Hawke's Bay Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 50416, 18 April 1878, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

The aspect of the situation in Europe is anything but satisfactory. It begins to look now as if England were likely to be precipitated into a conflict witli Russia, and to be forced to carry it on single-handed. The Porte could hardly have ventured to order resistance to the occupation of Constantinople without having some ground for relying on English lielp in the last resort. At the same time, it is becoming more and more clear that Germany and Austria will stand out, if they do not become practically allies of Russia. Austria, by seizing Bosnia, would become such. If the English Government had meant fighting, they should have landed 40,000 men at Varna when the Russians were in the Shipka Pass. That would have turned the scale. Now, to drive the Russians o\it of Turkey, they would have to take Widdin, Silistria, Hustchuck, and perhaps Varna and Schumla also. They could beat Russia, no doubt, if the country were willing to undergo enormoiis sacrifices and submit to a dangerous exhaustion of its resources. A contemporary estimates that the war, to be certainly successful, would have to be estimated to cost £500,000,000, and most likely would have to last over ten years. This may be an over gloomy view. In any case, however, if we enter on the terrible, and, as we believe, meaningless struggle now, we shall learn a bitter lesson as to the price that a nation nuay pay for having a Government which does not know its own mind. It is possible, however, that the difficulties in the way of a singlehanded struggle may seem so tremendous as to damp the national ardour. We think it will be observed by any one who goes over the events of the past few months that the war party in England gained in strength in proportion to the probabilities of the Austrian alliance. The Austrian alliance is now becoming day by day more shadowy, and probably by this time, both in the House and i:i the Press, the peace party is again in the ascendant. This fact may possibly account for the steadiness of consols.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Berlin, writes : — l< At the commencement of the war the entrance of the British fleet into the Dardanelles would have paralysed to a notable extent our military action, but now this is no longer the case, and the English admiral must find himself considerably embarrassed. What is most to be wished for in the interest of the English fleet is that it return at once to Besika Bay, for in the Sea of Marmora it is exposed to inconvenience which might proceed from the batteries commanding the Dardanelles or from torpedo boats, which have rendered us such signal service in the Danube and the Black Sea. Is it that our victory is not considered quite complete, and that it is desired to force us to advance in Asia Minor against Constantinople, as we have done in Roumelia'^ Our naval officers, whom the torpedo warfare has inflamed with enthusiasm, only desire further to distinguish themselves. Who is to prevent our extending a chain of torpedoes from one side of the Straits to the other, which might render very difficult the return of the English fleet to Besika or to Malta. We are in no wise uneasy on this point, and less regard is paid to the famous fleet of the English than formerly, for the simple reason that it has lost a great part of its prestige."

We mentioned in yesterday's Herald that about 3000 acres of land near the township of Ashley-Clinton would shortly be offered for sale. The land is situated near the river Tukipo, by which it is bounded on the north, having Taugaramai on the south, and the Makaretu settlement on the north and west. It is well watered, and there is plenty of timber in the vicinity. The part furthest from the bush is only about two miles distant, and it would be so arranged that a piece

of bush would be sold with each of the larger sections. The quality of the land is well known. It is admirably adapted for small settlements. We hear that there are now about 280 allotments, with settlers resident on them, in the Makaretu reserve, and that it is the intention to lay off sections from Takapau to the settlement. It is not yet decided whether the land above referred to will be sold privately or by auction, as we hear applications have been received from persons who are desirous of purchasing privately at a good figure. However, it will shortly be definitely settled, and the land will be sold as soon as the necessary surveys and arrangements are made. At tho Theatre Royal last evening " Our American Cousin" was performed for the third time. There was not so good a house as might have been expected, considering it Avas the last presentation of the piece. It went capitally, the audience being kept in a continuous roar of laughter all the time "Lord j Dundreary" was on the stage. Towards i the conclusion there was an unrehearsed I episode, creating for the time some little excitement. While Lord Dundreary was going through his entanglement in connection with the proverb, "Birds of a feather, " &c, a person in the stalls interrupted him with the exclamation, in a loud tone, "You are going too fast ; I can't follow you." At iirst the audience thought the interruption was preconcerted, but it was soon evident that the person was intoxicated, and he was promptly ejected by the check-taker. As soon as that was done, Mr Sothern exclaimed, " Yes ! that's what it is." This was in allusion to the proverb, but the remark was so applicable to the ejection of the inebriate that the house fairly roared, while the applause that ensued was continued for several minutes. This evening Mr Sothern takes his benefit, when " Les Danicheff" will be performed. The Napier harbor works are now, we believe, complete. The last load of stuff went over in the punt on Tuesday, and the flag was then hoisted to make the fact known to the world. The work is not passed yet, and there may, of course, still be Haws to be repaired — barring this, however, the contractor's work is clone. In accordance with the resolution passed at the public meeting held at the Spit for the formation of a fire brigade, a meeting of the members whose names were then enrolled was held at Ashton's London Hotel last Monday evening. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr M'Carthy, seconded by Mr Watson, that the name of the brigade be the " Spit Fire Brigade." Mr Wilkie was elected superintendent. For sub-superintendent Mr Ashton and Mr Northe were proposed ; Mr Northe was elected. Mr .Riddle was elected foreman, and Mr Cotton treasurer. The rules of the Napier Fire Brigade were adopted. On the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Ashton, the secretary was directed to write to the Harbor Board, asking for the use of a piece of ground on which to erect an engine shed. Messrs Bell, Wilkie, Cotton, Riddle, and Den holm were appointed a finance committee to solicit subscriptions. Messrs Smith and Scarfe were appointed as a business committee. It was resolved that a preliminary practice be held next Saturday afternoon, at 4.30. It will be seen from advertisement that there are to be sports at Farndon on Easter Monday. It appears they are to be the only sports in the district on that day, and it is creditable to the committee that they succeeded in arranging such a complete programme on so short a notice. The programme contains 13 events, and among them three that are sure to afford considerable amusement to the spectators — viz., the three-legged race, the sack race, and catching the greasy pig. The sports are to commence at noon, so that the ordinary train leaving Napier at 11.30 will suit visitors admirably. The great Russian drama " Les Dani cheff" will be performed at the Theatre Royal to-night for the benefit of Mr Sothern, who has secured the right to produce it in the colonies. It is referred to by a contemporary asbeing the joint production of Alexandre Dumas, jun., and the Russian Prince Kournieheff, better known in Paris by his literary pseudonym of Pierre Corvin Newsky, who furnished all the incidents, outlines, and substance of the work, and M. Dumas, the younger, the dialogue. It was in Moscow that Mons. Corvin Newsky heard the recital of a story which struck him as so singular that he resolved to put it into a play. II was that of the " Danicheff;" the story of a count who fell in love with a serf girl, whom, to prevent her marriage with her son, the mother, a woman of la vielle. roche, forced to marry a groom. This man had been under obligations to the count for having saved his mother from the knout ; and though he married the girl perforce, never consummated the sacrament, so that he was therefore enabled to become a monk, thus leaving his wife free to marry whom she pleased. Nowhere but in Russia could such an incident have happened ; and those who criticise the plot of the play may be surprised to know that it was once a fact, and that some of the personages to it are still living. The "Danicheff" had the unprecedented run of a whole year at the Odeon Theatre, Paris, during the seasons of 1875-6, and was acknowledged to be the greatest success seen on the Parisian stage since 1860. Viscount Nuory having seen the play in Paris, conceived the idea of producing it in London, and accordingly made arrangements with M. Masset to bring the entire Odeon Company over to the St. James' Theatre, London, where the Parisian success was repeated. It was then played at the Union Square Theatre, New York, and throughout the United States, with equal eclat ; and at the Opera House, Melbourne, and the Victoria Theatre, Sydney, it enjoyed runs of five and six weeks to crowded houses. The leading characters will be played by Mr Sothern, and Mrs Fitzwilliam, andacapital performance may be anticipated. The fact of its being for Mr Sothern's benefit would alone, we imagine, be sufficient to draw a crowded house. Major Atkinson, a correspondent tells us, will not be leader of the Opposition, even if Sir W. Fiteherbert does not take it. Mr Rolleston will perhaps bo taken on trial. The following telegram from Rotorua appears in the Post of the loth inst. : — '' His Excellency the Governor, Lord Hervey Phipps, the Earl of Lewes, Commodore Hoskins, the Hon. J. Fisher, and a large party of officers of the Wolverine, arrived at Ohinemutu at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday. His Excellency is staying at Ohinemutu, and bathing regularly. The remainder of the party left for the Terrace this morning. A party of jolly tax's arrived yesterday, the first seen here for many years, making tho place look quite lively. His Excellency and party were at Whakarewarewa yesterday. The big geyser started spouting up about GOft. This geyser has been silent since 1869. It has been spouting to-day, and is likely to continue for some time. Both hotels are crowded." We much regret to hear that the Premier's illness is of a somewhat serious character. He suffers much, but his high spirit keeps him always active and cheerful. There was no business in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. A proclamation appears in the Gazette temporarily reserving from sale certain lands in the Wairoa district for ferry purposes and for tho purpose of a cemetery. Capt. Russell's health, we are glad to learn, is rapidly mending. The Stores Department, we are informed by a correspondent, is to be abolished, and many of the civil servants are in consequence under notice of dismissal, among others Captain Humphreys, who commanded tho Waipukurau district some years ago.

Public Opinion, in reviewing a book called "The Telephone, and How to Make it," by Prof. A. E. Dolbear, aays ; — "This is a very sensible pamphlet, which we hope will enable everyone to understand the elementary principles of the construction of an instrument which is the wonder of the year, and which soon may become of very great practical use. The author, knowing that he had to reckon on the large amount of ignorance which has been encouraged by the attempts at popular electrical instruction which have been given to the British public, has prefaced his remarks on the instrument with a description, or rather a history, of the progress of electrical science. He further notices one interesting fact that on one night, when there was a bright aurora display, ' there was a continuous current through the wires of the telephone, accompanied with sounds which increased in intensity as the bright streamers passed by,' and rightly conjectures that this will probably lead to some important results in science. That the telephone is now as much in its infancy as was ordinary telegraphy in 1840 is a conclusion arrived at, which probably will be agreed to by everyone who has seen what now can only bo used as a toy." It is notified in the Gazette of the 11th instant that Mr John Lowther D'Arcy Irvine has been appointed a cadet in the Surveyor-General's Department at Napier. The Dunedin Morning Herald says :— " A decision of great importance to hotelkeepers and other retailers of spirituous liquors will be given by the Court of Appeal at its next sitting. In Dunedin, and probably also in other parts of the colony, it has been held that by virture of the English Laws Act, passed by the New - Zealand Parliament in 1858, what is popularly known as the ' Tippling Act of George ll.' is law in this colony, and that therefore the price of spirituous liquors sold in less quantities than twenty shillings' worth at a time cannot be recovered by either hotelkeepers or store- _ keepers. Mr Murdoch, R. M. , of Oamaru, appears to have taken a different view of the law from that of his brother magistrates, and in a case which came before him at Palmerston last year he gave a verdict for the plaintiff for over £30 worth of liquor, all of which had been supplied in quantities of less value than twenty shillings. Against that decision the defendant appealed, aud the case was fully argued before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston in Banco lately. On the suggestion of His Honor, and with the consent of counsel, it was agreed that the settlement of this nice point of law should be referred to the Court of Appeal." To-morrow being Good Friday, in order to enable the employe's of the Herald to observe the holiday, there will be no issue of the paper on Saturday. It will be seen, by advertisement in another column, that the banks in Napier will be closed to-morrow, and also on Saturday and Monday next. Mr Allan M'Lean notifies that his horses, The Mute, Jav'lin, and Arab Child, are withdrawn from sale, and will stand in the neighborhood of Havelock next season. A book recently published, giving some very keen and bright, though rather biting, descriptions of "German home life," mentioned the free, simple-minded, unconcerned way in which engaged lovers are accustomed in Germany, in places of public resort, to give themselves up to endearments and amorous caresses utterly indifferent to the cold, stern, or amused eye of the public looking on. Something the same state of things, according to a Sydney contemporary, is getting to characterise Young Australia. We read : — ' c In omnibuses and railway carriages, as young couples return from some evening's amusement, the amount of lovemaking is excessive. Young people sit with their arms lovingly entwined round each other, utterly oblivious to the cynical smiles of their fellow-passengers, who sit looking forlornly on the loving pairs. Groups of young folks form cordons on the footpaths, and walk along in the same amatory way, quite indifferent to the jokes of the passers-by." — Australasian. The inventor of the fish torpedo, Mr Whitehead, has for a long time past been very busy at his factory at Fiume, Austria, making his torpedoes for different Governments. He has introduced several modifications into the machine since his secret was purchased by the British Government, but with hardly such favorable results as have attended the improvements effected at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. They are being examined and passed at Woolwich at the rate of three or four a day, which, as each of the machines has to be tried and tested many times, is considered very rapid work. The Ifanatvatu, Times of April 13 says : — ■' We regret to have to announce the death of Mrs James Bull, which took place at her residence, Bulls, on Wednesday night last. Mr Bull was at Feilding at the time, and the intelligence of her death was the first intimation he received of the sad affair. Great sympathy is expressed for that gentleman in his sudden bei*eavement, and sorrow for the loss of one who, throughout the many years in which she was resident in the district, had secured the respect and esteem of all." We notice that extensive additions are about to be made to the Railway Hotel, Hastings. Tenders for the work are advertised for by Mr Thomas R. Cooper, architect. Messrs Routledge, Kennedy and Co. will sell, at 2 o'clock this afternoon, at their Spit store, a large quantity of stores and sundries. Church of England services will be conducted by the Rev. J. C. Eccles as follows : — On Good Friday, 18th instant, at St. Peter's, Waipawa, at 11 a.m. ; and on Sunday, 21st instant, at St. Peter's, Waipawa, at 11 a.m. (with celebration of the Lord's Supper) ; at the school-room, Kaikora, at 3 p.m., and at the Church, Te Auto, at 7 p.m.