ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 119, 12 September 1885, Page 5

ANGLO- COLON IAL NOTES

The s.s. Tongariro, which sails on Thursday next, takes out a lot of old identities as well as several w ell-off emigrants, who are going to try what can be done with a little capital in your part of the world, Prominent amongst the latter are the six sons of a deceased India merchant named Hooper, who mean to start in the marketgardening line in the neighbourhood of Auckland. They are taking out with them a quantity of rare seeds, &c, &c, from button and Sons. The Messrs Hooper are chaperoned by the maiden aunt who brought them up. At the 16th meeting of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation on Monday last, the Duke of Manchester, who presided, congratulated the proprietors on the favourable position in which they stood. The stagnation in the demand for land in New Zealand had been considerable this last year, yet notwithstanding, they were able i to increase their former dividend and add a considerable sum to the reserve fund. A dividend of 7 per cent, was then declared. The preserved meat market continues in a very unsatisfactory state. Even the best Chicago brands which a few months ago, when a war in the East seemed certain,' fetched fabulous prices, can now be got in any quantities for a mere song. Colonial brands suffer even more seriously. Mr Thomas Hewes, of Christchurch, contributes o long and interesting letter to the "Loicester Chroniclo" about life in New Zealand. Personal. The Orient liner Sorata, which sailed for Australia on July 22nd, took the following through passengers for Auckland:— Mr W. Garner and Mr H. T. Fletcher. Mr Vints, of Auckland, accompanied by his niece, Miss Perston, has arrived in London, via 'Frisco. The Messrs Webster, of Auckland, two very old identities, I am told have arrived in London, after a trip through the States, and mean to make a long stay in England One of the latest on dits in "society" is to the effect thac young Earl Cairns (whoso father's personalty was proved under no less than £148,000 the other day) is paying his addresses to the buxom offspring of a wealthy Australian millionaire at whose house he is just now a frequent visitor. Paterfamilias, says rumour, views the match with favour, but the young lady, who bears the reputation of being ambitious, is suspected of hankering after another peer, an older man, who has for some years past been one of the great prizes of the matrimonial market. Mrs R. J. De Lias, widow of the late owner of the Theatre Royal, Auckland, ha° arrived in London from Germany en route to New Zealand, and intends returning per Tongariro. Tnanks to the courtesy of Sir Saul Samuel, who obtained a pormit from the Home Office, Dr. and Mrs Haines were on Friday afternoon last able to inspect the great metropolitan prisons of Newgate and Millbank. They were kind enough to invite me to accompany them, and we spent a most interesting afternoon. Dr. Haines, accompanied by Mrs Haines, Misg Isaacs, and Mr Humphrey Haines, leaves town on Tuesday for Cardiff, where the Annual Medical Congress is this year being held. After the Conference is over, they go to Dublin for a fortnight, and thence for a trip to the famous Lakes of Killarney, returning in about six weeks' time Mr Murdoch, of the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, and Mr James Williamson arrived in London about ten days ago. Mr Murdoch was for a short time the guent of Mr Thomas Russell, but is now stopping at the Hotel Metropole. The aflectiow of the jaw from which he suffered, and which many f oared might turn out to be cancer, is, it is said, much better, Mr J. B. Russell accompanied by Mrs Russell, has left London on another visit to the North of Ireland. Mrs Lingard, exquisitely dressed, and looking about twenty at most, was a conspicuous figure amongst many conspicuous figures in the balcony of the Haymarket Theatre, on the historic night of the Bancroft's farewell. It is reported that the Beacon, 4,603 tons, 510 horse- power, at present attached to the 4th division of the Medvray Steam Reserve, is to be presented to one of the Australian colonies for the purposes of coastal defence. Sir John and Lady Hall, with their family, have gone to the seaside for a few weeks. Mr Henniker-Heaton will, after all, be opposed for Canterbury at the forthcoming elections. Mr Howard Vincent has resolved to stand, not for Westminster, but for Central Sheffield. The Liberal candidate is Mr Mervyn Uawkes. H.M.B. writes to the "St. James's Gazette," describing vividly the extraordinary outbreak of religious craze in the early part of this year amongst the Northern natives of New Zealand.

Frozen Meat, Etc. I called yesterday at the offices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, and had an interview with Mr Paul, the manager. He informed me that the prices of frozen mutton are at present ranging very low— as low in some cases as 2a 10s per stone of 81bs — a gfact which is due (1) to the large quantity of mutton in the market, and (2) to the comparatively email demand this hot season, when people, as a rule, eat less meat, and many ordinary consumers go away for a holiday. The next quarter, however, he expects to be a good one; it is always good, and in called "the butchers' quarter." He is still certain of the ultimate success of the trade, especially with the gradual adoption, as opportunity arises, of the new "Chamber's" freezing apparatus, and with the more careful consignment (or "focussing," as Mr Paul said) of the supplies to fewer hands, so that supply in the market might work more evenly with demand. Other produce, he said, is also low. It is worth attention from butter-makers that the " home taste " is more and more inclined to butter with little or no salt.