MAIL NEWS. ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. London, February 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 97, 11 April 1885, Page 6

MAIL NEWS. ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. London, February 26.

Colonial Troops for the Soudan. The gracefully spontaneous offer of New South Wales to equip a contingent for the Soudan has caused an iinmense/«ro?*e here. Though the tenders of Victoria, Queensland, and Canada to supply troops were nominally considered, there was never really any idea of accepting them. Lony before Mr Gladstone made the complimentary and explanatory speech in Parliament (which yuu will find further on in my letter), it was known to experts that tho addition to the expedition of a large body of troops for whom no commissariat or other arrangements had been made was simply impracticable. The Government resolved to accept the New South Wales contingent partly because of the generous spontaneity of the offer, partly as a "sop to the (colonial) Cerberus " generally, and partly in order to ascertain the utility of employing colonial troops in Britain's future campaigns. Fur ther on in my letter you will find a goodly budget of press opinions commenting on the vaiious offeis of assistance. Aftor reading a few of them, you will, I think, agree with me that this happy thought ot New South Wales r ias done more to bind the Mother Country to her colonies than a decade of Federation congresses. The announcement that the Government had resolved to accept the generous and sympathetic offer of New South Wales to provide a battalion of troop 3 for service in the Soudan was everywhere received with the utmost satisfaction. Victoria's proposal, made later, did not however, excite so much enthusiasm. Owing to tho semisarcastic wording of Mr Service's cablegram, the proffer had rather the appearance of a resolve not to be cut out by New South Wales than of a voluntary de&ire to as?ist the Mother Country in a good cause. What made New South Walea's message so specially acceptable was its unmistakoable spontaneity. All tho newspapers comment on this, and naturally draw the conclusion that though recent grievances may have temporarily excited a little sore feeling against the Mother Country— or rather against Lord Derby and Her Majesty 'b Government— the absolute loyalty of the colonies remains unshaken.

Tie Federation Bill. In answer to a question put by the Earl of Bel more in the House of Loidson Monday evening las'", Lord Derby i.id ho should shortly introduce into that House a bill to enable the Australian colonies to federate for certain purposes, fie might remind the noble Earl that in December h st he sent out a despatch to the various colonies refeired to, suggesting that certain alterations should be made in the Draft Bill. That despatch was laid on the table. He had as yet received only one answer to these suggestions, and that had come from Western Australia, fle was in daily expectation of receiving the other replies Obviously the noble Earl would see that it would not be courteous to consulted to proceed without waiting until the leply which they might have to give had been rethe other colonies who bad been expressly ceived. Therefore he could not pledge himself to bring in the bill before Easter ; but it was the desire and intention of the Government that there should be no unnecessary delay. Lord Derby also said the delay in the acceptance of the oilers of the other colonies besides New South Wales did not arise from any coldness or lack of appreciation on the part of the Government. The arrangements for the Suakim expedition had already been made when the colonies made their offers and tendered their services, and largely to increase its number would probably be to raise que-tions of transports and supply uhich might considerably augment the difficulties of the undertaking.

Banquet to Admiral Wilson. Rear- Admiral Crawfoid Wilson, who was for some yeara Commodore of the Australian station, and has recently been appointed to the coveted position of Superintendent of Devonport Dockyard, dined on 16th inst. with the members of the Empire Club, who availed themselves of the occasion to congratulate him on his promotion. Viscount Bury piesidod, and there were also present Sir Saul Samuel, Air Henniker Beaton, Hon. H. LytteltQß, Lord Bangor, etc., etc. Admiral Wilson, in replying to the toast of his health, proposed by Lord Bury, said that be was specially glad that New South Wales had been the fh>t of the colonies to proffer troops for the Soud-m, as he had a great affection for Sydney and Sydney people. There could be no doubt it was a grand thing to have initiated puch a movement. The first decisive step towards federation had now unquestionably been taken by the colonies themselves. i

"Truth" on Australian Mourning. "With re?pect to the senseless habit of buying new clothes in order to mourn for a deceased relative, an Australian writes to "Truth " to pay that both in New Zealand and Australia the announcements of deaths in the press are often follow ed by the \\ ords : 'By the nish of the deceased his relatives will Dot wear mourning. ' " 1 have always myself admired," says the editor, commenting on tbif. " the sense of the Pcuoniana, a nation desmbed by flerodotus. When a Pceunian died, his friends and relatives met together to feast, in order to celebrate his having been transferred to another and better world, and to console themselves foi lo&ing him."

The Next Governor of New Zealand. ! Sir George Lie^ Vceux will succeed Sir W. Jervois *s Governor of New Zealand. ; The detii ability of the appointment was diBcmi-ed and affirmed at the Colonial Office the other day.

Exploration of New Guinea. Mr Henry Ogg Forbes, an explorer of vast energy and experience, leaves London to-morrow en route t -r New Guinea, which country he i 3 about to invei-tigatu thoroughly on behalf of the Koyal Ceo graphical Society. Mr Forbes will have exceptional facilities- fur immediately communicating any discoveries he may make to the English and colonial press, as we'l as to his employers for Sir James Anderson has, with thoughtful kindness and generosity, placed the cable* of the Eastern Telegraph Companies at his disposal gratis.

Special Items. The Hon. Ev. Iju A^hh-y, Umier-Secre-tary for thts Coiomo, )esjiondiug to the toast of " Our Colonies " at the annual dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce last Thursday, said he would like to tee, and he hoped the time was not far disrant when he should nee, the Hig i Commissioners and Agents-Geneial tor the various colonies admitted to take their places and to speak in the Houpe of Commons, but not to vot . This remark, com in c from such a source, is pignificant of impending changes of impoitarice { Mr Thornton, u. young actor ol great promise, who "was associated with the Savoy Theatre during the run of

"Patience," has purchased the Australian rights of the prodigiously successful "Private Secretary," and will, at the conclusion of his American tour (now in progress), play the comedy systematically through the colonies. Mr Kerry Nicholls is not at all the sort of man to* let the effect of his literarj success with the "King Country *' die out for want of a little exertion, or shall I say impudence. In order to be recognised as a leading authority on North New Zealand, it was necessary he should be invited to lecture before the Royal Geographical Society. This at first was not easy of achievement, but Nicholls is not a man to be daunted by trifles, and sot himself to get " chummy " amongBt,the Fellows of the JMv.R.S., and in due course (i.e., on Monuay last) was duly installed in the rostrum of the Geographical Society's theatre delivering an eloquent discourse on the beauties and wonders of the King Country. There was not —truth to tell — much of an audience. Mr Vesey Stewart, looking a bit bored, sat in the well or pit of the house, and towards the end of the discourse one or two Fellows strolled in. The affair was, however, a very decidedly different sight to what it is when such bona fide explorers as H. 11. Johnson or H. M. Stanley lecture there. The Rev. H. M. Kennedy, of Plumpton V icarage, Cumberland, writes to the " Leeds Mercury " eulogising the pluck end bravery of the Maori race, and suggesting that if New Zealand cannot conveniently proffer a contingent of white calonial troops, she should recruit and arm a regiment of Maoris for service in the Soudan. The suggestion has at least the merit of novelty.

Arthur Clayden's Lecturing Tour. What Mr Vesey Stewart tried to do for To Puke, and Mr Courtney is still trying to do for Taranaki, Mr Arthur Claydon means to attempt for Nelson Tho two former lecturers have now withdrawn from tho rostrum temporarily, so Mr Claydon has a fair field. He opened fire at Oozoll Board Scho jls, Birmingham, one evening la?t week, with Rev. Charles Leach in the c mir. The locality is not a promising ono foi such a purpose, yet tho room was cratnmci with an absorbed audience, which listened to Mr Clayden's highlyc .lourod photographs of the ''Land of Plenty and Promise " with rapt attention. Aftei wards many present sought out the lecturer and asked his advice. On the following evening Mr Clayden repeated his lecture at the Temperance Hall, Birmingham, under very similar conditions. He also attended the Emigration Conference at Birmingham, at which Mr Grant, of Grant and Foster, was a speaker.

The Year Book of New Zealand. Mr George Yesey Stewart announces that the first edition of his •' Year Book of Now Zealand " will be published in about a month. I have before me a prospectus of the book, which gives a general summary of its contents, and from this I gather that it will not be so much a guide for emigrants as a work of reference, containing all the statistics, etc. of the colony. The price to subscribers is ss, and to non subscribers 7s 6d. The book is divided into three parts. The first deals with matters statistical and financial, including also details oi the steam and railway lines and roads of the colony, and a gazeteer of New Zealand. The newspaper pies-* of the colony is also desciibed ,i length. The second part is made up of a of the political and pli>sit;al divisions, natural resources, industiie?, manufactures, farming and agriculture of New Zealand, while useful hints ate given to settlers, tourists, and immigrants. The third part deals with the "trade and commerce of New Zealand, the tctiifl> of New Zealand, the merchants and traders of New Zealand," and last, but not least, the future of New Zealand. Mr S euart has dedicated the work to the Agent-General, whose Handbook has , been freely used in the compilation. Mr Stew art has received 60 pages of advertisement?, and has got a fair list of subscribers, -:o if the book gets as largo a circulation as the editor prophosies, he will find it a tar more paying venture than the getting up of special parties.

Arrival of the R.M.S.S. Tongariro. The New Zealand Shipping Company's fine steamer Tongariro arriv%l at Plymouth on the 24th, and after landing her mails and a few passengers, went to London, where she docked on the 25th. Captain Bone must be complimented on the splendid passage made by his vessel. She left Lyttelton on Jan vary 17th, reached Kio on February 7th f and Teneriffe on the 19th Febmary, Plymouth being safely made on February SWSEh.

The Young Fjinces of Wales at t)>£ Antipodes. The March number of the "English Illustrated Magazine" will contain an illustrated article entitled, "H.M.S. Bacchante at the Antipodes," by Prince Edward and Prince George of Wales. If I <"an procure some copies before the mail leaves, I uill po-t you one. Tho fact of tho young piinces having chosen to describe Australia in preference to the many other colonies and countries which they visited in the Bacchante speaks favourably for the chaiacter of their reminiscences of and regard for your part of the world. i