ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 463, 16 April 1890, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

(From,Our Special Correspondent.) London, February 28. VOGEL’S PLANS. I understand that Sir Julius Vogel has decided on a much earlier return to the colony than he contemplated a few’weeks back, but he is very uncertain about re-entering public life, as he feels he has been badly requited by the colony for his past services. His article on “Imperial Federation,” in the “ Nineteenth Century,” and his recent letters to the “ Times ” attacking Henniker Heaton’s penny postage scheme, prove that he still takes an active interest in colonial affairs. He has not, so far, been very successful in his Company promotions, but if a railway project in which he is interested should prove the success it promises, Sir Julius will pocket a large sum of money. He has already benefited by the floating of the Taranaki Petroleum and Ironsand Company, but has consented to take the whole of his interest in fully-paid shares. SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL. A rumour of a very persistent kind has been in circulation for a fortnight past, to the effect that Sir F. D. Bell has accepted the managing directorship of a large Australian Finance Company, and will shortly resign the post of Agent-General. I have not been able to obtain as yet Sir Francis Bell’s authoritative denial of this rumour, but I have reason to believe that there is no foundation for it beyond the fact that some such offer has been made to him. Under the terms of his re-appointment as Agent-General he is entitled to retain the office till October, 1891, and although he often talks to his friends about returning to the colony before his term expires, I think New Zealand may depend on his services to the end. In many respects it would be very difficult to replace him. Not only is he regarded as an able financier and good man of business generally, but in highquartershe is apersona (jratwima , and this counts for a good deal

in a colonial representative. THE NEW ZEALAND ANTIMONY COMPANY. The Hon. William Gisborne has been appointed a director of the Company in the room of Mr James Farmer, who resigned some months ago on account of urgent private business. Sir Charles Clifford and M r Walter Turnbull retire from the Board by rotation, but they will offer themselves for re-election. I regret to say that Mr Turnbull is still in a very precarious state of health, and has been ordered to take a complete rest at the seaside. He is, however, the holder of 12,000 shares in the Antimony Company, and both his colleagues and the general body of shareholders are unwilling to lose his services- on the Board.

THE BLUE SPUR IMBROGLIO. A commission has been issued by the High Court of Justice for the taking of evidence at Dunedin in the action brought by Dr. Cameron and others against the directors of the Blue Spur Company, on the ground of alleged misrepresentation in the prospectus. No one is likely to take any benefit by the action but the lawyers on • both sides. The recent decision in the House of Lords in the case of Peek and Derry places beyond argument the principle that directors can only be held accountable for their own wilful and intentional misstatements or misrepresentation, and, in the present case, if there were misrepresentations, the directors were themselves the dupes. PROPOSED LIFE OF SIR DONALD McLEAN. The appearance and favourable reception of Sir Geo. Bowen’s book of “ Colonial Experiences” ha 3 suggested another work of a similar description, which would undoubtedly have a very hearty reception in New Zealand—that is a history of the life and great public services of the late Sir Donald McLean, whodid more than any other man, except perhaps Sir George Grey, to bring about a good understanding between the two races, and whose extensive official correspondence if published would form a very important contribution to the history of the colony. His personal career was a very remarkable one, and his influence over the Maori race was extraordinary. Whilst a benefactor in every sense of the word to his fellow-colonists, he was the best friend the Maoris ever had, and it is almost entirely to him they owe their present share in the legislative institutions of the country. The book would be interesting reading. “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.” In one of my former letters I mentioned the names of several English gentlemen who either had received or were about to re ceive high rank in the Legion of Honou 1 ' in connection with the Paris Exhibition, o r for other services. Among the latter wa 3 Sir Walter Buffer, who had been officially notified of the intention of the French Government, although ho had not (as I never stated) actually received the much-coveted “red ribband.” He was a guest at the banquet given by Sir Polydor de Kesper to the French Ambassador at the Mansion House on the 25th ult., when the decoration was worn by all the recipients, but Sir Walter was still without it. However, when standing on the platform at Fenchurch-street station, bidding adieu to the friends who had assembled to wish him and his party bon voyage to New Zealand, a despatch was handed to him from the Minister of Public Instruction announcing that the President of the French Republic had just signed the decree and congratulating him warmly on the event. 1 mention this incident because it seemed a happy Jinale to the unmistakably good time Sir Walter Buffer had of it both here and on the Continent. HONOURS FOR THE TASMANIAN COMMISSIONERS. Referring to the Exhibition honours, I may state that the exclusion of Tasmania from any recognition whatever has beeu made the subject of urgent representation in the proper quarter, and that the propriety of bestowing some distinction on the Tasmanian Commissioners is said to be under the consideration of the French Government. It ie hardly likely, however, that any fresh list will be brought out before July next, it being customary in France (as in England) to publish the honour list only twice in the year. A NEW “BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NEW ZEALAND.” Mr E. A. Petherick, of the Colonial Book Agency (33, Paternoster Row), is preparing for publication a “Bibliography of New Zealand.” The first thing of the kind ever attempted was the appendix to Thomson’s “ Story of New Zealand.” A few years ago Mr James D. Davis produced a more comprehensive list and issued it in the form of a 12mo. volume. Sir George Grey compiled a fairly.complete list (particularly of Maori publications) in his catalogue of the library presented by him to Cape Colony ; and there was another list of a more systematic kind in the huge catalogue of Mr S.

W. Silver’s library at York Gate prepared by Mr Petherick himself ; but the present bibliography will be of a far more complete and comprehensive character than anything that has hitherto appeared. The work will be of inestimable value to collectors, and it will further demonstrate the truth as to New Zealand’s pre-eminence over the other colonies from a literaiv point of view. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN EX-COLONIST. A returned remittance man, George Seaton, who for 15 years honoured New Zealand with the light of his countenance, was a few days ago hauled up before Sheriff Crichton, at Edinburgh, and charged with committing a number of acts of gross character with three telegraph messengers. The accused, who is in his 62nd year, pleaded guilty. An agent appeared in Court and said he had been asked by the relatives of the accused to make a statement on his behalf, and then informed the Court that the old scoundrel had never done a good day’s work in his life, and that he had been sent by his relatives to New Zealand, where for 15 years he was a good-for-nothing and a ne’er-do-weel. Sheriff Crichton allowed the prisoner the full benefit of his friend’s testimony, and let him off with nine months’ hard. “A MAN OVERBOARD.” A New Zealand passenger by the P. and 0. steamer Victoria gives a very difserent account of the lamentable accident which occurred during that vessel’s homeward trip to that in the London papers. It was, he says, a perfectly calm day and the vessel (though steaming her best) _ was stopped, and going full speed astern in an incredibly short time of the alarm “man overboard.” The muddle commenced with the lowering of the boat, for when the order to “ lower away ” was given the ropes at the stern of the boat stuck, and the crew were pitched head-over-heels into the sea; Then commenced a scene well-nigh indescribable. The Lascars (reliable enough in ordinai’y circumstances) completely lost their heads. In vain the captain and officers bellowed their orders, and it was fully twelve minutes by a passenger’s watch ere the second boat was successfully lowered, and by that time the prime cause of the catastrophe was a dead man, and two of the crew of the first boat were also drowned. It is a matter for wonder that the greater

portion of them were saved. We are continually reminded of the excellent system of “ fire drill,” etc., carried out on board the liners of big companies ; but what earthly use are all these elaborate precautions when an accident, trifling if dealt with by men of resource, appears to paralyse the whole crew? Officers, however able, cannot do everything at such times. ARCHIBALD FORBES. Two days ago, Archibald Forbes, who has been in very bad health since his return from his antipodean tour, undeiwent a serious and complicated operation, which was performed with brilliant success by Dr. Reginald Harrison, the famous Liverpool surgeon, who recently took up his abode in London. Mr Forbes is making a good ret covery, and the operation bids fair to restore him to perfect health. NEW ZEALAND-BRED CAVALRY HORSES FOR INDIA. Lieut-Colonel Carre, who has travelled extensively in Australasia, reports that if India intends to rely on the antipodes for a regular and sufficient supply of cavalry horses, she must take steps.at once to ensure getting them. Melbourne, says Colonel Carre, is the port from which India at present receives its supply of Australian horses. The trade there is entirely in the hands of a syndicate, whose agents penetrate into South Australia and the borders of New South Wales. The climate, unfortunately, is unfavourable. The large landed proprietors have runs where pasture is plentiful in what are termed the good season, but in the dry portion of the year, and after continued droughts, the mares and their progeny are obliged to roam over large tracts, seeking a precarious livelihood on the dried-up herbage that remains above soil. Colonel Carre avers that the northern island of New Zealand, above all the other colonies, is best adapted for horse breeding, and strongly recommends the Indian Government to send experienced officers to assist New Zealand and the other colonies in the breeding of suitable horses as remounts, and so place them in a posi-

tion to compete with Victoria, which ab present holds the monopoly. VINE’S SUCCESS. At the 24tb meeting of the Organising Committee of the Imperial Institute, on Tuesday 1 st, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales himself moved “ That the satisfaction of the governing body with the manner in which the assistant secretary (Sir Somers Vine) had discharged the duties connected with the mission entrusted to him, be specially recorded.” A considerable advance has been made with the Imperial Institute building, the exterior walls of the upper floors having already been erected. THE CLAIMANT AGAIN. Sir Roger Tichborne has announced to the world at large that his case is bo be reopened in April next, a fund of £150,000 being guaranteed towards the necessary legal expenses. The Claimant, who is looking remarkably well, resides tor the nonce . at Hanley, where he delivers free lectures each evening upon the points of the last trial. FALL IN BANK OF NEW ZEALAND SHARES. Some of the financial papers continue to adopt a very hostile tone in their criticisms upon the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand. This has tended to prevent the recovery of confidence, and shares fell to £5 the other day. Several suggestions have . been ottered by the financial papers with regard to allaying the scare. The most effective would probably be the endorsement of the Bank’s deposit notes by some such firm as Ransom Bounerir, Coutts’s or Glyn, Mills, Currie and Co. “ Fairplay,” in a recent issue, observed : “ After all is said and done, the future of the Bank lies in the hands of the depositors. . . . There is only one thing, in our opinion, which can restore the confidence of depositors, and that is the endorsement of the deposit notes

by Glyns or any first-class London bank. It the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand are as sound asr they ought to be, there should be no difficulty in getting this . endorsement ; on the ot her hand, if, with all the evidence that can be produced, a first-class London bank, which should derive large profits from the current banking business of the New Zealand Banking Company, will decline to give its support in the- way indicated, then depositors will naturally say, ‘lf the securities are not good enough for those’intheknow,’they . .

are not good enough for us.’ The shares “ of this Bank at one time, we believe, touched £3O % from this point they gradually de- • dined, and some two years ago, when doubts began to arise, they were between £l7 and £2O. After the Committee of Investigation, the £lO shares were written down to £7 ; these shares are now quoted as low as £5. Clearly, if something is not done, and quickly, to restore confidence, | we may see a repetition of tho Oriental I Bank Corporation business.”