THE NEW BALANCE OF POWER

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 119, 19 May 1908, Page 4

THE NEW BALANCE OF POWER

It is quite possible that the German rumour of a military convention between England and' France and Russia may be altogether unfounded; but it is more than likely that these Powers have been negotiating ■with, the object of preparing the way for a more definite understanding as to their policy in case the peace ol Kurope Is disturbed. It may be doubted l whether either England or France would be prepared to assume the responsibilities involved in a definite alliance. The " entente " is useful, chiefly because it is informal, though it may be none the less effectual for that. But in view of the disturbed state of Russia, and the repugnance naturally felt by the majority of Englishmen toward her system of government, it is highly improbable that any British Cabinet would propose an Anglo-Russian alliance. It seems, therefore, premature to suggest that England, Russia and France are likely to arrange a compact that would be a set-oil' to the Triple Alliance. But it is none the less possible that the sequel of the AngloFrench convention and the Anglo-Russian Agreement njay be an understanding that may enable the Powers to prepare for contingencies that the trend of international forces in Europe has already brought within the range of practical politics. The possible dissolution of the Austrian Empire* and the probable rupture of the European Concert in relation to Turkey and the Near East are portente that cannot be ignored; and the interests of

! Russia, England and France are all involved. Germany's anxiety at the present moment is of course due to her own political isolation and her lack of trustWorthy allies; and whatever be the basis of the agreement that the mother three Powers have entered' upon, it is certain to obstruct Germany's ambition by streng theaing the military forces threatening her on either flank, and by leaving England with freer hands to maintain her supremacy at sea.

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 uoure from 9 ajn. this day:—"Moderate to strong winds from between east and south and southwest; glass little movement; probabty very cold night."

A runaway, fortunately unattended by any injury to human life and limb, but leaving in its wake a wreckage of verandah posts, occurred in the Ponsonbyroad yesterday afternoon. Mr B. Cantell's horse and trap was standing outside Mr Hayhow's bakery shop, the wheel being chained, when two boys cantering by on horseback, startled the horse, and off it started in full career. Taking a turn under the verandah of the Auckland Importing Company, it carried away the posts and continued at full gallop until it reached Messrs. Tyne .Bros.' grocery establishment. Never hesitating, the horse dashed under the verandah and down came the whole structure in hot confusion, burying the runaway turnout in its wreckage. Before the steed had kicked himself free of this encumbrance, he was seized and led back captive, with the remnants of the trap.

The Xewmarket Borough Council is endeavouring to persuade the Railway Department to widen and otherwise improve the bridge over the railway in Park-road. A letter bearing on the subject was received at the Council meeting last evening from the District Engineer of Railways, who reported that in conection with the Council's complaints as to the condition of the bridge for pedestrian traffic, the nuisance was due chiefly to the overflow from the watertables. With regard to a proposal to construct footways, the writer stated that this would mean widening the bridge, an undertaking for which he had no authority. It was decided to make application to the Minister for the widening of the structure.

Referring to the lack of interest manifested by the Parnell ratepayers in the Council's proposals respecting the borrowing of money for street improvements, library equipment, and public baths, the Mayor, Mr G. W. Basley, spoke as follows in his annual statement of affairs last night:—"The apathy of our people in this matter, and in almost every other matter appertaining to the Borough, is very reprehensible, and is greatly to be regretted, and it certainly gives but little encouragement to those who /sacrifice their time and attention in endeavouring to make the Borough desirable place to live in, to continue to do so. I hold that it is the absolute dut3* of every elector whenever a poll is being taken in the Borough to vote one way or the other, and the elector who fails in his or her duty in the matter has no right to complain of the consequences or to blame any person other than himself or herself."

During the voyage of the Athenic from. England, Mrs. Eliza Sutton, a third-class passenger, died from pneumonia on April 15, and was buried at sea. Before she died, Mrs. Sutton, who was very ill when she joined the ship, gave her addrees as " Care of Mr. Brunton, Wade, Auckland." An eight-months-old baby boy, named Robert Johnson, travelling third-class on the same steamer with his parents, died of broncho-pneumonia on May 10.

An accident which occurred in Queenstreet yesterday evening resulted in the narrow escape from serious injury of Mrs. Grant, wife of Mr. Grant, of the Customs Department, and her little son. She was crossing the street in the vicinity of His Majesty's Arcade, and as she passed an upgoing tram car, she failed to notice another which was on the down track. Although the motorman lost no time in putting on the emergency 'brake, both pedestrians were knocked over. Dr. R. Stopford was called in to Mr. Eccles' chemist shop, where Mrs. Grant was taken, and he found that she was suffering from a somewhat severe injury to her thigh, while the little boy had received a bad cut on the back of his head. Those who witnessed) the accident consider that, but for the motorman's promptitude a much more serious accident would have occurred.

The ceremony in connection with the installation of Mr F. Bennett as Mayor of Newmarket for his fifth term in that office was performed prior to the ordinary Council meeting last evening. Mr E. Davis congratulated. Mr Bennett on his re-election, but sincerely hoped Hi ■ he would have the honour of being the "last of the Incas," and that they would soon be able to formulate a proposition with respect to the assimilatifti of the Borough by the City of Auckland. The Mayor-elect thanked the councillors for assistance in the past and for their congratulations. With regard to Greater Auckland, he did not think that this was a matter for the Council to decide, but when the question had been satisfactorily probed, it should be brought before the ratepayers. Of the schemes in hand, the most important was drainage, which they hoped soon to have completed throughout the Borough. Whatever might transpire with regard to Greater Auckland, he did not think it would interfere with their reticulation scheme.

Some 753,800 acres of pastoral land in the Westland district will be opened for license by public auction on Wed J nesday, June 10. There are 32 runs, ranging from 5000 to 35,000 acres of sheep and cattle country. On the same date, 20SS acres in various parts of the Southland district, will be submitted on the optional system, and 8327 acres in scattered sections, on renewable lease in the Nelson district.

A woman named Emily Jackman was riding in a milk waggon along the Kem-uera-road yesterday afternoon when the driver suddenly whipped up his team, the horses plunged forward, and the woman fell against the footboard, breaking the bridge of her nose. The Rev. Mr Munro, who was passing at the t*me, carried her into the Remuera Road Board oilice, and from here Dr Budley was summoned by telephone. After examining the sufferer, he ordered her removal to the hospital.

"You would be setting a splendid example if you would have all the mud and loose metal removed from the district under your control. Who is responsible for Khyber Pass-road I do not know. I would willingly subscribe to a runa to have Auckland boiled, scraped, scrubbed, and purified generally." The foregoing is an extract from a letter read before the Newmarket Borough Council last evening. °

An inquest touching-tie Grand Junction fatality, by which a young man named Frank Mahon was killed, commenced at the Waihi Courthouse yesterday afternoon before Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, district coroner, and a jury of six; but on the application of Mr. F. Lynch, the inquiry was adjourned until Thursday next, at 6.30 p.m., in order that relatives might have an opportunity of being present.

"Sydney saw fit to dig up a cemetery in order to remove her railway station for the good of the community," said Cr. Lundon, of Parnell, last night, "and we- also should recognise the necessity of erecting a new railway station, allowing of easy and adequate access by tram. And I think no better position could be found than the locality known as the Harbour Board reclamation. In .Sydney, contrasted to fLhe wretched congestion which takes place in Auckland, tens of thousands of railway passengers take train without difficulty or turmoil, the great bulk of them arriving by tram. It would be good for Auckland's councillors to travel to Sydney to see what a big vblume of traffic can be controlled. But in Sydney the trams are controlled by the Government and not by the municipality at all," he added, in reference to the city's electric traction.

The Auckland Choral Society's second concert of the season 1907-8, consisting of Dudley Buck's "Light of Asia," will be given in the Choral Hall on the evening of Tuesday next, May 26th, at ? o'clock. The soloists are Miss Gillingham (soprano), Mr \V. Aspinall (tenor), Mr C. F. Snowden (bass).

According to the "Labour Journal' for the month of May, the number of men employed on the railways in the Auckland Province is as follows:—Kawakawa - Grahamtown, 104; Helensville Northwards, 211; Gisborne-Rotorua, 62; North Island Main Trunk, 1122.

An elderly lady, who refused to divulge her name on the grounds that she did not court publicity, fell into the harbour while attempting to board the ferry steamer Kestrel when that vessel was leaving the ferry tee for Devonpo*~t at 5.30 o'clock last night. The steamer had just started when the woman made her appearance on the wharf, panting and out of breath. She ran to the edge of the wharf, where a young man grasped her hands. She thereupon stopped suddenly, which caused the young man to lose his hold, and the woman fell forward into the water. An alarm was immediately raised. The steamer put back, and in the meantime a young man named Robert Hamilton, in the employ of the Ferry Company, jumped into the water and held the woman up until a number oft passengers on the steamer were able to lift her on board. The woman treated the affair lightly, anl laughed about it to the passengers.

The Town Clerk of Newmarket (Mr. W. Hogg) reported at last evening's meeting that the financial statement (yet unaudited) showed that the borough occupied a singularly gratifying position as compared with others in the district. They had commenced the year with a debit balance in general account of £356 9/7, and had closed with a debit balance of £166 5/9, a saving of £200. Similar savings in the credit balances of other accounts had increased the amount lying in the bank, from £ 784 at the beginning of the year, to £1527 on March 31 last. Mr. McColl interjected that it was small wonder that the City wished Newmarket to join it. The Mayor remarked on the gratifying state of affairs, and expressed the opinion that these figures would greatly improve the Council's position with regard to rates and the securing of a loan. Mr. E. Davis congratulated the Mayor and the committees on the report, and questioned whether there was another borough in was pleased to see that they had not yet got "huge liabilities like most other boroughs in the country." Mr. Teed expressed the opinion that a borough snuuia spend all it could get, and that no such body should be in any sense a money-making concern.

The Athenic, which arrived at Wellington from London yesterday, brought 404 immigrants. They were met by an officer of the Department of Labour, who reported that they were "a splendid lot," and of the class calculated to make the 'hist «j|>loiniiits. A Sarge proportion were young men, almost all of were proficient in some trade. The majority were fanners, who would go on the land, but there were also a large number skilled in other trades, especially builders. Eight farmers were booted for Wellington, and at this port also landed saddlers (2), a miner, and a painter. Nine young women landed to take up domestic duties, while one hoped to get employment as a shop assistant. Al the domestics except three cama ,, out under engagement, and these three Tiad been referred to the recently formed women's branch of the Labour Department. They will not be long out of work. Of the third-class passengers for Wellington, 87 were assisted immigrants, while 35 had been nominated by the Immigration Department. The total capital of the assisted and nominated immigrants is about £3000. Two farmers, each of whom brought a large family, possess £800 each. A large proportion of the immigrants, probably a larger number than usual, came out to take up certain positions.

"The running of the electric tram cars has been far from satisfactory during the year, and the Borough has not been served so well latterly by the Company as it was formerly," said the Mayor of Parnell last night. "The company appears to have had considerable trouble with the generation of power through the breaking , down of some of its powerhouse plant, which I understand ia not likely to occur again, at all events for a long time, and it is to be expected that we shall soon have a satisfactory timetable." Mr. Lundon and several other Councillors waxed wroth over the inadequacy, and unreliability of the Parnell service, and it was ultimately decided to form a committee, with power to employ a man to watch the running of the cars, with a view to further action.

A serious accident occurred to a young man named Patrick O'Shea, working for the Puketapu Sawmilling Company ,at Matapuna, near Taumaranui, yesterday afternoon. While working on the tram •ringing logs froni the bush, a distance of some five miles, O'Shea slipped and fell when the trolleys were in motion, one of the wheels passing over his arm. He was attended to by Dr Cairns, who ordered Ms removal "to the Hamilton Hospital. Little hope is held of savin"the arm.

Ihere was a good attendance at the Rev. J. Flanagan's mission in the PittStreet church last evening. Dealing with the manifestation of Christ to the disciples at Emmaus the preacher interested the audience with his fresh and striking treatment of the theme. Mr Flanagan continues his mission in the same place to-night.

On the recommendation of the Finance Committee of the Hospital Board, it was decided yesterday to inform the City Council that the Hospital authorities would be willing to contribute towards the cost of renewing the Grafton-road sewer, on some equitable basis to be agreed upon.

"The Fire Brigade Is probably the best adjunct the borough "has," said the Mayor of Parnell in the course of hie address from the chair last night. "It is honorary in its character, and, considering that its membership is comparatively small, it is wonderfully efficient, but seeing that Captain Cowan and his men give their time without stint and with such enthusiasm and intelligence, perfection follows as a natural result," he remarke din eulogium of the borough's volunteer fire fighters.

A resident of Tararua Terrace, Parnell, in complaining to the Borough Ccuncil by letter last night of the dirty condition of the water supply, which he said had been particularly bad during the past month, stigmatised the fluid as being at times not fit to wash a dog in. The Councillors made no comment, and the communication was ordered to be sent on to the City Council's consideration. Knowing , a man hy his face is sometimes more useful to a police officer than knowledge of his name. It is also inconvenient to the man. About nine months ago—in August last, to be exact—a warrant was issued for the arrest of a young , man in connection with the non-fulfilment of certain family obligations, and the members of the police force hunted high and low, but all in turn drew a blank, until it came to Constable Armstrong. He received the warrant last Saturday, with instructions to get the man if he could. The name on the blue official slip told him nothing, but a study of the man's description reminded him. As fortune had it, the wanted one arrived in turn only tlie next day on one of his excursions to Auckland, and he was promptly snapped, appearing this morning in goodhumoured acknowledgment that it is sometimes better to have a name than a face, when you desire to remain out of police cognisance.

'•'No new business should be taken after 9 o'clock," protested Mr A. Donald last night at the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council last night; "I believe our standing orders provide that no new business shall be taken after that hour. I think it will make members have a little less to say if that is in the standing orders. Las* meeting night I did not get home till 11 o'clock." The Town Clerk, after looking through the Standing Orders, said in a sad tone, "There is no such by-law," and the flow of eloquence continued. Mr Donald's remark was not made without good cause, as this Council starts at 7.30, and seldom , } concludes by 10 o'clock.

Messrs. T. Mandeno Jackson Trill sell by public auction at their rooms, Cus-toms-street, at 2 o'clock to-morrow a seaside property in the estate of the late Mrs A. D. Pitt, at St. Heller's Bay, containing' about 30 perches and fourrooiTied cottage, also a building site, "with 60 feet frontage to Queen and Princes streets, with a depth of 200 ft., five minutes from the Northcote wharf.

In connection with the opening of the new Mt Eden Baptist Church, Mt Edenroad, a cinematograph entertainment is to be held to-morrow night. A good programme of first-class living pictures has been arranged, and during the evening a number of musical items will be rendered.

At last night's meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council, the town clerk (Mr W. Hogg) reported having interviewed Dγ Purdy, district health officer, with regard to the Council's application to the Government for a loan for the completion of the Borough' drainage. Dγ Purdy had, it was stated, promised his assistance in bringing the matter before the authorities. The health officer also wrote to the Council drawing" attention to the necessity for the completion of the drainage scheme and the advisability of introducing a water carriage system, with as little delay as possible. He understood that it would be possible to drain the whole Borough within six months. The letter was received.

%Juick relief from a tight, dry cough is obtained by the use of Zymole Trokeys. An excellent thing after singing or talking to prevent hoarseness.

Bargains in Table Damask.—Slightly imperfect—special purchase at a heavy discount; marked one-third less than ordinary prices.—Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad. . Don't miss seeing the display of diamonds in our window.—A Kohn, jeweller, Queen-street. — (Ad.) Overcoats, macks, oilskins, new style, reliable makes, lowest prices at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, just above the Grey statue.—(Ad.) Superior read-to-wear suits, equal to made to measure at about half the price at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, Queenstreet.—(Ad.) Splendid assortment of art and floral sateens for recovering down quilts.— Smith and Caughey Ltd.—(Ad.) Winter approaching! Have your down quilts recovered, best workmanship.—Smith and Caughey Ltd.—(Ad.) Our -21/- N.Z. tweed suits are well made, serviceable garments, and wonderful value.—Rushbrook and Bridgman, clothiers and outfitters, Queen-street (Ad.) Shirts, sweaters, jerseys, cardigans, and underwear. Best makes at lowest prices at Rushbrook and Bridgman's, just above the Grey statue.—(Ad.) Irish linen damasks, slightly imperfect; in cloths, napkins, and piece goods, bought heavy discount, marked onethird less than ordinary prices.—Smith and Caughey Ltd.—(Ad.)

Have you played "Diabolo"?—immense variety of this fascinating winter game, 6id. to 14/6 per set.—Smith and Cau«hey, Ltd.—(Ad.) °