North Otago Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 1886.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6137, 25 August 1886, Page 2

North Otago Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 1886.

It is impossible, we think, not to see tbe logical consummation of a deep and steadily and artfully wor'red out Russian design in the arrest of Priticp Alexander of Bulgar/p By means of tbe arrest Russia in effect tears to titters Lord Beaconfield's great diplomatic triumph, the Treaty of Berlin This is not said with the potty object of casting discredit upon that Treaty, which really deserves to be commemorated as one of the moat notaMf things of its day ; for, after Russia had beaten Turkey in a desperate and costly war, the Treaty compelled the former country to forego all the advantages she had gained and concessions sh« had extorted, and, by the way it disposed of the Danubian territories, throw stumbling blocks in the way of the future progress of Kuesia's traditional policy with regard to Turkey To do that was to achieve a great diplomatic and political triumph. But Russia, who has neyor ceated to aim at aod work for the nullification of the Treaty of Berlin, has at last, it seems, consummated her designs in that respect by the arrest of Prince Alexander of Bulgaria. Our readers will remember an erent called the Roumelian revolution, which took place in September last year. It resulted in the practical reunion of Roumelia with Bulgaria. Tbe severance of these countries had been opposed by Russia at the Conference at which the Treaty of Berlin was drawn up and signed, and their reunion was of course acceptable to Russia for it was a Btep distinctively in her interest, as it meant the exclusion of Turkish officialism from Roumelia and the greater consolidation of a people favorable to Russian designs. And yet perhaps this did not quite appear to be the case at the time, for Russia, though delighted at the turn of •vents, anxiously tried to show that she bad had no hand in the Roumelian revolution. The Cz*r even ordered the Russian Minister of War at Sofia to resign his office, forbade Rutsian volunteeiß to enter Bulgaria, and interdicted Russian officers from giving any assistance to tbe Roumelian movement, Thera was evoa a lot of talk amongnt the Bulgarians themselves about the Russians acting as traitors to tbe Bulgarian national interests, though it is probable that all that was done by both Russia and Bulgaria was mere attitudinising meant to throw dust in the eyes of Europe. Even all the subsequent movements in favor of the national independence of United Bulgaria, though apparently opposed to Russian as well as to all other foreign influence, may have been carried on really in Russia's interest. Ostensibly Prince Alexander acted for Bulgaria and for himself ss its Sovereign. Even the elections which took place in May last bore apparently overwhelming testimony to the existence of a strong and distinctively national party, for , 282 members were returned !n favor of the Government of Prince Alexander and only 18 as followers of the what was called the Russian party of the country, But when it is remembered that Bulgarian electors invariably vote as they are asked to by the wirepullers, the elections need not be allowed to count for very much. At any rate, it is difficalt to believe that a country which unanimously voted for Prince Alexander's National Government in May lust would now go down on iti knees to thank God and the Czar for the arrest of its Prince and the destruction of his Government, if the elections had represented the real feelings of the people. It may be that Prince Alexander has been personally sincere in all his national and royal aims and aspirations, but if so, it is now apparent that he and his enterprises have been used as a mere stalkinghorses by Russia for the better advancement of her own purposes. This assumption is strengthened by a consideiation of the real condition of Bulgaria and the character of it* people. According to a recent writer, " neither Prince Alexander's nor anybody else's authority has any moral itrength. The only force which, though latent, is still considerable in the country ia the influence of Russia." Then we are told by the game observer that " there is in Bulgaria a compact mass of ignorant people and a comparatively small number of person* forming the intelligent class. While the people number some two millions, the intelligent class, in the European sense of the word, scarcely number a couple of hundred. The connection between those two elements ii very slight, and consequently the reason for considering the latter as a representative part of the people is very doubtful. While we see— and every one who knows something about Bulgaria will confirm my statement— that the characteristic features of the people are sobriety, economy, and industry, qualities which are so general among the people that they constitute an imr portant guarantee for its future growth and prosperity, the peculiar features of tbe intelligent class are cupidity, duplicity, and superficiality. However, it is always this intelligent class which has represented Bulgaria and its interests to Europe, and Europe could not help seeing into Bulgaria through the eyee of this intelligent cla«*. I cannot too much impress upon the reader's mind how great and deep ia the difference between those Bulgarian! who, through the knowledge of some foreign language, can converse with a European journalist or diplomatist, and those who peacefully work their fields in the country at large, and constitute the enormous majority of the population. The political creed of the majority is simple in the extreme : their only wish is for peace and material development, and their sympathies are confined to their equally instinctive and rational feeling of gratitude towards Russia, who has granted them fcb«. right over their lives and property i-fcrthipgs which were still perfectly uncertain under the Turkish rule, only few years ago, 3?hii fact is perfectly clear to every one in the country, aud

this feeling etnnofc bft shaken by at»y influence.*'

These citations should, we thick, enable our readers to realise the materials with which Rusaia has had to

work in her efforts to " burst up " the Treaty of Berlin — efforts which, through the arrest of Prince Alexander, have placed her in practical possession of another stage of the journey towards Constantinople, over whose donr s

accoiding to an address lately presented to the Czar by the Mayor of Moscow,

Rusaia hopes soon to eae the Creßcent supplanted by the Cross. How England and tho other Powers will act in the present emergency remains to l>e aeen ', how any of them can wilb impunity allow Rußsia to prosecute her designs or even to retain tbe advantages she has just achieved, ia assuredly clear to few if any Englishmen. Indeed, unless some supreme stroko of diplomacy should bring about an adjustment, a momentous European war may reeult from the intrigues and events which we have been endeavoring to bring under the observation of our readers.

St. P»nl's Mutual Improvement Association meets this evening at eight o'clock.

The monthly moating of Lodge G\maru Kilwlnning take* place this evening, at 7.30,

The um*l weekly meeting of Emmanuel Young People's Union was held last uight, when there wore about 35 membera present. The Rev. Seth-Smith pres'ded. ".The Power of Example " was brought before the meeting by Mr R. E. Jones ia an eisay of considerable length and merit A fair disoussbn followed, and a vote of thanks to the essayist was accorded by acclamation, A paper on "Lord Maoaalay," by Mr RP<suf jld, will be given at the next mooting of the Union,

In our shipping colnmne yesterday, we satd the ressan for ths Lady Mabel bom? put on the berth for Auckland was owing to some difficulty abont the Btene sent to her for shipment, We now find that this ia not tbe case. The stone quarried for tbe Lady Mabel has been examined and passed by Mr Daval, arohlteot for the Koman Csthoito Cathedral at Samoa, and the reason for the vessel's not leaving for Samoa at once io because the builders of the Cathedral cannot make use of the stone as qalokly as was at first Bnppoaed,

When the mail left London 8000 caroases of the Tnrakina's cargo of raatban had been disposed o' at prices ranging from 5d to ssd, and 1800 carcases of sheep acd 20 pieces of beef per Tainul at the following prices : Mutton, 4£d to 5Jd; btef , 6£d to 6d, The cargoes by the£taapshu,Mataura, and Inveroargillare reported as bavidg arrived in good condition. English mutton was selling at s »to» to 5\ 8d per atone, Scotoh at 5s 4d to 5) lOd, New Zealand 3i 2d to 3-3 6d, Melbourne 2s lOd to 3a 2d, River Plat* 2a lOd to 3j, Finland Islands 3s to 3a 4d,

Ciptain Edwin'a Monday's prediction that we would have more bad weather within a given time has not been verified by results. Instead of bad weather, yesterday was the finest day we have experienced for »ome considerable time. Captain Edwin, however, is not altogether to blame. He does bis best, and If h ; i prognostications r"e not fulfilled, it is more due to the contrariness of that inßorutnble entity tbe Clerk of the Weather than to any fault on the part of the Captain. Jf, however, it is better to be late thtn never. Captain Edwin has the satisfaction of knowing that it rained last night,

The steamship Hauroto arrived in port last nigbt about 9 o'olook, and was «*fely berthed at the wharf We refor to th« fact beoanse there are not many ports in the oolony that vestels of the Haurota's «izn would enter on dark nights, and the fact ehewa that while the port is safe to enter daring the day there is no risk ran in entering it at night. Captain Kennedy brought his ship in, had her slewed round, and berthed at the Sampler Wharf without a hitch. The Hauroto brings about 330 tons of ooal for this port, which she will dicoharge to-day. She does not leave tor Sydney till to-morrow.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a brass band was held last night, when about 20 intending members were present. It was unanimously decided to form a band, to be called the Oamaru City Band, and those in attendance were enrolled a* bandsmen. The election of officers was postponed till a future meeting. Those who have taken the initiatory steps reported that they had obtained, through the kindness of the Caledonian Society's Committee, the instruments whioh had belonged to the old Caledonian Band, and that the Die of the old Mail office had been secured for a practice room ; while support and sympathy had been received on every band. Confidence wai expressed that the Oamaru City Band would be suooessfal, aed the unanimity whioh marked its first meet, ing will go some dhtmce to that end, The band has already begun ia real earnest, for a practice was held at tbe close of the business part of the meeting last night, and it w*s deolded that there should be three evenings of the week set aside for praotioe, namely, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Intending members are requested to apply at the old Mail office, Tyne street, on the •veninga named, between seven and eight o'clock.

With reference to the frozen wsat trade the London Circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, of date the 15th July, reports : ''Colonial mutton has become depressed partly In consequence of the simultaneous arrival cf several large shipments, and partly owing to the shrinkage in consumption Usually experienced at this time of year. Stocks, however, hive not baen unduly pressed for sale, otherwise still lower rates must neoss. sarily have baen accepted. A noteworthy feature in the trade h»» been tbe arrival of the 8.8. Selembria with 30,000 carcases mutton from the Falkland Islands. Theie sheep, though not equal in point of quality to "prime" New Zealand oarcsßei, have thus far been landed in good oondition, and being of suitable sige ha?a commanded some degree of attention at prioas closely approximating those obtainable "for ordinary" New Zealand parcels. The arrival of this large shipment has nata rally had an adverse influence upon the demand for tbe colonial article, Lambs have remained dull of sale unless when of really good quality. Beef of all descriptions ha* rectdvd la valae, and the volume of business reoeatly reported has been somewhat restricted. New ZsaJand parcels have Buffered in sympathy with the leading descriptions.- The provincial markets have remained fairly steady, bat prices have been supported with diffioalty.

Writing under date the 15th Jaly, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company report a« follows of the London »rool market : " Notwithstanding the oontinuanoe of heavy daily offerings, the course of tho market ainoe the date of oar last iiiut has been distinctly in sellers' favor, and prices for most descriptions may now be q aated £<$ to Id lb higher than at the open* log of the series. New Zealand greasy merinos of medium or inferior quality and heavy in oonditioa have continued to be less ready of sale than fine haired Australasian staple, and have only partially benefited bj the farther upward movement. On tbe other hand, crosabredi, more especially those of New Zealand origin, when aouud and well grown, have elicited eager competition at the advance above quoted. The enhance mtnt in values has been moat marked in the coarser grades, though fleece washed parcels of this description have not sold relatively co well as the general ran of greasy or scoured lots. It must, howevar, be added that low, rough, oat of conditioned parcels In the grease have been comparatively neglected, and have not improved in value. Continental bidding is well sustained, and various purchase* havo reoently been made on American account to tho exfeot of about (JQQO bajejr, bat tk«

increased strength in tha market is undoubtedly dua in the main to the greater aotivity on the part of home buyers, who earlier in the series rhowed some lack of ooafidenoe in tbe stability of prices. They now apparently see no proni got of parchae. inij on more favorab!e terms in the Immediate future, and they accordingly oparate with greater freedom. 'I bore is every proipeot or the salea dosing firmly, and in view of ths somewhat moderate supplies likely to be available for the fourth and fi'th series of the year, the outlook must be considered favorable. As stated in our last is ue the current series will terminate on tbe 17th instant.

The Oamaru portion of tha San Franolioo nail arrived last night, and was aorted into private boxes. A counter delivery was also made.

The Fairfield Shipping and Engineering Works (late Joha Elder and Co), of Govan, builders of tha famous " greyhound* of the Ulantio, 1 - are preparing to lay down for a syndioate a tnoak terrible engine of naval ! warfare, whose destructive powers have never ba«n approaohed. The vessel will ba bailt of Vickers steel and guaranteed to ■team twenty-two knots an hour. She will he armed with Maxim guns, and also a Maxim shell containing 4001b of blasting gelatine, whioh omi be hurled orer 1500 yds, , ono of which is oapable of destroying any Ironolad afloat. Mr George M'RoberU, manager of the Nobol Dynamite Works in Ayrshire, »nd tha greatest authority and export ia explosives, in ooajunction with Mr Maxim, have perfeoted the combination of gelatine-loaded shell, and recently ths experiments at Ardeer were most eacoesifal and startling, their destructive power being something awf ul to behold. When the veuel ia oomplettd and the claims if her designer demonstrated and verified, the syndicate will plaoe her on the market of the world, and the highenfc bidder can take her. The machinery of this vessel hsu been designed by Mr A. D. Bryoe-Douglns, which is an ample guaranteed of Its efficiency. When oompletod and in actlre eervice the navies of tbe world will bo at the rroroy ot this craft. She is to be named the Destroyer, and will be the •• terror of the seas." Tha Ifautical Gazette hails tbe Destroyer as the peaco-oompoller of the future.

Petjsr Cormack, Tailor and Clothier, Tee« Street, is now showing a Large and Woil Seleoted Stock of Gentleman's Tweeds aud Coating*, imported direct. Also, a Large Variety of Oanr.aru Tweeds. Salts to meaturn from 70s . Trousers to measure from 17s. Fit, Style, and Workmanship qua. ranteed. First-class Gsnts' Hosiery, Reg&tta Shirts, Scarfs, Collars, etc. ; tiie best and cheapest in town. Peter Cot>m.c;c, Tees Street, O»mar&