Our -Dunedin Letter

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2957, 3 May 1898, Page 5

Our -Dunedin Letter

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Monday morniog. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAB. Public intersst seems no be slackening ou the matter of the Spanißh-Amorioan war. People were on the qui vive for the last we-k or two, and yet nothing seemo to have been done by the belligerents. The ' Star ' issue a special war edition at noon every day, bat se far there has been no war news in it. Everybody got up early this morning to read of the naval engagement that was to have taken place on Saturday, but not a line about it appeared in the newspapers. From all appearances neither side is prepared. The Spanish does nut soem to have arrived at Havana at all ; and the American fleet, which has been there for almost a week, ia apparently waiting before it attacks the Oity — one of thoee things no fellow can understand. So far there has boea one naval engagement, and the American boat got the worst of it, ' having to run for shelter to repair damages. However her crew announce that they knocked over the other boat's smoke ataok, and therefore derive a good deal of satisfaction thereat. Meanwhile it is a bad omen that America should bave lost her first; naval battle, for the Spaniards are admittedly at home on the deep, and if Spain's strength lies any whet e it is there. On the other aide, if America's weakness is anywhere it ia there, and a very unoasy impression must have been created in the miud3 of the Americana when Senator Butler declared that their warships wore not propsrly armored, or in other words, thiu currupbion has parmeated the naval departments and " fake " work to am an Americanism has been pat in at the dockyards. However the first; sea battle will settle all doubts on that score. ECCLESIASTICAL WABFARE. The ecclesiastical warfare is still raging in the newspapers with apparently unabated ferocity, The Anglicana and the Preeby' terians seem to be at logger heads in th e point of apostolic succession. Bishop Novil' declares that no traoe of Presbyterianißm oan be found in the early history of Christianity and the Rav. Mr Jolly just as decisively declares that there is, while other pastici* pants on hia side defy Bishop Nevill to find any evidence of the Cnuroh of England i Q the remote aget. So far the publio are no'' deriving much enjoyment from the tourna ment. The "slogging" is a bit to 0 pondorous — the subject a little too far oat o* their mental range. So far the fiay has been confined between the Anglicans and the Presbyterians, except that the editor of the 'Tablet' jumped in and delivered a warwhoop — doubtlesa to relieve his feelings and retired. Whoever Haw an Irishman looking on quietly at a " misunderstanding." However, the editor of the ' Tablet ' has got an excuse now to brandish his ecclesiastical shillelagh about if he choosea for the Rev, <&, W. Saundera, a Congregational minister who thrivea on a little sensational, ism, made a moat extraordinarily bitter attack on Catholics the other day, which has found its way into the newspapers. The Keverend gentleman made himself notorious not many years ago by declaiming from the house tops the hopoless immorality of half the people of Dunedin. Mis utterances created a profound sensation, for he and another minister employed a private detective to probe the dark places of Dunedin and fish out all uncleannesß therein. However, that has long since faded away, and Mr Saunders has made himself conspicuous again. Cynical people are now awaiting with unholy glee the slogging match that is bound to ensue. These are times of war and we must bave one somewhere. THE MAORIS AND THE DOG TAX The Maoris in oertain parts of the North Island have bßcome very turbulent over the dog-tax. They break out; yearly on this point, and the tax has to be rocovered at the point of the bayonet. This year, however, they appear to be unusually disaffected. The disturbance has been prolonged to a great length, and the latest news from Wellington is that 100 of the permanent artillery with Nordenfeldt guns have been despatched to the place. Hone Tola, the leader of the disturbance has sent a message to the Government that he intends to bring his men and guns also, so that the news brought by the telegraphic messages this morning is disquieting. The Government ! have wired to friendly chiefs requesting their intervention, but at the same time they declare that the law will be enforced. Let ua hope that there will be no ultimate cauee for the intervention of the Nordenfeldts a.fc anyrate,