ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 10

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

',':. JPER R.M.S. AORANGI) Exhibition Chat, \ The Queen was in a very good humour during her visit to the Colonial Courts oi the Exhibition ori Friday week, and made herself exceedingly pleasant to the various Commissioners, asking them numerous questions about the loading exhibits, and everywhere expressing herself graified and Entertained. In the South Australian sec-' tion Her Majesty stayed a long time, cpn- - versing most graciously with Sir Samuel Davenport about the stuffed birds, wallabies, and kangaroos in the Murray Bush Scene. . Tbe superb photo of Sydney Harbour — at tbe entrance of the New South Wales Court -also seemed to interest her greatly, as did the series of photos of up country towns in Victoria —Ararat, Sandhurst, Echuca, &c. About the latter, both " the Prince of Wales and the Queen aaked a number of questions — what were their populations, how did people live, what were the educational facilities, and so on. . New Zealand was one of the last courts visited, and the Royalties were probably a little tired when they got there, £ir F. D. Bell and Dr. Von Haast were presented, and the Queen passed some remarks on the Maori portraits and relics. Then the party moved on rather hurriedly, the Queen being anxious to inspect the Indian Bazaar During the Queen's visit, the unlucky public were turned into the grounds, where they, were locked out for nearly two hours, unable either to enter the Exhibition or to leave it The St. George's Club will entertain the Executive Commissioner of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition at dinner on June 16tb. Royalty Entertains. Ori the Queen's Birthday the Executive Commissioners (includiug for once Sir F. D, Bell, Dr. Von Haast, and Dr. Buller) dined with the Prince of Wales at Marlborough House," and afterwards (most of them) attended Lady Roeebery's second reception at the Foreign Office. The latter was a superbly brilliant gathering, from 1,500 to 2,000 guests thronging the spacious rooms between half-past ten and midnight. THe grand staircase, the recesses of which were tilled with hot-house plants and blooms, and decorated with Huge blocks of ice, illuminated by various colours, presented a striking and wonderful Spectacle. Many, indeed, took up a position at the head, preferring watching the everchanging progre33 up and down to Crushing through the densely-crowded reception room?. This afternoon the Princese Louise of Jjome gives a garden party at Keneinpton Palace tolndiaa, Colonial, and (more eepeci ally) Canadian visitors. The. cards have been very lavishly distributed, from which I infer it ia purely a "duty" affair on tho part of the ex Governor of Canada. Earl Granvillehad a number of ex colonial governors and magnates to dinner on the Queen's Birthday, such as Lord Normanby (fairly well again), Lord Augustus Loftus, SirJ. Ferguion, Sir H. Robinson, Sir Jas. McCullocb, Sir W. Gregory, and Sir H. Barkly. The party also included Chief Justice Dobson, Bishop Perry, Mr Tuke, Mr J. A. Froude, Mr Fred. Young, and Mr F. W. Chesson. Portraits of colonial worthies are appearing weekly in the " Court and Society Review." Bow Colonial Visitors are Being Amused The Exhibition Reception Committee are fixing up a rare programme of Jetes, balls, picnics, and excursions far the benefit of Australian visitors during this and next month. The list before me includes a conversazione at the Exhibition, a fete at the Crystal Palace, a picnic at Virginia Water, a ball at the Goildhall, and another at Freemasons' Tavern, a reception at the Mansion House, a garden party at Woburn Abbey (the Duke of Bedford's), and excursions to Liverpool and Folkestone Exhibitions, Windsor Castle, Woolwich Arsenal, Portsmouth, and the Peak Country (Chatsworth, Dovedale, Haddon Hall), etc., «tc. To colonists anxious to visit the great manufacturing centres every facility and hospitality will also be shown ; in point of fact, the antipodean who fails to enjoy life and make the most of his opportunities during the next three months must indeed be singularly constituted. I could, however, have wished that a better class ot Australian visitors were playing the leading roles at these entertainments* The effect of such irrepressibles as Dr. L. L. Smith tod Mr Henniker Heaton inafquerading as " distinguished representative Colonists" is that society begins to look upon " Australians " much as it did on the Maoris or the Japanese Embassy and Cetewayo, viz., as "curious and interesting specimens." The present attitude of the beauinonde towards colonial visitors is, indeed, "to be not too civil, but ju3t civil Enough." The Royal fat has gone forth that Australian visitors are to be treated ! with all respect and hospitality, and the i command will be gladly and gracefully I obeyed -this season. After that, the line will certainly be drawn at "terrors" like the gentlemen above named. Mr James Ashbury's Venture. The colossal scale on which Mr Ashbary baa advertised the prospectus of his Merryyale Estate Company is having its effect.: Mr Dellille declares that applications for shares are rolling in, and that the list will soon oe full. Cavillers' complain of there being no practical resident of Southland or Otago on the directorate. It certainly seems odd that none of your wealthy men should have cared to join the venture. Last week's " World " contained the following:— "Many yearaagu Mr Browning asked. 'What's become of Waring?' JJat we know now that Waring has settled in Grosvenor Square, and is taking much ' interest in the question of the purchase of the railways by the State. . ( Vide next number of the 'Fortnightly Review.') The question of more recent times is, * What has become of Afihbury ?' who for many has been missing from the Park promenade and the Brighton Esplanade, the political world, the yachting world, the. fSnrinaereial world, and all the places in which he^ was once a shining light. This question is now answered by an advertiseltaent flaming in the public prints. Mr Ajßhbury, it appears,, has purchased an enormous estate in New Zealand, full of live-stock, timber, and minerals, which he now, intends turning into a public company, of which he ia to be chairman and managing director. Mr Aahbury is a keen man of business, and has spent the greater part of "the last two years on his New Zealand estate. He has sold, his' Bbuße ; at Brighton, and, intends to devote his time to developing this property.?' '. ,>. . - „:■ :y-.\.- --a*--. Miscellaneous. "7 '•'£ '. ; .'■.'■ ■ ~ Farmers for New i Zealand Iferma ? ' is the title of a paper -rfecentijr read I^Mr; Arthur ■Clayden,.bef6rei^ J^^Faraers^Glub, 'and qaoted^t^consider^ *ble length in most of the leading o'gricul-

On .the occasion; of. .their visit Oxford W week, .?- thY " wire; entertained at dinner by the "'<■ colonial students in residence at Lincoln /.College. Mr Alexander oocupied the: chair,' and Sir W. J. Clarke was a gue^t. --The proceedings' were entirely convivial. ; . ■ At the Salvation Army Congress last week j the New Zealand delegates expresped regret that lack of v funds has prevented their bringing over -some of the numerous! Maori converts for exhibition. .<■-. Dr. Von Haast is busily: engaged in promoting the plan for fixing a- permanent I Colonial Museum in London. I see the i " Times '* refers to him as "the direotor of I the greatest Moeeum in the Southern Hemisphere." Sir F. D. Bell is aleo j i affording every assistance. -,'■" = The P. and O. Corapany gave a big spread j to the Australian visitors on board the as, Rome yesterday, and the Orient Company 1 do ditto on board the Austral next week. The New Zealand Gold Dredging Company, for purchasing a concession fordredg-. ing gold in the River Molyneux or Clutha, near Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand, -jh'as been registered. Gapital, £12,000 in .12,000 shares of £1 each. Directors': MajorGeneunl Agnew, Mr J. T. Hopwoo*, and Mr S. Jennings. " ' ; . At the half-yearly meeting of the P, and O. Co, yesterday, a most satisfactory report was submitted, and an interim dividend of 5 per cent, declared. The Duke of Cambridge has fixed the 2nd of July for a great colonial field day at Aldershot. The Duke ci Cambridge and the Prince of Wales were present at the reading of a paper on "Imperial Federation for Purposes of Defence," by Captain J. C. R. Colomb, last Monday. " Mr P. L. Simmonda (of the New Zealand Court) read a pap°r on " Our Colonial Wcol Supplies" at the Exhibition on Monday afternoon, and on Wednesday evening Mr F. E. Pennefather gave a most interesting lecture on "A Tour Through New Zealand," which was illustrated with limelight views— sorno of them were very fine. Both conferences wera well attended. Mr Pennefather will lecture next Wednesday on " Now Zealand Industries*" The banquet of the Federation League is fixed for July 3rd. Tha Premier of Canada will preside. The "Information Department" of the Colonial Office, a3 the Government Emigration Bureau is to be called, will be opened as soon as suitable offices can be obtained. The Mayor of Liverpool will entertain a large party of colonial visitors during the July race meeting at Aintree. The entree of tbe Royal enclosure at Ascot will not, it is said, be extended to the Exhibition Commissioners. - Lady Cork thought that " the line must be drawn somewhere. "