MAIL NEWS. [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT. ]

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 May 1885, Page 6

MAIL NEWS. [FROM THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT. ]

Londox, March 26. The Prince of Wales Visits the Colonies" You will, I am sure, all be glad to hear that the Prince of Wales has given Lord Carrington a definite promiae that if no unforeseen circumstances intervene he will pay a short unofficial viait to the Australasian colonies during his friend's vice-royalty of New South Wales. The desirability of this visit has, as no doubt you are aware, been pressed on His Royal Highness for some years past —indeed, at one time it was well nigh fixed. The difficulties, expenses, time necessary, and formidable nature of a Koyal progress through the Australia similar to the Prince's Indian tour, were, however, so great that the idea had to be reluctantly, •and it was thought finally, abandoned. Now, though, there seem to be no obstacles in the way of the Prince of Wales visiting an intimate friend like Lord Carrington, semi-incog., and seeing the colonies as his guest. The people would, of course, haye ample opportunities of welcoming the heirapparent, &c, &c., but there would be no necessity for the display and woarisome formalities of an official Royal visit. The principal doubt seems whether the Queen will give her consent to such a programme. Prince Albert Victor has had a good deal to do with exciting his father's interest in an Australian tour. He was very much struck with all he saw on his visit to the Antipodes,and talks incessantly on the sub ject. At the Colonial Institute the other evening he voluntarily asked to be introduced to all the colonial magnates on the platforms.

A Colony that is Never Mentioned. There is— as the "Tioxe3" says -no denying that the colonies are at this moment very much before the public mind. The conduct of the Australias in relation to the Soudan War has made a deep impression, and the cheers which greeted the departure of the New South Wales contingent from Sydney have found an echo over here. Just now scarcely a daj 7 passes without the Antipodes being brought before our notice in some prominent way. On Monday, for instance, the papers were full of a speech on Imperial Federation which Mr Forsttr h v\ just delivered before an enthusiastic audience at Cambridge, and the same evening the subject was brought up again in two forms — in the debate on Lord Wemyss'a motion in the House of Lords.and at the Colonial Institute by the Prince of Wales. This being 80, it is surely a pity that the only Australasian colony the name of which one never hears mentioned favourably should be New Zealand. The patriotism of Queensland and South Australia have been extolled to the skies, Sir Napier Broome has declared Western Australia to be the coming colony, and all Sydney men are btood drinks ad lib., and made much of everywhere Mew Zealand alone is out in the cold. Your Agent-General was not invited to the War Office to collogue with the authorities about the formation of a etanding colonial army, neither did he attend the Colonial Institute to meet the Prince of Wales. In the latter case, as has been stated, his absence was specially noticeable, owing to the presence of all the other representatives of the colonies. It may be urged these tbingaare accidental.and consequently of no particular significance. That may, of course, be so, but one thing is certain - they lead to a great deal of ill-natured gossip and tittle tattle.

Colonial Naval Forces. In the flouce of Lords, prior to the debate on Lord Weinyas's motion, Lord Sidmouth brought forward the question of a colonial naval force, and extracted a very important answer from Lord Northbrook. Dwelling on the great and obvious importance to the colonies of a force which should at least form their first line of defence, Lord Sidmouth proposed that help should be granted them in the form of a number of naval officers authorised to train their sailors and to form their navy, especially a torpedo force. Lord Northbrook replied that many of the officers in Her Majesty's navy would be glad to go out to some of the colonies as training officers ; but he did not commit himself to saying that he would at once send out a large number of captains, commanders, and lieutenants who are now without occupation. Her Majesty's Government has been carefully considering the matter for three years, and has been conetmtly in communication with the Agents-General, and yet, strange to say, nothing has been done. The Admiralty will not take the initiative in the scheme, and the colonies— the " Times " and other papers think— do not seem to know exactly what they want. However— and this was the important part of Lord Northbrook's answer — the Government will gladly help the colonies if the agents-General will formulate a scheme, and Lord Northbrook publicly invites such communications. Some clear action ought to follow from this.

Sir Julias Vogel and the Electric Light Company. The numerous financial ventures with which Julius Vogel is concerned have somehow a knack of going wrong. Last week there was. a stormy meeting of the Electric Light Power and Storage Company, at which your Premier's name was most disrespectfully mentioned. It seems when Sir Julius was starting for the coloDy he got the directors of this Electric Light Company to believe that he had immense influence in New Zealand, and could without any difficulty whatever form a number of local companies, and sell concessions to them. In consideration of his carrying out this project, the directors agreed to pay him the munificent aalary of ten guineas per day, with an extia £1,000 for expenses. Sir Julius was, as you are aware, not so euccesef ul as anticipated. In vain he sang to the colonial speculator. Only one solitary Company could be initiated, viz., the New Zealand, and this it seems, instead of benefiting its parent the Australasian, has let it in for a loss of £1,863. What specially riled the shareholders the other day, however, was the discovery that the directors had* continued to pay Vogel'ts salary long after his mission had obviously proved a failure, thereby entailing a further loss of £4,255. To cap everything, Mr Ince, the solicitor to tho Australasian Company, casually let out that when Sir Julius so kindly undertook to carry through the purchase of the SellonVolckmar accumulator for thorn for £5,000, ho had secretly stipulated with the vendors for a commission of 10 per cent for himself, "Truth" animadverts strongly on these dis closures, and ' abby expresses himself particularly glad that your Premier has mustered up courage to prosecute the "New Zealand Times" for quoting that nasty article from '• Money ; r ' "for," says he, "when such matters are brought into a Court-of-law wo bear interesting details."

Prel nted at Cotirt. Deapite the faot that the Queen's draw-ing-room on Wednesday last was the most crowded and fashionable of the season, the colonial presentation* were few. Hitherto, no doubt, both the Queen and the Lord Chamberlain have discouraged Australasian presentations unless made by the wife of the Secretary of State tor the Colonies. Now, however, it is understood that the Queen will receive all Australian ladies who can prove to the Lord Chamberlain that they have had the entree of their own Government House, and also come properly sponsored. On Wednesday, the only New Zealand lady at St. James's was Miss Gertrude Gisborne, whom a Mrs Evans presented. Lady Weld was introduced by Lady Derby, and the Misses Weld by their mother. The one other colonial lady in attendance was the inevitable Mrs J. Henniker Beaton, whose husband would, I think, have a tit if his wife missed a draw ing-room. Application has been made to the Stock Exchange to grant a quotation to the New Zealand Shipping Company's now pharos. Dr. and Mrs Haincs have arrived in London in excellent health. The doctor complains bitterly of the cold weather, which has been rather severe for the month of March. The passage home was a delightful one. After leaving Sydney, the doctor embarked on the Garra, one of the Messagerie and Maritime line of steamers, and speaks highly of the comfort and attention on board, which he states could not be oxcolled. The steamer reached Marseille five days before she was due. Dr. Baine& visited Nice, Menton, Monte Carlo, and Paris, reaching London three days ago. He will leave for Ireland in a few days, and after spending a few weeks there return to London.

Frozen Mutton, The dead meat trade continues generally dull in the London markets, and prices of Home-grown mutton are still low. Prime English sheep can now — according to the " British Australasian "—be bought for 7d per pound. This quotation is possibly exceptional, but it shows what difficulties all foreign consignments have to compete with just now. Now Zealand mutton has, a * I told you last mail, been realising exceptionally good prices lately because ot its scarcity. This, however, can't last long, for in addition to the Cuzco and the Aorangi, both due with immense cargoes of frozen meat, several failing ships should be in immediately. Present prices : —New Zealand mutton, 4s to 4s 2cl ; New Zealand lamb, 4s to 4s 4d ; Melbourne mutton, none offering ; RSelbourne lamb, 3s Sd to 4s Sd ; River Plate mutton, 3s Id ; English prime mutton, 4s Sd.

Shipping and Passenger Notes. Messrs Shaw-Savill's steamer Arawa sails to-morrow for Auckland and other New Zealand ports, with a fairly good passenger list and a full cargo. Consider able alterations and improvements have been made in the vessel's first saloon since she came into port. The staterooms have been much enlarged, and instead of being fitted for four persons, contain two and three berths only. The Ara^va's passenger list is as follows :—First Saloon: Captain and Mrs Hoare, Mr and Mrs C. R. Martin, Mr Leyson and family (6), Messrs Wm. Holmshaw, Little. Moeller, Carlyon, G lover, and C. W. Powys. Second Saloon : Mr and M s J L. Lewis, Mr Fagg and party, Captain and Mrs Jull and family (7), Messrs H. Hunter, H. Edwards, R. B. Pratt, A. W. Haynoa, J. Hay, H. N. Cooke, G. Morris, H. N. Killick, Yool, W. Rintoul, G. brown, C. W. Thompson, J. Zurcher, C. Engster, Zellwejer, Fatt, J. R. Green, William Green, James Turner, Renton, Miss Bell, and 70 in the steerage. Mr A. Dugend will be a through passenger for Auckland per P. and 0. steamer Rome, s liling on May 7th.