Grey River Argus and Blackball News FRIDAY, MAY l2th, 1911.

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1911, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News FRIDAY, MAY l2th, 1911.

Ferhapb; affairs in Mexico' will work out' all ! the better" fo v r' the country now that tlie effort's to agree on an armistice have failed. Owing to ' difficulty of obtaining news from Mexico that could ''.be relied on as to the real causes that ldd 'up to' 'the' insurrection, the outside world have 'been unable to say where the fault, lay. The insurgent's' J view, was 1 "that the country cbule? no longer endure" the unbearable tyranny"' of President ' Porfirio Diaz. , The federal authorities, on the other h'arl'd," maihtkined tnat' the lii^ surrection was due entirely to the overweening ambition ,of Sehor^ Madero, who, hot 'satisiiebt \Vith immense, personal wealth, 'was 'fired' with the ambition ' of being"'"at' ttfe f: ricao I of the Government: of the 'couiiify. After allo\yiiig for the 'inevitable exaggerdtion, . and [ .giving' due 'weight to the nbws' that' tia's " escaped * beifig- officially censored, the conclusion is forced on the' most impartial : bbserver that Dictator Diaz is" -.*th.e . real cause of all the trouble. The man seems to have become. jptoxicateHi with his oivn . power. ' Being^ 'without the ,least constitutional" ' checfe that • might lead him to act with some degree "of mod-' eration . and. a respect : fqr, t the rights, ajnd opinion's of others, lie has ' ruled the . affairs of the country with a rod of iron until . he produced * a state ot ajftiars tbiat was no- longer 'tearalble. It is evident from the*, stand that , has been made by the insurrectionists tjiat .. . the national disaffection ; ,is at once (widespread and /deep-seated. At first , it \y.as treated, with -derjsion .as. T a : mere flash in the. pan that couid lead to no appreciable . result. , • But this view has been - utterly falsified. • The so-called rebels, have generally managed to hold; their ipwn against the federal forces/ and have no .thought of surrender. The : : failure of ,the armistice seems. t<j have increasecj :■ the

energy and determination of both sides, and the resultle'ss battle at J aurez has taken place, to be resumed the following day. The fighting' seems to have been desperate enough, even if the numbers • engaged may look somewhat paltry in the light of modern warfare. But the national forces of Mexico are not on the European scale. Even had there been i large army it would be difficult to transport large bodies of troops owing to., the imperfect means of communication. The rebels have shown some consideration for the country by ottering to suspend hostilities if , Presdent Diaz would call a general eleciioxi and agree to retire from the Presidency. As an octogenarian, . who has been in the enjoyment of supvme and uncoritrolle>d power for- a generation,; he might . have gracefully ac- j cepted the offer. But the ir.exorn'ule l Dictator seems to have but little: rj'-Ti-pathy with the mass of the \ people of Mexico. " The war must .therefore go on until such time as the God of Battles favours one sdd c or the other. With a man of "Mr Taft's disposition and calm judgment, there is little or rio danger of forcible, intervention on the part Of the United States., It wui be ' useless for men . like Senator Stone to demand that American troops should be sent across thiMexican frontier on the pretext of protecting the lives ot American citizens. The Americans no. doubt hav.e sufficient forces handy enough to enaule them to restore quiet, , if such a result could be accomplished without wounding the national susceptibilities of the Mexicans, who must inherit a good dash of the old Castilian pride. Although there has been a- loss of American lives at the battle of Jaurez, the . ardent sightseers who wanted to See real war ought to be held responsible for the risks they ran. The incident ought certainly not to embroil America with Mexico. To wit-ness-a real battle on the border was no doubt a great .temptation to the curious; but any fatalities due to rash " curiosity should not provoke war. The only thing likely to cause America to throw troops into' Mexico would be caused by foreign intervention; and such a" probability seems somewhat remote. It is true, however, that some ' British 'blue jackets were landed at' J St Quentin to proetct the lives iand property of Bri:i:.hers when a, rebel attack was feared, but they .were withdrawn next day when there was no appearance of the dreaded rebels. T.he Mexicans must ndjw realise that there is every probability that they will be left to settle their domestic differences without' intervention' from outside. The American troops massed tin' the border at. El Paso are. merely intended as a precaution in view of ihe • unexpected happening. It is doubtful even that Americans in Mexican affairs lean to one side more than ito the other. Although Britain co tea in investments of various kinds and America alike are heavily mterlh Mexico, the Mexicans have very little sympathy with foreigners, ,kasi or an with -Americans. They iooic on voch as a necessary evil. The Mexicans have neither the enterprise nor the natural ability to. enable them to develop the natural resources of their o*vn country. They are therefore in a manner compelled to at least tolerate the representation of foreign capital. It wo"uld be better for all parties if the - war could be settled by one great battle; but the nature of the country is against that, .and a guerilla war is apt to be protracted.

Onb of the m6st inspiriting items oi cable news yps;i;:ciiy is the announce' ment of the healthy state of the wool market. There is no product of rrie dominion that exercises so great ;*n influence on the progress of the country. When wool is up, with a brisk demand from the Continent and America, the effect is electrical on our trade and industry in all branches of human effortr A penny a pound rise in the price of wool represents a very large amount of money rendered available for enterprises of 'Various kinds. A good wool season usually exercises a steady effect on the labour market. The unemployed largely disappear, and the officers of the Labour Department enjoy more or less of a. sinecure. % The fact chat 'there was a very large attendance and keen competition .at > tie wool sales shows that the commodity is: gaining a wider market than has oeen the case previously. ;, There has been a rise all round from par to. 5 per cent. The, outlook is all the more hopeful from the . fact thait wool most in 'demand were coarse crossbreds. This surely denotes that allwoollen garments are coming into more general use amongst the masses and superseding' clothing of mixed wool and . cotton. Since : the Eastern races 'have become klive to the virtues of woollen garments the "market has ... been steadier! ' as '_'. well |as .better ; and as it is as, -certain . as anything can well be that 'the demand : for woollen 'goods -is (becoming greater every year in Japan and China, in the very nature of ' things the "' outlook of the wool trade must correspondingly improve. As New; Zealand and Australia are the : two ! greatest 'wool producing countries, in the .world— that is; they produce more 'wool in propoition to population— they ; : must derive .corresponding advantage • from every improvement in the. "prices obtainable in the. , wool " markets ' of the world. ""Aforetime the wool market underwent frequent fits . of depression. .That /time .seems no,\v to have fey. Instead of the rises in price toeing too ; often of a very temporary character, .the fluctuations of late have been, less serious as well as less ..frequent. , But .whatever the cause of this . improvement, in -the v outiookVof tne trade,, it is exceedingly satsfactory, considering* : the •» immense influence; ;the^. pplce of : wpol has on the trade and industry of this dopainiott.

A "Woodville settler who was fined for having blackberry in his property, has intimated his intention of. bringing an action for perjury, against the inspector. A monster pig was killeS" at the Masterton abattoir last week. It turned the scale at 3691 b. . The animal was cut up, and the hams weighed 481 b. and 541 b. respectively, the head weighing 321 b. A young lady resident in Timaru forgot, after reading m bed, the other night, to put her li^ht out. The result was that about midnight her hair caught fire, and she had a narrow escape from. serious injury. if not from a painful death. ... . «. ivxurchison correspondent- -writes that tne latest reports trom Mount uwen are decidedly encouraging. The existence of an extensive ibeit of highly payable reef is now beyond question and the steps to ;-.be taken 'by the Risiflig Sun syndicate, which controls several hundred acres of the most promising . part oT the field, are being awaited with much interest by the residents of the district. . A southern newspaper states that a requisition is in ciarculation in the Mataura electorate asking the Hon. -Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, to contest the seat at the next general election in ■opposition to the sitting Conservative member, Mr G. J y Anderson. - The funeral of the. late Mr Han well Williams took place yesterday afternon and was laiigely. atended by the leading ctizens and visitors from all parts of the West Coast who assembled to pay a last tribute to the. memory of a worthy man. The services at the graveside were most . impressively conducted by Rev. Archdeacon York, and the singing of ''Abide "With Me" bTought a very solemn gathering to a close. We regret to record the death of Mrs Johnston which took place yesterday at her daughter's residence, Preston lload. Deceased was a- very old resdent of the Coast and was highly respected and esteemed. She for many years resided at. Rotomana and the news of her death will ibe keenly felt. She was -a woman who was ever ready to do igood and assist those in distress. The sympathy of the entire community will be extended to the bereaved in their sad trial. A remarkable discovery was made recently which will bring unlimited joy' to those concerned. For some six years Martha, the ten year old daughter of Mr and Mrs J.' Stewart, of beddon Street, has .been suffering from.' deafness and apparently was getting worse. Syringing and other treatments have been carried on without effect, and the- other day Dr. Phillips, by the aid of electric light discovered a foreign substance }n each ear. These were, immediately removed and on examination proved to be peas. These peas had evidently ibeen put in iby the child when very young, and have lodged in her ears for the past six years. — Kumara Times. Mr W. A. Dunn, who lately returned from the; Old Country in the Kaikoura as ship's surgeon, has received the appointment of senior house surgeon to the Dunedin Hospital. Advices received iby mail state that Queen Alakea, principal Queen or Chief tainess of the Cook liroup of Islands, i's seriously ill and is failing fast. Queen Makea is eighty years of age and is regarded as being not only the ablest Kafotongan ruler for many years past, but the most .beloved of her people. The postage stamps of the Cook Group (bear the features of Queen Makea, and it is understood that in the event of her death, the practice of having the features .of Rarotongan rulers printed on the stamps will ibe discontinued so as to allow of the New Zealand stamp be* ing used in the Islands for the. future. -the byaney Ziooxogicax b._..v.iy naa come uy ,a specimen in rather a axunge manner. . A uttle while back a ■barque arrived in .port in baiiasi, anu wacn the ruDoie and omer stun were emptied out or her a tortoise m'guui. oraer ana condition was rouuu. julvessel obtained her x ballast rrom some South American river bank, lhe reptile was forwarded to the society, and forms an interesting addition to the coilecton, it being the only specimen of its kind in the gardens. The Native Land Purchase Board, at a meeting last week, had under offer 464,787 acres. It was decided to complete the purchase of 2577 acres, and in regard to the .balance it was explained that the land was held in common, and before a purchase can be effected meetings of ownersmust be held and offers submitted. Other oners or 12,800 acres were !declined, and further enquiries are to be made concerning 85,060 acres. ' u.*-w .^wii tit inamu ill luc tiictviciT'.Ui iLuiufiUui a UUj.ixiOiJ,»cS UgeUjUbi " tllCij.' f>. ciio -»iU.giSi.r ale's oourt vi iiucklaiiKi vH i'l.uay, in wuicn wives had i-cuvch proceedings agamsc their husuuiius lor separation, and aneie \vna no appearance on eitner side. "Another case oi burying the "hatchet," was the comment or the Magistrate, in one case, where a solicitor" appeareu lor the defendant husband,^ the^ wife had written withdrawing- the information. Mr J. R. Lundon said there were many cases brought by wives in wheh. action should not have been taken. . It would, perhaps, stop the • practice a little if costs were allowed. His Worship ; accordingly allowed defendant's solicitor 10s 6d costs against the wife. ■- - The proposal ox. the Mayor of Wellington to induce the Government to throw the grounus ot Parliament .buildings open to the public has aroused a considerable amount of interest, says the "Post/ . It was stated by a gentleman who liolds the same view as the Mayor that to look after the buildings and grounds 'something like '20 hands are "employed permanently during the recess, and that surh a num. ber would be quite sufficient to see that due decorum was observed^ by visitors if the grounds were- thrown open. Further,' he pointed our -that during the! Session those people who know their way about frequent the grounds ,in their jSpare time, without their presence being objected: to >by the most captiou^ legislator, and he considers that the Mayor will have the strong support of the public when - he comes to place- his request before the .Government. , _ -

The Hokitika (newspapers are a little divided in their opinions as to Mr Michel and his public services. The morning. journal is a profound admirer of Mr Michel, and in the course of . an appreciation, and apparently well deserved enumerates a . list of Mr Michel's public services. The evening journal, which worships at the shrine of Mr Tom Seddon, indulgos inapo-^ Ike sner at its contemporary's appreciation -of Mr Michel, and ibaflbs its " shaft of ridicule with a reference , to the purchase of the Kanieri water race afterwards sold to the Ross Goldfields Company. The Guardian says : — "The water race was t>ousfkt for some ;£BOO, and then wonderful to be said, was sold, for £6,000 to a company Now Mr Michel was -the head and front of that company. We do not know whether he got any profit out of that £6,000, neither do we care. That is not our point. Even allowing that after spending one thousand or even two thousand pounds in repairs, did Mr Michel sanction or assist : Jn sanctionng" the purchase of the race at such a high figure, and was such action in the interests of the shareholders? Was there that prescience about the transaction which would redound to the credit of anvhoriv ncrformmcr it", least of all Mr ]M>.h>l. who knew the nnce of th* ™<c.r. was on *V market f^r i.n th". fi"t instance, and tlv> cop*: of the' rpT> ? irs &A no* arrows for the vnsvt mrre??^ of the .figures?" -' m , For your comfort at the Thomas and Mcßeath Store mens' woollen underclothing that wears long and well and comfortable all the time Knitted underpants 3s lid, 4s 6d, ss , 6d 6s 6d. Shirts 3s lid, '4s 6d; 5s 6d, 6s 6d. A special line in extra big sizes, and heavy make -7s 6d to 10s 6d. Thomas and Mcßeath Store.— Advt. Duke of Hotel— so rooms, newly fitted throughout; accommodation second to none on the Coast: tariff 6s a day! arrangement by Ihe week. J. J> O'Brien, proprietor. — Advt. S I Beton, to clear his summer stock, 'will, offer over 1000 bargains at prices that will surprise everyone. The first that come will secure the nick of this great bargain sale. S. I. Beton, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. Tweed costumes in all shades, smart lv cut and nicely finished, 23s od, Jis 6d, 355, 42s and 455. each. Also a fine range costume skirts from 6s od to 15s 6d. Trathen and Ooy, Boundary. Street. — Advt. In the new Autumn and Winter displays at 0. Smith's ladies will find a good range of coloured underskirts. These are beautifuly cut and prettily made garments in all the new shades are quite small in prices, and will appeal to every taste. You are invited to call in and see the whole display, and investigate the fine values to be seen throughout the store.— Advi To be well dressed is the duty of all, but to the lady of culture it is more than a duty, it is a necessity. We are not extremists, we do not advocate the "Harem skirt", but what ■we advocate . and what gives the finishing touch to a well dressed lady . is a smart picture hat. We have them in tweeds, straws and velvet from 4s lid to 30s each. Purchase now, "a thing of beauty is always a joy for ever." . Trathen and Coy. Boundary Street.— Advt.