Anglo-Colonial Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 424, 13 September 1897, Page 4

Anglo-Colonial Notes.

(London Correspondent N.Z. Ilerald.)

The Bishop Wellington leils mo that the work of the Conference, although heavy, has been very pleasant while he hopes the resolutions will show that it has been fruitful in good results, lie mentions with pleasure the warm brotherly spirit throughout and the delight he has experienced in the intercourse afforded with those Episcopal brethren, particularly the American Bishops, who were nearly all strangers to him. Bishop Wallis has preached frequently on Sundays during his stay, his last sermons being respectively at Streatham, Paddington, and High Wycombe. A. few days ago I had an interesting chat with ex - Inspector Tunbridge, who has been appointed head of the New Zealand Constabulary. Seeing that he retired from the English Constabulary on pension, I was somewhat surprised to find him such a younglooking man. He does not look forty. But he told me that his retirement was caused by ill-health, as while on an official expedition to South America —that I believe in which he succeeded in apprehending Jabez Balfour —he unfortunately contracted malaria fever, from which he suffered severely at the time. However, since his retirement, his health has greatly improved, and the country life in Kent seems to have suited him. He is a particularly nice fellow, with a very pleasant manner, and is sure to be personally popular in New Zealand, while as to his official capacity, the Scotland Yard authorities speak in the highest terms of praise. So I should say that New Zealand is lucky in securing an official treasure. Captain Coyle, R.A., has been appointed permanent head of the New Zealand submarine defences. He is a highly skilled officer of the Royal Engineers, who has just retired on a pension, and he has been very strongly recommended by the Imperial War Office to the New Zealand Government. Some difficulty has been found by thft New Zealand Agency-General in obtaining a sufficiently qualified man at the salary authorised to be offered. It was understood, however, that as one or two very capable officers of the staff were retiring shortly on pension, possibly one of these might be inclined to place his services at the disposal of the New Zealand Government. The result was that the appointment was offered to Captain Coyle, who, after some consideration, accepted it, and in the opinion of his late chiefs, the colony has thereby secured a most valuable officer, one specially well versed in all the intricacies of modern submarine defence. Captain C'oyle, with his wife and two children, will leave for New Zealand by the s.s. Rimutaka on September 16th.

Lord Glasgow's new title under the peerage of the United Kingdom, which was conferred on him in connection with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, is that of Baron Fairlie, of Fairlie. It will be observed that Lord Glasgow takes his new title from the place in which his family seat, Ivelburne Castle, is situated. I understand that the exGovernor of New Zealand is greatly pleased at having this new dignity conferred upon him, which, of course, carries with it a seat in tbe House of Lords, which the Earldom of Glasgow did not.

[Evening Post Correspondent.]

If the Conferences in Downingstreefc during the Jubilee did nothing else, they have at least given the coup d<> (jracc to the Pacific cable scheme. At the Conference not only was the Colonial Secretary blandly deaf to suggestions of a subsidy, but Sir Wilfred Laurier calmly threw over Mr Sandford Fleming, intimating that he mistrusted the estimates of costs, revenue, and maintenance which had been submitted by that worthy, and was not prepared to pledge Canada to bear a share of the burden. As if this were not sufficient, it transpired that our Naval, Military, and Postal authorities much prefer the proposals of the Eastern Extension Companies, who have at last shown their hand and countered the Vancouver move by offering to lay an all-British line from Western Australia across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, thence connecting with the Cape and St. Helena and Ascension. The Eastern Companies do not ask for a direct subsidy for the new line, but seek other concessions from the Australian Governments which, if made, will justify, them in proceeding with the work. The Board of Trinity (Musical) College, London, have in response to numerous requests decided to hold annually in New Zealand the examination for the college diploma of Associate in Music. This examination up to the present has been held only in London. The decision of the Board, it is understood, conies into operation this year. The Agents-General, having with devout benisons bidden farewell to the colonial Premiers, lost no time in packing up their own traps for a thoroughly well-earned holiday. The Hon. W. P. Reeves and Mrs Reeves are spending it cycling in Brittany. Mr Chamberlain is much interested in the success of the Hon. W. P. Reeves's Conciliation and Arbitration Act in New Zealand, and only the other day applied to him for full particulars relating thereto. The Agent-General has been invited to play a prominent part in connection with the Co-opera-tive Association's Exhibition at the Crystal Palace on the 17th inst. Viscount Cranley, eldest son of the Earl and Countess of Onslow, attains his majority on August 28, and the event will be marked by great rejoicings at Clandon Park, near Guildford. The Earl of Onslow, as High Steward of the borough, will entertain the Mayor and Corporation at dinner, together with the leading men engaged in local government in the neighborhood and-ia the country, The fceaan*

try on the estates in Surrey, Essex, and Norfolk will also be entertained, and the Countess of Onslow will give a garden party and ball. Viscount Cr.snley is at present on the Continent studying for the Diplomatic Service. Pi-. Luiin's mrvf.t recent enterprise in. the tourist buiinc.'is is it voyage round the British Empire, which is by way of celebrating the Jubilee year. The linor Berlin is to be chartered for the cruise, and leaving London on 28th December will be away five months, some days being spent at various places en route. The voyage would be a magnificent object-lesson in the greatness of the Empire and the conditions of colonial life. The memo, which Sir Westby Perceval drew up suggesting various improvements in the positions of AgentsGeneral has been carefully pigeonholed, and will share the fate of most of the proposals ventilated at the Jubilee conferences. The Conservative papers, without being able to deny the awkward fact, are very cross with the Liberals for averring that the meetings at the Colonial Office ended in smoke. Nothing patently practical may, they say, have as yet eventuated, but the gain in good feeling and so forth was enormous. One writer, however, clearly much stung by Radical taunts, calmly declares that if indeed nothing wa3 done at the conferences, this was due to the attitude of Mr Eeid and Mr Kingston, who had made up their minds beforehand not to commit themselves in any way. Sir George Grey continues to baffle the predictions of his medical attendants in a- most surprising manner. On the day Mr Seddon bade him farewell the end seemed merely a question of hours. Unquestionably, however, the little excitement did the G.O.M. good. Since then he has been much stronger—in fact, every day this week it has been feasible to take him short drives. The hot weather seems to suit him, though he used to say it didn't.