and when they do I venture to think the " almighty dollar " will be found lacking the necessary persuasive power. The French dairy farmers in the department of Finisterre claim to have proved by lengthy experiments that when cows drink hot water they yield one-third more milk than when refreshed with cold only. Greedy dairymen must beware of scalding the throats of their animals in their haste to avail themselves of this discovery, whioh is vouched for by the English Consul at Brest. The proportions, we are told, are half a pail of boiling water to the same quantity of cold.