TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1897, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

It is gratifying to know that our recent remarks under the heading " Death in the Milk Can " have been widely read and noted. What' we had then to say as regards the necessity for rigid inspection of animals, either kept or bred for dairy purposes, receives timely emphasis from a return recently published by the Sydney Board of Health. This shows that in that city and district during November last the number of animals condemned totalled 3728, s great increase on any previous month of the year. The diseases for which these animals were condemned were tuberculosis, cancer, pleuro, actinomycosis, and pneumonia. It should, however, be said that many of these were sheep condemued for poor condition, not for disease. The record of diseased cattle, however, for the month was very high, and showed the necessity for vigilance on the part of the authorities, in order to protect the public from the dissemination of disease through the medium of animal food and milk. If further testimony is required ps to the necessity for New Zealanders keeping a "stiff upper lip" in the matter of the "colour" question as regards this colony, it is to be found, we venture to think, in tha handbook of information, just issued by a Japanese publishing firm, in connection with the Nippon Yusen Kaisha's, or Japan Mail Company's new line of steamers, trading with America, Europe, and Australia. Before this beautifully printed and artistically illustrated handbook the ordinary British and colonial steamboat passengers' guide-bosk and time-table sink into the lowest depths of insignificance. The very paper used in this Japanese handbook would make even the complimentary programme got up with such care and nicety for, say, a Colonial Governor, blush with shame for its own unworthiness. Both it and the type used are revelations of their kind, and as for information, well, it is a valuable history and geography combined of all the ports in Japan worth knowing about. The British "Murray '\ is gimpty nowhere alongside his Japanese rival of to-day. There are maps, too, which are positive gems of the draughtsman's* skill, and the collotype illustrations simply could not be surpassed auywhere. The handbook probably is procurable for about sixpence or less in English money. If it could be got up in the same style here ten shillings would not pay for it. The moral is that the New Zealand printer's occupation would most certainly be gone if the Jap printer got standing room for his case in this country, and the New Zealand publisher, artist in photogravure, &0., would likewise speedily have lost their occupation* For the Jap lives as inexpensively as the Chinaman, only more so, and a healthy colonist's food bill for a day would keep him and his family for somewhere about a month. New Zealand did quite right ia standing out of the Japanese Treaty. Recent Home files bring details of the treaty of peace concluded between Italy and Abyssinia, which was signed on the 26tb October, together with a convention for th« release of prisoners. By this treaty Italj recognises the absolute independence o; Ethiopia. "Within a year delegates from tin two Governments are to meet and fit Chi frontier by friendly agreement. Until thf delimitation of the frontier, Italy engage-; not to cede territory to any other Power and if she should wish to abandon any portion of her territory, this is to return to

Ethiopian rule. This provision would seem to foreshadow the abandonment of Ery threa, since announced by cable. All the prisoners are declared free. Menelik undertakes to send them to Harar, whence they are to leave for Italian territory as soon as notification shall be received of the ratification of the treaty. The Ethiopian Government is to be indemnified for the maintenance and transport of the prisoners, but Menelik leaves the amount entirely to the sense of equity of the Italian Government. There is something in the nature of a reproach to European nations in the terras of this treaty. Civilised warfare is essentially a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence, and the conqueror almost invariably exacts retribution for his losses either in hard cash or extension of territory — sometimes, as in the Franco-German war, in both— and substantial guarantees are required for the fulfilment of the stipulated conditions. Yet this semi -barbarous potentate, ruling over a barren and poverty-stricken country, which was wantonly attacked, not only scorns material compensation, but despises the formality of ratifying the treaty before proceeding to act upon its terms. As a compliment to the Queen of Italy, on the 20th November— her birthday — he set free 200 of his prisoners and sent them to the Italian lines. It would be difficult to find in modern times a finer conception of kingly conduct than has been shown by the Abyssinian ruler in connection with this settlement. < | * Of the wisdom of the Italian Government in concluding peace there can be no' doubt. The. burdens imposed on the people of Italy are already so heavy as to lay a heavy strain on their loyalty, and any attempt at increasing them for the purpose of entering upon a series of campaigns to restore her lost prestige Would be exceedingly dangerous. As The Times puts it : — " There is always some humiliation in being beaten, but when nations have committed a serious blunder, which has brought punishment upon them, it is t a perfectly wise anil honourable course for them to look the facts in the face and frame their future policy accordingly. Tne practical recognition of this fact by the Government and the people of Italy in the conclusion of the arrangement with Menelik is very much to their credit as sagacious politicians who have the moral courage to confront unpleasant realities without flinching." The prudence of the course adopted by Italy is in striking contrast to the policy of the Spanish Government, whiah, out of sheer obstinate pride, is expending blood and treasure in lavish profusion in the endeavour to perpetuate the Spanish yoke on the people of Cuba. In the truest interests of Spain.herself, it is devoutly to be hoped that her. rulers may soon, either by choice or compulsion, copy the example of her neighbour, and recognise the necessity of coming to terms with the Cuban insurgents.