LONDON GOSSIP.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11739, 12 September 1890, Page 3

LONDON GOSSIP.

« (N.Z. Times Correspondent). THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION BILL. This Bill has now passed the House of Lords. It met with no opposition in that < august assembly. The average peer of Great Britain does not interest himself much with colonial affairs. Lord Norton remarked rather sarcastically upon the ignorance shown with regard to Western Australia. This ignorance is not confined to the House of Lords, but pervades all classes. It is only " your picked man of countries " who knows anything definite about the Antipodes. But all men desirous ef political fame are interesting themselves much more about colonial affairs. Lord Knutaford, when speaking upon the Western Australian Constitution Bill, expressed a hope that the statesmen of that colony'would not take any measures'to check immigration. MB HENNIKER HEATON. ' The member for Canterbury has again been distinguishing himself. This time heijis written a letter to one of the principal papers. In it he speaks of himself as having made Mr Raikes' life.in the House of Commonn a burden to him. I do not.think lie has caused the Post-roastor-Qoneral so much misery as he coni eiders he has done. It is rather a happy thing for himself that someone should . think him a political Goliath. - Further on in the same letter he expresses his readiness to find " a modest and unknown Conservative undergraduate," who shall not only oppose, but also defeat, the Post-master-General in his own stronghold. Ho offers to pay the expenses' of the "modestand unknown undergraduate" in the event of Mr Raikes accepting his . challenge. Ido not think that Mr Raikes will put the matter to the test as yet. It irill.be time enough for him to make trial of his popularity when Parliament' is dissolved. . , . CRICKET. The Australian cricketers have not done so well this season as was expected. This is accounted for by their lamentable deficiency in batting talent. Thejr bowling is up to the average. Sometimes they appear to great advantage. This was the / case when opposed by one of the strongest teams AU England has ever-put in the field. Had it not been for the resolute stand made by Ulyett in the firrt innings and the magnificent batting of the veteran Dr W. G. Grace in the second, the result would have been very close. As it was, All England won be seven wickets. As I write, they are opposing Subsbx, our weakest county. Murdoch' seems to be revelling in the weakness of the' bowling. It is easy to prophesy a large score for the colonials. Murdoch has made 157 runs, and is showing something like a return to his old form. Shrewsbury, who visited ' ' the colonies with the English footballers, has shown phenomenal batting powers this season. Until the last match between All England and the Australians he had made exceptionally large scores in almost every match. In the last .two matches his hand appears to have lost its canning. Yesterday, playing for Notts against Middlesex, he ivas dismissed without scoring. Dr W. G-. Grace is playing in 'as good form as ever. Mr Stoddart is also playing well for Middlesex. ■ ' MEMORIAL TO THE LATE BIGHT HON. W. S. DAXLEY. Last week .Lord Rosebery, in the presence of most of the colonial notobilities at Home, unveiled this ' memorial. It has been, erected in the crypt of St. ■ Paul's, and is the first that has been erected to any colonist in the metroplitan cathedral. Lord Rosebery, in a few words, alluded to the great and statesmanlike qualities of the deceased, and the ceremony was then concluded. The monument consisted of a large slab of grey marble. On this the head and shoulders of the colontal statesman are shown in . strong relief in white marble: The whole rests on a large block of the same grey marble. Inscribed upon it are the following words in gold letters : — ■ " In memory of William Bede, Dalley, the Australian statesman and patriot. This tablet has been erected by contributions from all parts of tho' world-wide Empire which he cherished, served, and strove to maintain. He was born in 1831. He died, 1878.'' The monument is designed by Mr, Penrose, the Cathedral architect. Tbe design and portrait of Mr Dalley are the ""1 work of. Sir •■ Edgar Boehm,' but' that ' gentleman cannot be complimented on the faithfulness of his work. In fact, the remark of ,one old Sydney resident, "That's not the Dalley I knew," seemed to express the general feeling on the subject. ■ . Among those present were Mr Stanhope (the Secretary, of War), Lord Knute-' ford (Colonial ■ Secretary), the AgentsGeneral- for New; South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania,' and. the Cape of Good Hope, Sir' tihasl Tapper (High Commissioner for Canada), Admirals Tyron and 'Fairfax,' Sir Daniel Cooper, Sir Frederick Young, Lord Meath, and several members of Parliament. . PERSONAL ITEMS. I don't know if this 'story has reached you yet; but it ifj worth ■ telling. Among the passengers in the'second saloon of the ship" by which Lord Cranley came Home there was a boy who had whipped all those of his own rank. He was, however, desirous of ilying at'higher game, and one day, seeing .Lord yen- - tured the remark that Lords couldn't fight. Ho was mistaken. The Governor's son whipped off his coat and a fight ensued. The aggressive youth soon had enough of it. He found that his thumb , was sprained,'and retired from the ;flold of battle. The fight was never resumed, but nothing more was heard against the fighting capacity of Lords. Apropos, I may say' that Lord Cranley is now at Eton, and seems to have quite recovered from the severe illness he had in New Zealaud. The Hon. R. Oliver arrived in London a short time ago. 'He was unfortunately J"keptin Japan by a severe attack of typhoid fever. 'lam glad to say he appears to have completely recovered. Mrs Oliver is also looking very "well. Among those present at a large garden patty at Marlborougb House the other day, which was attended by the Queen and all the Royal Family, were Lord Westbury, who recently made a tour round the colonies, and the Hon. Mr and Mrs Parke, of Cnristchurch.' ': • Mr Fergus Hume, the well-known novelist, was among the New Zealanders present at the Henley regatta. By the way, one of the prettiest house-boats on tho river was' that of Mrs Rhodes, of Christchurch. At a, meeting of the Boyal Colonial Institute on Tuesday, the 15th inst., the following New Zealanders were elected Fellows :—Mr W. P. Swinburn, Mr J. E. Matthew Vincent, and Dr. John S. Wait of your city. DEPARTURE OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS. It will be remembered that this regiment openly revolted a short time ago. A court-martial has lately been held, and six of the men have been singled out for an example. Five of these have received sentences of from eighteen months to two years'imprisonment. The sixth man has, through some technicality, beun let off. The rest or the regiment has been ordered abroardfo Bermuda. Their departure was the occasion for a strange demonstration. One would rather have thought ' that it wa3 the return from a successful L campaign c than the departure in disgrace Bfcn^fcnc regiment. The Btreet in front of the railway station was thronged with an enthusiastic crowd. All attempts to keep order were unavailing, and it was with difficulty that the men could be got into the railway station. As soon as this was was done the' gates were shot, to the great disgust of the crowd, who had to confine themselves to cheering. This ■^ they did lustily. It was not till' some time after the departure of the train that the crowd broke up again aqd left the street clear,