ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 357, 6 April 1889, Page 6

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

London, March. J MR W. L. HBES'S COMPANY. C An amended prospectus of the "Co- rj operative Colonising Association (Limited) ' a has beon forwarded me from which 1 gather that there is to be no chairman and Board of .Directors, but a manager (W. L. Xtees, Esq.), a deputy manager (Jno. Edmund Cracknell, F.R.G.S.), and » Council, viz., ( Frederick A. Beer, Esq., David Crombie, 1 Esq., Rev. A. Styleman Herring, \Vil- 1 loughby Mullins, E&q, Alfred D. Sassoon, i Esq., and Wi rare, chief. I called on Mr c Roes yostei clay morning to ask how much I money had been subscribed and when the I | directors wore going to proceed to allotment). Ho was cloudily vacrue on both points. < Piu him down to a plain statement ot fact 1 , couldn't. One thing, he said presently, he would tell me. He was going to Scotland < to see a co-operative society which had < £150,000 (impressively), and for which it i had no outlet. He (W. L Reos) was going to provide it with an outlet (with a wave of ; l.he arm). " De'il doubt it if you can," I j thought to myself. Mr Rees did not en- [ lighten me a& to the name of the society. The prospectus is a irom. Hero are some of the objects of the Association: — (a) To piovido investment for Ihe savings of the laboming elapses. i (c) To act as agents and trustees for all purposes, and to administer charitable funds. (/) To borrow and lend money. The land Mr Reet> wants to sell to the Association is the "Pakowhai Block at Giaborne of 5,000 acres. For this he asks £25,000 (£21,000 in hard cash, and £4,000 in shares).

NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY. On Monday last an extraordinary general meebinpr of the shareholders ot the N.Z. Loan and Meicanl/ile Agency Company (Limited) >vas> held at Cannon stieeb Hotol, at which the impviibanb resolutions passed at a previous meeting, for the establishment of local boaids in the varioub colonies, and rendering the London Board of Directors supreme in the udrmnibbi'uuon of tho Company's attaii>, woie duly confirmed, and will now come into prompt operation, the confirmation of the resolutions albo terminating, the appointment of all the existing colonial dnectois.

NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT SCHEME. The London correspondent o£ the JManchestor "Guaiditui" is lesponsible ior a remarkable statement to the ellecb that a Norwegian gentleman (name unknown) who ( has been settled in New Zealand 17 years, has just come to Europe for the purpose ot taking out with him a consideiable contingent oi his iellow-countiymen. With the help of thebe ho hopes to be able 10 otganu-e an expedition in two sceara vessels to tho AntaicCic legion. Ot courso his main purpose is to cieate an extensive fishery industry in seas where it i& behoved whales still exist in great abundance. But in oide.r^to do this it is necessary to lia\ o a much better knowledge ot the wide region within the Antaictic ciicle than we now possess, and to obtain this nob only would tho seas bo explored, an' 1 Ibe nature and movements of the ice observed, but the enberpiising colouiVL refened to would endeavour to station a party on tho inhospitable Victoria Land, in the neighbourhood ot Mount Erebus and Tenor, tor a whole year. He hopes to make the expedition pay its way, but at the bame time expects that the Australasian Governments would grant him a moderate subsidy, for if he buceeeded in establishing a profitable Antarctic fishery there is no doubt it would greatly benefit these colonies. Competent scientific men equipped with proper instruments would be taken on board and left with tho wintering party, so that much good to science as well as to industry will re&ulb if the scheme i o cat lied out. Siv iTianci«> Dillon Bell knows nothing of this mystei ioup Noi \\ cgian-New Zealander, who has not called at Victoria Chambers. I have written to the Manchester (Juaidian man on the subject, but up to the present time he has not ie,>heo.

A FASHIONABLES MARRIAGE. Do you lemember what a stir there was in Australian society two or thiee years back,, when it became known that Lord William Is evil, then on a visit to the Governor of Victona, had, at the instigation of Lord Castlero&se, A.D.C., walked clown to the Pro-Cathedral at Melbourne one tine morning, and been formally received into the Roman Catholic Church ? The Abergavenny iainily were with the young man afc the time, but in all probability it was tlie best stroke of business ho over did in his life. But for it his lordfehip would must certainly not have been married to a charming heiiess before the Prince and Princess oi Wales and the smurto.sk section of London Society ab Biompton Oratory last Tuesday morning. The Do Muriebfcas are stricfc Catholics, and the Marquese de Sanburce would as soon have thought of allowing his daughter to 4:0 on the stage as to marry a Protestant. The > engagement has been off and on tor yeais, and but for the influence of the Prince of Wales, who delights in helping lovers and arranging maruages, would ne\er have come to anything. The Marquese and his wife (belter known in London society as Mr and Mrs De Marietta j were until quite recently dead against the match. Lord William Kevil, as the younger son of a comparatively speaking poor nobleman and with the lecord ot a rolling stone, seemed to them a wretched match for the rich and beautiful Miss De Murietta. Lord Caetlerosse who inspired the bridegroom to " vert,"' was present ab the wedding on Tuesday, and rubbed his hands as he thought ot his old "pal's" good fortune. For description ot the wedding, dresses, and presents see illustrated papers.

FROZEN MEAT. 1 Trade has> been dull in the frozen meat ' market throughout the week. The prieos of Scotch, English, and German mutton have experienced a fall, but New Zealand re1 mains as on Tuesday last. Scotch mutton 1 (wether), 4s 8d fco 5a 2d per 81bs ; English ; (wether), 4s 8d to s>s 2d per 81bs ; German, : 4s 6d to 4s 8d per 81 bs ; New Zealand (Canterbury), 2s* 7d to 2s 8d per 81bs ; ditto k (Wellington), 2s 6d to 2s 7d per 8lbs ; " Sydney, 2s 4d per 81bs ; River Plate, 2s 4d > per 81bs. 1 The prospectus is issued ot the Quayle Gold Mining Company (Limited), with a capital of X 120,000, in £1 shares, ot whiub i 57,000 are offered for subscription, this c being the bdlanoo ot 80,000 shares, less b those already taken up. The Company ia 3 tormed towoikagold mining property in , New Zealand, iind the purehtibe price is fixed at £60,000, of which £37,000 is payl able in cash, and t'iio balance in shares. a (The money Im.s biuce been ictarnedandthe ' project abandoned.) s Per Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's c S.S. lonic, February 31st: — First Class: Mr Francis H. Davis, MrThos. llarby, Mrs c Harby, Mr Harby, jun., Miss, Harby, Mr i- John Hopkins, Mrs Hopkins, Mrs Howard, :, Messrs Merck, C. L. Nightingale, K. M. if Parsons. Jas. H. Smith, H. J. Tollemache, M.P., Lord Westbury. Second Clasß :

Messvs Jas. R. Brown, frank A. Davies, Alex J.Gibson, J. Heneham, John Lamont, Rev. P. Moore, Messrs Jas. McSfcay, J. O. Oatos, John Paul, Frank Phillpottsj Oliver Robobhani, Misses J. M. Rovrell, Rovvse, Messrs Chas. Sutherland, John Thomas, J. Mrs Louisa Wilson, and 64 stoerage passengers.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. The eldest daughter of Sir Fredk. Weld, G.C.M.G., was married to Captain Druitt, R.E., at the Manor Church, Cbideock, Devon, on Wednesday amidst great rejoicings. The Bishop ot Plymouth officiated, and tho Pope Avired a special blessing. Several colonial friends of the bride were presont, and a great number sent gifts. Lioufcenant Baden-Powell, brother of Sir Oeo. Baden Powell, has been appointed A. D.C. fco Sir Henry Norman. You will havo heard by cable of the sad death ot Sir Chas. Gavan Duffy's third wife. Tho poor lady had just been confined and died of puerperal fever. Sir Geo. Bowen has repu'blished the pamphlet on " Imperial Federation " which he amplified from his address to the Colonial Institute. The numerous friends of the late R. A. Proctor in Australia and New Zealand will be pleased fco learn that Mr W. H. Smith has seen his way to allow poor Mrs Proctor ' ClOO a- year from the Pension Fund. M. Paul Bloueb (Max O'Rell) tells me the "pats" in the various papers announcing his immediate departure tor the Antipodes on a lecturing tour aie wholly incorrect. It | is just possiblo the idea may ripen into a plan someday or another, and that's a'l. The partners of Mr Louis Brennan (the clever young Victorian of torpedo fame) have resolved to recognise his services to their h'rm (Miller and C0., 0f Edinburgh unri Tomperley) by the presentation of a cheque for £1,000, and a magnificent service of silver plate, which is now on view at Elkington's. 111-disposed peisons have ehculaled rumours to t>he effect that the Government are not satisfied with their bargain with Mr Brennan, and that his tor pedo has been superseded. That, of course, is nonsense, as will presently be fully apparent. When he can find time Mr Brennan means to bring out the pocket-type-wii6er, which (as I told yon in my last) he has recently invented ami patented. He has great hopes of its entirely superseding the Remington. Mr R. \V. E. Maclver's friends in your part of the world will be ploased to learn tlu't he has got hold of a white-lead patent which promises well. One thousand copies of Mr Philip Mennell'tj "In Australian Wilds" were despatched to Australia and New Zealand by last week's steamer. The book is not, however, out here yet. MrHenshaw, a notable Liverpool tootbailer, is about to emigrate to New Zealand, and played for the Old Boys' team against Belfast for the last time on Saturday week. The International Confeicnce at Berlin on the Samoan question, will it is feared not come ofl tor some weeks yet, as a special commissioner is coming from Washington to lepresent the United States. The " Financial Times," which so habitually attacks the credit of the various Australian colonies, was started by the estimable Colonel Noith, and is believed io be vory heavily subsidised bj' him. Princess Louise has becomo a member of the Anglo- Australian Society of Artists. The Mr F. W. Wyndham, who is described a« an actor and about to visit Australia and New Zealand for a pleasure trip, must not be confused with the famous comedian, Charles Wyndham. Mr Quint in 'Hogg-, the practical philanthropist who has so phenomenally developed ' the London Polytechnic Institution, is starting on a lengthy tour of India, Australia, and New Zealand, with a view fco ascertaining whaf openings there aie for young men of the clae^ of his protajecb. The Lord Mayor (Alderman Whitehead) invited your old friends, Sir George and Lady Bowen, to meet the masters of the Livery Companies and the Baroness Burdett Coutts at the Mansion House, on Wednesday evening. Sir George was entrusted with the toast of the House ot Loids, but, somehow or another, got on to his "Imperial Federation ' hobby, and pmnced about with post-prandial heaviness for nearly half-an-hour. I couldn't hear veiy well what he paid, but. I don't think I lost much, as no one seemed to care to repoi t the old man. The "St. James's Gazette" of Saturday last contains a growl from a " Sydnoy Resident," who after falling foul ot the editor for calling Victoria " our chiet Australian colony," says: " The obstinate refusal of Loid Knutsford to give us the right of choosing our own Governors has excited tremendous discussion and almost hatred of G teat Britain here. " Mr Slade Murray, who sails this after noon for Australia, is one of the new school ot music hall vocalist", and will. I think, be considered an improvement on Rickards, Vance, and Co. His comic songs have more real humour in them than ditties of the "La-di-da" or "Is He Guilty?" and some of his serio-comic lyrics (notably " Balaclava ") have been enormously popular, Tho Bank of England and Australia, with a proposed capital of four millions in £10 shares and ofliees in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, etc., has, needless to say, no connection with " the old lady of Threadneedle-stieet." City opinion, in point of tact, seems against the venture, tho geneial opinion being that the ground which tho ptospeotus proposes to cover is already fully occupied. Moreover, it is seriously doubted whether British capitalists will care to iind four millions for such a venture. I shall, however, know more about this next week. The Savago Club are raflling the silver jjlate which was presented to the late Mr Cresvtick dining his Australian tour by the Bijou Theatie Company, Melbourne, for the benoh't of the widovr.

POSTSCRIPT. Sir Julius Vogcl's book is nob out Uiere, i but 1,000 copies of the colonial edition have been shipped by the lonic to-day. JLlord Wesfcbury and Mr H. J. Tollemache, M.1?., are passengers by the lonic to New Zealand. * Sir John and Lady Hall return to New ; Zealand nexb month, sailing: in all probai bility by the direct steamer Coptic. ; The Onslow party mailed yesterday per . Victoria. They did not go down to Tilbury by the ordinary passenger brain, but later ■ in the afternoon in a special of their own, i, with a number of friends. Lord Salisbury i and Lord Knntsford were amongst Uiose s who saw Iheni off. j The Hon. W. Trefusis will be a through j passenger to Auckland by the Otient next i Friday. Dillon sails for Australia by this 5 ship. The late Sir William McArthur has, it , transpires.left a large sum (£l6,QQo'tia said) 3 towards the extension of Wesleyan chapel I accommodation in London.

The directors of the Cotnptoir d'Escompte have testified thafc.in Rochreau, the manager, who committed suicide, had made advances to the Societe dos Metaux without their knowledge.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S BOOK. ♦ (JFttOM Our London Correspondent.)

London, February 23. 8 The long-talked-ot novel by Sir Julius { Vogel is ab last out, and I have succeded in obtaining a very early copy. The book * boars the title, "Anno Domini 2000; or, r Woman's Destiny," and is of that class of r novel which professes to have a mission. The particular aim of the writer of this book is thus explained by himself : * " First, it has been designed to show that \ * a recognised dominance of either sex is un- ( j necessary, and that men and women may ( take part in the affairs of the world on terms ot equality, each member of either j sex enjoying the position to which he or she is entitled by reason of his or her ] qualifications. The second object is to • < suggest that- the materials are to band for forming the dominions of. Great j Britain into a powerful and beneficent , empire. The third purpose is to attract '. consideration to the question as to whether it is not possible to relieve the misery under t which a large portion of mankind languishes on account of extreme poverty and destitution. The writer has a strong conviction that every human being is entitled to a sufficiency ot food and clothing and to decent lodging whether or not he or she is willing to or capable ot work." The story, as its title implies, endeavours to forecast the condition of society rather more than a century hence, and such a topic should afford all but unlimited scope for the workings of a vivid imagination. That this promising field has been fully utilised, or that the book gives even a probable forecast of the social and governmental ovolution within the British Empire during the next hundred years, may fairly bo doubted. There can, however, I imagine, be little doubt in the mind of anyone who has read the book through — happily this is not a difficult task, the volume being one of very moderate proportions — that the general dulness of the dialogues and homilies will hardly be atoned for by the novelty of the guesses the author makes regarding the future discoveries of science or the progress of Government. The position of w oraan in Anno Domini 2000, as forecast by Sir Julius Vogel, is exalted enough to satisfy the most ardent champion ot woman's rights. He says :—: — "The barriers which man in his own intere&t set to the occupation of woman having once been broken down, the progress of woman in all pursuits requiring judgment and intellect has been continuous ; and the sum of that progress is enormous. It has, in fact, come to be accepted chat the bodily power is greater in man, and tho mental power larger in woman. So to speak, woman has become the guiding, man the executive, force of the world. Progress has necessarily become greater because it is found that women bring to the aid ot more subtle intellectual capabilities faculties of imagination that are the necessary adjuncts of improvement The arts and caprices which in old days were called feminine proved to be the silken chains fastened by men on women to lull them into inaction. Without abating any of their charms, women have long ceased to submit to be the playthings of men. They lead men, as of yore, but not so much through the fancy or the senses as thiough the legitimate consciousness of tlie man that in following woman's guidance he is tending to higher purposes. We are generalising, of course, to a certain extent. The variable extent of woman's influence is now, as it has been throughout the ages past, the point on which most of the dramas of the human race depend." As a matter of course, under these conditions we lind women in Anno Domini 2000 filling all sorts of offices. A female President presides over the United States, and the heroine of the story, Hilda Fitzherbert (a native of New Zealand), becomes a member of the Cabinet of the Federated British j Emphe ; she mukes a vast fortune through the draining of the Molyneux River,, is created Duchess ot New Zealand, and j finally marries the Jimperor. It would be I unfair to the author to discount his plot by recapitulation. Suffice it to say that the scene opens in Melbourne, a city possessing a population of two millions, where the Federal Parliament — which holds its meetings alternately in different cities of the Empire — is in session. Hilda Fitzherbert i i«t wooed by an unworthy lover named Lord Reginald Paramatta, who, in consequence of her rejection of him, enters into a treasonable plot having as its object the dismemberment of the Empire. In this he is thwarted by Hilda, who succeeds in gaining access to the building, where a monster meeting of the disaffected is being held. The floor of the building, unknown to the conspirators, had been secretly articulated with scientific apparatus for the production of artificial magnetism, by which it was possible to paralyse all the occupants in an instant. This mechanism Hilda successfully manipulated. The author's description of the etlect forms, perhaps, the most dramatic pas&age in the book. ' ' In one second the girl, like a fawn, sprang up the steps of the dais, and touched a button concealed in the wall, and then a second button. Words are insufficient to describe the c fleet. " The first button was connected with wires that ran through the flooring and communicated to every being in the Hall excepting to Hilda, on the insulated dais, a shock of magnetic electricity, the eflect of which was to throw them into instantaneous motionless rigidity. No limb or muscle could be moved ; as the shock found them they romained. And the pressure of the second button left no doubt of the tact, for it turned on the electric current to all the lamps inside and outside of the Hall until the chamber became a blaze of dazzling light. There was no longer disguise of face or person, and every visage was at its worst. Fear, terror, cruelty, or revenge was the mastering expression on nearly every countenance. Some faces showed that the owners had been entrapped and betrayed into a situation they had not sought. But these were few, and could be easily lead. On tho majority of the coun- ■ tenances there was branded a mixture of greed, thwarted ambition, personal malignity and cruelty horrible to observe. The pose of the! persons lent a ludicrous aspect to the hccuo. Lord Reginald, tor instance, had one foot in tront of the other in the vvo grees he was making towards Hilda. His body was bent forward. His face wore an expression of triumphant revenge and brutal love terrible to look at. Evidently he had thought that there " was joy at last for my love and my revenge." Hilda shuddered as she glanced down upon the sardonic faces beneath her, and touched a third button. An answering clarionet at ouco struck out the signal to advance, and the' measured tread of troops in all directions whs heard. The poor wretches in the Hall preserved consciousness of whab was passing around, though they could not exercise their muscular powers and felt no bodily pain. An officer, al the door close to the dais saluted Miss Fitzherbert. *Be care ful,' she said, ' to put your foot at once on the dais and come up to me.' He approached her. 'Have you your orders?' she asked.

"'My orders,' he said, 'are to come i from you. We have photographers at J band.' " ' Have a photograph,' she instructed him, ' taken of the whole scene, then of separate groups, and lastly ot each individual. Have it done quickly,' she added; ' for the poor wretches suffer mental, if not physical pain. Then everyone may go free excepting tne occupants of th 6 three top j rows. ' The police should see that these do jjj j ndt leave Melbourne.' " t Lord Reginald, however, does make his 1 escupe, and subsequently entraps Hilda ] aboard his yacht at Waiwera, and steams to i sea at the rate of 30 miles an hour, but 1 Hilda's Mends pursue him in an air-cruiser, ] a machine capable of navigating the atmos- i phere at a speed of 100 miles an hour, and ] the heroine is rescued. The author has a i pleasant word to say for Waiwera, on the ] charms of which his memory evidently yet i dwells with fondness. Rotorua and Te i Aroha have grown to cities of great magnificence, and are the resort of grandees 1 from all part& of the world for the benefit of i the wonderful waters. The denouement of the great scheme initi1 ated by Hilda Fitzherbert's grandfather fifty years before for draining the Molyneaux River into the Mataura is perhaps worth quoting, the scheme being one upon which Sir Julius Voxel's mind evidently fastens as something more than a fitting project to be exploited in the pages of Jules Verne. The crucial moment had come. The waters of the Molyneaux had been turned into the new channel, and vast ! crowds lined the river banks, watching the gradual subsidence of the stream. The passage proceeds : — | '"The time was approaching when it j would be known it there was utter failure or entire success, or something 1 midway between. It had been arranged that, if any conspicuous deposit of gold became apparent, a signal should be given, in rej sponse to which all the guns> along the river banks should be fired. At a quarter past ono o'clock the guns . pealed forth, and loud as was the noise they made, it seemed trifling compared with the cheers which ran up and down the river from both banks from the throats of the countless thousands ot spectators. The announcement of success occasioned almost delirious joy. It seemed as if every person in the vast crowd had an individual interest in the undertaking. The telephone soon announced that at a turn in the river about seven miles from the lake what appeared to be a large pool of fine gold was unco%cied. Even as the news became circulated, there appeared in the middle ot the river right opposite Lady Taieris stand a faint yellow glow beneath the water. Gradually it grew brighter and brighter, until at length to the eyes of the fascinated beholders there appeared a long, irregular fissure of about twenty five feet in length by about six or peven m width, which appeared to be filled with gold. Some of the company now rushed forward, and, amidst the deatemng cheers of the onlookers, dug out into boxes which had been prepared for the purpose shovelfuls of gold. Fresh boxes were &ent for, but the gold appeared to be inexhaustible. Each box held five thousand ounces ; and supposing the gold to be nearly pure, fifty boxes would represent the value of a million sterling. ■' Fi\ c hundred bo>e& were filled, and still the pool opposite Hilda was not emptied, and it was reported two equally rich receptacles wcie being drained in other parts. Guards of the Volunteer forces were told, oft" to protect the gold until it could bo placed in safety." The closing chapters of the book are devoted to the incidents of a war with the United States, provoked really through pique at the disinclination manifested by the Emperor of the British Empire towardb a proposed marriage with the red- headed daughter of the President of the Republic. Reviving the old dispute over the fisheries, the President declared war on Canada, and the hmall standing army of the United States invaded the Dominion, whereupon the Erapeior swooped suddenly down on New Yoik, captured that city, despatched air cruisers to Washington, captured the President and her daughter, and advancing on Canada, took theinvadingarmy in tuerear, trapping it between the Emperor's force on the South and the Canadian army on the North, and taking the whole array prisoneis, a victory so complete that the Yankee for ever after was too shamefaced to maintain his Fourth ot July celebration. The occurrences thus outlined suggest material enough for the orthodox three volumes at leasb, bub the author, while furnishing his reader with topics enough, leaves him very much bo his own devices in filling out the details. His Federal plan, like his new social order, is conveniently ambiguous. Ireland seems to have been somehow brought to a condition of contentment upon the demand of thB colonies that justice should be done to her — justice in her case being apparently the compulsory buying out of absentee landlords for rather more than their lands were worth, and the concession of home rule somewhat on the colonial plan. The antidote for the loafer, I who is to be supplied with moderate comfoibs even though he may persistently rehif-e to work, is to be the wearing of a State livery, and the legal lecovery of debts to be replaced by posting defaulters "and reliance upon personal honour. The social order of (.ho future, if Sir Julius Vogel prove a true prophet, is to be a stilted and by no means improved version of the institutions of to-day. Titles are strewn about like leaves in autumn, and are made the mediums of undi&guised compliments to the author's friends. We have s General Buller, the descendant of a Professor Buller, who had won wealth and distinction in the walks of science. Then comes a " Sir Central Vincent Stout, j Baronet, a young though very able lawyer," and a " Lord Larnach, one of the wealthiest private bankers in Europe. "' As I a maiden novel by a gentleman who has taken a prominent part in New Zealand public life, the book will doubtless be opened bj' a large number of readers, but I cannot imagine that its heavily-laboured pages will be read with any great interest, \ or that its perusal will yield much pleasure i or satisfaction. The timber trade in Auckland may have been pretty dull lately, but it would seem to be too j_'ood to permit of a monopoly by the Kauri Timber Company. A new combination of capital, under the title of the " Zealandia Timber Company," Mill shortly commence operations on a site selected in the vicinity of tho Freezing Company's premises, near the Railway Wharf. The new company is to have a capital of £25,000, divided into 25,000 shares of £1 each ; and applications are said to be coming in pretty freely. The promoters propose to erect a cheap but effective mill on one of the Harbour Board leaseholds, capable of cutting 75,000 feet of timber per week, and to obtain their supply of logs in the open market, instead of holding bushes, beyond such limited areas as may be considered absolutely necessary for a kf stand-by." It has been estimated that a mill capable of cutting 4,000,000 feet per annum, stock of logs, and reserve bush would require from £12,000 to £15,000 capital ; and that this, at a moderate margin of 2s per 100 feet, would yield £4,000 per annum.