PEEPS INTO THE PAST

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 17, 3 March 1939, Page 4

PEEPS INTO THE PAST

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

EXTRACTS FROM THE "ELLES-

MERE GUARDIAN."

Saturday, March 3, 1894

In a leader reviewing European affairs it was stated: From the latest European news, war in Europe is not improbable. The only reason for its suspension is that all the Great Powers are not ready. The Swiss have extra fortified their alpine fortresses for defensive purposes and the French are erecting strong forts with long range guns on the alpine heights overlooking those of Italy and the French fleet is strengthened by Russian ships in the Levant. The Czar means to use France as a tool to cover his next rush upon Stamboul and India, and his grand march upon Berlin and Vienna. He has been obtaining a big loan from France to pay off German debentures and the prospects for war in the Balkans are increasing daily. While all these warlike movements are going on, England is hard at work strengthening her navy so as to maintain her old prestige of umpire of the seas, and France's navy has turned out to be

a great bugbear—lt wants rebuilding. The Austrian army is getting stronger every day and it is now pronounced to be equal with that of Germany and Russia. The Sultan of Turkey is strengthening the forts on the Dardanelles and there is very little doubt but that Russia, when she finds herself able, will attempt to break the treaty of Berlin respecting the passage of her fleet to the Mediterranean. Plucky little Belgium, true to her traditions, is spending vast sums of money on her frontier fortifications so as to maintain neutrality. Spain has her hands full with the Riff Moors, while, in a measure, neglecting her wealthy island of Cuba, which has always been the hotbed of revolution. Taking all these movements and surroundings into consideration, who is he so bold as to say that the whole civilised nations of Europe may not be lit up by the lurid blaze of war at any time.

In discussing the small bird nuisance a member of the Selwyn County Council said that the farmers had, that season suffered more than usual from the ravages of the small birds, and it was remarkable that at the same time there had been a small plague of caterpillars. While there was plenty of grain to appease their appetites the birds would not demolish the caterpillar.

A change in title of magistrates was announced. No more were they to be called resident magistrates, but stipendiary magistrates.

A tennis match between Dunsandel and Rakaia resulted in a win for Rakaia by 62 games to 37. The Rakaia players were Drysdale, Hardy, Boulnois, Dr Cordner, and the Dunsandel representatives, H. Irvine, Boag, Wright, and Withell.