HOME NEWS.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 75, 9 February 1877, Page 2

HOME NEWS.

The French Government seems to have finally decided on preceding with the arrangements for the Exhibition of 18T8 without any reference *o the possible condition of Europe at lint time. The Exhibition will therefore be held in Paris at the date already decided upon ; when such nations as then may bo at peace with France or hare leisure for pacific contests will be heartily vrelcome to enter the lists. Probably Marshal M'Mahon remembers that the Exhibition of 180-3 was not the less of a success because five European Powers were then engaged in war. Kussia, of course, did not exhibit, but everything went off remarkably well notwithstanding. The Queen's vist to Paris on thatoceasiouis still remembered ; it was the first that had been paid by an English Sovereign to the capital of France since Henry VI. went to Notre Dame to be crowned king. It must be confessed that, if international exhibitions are to bo held at all, they must in every ease take their chance of a peaceful or warlike year, for an exhibition is generally two years at. least in preparing, and wars are nowadays often declared at sh rt notice. It is sniisfiictory to learn that then.' tention of tho Govcrnnvn'; has hen called to ?vlr Slunley's pvojee Jin?* in Central Afrifii, f.nd that steps Mil! bo taken to repudiate the apparent response bility which that " pioneer of riyilisition " has in a wholly unnulhorisel manner contrive! to fix u.;cm t'»i* country. A memorial has been addressed to Lord Derby on this subject by the committee of the Aborigines Protection and intiSlavery Societies, and flic* official answer to it has just been published. I' spates that " his lordship has read with regret reports of the circumstances wh ; c'j seem to have t^xen place in connection with ?tlr Stanley's explorations, an.l which have created such a painful impression in the country." Mi* Stnnley not being a British subject, her Majesty's Government have no authority over him ; but "his lordship cannot but hope, looking to the character which Mr Stanley has won in this couutry by his expedition in search of Dr Livingstone, that ho may eventually be able to afford some explanation or justification of hi:; proceedings which is not apparent from the reports which have been as yet received." A Frenchman proposes to reach the Xorth Pole by means of a balloon. All other methods of travelling in the Arctic regions having failed, recourse, he says, i must be had to aerostation. By this means alone can he hitherto insurmountable difficulties experienced in attempting to traverse the mouutains of ice which bar the way to the desired object be overcome. Captain Xares. he maintains, might hnvo reached the Pole in a very few hours had he been provided with aerostatic appliances. Whether it would have been prudent of him on reaching the pole to have effected a descent is another question, for some difficulty of a serious nature might have arisen as to the return journey ; but he might at all events, have passed over it and taken observations which could hardly fail to have been of great interest and value. Mr Stott, under the circumstances, should consider whether, instead of attempting to sell his ingenious invention to Prince ! Bismarck, it might not be worth his while i to prove its utility by a veyage to the | Pole in the first instance.