ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our London Correspondent.) London, October 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (From Our London Correspondent.) London, October 4.

AN ADVENT UKE LOVING NEW ZEAIANDER. It has probably not occurred to your readers to connect Mr Herbert Ward, the famous African explorer, and friend of Stanley, with the young man of the same name who created a stir in I^ew Zealand seven or eight years ago by living for some months amongst the" Maoris in the King Country. They are, however, one and the same person. Young Ward was only sixteen then, and had but recently left Mill Hill School. He got on capitally with tho Maoris till they propo&ed tattooing him ail over as a mark of their affection, when it seemed prudent to make tracks for more civilised districts. If I remember rightly, Ward contributed an account of his adventures in the King Country to one of the Auckland papers. Soon afterwards he left the colony and entered the service of the North Borneo Company, with whom ho remained till he was 21, living the life of an explorer, and taking part in many stirring scenes. In October, 1884, Ward joined the International African Association, and was returning in January, 1887, when he met Stanley. Lat-t week the young jian (for he is only 26 even now) lectured at his old school on •• Cannibal Congo," and it was then he was recognised by two Auckland gentlemen now in England as the adventurous boy who, nearly a decade ago, bearded Tawhaio and his chiefs in their lair. Mr Ward seemed much pleased at being recognised, and the party enjoyed quite a pleasant chat. The shipping trade to New Zealand is busier now than it has been for many years. The Kaikoura shut out 100 tons of cargo, and the Doric, sailing to-day (October sth), has refused 50 tons. The ship Waimea, now in the Downs, bound to Auckland, had to leave over 200 tons behind, which will, however, go forward by the Canterbury on the 15th inst. Vessels bound for Christ church and Dunedin are also refusing cargo. The P. and O. and Orient Companies have raised their freights for rough goods to Sydney to 50s. Two months ago they were carrying goods for jusb half this. Shaw, Savill, and the New Zealand Shipping Company report that the demand for space for frozen mutton from New Zealand is far greater than they can supply. This state of things, however," is not likely ta last long, as several meat-carrying steamer companies are in embiyo. Shaw, Savill know this, and by way of being beforehand, last week launched the first of three steamers intended expressly for this trade. The second is on the stocks, and a third will follow. There have been more inquiries tor passages to New Zealand during the past three months than during the preceding live years. So, at least, the brokers say. Anyhow, the direct steamers up to November are full, and it is almost impossible to book through to New Zealand by P. and O. or Orient lines before January next. The number of tourists going to the Antipodes for the winter is, the P. and O. clerks assure, exceptionally large. Addressing a deputation at Hawarden on Saturday, Mr Gladstone referred to Aus tralia's generosity during the late strike "From the colonies," he said, "and more particularly from Australia, where labour is more largely endowed than in any other colony of the British Crown, large assistance came to the labouring man. It is a very important fact that the labouring man should have learnt to adjust the machinery by which labour can act. The meaning of it is a great increase in the strength and power of labour in it> competition with capital. '

THE MAORI FOOTBALLERS AXI> THE RUGBY UNION. It was of cource, quite impossible that the Iluyjby Union should ignore the scandalous imputations in connection uith fcbe Ail England match which Mr "Warbrick has foolishly chooen to cast upon Mr Rowland Hill and other officials, when interviewed by Australian papers. At the annual meeting of the Union on Wednesday evening the following took place : — A vote of thanks to Ur G. Rowland Hill for his great services as lion. feec. was carried, and with acclamation; and the business on ihe agenda paper being concluded, the President; &aid there was one matter that called for their attention, and read an extract from an Australian paper commenting on MrG. Rowland Hill s refereeing in the England v. Maoris match. MrS. E. Sleigh, Otago Union, commented iv strong teima on the conduct oi the Maoris, and on behalf of the Committee moved the following resolution, which was seconded by the President, and carried without a dissentient voice :—: — " The Rugby Football Union, assembled in general meeting, have heard with indignation the remarks reported in certain Australian papers to have been made by Mr Warbrick, the captain of the Maoii Football Team which recently visited England, in whiHi, amongst other things, he brings charges of unfairness generally against the Englishmen who refereed in their matches, and in particular against their hon. sec, Mr G. Rowland HilJ. the referee in the match England v. Maoris. •'Such charges are absolutely false and untrue, and the Union desire to express fcheir distinct approval of the manner in which Mr Hill discharged hi 3 duties in the match referred to, and oheir unabated confidence in his integrity as a referee. "The Union is convinced that Mr Warbrick's general statements will not be credited, and that, in particular, his unsportsmanlike and unwarran table assertion as to the absence of fair play amongst English football men will reflect only to his discredit, and will carry no weight with their brother sportsmen and with all true lovers of football in Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere." Everything considered. I think it will be admitted Mr Warbrick gets off pretty easily. You may, however, just as well understand at once that he has killed the possibility of any other New Zealand team coming over. The Rugby Union might, perhaps, be persuaded to countenance a European club ot colonial amateurs, but they will certainly never again play either Maoris or pseudo Maoris. Had other membeis of the team chosen to publicly disclaim and disown Warbrick's utterances, things would have been different. As they haven't, they've naturally all been tarred •with the same brush. It. is the greatest pity in the world, as with a little tact and good management the Maoris might have .eajrried with them the goodwill of all the English clubs, who could not but acknowledge tb,e excellent record which resulted ,{r,oua the 'EJpgJish tour.