The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7540, 15 August 1902, Page 2

The Star.

Delivered evory evening bj 6 o'clock iv Hawera, Manaw, Normanby, Cbtvinwa, EUhnm, Manga toki, Knponga, A ratuna, Opunnke, Otakeho, Munutabi, A. tou, Hurleyville, Patea. &nd Waverlo.v.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15.

THE WEEK.

In the Coronation celebration and attendant festivities the unavoidable decrease in formerly initiated splendours by no means detracted from the enthusiasm of the people, which, indeed, on illumination night, surpassed former records. It was, however, in the cathedrals and churches on Saturday and Sunday that the heart of the nation spoke in thanks for past mercies, and prayers for future health, long life, and prosperity for the Monarch, and showed that the illness of the King has added to tho loving devotion of the people. It has long been noticeable that, whilst giving a fostering care to all the misfortunes of the multitude, the King has arrogated to himself, as peculiarly his province, provision for the sick and wounded, and the relegation by him of £115,000, the gift of the people to himself, to the funds of the London Hospital is but a repetition of former munificence in a similar direction. The present of Osluorne House to the nation, leaving to it a free hand as to the specific class to be sheltered within the royal walls, is a splendid effort of impartial generosity. The attitude of the nations of Europe, indeed, of the world, has been all that could be expected, that of the smaller ones especially enthusiastic, and of America kinlike in its kindness.

In the account of the proceedings on the day set apart for a special reception and review of the colonials, it will be doubly gratifying to see that the King -was strong enough to make a speech to his loyal subjects from across the world. It will be lemarked that not a word is- said approaching the political, not a hint as to drawing closer the ties, but a whole-hearted acceptance of an all sufficient loyalty evidenced by splendid feats of arms in defence of the Empire. It is probably owing to the impression wrought on the Prince and Princess of Wales on their visit, as well as the signal valour of her boys, that the King appears to have specially delighted to honour New Zealand and her representative, and it must have been most gratifying to our Premier and his wife to have been so greatly honoured. The medals given to each is the expression of a more perfunctory item in the programme, and they will have an increased value in the future from ideas associated with the greetings, as well as with i the occasion.

Fjiom long term of office it has long been acknowledged that the British Cabinet bas become somewhat stale, and from the age of some of its members it bas long been subject to I the charge of inertia. Jfc was thought that, recognising this themselves, Ministers would play for a fall, hoping for a life renewed by the constituencies. It moy be that the adverse issue of a few bye-elections has prompted them rather to seek salvation by reconstruction, which has accordingly taken plaoe. In the faoa of an Irish vote of over eighty of a party allied to' none, bat usually adverse to the Govermenfc, it is neceeflary for the latter to be sure of a much larger majority than would ordinarilly keep ft Ministry in office with repute. It> speaks much for ttha entire alteration of party lines

that Mr Wason, an ex-New Zea lander, nhould have left the Unionists, and, without any liberal gradations, joined the Radicals. Bince Lord Lanedowne took over the Foreign Office portfolio/an increased activity and beneficial alteration has taken place in the conduct of foreign affairs, especially in China, but in that department tbe Conservatives have always been tt ong when they put forth their strength. It is in domestic matters that the Government will find difficulty, and their only safety from the results of in oompetancy in this direction lies in the feet that there is at present no concrete body in Opposition.

The Imperial Conference bas oonoludcd satisfactorily in that we have surrendered nothing which might prejudice or rule over our own population, and it has been of incalculable value in informing a'l parties to ifc as to tbe aspirations and limitations of all. JFree trade wa3 impostible to the colonies from the exigencies of their respective budgets; protection which would allow of preferential treatment to the colonies was impo&sible to the British, because they eculd not tax their own income an largely, and at the fame time dif organise their foreign markets. For Great Britain is creditor to all tha world, and the lurge margin between her imports ■ nd exports is extinguished by the. payment of the interest on her loans being made in imporkd gcod?, and also by freights outward^ and inwards. Sir Michael Hicks- Beech told th 9 Commons that it was cot necessary to impose duties in order to assist ths colonif-s ; that could be done in another way. And in return for buou preferential treatment as tha colonies give the good,-? of Britain, the Conference has deeded on the kind, if not tha extent, of the help to be given. It i-< quite a triumph that, wh'lst it is nowhere expected that armed assistance to the Empire will diminish, tbe colonies retain control of their owo land force?, and ia our iasuler position it is specially gratifying to find that our boys will be technically assisted to make a '• h( nn on the ocean wave. 0 ," where they can assist their country on a roaa-o'-wa'-. Particular .-» of a'l tbiogs are vi anting, but indications are promising.

The factors which slightly retard settlement in South Africa are different in the old colonies and the new. In tbe former they are economic, and the latter political. In the Crown colonies ifc should not be impossible to restrain the inclination to combine into syndicates and monopolies which would bar the development of the country, and the large amount of labor at low rates required will prove the most serious want to fill. The banket is poor; the enormous quantity treated makes it payable. Tbe yellow agony is repugnant to all, white labor not being attracted at the rates offered, and among the teeming millions of Africa 650,000 eligible blacks hard to procure. At the Cape the prompters of disaffection are found among the same class that prompted tbe rebellion. The Reformed Church and the Bondsmen, allied with the exofficials of the late Republics, who have lain in clover whilst the true Boer fought, are again agitating.

Mr Steyn, most stalwart in mind though weak in body, has appealed against the formation of an irreconcileable party. He suffered tho hardships of the field with De Wet. Reitz, on the contrary, wishes to distinguish between an official and a personal act, forgetting in his quibble that he signed for himself as a subject of the Boer State when he officially surrendered independence. But all such utterances as those of himself and his son, as Kruger now sees, assist in the selection of those who cannot be allowed to return to South Africa It is hoped that Lord Milner will be able to arrange with Portugal for a warder for the back-door at Lorenzo Marquez

The country will mourn with the Boers for the death of Lucas Meyer, who, dying, mads a last effort to reconcile Kruger to the inevitable. Whilst we have such staunch allies as Meyer, Botha, De Wet, and De la Key to assist in the cause of law, order, and true freedom to all whites, we can afford to treat lightly, whilst not neglecting, the efforts of the recalcitrant party in a contrary direction. With true Boer slimness, when the last hope of return failed, Kruger posed as a pauper, and threatened to suo the British Government for £50,000. But the Boer leaders know their man, and are going to plead for some of the millions to feed the destitute Boer.

'n the malter of the troopers' complaints, the charges are no 1 ; confined to one chip. With the Britamnio ifc is remarkable that the evider.ee of efficers and men is so divergent, especially as we know the care and attention with which such efficers as Colonel Davies have always looked after ihfci? men. On ihe Hydnej side they have the same trouble with the Drayton Grange, and the curious in the matter will fi&d an equal disregard to the well-being and comfort of the discharged scJdier on tbe port of the Imperial authorities, from the fir&t returo of troops to England during tbe war. The first; instance which struck borne to the colonies was tbe case of the stranded Canadians. We may safely say that thu condition of tbe troopships carrying returned time expired men, as we now know them is the normal condition of that sbip when curving Tommy Atkinp. But when they go out with all the pride acd panoply it is dsffertnt. These are solid facts, not complaints.