SIR SAUL SAMUEL. A CHAT WITH THE NEW SOUTH WALES AGENT-GENERAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 275, 23 June 1888, Page 3

SIR SAUL SAMUEL. A CHAT WITH THE NEW SOUTH WALES AGENT-GENERAL.

A distinguished visitor to Auckland jusb now is Sir Saul Samuel, the Agent-General for New South Wales, who arrived herefrom Sydney by the Zealandia. Sir Saul is residing with his father-in-law, Mr E. Isaacs, aid it was in a cosy room of that gentleman's hospitablemansion in Eden Cresent that the Australian statesma. was found by a representative of the Star, this morning. The Agent-General is a benign old gentleman verging on the sixties but healthy and active wibh his mental faculties at their prime. He was a member of the legislature of the sister colony as long ago as 1854, has held portfolios in seven administrations, and for the past eight years or so has worthily represented his colony as Agent-General at London. He returned to his Australian home in March last, the journey from England having been taken in consequence of the death of a favourite son, an event which had proved a severe shock to his health. Sir Saul was welcomed right royally by his Sydney friends, and is now en route for England again quite recuperated. "No, I am not going on to America this trip. I want to stay a month in New. Zealand, and see something of your beautiful colony. I will journey South in a 'few days, and hope to be able to visit the Lake Country. Lady Samuel is with me, and a little son and my daughter from Sydney will join us here shortly." "Talks like a book" was the mental comment of the reporter, inwardly congratulating himself on the securing of a "subject" worth at least a couple of columns of "copy." Then he said aloud, producing a note-book " What is yourTiew of the present agitation regarding restriction of Chinese Immigration ?" " Oh," said Mr Saul, with a smile, "you may put down your note book. As AgentGeneral of the colony of New, South Wales 1 merely speak the views of my Government, and I cannot express myself to you on public affairs for publication." No doubt Sir Saul Samuel saw a look of disappointment on the journalistic visage for he added kindly "Stay and talk a little but mind deal with anything I say generally ? You see I am writing for the mail," and with a mournful gesture indicated a pile of black-edged correspondence laying 1 by his side. Then he went on to speak of the Chinese question, the view he took being certainly quite a consonance with the views expressed by the Conference. He expects that many communications on the matter will pass through him between his Government ana the Imperial authorities. "Of course," he said, "the colony has not the right to refuse Chinese admission, neither has it the right to refuse paupers or undesirable people of any nationality. A state possessing Sovereign power has, bub I think that England will soon herself be forced to take measures to restrict the 'immigration of undesirable persons ' from • Germany, Russia, and other countries. England will find it hard to bring 'herself to do this, as she has always prided herself -on being a refuge for the oppressed, independent of ! creed, country or condition ; but it will come." Then the conversation turned on financial topics, and Sir Saul took occasion to allude to the great financial benefits that the colonies derived from the Imperial connection. "I have found," said he, that there is a nationalist or republican feeling springing up in the colonies, but I do not think that it is very extensive. The benefits derivable from our connextion with the mother are quite as great as those derivable by England from the colonies. Why, there is something, like £400,000,000 of British money invested in Australasia in various ways, and you won't find that were the Bi itish connection imperelled a vast amount of this would be withdrawn irrespective of sacrifice. This would be through lack of confidence. Matters, you must remember, are very different in the world than they were 100 years ago, when America declared her independence. " " You mentioned Mr Goachen just now. He is an able financier, and took advantage of a condition of the money market that may not occur again for years. The same condition to which I refer was also advantageous to the, fipqting of the New South Wales and New Zealaud loans. " Reporter : Sir SauJ, it has jusb struck me that' the 'Frisco Mail Service is a subject that you can speak on without reservation ! Sit Saul : Yes, that is a matter that I can speak on. Though I was nob bhe originator of that service in conjunction with Mr Thos. Russell, I reorganised the present service in 1873 and believe that it has been a very fain success as a passenger route, while for commercial purposes it will also prove beneficial. Our people in New South Wales are well served by bhe weekly steamer via Suez, bub 1 think they will nob begrudge that small subsidy for bhe maintenance of a mail service by America, either of Canada or San Francisco. I am going home by the Canadin Pacific and having travelled over it will be able to speak more definitely as to the fitness." After a cosy little chat on a variety of other topics, the reporter wished Sir Saul a pleasant .stay in New Zealand and a safe journey home and took his leave. Auckland Star.

The city of Oskaloosa, Kan., have elected a woman Mayor and a full Bo ard of " Alderwomen."