The French in Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 7 April 1892, Page 2

The French in Africa.

On the West coast of Africa, at the point where the broadest part of the continent curves round towards the South Atlantic and the gulf ' of Guinea, is a French possession. The road to the. river Niger has been secured hy forts. ' fleneg'ambia has been, got to acknowledge the sovereignty"' of France, and efforts are being made to creep round the coast to their next largest possessions ma this coast'by-.the Congdi- • Lying however 'in 41ie way is the gold coast,' art English colony, and past this little strip is the kingdom of Dahomey, which has beerr known for years as the slave coast. Here France has again got a footing as she has secured a protectorate over Kutanu. It is probably in connection with this district that her troops have. come into conflict with those of Dahomey, and in which, the cable newsj.nforms us, she has suffered a reverse. France is evidently in for a little colonial war terminating with new acquisitions or protectorates in this dark continent as the result of ; much loss of blood and treasure. . . ./

„ Mr Oliver leaves in a few days for Home.' THofagh'he \\%t niadd only & flying visit to settle u)J his affairs and dispq.se of his ValtiftWg iestatteai Okaua, he was previously so connjßcte.d.witli'this district that a 'hope was once entertained that he might have been , induced ,to have rernaiqed. He, however ha 1 the old old excuse, he had married 'a' wife, and had incurred responsibilities, in the old country that made it imperative for him to live there, so that we have to once again to wish him a pleasant voyage. For the past two yea^s Mr Oliver has been at Home, and his trip out lately has been one of business. "B 6 "«Mfe (accompanied' *y» liis- wife and ksisier; :>vhQse .acquaintance! Jw> added to the regret thai hi fqjt that he could not remain. "Mr Olfver will however have the 'sWsikciUbfe tifteri-dwin^ \UPas a landowner and* settler he was a general &avoiii&{e <.and ottos bo iidle idrbne having Ih^:po6^esj|jpll;l h^:po6^esj|jpll; to/.sjflqh, a state of improvement, that was able to sell readily at the top ' price' at which Jand.h'as .heeu lateLy selling. We shall all m|fegjhi»|MM caur|njl| fiS\ that he will■^ftvy£ntAiUc6essfin tina as^pfeasant a tune ; in the Old Country as he has had in the -New. -...,.-, What's in a name? the poet asks. •W^at'^in initials the ratepayers are asking. It is curious, but the first letters of the surnames of the three borough councillors who left the meeting oh Monday spells the name of an animal which is generally used to designate a want of sense. It is merely a curious coincidence, nothing more. Not so. novel as it sounds. A South Island' farmer 1 has a Somewhat novel manner of calling his- swine to their meals. He has a huge bell which he rings twice a day when the pigs' feed is ready, and at the first stroke the ,- animals begin 'to scamper lionie. from fill parts of the Held. |lt is stated th^j a cream r separator has. 'be>n i! f)itr6dtfcecl' in 1 AinbricW •which is also. IBi B i 'bHH»r' ii elct*adtoiV < > th.us doing :away with 'HidAihutn^ihai bade, pf the dft ; rj 7 man. - J J7he'iemain» r fli6 tliosie soldiers .yhq 'were' buried in the vicinity o&ijjujcunjftsu tt'fe,time,' oi.>lh&, \vaiv says the. Wanganui Chronicle of. baturday. have been exhumed and br,oughi'to^\Vanganui and ■i t e-int^^fl( Jbetie;ft6W'ittie ■' Old Soldiers' Monun^nV,' which is now in course of erection in the Queen's Park. Nothing but the boiies of the men were found to remain, and these relic.4, representing about seventeen bodies were carefully deposited in their new and final resting place. Two of the sculls were perforated as if by bullets, and the back portion of another was completely crushed in, apparently by a blow from some blunt instrument. From the appearance of the • ' •"remains as the* lay in their graves before exhumaticHirit^y* evident thafrmany of the bodies ---had • been buried in blankets with boots and uniform on.

During four weeks in March 96 ton? of butter was shipped from the " w Plymouth Breakwater, besides which about a similar quantity went by rail to Wellington. Mr F. DavieB 1 farm at Kereta was sold by Messrs Laery & Co at £9 4s per acre on Monday. A first offender was fined 5s and costs this morning for drunkenness. He webt into The iiCmu'Vyesleittfty, afatt dikeil for a cliftii' : in reply he was accommodated with a couch for the night, with the result above stated. Mr H. F. Dtividson has notifisd the Foxton Racing Club that he will be unable to act as judge at the races next week, on account of visiting Wellington to see Mr Oliver off. A cr.ee ting o£ the Committee will be held this evening, when a substitute for Mr Davidson will be appointed. We also regret to learn that owing to the serious illness of his mother, Mr John Coyle has been compelled to visit Auckland and consequently will not be able to attend the races. • The valuation of the tohangma Ward in the Kiwitea Road district last year was £55,098 ; this year it is £105,000. The total last year was £253,000, this year £5.10,000. Messrs Stevens' & Gorton's sale at Bulls is advertised for Tuesday next. Mr H. Hooper the advance agent of Davys' Bright Lights Comedy and Novelty Company was in town yesterday arranging for the appearance 1 of the Compauy on Tuesday and Wednesday next. ' .A light two-horse power with intermediate complete and a number three chaff cutter is for sale cheap. On the Ist page of this paper is a striking announcement of special shipments of English made Blankets imported for the present season's requirements at Te Aro House, Wellington. Now these Blankets are specially good value, that is to gay, the prices are exceedingly moderate and the qualities are exceedingly good. Our London buyers consider themselves experts on the matter of Blankets, and that is the reason why we give such excellent value and do bo large a trade in them at Te Aro House, Wellington. We have an immense stock of these Blankets in all sizes, not only English but Colonial, arfd we have a large variety of : Colored "Blankets, Austrian Bugs, Newmarket Rugs, &c, &c, at Te Aro House, Wellington. It is very certain that in all drapery articles of house furnishing it would be impossible to find elsewhere such advan*tages as we are abb to offer the public such as large variety, such moderate prices and such an excellent Carpet and Furnishing Department as there are at Te Aro House Wellington. Housekeepers, hotelkeepers, stationholders, and all those about to marry should without doubt for their own advantage write or call at Te Aro House, vVel* lington. Messrs Ross and Sandford of the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, beg to intimate to their numerous customers in the district, that the additions to their premises are now completed, their first Direct Shipments of Autumn and Winter goods for all Departments, which ar6 on a more extensive scale than on any- former season are also to hand and ready to select from, and they respectfully solicit the early inspection of customers, they direct special attention to their stocks in the following Departments viz': — Dressgoods, Mantles, Plush and Scalette Jackets, Ulsters, Millinery and Fancy goods ; also Flannels and Blankets, General Drapery and Household Furnishing, which are now stocked more largely than formerly and in keeping with their extended premises, Boss & Sandfokd, the Bon March, Palmerston North.