ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES London, October 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 316, 14 November 1888, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES London, October 5.

THE UANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Ovjji here the Bank oi New Zealand has, till comparatively icesnfciy, borne the best; possible oharactci. Many oi the English shareholder^ aic clergymen, widows and other small folk (financially), who were tempted to buy shares by iho high infcere sfc paid ior ho long, and whose whole income was bwepfc away by the passing of the di\ide~d last year. Those who bought at £26 and JC27 are now in a pitiable plight. Nevertheless theie do not j'eem to bo many shaieb on the market. The general feeling appears to be that with new management and a levival of trade in the colony tho Bmk will recover itself, and that sticking to the shares ife consequently tho bobt policy. Too " Sbandiud "and most of the London papcis warmly appiove the steps suggested by the committee of shareholders, and seem to think theie ir hope for Uic ful.iue. The "Financial News'* of Thursday ca^ie out with a smashing article, from which I extract the following : — ''Our duty has been performed in exploding the sinister secresy which has hitherto surrounded the Bank. That having goue, and tho light of day having been let into this foul corner of New Zealand finance the work ot purification may be begun with good hope of success. But it ought to ! a undertaken in as thorough a spiritashas been applied to the exposure itself. If so, it will have to extend further than the Bank of "New Zealand. Here wo have not an ordinary single-handed institution to deal with. The Bank of New Zealand has been the parent of a financial brood, all of which boar traces of their parentage. Closely associated with it is tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, with a capital of threeanda half millions sterling, ami nearly as much more in debentures and deposits. Another of its off-shoots, the New Zealand Land Mortgage Company, has a capital of two millions sterling, with nearly half a million of debentures ; the Auckland Agricultural Company is responsiblo for £530,000 of capital and over .£340,000 of debentures ; the Waikato Land Association has in capital and debentures absorbed about £550,000; while the Wellington and Manawatu Kailway has, by persistent borrowing in this country, z-aihed about three quarters of a million on bonds of very doubtful quality. It has, besides, a bubscribed capital of £850,000, with £ 162,500 paid up. " The whole of iheso financing ventures have issued from ono prolific brain — that of Mr Thomas Russell, (J.M.G , who was also,

we .believe, the founder of the Bank of New Zealand. His associates in their administration are the Right Ron. A. J. Mundulla, M.P., Bir E. W. Stafford, K.C.M.G., Messrs H. J. Bristowe, El.E 1 . Larkworthy, and W. K. Graham. These half - dozen gentlemen have been the busy bees of New Zealand finance. They have covered the unfortunate colony with their speculative hives, and when the other hives come to be examined it may be found that they contain quite as little honey as the Bunk of JNOW Zealand itself. Hence our recommendation that the inquiry, which has led to such startling results in the case of the parent institution, should be extended to the whole biood. Before Lho credit of New Zealand can be thoroughly restored all the financial rottenness which has been accumulating there for years pa&t must be mercilfc&sly eradicated. Then, with a fresh start on now and more prudent lines, it may soon recover the high position it once desei vedly held." J

7&EW ZEALAND "FROZEN BEEF OR HORSEFLESH ? A Liverpool butcher named Speed was bummoncd last Friday on a charge of having expoocd lor sale several pieces of meat unlit, ior human food. Two experienced i.icab inspectors attended and fawore • hat nob only was the meat " ofl — v'ciy much off" (as Arthur Roberta bin^c), bub that it had been cub from I'H" carcase of a horse. This, last statomeut outraged the defendant, who passionately affirmed that the meat was " a delicious \iand," to wit, New Zealand irozen beef, and that any one might partake of it without tear. He himself, he added, and Mrs Speed and all the little Speeds had dined oil" just such prime cuts the previous day. The Bench on viewing, not fco say scenting the said " prime cv.ts " seemed to think Mr Sjjeed and family liked their meat extrawell hung. Upon, however, two veterinary surgeons, who might be presumed to know what they were about, pronouncing the meat to be undoubtedly ox flesh, the case was dismissed. Subsequently experts explained that though in appearance New Zealand beef was often far from tempting, it usually ate well, and was perfectly wholesome. \\ oikhouses, gauls, etc., use ,i j^reat deal of it nowauays, and find it answc very well.

JOE SCOTTS RETURN. Joe Scott returns to New Zealand undeleaUd and lu'A ot honour&. His tour has iivjn tirst to last been a great success and both he and his trainer, Mr Austin, are perfectly satisfied with it They leave tor New Zealand per Oiient, s.s., on October 26th, and will open at either Auckland or Wellington about; Christmas. When it transpned publicly that Scobt had taken his pa^age, Doth Btbberd and Hancock suddenly processed to be anxious to ■walk him a^ain. As, however, Scott's challenges since J uly had remained disregarded and ne had already beaten both men soundly o'.cj.j seemed leason for doubting the '.'< uuine chatactei of the English peds. wibhdo. iscotfc is now puifauin^ a proticable tour in tho west ot England at the Victoria Hall, Exeter. He and Austin return to London next week, when tho de&irabilily of meeting either or both the English peds. will be taken into consideiation. I do not ianey, however, that anything will come of the a c challenges. HiLberd is a poor man, and would have to tind a backer, which might bo difficult, as Scott has twice walked him clean oft his legs. For similar reasons no sane being would think now of matching Hancock again&c the New Zealand champion.

MRS GORDON-BAJLLIE. Mi's Uordon-Baillie's trial is fixed for tteh c :l6rd inst. J hear that upon her incarceration in Holloway she announced hei.selt very unwell, so unwell, indeed, that she was afc once zemoved to the infix mary where the now lives comfortably on dainty fare. Being an untried prisoner the lady is allowed pens, ink, etc., and (to be well up to the times) lias started writing her autobiography. "The Memoirs of Mrs Gordon-Bailtie " should be a tnoab exciting narrative, especially if her real achentures are truthfully narrated. Theie are forty-five counts in the indictment against her. Her sole plea is that she acted on her husband Percival Fros-i'o compulsion, to which the prosecution Mill retort thabFiosb is not her husband. Proof of her divorce from Knight Aston is tit present being hunted up in Melbourne. Mrs Baillie has still plenty of friends, as when well off she was always lavishly generous and hospitable, keeping- the poor and sick with other people's cash when her own gave out.

BISHOP SUTER AND THE PHONOGRAPH. At a phonographic soiree at Colonel (ioumnd's house in Norwood, die Bishop of Nelson (Rev. Dr. Andrew Burn Suter) spoke into the instrument. When he heard his own voice repiodncecl he thought it like his mother's, and it was to him lull of " strange impressive memories." The next day he sent the following- message to Mr Edison :—: — I heard a voice last night; 'twas passing strange ; 'Twas not my father's, though it told of him ; f T wasnofc my mother's, though it her recalled ; "I was not my brother's, I have had but two ; One is, and one is not, and yet the voice Had something in it which did both recall. I never heard ihe voice be- ore, tho' oft Vvo caught its echo from the nil s of life. To-night I heard it, and my soul rejoiced ; I've seen myself before, but now to-night I've heard mysell and trembled as I heard. 0 ui^in of science, wLaL is this of yours ? You have me every tone and emphasis. 1 dare not say "I did not raise my voice," I cannot c'en deny its soitened tones. Oh, glorious trutb. !Viy God, he has a heart Which tieasui es up my sentences in full ; As David sings, " These tears are safely stored Within Thy bottle, noted in Thy book." The Eternal mind and memory retains Each groan, each shout, or jubilant or grave. Fear not, O Edison, one triumph more For truth. Go on, and prosper, truly thou « 'hiicl ot true scienco manifesting all, If or what doth manitest, that, that is light. Mv Rees has gone to Manchester to attend the Church Congress. He was interviewed the other day by the " Star." Canon Curters's "Story of Bishop Selwyn " will be one of the more prominent of the serious biographies of the present sea&on. It is authoritatively stated in "Vanity Fair " that the Australian cricketers' tour has been a great financial success. The men will receive fully £1,000 apiece after all expenses have been paid. They leave by the Cuzco next week. r Mrs Geo. H. Rhodes, of Claremont, New Zealand, who is now staying at Princes Gate, S. W., has presented her spouse with a tine boy. Sir Thomas Brady returned from his antipodean tour by the Cuzco. Mr Henniker Heaton is working hard towards the establishment of a mail service between Vancover and Australia and New Zealand. He has even succeeded in in teresting Mr Rakes therein. I hear Vogel means to have a finger in this pie. Unless New Zealand means to have a really respectable and representative Court at Paris, it would be far better to leave the thing alone altogether, Mr Montgomery is talked of as Sir F. D. Bell's coadjutor and brother commissioner, but why nofc Sir Wall-or Buller ? Mr Douglas Sladen, the "Australian

Poet," is off for a trip to the States' where he will lecture on "Australasian Life and Literature." He also .contemplates compiling another Anthology of Antipodean Poets, which will be quite distinct from Water Scott s publication.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Sir Julius Vogel's novel, which is now complete has been submitted to Bentley for consideration. Mr W. J. Seffern"s " Early Settlement of New Zealand" is appearing serially in the "European Mail" "The Vagabond" (Mr W. J. Thomas) returns to Australia immediately. The friends of the Rev. E. Austin, who is about leaving for New Zealand, have presented him with a purse of sovereigns. Mr H. O. Forbes will see his new book, "Far South,'' through the press before leaving for New Zealand. Dr. Fraser has been compelled to (for the present at any rate) decline the covdial invitation recently forwarded him to visit New Zealand. A son of the late Mr Creswick, also an actor of some repute, leaves England next week to join one of the numerous companies now touring at the Antipodes. Both the Redmonds are now in gaol. Mrs W. Redmond, who was wooed and won in Australia, is much distressed at her husband's perversity. "I knew,' she told a friend the other day, "he'd never be content till he was locked up." Mr and Mrs H. 0. Forbes will be through passengers to Port Lyttelton by the Orient liner Cuzco next week.

POSTCRIPT. Saturday afternoon, October 5. The Maods have a biillianb day for their second match. The wind is cold and easterly, bub the sun shines brightly. My assistant went down co Northampton with the team this morning, and will take full note of all that happens. Joe Warbrick announces that he expects to be well enough to play in the match v. " All Ireland '" at Dublin on December Ist. ' I nobice that the severe matches v. (the various crack Lancashire teamb aie fixed for the end of the tour in March. Mr Geo. R. West writes from Glasgow that the Duucdin beer he brought over has been adjudged by competent experts equal to Burton ale. Mr VV. L. Reess " From Poverty to Plenty " is out in one fat, squabby volume at 6s. He lectured the Balloon Sociecy (so called from the airy not to say "gas^y' character of its conferences) on Wednesday ' on the subject of "King Malietoa and Ins l grievances." The timber magnates in London tell me that the big New Zealand syndicate are j making a big mistake if they rely on raisiug i the price of kauri over there. Directly ' it becomes a little more expensive people will use the American whitewood (which is far preferable for the purposes for uhich kauri is u&ed) instead. More about this in my next j I have heard a lot on the subject. Another city friend tells me there snould be a good market for New Zealand hops about May next. Nothing new down Whitechapel way. Either to-night or next Friday or Saturday I expect " Jack the Ripper" will try another assassination or bo and then he will be caught. I still strongly incline fcj the slaughtei man theory. i