ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 472, 17 May 1890, Page 4

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM our special correspondent.) London, March 27. A MARKET FOR AUSTRALASIAN APPLES. The market for Australasian apples in England is particularly good this spring* owing to the failure of the ’B9 crop both in England and America. So far, Tasmania appears to have appropriated the bulk of the trade ; in fact, all Antipodean apples, whether New Zealand or Australian, are generally known as “Tasmanian,” just as most Australian mutton is called New Zealand. Efforts are being made by the Agent-General for Tasmania in London to secure an improved system of landing fruit at and forwarding it from the docks so as to preserve it from the injury inflicted by rough handling. One point at which the Agent General aims is to induce the Customs authorities to pass the apple casts without requiring that one case in ten shall be opened. This procedure causes waste and pillage, and there seems to be no good reason why the Customs should nob relax their rule in regard to apples as they have done in respect of most products. THE DUNLO DIVORCE CASE—A STRANGE STORY. Proceedings for divorce have been instituted on behalf of Lord Dunlo (still, despite reports to the contrary, abroad), against the music-hall singer who bears his name, the eo respondent being Mr Isidore Emmanuel Wertheimer. The trial cannot, I hear, come on before the long vacation. Sir Chailes Russell has accepted a brief on behalf of Lord Dunlo, who, however, appears to change his mind (on the average) about three times a day concerning his wife. In either Melbourne or Auckland his lordship signed a paper agreeing to divorce his wife on proper evidence. A few hours later, however, he wrote to “darling Belle” avowing that he signed the document in question when “squiffy” (whatever that may mean), and declaring that he had no intention of parting with her. This is Dunlo all over. A few days before his marriage with Belle Bilton the young man professed to be in a great state of mind about a compromising letter he had written the lady, and consulted Augustus Moore as to the best way of recovering it. IJaivkgustine, who is about as sharp as they make men nowadays, gave him admirable advice, and with considerable difficulty the epistle was gob back and destroyed. Two days later Dunlo came bounding into the Cafe Royal at lunch time, and seeing Moore and a party of his “ pals” feeding there, walked up and joined them. Conversation turned on racing till Dunlo remarked, quite parenthetically and as if it were no particular consequence, that he had “ just finished marrying Belle Bilton.” A volley of broad chaff followed, for of course none of the party believed him. When, however, the Viscount went on to detail particular® concerning the ceremony at the registrar’s, etc., the ghastly truth came home to Moore and Co., and they were silent. Wertheimer, I hear, pleads a denial of the charge and connivance.

DR. FITCHETT AND MR MACKENZIE. Dr. Fifcchett caljed last Saturday morning. He and Mr Mackenzie appear to have had a real good time on the Continent, and to have seen most of the sights worth stopping for along their line of roide. Mr Mackenzie has now gone so Scotland to see his friends prior to settling to work on the serious business of his mission. The stay of both gentlemen in England will be limited, as they seem to think it necessary to be back in New Zealand before the rising of your Parliament. Mr Mackenzie has been invited to read a paper before the Royal Geographical Society. THE NEW ZEALAND ANTIMONY COMPANY. Mr Naidley, the shareholder in the New Zealand Antimony Company whose speech at Thursday week’s meeting practically resulted in the upsetting and discrediting of the Board, and the appointment of a Committee of Investigation (consisting of Naidley himself and two others), is a pushing, practical, business man and a solicitor by profession. At the two previous annual meetings he supported the Board, and had the Chairman met him in a conciliatory spirit this time, I believe his hostility might have been much mitigated. So far as I could gather, Mr Naidley appears to think that persons unspecified are bent on wrecking the Company in the hope that the property will come into the market, and that they may be able bo grab it for an old song. He was specially severe on that sore subject, the Queen Charlotte’s Town Goldmining Company, and j derided in unmeasured terms the attempt to float that luckless venture. Mr Naidley enters on the investigation of the actual state of affairs con aviore , indeed.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S COMPANY. Sir Julius Vogel has high hopes of the New Zealand Ironsand and Petroleum Company, and so has Marvin, who will visit the property presently, Meanwhile there are plenty of shares on the market should any of your readers care to back Sir J. Vogel’s judgment. MR E. J. WAKEFIELD. I had a short interview with Mr E. J. Wakefieid at the St. Stephen’s Club on Tuesday morning. Mr Wakefield does not propose returning to New Zealand before the end of the year, and seems uncertain whether he will re-enter public life. The erstwhile journalist-poiibician is at present immersed in the business ventures' which occupied the greater part of his time in America, and which have, he assures me, nothing whatever to do with the colony. Nevertheless, Mr Wakefield has by no manner of means forgotten New Zealand. On the contrary, he has spent most of his leisure during the past twelve months, directly and indirectly forwarding New Zealand interests. He tells me he found Americans extraordinarily ignorant and laudably curious about the colony. Editors were delighted to take “ copy ” from a literateur of his standing on Antipodean subjects, and Mr Wakefield now finds he has a larger connection with Yankee newspapers than is altogether convenient. Thus, at the present time, Mr Wakefield is contributing a regulai- fortnightly article op “ New Zealand as a Field for Tourists,” tp “ Forest and ( Stream a series of articles on “ Wild Life at the Antipodes,” to a syndicate called the Associated Literary Press ; and several papers on “ Sport and Adventure in the South Seae,” to “Once a Week.”

Whilst in the States, Mr Wakefield wrote several articles on New Zealand, for the New York “Cosmopolitan,” and an essay “On the Ballot in New Zealand,” which attracted the attention of Henry George, and which was reprinted, and widely circulated. Another paper of this versatile colonist’s on “ Frost Fish in Now Zealand,” which appeared in “Outing,” has attracted considerable attention amongst naturalists, and the “ New Zealand as a Fieid For Tourists and Settlers ” articles (many of which were translated into German) appear quite likely to lead to an influx of eminently desirable Teuton immigrants. FISH CURERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. It seems some observations in one of Mr Wakefield’s papers on the openings there were in New Zealand for skilled fish-curers attracted the attention of some fairly welloff Germans engaged in this trade. They wrote to Sir Francis Bell for further particulars, which were duly supplied, together with advice as to the best and cheapest method of getting out. They leave for the colony shortly. This contingent consists of a number of families of practical fish-curers, who have saved money and are thrifty independent workers. A more desirable class of immigrants it would be difficult to imagine. THE FLAX MARKET. Naturally, Mr Wakefield made a point of inquiring into the possibilities of the flax market in the States. He found the market for New Zealand flax of a carefully dressed character practically unlimited. He is of opinion, however, and so is one of the principal American brokers who crossed with him to this side, that before the flax is submitted to the American market it should he redressed in London and the straw taken oil'. The Americans have not as yet machinery for this purpose, and do not understand the process as the English do. Mr Wakefield has an article on “New Zealand Flax,” which you should see in Wade’s “Fibre and Fabric,” published in Philadelphia. MR WAKEFIELD’S LITERARY WORK. Mr Wakefield was induced to publish his book in America, because he found there was no work on the subject worth a jot to be bought there. Sir F. D. Bell has thrown his regis over “ New Zealand of To-day,” and declared it officially to be the standard contemporary work on the colony. It will doubtless presently be reviewed by Sir Julius Vogel or Sir Francis himself in one of the big reviews. Mr Wakefield was the other day invited to write an article on “ Federation,” for the “ Contemporary” or “ Fortnightly ” il forget which), but declined. He says he considers Imperial Federation purely a Home invention. Few colonists either believe in it* or care a dump about it. Mr Wakefield will hove a series of articles in the new “United Service Magazine” (edited by Colonel Morris) on “Revolutionary Periods in English History.” This is a favourite subject of his ; in fact, whilst in America, he lectured thereon before the Columbia College and kindred institutions. Last week Mr Wakefield accompanied Professor Leo Field on a visit toQueenwood College in Hampshire, and assisted that eminent ornithologist in a lecture on “Wingless Birds.” Mr Field opened the ball with a paper on “The Great Auk,” Mr Wakefield following with “The Wingless Birds of New Zealand.” The collection of illustrative specimens got together from Provincial and Continental Museums, and exhibited on thi3 occasion, was exceedingly fine, and the collegians professed themselves equally instructed, interested and entertained. LITERARY AND THEATRICAL. The fact that Mr Marriott-Watson and Mr J. M. Barrie were closeted for a long time with Mr Beerbohm Tree at the Haymarket on Tuesday, and are supping with that “ eminent actor and manager ” tomorrow evening at the Garrick Club, looks as if the arrangements for the production of their play, “ Richard Savage,” were progressing. THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN. I hear that a large portion of the last

New Zealand loan lies undigested in the hands of the syndicates who tendered for it, and that the Queensland loan may in consequence fall flat. THE DUKE OF MANCHESTER. The death of the Duke of Manchester deprives tlieColoniallnstituteof a powerfulsupporterand the Australasian coloniesgeneraliy of a comprehending friend. The Duke delighted in the bluff frankness and uuconventionality of “ up-country ” folk in Australia, and nothing pleased him more than to be mistaken for a bushman himself. He dressed (or rather undressed) up to the character, and, with a roughlytrimmed beard, and a little black pipe in his mouth, looked such an indifferent nobleman that even when lie announced his individuality, people often declined to believe in him. Occasionally this was a little awkward. Once, for example, in 1879, His Grace, being better mounted than the majority of his party, rode towards evening into a small bush township in Queensland, and found the whole place turned out to welcome him and hanging about the hotel. “ Have you seen the Duke?’’ asked mine host of the sup-

posed swagman. “I am the Duke of Manchester,” replied His Grace, quietly, dismounting. The landlord grunted, as such men do at what they consider a stupid joke, j and then looking the shabby, travel-stained figure up and down, said, contemptuously : “You ain’t no Duke !” After his visits to the colonies the Duke adopted a bluff, hearly manner,- more especially with his tenants, by whom he was much liked. He made a first-rate man of business, and sat on the boards of a number of Australasian companies. As a young man, the Duke won the reputation of being a buck of the first water, and certainly he won the greatest beauty of her day for bis wife. The Duchess’ hey-day was about 1856, but she is still comely and agreeable, and till comparatively recently bad many admirers', the chief, perhaps, being Lord Hartington. Her Grace dotes on her eldest boy, and patched up many quarrels betwixt father aud son. Mandeville, unfortunately,hastill now proved incorrigible.

THE HON. J. WHITE’S HORSES. The Hon. James White’s colours were seen for the first time on an English racecourse under somewhat unfavourable circumstances at Lincoln on Monday, Plutarch being tailed off in the Trial Stakes. The runners proved such a poor lot that the Australian horse found plenty of supporters at 4 to 1, but it ran last throughout, seeming indeed unable to raise a gallop. Many nevertheless remembered that Ring Master’s initial performance was very similar and that later Mr Saville’s ’ horse showed far different form. Kirkham's victory in last Thursday’s trial, when (as you heard by cable) he cleaned out Plutarch and Narellan over a mile, beating the former by a length, is rendered worthless by the old horse's wretched performance on Monday, and the whole lot are probably only moderate, even when wound up.

SIR CHARLES AND LADY HALLESir Charles and Lady Halle leave for Australia on the 11th April. Last Saturday a small party of distinguished musical

amateurs and cognoscenti were invited by Lady Hall 6 to meet the Princess of Wales and her two unmarried daughters at dinner. The partv consisted of Sir Frederick Leighton, Dr. Joachim, Lord and Lady Revelstoke, Baron Schroeder and Lady Halle’s two sona. The “ dear Princess ” was in high spirits, and demanded autographs (of which she is making a collection) all round. Subsequently Miss Maclntyre and Mr Pratte joined the party, and a musical treat such as no money could buy delighted the Royal guests. The Princess stayed till after one, aud the [evening was altogether most enjoyable and successful. THE REBEL ROSE. A curious literary secret has oozed out in the last few days. It has to do with the authorship of the extraordinarily daring novel called “ The Rebel Rose,” which was published anonymously some two years ago, and in which Mr Gladstone, Lord Rartington and other political leaders were introduced as prominent actors under thin pseudonyms. All sorts of persons were suspected of perpetrating this clever, almost too clever book. The real sinners, it seems, were the fair Australian, Mrs Campbell Praed, and Mr Justin McCarthy. They avow the fact in a new two-shilling edition, which will not, however, be identified by many, as the title has been changed (and scarcely happily changed) to “A Rival Princess.” All who did not read “The Rebel Rose ” should procure “ A Rival Princess.” Faulty or nor, it is a capital story. PERSONAL NOTES. Mr Percy Arnold (accountant at the London branch of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand), having accepted the management of the branch of the Bank of Adelaide, about to be started in London, Mr Percy Brown (senior accountant in the colony) has been selected to succeed him. Sir Hercules Robinson and Lord Lome have accepted seats at the Board of the Imperial Colonial Financial and Agency Corporation, Limited. Mr Alex. McArthur has resigned his seat for Leicester in favour of Sir James White head, who will of course stand in the Glad3tonian interest. Lord Balfour, of Burleigh, who has more than once been mentioned in connection with colonial vice-royalties, seems favourite just now for the Sydney berth when vacated by Lord Carrington. It is said the Queen wishes him to have it, and does not favour either I.ord Lothian or Lord Hardwicke. Sir James Ferguson has been re-ap- , pointed Chairman of the Colonisation Committee, which will resume its sittings after Easter. Despite the undigested state of the last New Zealand loan, which is still held almost wholly by the original syndicate tendorers, the new Queensland loan pulled through triumphantly. Its success indeed was so marked as to give renew ed firmness to Australasian stocks generally, most of which have risen slightly. Sir Charles Clifford, it transpired at the Antimony Company’s meeting, is a champion “guinea-pig,” being director of no fewer than seventeen other limited liability concerns. “ I should fancy,” a shareholder said mildly, “ Sir Charles can’t have much time to devote to our affairs.”