ANGELO-COLONIAL NOTES

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 300, 19 September 1888, Page 5

ANGELO-COLONIAL NOTES

Lc^don, August 11. Bin JuiAUti You el is oificiating fit Victoria Chambers in Sir F. D. Bell's absence.

SIR JULIUS YON HAASTS SUCCESSOR There are always two opinion^ about every appointment, but Anglo -Colonial opinion seems le.ss divided than u.sual re the selec ion of Mi* IT. O. li'orbes, the wellknown naturalist and traveller, to fill the late Sir Julius Yon Haabt's place at CKrisfcchurch. Mr Foibes is, no doubt, an able man, and a rising man, but lie does not appear to have had a great deal of museum experience. In society ho shines principally with a reflected, light as "Mrs Foibe^'s husband " Those who want to make this charming lady's acquaintance prior to her airhalin New Zealand have only to read her " Insulinde,' or her luioband'b book of travel on New (.Hiinea. They wi'l then understand why she is credited with being a, piimo factor in Mr Forbes'b success, &. I had hoped to be able to interview Mr and Mis Foibeb beioio the departuie ot this mail, but they are away in Scotland. I leain, however, fiom Mr Kennaway that they sail for New Zealand in about six weeks' time. Sir William Sargeaunt, the senioi Crown agent for iho colonies, who died the other day at the comparatively eaily aga of 59, was for many years an aident supporter and regular attendanc at the Colonial Institute, w here lie made the acquaintance with cognate peiconagcs tiom all parls ot the world. There must be many in New Zealand who knew him. h't Mr Foibes'^ appointment, I ought perhaps to have mentioned that there wcio tout teen candidate*, some of them being curator^ of the most notablo piovincial nuiceunis.

ABOUT JUDGE MUNJIOE AND OTHERS. Judge Mumoe and Mrs Munioe, who have been living during the last weeks of the fcca&ou at 40, Ken.sington Hardens Square, left London \e&teiday on a \ i-ib to Sootland. They lotiirn to New Zeal md before the end of chejear Mi& Mumoc wished to winter on the Rivicia, bub the Jud j;e prefers his native climate of Auckland. He says nothing •would peisuade him to live in a gloomy, rainy city like London. Bub then his experiences ot the " Old Country " have been exceptionally unfoitunate. The Munioes tiavel via Bi mdi&i, and will probably make some tfcay en toutc at Nice. In tlie preface ■which he has pioimsed to write lor the irrepressible Mr J. C. Firth's book on Now Zealand, MrFioude tnean«, 'tis said, to answer somc^of the ciitics who wete &o ,se\c;e on " Oceana."' He consi'leis, I undei stand, that hib Ca^tandralike piophecies anenb the con-sequences of Auckland over-doiug pubic works- ha\e been iuliilled by the present depressed state of atlaiis in that province. Sala is writing the New Zealand portion of Sutheiland'rf 1\ and 0. Handbook. Employees of the colonial banks will learn with Fati&faotion that the action which a malignant .shareholder bi ought a^ahibb the Bank of Australa^.a Lj lc-train tl'at cospoiatio n fiom granting a suitable pension to the ffimilv of the late Mr E. S. Parkes has tailed. The Judge held that it was both equilable and customary for colonial banks to provide liberally for the families of deceased employee^and that the Bank of Au&bralasia woukl have buflered in repute had it not done &o. Society ■would like to know whether the new Lord Sealield is really coming home or whether he means, to vegetate pcimanently at Oamaru,

THE BISHOP OF WALAPU IN THE CITY. The Bishop of Waiapu preached an cloquenl scimon on beluilf of the Maoii miSbion ab the Chinch of St. Stephen in the City, on Sunday, the 29th nil. Taking his te\t f loin St. Luke, eh. 2, v. JO, hi-, loidbhip tiaccd the histoiy of the mi?&icm fiom the Chiistmas morning in 1814 when Samuel Maisden stooil on the beach \ eying the remnants ot acannibalisbicoi'jjic, to the present time, when in his diocese alone there were 30 native cleryy and 51 pieachers. The di-scoui&e, which was inleippei^od with numeious anecdotes, cliaracLeii^tic ot .Maori customs and disposition, uas attenti\ely listened to by an uim^uallv lar^e cougiecral ion, and the collection ica'i.-ctl a Bi;bstantial sum, 'Tic said fc"at when lie jjeth back to his diocese, the good Bishop lalkh of pi caching a^enes of tei mons in nati\e chuiohcs for the piupote of initiating a special Maori mis-ion to lefonn the benighted iioor of Shoieditch and While elm pel, E.C.

TAWHAIO'S TATTOOS. J see that Fox, the great thealiic.il \wgmaker, in the course ot an '* inten iew ' with a " Star " reporter the other clay, said that the queerest client he ever had was Tawhaio, the Maori King. The chiefs, you may leuiomber, whilst over heic went behind the .scenes at the Alhambra, and amongst other things saw the paints and pigments used by the coiyphecs to beautify theii complexions etc. They we>e much interested, and when a mi»chic> ou Idamsel upon whom Tawhaio had ca-b specially amorous glances, intimated t h d b she considered the tattoos on his face a great drawback to his pcisonal appearaneo, his Majesty lesolved to have them painted oub. Fox was fecnt for and spent a whole afLernoon in the (of course) futile attempts to impiove matter?. But it was no nee. The last state of the monaich's " phi/ proxed far woiso than the first, e\cn to the Maori eye.

NEW ZEALAND SUCCESSES AT EDINBUJICII. Of the antipodean medical students successful in the late examinations at Edinburgh Univeisiiy it is notable that nearly one-half come irom the single colony of New Zealand. I must make special note of Mr J. Deamer, M 8., who obtained at one examination 95 per cent, of marks in the class of diseases of women and children, senior dhision, and of Mr J. Fitzgerald (Dunedin ?), who secured 75 per cent in the junior division. M r Fitzgerald also scored 66 per cent, of the marks in tho senior division of practical anatomy, and Mr T. C. Foster took a good position amongst the second - year students of practical anatomy.

SENDING PAUPERS TO 'JAOL IN AUCKLAND. The fact that two old men were recently sent to gaol ab Auckland for the crime of being poor has been widely circulated through the E iglish press and much commented upon. If J had known of any reasonable explanation of the apparently disgraceful case I should have sent it to the " Pall Mall," which had a nasby paragraph on the subject the other day. "Surely," it wound up, " Auckland is a thriving place and rich enough to provide accommodation for the destitute poor without making criminals of them.'' The Cerman3 used to say England was the paradise ot women and hell of ho-ses. Auckland is in danger of having some such cynicul saying fastened to ib anenb its love of lucre and treatment of the destitute aged.

"Wanda Across the Sea," an Anglocolonial melodrama by Pebtitt which Ohas. Warner purchased for Australia, has just been produced with complete success in Manchester.

SIR CHARLES CLIFFORD TO THE RESCUE. •Speaking at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Tiuet and Loan Company on the afternoon the last mail loft, Sir Charles Clifford announced hi* firm belief in the future of tie colony. He thought fcho piesent depression had been brought about mainly by the speculation and mismanagement of individuals, and by the way ceitain English newspapers had misapprehended the situation. Describing the resources of New Zealand in railway?, harbours, jetties, etc. (all in the hands of the Government), and .showing by statistics that theie was no scarcity of money, Sic Charles declared that all the colony really wanted was increased population and mci eased confidence in the country, lie believed the railways alone would ultimately pay (he colony's debt.

REPORTS Otf PAN- ANGLICAN CONGRESS. The l'epoits oi: the Committees of Bishops at the Pan-Anglican Gonfeience weie published last Tuesday in pamphlet iorm. I send jou the little book herewith. The outcome of the discussions on " The Cave of Emituantb " on "The Mutual Relations of the Dioceses and Blanches ot the Anglican Communion," and on "Home Reunion" may interest Anglican clergy. They are too long, however, to embody heie.

AUSTRALASIAN CLUB. Dr. iJainett was x guest of the Australasian Club at Edinburgh on the occasion of the annual dinner last month, and replied to the toast of " Our Guests." The Bishop of JDunedm preached at St. Thorn, Regent's l'aik, la&t Sunday, before a Lit go and fashionable congregation. John R. Rodgcis and Minnie Palmer revisit Aiibtialia and New Zea'and nevt year. At lea&t so says John R.

CORRUPT ANTIPODEAN LEGISLATORS. TheHouseof Commons was vastly amused to hoar oi the sensation which poor old Adnvral Field & reflections on the probity of Viotoi ian legislators had made in Australia. Here in England nobody (either in Parliament or out) would dream of attaching any importance to the old man's vapouring. To show how little was thought of the remaiks the " Argus " coi respondent seized upon, i may mention that they were only reported by Hansaid and the " Times. ' Most of u^ knew nothing of the a flair till the Admiral made his personal explanation and apologies. ] don't lancy Si'- Graham Beny much appreciated the part he had to play in the affair. Fortunately, he possesses a good deal of tact and managed to pull through it uithout loss of dignity.

THE DEDICATION OF NEW ZEALAND BIRDS. Ruts VIII. and IX. of the sumptuous new edition of Sir W. Buller's '' New Zealand Biids " are jus-t out. I think, by the w ay, it shows good taste and nice feeling on Sir Walter's pait that instead ot trying (as many men would) to get a good adveitUement by dedicating the work to some Royal Prince or famous ornithologist, he has alicctionately inscribed it to his two elevei anJ promising sons, Sydney .Mid Walter. When I was at 69, Cromwell Road, the other morning, Mr Sydney Buller showed me a richlybound volume of the hrst volume, which his father had presented him with on his birthday. Dining the season Lady Buller has been at home at 69, Cromwell Road, on Tuesday afternoon" "tea and tennis." The family 1' a\ c town for the autumn on Wednesday. It must have been to young men like the Buller'b Sir Chas. Warren referred the other day, \»hen he said colonial lads struck him as moie obseivant and self-reliant than their English brethren.

VOGEL'S FUTURE POLICY. A ftiend of Y'ogel's, who sees as much of him as most Anglo-coloni&ts, tells me that despite his cnppled condition and mci easing deatnc">3 he, by no means despahs of n<;ain playing a prminent pait in Nt\v Zealand politics. At piesent it is his wish to lio low, but by and-by when the colony i-> groaning under heavy taxation and leduced to the la&t possible stage of depression theie will, he thinks, be plenty leady to listen to him and jump at his programme. What thai programme will be, I daresay yon can gue>-s. '■ Repeal the property tax and boirow, bonow, bortow. Spend money freely on expanding the resouices of the colony in this geneiation and lea\e posterity to pay the bill." De&peiate and fallacious a& thi-3 pol'cy sounds, I can quite believe my acquaintance when he says he believes Vog^l would rind plenty of follow ci&.

THE COLONY'S CREDIT. I notice complaints in the New Zealand papers to the etfecb that the attacks; on the colony's credit made from time to time by the ''Standard" and (latteily) by the "Financial New," do not seem to be ansucied as they might be by the authorities at Elome. This is not quite fair. .Sir F. 1). Bell lias always stood up to. the "Standard"' when anything serious has been alleged, but it ceitainly won't do to notice their e\eiy carping paragraph. As foi the "Financial News," I think amistake v;as made in not publicly challenging Alaiks's statements at the time 01 the floating of the last loan. Probably though Sh F. 1). lSell knew that nothing would suit Maiks's purpo=c\s better than a sensational quariel with the representative of a large colony, and decided to disappoint that worthy. The "Financial News" has by no means done with New Zealand. Oniy yefeteulay it had a leader drawing odious comparisons between tiio budgets of^'our colony and Victoria.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Ml- Philip Mcnnell has seveied his conneclion with the lv Anglo-New Zealander," and returned to his old position as cablegraphic correspondent for the Melbourne "Age." Sir Charles "\\ arien, speaking at St. Leonard's School on prize day, cieated some surprise by drawing" " odorous coinpal isons" between English and colonial boys, greatly to the Litter's advantage. He con tasted, amongst other things, the objectho dullness of the English youth with the leady observation of the colonial boy. At a luncheon given last week at Cannon&tieet Hotel, to test the merits of the " Wan/cr " Cooker (a novel and expensive apparatus which promises to come into general use), tho master of St. Pan eras workhouse told the company that New Zealand mutton came out of a '• Wanzei 1 " perfectly cooked and of greater weight than w hen it was put in, One result of the Pan-Anglican Conference is that henceforward the Primate of Australia will be known as Archbishop instead of as heretofore Metropolitan. Tho change does not, I gather, come into force at once. The Conference merely recommended tho alteration. It will have to be appioved by Congress first. Amongst the New Zealandevs gallivanting in London this last fortnight may bo mentioned Mr Jno. A. Laing of Auckland. Mr A. E. Exley and Mr W. H. Knight.

ho two last named are at the First Avenue, otcl. Mr and Mrs \V. A. Allen will return to uckland by the Valctta, sailing on the 23rd insl. Mr Daniel Drake will be a passenger for Wellington and Mr J. S. Maclaren for Port Chalmers by the same .bteamcr. Lord Hastings, who sails for your part of the world at the end of this month on a tour of the Australias must, not be confused with the last Marquis of that ilk, to whom ho was no relation. Loid Hastings, like the " plunging peer," is a sportsman (indeed he visits Australia mainly to witness a Melbourne Cup) but not a bet'er. He has been fr' iily lucky during the few years he has been on the turf ; won the Derby and other great laces with Melton and generally has a gocdioh hoise or two in training. The Duke of Portland is Lord Hastings's colleague and adviser in all sporting matters, and their horses are trained together by Daw&on at Heath Houee. When the Auckland Stud Company were looking out for a sire to leplaee Musket I ventured to suggest a horse that had recently letiird fiom the turf, and was then in the mnrket — Lord Bradford's Retreat. Eventually, Major Walmsley came to England, and bought the detunct Sword Dance, who proved, I should imagine, a somewhat expensive investment. Retreat's progeny are now coming to the front. One ot the smartest two-year-olds this year is StSei\>e, by Retreat, out of White Lily — an animal that can both go fast and stay. I believe in proved stayers as sires, and they are getting more and more difficult to find every year. Only four animals could be found last Thursday to compete for the time-hononre-J Goodwood Cup of 2A miles. Mr G. W. Taylor, who recently returned home after making a fortune in your part of the world, has been acceptei as the Liberal candidate for Denbigh at next election. He is one of the subscribers of £500 towards founding a Welsh University #

MOSTLY ABOUT ACTORS YOU KNOW. Mr Terriss and Miss Mill ward arc going to " star"' the colonies together next year. Frank Thornton starts on his second colonial tour almost immediately. "The Piivatc Secretary" will, as befoi'e be hia piece de resistance, but he has also acquired the Austialasian rights of "Sweet Lavender." Poor old B.ury Sullivan has at length broken down completely. He will never act again. The dramatic version of Fergus Humes's " Madame Midas" will probably be tried f-hoitly at a matinee at the Princess's Theatre. John 11. Tvodgers and " My Sweetheart " aye in Pari-s hunting for novelties and renovating Mrs R.s waidrobe. Horace Lingard, who has grown rich on the proceed* of " Falka " and " Pepita," will shortly exploit the latter at a Londcn theatre. Mr Alfred Coll er, who -urived home on Tuesday last Lo superintend the production of his new opera at the Prince of Walcs's Theatie, is full of the succeos of the Gaiety Company in Melbourne. He says Nellie Fanen and Sylvia Grey had, when he left, already begun to speculate on the relative merits of the London and colonial " mafcher,"' and to evpiess partiality for the latter. Miss Floienco Mayer, the young Australian pianiste, v»ho ventuied on a series of " recitals o at St. James's Hall, did not, I fear, gain much beyond expeiience by the move. She hopes, ho\ve\er, to do better on the Continent. Miss Mayer has written an opera called " Victorine. ' Mdme. Melba&'s success at Co vent Gardens during the season just closed was un-mi-takeable and conclushe. Mr Harris hab re-engaged her for next year.

HERR BANMANN REDIVIVUS. Your old acquaintance Herr Bandmann, is over hcie, making a silly spectacle of himself in a wretchedly feeble version of "Dr. Jekyll and Air Hyde." The years have not improved Bandmann. He is moie ecccntiic, and moie hascible, and more conceited than ever. Although Monday was a bank holiday, and other houses were full to ovei-ilowing only a handful of curious people assembled at the Opera Comique to \\ itnes» this once able actor's ill - nacuied attempt to euchre Mr Rich aid Mansfield. It was, of course, a complete failure. The audience were too good natnred to hiss, but they ehouted with laughter. Poor Bandmann alono seemed unawaic fcheie was anything wrontr. Weaiing a scratch wig, and provided with a disgusting set of lalse teeth, he bent his tall liguie low, and hopped about the stage gibbeiing like a galvanised irog. This was IVu 1 Hyde. The critics sat speechless. " Ameiican companies," remarked Mr Clement Scott subsequently, " have offered many insults to the intelligence of London, but this beats all.'' The oddest feature of the evening was, perhaps, that the audience having iesol\eu to accept the perfoimance as a burlesque, seemed genuinely amused. At the end, Bandmann actually came on (though without being called) and made a pompous speech in which (ye gods and little fishes !) he thanked the audience for " the Grand reception accorded him on his i etui n to the capi'al of the Empire." All the way home we discussed whether the man really understood what had occnried that exening, or whether ox erxveening vanity blinded him to everything save what he wished to see. I hear now the foolish old man accused the critics of having been " bribed by Mansfield to run him down." Mansfield's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde "is a thin, invetebrate, deadly-dull and darklygloomy melodrama rendered possible only by the young stars' acting as Hyde. A worse company tlian supports him never trod the Lyceum stage. More than once they impei illed the success of the play last Satin day evening, even after Mansfield had scored heavily. When in the 4th act the leading lady pointed a convulsive finger at Dr. Jel-yll, and bawled in the precise shrill tone of Nelly Fan-en, playing Tilburnia in "The (Jritic "—"" — " I dv not leove me feaithur's myurdeier " — I thought ib was all up. Fortunately, Mansfield had a few minutes previously congealed the house with horror. A striking and effective, if ghastly scene, will draw all London to the Lyceum this autumn. The first is the murder of Sir Danver's Carew in the moonlit drawingroom by Hyde. The second is the crisis, when in full sight of the audience and without ex en a handkerchief to help him--Mansfield changes from Hyde loathsome, deformed, glassy-eyed, and unspeakably horrible to look at, to the dignified young doctor in conecb professional costume. And the third is when Jekyll retrogrades (against his will) into Hyde. This last catastropheaflbrdsopportunity tor one really original situation. Jekyll determir.es to take poison and die as Jekyll rather than be caught and hung as Hyde. Before proceeding to extremes, however, he desires to look once again on his beloved fiancee's face. Dr. Lanyons, therefore, biings her to the street below, and Jekell conies out on the balcony and kissec his hand ; but even as he does so the ghastly change from Jekyll to Hyde takes place, and the girl, looking up, recognises her father's murderer, drink's the with a shriek to the laboratory, is broken poison, and falls dead as the do r Hydeturu open,