ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (For Special Extra Mail.) London, September 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 13 November 1889, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (For Special Extra Mail.) London, September 27.

NEW ZEALAND PERSONAL ITEMS. Captain Roberts, well known in New Zealand as captain of the Maori, the Caducens, and latterly the Hermtone, died in London last week. Mr Sinclair Gillies, who has been on the Continent since the news of his father's death, returned to London last week, and has decided to enter forthwith at St. Bartholomews' as a student. Mr Tiffen, of Napior, continues to progress satisfactorily, and will sail for New Zealand, per Coptic, on November 28th. Mr C. E. Haughton, of Dunedin, bade j farewell to Rochester and his English friends on Wednesday, and sails from Marseilles per Yarra on Monday next. Mr Vincent Pyke is expected in London shortly. The English edition of " Wild \\ ill Enderby " has not set the Thames on fire. Mr Brett, of Auckland, and Mr Garland, of Sydney, aie, 'tis whispered, considering the advisability of purchasing the New Zealand lights of Edison's phonograph. They have, at any ratt, been in communication with Colonel Gourand on the subject. The Liverpool papers notice with concern the news of Mr Shirley Trimble's death in New Zealand. Sir Y. D. Bell has returned from Scarborough utterly disgusted with the place, and but little the better ior his holiday. He found the place, as mu.-t be expected, far too noisy for him, and complains bitterly ot the bands, balls, itinerant vendors and barrel organs. The Rev. Mr Watson, of Christchurch, father of Mr T. Marriott Watson, the novelist, has arrived in England. Mr Montgomery expresses himself greatly scandalised that New Zealand .should have been the one Australian colony to hang back from helping the dockers, and avers that had the strike continued he bhould have cabled out urging his friends and the Labour Unions to come forward. I have just received from Messrs Hutchinson a copy of Mr Vincent Pyke& " Wild Will Enderby," which ia being exploited over hero in the form of a " shilling shocker." The story is prefaced by an "Exordium," in which the author guarantees the truth of the incidents described. Sir Walcer and Lady BulJer have returned to town from Eastbourne. Tho date of their departure for New Zealund lemains uncertain. Sir Walter hopes, however, to get off before Christmas. Whether he lemains permanently in the colony or returns Home as soon as he has fixed up Ms business, will, I fancy, depend on various things. Hl3 inclination seems to run in the direction of taking up politico. Reports from New Zealand anent the Blue Spur mines continue satisfactory, but the Company are much hampered for Mant of working capital. The directors are, however, trying to negotiate a loan. Sir W. Buller has promised (for a time at leoyt) to supervise the Company's interests in the colony. The attempt to float the Queen Charlotte's Sound Goldmining Company has proved a failure (owing chiefly to the deadnesss ot the London mniket), and the Now Zealand Antimony Company are at present consideiing the advisability of working it themselves. The ore is so rich they will probably elect to do this. Sir Julius Yogel's interests are, Ihear,intimately bound up with those ot the Simplon Railway Company, a scheme which has been hanging tire for nearly a year now. If it goes through, Sir Julius will be in clover again. Mr Murdoch, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Auckland, is also a through passenger for the colony by the Yarra. The P. and 0. Arcadia, sailing to-day, ha? Mr Sprott for Lyotelton, Messrs Engles and W. Light for Wellington, Messrs Ansonne. Bartlett, L. Chapman, T. W. Connell, Duthrie, S. A. Lindscy, A. Mybrea, E. W. Storey, and Miss Mybrea for Auckland, Mr E. J. Mitchell for Napier, and Mrs Grondona and Mr Martin for Dunedin. Searle has takon his passage by the Iberia, and bails for Sydney on Thursday next, 27th inst. Your old friend Lady Cclin Campbell'** novel, •' Darell Blake," is out, and proves to be fairly readable. The heroine, a femme incomprtse called Lady Alma Vereker, is of course Lady Colin her&elf ; and she has evidently also made use of her friend, Mr Wilfred Meynell (the well-known Roman Catholic journalist;, as a model for Darell Blake, the editor. The Mrs* Blake of the novel has, however, no affinity to Mrs Meynell, who happens to be a specially gifted and charming woman and a sister of Lady Butler's (Miss Elizabeth Thompson that was). The arrangements tor Marie Van Yandt's tour of the colonies are almost complete. The prhna donna will be accompanied by her mother. At Balmoral on Monday the Queen conferred the G.C. M.G. on Lord Hopetoun, and bade him "God speed." From all accounts Her Majesty was epecially gracious. Oranges are arriving from Australia just now in capital condition, and being both sweet and large, sell well.

THE FLAX INDUSTRY. In view of the revival of the flax industry in New Zealand, your Government instructed Sir F. D. Bell to ascertain whether the market — more especially the American market — was likely to be permanent. The result is most satisfactory. Sir Francis finds there is practically an unlimited market for good flax in America, and that it is opening out every month. The great thing to take care of is that the flax is carefully treated after the Maori fashion.

DEATH OF PAINE, THE SHOOTIST. The death of Ira Paine, the champion shootist, from swallowing a glass of ice-cold milk on a hot day, recalls to mind notable scenes in which he played a part. If I mistake not, this is the man who shot an apple off the head of the late Mr S. Pulford in the Auckland theatre, Pulfoid moved (or Ira said he moved), and the bullet scored I'ulford'es head with a Fomewhat painful impromptu parting. The old fellow always swore he never felt the same after, and unquestionably his skull was somewhat damaged. Paine performed in all the colonies, in fact, he had been several times round the world. He died well oft.

THE SCULLING CHAMI'ION.sHIP. Considerable pressure is beintr brought on Searle to row Gaudaur for ],000sovs. a side on one of the American lakes. The Australian has so far wisely refused, but he offers to meet Gaudaur on either Tyne or Thames over the championship course, or (if smooth water is indispenbuble to the American) at Henley on the regatta stretch. Mr St. John (Gaudaur's backer) does not seem to "cotton " somehow to this reasonable proposal, and the match is therefore nob likely lo come to anything. I fancy, . indeed ; Searle is anxious to got back to Australia before the recollection of his re-

cent prowess grows dim, and means sailing quietly away by an early steamer.

WHAT INSTIGATED AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE STRIKE. Ever since the great sti'ike concluded, all sorts of worthy people have been busying themselves speculating as to what'could be the motive which induced the Australian colonies to subscribe' with such extraordinary liberality to the Dockers' Relief Fund. The "Standard " explains the phenomenon with characteristic malevolence. It says : "An element of pure selfishness • has of course entered largely into this sinister liberality. To keep English immigration out of the colonial market; is a prime article of the Antipodean trades union creed ; and the impression has been astutely propagated that to assist the English labourer to bring the English capitalist to his knees is a short and easy way of preventing the surplus population from invading the ; Australian colonies and competing with the wage-receiverg of Adelaide, Melbourne, Dunedin, etc." Curiously enough, Phil Robinson (of all people) coincides with this view, but J. F. H. (presumably Mr Hutton) attributes the generous outburst purely to profound sympathy. There have (he says) been severe and successful strikes in the boot making and other trades in Mell'Ourne lately, and the colonists were just in the mood to help others fighting lor their rights. "F.," in a long epistle to the " Pail Mall Gazette," protects against its being supposed that the attitude of Australia in the strike involves a success tor the principle of colonial federation. The people who subscribed the money are ("F." says) the "Young Australia" or Nationalist party ; and its inclination is all in the diiection of "cutting the painter," and not of drawing ties closer. At the winding-up meetings in connection with the great strike, " good old Australia " (as the dockers have affectionately recliristened our Antipodean possessions) naturally came in for plenteous kudos on account of their generous support of the dockers' oause. Speaking in Hyde Park on Sunday, Burns said, "It was strange that most help should have come from across the seas. The fact showed that the internationalisation of labour was no longer a myth, as it was once supposed to be, but was becoming more absolutely a reality from shore to shore and continent to continent." (Cheers.) Ben Tillelt also re ferreJ gratefully to the Australian subscriptions, but alleged that some of the Anglo-lo'onial merchants had cabled to stop supplies. He meant to obtain the names ot these gentlemen, and should placard them all over London.

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN BURNS.— HIS VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. Fiom the handsome way in which Australia, has subscribed to the strike fund, I judged that any new items concerning its head — Mr John Burns — would be of interest-. I therefore made it my business to interview him ye-terday. It was a difficult matter, for the " Professional Agitator," as the " Morning Post " style 3 him, was muking a round of the docks. I ran him to earth at last, however, in the "Star" newspaper office. By courtesy of the &übeditcr, I was allowed five minutes' chat. Ihe Strike King, as he is now called, was anayed in the costume that has made him conspicuous) right through the recent battle. A large and very dilapidated white straw hat, a baggy suit of light serge, and a huge satchel of Dtown leather are its simple components, but with tho owner's poweitul lrame and features they make a sufficiently interesting exterior. John Burns is certainly nothing if not picturesque. "I am sorry you have had such work to find me," he said, when I had told him mv business. "I have been making a round of my boys. You must let me bhank you as> in some fashion representing Australasians for the noble way they have helped the poor fellows to stand out and gain their rights. Really, the Australians have proved themselves regular bricks. 1 don't know what we should have done without them. Fail ? Oh, dear, no, that we cortainly should not have done, but the battle would have been a much greater stiain on the boys, and suffering must have been fifty thousand times as bad as it was, I don't know," he continued meditatively, " whether we shall ever have a chance of repaying our Australasian friends — pray heaven not, for their sake, but should such an unlikely thing happen, by George, you will see how our fellows will bend their backs and strive to repay as far as they can the heavy debt of gratitude they owe. I suppose you remember what I said last week about the pleasant difference between yjur fellows and the Americans I mean your chaps sending in the dollars without much talk, and the latter talk without dollars. ' •' Yes,' I answered, "that went out last mail." "Did it?" he responded. "By gum, you press fellows are quick. I am very glad, though, they will see that we appreciate their business-like ways. What do I think of the 'Standard' loaders on the subject ? Well, they are just what one would have expected of the ' Standard. ' They seem incapacitated from seeing the good in anything. The idea was low and filthy, and more fitted to the columns of that organ of snobbism and tomfoolery, the ' Morning Post,' than the gentlemanly organ of the Conservative party. (itjutlemauly- pah ! The sentiments would disgrace the meanest little skunk alive." He was getting so excited that I thought it better to change the subject, so chipped in with, "Do you intend visiting the colonies, Mr Burns ?*' " Why, yes," he answered, good-tempered again, all at once. "I may start before Christmas, if all goes well. One ot the big companies has offered me a free cabin." " Was it the P. and O. '?" I hazarded. "Never you mind what company it was, I am not going to say, it would not be fair," returned the Socialist, rather hotly. "I shall stop fome little time in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Yes, I shall lecture, and considerably, in those towns. Adelaide will be the first, in all probability. All the incidental airangement? are, however, quite unsettled as yet, and I have hundreds of plans to make before I go. Even the date will depend on circumstances. ' I hinted tentatively as to the funds raised by tho lectuies. " Well,youarecuriousfellowB, you i eporters," he answered. " How do I know there will be any ? You can bet your hat, and your best one, that I am not going to wrock myself. The lectures will be openair ones, and no begging, unless, of course, I have a special object on hand then. Will iVirs Burns go with me? Of course; certainly. Why not?" and the modern Masceniello looked at me quite ferociously. I hurried on — " You are both good sailors I presume ?" " Yes," with a laugh, "we are, and you may say that I shall probably vary the monotony of ship's cricket and quoits by taking an occasional turn in the stoke room and engineers' quarters : 1 am used to both' you know" he concluded with a short laugh. " One more question, Mr Burns. All the temperance people are making capital of your teetotalism ; is it true you have always been so ?" "Oh, yes ; it's true enough, but I hate the average teetotaller so much that I think of yoing on the., 'booze' for a month evezy yoar. I hate being held up by these cant- I ing humbugs of temperance people as a shining light. Well, 1 can't stop chatter- \ ing all evening, even to an Australasian

pressman, so by-bye," "Next minute Mr Burns and the " Star" were busy discussing whether the bakeis or the 'bus and tram men should strike next. It is odds on that the bakers have next turn.

MR GLADSTONE AT THE HIPPODROME. Mr C. E. Haughton sails from Marseilles by the Yarra next Thursday, and hopes to be with his L)unedin friends for Christmas. Mr Haughton spent last week and the week beforeshowing his son and sister the sights of Paris. At the Hippodrome one evening the little party found themselves sitting immediately behind Mr and Mrs Gladstone. Mr Haughton was immensely struck with the intense heartiness with which the G.O.M. enjoyed himself. He says he doesn't know whether his boy or Mr Gladstone carried on most. They seemed both about equally de'ighted. The great statesman talked as if he had never been to a circus before, and discussed the acrobatic feats with his wife and Sir Edward Watkin as if the subject were the one in the world for which he cared moat. Mrs Gladstone wanted to cave about 11, fearing her husband might be tired, but he insisted on sitting the. whole show out. The Parisian public received the G.O.M. very cordially. The" National Anthem was played as he entered, and again as the party left, and the greater part of the immence audience (the Hippodrome holds 7,000) stood up.

LITERARY, Messrs Sampson Low announce for immediate publication " Blacks and Bushrangers," Australian adventures by C. B. Kennedy ; " New Zealand for the Emigrant, Invalid and Tourist," by J. Murray- Moore ; 11 The Great South Sea," by F. J. Moss ; and "Adrift in the Pacific," a story-book by Jules Verne. A so-called Australian ventriloquist named Millis is appearing at the London Pa\ilion with only moderate success. His business is all very o.d. I see Rolf Boldcrwood's clever story of bush life in Australia, "Robbery Under Arms," was pome time ago added to the Tauchnitz series of English works for circulation on the continent. The numerous Australian friends of Mr Will Chapman (lane " Ithmiel," of the 11 Top Times,") may be interested to learn that he is busy preparing a new " Dramatic List " on the lines of Pascoe's now almost obsolete work. The "Scot's Observer of the 21st inst. contains a long and very able review of Mr John White's "Ancient History of the Maori," recently published by the New Zealand Government. The reviewer deals exhaustively with the subject of Maori myth and legend, which lie pronounces highly interesting, and, from some points of view, even instructive ; but he is rather seveie on Mr White's book, as the following extracts will thow : - "It is in four volumes(consideringitsraethod, Ihere seems no sufficient reason why it should not be in forty), and each volume is m two versions, English and Maori. 'Chore is, indeed, evidence that it is unfinished, for there are frequent references to an appendix, a dictionary, and genealogical chai ts for which we have nought in vain, le has been edited with scissors and a paste pot. It contains whole chapteis from books, pamphlets, and lectures by Sir George Grey, Mr W. Colenso, and others, and it gives countless vessions, long and short, of the same myth or tradition taken down from the mouths of Maori chieis or priests -ometimes with scarcely a difference or expression, as, for instance, in the story of Hika-ororoa, in the third volume, which is told twice in the same words. There is neither comparison nor condensation. Mr White has conceived his whole duty of editor to be to collect all that he could hear or find concerning the Maoiis and bind it together, so that his four volumes are no more a book than a timber-yard is a building. La?t and oddeot peculiarity of all : This fouifold farrage, though it bears the imprint of a London publisher, i? really printed and published (h( h by Government authority ') and bound in New Zealand."