OUR ANGLO-COLONIAL LETTER, London, October 18.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 4

OUR ANGLO-COLONIAL LETTER, London, October 18.

THE MATTER SON SCULLING MATCH. ' " How the mighty have fallen !" say 3 the 11 Daily Telegraph." " Until within rocenb years Englishmen held the'.r own in all athletic sports against the world. If wo prided ourselves on one thing more than another, it was our superiority on river as well as sea, in sculling and yachting. But the days of thoso unrivalled oarsmen — Chambers, Kelly and Renforth — stalwart and staying athletes all of them, are gone, seemingly to return no more, and our best of to-day are but third-rate when compared to the champions of other and younger nations. The one solace is that the victors are our own offspring—Americans, Canadian.", and Australians." This is singing on a low note, but the pitch is justified by the hollow defeat of Buboar by Neil Matterson on Monday. Bubeai is certainly the best prolessional sculler in England, and his record is excellent. Ho defeated Pearce, of Hammersmith, and the two Australians, Kemp and Neiteon, twice. This is good enough. Ho is a man about 30, standing sft B\u\, and he weighs list 10lb, being of an admirable build. He lias been training for the past month, and his friends thought him in the pink of condition, with plentyleft in him to win. Matterson is four years younger than his opponent, and four inches taller, being sparely built but muscular, aa moat " Cornttalks " are. Matterson has bsen underrated for some reason or other ; perhaps bimply because he came as bear-leader to a bigger man. At any rate, it was thought improbable that he could stay the course, which is over four miles, though there were plenty to back him to lead for the first mile or co in a apuit. In spite of all this the victory of Searle and the appearance of Matterson when he stripped, so impressed bettors that the Australian started a slight favourite, 21 to 20 being laid on him. Of course, one did not expect to see the number of people at this minor match that one did at the big championship duel, but still there were plenty and to spare lining the banks all along the course. Bubear won the toss, and selected the sunny side, though it gavo him no advantage to speak of. Shortly before four «the Englishman appeared in his " swaddle," s-culling slowly towards the bridge, and a few minutes later Matterson came up to the umpire's boat in a genial, confident manner that boded ill for his rival. Then came the preliminary spurt, and then the start. After two false starts they got away at 4.14 p.m., Matterson pulling 36 to Bube&r's 35. At once the Australian drew out, and showed daylight between the boats, Bubear following steadily, but in a cramped fashion without much dash. Matterson was soon three lengths ahead and going as airily and methodically as clockwork. At the Ciaven steps Bubear pulled up a bit, but, alas ! Matterson was not going to ha\ethat, and he rushed in with a spurt, leaving his rival farther in the rear than ever. Here it was obvious that Bubear was " not in it," as Matterson held the race well in hand with four lengths, and at Hammersmith Bridge he had added another length. Some atrocious creature aimed a stone from the bridge at Matterson, but luckily it did not hit him or the boat, which it would have broken. Now Bubear' s backers lost all heart, and refused to respond to 2 to 1 on Matterson, though still some held to the non staying theory. At Thornycroft's the Australian was eight lengths to the good, and, despite all Bubear's efforts, made this into eleven. At Barnes's Bridge, the Cornstalk was 13sec. to the good, his time being 18min. 38sec, and at the finish he had won by twelve lengths in the easiest of fashions. The total time was 22min. 2sec, which is record-breaking, thanks to tide and wind. Babear ceased rowing opposite the ship, and let his boat drift past the stake, being 19sec. after Matterson. The previous " best " was BrightweU's, in 1884, when the time was 22nun. 18sec. Matterson was cheered vigorously, and, like Searle, when he stepped on board the umpire's boat looked fresh enough to go through the business again. Thus has Australian prowess been vindicated against allcomers. On Satuiday last week, Mr Henniker Heaton, who is just about departing on his travels, gave a little dinner to Searle and Matterson at the St. Stephen's Club, at which sundry colonials were present, including Mr Healy-Hutchinson, who thought that Sydney was the pleasantcst place he ever lived in.

BON VOYAGE, HOPETOUN. Lord Hopetoun, as he himself confessed, must be considered a lucky young man. At the ago of 29 he has achieved the position of Governor, of the wealthiest, and, with all due respect to New Zealand, it mu3t be confessed the most important colony in Australasia ; and this, too, without any effoit on his own part. No doubt, he has found it veiy trying, for the most people can do is to stare at his youth when they first meet him, and )u3 remarks on Tuesday night showed that he had felt and Buflered from this fact. Fresh from his Edinburgh triumphs, where banquets and speeches were of a most impressive and satisfactory character to a young man, he condescended to come down to a ■very different sphere, and meet the colonials of London at a farewell dinner at the St. George's Club the other night. It U well known among the inner ciicle that Sir Graham Berry was not over anxious to arrange this little affair, a.s he has a distinct objection to bo " trotted out for the benefit of a proprietary club," a? he himself phrases it ; but owing to the representations of Mr Philip Mennell, of the "Age," and other solicitation*, he gracefully conceded the position, and went into the matter heart and soul, for when Sir Gruham once buckles to a thing he does it 3 as his Pailiamentary 'adversaries know, with a vengeance. The dining-room of the St. George's, as many colonials know, is a big one, but it was scarcely big enough for the large company which assembled there on Tue-day. The presentations which precede the procession to the dining room on these occasions, aie emphatically a nuisance. No man ever has his name announced properly, and most certainly had the late Mr Dufla.s been present he would have walked into the hall under the pseudonym of "DuiFer," as he always used to complain. However, that was got through, and at last everyone was seated— seated by the way in a terrible crush. My elbows were in my neighbour's neck (he was a short man) and my friend on the right struck my ribs every time he endeavoured to reach his mouth with his fork. There were little details, however, which no one noticed in the general high spirits, and between waiting for the courses one had time to look about and note the guests. Fully 250 were present, and most of them were old colonials. The faces one recognised were too numerous to mention. Lord Knutsford sat on the left of Sir Graham, and Lord Hopetoun on the right. Lord Rosebery was to have been there, but he had met with an accident, and so his place was occupied by longwiuded Mr (Jhilders with flowing white beard. All the Agents-General were present with the

single exception of Sir Francis Bell, who sent a letter of apology ; and among other K.U.M.G.'s I saw Sir William Robinson, of < Trinidad, Sir John Fender, Sir John Coode and Sir Walter Buller, who is in the highest of spirits, balking to the anything but venerable Archdeacon of London and Sir John Fender, Sir George Bowen I noticed Icctuiing the youthful earl on what he might expect in Melbourne, and Sir Aithur Blytho indignant that the Archdeacon had 'taken his chair. Who could overlook Mr Henniker Heaton and his secretary, the burly Mr Lett, or^ Colonel Howard Vincent? Besides the-e there were Mr Nelson McLean, Mr Henry Russell, of Napier, Mr Cashel Hoey, Mr Collins Levoy, of Exhibition fame, Mr Milner Stephens, very " totting," but loouing as if he would like to rub someone with flannel ; Mr Edward Jenkins, in high spirits at the thought of his coming lecturing tour in Australia ; Mr Mennell, of the "Ago," surrounded by his friends, including Mr Heddon Chambers ; Mr Fatchett Martin, late of Melbourne; Mr Maniotb Wateon, and Mr Mannington Cafl'yn, the vivacious author of "Miss Milne and I." Mr T. M. Stewart, of the Bank of New Zoaland, was in a perfoct financial coterie, including Mr Mendell, i of the Bank of Australasia, and several otheis. Sir Edward Reed proposed "The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces," which was responded to by Sir Andrew Clarke, Sir George Try on, and Mr Sutherland, M.P. Sir George looked e\ery inch a sailor as he spoke of the harbour of Melbourne being able to accommodate all the navies of the world, " provided they got there." Lord Knutsford proposed the toast of the evening in a few words, his keen, refined face sparkling with the excitement of the occasion. It is noteworthy that he emphasised the fact that "after due and careful consideration Her Majesty's Government had come to the decision — a decision with which I, for one, most heartily concuired — that the sole responsibility of appointing the Governors of the colonies must rest, as heretofore, with the Secretary of State." Judging from the reception of the Earl of Hopetown, we may anticipate, as Lord Knutsford prophesied, a warm welcome for him in the colonies. , When the new Governor, who had been hidden by flower-pots and &uch like, got i up, it was a distinct surprise to many to many to find him so boyish. He might 1 readily pass for 20, though he owns to 29 ; yet ho proved himself more than a boy in his speech, which was very happy and certainly earnest. He said, and he well might say, that it was the happiest moment of his life whon Lord Knutsford offered him the post of Go\ernor of Victoiia. He knew his appointment had been much commented on by people, because of his youth, but he was "sure Victoria would nob rosenfc his being willing to spend the best years of his life in her service. This was a most happy point to make, and elicited prolonged cheering. He went on to refer to the difficulty of succeeding Sir H. Loch, and to say that he realised it was no child's play ho was undertaking. Another point he made was in legnrd to the condolences of his friends, who, he said, came to him with "You are going from your home and friends for five years ; is that tolerable ?" " They meant that kindly," he said, " bub I feel rather inclined to re?ent their pity, because they speak to me as if I were to have no home and friends for fivj years, and to be a kind of wandering Jew ; as though 1 were to be a criminal in solitary confinement during the term of my office. They do nob remember that I am going to a country which is populated by men of my own race and of my own religion. They do nob seem to remember that there are as warm hearts in Victoria as there are in this country. They do not seem to recognise the fact that solid and enduring friendships may be made there as well as here: and they do not remember that I shall have around me all that is nearest and deare&t to me, and that my ho7ne during the next five years will be in Victoria." He trusted te have the same feelings towards Victoria that Lord Carrington had towards New South Wales when he said, in a letter to him, thabwithsuchacountry,such aclimate, and such kind friends, life is indeed worth living. He dwelt, in closing, upon the advantages to himself which a residence in Victoria would gi\e, and finished up with a sound reference to the growing intimacy of the colonies and the mother country, which had in the pabt neglected her offspring too long. Sir Graham Berry proposed the toast of the " Colonial Empire," and pointed out that the balance of power in Europe, which was now stable, would be very difieient after a great European war, and might expose Australia, if she were weak, to the assault of any avaricious power. Hence, the bonds of the Empire fchould be knib closer. Mr Childers responded, and other toasts followed. Lord Hopetoun has entirely gained the esteem of those who heard him, and one may venture to predict for him a great success in Melbourne, where enthusiasm and kindliness are valued at their true worth. He sailed in the Biitannia yesterday, so you will be soon able to gauge the accuracy of my idea.

ROUND THE WORLD IN A LIFEBOAT. A Swede, named Jorgensen, who has invented a lifeboat without which no ship in the future will be complete, has undertaken a voyage round the world, in order to test his invention and advertise it. The qualities claimed by the inventor are as follows : — The boat is decked, and hence cannot be water-logged or filled by however heavy a sea. It can be constructed in parts, the parts to befitted together readily in an emergency ; and it can carry in lockers provisions for the full complement of passengers for 14 days at leafct. With the object of proving the boat in tho highest degree seaworthy, he has gone on this Anson excursion, and has now reached Madeira. From theie, he, proposes to go, via the Cape, to Australia ; from Australia to New Zealand, and thence back by Capo Horn. Twenty-two days was the time taken in going to Madeira in the Storm King, which is manned by Captain Joreen.°on and a friend. At 3 a.m. on the 12th of September they left London, and met with no adventures till the 16th, when two sharks persisted in following them, gleaming with phosphorus. Undisturbed by this evil omen, they pushed on, and in order to try the merits of tho boat to the full, resolved to run her before a stout wind. It wa& blowing a gale from N.N. W. with heavy squalls, and sea running mountains high. The Storm King took the big waves splendidly, and went like an arrow through the breakers. Only three heavy seas wore shipped, which did no harm, and they ran thus for three days before the storm. Captain Jorgensen hopes to reach Capetown by the end of December, so that his arrival in Now Zealand will bo at a somewhat remote period.

SPEECHES ON THE COLONIES. Speeches on the colonies seom to be of everyday occurrence jusfc now, for no less ; than four politicians have spoken at some length on this subject; within the last fortnight, namely, Sir Charles Dilke, Lord Hartineton, Lord Carnarvon and Mr Courtney. Lord Hartington spoke of them in connection with Home Rule, which he said he had heard advocated as a general federation principle. He said that he saw no desire on the part of the English

people to hand over to the colonies I the control of questions of peace and i war, and that even if it were so fedoration was an entirely different question from disintegration. Mr Courtney also used an argument deduced from tbo colonies against Homo Rule. He said ho was surprised that so little attention had been paid to New Zoaland in this connection, for in Now Zealand Provincial Government had been tried and found wanting, and the six pro\inccs were forced to coalesce because of the costliness and troublesomeness of the system. It would be dangerous, ho thouglic, to try an exporiment in an old country liko England which had failed in a new one like Now Zealand. But it is Sir Charles Dilke who 13 systematically working the colonies in his public speeches At Bradford on Saturday, he lectured to an audienco of 5,000. He took a very dissimilar view to his padrona's, and thought that the self-governing colonies of Australasia practically dwarfed the Irish question. He found much to admire in Australasia, as he had done in his Forest of Dean speech. It was the " Paradise of State Socialism ;" the railways were in the hands of the State, and there were bounties for crops and so forth. Australia can certainly not complain of being neglected.

THE DALLE Y MEMORIAL. The Imperial Federation League, which took up so warmly the memorial to the Right Hon. W. B. Dalley, confidently hope to see tho bust orectod in Sb. Paul's Cathedral early in the year. The subscription was limited to a guinea, but the funds have already been subscribed, and the list is closed. Sir Edgar Boehm, Bart., R. A., has undertaken the memorial, and will soon have it ready. I notice all sorts of names on the list of subscribers, from Master Henniker Heaton to Lord Knubsford.

THE NEW OCEAN STEAMER. Kaiser Wilhelm 11., as the now North German Lloyd Australian steamer is called, sailed for the Antipodes on Sunday. She id a vessel of 6,000 tons and 6,500 hoi>e power, and is expected to do the outwaid passage in very smart time. The fittings are on a very line scale, and the first-saloon cabins are very comfortable, having a sort of outside dressing-room attached to each. The promenade deck is 250 ft, and is free from boats, ventilators and so forth. On the whole it may be expected that the German Company will prove a formidable rival to the P. and O. and Orient lines, if they sail from London instead of Hamburg. The Elbe is to follow in November, but that is a vessel of but 5,000 tons.

AUSTRALASIA AND THE DILLON TOUR. The "Freeman's Journal" of Monday publishes a letter from Dr. Kenny in reference to tho Australian contributions to the Evicted Tenants' Fund resulting 1 from the mission of Messrs Dillon, Deasy, and Sir Thomas Esmonde. Mr Kenny is very indignant that Mr Chamberlain should have stated that the tour was a failure, lie says that eince its inception the fund has supported over 500 families a month, and that it is disbursed on a plan arranged by Dillon before his departure*, and is intended purely for those tenants " whose bravo and unflinching attitude has withstood the joint attacks oflandlordsyndicates, supported and instigated by subscriptions from English aristocrats, and all the infamies of Balfour's coercive regime." The sum collected to the date of writng is £10,919 13s 4d, of which £6.683 6d 6d was collected in Victoria, £2,500 in New South Wales, £414 6s lOd in Tasmania, £322 in South Australia, and £1,000 in Queensland. The '•Freeman's Journal," in commenting upon this, points out that the whole was collected within three months, and that it is a sufficient answer to "Mr Chamberlain's slander upon the ho&pitable and generous-hearted people of Australia." " Ireland," says the article, " owes much to Australia. She has had no stouter friend or more princely helper in the struggle for the past decade." Tho notice concludes with a glowing picture of the success of the delegates.

THE NEW ZEALAND AWARDS. There can be no doubt that New Zealand has done exceedingly well ab the Paris Exhibition, all the more so because she pave it so little attention. In all, the New Zealand awards amounted to 3 grand piizos, 10 tfold medals, 23 silver medals, 14 bronze medals, and 16 honourable mentions. The total number of awards was 33,139, of which 203 were grand prizes, 5,153 jjold inedale, 9,690 silver medals, 9,323 bronzo medals, and 8,070 honourable mentions,

ANULO COLONIAL NOTES. Sir Walter Buller, \\ ho was in great form at the banquet to Loid Hopetoun, does nob know when he will be able to get out to Isew Zealand, bub expects to leave here in December. This is what he id trying for, at any rate. Sir Fiancis Bell is not very well, is indeed not up to going out to dinners, and this i& his excuse tor his non appearance at the banquet But it is whispered that Sir Fiancis is not over-pleased with the treatment he recehed over in Paris at the hands of the Victorian people, and so will not consent to sit beneath Sir Graham Berry. The Queen has allowed the AngloAustralian Society of Artists to prefix the title of "Royal," and hence the fellowship of colonials hero are chuckling in the hopes of greater favours to come, by way of increased sales. Stuart Kendell writes to the "Times" suggesting that either Gieat Britain or France should annex the Now Hebrides. Dr. Dale, late from Australia, delivered the opening addreßs at the Mansfield Collejre this week. Mr John Kempson, of Glastonbury House, Ealing, who d'ed on July 20th, has loft an annuity of £20 to his brother Henry in New Zealand. The personal estate, amounting to £15,000, goes mostly to his brother William. Sir Somers Vino, who has been "on tour " for the Imperial Federation League, has returned to she bosom of the Savage (Jiub, and adorned the new premises with a great mask which he obtained in Borneo. Miss Florence Monk-Meyer, tho brilliant* Australian pianist, is to visit her native country in the Salazie. Lord Onslow's live 3tock, tho last of which has been sold at Clandon Park, brought high prices, especially the Suffolk hor&es. A great deal of the stock is said to have gono to New Zealand, and consequently the sale of rams was very small. N.B. Lord Onslow's shooting at Clandon has been purchased by the wily proprietor of St. George's Club, Mr Castle, a wine merchant, who knows how to advertise. Fergus Hume's new book is to be published, not by Tri3chler, and will be callod " Miss Mephistopheles," a sequel to "Madam Midas."

PASSENGERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. The following passongers have been booked by William Ashby and Co. for New Zealand : — Per Britannia, sailed on October 18th : Mr J. Milne, Auckland ; Miss L. Mason, Christchurch ; F. E. N. Crombie, Esq., Auckland. Per s.s. Doric : Mr Alex Williamson, Napier. Per s.B. Arawa, October 31st : Mr de Lisle, Napier. Per s.s. Coptic : Mr T, S. Tiffin, Mrs Randle, Napier,

Per s.s. Victoria ; Mr H. Brett, Mrs Brett, Mr Brett, junr., Misses Brett (2), Auckland; Mine Uaraia, Canterbury; Mr and Mrs Peacock Auckland. Per s.s. Aoransji : Mr and Mrs Geo. Colman, Canterbury. Per s.s. Oceania from Marseilles : Mr W. Waie, Auckland. Per s.s. Luotiania : Mr and Mra Thos. Spencer, Auckland. Mr Owen Jones is in Canada, and Mr Ware, his former paitncr, ia in Spain, on a visit 10 Mr Stannus Jones. Mr and Mrs Blomfiold are still in Paris. Tho ship Canterbury shut out botweon 500 and 600 tons of cargo, which has been sent round to the Lady Cairns, to sail on the 31st October.