ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (VIA BRINDISI AND MELBOURNE.) (From Our London Correspondent.) London, February 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 147, 27 March 1886, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (VIA BRINDISI AND MELBOURNE.) (From Our London Correspondent.) London, February 5.

The Victorian Loan. The extraordinary success of the first portion of the Victorian 4£ por cent, loan of a million and a-half — tenders for which amounted to no leas than £i0,S26,S00, at prices ranging from £102 to £106— has had a most beneficial effect on colonial stocks generally, which are now very strong. ]So one seems able to explain why the tenders for this particular loan should have been so high — the highest ever known, in fact, for colonial bonds — as the' erms were less favourable than they have been frequently befoie Some think the fact that (owing to Froude's book and Sala's letters) the newspaper* have recently teemed with references to the wealth, prosperity, and great tuture of che colonies, may have influenced the money market. It does not seem unlikely, as in all the recent harbour loans, &c , there have been numerous private tenders for comparatively small amounts. It is, 1 tancy, not impossible that your Government may after all resolve to take advantage ol the present advantageous state of the money market to float that final million When I called at Victoria Chambers yesterday I found Sir Penrose Julyan closeted with Sir F. D. Bell, and he had been there all the afternoon. Moreover, a clerk let out that they were deliberating over a long telegram relating to financial matters which had arrived trom New Zealand during the morning. Don't you think this looks as if there were something on the tapis ?

The New Colonial Secretary. The appointment of "Pussy"— as Lord Granville is generally called — to the Colonial Office is a bitter disapointment to those who had the best reasons tor expecting that Mr Gladstone meant to do the popular thing and give Lord Eosebery this portfolio Hid Lordship himself openly confesses he was most anxious to go to the Colonial Office — indeed, would have absolutely preferred the post to the higher and more onerous Foreign Secretaryship, Unfortunately, the grand old man had really no other lieutenant so capable of tackling foreign affairs to the probable satisfaction of the great Powers abroad and the people at home. Had Lord Hartington remained with the Gladstone party, he would of course have been Foreign Secretary. Lord Kimberley's name was suggested for the post, but he never gives satisfaction anywhere, and Lord Granville, as the apostle of " shilly-shaJly," who brought a previous Liberal Government to grief by his vacillating policy, was equally out of the question. Listen to what "Punch " says: — Let " Pussy " be allowed to purr, Aa leader, musically ; But not aa foreign Minister, To play at " shilly-shally." Lord Granville is not unknown at the Colonial Office, having twice before held a porofolio there. He is a far more satisfactory man for us than the other alternative, Lord Kimberley, over whose Indian appointment, Mr Hunter, Mr Lamohun Gho3e, and the native Indian party are wailing and gnashing their teeth. Sir Arthur Blyth and Mr Murray-Smith, the only £ gent-Generals I have been able to see since the publication of the Ministerial list, express themselves disgusted at Lord Granville'a appointment, but (with Lord Roseberry bared) neither of them could suggest a precisely fit person. Mr Childers would not have been unacceptable to some of the colonies, but what a row there would have been in Victoria had be been appointed Chamberlain knows absolutely nothing about the colonies, or he might have done. The native party, I hear, would not all have objected to have had him at the India Office, on the ground that, though ignorant at piesent, he may be trusted to master thoroughly the intricacies of any duties or questions ho takes up. Sir Charles Dilke, of course, would make a capital Colonial Secretary, and should a place have to be found for him at the conclusion of the Crawiord v. Dilke case, there are, it is said, more unlikely things than Lord Granville becoming Lord President of the Council, and Dilko's replacing him. In that case of course Lord Spencer would be provided for outside or soothed with the long coveted dukedom. Ohilders, by the way, was absolutely appointed to the Colonial Office for an hour or two on Monday; in fact, the " Argus" correspondent thought he had such a good authority for the news he cabled it. Un fortunately for him, the cards had not been finally shuffied then. At a full meeting of the ChristchurchEmigration Socioty on Monday a circular letter asking for reliable infoimation re their districts, which is to be sent to all the Colonial clergy, was adopted. The Archbishop of York has joined the Society.

Franco-German Agreement About Oceania. A German White Book dealing with colonial affairs reveals the terms of a some what startling agreement between France and the Imperial Government with regard to Oceania. Germany, on the one hand, undertakes to do nothing which may hinder the eventual taking into possession by Franco of the islets forming the group known as "Des Isles sous le vent en Oceanie," and connected with the Archipelago of Tahiti and the Society Isles. It takes the same engagement with reference to the New Hebrides Archipelago situated near New Caledonia. France, on her side, agrees to respect all rights acquired by German subjects, and to come to an agreement with the Imperial Government to this effect.

Mr Gisborne. Mr Giaborne, though still in the country, has not been idle. The February number of the monthly journal of the Imperial Federation League contains a paper by him in answer to nno un the "Fallacy of Imperial Federation," which recently appeared in the "Nineteenth Century,"

Mr Frank Ogsden has been notified that the authorities of 'he Otago University have selected him to 511 the vacant lectureship. The news was only received the other day, so that he has not fixed the precise date of his departure for the colony.

Misleading Spreadeagleism. The " World," in a smart article with the above suggestive title, regrets that the value of Mr Froude's new book on the Australiaa should be marred by extravagant tiattory and exaggeration Tens of thousands have, for instance, it points out, read an extract from '• Oceana," in which, amongst other testimonies to the extreme felicity of the lands the author travelled through, he informs the world that he "never -met a hungry man or saw a discontented face." The " World " thinks it passing strange Mr Froude should never have heard of the distress amongst i he labouring classes in South Australia never have come across countless lugubrious articles headed "The Qnemployed" in the colonial papers, nor to have known anything of the deputation of unfortunate men out of work who interviewed a certain New Zealand Minister whilst he was a visitor in that colony. The writer chides Mr Froude and other travellers of eminence who make important and authoritative statements about a country or colony without really having inquired or investigated tor themselves. "Such men," the writer, " are hound to see for themselves, and not suffer others who may be interested in or plea&ed by thickly-laid-un flattery of their localities to see for them." "When," the writer continues, <f an important personage makes a colonial tour he is quickly seized by people who know uncommonly well what they are about, tie is feasted and escorted like a popular sovereign traversing his dominions. He goes away in the highest good humour with iiio hosts whose lives haveof ten been spent in developing the art of puffing advertisements, and who have taken care the guest ahall see no more of whafc he ought not to than a blind-fold parlementaire in an enemy's camp " The article winds up with the following cogent observation : — " Society in our principal colonies is now far too complex for its intricacies to be mastered in the unoccupied intervals of a week or two of excursions and festivities. Its condition is approaching that of society in tho old countries with a rapidity which is astounding, and perhaps even alarming, The higher and lower social strata are receding from each other with a velocity of which Europe has probably never been a witness. The whole tabric of our Colonial Empire, with its social, political, financial, commercial, and industrial aspects should be most carefully and patiently examined. Until this is done we had better dispense with exultant flattery, and lest satisfied with descriptions of scenery and statistics."

Financial Notes and Items. A fair number of City men, Anglo-Colo-nists, and journalists assembled at the National Bank of New Zealand the other afternoon to witness the opening of tenders for the Wellington Harbour Boxrd 4£ per cent, loan of £50,000. The result was most -atisfactory, the amount being subscribed s-ix times over. The total applied for was £357,500, at prices ranging from the minimum of £97 10s to £103 33 Gd, with an outside tender (for £100 only) at £105. Theie was one tender for £50,000 at £lO3 2sGd; three for £25,000 at, 1.97 10?, £100 Is, and £102 5s Gd respectively ; two for £20,000 at £102 16s and £103 2s 6rt ; one for £15,000 and one for £10,000 at £97 10s. Tenders at £102 16s will receive about 56 per cent, of the amount applied for, and above in full. Average price, £103 Is 2d. At a special general meeting of the Union Bank of Australia, held on the 2nd inst., a dividend at the rate of 1C per cent, per annum (viz., a dividend of £1 15s per share, and a bonus of 5s per share) was declared, £15,389 being carried forward. Sir Chas. Mills (Chairman), in moving the adoption of the report, made a speech, the substance of which was that, considering the drought and general bad times there had been in Australia, he didn't think the shareholders of the bank had much to complain of. With regard to the effect of the bad times on the future, an ample provision had been made for any contingency that might arise. The English Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank havo declared a 10 per cent, dividend. They added £15,000 to their reserve fund, and carry forward £5,151. At the tenth general meeting of the National Moitgage and Agency K ompany of New Zealand, Mr Grenfell (Chairman) announced that, notwithstanding the depresion, they were able to declare a dividend of 5 per cent., which with the ad interim dividend of 5 per cent, six months ago, would make an annual one of 10 per cent. The Australian Agricultural Company announces an interim dividend at the rate of 45s per share. Sir F. D. Bell advertises that the outstanding 4 and a half per cent, five-thirty debentures of 1S70, 1S73, and 1S74 will be paid off on August 1 at par, unless holders choose to convert into £101 in 4 per cent, inscribed stock, The- Anglo- Australian Investment, Finance, and Land Company have declared a dividend at the rate of 25 per cent, per annum

Frozen Meat Market.. Fi'ozen meat continues firm at the rates given last week. There iy a fair country demand but mostly for the cheaper River Plate sheep, which, Jthankstotheeffortsof Baring?, hold a very different position in the market to what thoy did thi- time last year. Rates : N Z. mutton, 3s 2d to 3d 6d ; River Plate, 2s 9d to 3s Id ; English. 3s 4d to 4a yd ; Scotch, -is 4d to ts Gd ; Continental, 4s to43 4d. Mr A. and Mr W. Q. Gold are through passengers per P. and O. Sutlej, for Auckl land.

Personal and General Notes. Sir Geo. Bowen, who will play a prominent part in connection with the Indian and Colonial Exhibition this summer, is on his way home from China, on twelve months leave of absence. Prior to leaving Hong Kong, where he is very popular, i*ir Georgo was entertained at a farewell banquet, the proceedings being of a most flattering and enthusiastic character. The venerable Marquis of Normanby continues seriously ill. But slight hopes are entertained of his permanent recovery. As the members of the new ad ministration are, without exception, supporteis of the bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister, Mr neneago has decided to take the earliest opportunity of pressing the measure on the attention of the Government. The bill is the oldest in Parliament, having for the last ten years continuously been tackled either in one House or the other. It has several times passed the lower chamber. Unfortunately, Loid Palhousie, who had charge of the measure in the Lords last year, and is a great authority on the subject, happens to be in your part of the world this session. " Representative Government in our Colonies " is the title of a cognitive, not to say aromatic, article in the current number of that quarterly six shillings worth of profundity, the " Westminster Roviow."