LONDON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1901, 1 June 1892, Page 6

LONDON.

(From tlie Dunedin * Evening Star's London, Oorrespondent.)

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

London, Good Friday, 1892. The advent of Easter has been signalised by a cessation of the glorious spring sunshine of the last fortnight and a return of the north-east wind and bleak, chilly, wet weather. If it would only have held up over Monday, ths difference in the enjoyment and the sobriety of tens of thousands would have been incalculable. Last year only one of the people's holidays (Boxing Day) was fine. It seems, indeed, as if I couldn't remember a fair Easter. Glancing back through the diaries of the last seven years, the sorrowful tale reads ever the same. Yet anniversary after anniversary we calmly ignore experience, and, purchasing spring suits (this style 40s !) and straw hats, depart light - heartedly to frolic in the green fields amongst lambs and primroses. "In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love," etc. ; and if under the shade of " yon giant oak " we should espy (for one never merely sees that sort of person) a Marriott -Watsonian or Hardy-an heroine reposing, we will (yes, we will — we say it desperately) toy, dally, flirt, and philander with her after true ' National Observer ' fashion ! On Tuesday, alas ! our party return — hats pulpy and throats parched. We frolicked, J tia true, but 'twas amongst the pewters and clay pipes of a village pub ! Outside " the weary, dreary rain " fell " in very sheaves" (as Mr Henley would say) " from a sombre, sagging sky." Even the jokes (cerulean as a summer sea) of the fair Hebe in the stuffy little bar failed to cheer. The damsel smelt of spring, certainly— spring onions ! In truth "her sweet smell haunts me still," as the old song says. But what shocking stuff I am writing ! Let us to Anglo-Colonia. MR PERCEVAL AND THE COLONIAL OFFICE, The report that the Agent-General and Mrs Perceval were not invited to Lady Knutsford's "small and early " in honor of * the Earl and Countess of Glasgow, is, I learn, inaccurate. They duly received cards, but circumstances existed which obliged them to decline the courtesy. These circumstances I know enough of to be able to state positively that they had nothing to do with tho misunderstanding in connection with the new Governor's appointment, nor with any proceedings of the Ballance Government. The matter was a purely impersonal one, arising out of the cavalier attitude habitually adopted by the Colonial Office towards the representatives of the self-governing colonies. One or two little things displeased Mr Perceval. "They were not meant to annoy him personally, nor as a slight to New Zealand, but were the result of custom and of an obsolete condition of affairs. Nevertheleßs, the Agent-General recognised that unless somebody "belled the cat " and protested against, these molehills they might easily grow into mountains, and breed serious trouble. So, after consulting with Sir Saul Samuel and other of the older Agents, Mr Perceval, I'm told, interviewed the new Permanent Under-Secrctary (Mr Meade). What passed, of courae, nobody knows ; but the result is Punchinello's secret. The errors of omission, both in the cases of Mr Perceval and Sir John Bray, were promptly remedied, and the same blunders will very evidently never be repeated, A little firmness and a little tact have consummated a most desirable reform. MR TERCEVAL SAVES NEW ZEALAND Ll,ooo A YEAK. The Agent-General has just effected an arrangement with the Bank of England which will save the colony from LI, OOO to L 1,500, 500 a year, It is not a great matter, perhaps, but worth mentioning as an instance of the thorough manner in which Mr Perceval is overhauling and modifying the traditions of his office. In the course of business he discovered that the Bank of England, when making payments of interest, etc., on behalf of the colony, was accustomed to demand that the money should be placed in its hands ten days before the date on which it began to disburse it. Bearing in mind that the Old Lady of Threadneedle street is the colony's banker, and that she habitually holds securities for a far larger amount than these sums ever total, the Agent-General could see no valid reason why New Zealand should lose ten days' interest. It did not amount to much perhaps (" a mere bagatelle " the Bank grandly called it), but, on the " ever little helps " principle, Mr Perceval thought the colony might just as well have it. So he bailed up the Old Lady of Threadneedle street on the subject and talked it out. At first, being a conservative old soul, and enmeshed in red tape, the Bank could not see why your Agent-General should desire to improve on arrangements which "that great financier Sir Francis Bell " and his predecessors had tolerated. But Mr Perceval's persistence and common sense carried the day. In future, so long as the Bank holds cover for the sum to be disbursed, it will not be deposited till two instead of ten days before the advertised date. This means a saving to New Zealand of eight days' interest, or (as 1 said to begin with) about Ll,ooo or so per annum. " A mere bagatelle" to a nation, no doubt, but surely a little matter that was worth arranging, and for which the AgentGeneral deserves his meed of kudos. THE AGENT-GENERAL'S LECTURE, The lantern slides with which Mr Perceval will illustrate his lecture on the colony at the Colonial Institute next month are not, I learn, new ones, but a very complete set, which have for some time been in the possession of the Victoria street office. Professor Anderson Stuart borrowed some to illustrate his paper on Australian universities, and that was the first time such frivolity ever accompanied a lecture under Institute auspices. I fancy, too, these slides must have been occasionally lent to country clergymen, mechanics' institutes, etc. If not used for this purpose in the past, they almo&t certainly will be in the future, Mr Perceval, like Mr Stead and other up-to-date workers, ia fully alive to the usefulness of the magic lantern as an advertising medium and agreeable means of imparting information and relieving dry facts and statistics. THE BLACK JSALL COMi'ANY. The Black Ball Mining Company, which Mr Leonard Harper has been promoting, is now an established fact, with a capital of L 60.000 in LlO shares. The Board consists of Messrs F. E. D. Acland, H. J, Hatch, — . Davis, M. Homer, E. Martin, J. M. Stobart, J. B. Weßtray, and Leonard Harper. The qualification is fifty shares, and the directors' remuneration the (it seems to me) substantial sum of L4OO a year, and 10 per cent, of the profits after a 10 per cent, dividend has been declared. The market is so bad just now that I am astonished Mr Harper should have got his L 60,000 underwritten so (comparatively) easily. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Dr'Kemp, of Wellington, has arrived, and is at present stopping at Tunbridge Wells. The Hon. John Barton Acland, of Holincote, Rangitata, has arrived Home on a visit, and is stopping with his brother, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, at the family seat, Killerton, near Exeter. It is not Mr Charles T. D. Acland, M.P., who has become one of the directors of Mr Leonard Harper'a Black Ball Mining Company, but Captain Francis Edward Aoland (late R.A.),

his nephew. The ramifications of the Acland family can only be traced with the aid of a baronetage. The late holder of the title had six sons and two daughters, all of whom have begotten in their tarn* extra large families. The New Zealand Aoland is youngest son of the last baronet. His elder brother, the venerable Sir Thomas, will be eighty -three next month. You must not, by the way, mistake him for his brother, Sir Henry Acland, X.C.8,, D.C.L., LL.D., M.D., and F.R.S., the Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, who was created a baronet two years ago, and has a family of eight of his own, His eldest son, Captain W. A. D. Acland, married the late Mr W. H. Smith's daughter. The Hon. Walter Johnstone is. stopping at Runnymede Park, Egham, the country seat he leased for his wife and family during their English residence, Mr and Mrs Johnstone and family return to New Zealand by direct steamer in June. For the third time within a few months Mr H. M. Watson has been laid up ill, This last attack appeared to be a recurrence of the influenza. He is now better. Mr Philip Mennell has lost his father, who died at Weaton-super-Mare last week, aged eighty-five. Both old Mr Mennell's sons have turned out successful journalists, Philip's elder brother, Wilfred, is editor of ' Merrie England ' (the leading Roman Catholic monthly), and married Miss Alice Thompson, sister of Lady Butler, the painter of the ' Roll Call.' Mrs Mennell contributes frequently to the • National Observer ' and, ' Saturday Review.' She is not only a capable reviewer, but writes charming verse. Wilfred Mennell spells his name after ancient fashion — Meynell. In the presence of a large concourse of students and others the medical graduations in connection with the University of Aberdeen took place on April 4, Amongst the names of the recipients of M.B. and CM. degrees occurs that of Mr R. R. Suller, of Timaru, New Zealand. There were no colonial students in the M.D. list, and only two other Antipodeans gained the same distinction as Mr Suller. Both of these hailed from Melbourne. The M.D, degree was conferred on twelve graduates, and the M.B. and CM. degrees on forty-one candidates, The noise and humor on the occasion of the function was, according to a local journal, •' about the average," which means a good deal, be it said. In the Brecknock • Beacon ' there appears a chatty description of a Sixty-mile Trip up the Wanganui, from the pen of Mr W. H. Probert. erstwhile of Cilwhyberd, but now a New Zealander. Mr Dominick Browne, of Christchurch, corrects a statement made in the 'Bristol Times,' to the effect that agricultural depression had caused vast j tracts of land to go out of cultivation | because wheat growing had -become un- j profitable. Mr Browne also kindly volun- j teers to give all who may care to ask of him information concerning the colony. "Auckland is a paradise of croakers." This has been said before, but now the phrase has appeared in print. Mr Arthur Clayden, defender of New Zealand, maligner of the Colonial Institute, and general correspondent to the Press of Great Britain, is responsible for the statement. It aeema that a certain Robert G. Hawes, of Auckland, wrote a letter to the 'Glasgow Herald' concerning Lord Onslow's resignation and New Zealand affairs generally, The letter was, it seems, pessimistic and not wholly accurate— at least so one gathers from Mr Clayden's reply. The greater portion of Mr Clayden's epistle concerns taxation, railways, telegraphs, Crown lands, and the present Government's beneficent influence on the colony ; but his conclusion is a castigation of Aucklanders. He says: — "Your correspondent, I notice, hails from Auckland. That is the paradise of croakers. The soft, balmy air takes all the man out of the lotus - eating, easygoing fraternity. If anyone wants to know what New Zealand means to the right sort of men, let him go to Obago, where the splendid Scotch settlers have in fifty years transformed a wilderness into an earthly paradise, and built an Antipodean Edinburgh almost superior to the Scottish one. Beautiful Dunedin, with its splendid churches, noble public schools, miles of wellformed streets, palatial warehouses and public institutions, should silence such correspondents as Mr Robert G. Hawes. I pity the man who would seek to deter his fellows in theee over- crowded British Isles from availing themselves of the magnificent openings furnished by such sparsely-populated countries as New Zealand for permanently benefiting themselves and families. The profound conviction which I brought Home from the colony a year ago was that in the 3,000,000 square miles of Australasia Providence had provided an ample remedy for the bulk of British pauperism and a small portion of her crime. What precisely an M.P. who rejoices in the name of Jeffreys, and whom I never heard of before, meant by asking whetherthe action of the Queensland authorities in giving bonuses on the export of frozen meat had the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, I confess I don't know. Baron De Worms didn't seem particularly clear about it either. He replied, coldly, that he'd heard a report on the subject, but had no information as to the terms of the Bill. It seemed, however, to be quite within the competence of a colonial Legislature. "With the flowers that bloom in the spring, tra, la, la " (as Mr Gilbert sings) comes the neat little handbook, invaluable to all Anglo-colonial tourists and travellers, issued annually by Messrs Ashby, of 26 Leadenhall street. This brochure is full of up-to-date information, hints, and "wrinkles" concerniog the Australian passenger trade, and collected by the evergreen Captain William Ashby. Of this kindly veteran it may indeed be said " Age cannot wither him nor custom stale his infinite multiloquence. The passengers' offices at 26 Leadenhall street grow every year into a more and more favorite calling place with travelling Australians. They find that not only can Captain Aahby tell them where Jones i 3 and what has become of Waring, but that he can obtain passages, etc., in the best steamers at much lower rates than they could get themselves. " Put yourself in my hands," he says to the returning colonist, and having assented, that lucky individual finds all trouble anent passage, etc., slide from his shoulders. Messrs Ashby's handbook contains, in addition to the important matter named, some very sensible advice to emigrants. " Our Captain Aahby " has, they remind us, some right to speak with authority concerning the Antipodes, having but recently returned from his twentieth tour dv monde." Since, as secretary to Sir George Bowen in Victoria during the crisis of 1577-7S, Sir George Baden-Powell first displayed his remarkable powers as a diplomatist and mediator, this young man has got on at a great rate. Sis Maltese mission was a success, but it has been completely eclipsed by his delicate manipulation of the ticklish Behring Sea difficulty. At the Colonial Office itßeems to be thought amongst the juniors that Sir George has now earned the colonial viee -royalty of the first class for which his soul hankers, and that he will probably have the option of succeeding either Lord Hopetoun or Lord Kintore. From a list which appears in the London ' Star ' last night, I gather that Sir James Fergusson has not, after all, permitted himself to be badgored into resigning his city company work. Despite press of official duties, Sir James atill finds time to act aa director of no fewer than eight corporations.

Lack of productiveness cannot, at leaßt, ' be iaid to the charge of Mr Hume Nisbet, whose "shockers" appear almost as regularly as quarter-day cornea round. It is scarcely more than three months ago since his not too successful Christmas story was published, and now White's anncunce another yarn of the "bail up" sort called ' The Bushranger's Sweetheart.' The same firm are publishing a cheap edition of 'A Young Girl'B Life,' by Far j eon. At Futtick and Simpson's on Tuesday a copy of Lycett's ' Views in Australia,' with fifty colored illustrations, and described as " the rarest of all Australian works in this condition," was knocked down to Quaritch for Lll. Surely there must be many rare Australian works worth more than this. Someone has temporarily reduced the price of Buller'a beautiful ' Birds of New Zealand ' by selling several copies at low rates to the second-hand booksellers. Never, Mr Author, give your book to even your dearest friend. If he wants it, let him buy it. Then he'll keep it and look after it. Half the valuable books (particularly specialist works, such as Buller's 'Birds') sold to the second-hand trade are presentation copies. Mrs Brown-Potter and her "Curly" are back, and open at Manchester on Monday in 'Hero and Leander.' Mr Bellew's Cape experiences have made him greyer than ever, but Mrs B.P. still looks "quite a girl." Misa Nellie Farren's host of Antipodean admirers will be glad to learn that for the firßt time since her severe relapse in February she was able to take a short drive on Saturday. Mr Charles Danby, the funny man of the first Gaiety Company, was, you will remember, divorced by his wife on the "usual grounds " (viz , cruelty and adultery) during his absence in Australia. The first Mrs Danby had no sense of humor, and when the "genial comedian" came home late somewhat merry she objected to practical jokes of the rougher sort. Chilled by this lack of sympathy at home, Charlie sought it abroad, and found consolation in the skirt dancing and high kicks of Miss Florence Levey. Mr Justice Butt and a special jury seemed to think this friendship aggravated Mrs Danby's injuries, and the former ultimately pronounced a decree nisi. It was made absolute some time ago, and on Monday the lively Charles legally espoused pretty Florrie. It was an idyllic wedding. Whether the marriage was celebrated by the Registrar or in church matters not. The important part of the function was the breakfast. That came off at Romano's, in a room full of tender, amorous reminiscences. Fred Leslie proposed the bride's health. Altogether it was a singularly edifying and enjoyable fes- j tivity. Miss Nellie Stewart is much chagrined to find that her presence in or absence from the cast of ' Black-eyed Susan ' has no effect on business at the Prince of Wales's. Arthur Roberta's irregularities (through illness), however, threaten to spoil the run. Once upon a time there lived an AgentGeneral at Westminster, a "'igh and 'aughty person," who trampled upon the satellites who trembled at his frown. One of this great man's rules ordered that any clerk requiring leave of absence must write down the object of that leave and the reason for asking for it. Now it came to pass that a frivolous young Cornstalk was drafted into this office. He was independent, and. like every properly constituted Australian, he found rules irksome. One Saturday morning the youth forwarded a bald request for leave over Sunday. The great man, by his secretary, sent out to know the why and wherefore. Seizing a sheet of paper, Mr Cornstalk wrote : Why ?— To £jo to churoh on Sunday. Wherefore ?— To worship you. That young man obtained leave of absence for ever. Twenty-five years ago, when the Great Britain and the Somersetshire sufficed with two popular lines of sailing ships to convey the bulk of the passengers travelling 'twixt England and Australia, the name of Money Wigram was familiar to your ears as household words. That it still holds a proud position in the City you will gather from the fact that Mr Clifford Wigram, the managing director of the limited liability company which succeeded the old firm of Money Wigram and Sons, ha 3 been elected deputygovernor of the Bank of England ; Mr David Powell, the late deputy-governor, replacing Mr Lidderdale as governor. "To him that hath," etc. Captain Gordon Wilson won more than L 20.000 through his chaser's success at Liverpool. 'Tis announced that he and Lady Sarah Wilson will visit Australia this autumn, as the guardsman wishes to show his bride where and how his "good old governor" made his "pile." tSociety likes Sir Samuel Wilson, He may not be ornamental, but his utility as, what our boys call, an " oof bird " and giver of smart balls is undeniable. The Earl of Huntingdon, whose engagement to Sir Samuel's second daughter, Maud, has just been announced, is twentyfour years old, and a captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Leinster Regiment. Though his title is English and his family name Hastings, Lord Huntingdon is an outandoutlrishman. Hisprincipal, indeed only, seat is Sharanogue, in King's County, and the family are, comparatively speaking, poor. He has five sisters — Constance (wife of Sir Thomas Pasley), Helene, Terne, Rowena, and Wilmot. The last-named pair are still in the schoolroom. The manager of the " Original English Lady Cricketers " has completed negotiations, according to the * Sporting Life,' with the Australian Ladies' Cricket Club, and will send over thirteen ladies to play in a series of thirty matches in Australia aad New Zealand. I'm afraid I cannot promise you (if these are the O.E.L.C.'s one saw at Eastbourne) a team of beauteous and cultured damsels. Their arniß, however, are strong, and their legs flexible.