PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1904, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

* The military situation in Manchuria remains obscure. From Japanese sources there is no news, while a Russian official states that the enemy is falling back on Liaoyang. An artillery duel with Kuropatkin's right, 12 miles from Mukden, is reported as in progress, as also with his centre, the Japanese being "pressed back." On the other hand, it is stated in London that Nodzu is enticing Kuropatkin south to enable Oyama to "complete a turning movement." It is curious that for several days the cable has been silent as to the whereabouts of Kuroki ; in fact, his name of late has hardly been mentioned, and we surmise that he may be in charge of the turning movement which Oyama wishes to "complete." If Kuroki is operating from tho hills north of the Hun and north-east of Mukden, it is easy to understand that the Japs are being "pressed back" toward tiiaoyang, that they may draw Kuropatkin further from his base, and so facilitate Kuroki's attempt to cut the line north of Thieling. It is not surprising that ofßcial opinion at St. Petersburg is nervous in contemplating the possible results of Kuropatkin's movement, and the French correspondents at the Russian capital are probably right in declaring that the true inwardness of Kuropatkin's advance is the desire of the Home authorities to "galvanise the people's patriotism" owing to their sullen unwillingness to join the colours. Great Tolstoy's eloquent denunciation of the war is doing its work. The Mikado, , on the other hand, a ruler who seems always to look Fortune fairly in the face, appeals to his people to be patient and steadfast, since tne final accomplishment of their purpose is yet very far distant. The Mikado has no illusions, but Europe, as these colonies, would greatly like to know the true inwardness of his real purpose. There is evil news from Kharbin, always an insanitary city, of virulent typhus and typhoid. It is the hospital base of the Russian army, and if the statement of the New York Herald be true there are greater horrors there than the battlefield can show. According to Russian reports a Japanese landing at Takhe Bay, due east of Port Arthur, has been repulsed. It is also stated that the water supply within the town is sufficient In any case condensers should furnish sufficient for drinking purposes. The Times remarks, and our London correspondent wastes money in repeating the statement, that things are probably worse at Port Arthur than Stoessel admits. That gallant soldier is hardly likely to describe things as they are. It is his affair to try and put heart into his countrymen, and he is doing it like a man, so far as we can tell; he deserves well of his country, and if Kuropatkin wins, it will be because Stoessel holds Nogi and his army before the fortress they have failed to capture. But Kuropatkin has uo tune to lose.

According to a leaflet issued by the Agricultural Department, the quantity of butter passed through the Customs for ci port from the colony last month was 4105cwt, valued at £18,012 (the figures for the port of Wellington being 1356cwt, value £6016); cheese, 1304cwt, value £2884 (Wellington, 658cwt, £1382); fro. Zen beef, 8205cwt, £9728 (Wellington, l6oocwt, £1866) ; frozen mutton, 146,346 carcases, 73,233cwt, £97,499 (Wellington, 26,294 carcases, 12,830cwt, £18,638) ; lego and pieces, 1370cwt, £1862 (Wellington, 977cwt, £1444) ; frozen lamb, 37,581 carcases, 12,196cwt, £21,194 (Wellington, 412 carcases, 146cwt, £273) ; wheat, 80,904 bushels, £14,264 ; oats, 281,149 bushels, £23^588; potatoes, 180 tone, £443. Thetotals for the six months represent tho following values: — Butter, £231,568; cheese, £53,524 ; frozen beef, £154,468 ; frozen mutton, £751,684 j legs and pieces, £18,933 ; frozen lamb, £613,767 ; wheat, £77,460; oats, £115,845; potatoes, £7865. The principal lines show decreases as under compared with the corresponding six months of 1903 : — Butter, £47,808; cheese, £7297; frozen beef, £10,647; frozen mutton, £97,185; legs and pieces, £16,994; frozen lamb, £30,487; total increase, £210,418. Writing to the Industrial Association resigning his membership of tint body, Mr. Thos. Wardell said he had come to the conclusion, after much consideration and close observation, chat greater headway would be mad 9if the Industrial As* sociation and the Employers' Association amalgamated. He thought the difference between the objects of the two bodieti were very slight indeed, and the existence of two such bodies tended to separate the interests of the manufacturing or producing section of the community from the distributing agencies, representing our merchants, retailers, etc. The best interests of every section of the community were inseparable, and the influence would be tenfold if they were found to be a united body. In moving the acceptance of the resignation, the President (Mr. J. P. Luke) said he was sorry Mr. Wardell has resigned. There waa no denying that the initiative taken by the Employers' Association regarding industrial matters had certainly affected to sorpe extent the usefulness of the Industrial Associations of the colony. At the same time, there was ample scope for both bodies, and it had to be remembered that the Industrial Association waa a non-political body, its' main object being a watchfulness over all matters affecting the industrial life of the colony. The resignation was accepted with re., gret. A point which the supporters of tho Bill emphasised against Mr. Macdonald at last night's public meeting respecting the Reclaimed Land Leaseholds, wan that he had not raised objection to tho Bill when it was previously before tho City Council and discussed in the press. Mr. Gibbs asked where was the public spirit of Mr. Macdonald at that lime. Mr. Macdonald had left his action till the eleventh hour, hoping that by convening a meeting, and getting a resolution passed, he might induce the Legislative Council to postpone the Bill liU next session, he having the certain knowledge that unless the Bill was passed this time, it would be too late to do anything more, and tho city's , disgraceful condition, in its very centre, would remain for ten years. "Mr. Macdonald, in reply, defended his previous inaction by stating that it was not incumbent on him to bo calling attention to the blunders the Council was constantly making, but when he was asked in the Legislative Couueil to vote on the Bill, he had a right to oppose it, and to have more light cast upon it by acting in the way he had 1 done. He also disputed an argument i>y Mr. Gibbs that the citizens, not having had an opportunity to study the question as the Council and the lessees had 1 done, were not competent to decide on it; and he similarly joined issue wiun a contention by Councillor Devine thai, the question was too abstruse' for tho citizens. Defiance Butter ia to be had in every grocer's shop, and careful housewives ingist upon having it. Pure, fine-flavoured* and always fresh.— Advt. Cheap milk is a, great deal .cheaper in quality than it is in price. The Fresh Food and Ice Co.'s milk is pure. — Advt. Furniture carefully packed, stored, and removed hj experienced men ; special low rates. New Zealand Express Company, No. 20, Customhouse-quay. Telephone 92,. —Advt. Munt, Cottrell, and Co., general car* riers, Customs and forwarding agents. Storage a speciality. Furniture packed and removed. Oflice ; Queen's Chambers.. Telephone No. 23. — Advt. Lace curtains for spring and Christmaa trade. Hundreds of fresh patterns to select from at C. Smith's popular Cuba-street shop. White, ivory, and ecru lace, thren yards long, from 4b 6d to 25s pair. Guipure, from 11s 6d and Swiss from 14s 6d. Madras and Coir spot muslins in choice variety. Chenille hall curtains, 14s 6d pair, all colours. Chenille and tapestry table covers in designs which for variety and beauty muSt satisfy the most exacting tastes. C. Smith, Cuba-street.— Advt. Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson and Co. will conduct a' sale of landed properties tomorrow at their Exchange Land Mart at 2 o'clock,- and will submit, in the estate of the late John Douglas, a corner building section situated at Alioetown, Lower Hutt ; two residential properties, Nos. 68 and 70, situate Majoribanks-Elreet ; also two residences containing 6ix rooms each situate Ooromandel-street, Newtown. On Frjday next, at their rooms, at 2 o'clock, they will sell, without reserve, under instructions from Messrs. Oatee, Lowry and Co., come thirty ladies' and gentlemen's second-hand bicycles, all of which ara stated to have been put in thorough order. Catalogues can be had on application. On Saturday, 15th inst., at Petone, at 7.30 o'clock, a catalogue of Petone and' Hutt residences and building sections will be submitted, details of which are announced. The firm Insert the advertisement of the sale on Wednesday evening, at 8 o'clock, at their Exchange Land Matt, of fifi-j building sections comprising portion of tho original Buick Estate, Petone, situate close to Jackeon-streot, the Post Office, and public school, lithographic for which can be had on applioation. Under instructions from Mr. W. J. Jorgeneeu the firm will submit on the 3rd November his bungalow residence containing eight rooms and modern conveniences, together with four nnd three-quarter acres laid out as garden, lawn, and paddock. The advertisement gives full details. They insert the preliminary advertisement of the sale in the middle of November of 36 villa building sections situate immediately opposite tho electric tramway bheda and adjoining the Nuwtown Park, having frontages :o Mansfield, Daniel, and Roy ptreots. Lithographic plans will be available in a few days. A preliminary advertisement ako appears of the 6&le ou tho 16lh Novombor of the Bannatyne Estate, Karon, comprising 150 seotions, ranging in area from one-eighth of an acre to fourand a-half acres. Lithograph plans aro now being prepared, and details will ba published latei On the 25th inst., on the premises of Mr. A. Colquhoun, Hector'slano, Petone, will be hold a sale of tha whole of the dairy stock and plant as detailed in the advertisement. A preliminary notice appears of the sale tho 14th Novembor of 85 building sections sitUHte immediately opposite the Wallacevillo railway station, Trentham. On Friday, 21«t inst., under instructions from Mr. A T. M'Wiiliams, who i 6 relinquishing busi. ness, the firm will sell the whole of hitlivery stable plant, comprising carriage and harness horses, landaus, drags, and other livery stable requisites. Full detail* appear. Catalogues o»n be had on application. To-morrow, at 1.30 o'clock, at the residence, No. 143, Cuba-street, th» firm will sell the whole of the household furniture, etc., some detail* of which •£• t34IX (