ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTICE [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] [For the Five Days Ending August 28.] London, August 28.

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

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTICE [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] [For the Five Days Ending August 28.] London, August 28.

Personal and General. Miss Amy Sihow** s , the well-known Australian soprano, has como down in the musical world rather than risen. Last night she was to sing for the first time this season at the promenade con cor ts, Co vent Garden, There is not the smallest likelihood of Mrs Langtry visiting your part of the world j next year. She certainly considered the project for a time, but has now finally abandoned all thoughts of it in favour of taking a 1 ondon theatre. Mr J. R. Groom, the rising young barrister who made an exhaustive tour of New Zealand in 1879-80 (finally residing for several months in Auckland), has just been seeing through the press a journal of his travels entitled "The Globe Trotter." M. de Harven and the members of the Central Committee- for establishing commercial and industrial relations with New Zealand obtained an audience with the King of the Belgians the other day,and laid their projects f uliy before him. His Majesty expressed profound sympathy with the enterprise. The Earl of Mount Edgecumbe and Lord Vallotort left Mount Edgecumbe last Friday on a tour round the world. It is not probable they will make any stay in New Zealand. The tenders for L 20,000 five per cent, debentures of the Oamaru Harbour Board, New Zealand, were opened on Saturday last at the Union Bank of Australia, and amounted to L5'2,300,at prices ranging from the minimum of L 99 to LlOl 10s. Tenders at LlOO 19s Gd and upwards obtain allotments in full. The axiom, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," can alone explain the tact that although experienced newspaper proprietors like the Messrs Morgan, of the »• European Mail," and Messrs Silver, of the "Colonies and India," long ago recognised the utter impossibility of making an AngloColonial journal pay in London, a number of reckless antipodean scribblers (fresh and green from New Zealand) are now doing their best to repeat the foolish and expensive experiment. Barely six weeks have clap vA since the cumbrouslychristened " Anglo-New Zealander and Australian Times" was launched upon an (I hear) insufficiently grateful public, yet, lo and behold ! there are now rumours that someone else is in labour with another Anglo-Australian print. The venture this time takes the form of a purely financial organ, and is unostentatiously named "The British Australian," The "Economist's" proprietary arc said to bo the real supporters of the venture, but the promoter is a journalist well known in Auckland. No time has as yet been fixed for the issue of the first number. It is symptomatic of the popularity of New Zealand mutton that the Secretary of the great British Orphan Asylum at Slough advertises for tenders for a regular supply of New Zealand frozen mutton for six months, commencing September Ist.

A Dull Season. By no one (not even Mrs St. Bury and ; the Rev. Spencer) has the departure of the ] Maori monarch and his chieftains been more ( unaffectedly and grievously mourned than ] by the Anglo-Colonial journalists to whom J for the last three months His Majesty and < suite have proved a peronnial and unfailing ' fount of "copy.' The natives leave behind, ] there can be no doubt about it, a sad void— ( a very sad void. We could have wished too i (I speak for self and brethren) that this £ source of inspiration had not been withdrawn just at the "deadest" of the dead season of the year, when every an- * tipodean visitor or Anglo-Colonist worthy * the name is out of town, when frozen ( meat is literally, as well as metaphorically, J "going to the dogs," when Parliament has < given up discussing the recidivist question 1 in despair, and when topics of Australasian f interest are as awkward to discover as an ( honest emigration agent or a shareholder in * one of the great and good Sir Julius Vogel's { electric light companies. l Joking apart, things aro extraordinarily ( dull just at present. I never remember so ( many business people out of town all { together before. The great heat seems to ( have temporarily paralysed trade. Go ( whore you may, the cry is "Nothing ' doing." The New Zealand Shipping Com- < pany alone are exceptions to the general ' rule. As the proverb says, ''It's an ill J wind that blows no one any good," the j cholera scare, which emptied the Suez route ( steamers, has filled the New Zealand Ship- • ping Company's and othor boats going ' round the Cape to overflowing. The scare ' is pretty well over now, and the passenger : trade falling back into its usual channels, ' but owing to early bookings the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers promise to be crowded all through the autumn. 1

A Job. Rear- Admiral Tryon, C 8., the new commodore of the Australian station, will leave England in December for his post. "Truth" denounces the appointment as a flagrant job, averring that Tryon has been promoted over the heads of at least a dozen senior officers.

German Colonisation Schemes. Austria and Germany.as well as Belgium, are turning longing eyes upon your part of the world. Several ships belonging to the Austrian navy are to proceed at once upon trans-oceanic expeditions "to investigate the chances of opening new fields for colonisation and commercial enterprise." That sums up in a few words the instructions given to the ships' commanding officers. The corvette Sanaa, a first-class cruiser, leaves Finme at the end of September with a number of pupils of the Naval Academy aboard. She proceeds first to Brazil, then on to Capetown, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, and Wellington. After visiting Hobart, and possibly Adelaide, the Sarda returns home by India. Other shipß of the Austrian navy are being commissioned vaguely for "the Pacific," whilst others again will make a oareful examination of all West African ports. A large sum has been set aside by the Austrian Government for the expenses of these expeditions, and a general impression prevails that business is meant. Rear - Admiral Fryon, C.8., who has recently been appointed to the command of the Australian station, will, according to present arrangements, leave England in December for his new post.

The Last ot the Maoris. The Potosi made a quick run from the Thames to Plymouth. At the southern port she was boarded by quito a crowd of local notables anxious to get a glimpse of Tawhiao and his retinue. Old Patuna Te Tuhi happened to be on the bridge, and, as usual, was mistaken for the King. He made himself very agreeable to the visitors, and conversed at length about the sight! he had seen in London. Presently Tawhiao himself came on deck, and there was a diversion. The King had not passed & good night, and looHefl sullen and. taciturn..

Old Topia Turoa did not come down the Channel in the Potosi, but boarded her at Plymouth. Topia, who has been suffering from gout, announced his arrival personally to Tawhiao, and then sat down to smoke on the upper deck. All the Maoris save Te Tuhi seemed in low spirits. The day after the departure of the King and his chiefs, Major Te Wheoro and Skidmore bade farewell to Mrs St. Bury and . took up their abode in a small house near Albert Square, Clapham, opposite the 3 church at wmch Mr Spencer officiates and t cloeeto that gentleman's reaidonoe. The 3 Major caught'cold on Thursday, and hm been ill in bed over since. He and Skld- '"* more lind life at Clapham very quiet. Mr Spencer and Mr Preston have so far beon f their only visitors. On Tuesday the latter ' called find found Skidmore preparing a 1 letter of thanks In the King's name for the ' various London papers. I learn M r Spencer • has written a description of Tawhiao's vi«it in Maori. It will bo printed in pamphlet form, and distributed through all native districts in New Zealand.

Tawhiao's Farewell Letter. The following is the text of Tawhiao's letter, alluded to abovo :— "To my dear friends who have cherished mo and my companions, and who have invited us with great hospitality on our reaching this desert land. May you and your wive? and your children live. I am returning t;o my race, and to my land with the blessing of God, who led me and my friends across the great ocean to see you, and to know the thoughts of the great nation. So I am sending you my farewell greeting, Dwoll here in your own land, and among your own people, and may God, who has shown me kindnoss,keep you. The kindness and love you have shown us and our friends will not be loßt. We have seen the goodness and peacefulness of all the nation, with their wives and children. Oh I my dear friends the outcome of goodnoss never varies from this. (See Matthew, sth chapter,6 to 10th verses). In conclusion, I am glad on my departure, because I have known and learnt those things which have been bo evident to me in this country."

Construction of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Steamers. A passenger by tho s.s. Tongariro on her last outward trip, writing to me from the Cape of Good Hope, says :— " There is a good deal of grumbling on board at the construction of the steamer. The saloon (after the old antiquated fashion) is behind the engines, so that we get all the benefit of the screw, not to mention Buffering through smuts from the funnel and defective ventilation. In the lonic and Doric tho engine? are aft tho saloon, and the smoking-rooms amidships, not right in the stern as ours are. I have heard several persons say ihoy intend to avoid boats built on this mistaken plan in future. The officors are nice, gentlemanly fellows, and the attendance everything that could be desired, but not so the cooking. The food is plontiful and excellent in quality, but far too often either half raw or burnt."

Ships' Doctors. There has been some commotion of lato about the inexperience and incapacity of ships" doctors, move ospccially on one ov two of the Australian linos, which carry a number of passengers. Perhaps you may remember reading of an awkward charge brought against the medical man of one of the Orient boats about 12 months ago. Well, the "Lancet " has taken up the subject, and makes a cogent suggestion for remedying the present unsatisfactory otate of things. It suggests that in all large passenger vessels a tmall medical tee per nead should be levelled. Individually, no one could be inconvenienced by paying a few shillings, but it would enable the Companies to provide their vc.s&els with really competent practitioners. At present doctors get neither fees nor practice by going to sea. It is usually pure waste of time.

Absconded to Auckland. The Secretary ]of the Tipton Local Board has absconded with funds belonging to his employers, and is at present believed to bo on liis way to Auckland, New Zealand. The man, whose name is William Baach, called : on Messrs \V. Aahby and Co., the wellknown passenger agents at 17, Leadenhall- ' streetf and requested them to ship two large cases of tools for him to Auckland by the first steamor. There was some delay in the l arrival of the goods, and Messrs Ashby took it upon themselves to wire to Tiptoji to in- ; quire the cause. The goods came and were duly shipped per Aorangi, but the telegram must have put the Tipton avthorities ' on the qiti vive, tor a fow hours later two ; detectives arrived at Leadenhall-street to ' make tender inquiries after the whereabouts ; of M r ßeach. Messrs Ashby could give them no information, neither could they get the boxes of tools (which belong to the Tipton Board) unshipped. The latter are eonse- ', quently on their way to Auckland, but it is : scarcely likely Mr Beach will claim them, ' for Mr Buchanan (Messrs Ashbys agent) ' holds a police bill describing the absconder, ; and (I believe) offering a small reward for ' his apprehension.

Launch of the Gairloch. Messrs Blackwood and Gordon launched | from their shipbuilding yard on the after- ! noon of the 22nd inst. a finely-modelled iron l screw steamer for the Northern Steamship 1 Company of New Zealand. Her dimensions ( are as follow :— Length of keel and fore- I rako, 147 ft. ; breadth of beam, 23ft. j depth j ot hold, 9ft. ; gross tonnage, 330 tons. She is to be fitted with two pairs of com- l pound surface-condensing engines 17in. by 31 in. by 21in. in stroke. Boilers, 901b. ; pressure. This steamer is intended » for the development of the cattle, l passenger, and cargo trade at the northern ( ports of New Zealand, and is furnished < with all the latest improvements for { ventilating holds, *c. She is also fitted ' with accommodation for 40 first-class pas- ' sengers, and 12 second-class.in commodious saloons, in which every attention has been ' givon to the comfort and luxury of passen ' gers in a warm climate. This vessel has \ been built under the superintendence ] of Mr W. A. McGregor, son of Cap- ] tain McGregor, managing director ! of the Company. On leaving the ' ways, she was named the Gairloch ' by Mrs Melville, wife of Mr Melville, \ one of the directors of the Company in Auckland. After the launch the vessel was ' towed into the builders' dock, where she is j to be fitted with her machinery, also made ' by Messrs Blackwood and Gordon, An ] adjournment was afterwards made to the | builders' model-room, where lunch was par- • taken of, k and success to tho ship, owners, « and builders duly proposed and responded * to. 1

The Meat Market. i Nothing further of importance has been ] done in the matter of getting the ware- i housing charges for frozen meat reduced i since liast wrote. The sub- committee of c importers (with Mr Allsup at its head) in- j terviewed the Chairman of the East India Docks on Monday, and received from him i the same answer as from the Chairman of t the St. Katherine's, viz., that he would lay ] the matter before his directors and see t what could be done. Meanwhile the price of New Zealand mutton continues low (4|d to 5d per lb), though not as low as River Plate, which is readily obtainable at 3£d to t 4d. The Australian mutton which arrived c per Garonne is being held over in the hope ' of hardening rates, the weather baying ] become much pooler, 1

The sale of small quantities of frozen mutton retail at the butcher's shop in the Health inhibition Was stopped last week by the Duke of Buckingham, on the ground that the cutting up of the meat made a mess, and had on sevens! occasions soiled the dresses of passing ladies. The working men employed at the Exhibition, Who have been in the habit of patronising this shop, largely and deeply resent the withdrawal of the privilege. One of them, " A Working Man with dtt Appetite," contributes a long remonstrance to" the current number of •« Truth," in which he jpoiftts out that wealthy folk are still able to gfr'e orders for meat to be sent round to their hOitse?, and that it is only the poor man who usea to buy 1 small portions and carry them away who suffers. Mr Allsup hopes to persuade the authorities to after* tho retail sale to be resumed next week, certain gaftvantees of extra cleanliness being given.

The Storage of Frozen Meat. The "Bart and West India Dock Company have just opened a third store for frozen meat in their So«th Dock. The follow ing particulars of the imports ivp to the present time will be found interesting :—Since the 12th July, 1882, when the Company's first store (Sea Witch) came into use, the Company have stored 143,815 sheep and 1,519 quarters of beef, and have delivered to vans direct from import vessels lying in the docks 50,597 sheep and 24 quarters of beef. The I present stock is 12,534 carcases from New Zealand, and 7,583 from the Kivcr Plate: total, 20,177 carcase?. ( The steerage capacity of the Company s three stores—the Sea Witch, the Robert Morrison, and the South Dock store-is shoAvn in the following table ;—; —

The Indian and Colonial Exhibition. In ISS6 an "Indian and Colonial Exhibition " is to be held at South Kensington. The Prince of Wales takes the deepest interest in the success of this show, and has already addressed the Governors and other authorities in India and the colonies with a view to enlist their influence and support. In the course of a letter to Sir James Ferguson, Governor of Bombay, 11. R.H. says : " 1 trust that your Excellency will take a favourable view of the undertaking, which, besides benefiting both England and her colonies, will tend to strengthen the moral bonds of union between all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, which are the chief strength of the British Empire. As regaid.s the administration of this exhibition, it is my hope that this may bo carried out by a Royal Commission rather than by an' executive committee, as in the case of the Fisheries and Healtheries." Sir James Ferguson, Sir Hercules Robinson, Lord Aug. Loftus, and other Colonial Governors have already replied intimating their willingness to forward the Prince's desire in every possiblo way, but 1 have not as yet heard of any communication trom New Zea land. It would not be a bad idea to endeavour to give the British public some idea ot the uondei'b of Kotomahan.i and the Hot Lakes at this exhibition. The thing could be done in two Mays, viz., by photographs and by a model. At the Ilealtheiies there are splendid reproductions in miniature of tho Hot Springs and Old Roman bathing places at Bath. The models Ptand on a large tablo in the centre ot a cosy nook, the Malls of which are hung with superb photographs representing most of the scenes and places of interest in the neighbourhood of Bath. The Use of Tricycles in the Colonies. An announcement to the efl'ect that a number of patent carrier tricycles are being sent out to one of the Cape Town newspapers lias set me wondciing whether any ot these extremely useful machines have as yet been tiied for business purposes in New Zealand. You may not, perhaps, bo aware that for some time pabt a great many of the smaller tradesmen m metropolitan suburbs have circulated all their parcels by means of tricycles. The machines are large, stioiig, and brightly coloured. Seveial ditl'oient method*, tor carrying goods have been* patented. In some tricycles a big square basket (capable of holding a couple of sacks of coals) is fixed in front of the driver, but in the majoiity this, receptacle looks and hangs much better behind. Greengrocers, fishmongers, and butchers as a rule use just a plain uncovered basket, but drapers, bootmakers, booksellers, newspaper proprietors, &c, prefer a large, square, wicker-work box, covered with some bright blue, or red, or yellow oil-cloth, on winch the name and address of the firm is insciibed in legible black letters. All the London evening papers now use tiicyclos for circulating their various editions. They find them quite as speedy and infinitely cheaper than horses and carts ; indeed, the saving in point of cost is something enormous. Of course, tricycles for express purposes, such as circulating newspapers, must be run over fairly level tracks. They would work admirably in Christchurch, par ucmple, but would scarcely suit a hilly place like Auckland. The Government are utilising tricycles freely for postal and telegraphic purposes. Special messages, which in old times were sent out on horseback, are now invariably despatched by tricycle boys, and in the eastern counties, where the roads are level as a billiard board, postmen make lengthy rounds of ofton more than 20 miles daily on their machines. I can't help thinking that carrier tricycles could be utilised in fifty ways in many colonial towns, and that a rich reward awaits the enterprising person who dares to introduce them as business vehicles. Care must, I understand, be taken about the purchase of tricycles. There are endless makers,and new improvements are patented daily. The thing is to be sure to got the easiest and most powerful mover. Buyers should take care to have the carrying capacity of the tricycle tested to the utmost. Some are much easier to vvork heavily loaded than others. My own impression from looking about the streets is that the machines used by the " Evening Standard" in London are amongst the most superior. It is really a wonderful sight to see a shrimp of a boy tooling along at express speed a vast basket filled high with reams upon reams of "fifth editions." I don't know tho name of this machine, nor if I did should I mention it, as my idea is not to crack up any special maker, but simply to draw attention to carrior tricycles generally. Should any of your readers care to go further into the matter, I should advise them to purchase the " Tricyclists' Year Book for '84," which summarises the advantages of tho various new machines.

The Bishop of Dunedln and His Clergy. The "Evening Standard," cominentinr on the recent squabble between the Bishoj . of Dunedin and Mr Stanford, remarks :— "A correspondence between the Bishop^ of Dunedin and a priest in his diocese, which has been published, is interesting to

'thoughtful reader. The latter gentleman wished to renounce his holy orderc without ceremony, as it appears, and take up the profession of the law. , The Bishop heard of this resolve, and wrote to ask if the report was true, since j in that case it would be necessary to take steps for his * public degradation. The word, however, was used in its legal sense, without offensive meaning. To this letter the clergyman replied in a tone which we have not to criticise. The point of his rejoinder is that others of his cloth engage i in business, the Bish »p of Dunedin himself speculating in land and commercial enteri prises. This sort of argument is very coraI jroonly used. It is gratifying to learn that sow*© Qf the statements are baseless ; but even 1! they were not true, they would not bear on the real issue. No sane reasoner has advanced the proposition that a member of the clergy may not invest his money to the best of his judgment in such manner as circumstances permit. The difference of opinion between these correspondents is fundamental they do not regard the status of a clergyman in the same light. To the Bishop representing the doctrines of the Church, at all times it is one distinct from all questions of business ; to the clergyman, so far as we are allowed to understand his idea, it is a profession. Holding that view, in all honesty doubtless, he is logical in supposing that it may be relinquished without a public ceremony. But when the premises are false, the strongest syllogism fails."

Postscript. London, August 29, 5.3 H. None of the compressed beef sent Home as an experiment by the JDoric has as yet been disposed of, nor does the Auckland cheese go off very well. London buyers consider it much inferior in flavour to the Canterbury. Sir William Fox has left town for Durham, where he is on a visit to his brother. Mr Vesey Stewart has recovered from his illnes?,and gone over to Ireland to recruit health and strength. The San Francisco mail, which left Auckland on July 21, was delivered this morning.

o o "SO a W Pi «j « 5 Vi « s o h So o Sea Witch Robert Morrison... South Dock Store. i7,00i .11,8.331 >3,02 C 7,000 9,000 13,800 8,000 10.000 15,700 8,500 11,000 17,300 £ 6 000 11,0001 1,000 7,500 (abt) 1 I I