ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 455, 19 March 1890, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(I’ROM OUR OWN' CORRE.SI’ON PUNT.) ft London, January 31. TOOLE’S KETTLEDRUM.

The ladies of the theatrical profession, headed by Miss Ellen Terry and that vivacious veteran Sirs Keelcy, will entertain Mr Toole at a special and particular afternoon kettledrum of their own, to be held at the Whitehall Rooms (Hotel Metropole), on the afternoon of Friday next from four to six. Though the organisers of this gracious compliment will be “ ladies only,” the entertainment is not to bo what is vulgarly known as a “ cat’s party,” with Mr Toole (for this afternoon only) in the part of “ the mouse.” To begin with, a “ ladies’ dinner” in honour of the departing comedian was proposed, but Mrs Keeley emphatically vetoed it, vowing with characteristic energy she would give neither presence nor countenance !o any ceremony from which the male sex were to be excluded. “My dears,” she said to the committee of actresses discussing the question, “do, pray, think how deadly dull it would be.” The Committee did think, and in consequence, gentlemen who do not mind paying a guinea lor the privilege of assisting at an altogether unique valedictory reunion, wilt be permitted to be present. Every ticket has long ago been taken, and the affair promises tc bo a smarter one in Ibo matter of company than such “guinea feeds’ usually are. Next morning your visitor leaves for the Riviera, where he will recruit a bit-prior to joining the Britannia at Brindisi on March 3rd. TOOLE AT THE -SAVAGE CLUB.

The bright particular stars of the Savage Club who seldom shine on that sanctuary ot Bohemianism save on really smart occasions, were in force there last Saturday evening. Owing to the guest par excellence oi the night having to be on the stage at Toole’s Theatre before eight o'clock, the Savages’ abnormal dining hour of half-past iivswasstrictly adhered to,andsoon after that time Mr George Henty took the chair, with “ the genial comedian ” on his right, and Curly William Rignold (also to be speeded on liis way to Australia) on his left. Then came (right and left) S r Albert Rollit and Sir Frederick Abel, Sir Jno. Somers Vine (of Vine Court), and Mr Thomas Woolner, K.A., Mr Albert Fox and Dr. Lennox Browne, whilst amongst other notabilities present I observed Mr C. J. Phipps (architect of most of London’s theatres), and Messrs Jerome, K. Jerome, Ralph Lumley (author of “Aunt Jack”), Bronson Howard, Weedon Grossmith, Walter Wren (the great army “ coach ”), Hume Nisbett, Edward Draper, and journalists yalore. Guests were excluded. We had barely bolted our food and the cloths were not withdrawn when the Chairman gave the familiar signal for silence. In proposing the joint healths of Messrs Toole and Rignold, Mr Henty spoke of the long connection of both gentlemen with the club and the warm feelings with which they were regarded by all the members. Mr Toole had achieved many successes in his lile, perhaps the greatest of all was that by his masterly impersonation of the Don he hud so fascinated Mr Gladstone that the ex-Prime Minister had been induced to retire into the seclusion of a set of college rooms for three whole weeks. He concluded by wishing both gentlemen success, and eallingon the company to drink their healths with enthusiasm. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr J. L Toole said he had always been proud of being an actor, and not one of tho least of the privileges he had enjoyed by belonging to that profession was that it had qualified him to be a

member of the Savage Club. He was one of its earliest members, and for years, he might say, also one of its latest. Whilst on the voyage to Australia lie should probably spond most of his time alone with the steward, with the occasional variation of a game of billiards with the captain on the bridge. Whatever discomfort he might experience at such moments, the memory of that evening would come upon him as a consolation. He always intended to remain an actor. He had had many induccu ents oll'ered him to leave the stage, including one held out to him bv a dresser iu Liverpool, who remarked that lie was so popular in that city, that if he would but remain there and open a public-house, he would be bound to make a fortune. After a graceful compliment to Mr R ignold, Mr Toole thanked tho company for the honour they had done him, and concluded by an expression of regret that he was not taking out an opera company, as after the admirable manner in which thoy had rendered tho musical honours of the toast he should certainly have offered them all engagements. Mr William Kignold said he had always been proud of his connection with the Savage Club. He was proud when he was elected a member, he was proud every Limo he came into it, but he was proudest of all to-night. It was a pleasing thing to be associated with his dear old friend Mr Toole, whom he might truly say ho had known since “ the day before yesterday.” He thanked the company most heartily and sincerely. The rest of the evening was devoted to tlie usual Savage Club Saturday' night entertainment. HEMP IN TILE UNITED STATES. An American hemp-grower, who was examined before tire Committee of Ways and Means at Washington a week ago, made tho astounding statement that whereas the production of hemp in the United States was cncc as much as 83,000 tons per annum, it had now fallen to 12,000 tons. He attributed this diminution to the general substitution of wire and other material for ropes, and as packing appliances generally'. Hemp cannot be grown now to yield a profit o! more than 22s pet acre,and better results can be obtained by cultivating corn and tobacco. THE NORTHERN INVESTMENT COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Several of the leading financial organs point out that this Company offers a remarkable contrast to some more ambitious concerns in the colony whose affairs have come before the public recently. At the meeting of the shareholders in Edinburgh last week Mr Jas. Balfour, the chairman of the directors, called attention to the sound financial position of the Company. He said that they had foreclosed no properties, and the Company had not at that time a single aero of ground in its hands. There were no arrears of interest, all the interest in the colony having been paid up to the date of closing the accounts. On a paidup capital of TlC'o,ooo, the Company had earned, clear and clean, £12,169, and of this it was intended to distribute £6,000 in dividend—at the rate of six f er cent.—and to invest the balance as a reserve fund, the interest of which would accrue to the Company. Of the colonial manager, Mr Robert Dobson, of Napier, and of the Board iu the colony, Mr Balfour spoke very highly. He remarked that they were “ gentlemen of character, position, and business capacity, and were just the soft of men one would like to look after one’s affairs in a distant colony.” MR BENZON'S TROUBLES.

“ L’Affaire Benzon,” as Mr Benzon’s latest exploit is Btyled in tho French papers,

has assumed a very serious aspect for the peccant plunger. The cheque for £I,OOO alleged to be forged was not, it appears,the first bearing the same signature which Benzon sold to the French Bank. He had on two or three occasions cashed drafts for lesser sums, but invariably redeemed them before they could be sent to London. This process struck the manager (despite the “Jubilco’s” facile explanations) as distinctly odd, and after discounting the £I,OOO cheque he .resolved to telegraph to the English bankers, on whom it was drawn, asking them to kindly ascertain if it were all right. They at once communicated with their customer, Captain Hargreaves, M.F.H. (nob the great yachting man), who was staying at Monte Carlo, and who promptly pronounced the cheque a forgery. Benzon was arrested. Interrogated by the Proeureur of the Republic at Nice (French fashion), the dilapidated plunger, tearful and repentant, confessed his guilt, explaining, however, that he had meant to take up this £I,OOO cheque, like its predecessors, when he next won at baccarat. Captain Hargreaves declined to initiate a prosecution, and the Credit Lyonnais intimated that if the cheque were redeemed tho matter might drop as far as it was con-; cerned. Benzon’s trustees were communicated with on the subject, and meanwhile he made frantic attempts to borrow the £I,OOO from erstwhile “ pals ” on the Riviera. None of the “dear old chappies” applied to could, unfortunately, see their way to oblige and liberate the jugged “Juggins.” The trustees, however, eventually came to the rescue, and everything was going as nicely as possible, when a tiresome person in the shape of the French Public Prosecutor intervened. -Since then Air Benzon’s position has become like the little Jews in “ London, Day by Day,” “werry narsty.” The affair is being thoroughly threshed out by aJugo destruction, and at the time of writing it looks much as if the accused would have to stand his trial before the Tribunal of Justice. MR PARKE’S INFORMANT. In the “ Hawk ” this week, Augustus Moore pretends that the Scotland Yard detective wliuse misleading statements have landed Mr Parke in such a hobble came to him with tho same information, and that- he virtuously closed both his ears and his paper to the subject. I regret to say Ido not believe a word of this. The official who confided in the sub-editor of the “ Star ” was a highly-placed and responsible person, and how ho ccme to blunder as egregiously as he did will ever remain a mystery. Air Parke is, I regret to say, completely prostrated, and is at present in the hospital at Pentonville. WOOL-MARKING. The Treasury has decided that colonial shippers need not be troubled to mark their wool bales in any other manner than has been customary in past years, and that the more recent requirements in this respect will not be enforced in case of wool coining from British Colonies. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY. At an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Australasian Electric Light and Power Company held on Thursday last, resolutions were agreed to providing for the voluntary winding-up of the Company, and for the appointment of liquidators, who were directed to carry into effect an agreement entered into between the Company and the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, assigning to the latter Company several patents. The Chairman expressed a belief that when the winding - up was over, the shareholders would enter into the possession of a new and valuable property. MISS MYRA KEMBLE, the Australian actress, whose single and but moderately successful appearance on London boards seems to be viewed by injudicious Anglo-colonial admirers as an unexampled triumph, was entertained at a congratulatory dinner at the Hotel Bristol on Tuesday evening. Sir Saul Samuel presided, and Sir James Fergusson, who came all the way from Scotland specially to be present, occupied the vice-chair. Sir Saul proposed Miss Kemble's health, Air \V. J. Hollowing responding on her behalf. Sir Jas. Fergusson was also persuaded to speak, and pronounced a fervent eulogy on Sir 11. Parkes’s federation scheme.