FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1935, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM " THE POST "

IN QASE OF WAR

"Although war has not been actually declared as yet, news of its declaration may come at any moment, and evidently will not' Be long postponed," remarks "The Post" of this date fifty years ago when dealing with the Anglo-Russian situation. "Both nations ' appear to be making the most, active preparations for the approaching conflict, and it is now' extremely unlikely that diplomacy will settle the dispute. It is necessary, therefore, in view of what is almost certainly about tp happen, that we should consider how a war with Kussia is likely to more im- < mediately affect us in these colonies. It: will, of course, terribly, disarrange the course of trade, and, with increased freight and insurance, add enormously to the cost of1 all imported goods. On the other; hand* it will give a greatly enhanced •. value to all colonial productions which we are in a position to export The supplies of Russian wheat will be cut off from England, and Ne>f Zealand wheat-will, rise to a corresponding degree. Our frozen and preserved meats will also grow in value* probably far in excess of the extra charges for ■freight and insurance,; and the wool market will almost certainly advance. Money, however, will become dearer, and the rcolpny will not be able to float any more loans until peace is , restored. This will. necessarily* prejudicially affect public works,'and.tax* tion is bound to be increased. It may, we think, be taken for granted that if war does ensue Russia will 'endeavour to strike a blow, at English and colonial commerce in South-Paci-fic waters- Whatever ships Russia sends to these wat ~s will probably be swift, lightly-armed vessels, but if they are to operate, against our mercantile marine they must have some place, or places; where they. can obtain coal, It will probably be in search , of this, as a.primary object, that they would visit' any New Zealand port. In any of the principal ports they^ could?always."find'-.a sufficient supply to keep ,■ them going. , If they came mainjy for. coal,.however, it"is. scarcely likely '.that they would gp; away content with only-their heeds .-in that direction supplied. The temptation to demand a ransom would be top great. They would, having quietly ; supplied Ihemselves with coalesce what a rich prize they field, and it would not be in human nature to refuse "to: aVail themselves of the opportunity to demand a subsidy to refrain from burning or.pillaging the town.. This is the real danger to which wC are exposed, and, although the Government wiE no doubt take all the defensive and'precautionary measures within their 1 power, it must be; admitted that the available means of defence are, unfortunately, small." ' , ' FORTS FOR PORTS' "Surveys ; are now/ being made of the sites selected by Major Cautley, as the best for the erection of fortifications for the protection of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and . Dunedin harbours. As soon as the surveys are complete the Government will take the land under the Public Works Act, and commence to make the roads necessary as a means of approach. No time is to be lost in commencing the erection of the .necessary works* the designs and specifications for which are in aJ"forward stale. The works will be prepared for the erection1 not only ofrthe guns which are already, in the colony, but also for those which are ordered. 'It is understood that the Wellington defences will consist.of three batteries, and that in each of these two of the big guns now on hand will be mounted with as: little delay as possible.- The construction-of. the Works, however, must necessarily * occupy several months." ';.;.' /. ' ' -'. ~• 'SEATS IN UPPER HOUSE. "His Excellency the Governor has, in her Majesty's name, been pleased to call, the following gentlemen to peats in the Legislative Council:—Captain G. B. Morris, at present M.H.R. for Tauranga;- Joseph Shepherd, at present M.H.R. for Waimea, Nelson; S. E. Shrimski, at present M.H.R. for Oamaru; Robert Paharazyn, of Waitotara; Launcelot Walker, of Ashburtpn; John Bathgate, of Dunedin; William Swanson, of Auckland; Captain C. W. A. T. Kennedy, of Marlborough, formerly member for Picton; and K. H. Taiaroa, at present M.H.R. for the Middle Island Native District." • TECHNICAL CLASSES. "The ' technical classes recently formed in connection with the college arc in a very satisfactory condition.- At the present time there are 35 pupils, and although the classes have only been established a few weeks the lads have already attained considerable proficiency in the use of the'tools. There are three classes. The largest, numbering^ 20 pupils, are carpentering; the next in size contains 10, who are being taught engineering; and the third; comprising, five lads, are being educated as: blacksmiths.: The majority oC the pupils are preparing articles for the .New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. The' exhibits will comprise iron tools of various descriptions.' showcases, and ] models of bridges. Mr. James Robert-1 son. .'the instructbr-'of the -classes, i •which are being conducted in the j Tramway Company's "sheds at New- ] town, is confident that many; of his pupils will turn out first-class workmen." '; "■ .... ..: . . ',■■„•...:•". .■ ■ ■•.■'' WELLINGTON'S CAVALRY. "For some time1 past an attempt has been made.to organise a .strong cavalry i corps in the city, and the promoters up to Saturday last had succeeded in obtaining the names of over 50 good men, including some of, the leading mercantile people, who, it is understood, would be willing to provide their own. horses and uniform if the Government would furnish the arms and accoutrements/; It was intended, as soon as a few more names were procured to forward the list to the Defence Minister with 'the request that he would be pleased to ■ accept .their services- but it seems that the promoters have been forestalled by some individual who, without-having .any.connection with the proposed corps, ■ waited j upon Mr. Ballance to ask whether the Government would be prepared to accept, the services of a cavalry corps. The Minister's unfavourable reply we have already published. It is rather a pity that the subject was broached to the Defence Minister in such, a premature and unauthorised way-" A BIG DIVIDEND. "One of the most remarkable races which have ever taken place in New Zealand was the Shorts Handicap run at Auckland yesterday. Up to within a few yards of the winning post five horses were all abreast, and it-was impossible to say which one would win. In the last few strides a horse named Kalo, the greatest outsider of the lot, shot out and was proclaimed the winner by a short half-length. When the totalisator dividend came to be reckoned up it was found that out of 839 investors at £1 each, only three were on the winner. The, dividend, therefore, was the phenomenal one of £251 Jss. This, we believe, is the largest dividend ever paid in the colony since the introduction of the totalisator, the next largest, if we remember rightly, being that paid on Mavis in the Tradesmen's Handicap at Napier four years ago, which was slightly oyer £200." I