ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 444, 8 February 1890, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, December 27. SPECIAL PERSONAL. ; Sir F. D. Bell has purchased 1,000 copies of Mr E. Wakefield’s book to distribute in this country. The author still remains in the States, engaged, it is understood, on remunerative literary work. Mr Wilfred Greg Rathbone, a brother of the gentleman who lived some time in Auckland several years back and started the “Observer,” sails for New Zealand by the I*, and 0. steamer Rome on February 6th. Mr Rathbone belongs to the new school of , journalism represented in London by the “Pall, Mall Gazette ” and the “ Star,” and has since its initiation held a responsible position on the staff of the last-named paper. Amongstsmart folk the “Star” issometimes loosely and vaguely contemned as “impossible,” but journalists are aware its success has been phenomenal, since it is the only London daily paper ever known which paid (and paid well, 6 per cent, in fact) in its first year. Mr Rathbone visits New Zealand with a view to buying a newspaper (or a share of one), in whichever of your cities he likes best. He may possibly ultimately stay in Sydney, but it is his intention to visit Aucklandbeforecoming to any decision, as he has heard much of the geniality and kindliness of the people there from hi? brother, Mr Brett, Dr. Haines, and many others. Mr Rathbone is about three and twenty, and unmarried. Mr J. E. Nathan has arrived Home from Wellington, and proposes to settle down permanently in South Kensington. Archdeacon Stock, who has no immediate intention of returning to New Zealand,is at Torquay, where he thinks of taking a house. . When I left town, before Christmas, Bishop Selwyn was very ill and had abandoned all intention of sailing from England till February or later. Mrs Selwyn could tell me nothing about the appointment to St. Mary’s, Auckland. Sir Walter Buller tells me he has been reading Sir George Bowen’s book and found it undoubtedly interesting, though the eminent author’s colossal egotism at times proved irritating. When, however, the matter of reminiscences is really clever, one can forgive the manner. Sir William Jervois, who was at one time Governor of the Straits Settlement, may possibly become chairman of the new tin mining enterprise on the Malay Peninsula. It is said that good old Johnny Toole will marry again before starting on his Australasian tour, and that the bride is his young and fair leading lady, Miss Violet Vanbrugh. The New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company announce an eight per cent, dividend. On the other hand the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Co. are not able to pay their shareholders anything this year, though they have made a small profit (£1,610 only), and their investments are thoroughly sound. FREIGHTS AND THE FUTURE. Mr Russell is not altogether satisfied with the present policy of the New Zealand Shipping Company. They are making so much money, he points out, mainly through •the unusually high freights, which are being kept ud by combination. Mr Russell misdoubts'both the policy and the fairness of these high freights. In the first place won’t they sooner or laterprovokedangerous competition ? In the second are they quite fair on the colony? The New Zealand Shipping Company is a colonial company started mainly in the interests of the colony, and owned chiefly by colonists. Have the latter nob a right to complain and feel discontented with these high freights? As to competition, are not Tysar and Co. already on the war-path ? THE BISHOP OF MELANESIA.

Thiß prelate sails for his diocese to-day, accompanied by Rev. James Duncan Ozanne, who goes out to join the Melanesian mission. Mr Ozanne is a 8.A., of Oxford, and was ordained by the Bishop of Chester (Stubbs) in 1880. He has held curacies at Runcorn aud Thurlestone, and is a vory promising young man. Mr Ozanne’s father once resided in Auckland. LORD DUNLO WRITES HOME.

Now that some of you have enjoyed the privilege of personal intercourse with that brilliantly intellectual sprig of the aristocracy Viscount Dunlo, the following edifying epistle addressed to Mr Augustus Moore, and dated Auckland, October 18th, will be read with interest “ I scrawl vou a line just to let you know that I am still alive. This is a grand country ; so is Australia. I have had a rare good time since 1 left England. We had exactly six weeks’ voyage till we landed at Adelaide, South Australia. “I was most infernally sick of the Lusitania by then. We stopped at Gib., Naples, Port Said, and Colombo on our way out. I stopped ten days in Adelaide, and put up at the club there as an honorary member! They put me up at every club in the colonies. Deuced good of them. I attended the theatres, two race-meetings, sampled the theatres, went over a silver mine, got drunk, and then moved on to Melbourne, where I stopped ten days more. I attended a day’s racing there, on the Caulfield course, went to more theatres, had two or three gallops with the drag hounds. I went up country to stop with some people named Pairbairn, at Lona, and had a good time. I then moved on to Sydney, and arriving just in time for their season, stayed about three weeks. My doings there were as follows: four days racing at Rand wick, abouta dozen balls, theatre every night, supper parties, picnics every other day down the harbour (glorious fun that !), hunting twice a week, tennis, cricket, etc., etc., and nearly always drunk —bed being generally reached at. 4 a.m. j ust about as bad as London. “ I have seen two people here you know. ‘Jelly’ Churchill and Ned Craven, 19th Hussars. He has been having a lot of fun ! Broken his collar bone and ribs whilst pursuing kangaroos. He says he is going home in November. “ I left Sydney on October 10th, and have just arrived here. I remain in New Zealand till the end of Novembei, and then so back to Melbourne. After that I know not. ... ; “ How’d my vjifa ' jU “ All you boys ought to come out here, you would make a fortune and have lots of; fun. ' I almost live in the saddle. “Now, cut revob". Love to all good boys: ana girls.” ' The tender query with reference to ‘‘ray wife” really ought not, to reniain un-> answered... Lady i)unlo, I rejoice to be able to inform her doting husband (if still in your part of the world), was as recently as the night before last in full enjoyment of her naturally robust health. On that evening in company with “ Sister Flo,” her ladyship played for the first ; time in pantomime at the Princes Theatre, Manchester,' 'find received a tremendous reception- In the bills of the play and posters she is given Her ’full title—Prince Tootsy-Pootsy (the pet of the peerage), Viscountess Duhlo. SLAVIN VERSUS SMITH. When first the Slavin versus Smith prize

fight was arranged, I told you what the talk was, and predicted that if-it ever took place, the Australian ■-> would not,be'permitted (supposing he showed, himself best man) to win. This prophecy, has proved (as of course you heard by cable) only too painfully accurate. ; The presence of a gang of chartered Birmingham roughs of the worst class at. - the ringside indicated what might be expected before the proceedings commenced, and it speaks volumes for Slavin’s bull-dog courage that lie should have consented at all under such conditions. Jem Smith looked (as well he might, -if he foresaw the “ gruelling ”, he subsequently received in prospect) pale and anxious, but began the contest with some spirit. In two minutes, however, it became obvious he had not a •50 to 1 chance with Slavin. The Australian's blows were terrific. In the third round he knocked the Englishman clean off his legs with a tremendous right hander. He repeated this operation again and again, astonishing even the most experienced experts by tlie determined manner of his fighting.- When the Birmingham gang realised the game was irredeemably up, they shouted “ Police,” and ran away. Smith scuttling off one of the first. Slavin, fortunately, saw through this manoeuvre and held his ground, his friends claiming the victory for him. The referee -undoubtedly ought bo have then awarded it to the Australian, bub in the face of the Brummagem roughs he had nob the pluck to do so. The fight was, therefore, nominally resumed, but in reality it amounted to Slavin punching the dazed, cowed and beaten Smith.-; whilst that worthy’s supporters struck him with knuckledusters, sticks, stones and sodawater bottles. At last the referee, to save (as he declares) Slavin’s life, stopped the shameful proceedings by proclaiming the contest a draw. In reality, however, the Australian beat Smith decisively.