ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. FROM THE AUCKLAND "STAR'S" LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] London, June 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 63, 16 August 1884, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] London, June 27.

Personal Notes. The Rev. T. Spurgeon, son of tho famous preacher whose 50th birthday has juht boen celebrated with great rejoicings, returns from New Zealand per Iberia, to assist his father at the Tabernacle, The colonial bankers and heads of great commercial houses associated "with tho Australian colonies have resolved not to take any notice of the presence of the Maori chiefs in London. The question of tendering them somo representative hospitality was, I understand, discussed, but decided in tho negative. Goo. Rignold's short dramatic season at the Holbom Theatre proved a disastrous venture. The shutters were put up last Saturday, and George turns his faco Australiawards again almost immediately. Mr Thomas Aicher, late Agent-General for Queensland, entertained Ivord Derby, the lion. Evelyn Ashley, Lord Denbigh, Sir Saul Samuel, and a number of AngloColonial notables at Lumner's Hotel last Fiiday evening to meet Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, late Premier of that colony. Miss Ada Ward, an actress well-known in your part of tho world, has arrivod in London, and announces a matinee performance at one of the West End houses. The priye ovtract in a recent issue of the Hampshire " Telegraph " was a set of verses clipped from the Auckland "Observer," and entitled "Oh, Give me Back my Masher Boy." Tho lucky paity who cut these out and j-ent them into the prize editor of the j tir.s't-iiamcd paper received 10s. \ The confening of tho honour of knighthood on Mr Samuel Davenport, of Adelaide, S.A., has given considerable satisfaction to the Anglo-Colonial fraternity in London, with whom he is \ury popular. A banquet will be giv«n to Lord Normanby on his retirement from tho colonial service, at Willis's Room*, on July 9th, at which it is expected there will be a large attendance of Australian and New Zealand friends and colonists. Sir Chas. Stirling is Chairman of the Executive Committee. Two gentlemen, well-known in Auckland, viz., Mr E. W. Hanmerand Mr Theophihis Heale, have been elocted Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute. Antipodeans bo proud and pleased to learn that the Senior Wrangler at Cambridge this year is an Australasian colonist— not a New Zoalander piecisely, but a native of Brisbane. Mr William Fleetwood Shoppard, who is the first colonial Senior Wrangler, was born and primarily educated at Brisbane. His father was one of the Justices of tho Supremo Court of Queensland. Bishop Hadfiold has benefitted greatly by the sea voyage home. When the Tongariro left New Zealand it was feared ho might not live to reach Rio. Now he seems quite a changed man, and has gone down to the Isle of Wight in capital health and spirits. Mr C. Rous Marten, of Wellington, and Mrs Marten have arrived in London, and taken up their residence in comfortable quarters near Russell Square. I have not been fortunate enough to find Mr llous Marten at home yet, but learn from Mrs Marten that he is much the better for the change and holiday. " Truth," commenting on the fourth defeat of tho Australians, says that taken in evidence with tho M.C.C. and Gentlemen of England matches, it shows pretty clearly that the real position of the colonial team, according to its merits, lies between that of the leading counties and that of representative English elevens. Sir F. D. Bell went up to Dumbarton on Tuesday to attend the launch of Messrs Shaw. SavilPs Arawa.

Shipping and Passenger Notes. The Orient steamer Sorata, which left London on June 25th, takes the following through passengers to New Zealand : —To Lyttelton : Miss Garstin and Mr R. H. Collington. To Auckland : Mr and Mrs Mo well. The New Zealand Shipping Company's Waikato, which leaves London to-day for Auckland, takes Mr Mansell. Shaw, Savill's s.s. Florida, which leaves London to-morrow for Wellington direct, takes about 110 third cabin passengers. No saloon. The Pleione, which should have left on the 17th June, is again delayed, and probably will not start till the second week in July. Miss Clayton, "sister of tho surveyor te the New Zealand Insurance Company, goes out to Auckland in the Aorangi at the end of July. The following friends of Miss Claytons are also booked by the same stea men— Mrs Campbell, Misses Campbel (3), Master Campbell, and Miss Neasfield.

Messrs Shaw, Saville's direct liner Arawa was launchod at Dumbarton on Wednesday afternoon. At the luncheon aftorward-s, " Success to the Colony of New Zealand" was pvoposod by Mr Donny, and responded to by Sir F. D. 8011.

A Wellington Appoal Case. I have received from tho Privy Council Ollico the following precis of a New Zealand appeal caso that will be hpocially interesting to Wellingtonians :—" The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council gave judgment on 251h June in the case of Alfred Plimmer and Edward Reeves against tho Mayor and Corporation of Wellington. Thoappeal was from an order of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and the action arose in connection with the use of the hull of a wrecked vessel, which, with the permission of Sir Cleorge Grey, had been haulod to tho foreshore of Wellington harbour in IS4S. It was known as ' Noah's Ark,' and was used by Mr John Plimmer as a wharf and store. In 1853 an earthquako altered the dopth of water in tho harbour, and Mr Plimmer had to make a jetty from tho vessel in order to land his stores and transact his business, and he subsequently added to and improved the landing stage and extended his storo. Tho appollants claimed that when tho Land Act of ISSO was passed, they had an estate in the lands vested by the Act in the Corporation, and claimed compensation amounting to £12,500. Tho respondents repudiated tho claim, and tho Court of Appeal on Gth Juno, 18S3, decided that tho claim was bad. "The case beforo the Privy Council was argued at great length by Mr 11. E. Webster, Q.C., and Mr F. Morton Oliver, of the New Zealand bar, for tho appellants, and by Mr Horace Davcy, Q.C., and Mr Charles Elton for tho Mayor of Wellington. In giving judgment their Lordships said that thy only question for their consideration \\as whether the claimants had any estate or inteie.st in the land upon -which the remains of the jetty stood when the land became vested in the Corporation under the Wellington Harbour Board Act, ISSO. In their opinion, John Plimmer had acquired a perpetual right to the jetty, and ii the ground was afterwards wanted for public purposes, it could only bo taken from him by the Legislature. The Statuto of ISSO directed that in pscortaining tho title of anybody to compensation, the Court shall not bo bound to regard strict legal rights only, but shall do what is 1-easonablo and just. Their Lordships decided that Plimmor is entitled to compensation, and they reversed tho Now Zealand Courts decree "with costs."

The Colonial Institute Soiree. The conversaziono of tho Colonial Institute last Thursday evening was a great success. Soutli Kensington Museum, with its broad passages, comfortable alcoves, spacious picturo galleries, and countless art treasures, is a perfect place for holding a mammoth "at home." Two famous bands were in attendance, the Grenadier Guards and the lied Hungarians. The latter played divinely. The Duke of Manchester and the Reception Committee stood at the side. "Knowing" people, of course, bowed and passed by, but many of tho guests seemod to think something else was required of them, and grew frightfully embarrassod. Some ladies curtsied, othors shook any of tho Committeemen -who came first warmly by the hand. All looked profoundly uncomfortable. Personally, I thought the business might well have been dispensed with. In society where convenances are well understood, 3uch a custom is, of course, right enough, but in a company composed mainly of returned colonists, who know but little of London ways, and have not been accustomed to ceremony, it seems nonsen&e. Once in the Museum, old friends sought out one another, and people began to enjoy the evening. As was the case last year, the Canadian element assombled in groat force. Some of the girls from " the far West " were certainly very pretty, but the belle of the evening, par excellence, was a charming brunette, the daughter of a great Melbourno wool-broker. Sir F. D. 801 l and Lady Bell were early on the spot, and exchanged cordial greetings with Sir Charles Cliftbid, who stood amongst the Reception Committee. Sir James and Lady Prendergast were also amongst the first arrivals. Sir John Hall brought not only his wife, but Miss Hall, who was much admired. Mr and Mrs H. R. Russell (of Napier) were accompanied by Miss Nelly Russell and Mr Parirs Russell. Nearly every New Zealander of note now in London put in an appearance dm ing the evening. Amongst others I saw Mr Westgarth (the Australian millionaire), the two iMcArthur brothers, Mr Douglas McLean (son of the late Sir Donald McLean), Mr and Mrs S. B. Browning, Mr and Mrs Cowlishaw, Mr Lark worthy (of the Bank of New Zealand), Mr G. W. Rusden, Mr and Mrs Walter Turnbull, Mr Strickland (New Zealand Shipping Company), Mr W. J . Steele (of the National Bank of Now Zealand) and Mrs Steele, Mr Vesey Stewart, Sir Saul and Lady Samuel, Mr G. A. Sala and Mrs Sala. Mr and Mrs Jacob Isaacs, Mr A. G. Horton (of the New Zealand "Herald"), Dr. Goo. Harper, Mr Edwd. Pharazyn, Mr and Mrs Paul, Mr and Mrs C. J. Taylor, Mr, Mrs, and the Misses Gisborne, Mr and Mrs Jas. Farmer and tho Misses Farmer, Mr and Mrs C. J. Tripp and Miss Tripp, Mr C. 11. Tripp, Mr and Mrs Charles Nairn, Mr and Mrs F. A. Dv Cro/., Mr and Mrs Carlile, Dr. Collins, Mr R. M. Hamilton, Mr J. G. Johnston, Mr and Mrs Labilliere, Mr and Mrs W. VV. Oswald, and many other "smaller fry."

Chambors's Engine. Mr Larkworthy, Mr Thomas Russell, and the syndicate of New Zealand gentleman*! who decided to give the Chambers Kgfrigorating Engine a trial, and ordered one from Emerson and Murgatroyd, of Stockport, have been the reverse of fortunate so far. The work should have been completed in May, but a month ago Emerson (the senior partner) cut his throat, and the firm were declared bankrupt. The Court of Chancery then gave permission for the contract to be carried out by the liquidators, but the latter could not supply certain necessary castings, and had to obtain them from another firm. When the machine was at length complete, and they came to try it, they found that these castings were porous, and that the whole thing was in consequence useless. The castings are now being replaced, but about a month must elapse before the machine can well be ready to be tried. The " European Mail " says of the kaurigum market :— "The good supply of 1,780 cases, chiefly per Embleton and Antares, offered at auction since our last, met with a steady demand, and 1,200 cases found buyers at full to higher prices :— Selected eorts, from £6 5s to £10 5s ; good to fine amber, clean scraped, 89s to 105s ; a few lots, £5 7s 6d to £6 ; middling half-scraped to good middling three-parts-scraped, 64s to 79s ; ordinary, part scraped and coated, 55s to 60s; low cindery and pickings, 32s 6d to 39s 6d ; knobs, fine, 80s ; ordinary rough, 36s 6d to 375 ; brown, fine, 67s j i ordinary rough cindery, 25s to 40s ; chips, : fine and superior pale, 61s to 70s ; fair te i good, 43s 6d to 49a ; ordinary dull, 26s te » 3Gs 6d ; low, 11s to 15s ; dust, fair to fine I 23s 6d to 26s ; low to middling, 5s to 18i per cwt.