Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, 21st MARCH, 1911. THE BAGDAD RAILWAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1911, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE.

TUESDAY, 21st MARCH, 1911. THE BAGDAD RAILWAY.

Double the Circulation of any other newspaper published in the district .

Yesterday’s cables informed us that the Sublime Porte had agreed to allow the Bagdad Railway Company to extend its line to Bagdad. The Company under the arrangement, renounces its lien of four per cent, on the increased custom’s duties, receiving instead financial security upon the Empire’s general revenue. Germany is to have an equal right of participation in the railway with any other power. There is little doubt that this triumph for German diplomacy is the result of the recent conference between the Czar and the Kaiser at Potsdam, which gave rise to such uneasiness in France, a'S it was regarded as an attempt to aim a blow at French interests in Europe as well as in Western Asia. How Great Britain will view the new arrangement remains to be seen. The Mother Country has generally taken upon herself the charge of keeping the peace in the Persian Gulf and in the southern provinces of Iran. The Gulf and its approaches are part of the outer defences of British India, and consequently we cannot consent to regard anything that affects their possession and control as a matter that can be determined by arrangement between the foreign Powers. A short time ago the Vossiche Zeitung, commenting on the arrangement said to have been come to I between Germany and Russia with regard to Persia-, said that after such an arrangement bad been come to it would! bo neither right nor in the. power of: Britain to interfere with the carrying out of the German plans for the com- 1 pletion of the Bagdad Railway with an

outlet DJi the Persian Gulf. The Germtin concessionaries ; who , have under j t taken the, construction of the railway are, Of course, free to partyj put tlieir plans.'Under' tho conditions laid down in the hgtffeinfeht with the Turkish GoVhrhinOnt,. so soon as they are able to 'surmount the financial- and engineering obstacles that still lie in the way. These,' however, are so formidable as to relegate the. completion of the scheme to some considerable distance in the future, if indeed, they do not make its execution a matter of Only the nearest and easiest section of the railway has thus far been constructed. It is being btiilt across the territory of ah independent Power, Turkey, and its execution "confers no greater control or influence on the investors and the nation to which they mostly belong than does the British-owned railway penetrating Anatolia, which was earlier on the ground, and which, through the building of the German line, is now left hanging at a loose end. When the Bagdad Railway reaches Bagdad and the Lower Euphrates, its promoters Will find themselves at the foot of the rough and lofty ranges bordering the Persian plateau, and in the vicinity of waters over which Great Britain has for a century and more exercised duties of patrol, and on whose shores and outlet we have established treaty rights and obligations that have recently been illustrated by the diplomatic and naval measures taken for safeguarding the trade routes of Southern Persia and preventing gun running in the Gulf If German enterprise and influence, under coyer of the German “world policy,” be extended to the Persian Gulf, it can only be after taking account of the political ahd other rights already established in that region. The Chauvinist Berlin paper above quoted assumes that by means of an assertive attitude and pushful measures Germany will be able to obtain cheaper terms. Nothing short of complete surrender, we are told, is looked for. and if we baulk at this “Germany will know how to get what it wants over Britain’s head,” presumably with the aid of Russia. This opinion cannot be reconciled with the spirit of the AngloRussian Agreement, under which, while recognising as belonging to Russia’s sphere of influence the rich provinces of Northern Persia, and remaining as our own sphere only a corner of desert adjacent to the borders of Baluchistan, we agreed to leave open ;i wide region of Central and SouthWestern Iran for international enterprise, on the understanding that this should not interfere with Persian independence or the interests of the two contracting Powers. There is no reason for believing that Russia cherishes any intention of departing from the Entente, either in Asia or in Europe, or, for that matter, that Germany intends to embark on the dangerous and costly experiment of attempting to force out hands in the Lower Euphrates and in the Persian Gulf.

The labour market, which was good last week, now shows a decided falling off. There is no demand for unskilled labour, and with the exception of quartz miners there is no enquiry for laborers of any kind. The supply of skilled laborers is quite equal to the demand.

A few turns round the business centre of the town to-day with the water cart would have prevented many adverse criticisms that fell from business people who have heavy rates to pav and who consider that they are entitled to be protected against such dust storms as prevailed about mid-day. Over £7OO was collected yesterday at tbe Borough Council offices in outstanding rates. As to-day is the final day of grace it is expected that the record will be broken before the day closes. It is the intention of the Borough to impose the 10 per cent interest on all rates paid after to-day.

We are authorised to state that there is no suggestion of the writ of mandaihus, calling on the Mayor to put a motion to the Greymouth Borough Council, being allowed to lapse, as the necessary papers ai’e to be filed and will be forwarded to Christchurch so that they wil be in time to be argued before Mr Justice Denniston oil Wednesday, 29tb instant, or as soon after as tbe business of tbe Supreme Court wil allow.

A lecture will be given in Trinity Hall this evening at eight o’clock by Mr Thomas Probert, formerly of the Cedara Agricultural College, Natal, and of the Royal College of Science, London. The subject of the lecture will be the'lecturer’s experiences in South Africa. The special topics : The Victoria Falls, Cecil Rhodes’ Grave, the Matapos, and King Solomon’# Mines. The lecture will be illustrated by one hundred beautiful views shown through Mr H. Scriveners powerful oxyether limelight projection, and fhould be instructive and entertaining both to young and old. The proceeds of the lecture will be devoted to the funds of Trinity Church choir, some of the members of which will sing at the commencement and during the interval of the lecture.

A special correspondent of the Auckland Star tells the story of the discovery of the new caves at Waitomd which were opened by the Hon. T. Mackenzie .on Tuesday. A genial Maori named Aranui was out one day replenishing the family larder with fresh pork when he suddenly came on an opening in the steep hillside where his grunting quarry led him. Overcoming the natural Native aversion to things dark and unknown, Aranui struggled through the narrow path. As he got in lie lit a match, which, of course, went out, partly through agitation on the part of the holder and partly owing to bad air. The glimpse he had in the moment of illumination was almost too much for him. By Kerry,” says the author of the incident, “I think I see te taipo.” When he got more light on the ■ subject Aranui discovered that the fearsome object which had set his heart beating was. one of the weird forms in which limestone delights, the image being rendered more satanic by the fitful and momentary glare of the match.

Do not go to the expense of ceding in a doctor when you sprain your ankle. Bathe your foot and ankle in water as hot as can be borne and rub in Chamberlain’s Pain Balm freely. Repeat the rubbing several times, and in two or three days you will be able to get about and will be quite cured in less than a week.— 3old by Kettle Bros., Grey mouth.—Advt. Some good value lines.—lnk bottles all styles and sizes 6d to 2/6 each. Cash boxes 2/- to 6/6. Pen racks 9d to 1/6. Paper clips 2d to 1/-. Paper files 1/- to 5/6. Inkstands 1/- to 21/-. cases 2/6, 3/6. Account books $ all kinds and sizes at the lowest possible prices. Inspect our stocks of "oneral stationery lines. You can save money by buying from us.—B. Dixon, bookseller, and stationer, Tainui Street. —Advt. Model Engineer series of handbooks.— “Slide Valve”; small accumulators, electric batteries, small dynamos, electric lighting for amateurs, electric bells, alarms, mechanical drawing, small electric motors, telephones, alternating currents, induction coils, small electrical measuring instruments, acetylene gas, screw-threads, metal working tools. Price 9d each, postage 2d extra, at B. Dixon’s, bookseller and stationer, Tainui Street.—Advt. For the British Expedition to the North Pole in 1875 Mr John Broadwood and Son's pianofortes were taken out on board the H.M.S. Discovery and H.M.S. Alert. Tlmse pianos were selected from the ordinary stock at Broadwood’s by Captain Nares and Lieutenant Rawson, R.N. The Discovery wintered in latitude 32.87 deg., with the cold sometimes 72deg. below zero. On the return of the ships the pianofortes were found to have stood remarkably well. The Dresden Piano Company, Limited, are the New Zealand agents for the above world-re-nowned instruments, and will be pleased to supply yon with particulars as to the terms on which they may be purchased. Address: Tainui Street, A. J. Clarkson, manager.—Advt.

The Greymouth Orchestral Society meet for practice this everting at 7.46.-—Advt. Remember Waiuta athletic sports, nominations close on the 25th. Sbc- urivertiscmeht on the first page.—Advt.

Hockey players are reminded that A. E. Kilgour has just opened up a splendid range of hockey sticks. Come along-and ■compare prices before purchasing elsewhere.—Advt.

Nasty/ olds are very easily contracted at this time of year, and those who spfipr in this way will find Parkinson’s Time Syrup a sure and speedy cure for coughs colds and all chest affections. No matter whether your cold is at its early . stages or whether it has developed into a bad cough, don’t neglect- it any longer, but cure it once and for all with Parkinson’s Lime Syrup. Price 1/-, 1/6, 2/- and 2/6 per bottle at Parkinson and Go’s.—Advt. A politioan belonging to the South Island, who has just returned, from a yjrit to Auckland, expressed the opinion in conversation with a pressman that fictitious land values are now ruling in the Auckland district; that a boom similar to the Wellington boom has set in; and that sooner or later a good many people will suffer there- f 'by.

The Murchison Agricultural and Pastoral Show was held on St. Patrick’s Day —the first in the history of the district. There was a large number of entries in horses, cattle and sheep. Ten years ago the district was a mining settlement; now it- is rapidly increasing as an agricultural district, with dairying as the mainstay, tush is being cut down in all directions, and a large number of sheep are, going on the land.

At the _ conclusion of the S.M. Court sittings this morning Mr Crooke adjourned the further sitting of the Magistrate’s urt till 2.15 p.m. as usual. However, on Mr Joyce’s application, he further adjourned it to 2.30 p.m. to allow of that gentleman filing some papers in Connection with the application for a mandamus ■ninst the Mayor for refusing to put a mtion to the Council. Mr Joyce said that he desired to have them filed so ■hat they could be forwarded to Christchurch by to-morrow’s overland mail. Pearn’s Kumara beer, second to none.— Ford Bros., phone .17, Kumara.—Advt. Specially reduced, the balance of our stock of preserving pans and Mason’s jam jars, which must be cleared. Come and inspect. Arnott and Seabrook, opposite Town Hall.—Advt. Table cutlery in any quantity, from quarter-dozen at all prices. Try Arnott and Seabrook, the place for ironmongery, cutlery, etc. —Advt. Place your orders now for the Coronation numbers of the English weekly papers. Send for a. list of those to be published to B. Dixon, bookseller arid stationer, Tainui Street, and you will receive one by return mail.—Advt. The new furs and blouses for autumn The second lot of new autumn hats just to hand. A special lucky purchase bought by our London buyer. Trimmed Paris models 15/6, 17/6 up, semi-trimmed ready to wears 4/6, 5/6, 7/6. Children’s millinery—a special lot 4/6, 5/6 up to 9/6. 1/in the £ discount. —W. McKay and Sort, the leading drapers, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth and Hokitika.—Advt. , Specials at the Thomas and Mcßeath store.—Autumn and winter items, double width dress goods in plain colours 1/-, 1/3, 1/6 yard. Cream, white and pjpk flannelettes 6/-, 7/- dozen. Oilcloth two yards wide 2/5 yard. You’ll find the best always at the least price. 1/- in t-he.j,£ discount. —The Thomas and Mcßeath store, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth.—Adyt. At the Thomas and Mcßeath store you will find the first shipment of new autumn and winter goods, showing Paris shapes for trimming, flowers, feathers, coats, jackets, blouses, etc. You’ll find the best always at the least price. -1/in the £ discount.—The Thomas and McBeath store, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. —Advt. tl