English and Foreign Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 794, 9 June 1870, Page 3

English and Foreign Items.

We learn from the European Mail that in the House of Commons on the 28th February Mr Taylor asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in accordance with the suggestion of Lord Belinore in bis despatch of 17th May, 1869, it was intended to strengthen the Australian squadron, as the only way of checking the irregularities on the part of masters of vessels engaged in the deportation of South Sea Islanders.—Mr Childers replied that the Australian squadron is, really, the Australian and New Zealand squadron, and, un» less in case of special emergency in New Zealand, is sufficiently strong to carry out the objects contemplated in Lord Belmoro's despatch. At the present time there is no absolute necessity to strengthen it j but we have determined to detach from other; service an additional ship during the approaching fitio weather season for special duty in preventing the irregularities complained of between New Caledonia, Fiji, and the islands to the north, and we shall then be able to judge whether the squadron requires permanently this addition. [Possibly this may explain why the G-alatea has been placed on the Australian station.] Messrs. Featherston and Bell (writes the, " Anglo Australian" in the European Mail) are still staying at the Charing Cross Hotel, and have been working might and main in the objects of their mission, which are, however, apparently doomed not to be realised. They have been received most courteously on all occasions by the members of the Government, even by Mr Lowe, who, it is said by his enemies (and their number is legion), " bates Iho colonists " with all the bitterness of a renegade. Besides applying themselves to the subject of troops, the New Zealand Commissioners have devoted practical attention to the project of a mail to New Zealand via the Gfrand Pacific Railroad, and San Francisco, in which enterprise New South Wales and Queensland would probably

co-operate. That route would be a saying of nearly twenty days on the present one The English Ministry are not inclined to support the project with any pecuniary aid, although it -is certain that this country would share in the benefits of its realisation. Other matters of great importance have also taken up the time of the Commissioners, who have impressed every one with whom they have come in contact of their statesmanlike qualities ; and, indeed, it is said by many who have good opportunities of judging, that their great abilities make the talents of some of our own politicians appear in unfavorable oontrast. However this may be, New Zealand has certainly benefited in estimation from the high character of her accredited representatives here.

Sir G-eorge Grey (says the European Mai!) will in all probability revisit New Zealand within a few months. He would have left by the Great Britain ia Mart i but the interest he takes in Colonial topics, and the importance he attaches to them just now, makes him somewhat uncertain as to his date of sailing. Among the miscellaneous Colonial topics that have cropped up in the Imperial Parliament recently are—" The Australian squidron in connection with the protection of South Sea Islanders, and the services in New Zealand, iu respect to their claims in a medal." Mr Torrens has placed the following motion on the Parliamentary Notice Paper for sth April: — "Whether the time has not arrived for affording our self-governing Colonies facilities such as those possessed by many foreign states for watching over their own

interests, as questions affecting those interests might arise from time to time in this country." Certainly it must be admitted that the question is cleverly wordod, andappears to afford opportunity for a good debate. But how few amongst the " returned colonists" in Parliament possess the ability cf eloquence to command the sustained attention of the House.