ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES. (BY THE AUCKLAND "STARS" CORRESPONDENT.) London, October 17.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 79, 6 December 1884, Page 3

ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES. (BY THE AUCKLAND "STARS" CORRESPONDENT.) London, October 17.

Personal and General. Sik William MoAethur, M.l\, head of the well-known colonial firm of William Me Arthur and Co., has announced his intention of resigning his seat for Lambeth, and retiring into private life at the coming general election. George Darrell, described in flaming posters as the "celebrated author and actor," will make his first appearance in England at the Grand Theatre, Islington, next week in a drama of hiB own, entitled, " The Sunny South." Miss Elizabeth Sprot, daughter of the late Mark Sprot, Esq., of Canterbury, N.Z , was married on the 9th inst. at Edinbro* to the llev. Eneas Macintosh, a promising young divine of the Church of Scotland. The capture in New Zealand of Mr Anderson, the Liverpool Workhouse master, who absconded last spring, does very little credit |to the evasive powers of the prisoner. Seeing that it was necessary after his whereabouts had been discovered by the Liverpool police for them to communicate with the Home Office, for the Home office to communicate with the Colonial Office, for the Colonial Office to communicate with the New Zealand police, and for the New Zealand police to catch Anderson if they could he might have made a better run for it — at least, so the " Globe " thinks. The mining journal, "Engineering," contains an interesting account of the recent coal discoveries on tho property of Mr Fraser, of Kaitangata, New Zealand, and speaks in terms of highest promise of the extent and quality of the seams. Kaitangata has evidently a prosperous future in store. Sir Anthony Hoskins, who was for some time Commander of the Australian Station, is to succeed the Duke of Edinburgh in the command of the Channel Squadron. The " World " advises Hanlan to spend the hotte&t part of the antipodean summer in tho south of New Zealand. The new Cunard liner Umbria, which will carry tho next 'Frisco mails for New Zealand across the Atlantic, can steam 25 nautical miles an hour easily. The current number of the "British Australasian," which is nothing if not statistical, contains an article and table showing that Australasian securities have paid British isvestors better than any others, It gives a list of banks and companies with the gain per cent, on paid-up capital. At the head of these stands the Australian Mortgage Land and Financs Company, with a gain of 225 per cent.; then comes the N.Z. Trust and Loan Company with 210 per cent., and the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile, 7s per cent. The Bank of New Zealand (S3 per cent.) heads the Bank list, followed by the Bank of N.S. Wales (75 per cent.), the Union Bank of Australia (GO per cent.), and the Bank of Australasia (55 per cent.). It is understood that though the butcher leasing tho frozen mutton shop at the Healtheries has made a largo profit, the promoters of the refrigerators and Is. Z. Grill aro out of pocket. When the exhibition clones Mr Allsup will publish a statement shoN\ ing the number of dinners served, &c. The Committee of Importers consider their end in promoting a grill (viz., the popularising of frozen meat) has been achieved, and that there would be no point in repeating the experiment at the Inventions Exhibition.

Shipping and Passenger Notes. The trial trip of the Kaikoura, which should have taken place on Wednesday, has been postponed till to-day. The Arawa will also be tried this afternoon, and there is some talk of a race round to London between the two steamers. I sincerely hope that the New Zealand Companies will not start the Yankee habit of racing their steamers, as it is the opinion of all shipping men that one of these days a frightful catastrophe will be caused by this bad system. The departure of the Kaikoura has also been postponed for two days. She will now leave London on October 25. The following through passengers to Now Zealand sailed in the John Elder last Wednesday : For the Bluff — Mr James Senior. For Port Chalmers— Mr and Mrs Geilatly, Miss Power, Miss Hall, Mr Bridgman, and Mr E. Frith. Shaw, Savill's Arawa, which leaves on Nov. 5, is filling rapidly. The following have already booked passages : — For Otago— Key. Mr and Mrs Gualter, Miss Helen Gualter, Miss Evangeline Gualter, Messrs Edward, Aubrey, and Rodolph Gualter, Miss McKenzie. Miss H. McLeod, Miss Davison, Mr and Mrs Scruttin and child, Mr and Mrs Wilson, Mrs Cooke and 3 children, Messrs Aitkin and Ross. For Hobarfc— Mr C. J. Youl. For AucklandMessrs G. A. Mahon, Stevens, Clarke, W. Henderson, Robert Henderson, and Gilroy. For Wellington — Mr and Mrs R. T. Turnbull, MrTurnbull, Mr. 7. A. West. For Canterbury — Rev. B. Stephenson. For Melbourne — Mr G. S. Lee.

Cable Rates. It should be good news that in the course of next year the cost of press messages by the centre cable to Australia and N.Z. will almost certainly be reduced to a quarter of the present rates. The question is to be discussed at the International Telegraph : Conference, and I am confidently assured that the concession will at last be granted over the entire route. The Eastern Extension Company has, as you probably know already, conceded quarter rates for press messages in plain language, but till recently the Indian, the South Australian and the Eastern Companies held out against the reduction. The last has now openly given in, and the others are expected to follow suit at the Conference, which will be attended by Sir P. D. 8011, Sir Saul Samuel, and Mr Murray.

An Extraordinary Foat. To those who remember that only two or three years ago it was impossible to make the direct voyage to New Zealand under about 90 days, the feat just accomplished by the Tongariro seems astounding. This fast steaming liner has literally been "three times round the world" in eleven months. Her last run home occupied 40 days 4 hours 13 minutes, including detentions, her exact steaming time being 3S days 10 hours and 31 minutes. The Tongariro's feat is, I need scarcely say, unparallelled in the history of ocean steaming, though from what I hear of the Ruapehu it will not remain so long. Considering their size, the steamers of the N.Z.S. Co. ai*e amongst the safest and speediest afloat. Moreover, they are thoroughly well oflicered, a great thing in these days when Companies too often go in for cheap young men.

Mr Thomas Spurgeon. Mr Thomas Spurgeon, who has been indefatigable in his labours on behalf of his church in Auckland, delivered a lecture on Tuesday evening at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, upon NewZcaland, entitled ' ' Brighter Britain." Pastor C. H. Spurgeon took the

chair, and did yeoman's service by warmly urging the vast congregation to assist his son's good work. The takings during the evening lam unable to give. Mr Thomas Spurgeon sails for the colonies early next month.

The Courtenny Settlement. A Mr William Courtenny, who says he comes from Taranaki, and owns a large tx'act of country there, is busy endeavouring a la Vesey Stewart to persuade a number of small farmers to emigrate and settle near one another on his land. I have not seen Mr Courtenny, nor can I find many people who know him. This enterprise will not, I fear, meet with much success. People suspect special settlement schemes nowadays.

Depression in the Colonies. The "British Australasian" of the 9th instant published an interesting table showing that the commercial depression of the past year has seriously affected Australasian as well as English produce. From it I gather that New Zealand Heeco wool has fallen from la 7d per lb in 1882 to Is 5d now ; that mutton tallow has fallen 20 per cent., beef tallow 14 per cent., flour 22£ per cent., wheat 24 per cent., tin 10 per cent., and copper 13 per cent. The Australias, of course, suffer more seriously than New Zealand.

Compressed Beef. Mr Larkworthy informs mo that the compressed tinned beef sent Homo from Auckland by tho Doric has been sold without any difficulty whatever at 6d per Ib. The only defect experts find with it is that the meat is scarcely compressed and solid enough. In the East End of London, and in the poorer parts of many provincial towns, butchers sell this tinned beef by the. slice, and unless it is hard and firm they cannot cut it, as tho stutV crumbles and gets wasted. Whon this defect has been remedied, there will be practically an unlimited market for New Zealand compressed beef, as Libby's, the great Chicago firm, cannot supply the present demand. To show what a quantity of the stuff is used, I may mention that the Nile expedition force to rescue Gordon are taking with them 00,000 cases of Libby's tins. The success which has so far attended the Auckland venture will, it is hoped, encourage enterprising per&ons in other New Zealand towns to start the sarao industries. Thero can be no reason why some colonial firm should not presently bo able to compete with Libby's.

Rotorua Railway. Mr Yesey Stewart assures me that the long-deferred prospectus* of the Rotorua Railway will positively be issued to the public next month (November). He says all the requisite capital was subscribed long ago, and that the lion. Cecil Kaikes (late M.F, for Chester) will be Chairman of directors. If the last named statement should prove correct,! think the launching of the railway will ceitainty be successfully accomplished, as Mr Kaikes bears a groat name in the city, and is not accustomed to associate himself with failures.

The New Zealand Commercial Agency. Mr Vesoy Stewart having enjoyed oiliceroom with Messrs Shaw, Savill, for a twelvemonth, has severed his more intimate connections with that firm, and taken spacious chambers in the basement of the .same building. Hero G.V.S. (ever energetic and enterprising) has initiated the "New Zealand Commercial Agency," "to promote business between settlors in New Zealand and manufacturers in Great Britain." 1 learn from the pro&pcctus that the " central oflices " will bo in London and in the " various provinces of New Zealand," and that the " medium of communication" between buyers and manufacturers will be a "Handbook to New Zealand," edited by George Vesey Stewart, and issued in successive editions, informing the English public of current buna jule openings for settlement, and opportunities for the employment of capital and labour in New Zealand as a whole." Mr Stewart is also general manager for the "New Zealand Estate Agency," for the disposal of lands in the Bay of Plenty, and meditates starting a "New Zealand Kead-ing-room," whero intending colonists and colonists at Homo can meet for the interchange of business and conversation. With so many irons in the fire, the veteran emigration agent should be a busy man, and yet methinks he looks back with regret to the good old days when "special settlers" were as easily picked up as blackberries, and English folk drank in rapturously the fairy tales about Katikati and Te Puke. Intending emigrants nowadays are wily persons, and can by no means be persuaded to pledge themselves to a district without seeing it. Mr Stewart has booked a few passengers by tho Northumberland (which sails quite full), and talks of despatching his &on by t h*. January 'Frisco mail to meet them, bui i lancy the latter must be merely a business " tarradiddle."

Novelties on Board the Arawa. The new direct liner Arawa, which makes her trial trip to-morrow, will come round to London next week. I hear she is fitted with some novel and useful improvements. In the first place.the beds or berths in all the staterooms are on the Pullman car principle — that is,they shut completely up and disappear into the wall during the day. This converts your little cabin into a small but comfortable eittingroom with a sofa and writing table. What a blessing these new-style staterooms will be to passengers who like an occasional quiet half-hour " far from the maddening crowd," I leave you to imagine. Another admirable feature about the Arawa is her private mess-room for children. On many large steamers (the P. and 0. especially) eating goes on in the saloon all day long, o\\ ing to the constantly-recurring alternations of adult and juvenile meals^ Aboard the Arawa the children have a realm of their own. Hore they can scream, and guzzle, and fight without annoying outsiders.

Albert Medals. The Quoon has aMvirded the Albert Medal to Dr. Tom MoGrogor, C.M.(» O Chief Medical OiHcer and .Receiver, Fiji, for his gallant conduct at the wreck of the Syrie (coolie ship) on the N'isalui reef, Fiji, in May last ; and the Board of Trade havp awarded a silver medal to Mr John Fowler (Chief Superintendent Police), and bron/o medals to Katu Joshua (a native), Constablo Aprain, and Police Constable Swan, for their courageo\iB services on the same occasion.

Frozen Meat. Since the cold weather has set in, the demand for frozen mutton has increased enormously, and the supplies being limited, prices continuo to riso in a highly satisfactory manner. The Tongariro's meat was placod on the market last Saturday, and fetched 6d to 6^d per lb, rising on Monday to 6.fd and7d. The Coptic's consignment vanished in no time, all except one lot believed to bo retained for the North of England. There is consequently nothing now to meet the London demand, save the Tongariro's meat, till the lonic arrives. The Liguria brings the first of renewed consignments from Australia, but she won't be here for some time, and River Plate mutton has for tho present disappeared from the markets. This being so, it seems probable that 6d and 6&d will be,

the ruling rate for some time to come. Home-fed sheep are at present exceptionally low. Messrs Ward and Stimpson quote : — New Zealand mutton, 4s to 4s 4d per stone of 81bs ; Home fed mutton, ewes, 3s Bd.to 4s per stone of 81bs; Home fed wethers, 4s 4d to 5s per stone of 81bs. During September, 1884, 42,733 cwt. of frozen mutton was imported into England from Now Zealand, as against only 3,997 cwt. last year, and from the River Plate j 10,658cwt., as against 740cwt. in 1883. These figures are very significant. Contrary to expectation, the Dock Companies have met the proposals of the frozen meat importers re the reduction of storage dues in a very mean manner. They scout the idea of 50 per cent, or even 25 per cent, off. At present the price for storing is three half -pence per week per cwt. Well, they simply propose that after the meat has been stored seven days the charge shall be reduced to five farthings a week.

Colonial Representation at South Kensington. I am sorry to learn from the good people at Victoria Chambers that your Executive attach little or no importance to the necessity of New Zealand being effectively represented at the greafc annual exhibitions at South Kensington. Dr. Kennaway tells me the Agent-General sent out full particulars as to ways and means of forwarding exhibits to the Healtheries this year, and tho Inventions next, but was informed he need not bother about any exhibition in future, unless it happened to be something special. Surely this is a most short-sighted policy. Tho ignorance that prevails amongst the masses of the people with reference to everything antipochcan is simply collossal, and these exhibitions are the best of all mediums for imparting information. The Now Zealand Grill and refrigerators at the Healtheries have popularised frozen mutton more effectively than reams of newspaper articles. Sineo tho opening of the exhibition in May over four million persons have paid at the doors. Fully five-sixths of this crowd must have examined the refrigerators and seen Haslam's engine at work, and no less than 104,700 partook of and enjoyed a juicy colonial loin chop at the NZ. Grill. If these figures have not the effect of rousing you to the importance of exhibiting at future shows, nothing will. A iinc gallery of photos of the principal towns and scenery in the colony should bo a sine qua non at tho exhibition of 188(3. I see tho " Anglo-New Zealander " says steps have already been initiated relative to the "Indian and Colonial" affair, and that New Zealand Fern Gully is to form a feature of the wonders from the North Island. This is a happy idea, and does infinite credit to Mr <x. M. Reed's imagination. As a matter of fact, however, the as hole business is as yet in embrayo, and will naturally remain so till nextyear'.s show has been successfully launched. Jt is nevertheless eminently de.snable that your Executive should not be allowed to slumber over the matter. The few months between now and the date for closing applications for space -will soon pass, and as tho latter are sure to be very numerous, your exhibits will require to be attractive to secure attention. 1 would suggot, par e temple, a Maori whare and meeting-house to be erected on the grounds as the Chinese and Circassian hut* are this year ; al&o a small model of the terraces and geysers at Kotomahana, similar to thai now shown of the Roman springs and bathing-houses at Bath. Interesting phases of bush and mining life mitjht also be exemplified. Next year I am afraid your colony's name will again be conspicuous by its absence from the oflicial programme. Yet a small South American republic like Venezuela manages to bo represented ! I feel sure, too, that if anyone were to take tho pains to search for them, many curious and interesting "inventions" and "musical instruments " would be found. Even now it is not too late to send a small list of exhibits.

Chambcrs's Refrigerating Engine. The now refrigerating engine on the plan patented by Mr Chambers is at last completed. The whole of the part& aro now being tested, and in a few days the machine will be in working order. I met Mr Chambers at the Bank at New Zealand tho other day, and ho was kind enough ta explain the principles of his refrigerator to me. It is an improvement on what is known as the "ammonia machine." Many other inventors have tried to perfect this machine, but have all failed owing to the whole apparatus getting clogged with ice formed in the tubes. By a very ingenious arrangement of "U" tubes Mr Chambers has prevented this, and his refrigerator works perfectly. The machine just completed was originally intended for use on board ship, but it will in all probability be placed in the enormous vaults under Cannon-street railway station, which Nelson Bros, have taken as a store for New Zealand mutton. This new apparatus will, Mr Chambers informs me, cool seven times as much space as any other refrigerator of the same size. If it proves a success, and tho inventor has no doubt that it will, the dock and steamship companies will all order machines on Chambers plan. Mr Chambers has had a lot of trouble over the machines — first, the engineer who was constructing it committed suicide, and then all the castings wore found faulty and had to be replaced, but now I think the success of his venture is assured.

Comparative Criminality of the Colonies. A report contained in tho last issue of papers relating to lior Majesty's colonial possessions givos, in connection with its account of crime, a statistical table which ought to interest Now Zealanders. Front' it we lecirn the strange fact that out of every 10,000 inhabitants a larger proportion of persons ai*e committed to prison in the Australian colonies than in England. Here the averago of 5 years is 6.40 commitments, as against no less than 30 in Western Australia and 24 in Koav South Wales. After these- come in graduated order Queensland, South Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Victoria, the last showing an average of 7.SS commitments. The Tasnianian average was 9 42 for 5 years, but in ISS2 it was reduced as low as 7.46.

Some Russian visitors. You are about to receive some rather formidable visitors from the Czar, who has ju&t despatched three magnificent ironclads, the Nadimir, Monomuch, and General Admiral, to cruise in Australian and Pacific waters. The first-named vessel is one of the newest in the Russian ravy. It has a displacement of 5,750 tons, a plating of 7in. armour, and carries G Gin. guns. The CJonoral Amiral has a displacement of 4,6' 0 tons, Gin. armour, and carries 4 Sin. and 2 Gin. guns. These two ships could, it is believed, easily overpower Her Majesty's vessels on cither the Australian or Pacific stations. The " Pall Mall Gazette " thinks the fleets at both should be peimanently strengthened.

The Protectorate of New Guinea. You will, of course, have heard by cable that in accordance with the statement made by the Grand Old Man in the House of Commons last August, steps have been taken for proclaiming a protectorate over all the southern coaste of New Guinea to the east-

ward of the 141 st meridian of B. longitude. By the time this letter reaches New Zealand the Commodore of the Australian station will doubtless have proceeded to our new possession, and duly proclaimed the protectorate, which will include the islands adjacent to the southern part of New Guinea. All the principal newspapers contain long articlos descriptive and otherwise about the new protectorate. The " Times " remarks that the chief interest of this latest extension of our influenco centres in the circumstances by which it has been brought about. The Queensland Government. fearing the possibility of some other European Power seizing New Guinea and becoming an objectionable neighbour, annexed the whole territory, and asked the Colonial Office to recognise this addition to the British Empire, thus considerably upsetting its orderly official ideas. The action of Queensland was refused with enthusiasm by the other colonies, which did not shrink from sharing the moral and financial responsibilities. Common action on this isolated question has started a general movement for confederation. The idea is a fruitful one, and every advance made by the colonies will add to the importance of combination — at least for purposes of external defence. It will strike many people as rather a curious provision that no one will bo allowed at present to settle or acquire land within the limits of the British protectorate. Exclusion of the subjects of the protecting power is an unusual consequence of the establishment of a protectorate. It may, perhaps, be assumed without much risk that the words "at present " are the most important ones in this announcement. The " Daily News " points out that tho Australian colonies have given ample proof of their interest in the question and their desire for annexation. It is therefore in response to the urgent wish of the colonial Caovernments that the step has been taken. The colonies thus secure a complete guarantee against possible settlements by foreign communities opposite their shores, and at the same time the designs which have been attributed to Queensland " prospectors " will be frustrated. The " Morning Post" remarks it is by a very curious irony of fate that the Glad .«torie administration, notwithstanding their avowed policy of diminishing our colonial liabilities, have made larger additions to the Empire, either by annexations or protectorates, than any former Government during the pieceding quarter of a centiuy. It may, perhaps, be uryed with much plausibility that in the present instance the Government had no choice between accedng to the wisbc of the Australian colonists and running the risk of seeing them acting for themselves, even at the risk of severing their connection with the British Croun. Jsut this only proves how shortsighted Mr Gladstone is, and hi.> i nubility to recognise the true natuie of the relationship which exists between England and her colonies. The truth is that the Prime Minister conceives the possibility of maintaining an empire, not a United Kingdom, without incurring the obligations necessarily incidental to the former, and lie has been sanguine enough to hope that, whilst simply providing for the wants oi the kingdom, he could maintain an empiie. The fallacy of this rcat-on-ing nab lon^ ago exposed by the Marquis, of Salisbury, find though Mi Gladstone was probably deaf to the arguments of his great political rival, he has now been convinced by the logic of farts. Tho dread of a settlement of Gallic convicts, the scums of the Paris streets, being planted close to their northern coast, lias, the " Daily Telegraph " says, no doubt had a good deal to do with the desire expressed at Sydney for the acquisition of New Guinea. But there has been also a second motive at work in the wish to eecuie to Australia, in view of the magnificent future which lies in stoic for that remote continent, a country divided from it only by a nuirow stiip of &ea, and having within it the "promise and potency" of all kinds of commercial wealth. With a true instinct the Australian people have foreseen the capabilities of thu island, and the impossibility of permitting any foreign State to turn it into cither a standing menace or a constant nuisance to the inhabitants of their northern and north-eastern coasts.