LONDON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1903, 8 June 1892, Page 5

LONDON.

(From the Dunedin 'Evening Star's London Correspondent.)

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. London, April 22. Though four out of the last she days have been either high days or holidays, aud there is naturally not an abounding amount of Anglo-colonial copy available, I find I have a few notes of interest oonoerning Messrs Huddart, Parker's opposition to the Union Company and your Agent-General's views with regard to the Imperial Institute to forward. Before, however, proceeding to these, a word must be said concerning the Eajcer (yesterday). snowstorm, which completely spoilt the Bank holiday for tens of thousands. In Kent and Surrey the snow lay on the ground 4in deep, and the unhappy volnnteers Bleeping under canvas at Bisbey experienced a perfect martyrdom during their pleasure outing. " Viotoria street " (which signifies the occupants of the various Colonial Agents 1 offices) is speculating curiously what can be bringing Sir Francis and Lady Bell back to England so soon. When they left; 'twas understood the old couple meant to spend the remainder of their days in the bosom of their son's family. Can it be, one wonders, that the late Agent - General finds the atmosphere of modern up-to-date New Zealand strange and' uncongenial? This sort of disappointment we know constantly occurs to old people. How many each, after dreaming of Some for long years in the colony, return only to find they have cherished an illusion ? Their real home, as they at last discover, is New Zealand, and back thither they bundle by first steamer.

It would bo high treason to say that, having built the Imperial Institute, and appointed a number of officials, the authorities are puzzling how to make the vast conoern of practical use. Of course somebody understands the entire scheme, and equally of course one of these days the public will grasp the great work the Institute is doing. Meanwhile, however, a good deal of haziness surrounds the establishment of the colonial courts. Beyond the fact that they are to be museums of an up-to-date char- | acter, and that there is to be a curator to look after them, no one seems to know much. I told ypu the Agents-General met the other evening to discuss the curator question, and that the majority favored the appointment of a general supervisor for the entire Australasian group, The New Zealand Agent-General did not speak then, having (although permitted to be present) no locus standi, as his colony had not then subecribed. Now, however, that (thanks, it is supposed, to the representations of Sir Walter Buller) New Zealand has agreed to participate, there can be no doubt that Mr Perceval will take a lead in the arrangement of matters. Sir John Bray and Mr Munro have, of course, scarcely felt their feet yet, and Sir Saul Samuel and Sir James Garrick belong to the old Conservative obey-the-English-authori-ties-and ■ never - have-an-opiuion-of-your-owu school. The fact that Sir Frederick Abel I recommended a general curator on the ground of economy would probably suffice for them. Mr Perceval objects altogether to the general curator, believing that such a man would be everybody's servant and nobody's servant — except Sir P. Abel's. The New Zealand Agent's views as to what that colony's court at the Institute should be are perfectly olear. A museum ? Certainly, but an industrial museum with carefully kept up-to-date and ample specimens of every sort of colonial product and industry. No doubt this is partially the idea of the other Agents, too, but, the Australasian collections having been made, they would put them under the care of a merely general supervisor. This person would be no more bound to South Australia than to Queensland, or to Queensland than to Victoria. You could scarcely expect to get a man with an encyclopedic knowledge of all the Australasian colonies, and without it he would be a mere cataloguer and caretaker. For New Zealand the Agent-General desires a thoroughly experienced and qualified man as curator, with special knowledge of the colony's industries, products, and progress. He would be expected to examine into possible new industries, to draw comparisons, to suggest improvements and economies, and to deliver reports from time to time. Also, of course, this curator would be called on to explain the exhibits to parties of intending emigrants, and, should it be considered desirable, to lecture now and then on New Zealand's progress. The Imperial Institute, in fact, Mr Perceval thinks, should supplement and illustrate the information obtainable at his offices and bureau. Of course it will cost each colony more should it have to support a man of this sort, instead of having a fifth of a general utility person ; but surely if a court at the Institute is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. A SUGGESTION, It is hoped that the appointment of Sir Walter Buller on the governing body of the Imperial Institute signifies that he means returning to London and assisting the Agent-General in the good work of now advertising the colony. I believe myself something could be done to combat the stupendous ignorance which still (as the Agent-General complains) exists with regard to New Zealand in the provinces and to encourage the desirable class of emigrants if a man of social standing and position in the colony were sent Home on a carefully planned lecturing tour. In certain ways, of course, the lecturing business has been done again and again, but never in the right way. A good delivery, a rosy imagination, and an attractive set of lantern plates are not all that are necessary. If his address is to be any real use the lecturer must be able to give guarantees that the assertions he makes are true. His position and backing must be unimpeachable. I have in my mind, of course, Sir Walter Buller, if he could only be persuaded to undertake this task. At the great magic lantern repositories, where Bets of plates are let out for lecturing purposes by the night, I am told both Australia and New Zealand are favorite subjects, and will invariably draw an audience. I looked at the New Zealand lantern plates. They numbered two dozen, and were from antiquated photos, which never at any time gave an adequate idea of your country. Yet these plates go out from forty to fifty times every winter. I do not wish to disparage the good work done by Messrs Courtney and Clayden and Reea at this side. Their intentions, we all admit, ware excellent ; but in their enthusiasm they over-colored their pictures, and often gave mischief-makers and the enemies of the colony a handle to use against it. COLONISING LOAN COMPANIES, I should think that the great loan companies, such as the New Zealand and Australian Land and the Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile, which, to the great satisfaction of the Agent- General, have resolved to unload their land, and are offering all sorts of iaducements to small farmers to settle thereon,* would gladly join the Government in any special plan for advertising the colony. The first-named corporation have just issued a capital handbook, in which the properties they are wanting to cut up are described in a capable and business-like manner. It is fully expected the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile will shortly issue a like brochure. UKBBEET JOKES. I hear, by the way, that Mr Horbcrt Jones, F.K.G.S,, who has for some time past

been travelling the provinces with a lecture on * Australasia,' in which a special feature was made of Mildura and Renmark, is cow en route for New Zealand, with the idea of working fup a similar discourse od your colony. Mr Jones illustrated his lecture with 100 photographic slides, exhibited by means of a powerful oxy-hydrogen lantern, and its success appears to have been in? dubitable. Testimonials from all sorts of notables— from Earl Percy to 'Tit Bits' Newnes — prove the fact. HUDDART, PARKER'S NEW STEAMERS. The Mew Zealaod and Australasian Steam Ship Company, otherwise Messrs Huddart, Parker, had arranged, as an advertisement for their new boats, the Warrimoo and the Miowera, now in process of construction at Messrs Swan and Hunter's yards, at Wallaend, a couple of twenty-five day trips to Norway, the first of which was fixed to start from Newcastle on July 2. But there have been strikes and labor troubles galore in the Tyneside shipping world, and it is now dis covered that the Warrimoo, which was to convey the firßt consignment of Antipodeans and others to the Land of the Midnight Sun, cannot by anything short of a miracle be got ready in time. And it is not by any meaDs a remote possibility that the August trip will have to be abandoned also, though the Billiter street agency of the company live in hope of accomplishing that half of their task. The state of affairs now shown was not entirely unforeseen or unexpected by the company, for in the published itinerary of the proposed trips the agerts " reserve the right to return all passage 1 moneys and thereby cancel any contracts which may have beon made." Whatever tho fate of the August cruise (the July one will certainly not come oil'), it is a great pity Messrs Huddart, Parker cannot carry out their programme in its entirety, for they have been at great expense and trouble in the matter of arranging for the comfort and enjoyment of possible patrons. On Tuesday week last Messrs Swan and Hunter launched one of the passenger boats which they have been building to the order of Messrs Huddart;, _ Parker. The Tasmania, as the addition to the company's fleet was named by Mrs James Huddart, is about 300 ft long, and will be fitted with powerful machinery by the Wallsend Shipping Company. Handsome accommodation will be provided for over 200 passengers. I have not space for a description of the vessel's fitments, but everything is to be of the latest and best, including electric light and bells throughout. The Tomba accomplished a successful trial trip of eight hours' duration on the Olye last Thursday. The boat is now en route for Australia via the Cape. NEW ZEALANII COMPANIES, The shares of the Glenrock Company, which have lately been little better than valueless, improved during the wpek to 4s each, There are strong indications also that the shares of the Premier Mine will advance considerably in value shortly. In both cases I understand the buyers are not of the Home ring of speculators, but are colonists "in the know." At any rate an increase of values in the shares of ono or two New Zealand mines will have a beneficial effect, and may in some degree b 6 of use to the numerous colonists now at Home with "mines in their pockets." Mr Leonard Harper's Black Ball Company has received a fair amount of abuse at the hands of the smaller fry of financial journalism, but as the public have not and will not be asked to venture money therein, Mi Harper does nor mind rough comment, and the attacking papers have been wasting space. One journal this week speaks approvingly of the "great respectability" of the directorate, but adviseß the puM'c to have nothing to do with the concern, because the parent company are satisfied with so little for the property ! Naturally the small financial papers, which exist solely upon advertisements of companies (together, of course, with cheques for flattering notices, and the suppressing of notices otherwise) do not approve of these private flotations, which do not bring giiat to their mills in the shape of •• half the back page," and the more reputable organs do not exactly approve of them. When Mr Harper returns to New Zealand (I understand that he will not delay his departure muoh longer) he will be able to give intending visitors Home, on mine-floating intent, many valuable hints as to what not to do. His own experiences of financial sharks, or rather would-be sharks, are rather amusing. The report and balance-sheet to 81st December, 1891, of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company exhibit no exepption to j the rule of reduced profits and diminished dividends in shipping concerns ; only the reduction is less than in many other cages — the N.Z.S Company and the Orient, for ' instance, being unable to declare any dividend at all. The shareholders of the Shaw, j Savill line have cause to congratulate themselves on getting 7i per cent, out of their concern, for, besides the normal depression of trade, many causes have combined to make the New Zealand shipping trade unprofitable. What the presentyear of grace may bring forth for the companies interested lies of course "in the lap of the gods," but it is an open secret that there are negotiations being carried on with a view to regulating the trade and preventing a further " slump " in freights, If nothing comes of these negotiations shippers of course will continue to benefit by increased "rebates," but it is more probable that amicable re'ations will be established between the negotiating parties. Fight or no fight, the S.S. and A. Company stand as well prepared as the rest. The gross profits of the year amount to Ll 16,729, and after writing off L 43 "56 for depreciation, and L13.58S for interest, sufficient remains after providing for all office and management expenses to pay a dividend of 7£ per cent, on the ordinary shares, as against 10 per cent, in 1890. ">'OR HIS NATURAL LIFE." The fashionable church of St. Mary Abbot, Kensington, was the scene of an Anglocolonial matrimonial ceremony on Bank holiday (Monday, April 18), when Mr James Johnstone, 8.A., M.B , CM., F. 88.0., son of the late Rev. William Johnstone, M.A., of Port Chalmers, espoused Miss Ethel Hudson, the youngest daughter of Mr W. L. Hudson, late of Manchester. The pastor of the church officiated. MR BUCHANAN, M.H.R, Mr Buchanan, M.H.R., returns to the colony via Amerioa, and sails from Liverpool in the Etruria next week. He has been in town for the past week, and stayed at the Metropole, but I was not able to catch him j "at home," though wishful to secure an interview on the dairy produce and meat importation, in which Mr Buchanan takes a : great interest aud has spent much time looking into. To-day he departed for GlasI gow, and will not visit London again before sailing, Mr J. E. Nathan, of Wellington, leaves England by the Ruapehu, and by that steamer Mr Alfred Waterlow, of the wollknown firm of Waterlow and Sons, takes his wife and family to the colony, as the first place to be visited in his trip round the world.