MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 20th, 1904 AN EPOCH MAKING FEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7842, 20 May 1904, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 20th, 1904 AN EPOCH MAKING FEAT.

The Japanese victory over the Russians on the -Yalu has been desoribed as an epoch-making feat. The phraae is a significant one. It is probably intended to convey the idea that just as the Japanese feat of arms has profoundly impressed Europe, so it will have no less effeot upon the Asiatic mind. Success is talismanio with the Oriental intellect. It is the first time for generations that an Eastern soldiery has come into conflict with the elite of Western armies, and the overthrow of Russia before the conquering Jap has been so thorough, so complete, as to excite the wonderment of nations. The Russian soldier, Blow as he maj be, has never lacked the credit for being a sturdy and stubborn fighter. In defence of fortified positions he is calculated to be at his best, and the Yalu defences were deliberately chosen months ago, and have been industriously labored at "to render them tenable before a possible enemy in superior numbers. How, then, comes it about that these Russian soldiers, specially blessed by the Czar and inspired with every possible sentiment of patriotism, have been crumpled up and crushed to collapse by the first sehous onslought of the enemy ? The spectacle is, indeed, a very carious one. To us, at this distance, it impossible to conceive why the Japanese divisions were permitted to cross the river and get a landing on the "Russian shore seemingly without a serious attempt to oppose them. "We may be quite sure that tidings of this victory will have an electric effect on the Chinese mind, on the Tibetans, on the Afghans, and even on the Persians. Russia must have lost prestige amongst these peoples to an almost indefinite extent, and therefore when the cable tells ns that "Europe is impressed" it records but half of the story.

So far Russia's disasters have been due to want of vigilance and bad generalship, while Japan's conduct of the war has been simply irreproachable, as able in tactics as courageous in execution. There can be no disguising the fact that Japan has made herself the real Great Power of the East. Looking to the future it is difficult to conceive with Japan in oconpatioc oE Korea and Russia's sea power gone, and the Mikado's armies closing around Port Arthur, by what means Russia can hope to retrieve her losses. Of course it may be in the Czar's power, even though driven out of Mauchuria and back to Harbin,-to prolong a bloody and costly war; but hsre

many complicated issues will arißa. France has lent to Eusst* £300,000,000, and the indications of the .Bourse point to the fact that she is already growing a little nervous about her money. Despite the Buisian bravado that all attempts at intervention will be resented, the Ozar must be secretly anxious to end a war in which he has all to lose and nothing to gain. Russia began the war to vindicate her right to remain master of Manchuria, bub she has been told by the neutral nations that no such rights exist. Of course her prestige in the East would be re-established if sh6 could retrieve the naval and military losses inflicted uj:on her; but nations nowadays do not-in-dulge in costly wara for the empty guerdon of military glory, and even if thi3 were achieved in Russia's case it could only be at the expense of national bankruptcy. It is, however too soon to predict the end of the war booause of the striking successes which have attended Japanese arnl3. Russia may possibly redeem a portion of her credit in the defence of Port Arthur; but with the abandonment of Niu-chwang even her most optimistic friends must begin to think any such chance a remote one. The Japanese strategists appear to be able to out-manoeuvre the Russian everywhere by imitating Napoleon's grand principle of always concentrating a superior force against the enemy.

Eussia played her best card before the war when she imposed upon the nations the belief that she had 350,000 troops in Manchuria. We know now that she had not half as many, and that the chief element in her policy has been brag. Her difficulties of transport since she has lost command of the sea are enormous, not to say overwhelming, and must be as costly as they are great. It is in these circumstances that we may look at any time for some efforts at interyention on the part of France and Germany. The' Kaiser will doubless try to ingratiate himself with the Czar as a counter stroke to the recent 4nglo - French Convention. All these considerations leave quite out of count the danger which some prescient European statesmen fancy they perceive of the Yellow Peril. It must be admitted that Japan, having done what she has done, will not in our day slide back into her former condition of comparative insignificance. She has a right, and will exercise it to follow her destiny. That may possibly be to marshal and rehabilitate China. But that is quite too large a question, and too far in the shadowy future to require serious consideration now. One good to Europe will come out of this war—Russia will not be able for the nest twenty years to pose as the invincible Colossus of the north.

The Feilding Mounted Eifles went into camp on Wednesday. _ The flying survey of the Hanmer light railway from Cnlverden is now in progress. It ia said that one Union Company Bteamer has alone cost the company £200 in twelve months for broached cargo. M. Orchard (Christchu?ch), E. Williams (Dunedm), and F. Sherwood (Nelson) have been appointed drapery experts to the Customs Department. The brewers are reported to be arranging for some of the strongest " liberty " orators in the United States to lecture in New Zealand against prshibition. Inquiries at the Treasury show that sales over the counter of debentures at the last loan are regular. It is said that the balance of the loan will be obtained without recourse to the London market. Fifty followers of "Elijah" Dowie and their families have left Adelaide forZion City. It is reported that another contingent will follow as soon as they can obtain passage from Sydney. Those who have lefo include farmers, tradesmen, and others, and some well-to-do peoplgj Detective Maddern stated at the Auckland Supreme Court that a bos of shirts was broached on board a Union boat in port recently and 25 shirts removed. A search was made through the ship and 500 cigars were found in the lining of the hold, together with a "jemmy," °an instrument usedby burglars. It is the intention of tho A.M.P. .Society to engage a number of lady clerks immediately it establishes an industrial branch of its business, authority for this being given at the annual meeting of the society the other day in Sydney. The ladies will commence work at a salary of £25 per annum, with yearly increments of £25, until the maximum of £100 per annum jb reached.*?;! »ny&g"% Canada is now exporting boots to Wew Zealand. A Canadian correspondent asks " what is to prevent the New Zealand people from selling Canada some of the hides which are now imported for the boot and shoe factories." Nothing at all, says a contemporary, but why should we not be able to make the boots and shoes ourselves, instead of sending the material to Canada to be made up ? Who on earth are the .Taps that we must not " venture to criticise " them ? About SO years "ago our Embassy to Japan narrowly escaped massacre, and was only saved by the accidental presence of a gunboat in Japanese waters. Perhaps when yon see a Japanese fleet in New Zealand waters demanding the repeal of all la*a interfering with the immigraiion of Japanese, you will be sorry tbat your sympathies were so strong for Japan.—Dr B. H. Bakawell in the Auckland Star.

The Eltham Co-operative Bacon Company's factory at Eltham was opened last week. Mr Parlane, chairman of the company, said that although dairying was profitable they found that the bye. products could be used for raising pigs. The factory had cost to erect, and the site coat an additional 4-400. There were 130 shareholders. Mr Malone thought the slump in the price of butter would be of considerable benefit to farmers, a3 it- would teach thsm to make use of all bye-products, to milk a cow that would give a good return of butter-, fat, and to economise in every department. Mr Astbury proposed the toast of " Our worthy gue3t—or the gictleman what pajß tho rint."'

The Herald says there has bean a great revival in spiritualistic seances in Hew Plymouth during the past. tbraa months, and that sceptics, who go so scoff, are being weekly converted to tha " circles " that; have been established. A borough official found in one fotflhouse in Woodville lately no fewer than five kegs of blasting powder stored. It looks as if an explosive bye-law is needed. Rnmors are revived about im ponding Ministerial reconstruction (says the Wellington correspondent of tha ChriscchurchPress. Nothing definite is heard, but reconstruction is once more in the air. ; The dnriea for the qawter ended March 31st. la9t, a3 compared with therevenue for the corresponding quarter last year were:—Cu3toni3, 1903-4, £720,042; 1902^3, £626,283; excise, £27,362 and £24,987. The customs and excise duties collected in New Zealand for the year ended March. 31s(, as compared with, those of the previous year, were : — Customs, 1903-4, £2,595,64,9; 1902-3, £2,285,013; excise, 1903-4, £102,397; 1902-3, £94,482. The duties collected at the chief ports during the year ended March last were: Auckland, "customs, .£645.779, excise. £23,648; Wellington, £656,772 and £12.144 ; Christchurch, £391,411 and £47,101; Dunedin, £439,977 and £38,907. . ■■".-"' Mr H. B. Tackar has let a contract to the Union Sash and Door Co. for the construction of a now bar in the front portion of tb.B Olub Hotal. The plans were prepared hy Mr L. G. West from a design supplied by Mr Tucker. Other alterations to the hotel hay 6 beea carried out lately.^ The divorce suit Cottle r. Cottle (wife's petition) was heard m Chambers yesterday before the Chief Justice. A decree nisi was granted to be made absolute in three months, respondent to contribute £3 towards the support of petitioner and her children. Mr Cooperappeared for petitioner aud Mr Inne? for respondent. One of the motions passed by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society at its meeting on Wednesday night was a condemnation of tha boy-and-gun combination that plays Buch a large parfc in the death-rate of the colony. It was not altogether out of consideration for the; life of the boy, however, that the society decided to disapprove of the carrying of" fire arnls by boys under 15 years. The object of their solicitude was the life of the duck and pheasant and the life of the public at large. Apropos the Premier's health a Wei lington correspondent" writes :—I understand that the scheme for reducing infant mortality was dictated by the Premier to a secretary at one sitting on the day he- sailed on his cruise. As this was but a fraction of the work he did that day, the fact that he was able to do it and not suffer is regarded as a. strong proof of his progress towards recovery. At all events it CDntradicts all rumours of serious complications. la political circles there is at the same time a strong feeling that unless completely restored by the session Mr Seddon should take a long holiday. Fven the Oppositionists speak in this way, and with considerable kindliness. The Manawatu Land Drainage Board sat yesterday to hear objections to the proposed taking of land at Awapunl for the Mangsone outlet. Mr A. Strang, for whom Mr Cooper appeared, objectedon the ground *,hat the proposed work would cause the silting up of the lagoon, which would be objectionable, particularly io summer time. Mr Innes, for Tiripa Meihana, objected on the ground that part of the land proposed to be taken was occupied by his client as a garden and that buildings were erected on part of it. Mr Cooke was present on behalf of the Board, which after hearing the objections decided to. proceed with the taking of the land under the Public Works Act. •_ ■

A young girl, who was reported missins» from Ohmgaiti recently, has been , found by the police at Woodville. ' At Mrs Capfc. Brown'B operatic performance on Wednesday night,: th' orchestra, in addition to the names mentioned yesterday, included Mr T. Kitchen, first violin. . The following district valuers have been appointed by the Government Valuation Department: For the counties of Woodville; ■pahiatua, Kiwitea and Pohangina, and boroughs of Pahiatua, and Wood ville, Mr G. H.Lloyd; and for Poverty Bay, Mr Cecil Lewis. According to advices received in Wei- , *m n leßterday, Mr and Mrs Seddon left Taurßnga during the day, and are due at Auckland to-morrow. Both are very much better for their, outing. The treatment in the case of the Premier has, his many friends will be glad to learn, answered extremely well. The following were the principal items of revenue for the past quarter, the figures for the corresponding quarter last ypar being also given• :— Spirits, 1904, £113,750; 1903, £103,642; cigars and snuff. £6371 and £7254; cigarettes, and £18,375; tobacoo, £83,688 ftDd £72,075; wine, £5197 and £5380 ; Australian wine, and £2891; tea £4189 and £11,468; ale, beer, etc.. £5751 and £5726; excise beer, £26,303 and £24,023. At the Police Court this morning'a first offender was convicted and discharged for drunkenness. John Hurley was charged with the thelt of a watch, valued at £2 from John Kohen. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily. Kohen's evidence was to the effect that when m a back street accused - put Ins hand into witness's pocket and took the watch. Just after the incident. Constable Hattie came along, heard witness's complaint and arrested aecu«ed. The police, after taking this evidence, were granted a remand till tomorrow morning. Messrs W. T. Wood, MH.R., and W. Montgomery, J'sP. were on the bench. Intending visitors from outside towns to our Winter Show are experiencing difficulty in securing accommodation in Palmerston. fome hotels are full up and can take no more orders, while others decline to book accommodation, and intend working on the principle of " first come, first served." The show committee has arranged for the compilation of a list of private houses where suitable accommodation may be obtained. They would like all having such accommodation to apprise the secretary as soon as possible, as there is nothing which will tend to lessen the attendance aud diminish the success of the show so lruch as the inability of visitors to find comfortable lodgings. ±be Committee's appeal will, we are sure, meet with a ready response. • The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, 1.0.0.F.. was held last night. N.G. Bro. C. Eickard presiding. It was decided to accept the challenge of the Eifles Social Club to a , series of indoor games, also the Druids challenge to a game of football. jSTomi- . nations of officers for the ensuing term were opened and will remain open until next lodge night. The following nominations were received i-JT.W,, Bros. L. G. Horn and B. Hay; V.G., Bros.Eush, C. Fuller and G. Lowe; E.S.. Bros. Neilson, Neill, Hay and W. J. Wood • Delegates P.P.G.M., Bro?. W T Wood S. J. Eelf, A. W. Browning! P.G., Bros. W.S. Hart. J. H. Hayhow H. ShariS&u and E. W. Beadnall, Wandering through San Francisco .in search of "notions" that would be useful in the Union Steamship Company's service, Mr E. E. Williams, providore superintendent, found his way into the palatial Alexander Young Hotel; says a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times. It is said that the building cost £300,000, and is one of the finest west of Chicago! It is furnished with a complete set of refrigerators. There are separate freezing chambers for poultry, fisb, game, and meats, and big supplies, ready carved, are always/kept for immediate use in , cases o£ emergency. The machinery is driven by/boilers using petroleum for fuel, and various electrical contrivances are utilised. One of these freshens up hot rolls i and others clean plates and wash dishes. 3lr Thomas Waghorn, who has retired from the British Museum, after forty-six years, of Government service, in his younger days saw lighting- ag-ainst the Maoris. He was in the -13rd Regiment (now Ist Battalion , Oxfordshire Light Infantry), and/after taking part in the closing stages of the Indian ,Mutiny, wont with his regiment to New Zealand, where Jie served for thirty month's! Going Home with a medal, he was nominated to the British Museum as an attendant. Mr . Waghorn has written, a ~book called " Cricket Scores," embodying the earliest re- . cords of the Jung" of games, and a second book from his pen, on ihe . same subject, is published tinder the auspices of the M.C.C. •

.Wednesday night's meeting of-ihu .Napier Borough Council w,,s enliven- - ec! by occasional little passa-a's-at-arms between the* members.' 'Hie Jjrst arose through a remade i.v Cr. Eagleton about "playing to ;b<> o-aJ-N lery," to which strong exception Txlis taken by Cr. McGrath/ and ivrich th« Mayor declared to be unpa/Uamentary. Cr. Laseollcs wiid this ruling was somewhat harsh i:i v:,>w of the freedom of explosion to which Councillors had boon accustomed, but subsided when his .Worship insisted upon the chair being .respected and its ruling implicitly obeyed. A little later on Cr. 'McGrath suggested that there had been some " finoodling" about something, -whereupon Cr. Laseolles appealed to the Mayor to J;no\v if the • word was a parliamentary r.ne. claiming that its meaning far worse, than "playing1 to the gallery." .Cr, Laseelles' objection was treated ' 'as a joke, Cr. McGrath proposing that if he desired amusement ho should be presented with a shilling to pay- for admission to a place of entertainment.. Most Serious of all -was a rebuke administered by the Mayor to Cr. Thomson, vho had ventured to laugh at one of many jocularities. His Worship .«aid he wished Cr. Thomson would bring some gravity of demeanour to tho ;- deliberations of the Council, and also expressed an earnest hope that Cr. Thomson would endeavour to cultivate a little decency. This evoked a chorus of protest from Councillors, and a bewildered request from Cr. Thomson to know what, he had done. The Mayor then with'lronthe remark, but requested the Council to conduct their business in future with less unseemly levity. Councillors signified acquiescence, and subsequently respected his W'or- . ship's wishes—to a considerable; extent,—Herald. >