ENGLISH MAIL NEWS. PER R.M.S. KAIKOURA. ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 156, 29 May 1886, Page 5

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS. PER R.M.S. KAIKOURA. ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Londok, April 9. A Big Colonial Gathering. The great event of the week from an AngloColonial point of view has been the farewell banquet to Mr Murray Smith, probably the most remarkable gathering of the kind ever held under one roof— 3lo gentlemen (the most notable from that oorner of the Empire) assembled at the Freemasons' Tavern. Lords Lome, Granville, Derby, Kimberley, Childers, the Duke of Manchester, Admiral Hoskins, Governor De Vceux, Sir Henry Barkley, Colonel Stanley (ox-Colonial Secretary), with Chief Justices and M.P.'s too numerous to mention, were among the company. The most conspicuous absentee was Sir Dillon Bell, and the fact is severely commented on. Ab an Agent General, colleague, and intimate friend of the guest of the evening, and as representative of one of the most influential of the Australasian colonies, it was emphatically his duty to be present. Some capital speeches were made, but undoubtedly the speech of the evening waa made by Earl Granville, who spoke warmly in defence of the Colonial Office, and made an aggressive attack on MrJßYoude. His speech was worth printing. The colonial press was strongly represented, your paper having its special there.

New Hebrides. The New Hebrides question continues to be hotly debated in Anglo Colonial circles, though most reasonable men are beginning ing to recognise that, as France most distinctly and definitely meana to annex the Islands sooner or later, it will be politic to make terms while we can. Sir Dillon Bell warmly advecatos compi'omiee, and at a meeting of Agent-Generals on Monday week they nearly all came round to his views. The Agent Generals had all but decided to accept France's terms, when Mr Murray Smith received a cablegram from the Premier, Mr Gilliee, to say that on no consideration would Victoria assent to France annexing New Hebrides. \\ hen told of the cablegram, he expressed himself perfectly amazed, as the terms France offera would be a complete vindication of Mr Service's policy. Captain Crutchley, of the Kaikoura, delivered a lecture before the United Service Institution on " The Use ot Merchant Steamers for Offensive and Defence Purposes in War." Mr C. S. Bird is a through passenger for Auckland per Valetta. Sir Dillon Bell has received several offers to lay the cable from Australia to New Zealand, along the existing route. The lowest offer is for £150,000.

A New Zealand War Memorial. An impressive ceremony took place at York, Munster, on Monday, when General Willis, commanding Northern military district, unveiled a handsome monument erected in the Cathedral to the memory of officers of the York and Lancaster regiment who fell in New Zealand in ISGS 60. The Dean of York and General Willis addressed a crowded military congregation.

Mr Gladstone's Speech. Mr Gladstone's Home Rule speech occupies eight closely -printed columns in the "Telegraph," Ifc may be mentioned as a surprising journalistic achievement, that at ten o'clock in the evening the "Mews," a halfpenny Conservative paper, published a special edition with verbatim report of the speech. Sir Dillon Bell assigns the death of his nephew, Major Levin, of the Prince of Wales Own Regiment, aa the reason of his absence from Murray Smith's banquet

Frozen Meat. There is no improvement in frozen meats. New Zealand mutton, 3s 4d to 3s 6d ; River Plate, 3a to 3s 2d ; New Zealand lamb, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ; English, 4s to 5s 6d. Mr Bryoe's Verdict. In the cour?e of conversation at Mr Murray Smith's banquet, ex-Uhief Justice Smith, of Tasmania, gave it as his unhesitating opinion that Mr Bryce obtained sucn damages as much by the straightforward, manly, convincing nature of his replies when in the witness box as by anything else. Sir Francis attended Court every day, and his conclusion is tha' Mr Bryce is an able man. It was at the same time remarked that the result of the trial has been to ruin Mr Rusden financially.