NOTES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9298, 27 July 1901, Page 4

NOTES.

In our last night's issue appeared a over the norn de guerre " Citizen," suggesting that it would be more useful to agitate for the WairoaNapier to Gisborne railway than for a railway to connect Waipukurau with Masterton. Well, if we are to choose between the two undertakings "Citizen" is right. We ourselves have put the question that way in articles on the subject.

aft Incidentally " Citizen," alluding to a phrase used in~ regard to this question, asked if it were allowable to assume the existence of " superfluous energy "in Hawke's Bay. Candidly, the apathy which exists at present seems to justify the somewhat sarcastic query. Still, we hope it may not quite express the situation. At all events, we reiterate our suggestion that the Chamber of Commerce should move in the matter, and thus prove, if not the existence of superfluous energy, of at least energy sufficient.

The fighting between the French and the Moors recorded in to-day's cable messages is in connection with a boundary dispute. A recent naval demonstration by France in Moroccan waters, to attempt to coerce the Sultan into paying an indemnity for the murder of a French official, may be regarded as another phase of the problem which may yet bring about a gigantic war. It is not likely, however, that the Figig affair will prove to have any bearing on the dispute as it affects Germany and Britain—possibly we should include Italy also—in their opposition to French designs generally.

Figig is the name of a district of tolerable size through which runs the boundary separating Morocco from Algeria. That, at all events, is the Moorish view of the position, the French being inclined to hold that the whole of Figig is included within the Algerian boundary. It is a tract worth fighting for so far as France is concerned, for it includes a lake and an area of fertile country (the whole forming what is known as the Figig Oasis), absolutely necessary to any scheme of caravan traffic in those regions.

The shocking explosion at Batoum will probably prove to have been due to petroleum in some of its forms. The town is largely dependent upon the oil trade, and at times enormous quantities are stored there. . On the other hand the catastrophe may have resulted from an explosion of munitions of war, there being an arsenal in Batoum. In any case the explosion must have been on an immense scale, judging by the cable leferences to the great loss of life.

* The debate in the House on the Police Department, initiated by Mr Fisher, cannot be judged by the meagre reports of what took place. When the number of Hansard containing the report comes to hand it will be possible to say definitely whether the member for Wellington was justified in the attitude he took up. Meanwhile it may be pointed out that the affair has a peculiar aspect. Mr Fisher asked for an enquiry and made certain accusations. The House seems to have decided to find the accused not guilty without trial. Possibly practical justice was done, but it will be necessary to wait for Hansard to feel satisfied on the point.

Viscount Cranborne's rather vague reference in the House of Commons to the Chinese difficulty affords another illustration of why the Continental Powers would be sorry to see the.South African trouble ended. While that continues it is more difficult for Britain to take a decided stand in regard to several ugly aspects of the.problem in the Far East. One of them appertains to Shanghai, where French troops are ostentatiously retained, and the other relates to the control of the Yang-tze valley, where the greatest tact'is required to prevent friction with Germany.

* The King's remark upon the terrible scourge of cancer will once more direct attention to the striking increase in the number of deaths from this disease during late years. The death rate from it has increased in every country in the world. Compared with other countries New Zealand occupies a favorable position, but even in this colony the increase has been very marked. Thus in 1890 deaths from cancer numbered 295, and constituted 4-92 per cent, of the total deaths. In 1899 there were 468 deaths, and the relative percentage was G'24:.