ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, Easter Saturday. ARRIVAL OF THE ALAMEDA WITH THE THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 372, 29 May 1889, Page 5

ANGLO -COLONIAL NOTES. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, Easter Saturday.

ARRIVAL OF THE A LAM EDA WITH THE THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO

THE FOOD PRESERVATIVE.— IS IT GENUINE? During the past week Mr Douglas McLean, Mr McHardy (of .Napier), Captain Buch (of Hawke's Bay), Mr Henry Russell, and many others inteiested in the frozen meat trade have visited the offices of the new Food Preservative Company, inspected the vaiious victuals which have been fumigated, and, like myself, came away believing, yet porp!e::ed. Most of them ha\e since had a joint treated and sent home, and are now testing the efticacy of the preservative by hanging the meat in their own larder. I did not, I must say, lind the Secretary alto gether jump at my proposal when I notified him 1 really meant to carry out this experiment. " I thought, 1 ' he said reproachfully, "we had convinced you.'" A doctor to whom I mentioned the preservative scouted the possibility of such a process. " You are the victims of a Yankee hocus pocus," he said.. "The appearance of freshness is preserved, but not the reality. Make a meal off this mummified meat and then send for me. I shall be badly wanted." On the other hand, Mr Henry Russell is so thoroughly convinced of the extraordinary nature and importance of the discovery that he is urging on the Imperial and Colonial Trading directors the imperative necessity of securing the patent for New Zealand. Should the preservative on being tested break down, there can be no doubt whatever there is a great future betore the Arkto3 refrigerator, which I mentioned in my last. This, it seems, is incomparably the cheapest lefrigerating process known as yet. For from 8d to a shilling a day a chamber capable of holding several thousand carcase 3 can be kept at the requisite degree of frost. It is so simple a child can work it, and there is no machinery to get out of order. Major Deane is interesting himself to secure the New Zealand patent, for which the inventor asks £25,000. I went yesterday to see a number of the new Arktos ref 1 igerators at work at the paten tee's yai'ds in Regent Square. Hereat any rate there is no hocus pocus ; the whole process is as simple as A B C, and as cheap as it is simple. There is no machinery and no skilled labour required. A lad of 12 looks after the six Arktos refrigerators in operation, and they only occupy a portion of his time. The importance of this discovery lies in the fact that it brings a cheap and thoroughly effective refrigerator within the reach of butchers, hotelkeepers, restaurateurs, and tradesmen generally. For about £250 it is now possible to erect a freezing chamber 10 feet by 10 feet with Arktos pipes, small furnace, etc., all complete. Once put up, this concern costs from 8d to lOd per day to work, and can be looked after by any unskilled person you happen to have available. The furnace has to be lit for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. This suffices to retain the freezing chamber at about 13 degrees Fahr. for 24 horns, even though you may once or twice temporarily raise"the temperature by the insertion of newly killed meat. The cold generated by this ammonia process is phenomenally dry, so that entering the chamber from the outside, one hardly notices it. The chambeis at Regent Square are crammed with every conceivable kind of fish, iiesh and fowl, yet there is absolutely no smell. We were shown meat which had been eight months there, yet which in appeax-ance looked no different (and we were assured would eat in no Avay differently) to joints inserted the previous day. It is worth noting, too, that the Arktos succeeds in preseiving iifch better than any of the known refrigerators. A gentleman tells me he tried a notable experiment with some soles wlrch Avere left in an Arktos six weeks, and then taken out and compared with a pair purchased from the local fishmonger's that afternoon. His family and friends were asked at dinner to discriminate between two sets, and say which were which. All agreed there was nothing to choose between them. The inventor and patentee of the Arktos have already (the discovery has been made public barely a month) far more London orders on hand than they can possibly execute. They have taken out patents in forty countries, and are anxious to sell half their interest in each of them. The Australian patents are still open, but that for New Zealand ia under oiler to the new Company the Mclvers are trying to organise, the price being £25,000. Whilst Daniells-Cordner's " Presen ativo " seems on the surface infinitely the most wonderful invention of the two, I cannot somehow help feeling that if I had dollars to invest I should prefer risking them over the "Arktos." That this ammonia process must sooner or later supersede every known refrigerator is, 1 feel sure, as certain as that the sun (sometimes) shines. The only fear, of course, is that Mr Daniells may (as he claims) have hit on a process which will entirely supersede refrigeration. The pretentions of Daniells - Cordrer and Co. are indeed "prodeegious ! "

DEATH OF MR COUTTS-CRAWFORD. IVJr Coufcts-Urawford died at 2 a.m. on Monday week after three weeks' severe illness. Mr Crawford executed a will when he was in England eight years ago, but it cannot be proved at present, as the executors (Mr Pierce and Mr Levien, of Wellington) are in New Zealand. The Silver Mine Company will not now go through.

SIR GEORGE GREY'S VISIT HOME. The authoritative announcement of the " Daily News " some little time back, to the effect that Sir George Grey (New Zealand's "old man eloquent") was on his way Home, and meant to stand forthwith for the Imperial Parliament in the Home Rule interest, rather took my breath away. The colonial papers appeared singularly reticent on the subject ; indeed, I could find no reference to the circumstance, and on inquiry at the Agent - General's, 1 discovered they knew nothing either and were aa puzzled as myself. At the Colonial Office, whither I next wended my steps, I found I was positively expected to bupply information about Sir George Grey. Lord Knutsford. it seems, had seen the article in the " Daily News," and wondered whether there could be any truth in ib. He was (a private secretary told me) a good deal amused at the idea j of the vigorous old gentleman coming home to *' strike a blow for Ireland " at his age, bub scarcely seemed to consider the possibility seriously. Subsequently

Sir Walter Buller told me Sir George Grey has been talking off and on for years of coming home. He produced a letter, dated 1873, in which Sir George said, *' I shall be in England almost as soon as yourself," and another written when Sir Walter was again leaving for the Old Country ten years later, in which ho expresses similar hopes, and talks confidently of their meeting in London a few months hence. In the epistle, however, which Sir Walter received from Sir George Grey by last moil, there was no mention of any immediate visit. Should Sir George really be coming, I sincerely hcpe (for his own sake) ho wi'l not go into Parliament. At the best ot times Parliamentary work in England (if conscientiously carried out) is terribly" wealing; besides, it Sir George wishes really to help Ireland and tho cause of Home Rule, he can do so far more effectively by pleading her cause in New Zealand and urging the colonists who love and respect him to put their hands in their pockets than he could by me;e talking in the House of Commons. The Home Rulers do not lack orators. Let Sir Geoi-ge come Home to bo ffited and made much of by all means, if he likes that kind of thing ; but 1 shouldn't have expected him to. Even it might prove disappointing. Colonial Premiers and exPreraiers are always numerous in London, and "society" doesn't discriminate much between one and another. It would bo gal'ing even to a simple, kindly gentleman like Sir Geoige to bo confused with some of the elderly gad-about K.C.JM.G.'s I could mention.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL. Sir Julius has ab lust forwarded the resignation of his seat in your Parliament to New Zealand. He was finally influenced fco this decision as much by the cold water which his friends and late colK agues poured on his returning, as by his prospects here. Even an old Parliamentary pal like Sir Robert Stout could only write, " I think if Vogel had stayed in tho colony, he might pcrhajis have lived down his unpopularity." Others spoke I out even raoi c candidly, telling him there was no earthly use in his coming back in the hopeofagainobtainingoffice. Sir Julius Voxel's luck seems lately to have forsaken him. "A. D. 2000 "is a failure here, and the £50 down Hutchinson gave Sir Julius is, in my opinion, all the money he is likely to get out of the book, unless inceed the c ilonial edition sells well. Had Mr CouttsCrawford lived and put through his silver mine with Sir Julius's assistance, the latter would, no doubt, have had same pickings, bub now that too is at an end.

THE NEW ZEALAND MIDLAND RAILWAY. The complaisant attitude of the " Financial News" towaids the New Zealand Midland Bail way Company may, perhaps, be explained by the fact that the Secretary thought it necessary to secure the entire back page of that influential journal for the purpose of ad\eitising their issue of debentures. This cost a lsrge turn of money.

THE BLUE SPUR COMPANY. The strong steps taken by the directorate hero of the Blue topur Company have resulted (as was surmised would be the case) in rousing Sir Robert Stout to the exigencies of the situation. He seems to ha\e bestined himself to some purpose, for in the course of a few days he cabled that the Colonial Bank would take over the Blue Spur mortgages on certain reasonable terms. I need not particularise. The directors agreed to the proposal, providing the bank would as well temporarily find £500 for the purpose of paying salaries, etc., etc. This was imperative, as the Chairman, who has been paying all cunent expenses since last No- \ ember out of his own pockets, bukfcor.ed them up at the commencement of the present month. The nexts^ep will, I imagine, be the dissolution ot the New Zealand Board.

NEW ZEALAND AT PARIS EXHIBITION. Sir Francis Dillon Bell is in Paris busy arranging the exhibits for the New Zealand Court. These, he complains, are of a most disappointing nature, owing to wily Mr Twopenny having been beforehand with him ab Melbourne and seemed all the best things worth having for Dunedin. However," Sir Francis is getting some groups ot Maoris modelled, and with the aid of Sir W. Buller, who gees over for a few days presently to help him to put the finishing'touches, hopes to make up a moderately interesting Court. Tie prices at Paris have already been trebled everywhere. For the small room at the Hotel Continental he a few months back paid 25 franc 3f ranc3 a day. Sir F. D. Bell is now asked 70 francs, and meals, etc., have "riz" proportionately. To dine at Bignon's or the Maison Doree (let alone the Cafe Anglais) was always a costly experience, but during the next four months only millionaires and travelling Americans will dare to look into these and other smart restaurants.

CAPTAIN ASHBYS TOUR. Captain Ashby has returned from his visit to New Zealand, and i 3 once more io be found at 26, Leadenhall-street. He advertises that he is willing to supply intending emigrants with the latest, and most reliable information anent the state of affairs in both Islands, and talks very hopefully about the future. Already (so he thinks) things are picking up wonderfully in the colonies, and with the opening of a new era in the modes of conducting business there seems every reason for anticipating a return of prosperity.

MR \V. L. PvEES'S CONCERNS. Mr W. L. Rees has returned fiom Scotland, and seems at last to be pretty well convinced of the futility of his so-called mission. His sons have been removed from Cambridge, and the family return to New Zealand by the steamer of May 2nd. Whether Mr Rees himself accompanies them will depend on various circumstances. His friends had just persuaded him it was the wise thing to do, when he received an invitation to lecture at Edinburgh, which seemed to completely unsettle him again. Why it should do so no one could imagine, but the sanguine man talked as if italtered everything. Mr Rees has to pay his expenses to Scotland and back, and if he asked for 5s for lecturing, his hosts would, I anticipate, button up their pockets. Nevertheless, he seems to found all sorbs of delusive hopes on the expedition. One cannot help feeling sorry for such a dreamer. The latest person ' l very much interested " in Reess proposals is, I hear, Mr Stead, of the " Pall Mall Gazette;" but then, Stead is " very much interested " in so many things. If, however, ho were by chance to take Rees au sericux, the prospects of that gentleman's settlement scheme might improve.

THE BOUCICAULT DIVORCE AGAIN The ingenious attempt of that volatile patriarch Dion Boucicault to bilk his first wife of the alimony which the Court very properly awarded her when she divorced him some little time ago, has, all rightminded persons will be glad to hear, failed. " Uncle' 1 Samuel French, who collects the fees for Boucy's copyrights in England, was ordered by Mr Justice Butt on Tuesday to pay over all the money due to Mrs Agnes Boucicault, togethev with her

law costs, etc., which must by now amount to a considerable sum. On Boucy's side it was urmd that all interests in the copyrights had some time ago been made over to Miss Louise Thorndyke (whose " Alfred- David "' on the subject was put i in), and that the money coming from them could not, therefore, be meddled with. Justice Butt, unfortunately, could only see in the assignment a '' blind " to avoid paying the alimony, and set it calmly aside. A Mr Caddagen, a shadowy person who figured in the proceedings as Amerioan trustee for Miss Thorndyke, was alleged by the petitioner, Mra Boucicault, to have no actual existence, to be a short of Yankee "Mrs 'Arris,"' evoked by Dion, the 'cute, out of his imagination.

DEPARTURE OF MR SANTLEY. A large number of musical friends went to see Santley off by the Ocoana last Fiiday. He is a e;ioat favourite with the profession, and tho hopes expressed for his success in your part of the world woremoro genuine than is generally the case under such circumstance 0 .

PRITCPIARD MORGAN'S LIBEL SUITThat most extraordinary Anglo-Austra-lian, Mr Pritchard Moigan, was defendant in an action for libel at the Liw Courts on Saturday. He conducted his own case, and (much to the surprise of Mr Ju&tice Field and a special jury) very well he did it, too. Morgan's friend, A. YV. Stirling (author of '•The .Never, Never Land"), sat beside him, and whenever the imtablo little man , showed symptoms of bubbling over or answeiing the judge with insufficient dtferenco pinched him on the leg. The case arose out of a report of what is now the Morgan Gold Mine, made some years back by an expert of lepute named Jno. Aithur" Phillips. Pritchard Morgan, ib seems, quoted a number ot eminently favuurable statements from this repoit in the prospectus of tho Morgan Company. Mr Phillips is dead, but his son wrote to the "Standard" protesting against his father's report being made use of in thia scrappy manner, and stating that as a whole he consideied it distinctly unjavourahh to tho mine. This letter undoubtedly did the Company an immense lot of harm, especially as intending investors found on examination that young Mr Phillipa'a assertions relative to the partial and misleading character of the extracts in the prospectus were eonecb. Pritchard Morgan was fuiious, and wrote the violent letter to the " Standard " characterising Mr Phillips as a liar, etc., wh eh brought about the present proceedings. Cross actions for defamation and slander were also entered by Moigan against Phillips, who had, however, no case. Phillips was the reverse of anxious to waste money in law expenses, and would have patched up the quanel again and again, but Morgan (though assured lie had no cace) insisting on going on with it. Ho subpoenaed some score of experts who had examined tho mine, and no doubt intended to give the now much depreciated property a nice lift. Unfortunately the Judge proved obdurate. Ho significantly advised Moigan to settle the case without consulting the jury. "Go," he said, "and talk to that gentleman" (pointing to Finlay, Q.C., retained by Phillips) " 1 know him well ; he's very sensible, and will do what's right." But little Morgan, with all duo deterence to his lordship's opinion, wished to calk. "I do not know, Mr Morgan," presently interjected the Judge, acidly, " ivhat you are trying to prove to us, unless it is that you are a great deal cleverer and better able to judge of things in general than most people. Now, whether that is or is not so, does not, fortunately for you, happen to be the question before us. Let me remind you, moreover, of the old French proverb, ' qni excuse sYtccM.sc.' " After this Moigan agreed to discuss matters with Mr Finlay, and a compromise was arranged. Morgan consented to pay 40s for miscalling Mr Phillip3 a liar, and Mr Phillips disclaimed any intention to injure Morgan and Ids enterprise, or of reflecting on his integrity. Each side paid its own costs. Morgan's Iriends congratulated him on the issue, but he himself seemed the rever?e of pleased somehow.

.THE NEW ZEALAND ANTIMONY COMPANY. Shareholders in the above company have received the following circular : — Dear Sir, — I am directed to report, for the information of shareholders as follows :—: — 1. Mr Farmer, one of the directors, having returned from New Zealand, has furnished to the Board a full report of his inspection of the Company's Mines at Endeavour Inlet. This repoit is open to the perusal of shareholders at this office. Mr Fanner states that although there can be no doubt that a practically inexhaustible supp'y of antimony ore exists on the Companj-'s property, a pood deal of driving or tunnelling may have to be done before the lode is reached in the lower le\els. He ascertained that upwards of 20,000 tons of antimony ore had been obtained irom diive No. 1, near the summit of the mountain by " stoping out " above this line, thus proving that when the lode is reached in the drives lower down a large quantity of oie will be found. That the oi c extends downwards to the base of the hill is a geological certainty, anJ the usual course has been adopted of opening drives at the side of tho hill for the purpose of cutting tho lode, but tho matrix has proved very hard, and this renders tho use of dynamite necessary at every step, and the progress is consequently slow. Already in No. 4 drive a lode about a foot thick has been reached, specimens of which have been brought home by Mr Farmer, and may be seen at this office. Lower down the hill 1,500 tons of what may be termed alluvial ore had also been obtained. A considerable landslip having taken place at some remote period, the superincumbent soil or softer rock had been washed away, leaving the antimony ore exposed. A sample of this ore selected by Mr Farmer yielded 41 9 per cent, of antimony. A drive is now being proceeded with from each side of the spur f-om which this slip had taken place, so as to intersect the lode. Blocks of ore over 18 .inches square were found in the landslip, proving beyond doubt that the lode was of considerable size at that point. An enormous amount of work lias been done, and the labour parties are kept constantly going by means of day and night shifts. But until the main lode is reached in the lower levels there will be no appreciable increase in the rate of output. 2. To prevent, however, the possibility of a failure to complete this year's contract with Messrs Cookson, the directors have (with the consent of that firm) in-ranged for supplies of antimony orer from another source, and on very favourable terms. At the prices at present ruling, the sale of 2,000 tons of antimony ore of 50 per cent, standard (the minimum under the contract) represents a sum of nearly £27,000. 3. At a meeting of the Board held yesterday, the contract for sale ot the Company's gold mine at Jackson's Head was duly executed on the lines indicated at the annual meeting on the 16th of January, the terms being £10,000 in cash and £125,000 ! in fully paid ehareß in a company now being

formed to work and develop the same. — Yours, etc., \V. B. Fabian.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Mr Robert Louis Stevenson writes that he has abandoned his intention of pushing on to the Antipodes, and is returning home at once. Lord Augustus Loftus has been a good deal embarrassed by uhe congratulations of friends and creditors who (unacquainted with the intricacies of the peerage) imagined ho had succeeded to the rich Marquisate of Ely. The new marquis, as a matter of fact, is. Mr John Henry Loftup,son of Lord Augustuses elder brother, Adam. He is unmarried, but has a younger brother who i 3 not only married but hog a son, ?o that there are still three good lives between the ex- Viceroy of Now South Wa'es and the title. Under these circumstances to be congratulated was a trifle •• rough." I hear, though, that the late peer's mother and the Queen's bosom friend, the Dowager : Lady Ely, now means to do something for her impecunious relatives. The favomite for the Cape Commissionership is now Sir Henry Loch. Lord Knutsford, on dit, inclines to the appointment of Sir William Jervois. Should Sir H. Loch get ie, Sir William Robinson would probably bo permanently consigned to Melbourno. It is a curious but undoubted fact that Austialian colonists, though fairly well accustomed at home to great heat, generally suffer more severely in the Red Sea than English folk. During the voyage Home of the Rome this last time Mrs Stanley Hill grew delirious with suffering from the boat, and jumping overboard, was drowned.