[Special to Melbourne " Age."]

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 72, 18 October 1884, Page 3

[Special to Melbourne " Age."]

The Colonial Exhibition of 1886. London, October 4. — Arrangement* have been made foy complete colonial representation at the Colonial Exhibition to be held in London in 1886. Canada, Australia, Cape Colony, and New Zealand will take part, and separate buildings vfill be constructed for the reception of exhibits from each of the colonies mentioned. The Australian Group will be assigned the best position in the Exhibition. The Prince of Wales, who is President of the Exhibition Commission, has expressed a desire that there should be one large Australian collection of exhibits in addition to the separate colonial courts. He advises the Commission to delegate to the AgentsGeneral of Australasia the chief management of the colonial courts in conneotion with the exhibition.

Return of Rev. Charles Strong.^ Rev. Charles Strong, lately of Scot's Church, Melbourne, will return to Melbourne shortly, but it is doubtful whether he will remain in the colony.

New Zealand Mails. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, Agent-Goneral for New Zealand, is urging the Lords of the Treasury not to sustain the decision of Mr ftonry F&wcett, Ppstmaster-General, to

J despatch the mails for New Zealand b alternately by the San Francisoo route, and 1 by the Orient Company's steamship. 1 Frenoh Conviots in the Pacific. > The "Spectator," in an article on the * recidivistes question, expresses the belief } that it is possible that recidivistes, if sent > to the Pacific, may invade Australia by '' thousands, despite tho Fronch guards '■ placed over them. * A registered company has been formed to [ take over and work several sugar planta1 tions in northern Queensland. The capital ' of the Company has been fixed at L 150,000. New South Wales and Federation. The "Saturday Review" declares that there is reason to believe that New South Wales has been treated with less courtesy than was due to her by the colonies and by the Imperial Government respecting federation. The same paper is of opinion that the protest entered by Mr Stuart, Premier, of New South Wales, against the joint colonial pressure proposed to be exerted upon Lord Derby in regard to thee-tablish-ment of a British protectorate in the Western Pacific is a reasonable one, but it condemns as flippant the suggestion that Now South Wales can remain independent of federation. It adds that it ought to be conditional upon all the greater colonies concurring.

The Marquis of Salisbury on the Franchise Bill. The Marquis of Salisbury, who has commenced a political campaign in Scotland, spoke last night at Glasgow to an immense and enthusiastic audience. He declared that the House of Lords would never pass the Franchise Bill unless it also provided for a re-distribution of seats.

A Mediator Wanted. It is rumoured that the Duke of "Richmond and Gordon, who was Lord President of the Council in the last Conservative Ministry, has declined to accede to a request made by Her Majesty that he should negotiate a compromise between the two.Houses on the Franchise Bill. It is hoped that the pension of £325 per annum allowed by the South Australian Government to the late Sir Robert Torrens will be continued to his widow.

New Zealand and Annexation. The report that Sir F. D. Bell, AgentGeneral of New Zealand, was supporting the policy of New South Wales in opposing the annexation of ssexr Guinea and the establishment of a British protectorate in the Pacific, proves to be unfounded. Sir F. D. Bell now declares that he has always concurred with Mr Smith in the matter but that he recently objected to sigr. a formal petition to Lord Derby unless Sir Saul Samuel did the same. He wished to secure complete unanimity amongst the Agents-General,