ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.]

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 70, 4 October 1884, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.]

London, August 14. Mr Arthur Clayden, whose misguided enthusiasm on tho subject of emigration to New Zealand many families have had painful reason to dcploro, has just contributed one of his oxtravagant lettors— full of superlatively eulogistic statements about your colony — to the Birmingham " Post." Dating from Nolson, New Zealand, Mr Olaydcn urges emigration on English working men as tho one "simplo, direct, and oll'ectual romody " for all their chronic sulibrings. "I am," he says, "tho more anxious to do this as I (md from observation in tho colonies that a spirit of antagonism to emigration is rife among the people. It Al,A 1 , of course, mere sf/JishiK'sf. I'losbure is put upon our representatives to oppose grants tor immigration, and as (aovornmonts out hero are tho croatiu'cs of domocracy, they have to yield to the clamour although well assured of the suicidal policy oi their masters.

I have been ropoatcdly vilifiod in the Now Zealand press for no other reason than my emigration enthusiasm. Newspapers which live by pandering to the passing whims of tho hour — and I regrot to say thero are too many sucn— allow anonymous scribblers to insult those who encourage emigration. Hence tho necessity lor using tho independent English press." Mr (Jlayden goes on to describe in glowing terms a labourer's life in New Zealand. According to him, " every comfort of life" is within a working man's reach. Men who now earn 12s a week in England could make from £2 5s to £3 in New Zealand. Education of a high class is free. The poorest can eat meat three times a day, and "the glorious sunshine is a peipetual benediction." 1 might quote many moie superlatives horn Mr Clayden's epistle, but the above will probably suilico to show what mischief ho would do if he could. His reflections on the colonial pross will probably bring about their own reward. I may, however, icmark that they come with particularly bad tuste from a man who is perpetually badgering tho editors of New Zealand publications to inseit his oU'iisions.

The Belgian Emigration Scheme. M. Emilo do Hiirvon, of whoso emigration scheme I pent you particulars some time ago, has been in London during the last fortnight interviewing leading colonists, and endeavouring in a polite way to augment his Expenses fe'und. He leaves Liverpool for New Voik in September, and w ill stay some weeks in America, so that he is not likely to reach New Zeahnd before tho end ot November. The impicasion M. de llarven makes on plain business men is not altogether favourable. He seems full of enthu&iasm, but his schemes sound vague, and to some extent, visionary. No one, par I'M tuple, appears to understand what is the object of AJ. do Harven's preliminary excursion to your colony, unless it be bimply to "look around" and surely £„',OUU (tho sum voted for M. de Harven's expense") is rather much to pay for such a trip. Then, again, one would like to know how M. de Haivon proposes to act when he returns to Belgium from New Zealand. He has already lectured to his heart's content upon the colony, represented it as tho El Doiado of the Pacific, and generally talked a good deal of nonsense about the place, without routing the intere&t of his countrymen. "Will Ins personal experiences, do you think, convert them more materially? No; M. de Harven's scheme may, as his Fiench friends say, be maf/nifiqtte, but I shall bo greatly surprised if it materially benefits anyone save the promoter. [N.B. — A notable feature of the plan is that as soon as possible after Mk visit to the colony j\l. dc Ilorven is to be appointed Belgian Consul at Auckland.]

Sala's Lecturing Tour. The " World " says that Mr George Augustus Sala's experiences of places, peoples, and of tho every-day life of the world, has been very extensive. JJefore starting for Australia in the new year, he is preparing a scries of lay sermon?, called " Life as I .Have Seen it," wherewith to delight the inhabitants of the land of goldfields, sheep runs, and cattle ranches. The "World," reviewing "The King Country," says Mr Kerry Nicholls is, if 1 ot a great writer, at least a remarkably handsomo man, if his portrait on the titlepage does not Hatter him. And in this lespect he has much the better of King Taw hiao, whoso "counterfeit presentment " faces thai of Mi 1 Nicholls. ido not know that there is very much else to bo said for the book, which is a good enough specimen of its class, but cumbrous in form and poorly illustrated.

Mooting of Frozen Meat Importers. A meeting of the Committee of importers of New Zealand frozen mutton was held at tho ollice of Dalgety and Co. (Limited), 52 Lombard-street, on the Oth inst., Mr Geo. Clifford in the chair. The business was to discuss the possibility of reducing the Dock charges. Various members of the Committee wont into figures, and united in agreeing that the Dock Companies were making no less than 100 per cent, profit out of the present rates. A sub-committee, consisting of Mr Moncriefl Paul, Mr Nelson, Mr Bosanquet, Mr Allsup, and Mr Sanderson, was appointed to interview the heads of the various Dock Companies, and see what could be done to bring about a more l'easonablo state of things. On Monday last the Sub-Committee mot at the offices of Nelson Bros., and proceeded to interview Colonel Martin dale, the Chairman of the London and St. Kathcrine's Dock Company, whom they requested to reduce the Dock charges 50 per cent. The Colonel seemed to consider this an unreasonable proposal, but eaid he thought something might be done, especially if shippers would assist the Dock Company by making their consignments more regulai', and packing the carcases in the ships together according to their marks, instead of higgledy-piggledy. It took the Dock men, he said, a tremendous time to sort out the various lots of sheep now, as they were all mixed up anyhow. Colonel Martindale also pointed out that the Dock Company's expenses were as heavy when there were 7,000 as when there were 70,000 in the vaults, as engines had to be kept going and men employed precisely the same. If the rate was to be materially lowered, there must be a regular succession of meat ships arriving one after another, and keeping the vaults full. He promised, however, to lay the petition before his brother directors.

The Recidiviste Bill. A writer in the "Globe" remarks:— " Any hopes which may have been entertained as to concessions by France to the wishes of Australian colonists are rudely dispelled by the sketch now sent us of a report about to be presented to the French Senate. This document discusses at some length the arguments that have been used in opposition to the projected scheme of transportation, and having done so, it proceeds to recommend the adoption of the project without any effectual modifications whatever, The business must lead to ft very

sorious amount of friction between England and France, or rather, we should say, it would assuredly do so if the British Government should prove unprepared either to back up the colonies of "Great Britain, or to enforce its oavii legitimate demands with vigour. The people of Australia complain that thero should be established a hotbed of crime and vico within oloso roach of their shores. Thoy protest against the Hooding of their territories by criminals of all sorts who have escaped from timo to time from tlio lax vigilance ot the guards habitually omployod by Govornors of Fronch penal settlements. And in reply to these most just representations, the French politicians who report upon tho project content themselves with saying in eflbct that the nuisanco will be but trifling, that only a comparatively small number of convicts will bo sent out to Now Caledonia annually, and that these will not caicto escape from a penal settlement organised on a now and improved plan. Accordingly, it is recommended that the judges should bo bound to send out lo New Caledonia not only habitual ciiminals of the more dangerous sort, but also all recidivistos, whether convicted of murder and theft or mere mendicancy and vagabondage. If the Australians do not like it, they must put up with it with what grace they can, for Franco will do what sho likes with her own colonies. A more shallow and indefeasible line of argument it is impossible to find ; for it must be remembered that throughout her tortuous proceedings in North Africa, France justified her conduct purely on tho ground that oolonists have a right to protect and to bo protected by force against behaviour on the part of their neighbours which they feel objectionable."