The Globe. MONDAY. APRIL 15, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1271, 15 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY. APRIL 15, 1878.

It is quite delightful to witness the eagerness with which, in season and out of season, the Lyttelton Times seizes upon every opportunity of advocating the doctrine to which it has become a recent convert. The terms " bursting up the big estates," the " horny-handed farmer," and such expressions have an irresistible charm for our contemporary, and ho uses them in a somewhat indiscriminate and reckless fashion. Of course there is nothing like taking advantage of every opportunity within his reach of making a point. However clumsily it is done, there is a chance of producing some impression. The latest attempt on the part of our contemporary in this direction is contained in his commercial article on Saturday morning, and is a report of the sale of Ahuriri estate on Friday. That property we may state consists of 4167 acres freehold, and was submitted to auction in lots, and the whole realised the sum of £34,500, or between £8 and £9 per acre. Commenting on the prices realised our contemporary said they were the best encouragement that could be given to the cutting up of properties, and the simplest and most effective way of " bursting up the big estates." Perhaps so, but the expression Avhen used by Sir G. Grey has quite a different meaning. Speculators and landowners cannot have the slightest objection to such a method, as it is a most lucrative one to them. But our principal object in calling attention to our contemporary's remarks is to point out the palpable misrepresentation of the facts on his part apparently in order to Hatter tho " horny handed farmer." Wo are told that the speculating element was very slight, and that almost the whole of the land went into the possession of tho "horny-handed farmers." We have taken the trouble to go over the details of the sale to see how far tho statement is borne out, and we find that out of the 4157 acres sold a little over 400 acres were purchased by the class named by tho Times, the balance being bought by Mr. R. M. Morten, Dr. Doyle, and Mr. Garforth. These gentlemen, we presume, are hardly entitled to the designation given them by our contemporary. They no doubt see in the purchases they have made a chance of a profitable investment of capital, but to speak of them as " horny-handed farmers" is surely to stretch tho meaning of words. It is a pity our contemporary cannot manage to work out his aims in a less transparent manner. By all means let him go in for the " horny-handed farmer," and the "bursting up of the big estates," but let him try and drag in those expressions upon less inopportune occasions than in commercial articles. ———*— The statement mado in tho morning's telegrams that Germany strongly urges England and Russia to mutual concessions, is important when read in the light of Prince Bismark's speech in the German Parliament, delivered on February 19th. In substance it was as follows: Germany is indifferent to Russian conquests in all respects except one, she objects to her possession of Constantinople, and thus to command the waterway to tho Black Sea. But Bismark points out that no European Power has thought it worth while to oppose the Russian advance into Bulgaria. Was it likely that they would expend blood in driving Russia back now that she had possession? German interests remained unaffected, and she had no intention whatever to play the part of European poHcemnu. She wishes to remain •' Tile Prjucb then warns the neutrai. '-**ics» the responsibility power which unuu. f £ of snatching south-eastern Russia, but she must accept tho legacy ot the Turkish Empire in Europe—an undertaking, he said, for which Austria is not prepared. Bulgaria might be an Austrian difficulty, but it was not a German. Austria must, therefore, act en her own responsibility. Germany was on friendly terms with Russia, Austria, and England, and it was not her interest to encourage a rupture between any of the Powers. The speech had been looked forward to With the greatest interest by all Europe and a feeling of disappointment was caused by its enegmatical nature Some find in it a desire to favour Russia, While others hold that it gives indication of a mutual understanding with U ■!!■;•■ The Vta* Qt,

the Times says there appears to bo complete " accord between Vicuna and Berlin on this point—that tho settlement of the Eastern Question is not to be partial aud exclusive, but European. Another subject of harmony is found iu the matter of the freedom of tho Straits and of the Danube." It is true tho samo correspondent admits that Prince Bismarck seems to favour Russia in tho question of Bulgaria, but oven here the right of garrison by the Turks and tho guarantees for tho freedom of the Danube seemed to him to demand some arrangement. Tho St. Petersburg correspondent of the samo journal states that the Russian press are trying hard to extract some consolation from the words of the German Chancellor, but its efforts are not very successful. It has annihilated the hopes of those who relied on the indirect support of Germany. Prince Bisinark's vague and guarded words about the Straits has also raised apprehensions in St. Petersburg, for Russian deplomatists hoped to obtain a permanent fortified position at tho northern end of the Bosphorus. But whatever may be Bisinark's meaning, it is clear he is anxious to prevent war between England and Russia, and hence the active measures announced to be taken to bring about moderation on both sides. In his speech ho soomed anxious that the Conference should meet, when he might submit some plan for a general reconstruction of affairs. He is reported to have said, " Were Germany now to announce her intontions at the Conference, she would simply render it impossible for herself to continue tho work of mediation. In such a case the programme announced by Germany might bo adopted by others, when tho peace this country wished to maintain might be imperilled. Accordingly it would be a serious mistake to avowj a programme which might be evaded by some and taken advantage of by others."