FROM "THE PRESS " OF 1862.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14293, 2 March 1912, Page 10

FROM "THE PRESS " OF 1862.

MARCH 1. "The volunteer movement of the last three years, however noble in one light, is, in another, a painful and humiliating spectacle- In ono light ■it speaks of the heroism and self-devotion of men; in another it speaks of a new barbarism spreading its gloom over tho world. Thirty years ago, -when the Duke of Wellington was Prime Minieter, tho expenditure of Great Britain ivas about thirty-five millions a year. Jt now amounts to seventy millions. And this gigantic • increase in the annual burdens of the country is mainly caused by the increase- in its military and naval armaments. The same change ■which has taken place in England has been seen in every country of Europe; arid we are now witnessing tho pitiful and humiliating spectacle of millions of men with arms by their sides.and sinister looks, "waiting any chance event ■which, may precipitate them upon one another with all , the ferocity of traditional and national hatred."

"Several years ago the footbridge across the Avon at tho Bricks was washed away, and sinco then the residents in - the eastern- half of the City of Christchurch have been without any means of communication from one side of the river to the other. To 6UT>ply this'want a cart bridge vraspromiscd to bo placed across tho Avon, opposite Madras street; four years ago m.ney for this object was voted, the timber for the.bridge has been, on the ground two years, the want of communication is'severely felt by a largo number of the inhabitants of Christchurch, and many of them have subscribed towards the oostr—still the Government shows no signs of undertaking the work."