ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 103, 23 May 1885, Page 6

ANGLO COLONIAL NOTES

BY THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S " LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

The Humours of War. London, April 6th. Desjute alarmist rumours, sonsational telegrams, and vague Ministerial statements, no sane person (leaatofallM.P.'s or Government officials) have the faintest apprehension of a war between England and liussia It suits the papers to make capital out of the scare of the moment, but neither Mr Edwin Arnold nor the "jingoes" of the " Times " can really credit the startling theories they promulgate ; in fact, directly news of moment comes from the Soudan the Afghan question is consigned to oblivion, a fact which clearly shows it is merely a pi* cdler — a makeshift. Perhaps the woist feature of these bastard sensations is that they create a very strong anti-Russian feeling amongst the lower classes, and render them alarmingly rabid for war. The theatres and music-halls ot both East and West End literally reek with bloodthirsty references (vocal and verbal) to "the Bear " and "the Lion," and all the terrible humiliations the latter is going to heap upon the devoted head of the former. Of course the Australian colonies are to help. Thoy have been taken to the heart of the English working classes, and the pot-house vocalist of the day has only to introduce a reference to "our Australian allies" or "our boys beyond the seas," t© be "huzzaed" to his heart's content. Charles Godfrey, a "lion comique," who is very popular in town, is achieving extraordinary fame and glory just now with a song in which he represents a colonial bushman in moleskins, a red garibaldi, and an immense cabbage- ! tree hat. The chorus is a lively swinging march, which the audience shout till they are hoarse. The Coming Secretary for the Colonies, That Lord Koseberry's opponent to the Colonial Office will be gazetted very shortly now is, I think, certain. He shows the strongest possible interest in colonial affairs, and has already become acquainted with all the principal Anglo-Australian and New Zealand magnates. The other evening His Lordship entertained the Prince of Wales and Prince Albert Victor at dinner, inviting Lord Carrington, Lord Kimberley, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, Sir Wra. McArthur, Lord Derby, Sir Saul Samuel, Mr MurraySmith, and other representatives of the colonies to meet them. "What took place afterwards was, of course, private, but I hoar that Lord Harrington's health was proposed, and that in a few appropriate words he expressed a hope of seeing IL.li H. in Sydney during his vice-royalty. Personal Items. Your late Postmaster-General, the Hon. Win, Johnston, the Hon. J. B. Thurston, of Fiji, and Mr Geo. Cowijhave been elected Fellows of the Colonial Institute. Mr George Murray, the young New South Wales scholar whose successes at Oxford have reflected so much glory on the public schools of Sydney, has just achieved a crowning triumph by taking the " Ireland Scholarship," or " blue ribbon " of the Oxford Honours Course. It is in contemplation to get up a dinner in London in honour of this most notable of antipodean undergraduates. Sir F. D. 801 l forwarded a letter of condo'ence to Mr Charles Galbraith on the death of his father, Mr -lame? Galbraith, which records tho Colonial Government's sense of eminent services rendered in New Zealand by the deceased gentleman. The communication was suitably acknowledged. Professor Strong, M.A., of Liverpool University, delivered a second lecturo on " New Zealand " at tho Great Georges-street Hall last week. It was largoly attended by all classo3. The lecturo which tho redoubtable Kerry Nicholls deliverod bofore the Geographical Society has been published. Madame Helena Modjeska— who leaves England to fulfil her Australasian engage ments shortly — is playing a brief farewell season at the Lyceum in " Adrienne Leconvreur." Her colonial repertoire will include " Heartsease (La Dame aux Camelias), " Adrienno Locouvreur," "Odette," and " Na/edka," a new play written for her by Mr Maurice Barrymore. Mr George Cowie, of the Colonial Bank of Nctv Zealand, has Ken elected a fellow of tho Geogi'aphical Society. Mr Howard Vincent arrived in London the other day fresh from hw run round the world. He seems to have seen some strange things, more especially in the Pacific, and talks of reproducing them in print. Mrs Vincent is at Cannes. Mr J. C. Williamson has purchased the Australasian rights of Mr A. W. Finero'a new and highly successful farcical comedy, " The Magistrate,' now being played to crowded houses at the Court Theatre. The Aorangi and lonic have arrived with their cargoes in good condition. The Aorangi's lambs are pronounced very fine.