ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES. (For, the Mail via Brindisi and Melbourne. )

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 February 1885, Page 3

ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES. (For, the Mail via Brindisi and Melbourne. )

LoNDoy, January 9. Annexation Projects. The excitement in your part of the world with reference to the rumoured annexation of the New Hebrides has, you will be glad to hear, boen successfully refleoted in England. It is not often journalists at Home take any real interest in antipodean affairs, but thanks to the efforts of Lord ftoseberry, and in a lesser degree Mr W. E. Forstor, the papers have for the last week literally overflowed with angry protest and remonstrance on the annexation question. The Government now deny that then was any reason for the scare, but those who know Lord Derby best are well aware that he doesn't care a button for the Pacific Islands, and would, but for the outcry there has been, have permitted either France or Germany to annexthem without the faintest protest. The idea seems now to be to get the Powers to sign a self-donying ordinance agreeing not to annex any islands which England has not annexed. The " Times " very properly ridicules tho proposal and urges the Governmeut to stand by the colonies faithfully and honourably. Speaking at Birmingnam the other evening, Mr Chamberlain said that when the colonies wore really in need of assistance, they would find the whole strength of the Empire put forth to help them. This, as the " Pall Mall " cays, sounds very friendly, but "Fine words butter no parsnips," and if the Homo Government doesn't help the colonies with their smaller troubles, the colonios are not likely to look hopefully towards the mother country when serious danger menaces them. A policy of wheedling, deception, and severity, tempered with protestations of undying regard, will certainly not content Australia and New Zealand.

Various Notes. The Now Zealand Company's new steamer Kimutaka has come round from Glasgow. Prior to leaving the Clyde she was tried on the measuied mile,and gave complete satisfaction, though no one at the ofHce seems to know exactly what the reaord was. Arthur Clayden is publishing a book about the colony, called " The England of the Pacific." Miss Jennie Lee and her husband have arrived home. The papers are again saying that Sims Keeves will shortly visit; your part of tho world. Mr Morrison, the newly - appointed English master of the Dunedin High School, sails for Port Chalmers, per s.s, Tainui,on the 29fch inst. A large party of tourists will, I hear, join the cruise of the Wairarapa to the Pacific Islands in July. The trip has been well puffed in the papers here,

Princess Beatrice's Mesalliance. The betrothal of the Princess Beatrice took the Royal Family quite by surprise, and so far from pleasing the Courts of England and Germany, has given offence to everybody. Apart from the fact that Prince Henry hasn't ono copper to knock against another, he is the offspring of a morganatic marriage, and ranks in Germany much lower than an English Earl would. He belongs too, to tho Hesse family, now in deep disgrace with everyone but our Queen, because of the Grand Duke's discreditable intrigue with Mdme Kalomine. The general opinion is that the match will bo the greatest mesallianco ever perpetrated by the Guelph family.

Mr Courtney Achieves Success. Mr Courtney, of Taranaki, has, thanks chiefly to the influence of Sir Charles Dilke, achieved a somewhat extraordinary success in England. His special party, a portion of which returns with him in the steamer Kaikoura in March, promises to be larger than any that have gone out of late years, and will consist of quite exceptionally eligible settlers — farmers with capital, &c*

The Auckland Loan. You will, of course, have heard that the second portion of the city of Auckland 5 per cent, loan proved a great success. The tenders amounted to £117,000, or nearly five times more than va« asked for, and the prices ranged from the minimum — £107 per £100 -to £110 10s. The "World" throws cold water on this and other colonial loans by hinting that they are held up, not by the public, but by strong syndicates, who now money is so dear and threaten protests are coming every day from Australia, may not be able to maintain their prices.

Current .Topics. Madame Clovis Hugues was tried in Paiis yesterday and acquitted, after a sitting which lasted till 2 a.m. The scenes in Court were extraordinary. When the verdict was announced it was received with loud cheers, only one man raising a dissentient voice. Prince Albert Victor of Wales came of age at Sandringham yesterday amidst great rejoicings, which wore, howevex', of a perfectly private nature. Nearly all the papers contain articles this morning praising the way H.R.H. has been educated. Dynamite explosions on the Underground Railway are becoming quite common. The one last Friday night did no harm beyond frightening a lot of people. As usual, the police have no clue to the perpetrators.