Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9307, 16 September 1893, Page 4

The advance of settlement and civilisation in South Africa, of which we have heard much of late, is likely to be seriously checked by the invasion of Masiionaland by King Lobengula and his Matabelo warriors. A cable message in yesterday's paper stated that Fort Victoria, our most advanced station, which was created a township some time since, has been surrounded, and. that the Mashona tribe have taken refuge there, fearing a general massacre. The countries to the north of Cape Colony are somewhat difficult to deal with. The climate is not so favourable to Europeans as would be more temperate regions, and there are large native populations who cannot be dispossessed, and who are fierce and warlike. The Matabele nation, a kindred people to the Zulus, are a conquering race, who subdued the native tribes (the Mashonas being the principal) about fifty years ago. The Mashonas, however, seem to have retained the country around what is now Fort Salisbury. In October, 1889, a Royal charter was granted to the British South Africa Company, conferring upon it large powers of administration to carry out the objects for which it was formed, the principal being to extend northwards the railway and telegraph systems of the Cape Colony and Bechuanaland, to encourage emigration and colonisation, to promote trade and commerce, and to develop and work mineral concessions. Matabeleland and Maslionaland are rich in gold reefs and other minerals, and the Mashona plateaux are well adapted for culture and European settlement. The area of Matabeieland and dependencies is about 100,000 square miles. The population of Matabeieland proper is estimated at 200,000. The company have extended the railway system considerably, and in February, 1892, the telegraph line was completed to Fort Salisbury. Postal services have also been inaugurated between Fort Salisbury and the postal service through Bechuanaland, placing London within eight weeks' communication. Gold and other minerals have been discovered, and a considerable number of valuable claims have been taken up. At Fort Salisbury, there is a hotel, a newspaper, and lie professions are all represented. The Hon. Cecil Rhodes, Premier of the Capo, declared last year that his policy in Masiionaland was to merge it into the system of Cape Colony, to make it one in laws, in system, and in occupation, with a view to its ultimate adoption by the Cape Colony. But upon the fair prospect a dark cloud has arisen. In July last, we were told that a disturbance had been caused by a few of the Matabeles who had slipped out of Lobengula's control, and were acting without his authority. This, however, it soon appeared was incorrect, as Lobengula sent defiant letters to Sir H. Loch, Her Majesty's High Com mis- ! sioner in South Africa, and to Mr Cecil Rhodes. He declined a subsidy or to trade with the company regarding compensation until the Mashonas, who had offended him, had surrendered. It was then stated, on the authority of the. British South Africa Company, that it was estimated that it would cost half a million to crush Lobengula. In the House of Commons Mr. Buxton, UnderSecretary for the Colonies, said the Government had forbidden the chartered company from retaliating, on Lobengula without Imperial authority. Lobengula despatched envoys to Capetown to treat with Sir H. Loch and Mr. Cecil Rhodes, but, apparently, there has been no stoppage of the invasion, because a cable message of September V states that the Matabele warriors were burning and torturing the Mashonas. As was only to be expected, the President of the Transvaal Republic is anxious to keep out of the trouble, and has prohibited the enrolment, in the Republic, of volunteers to serve against Lobengula. The fact that the Matabeles have taken possession of tho approaches to Fort Salisbury shows that there is no force there capable of opposing them in the field. The Matabeles are warlike, they are drilled in regiments, and we have had abundant evidence of how these races can fight. They are well armed, and every ablebodied man is a soldier. Those who have taken up land under the company's regulations, and most of those engaged in mining, must have abandoned their holdings and taken refuge in Fort Salisbury. The original pretext of the raid seems to have been to attack the Mashonas ; but as those people reside in our territory, and have taken refuge at Fort Salisbury, we are bound to take up their cause. We have no, information how many people are now at Fort Salisbury, but we have been informed that the place is well furnished with stores, and that the garrison has several Gatling guns, which will enable them to defeat any attack of the Matabele warriors.

The latest intelligence frOm Rio do Janeiro is that although the mutinous ships are still pounding away at the forts, little or no damage has been done, and that the troops ,and citizens remain loyal. The agitation of the Czechs for Homo Rule is assuming very serious proportions, judging from the facb thab martial law has been proclaimed at Prague, trial by jury suspended, and all public meetings prohibited. Austria's Ireland is likely to give serious trouble to the Empire. The pacification of Uganda has been completed, and an amicable understanding come to with the Roman Catholic missions,. The Ameer of Afghanistan has written to the Viceroy of India, extending a cordial welcome to the proposed British mission. It is now believed that Lieutenant Hamborough, the victim of the Scotch tragedy, was under the hypnotic influence of his supposed murderer. lie Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire miners are still holding" out. Last night the schooner Sarah Pile arrived from Norfolk Wand after a smart round trip of about three weeks. She brings intelligence of the arrival of the Melanesian Mission yacht Southern Cross at the Island on August 28, after a very rough weather trip, during which one of the boats was lost overboard. The yacht left for the islands on the Ist instant, and is expected to be away about thirteen weeks, when she comes on to this port. The Seventh Day Adventist Mission schooner Pitcairn, from Fiji, was off the Island on the 9th inst., but had not communicated with the shore up to the time the Sarah Pile sailed. After a short stay at Norfolk Island, the Pitcairn is expected to come on to this port. It will be seen on reference to another part of this issue thab the barquentine Vacuna, from Newcastle, has had a narrow escape of being wrecked in the Manukau harbour, owing to her having taken the ground after getting inside the Bar. Fortunately the vessel carr.e off without sustaining much injury, though she was making a good deal of water, it taking both the crew and a number of hands from the shore all their time to keep her afloat. The barquentine has berthed at the Onehunga wharf, and the work of discharging her cargo of coal is being rapidly proceeded with, on completion of which an examination of the hull will be made to ascertain to what extent she has. beets damaged. We have to hand " Men of the Day : A Canadian Portrait Caller," edited by Mr. Louis H. Tache. The first sketch is of Mr. Louis Frechette, poet and novelist. The French Academy has crowned two of his compositions—a red-letter day for the author himself and Canadians at large. Another is that of Dr. Bourivich, who is a Nova Scotian, having been born in Sydney, Cape Breton. The name is well known to the Waipu settlers. One of his works is " Local Government in Canada," which was recently reviewed in the columns of the Herald. He is also the author of a "History of Cape Breton." The career of John George Bourivich is thab of clerk of the House of Commons, publicist, journalist, and litterateur. The portraits accompanying the letterpress are admirable specimens of the photographer's art. Our Dargaville correspondent telegraphs : —In the local paper the following appears : —" Need I say that there is no truth whatever in the rumour mentioned in Thursday's Herald by its Wellington special correspondent that I will eventually retire from the contest for the Bay of Islands in favour of Mr. Lundon or anyone else. It is ap parently a device of the enemy. I will go to the poll, and so far as now appears with every prospect of success. (Signed) Frank J. Dargaville." With regard to the chinaman, Y. Chee, of Epsom, who was taken to the hospital by Constable Lamb, for a wound on his arm, and who alleged he was stabbed by a fellow-countryman, that officer has made investigations into the affair. As a result of his enquiries at Epsom, among the Chinese, he is under the impression that Y. Chee was not stabbed as alleged, bub that his arm was cub accidentally in the dwelling, through the breaking of a pane of glass. He could not ascertain anything to warrant such a charge, and the resident Chinese expressed their ignorance of the affair. Dr. Forbes, who attended the man at the hospital, is of the opinion the wound was not inflicted by a knife, but by some rough substance like the edge of a pane of glass. It is rumoured thab coal of a very fair quality has been discovered at the Huia. Some time back the tradespeople of the Karangahape district applied to the Government for additional police protection. Nothing came of the appeal. As the people recognise that Sergeant Bernard and Constable Russell, who are on duty from nine a.m. till midnight, Sundays included, cannot protect property outside those hours, they have engaged a private night watchman at their own expense. Probably when the Auckland police is reinforced, as promised, something may be done by the Police Commissioner. It is stated that the man Redmond, who jumped over the wharf the other day, and was subsequently sent to the hospital for treatment, is beginning to show signs of mental aberration. To-day his case is to be considered as to whether he should be sent to the asylum for further curative treatment. With reference to the fire in Park Road, referred to in yesterday's issue, the stable was uninsured, as also its contents, some books and saddlery belonging to Mr. Colegrove. The building was estimated at £25, and the contents at a similar amount. Mr. Laßoche was the owner of the building, and is also so of the house adjacent. It is supposed that the fire owed its origin to some loafer sleeping about there of a night. At a meeting of the Auckland Agricultural Association, held yesterday, an alteration of rules was adopted, which permits of sons of financial members of the association being admitted to membership on payment of half the regular fee, provided they are not in business for themselves. . An inspection parade of the Auckland Naval Artillery was held at the Drill-shed last night, and there was a muster of 36 all told, under the command of Captain Little and Lieutenant Clements {Lieutenant Craig being absent on leave), Lieut.-Adjutant Grant represented the staff. After the inspection the corps, was put through a short course of infantry drill by Captain Little, and a meeting was then held to consider company affairs. A meeting of those interested in school athletics was held last night; in the British Hotel. Mr. Wells occupied the chair, i After some conversation it was decided to form an association, to be called the Schools Amateur Athletic Association. The principal object of this Association is to hold, with the co-operation of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, an annual schools championship sports meeting. After the adoption of rules, the following, officers were elected President, Dr. McArthur; vice-presidents, Messrs. Tibbs, Bruce, Hosking, and Mcintosh ; (secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. F. Burton. The first sports meeting will be held on the last Saturday in December. The free lectured on the " Art of Reckoning, or Arithmetic Made Easy," at 205, Queen-street, by Mr. C. Fr usher Howard, Fellow of the Society of Science, Letters, and Arts, of London, have been well attended during the week by appreciative audiences. Mr. Howard's methods of rapid reckoning are based on scientific principles, but their practical application can be readily acquired even by those whose whose natural capacities or educational opportunities may not be such as to make them masters of principles and theories. The lectures will be continued daily next week as advertised. The funeral of the late Mrs. Dickson, wife of Captain Dickson, well-known in the Island trade, took place yesterday from her residence, Vincent-street, and was largely attended, many old residents following the remains bo the Symonds-streeb Cemetery. Mrs. Dickson leaves a large family, mostly grown up, to mourn their loss. The Rev. Father Hacketb read a portion of the burial service at bb<» house, while the Rev. Dr. Egan officiated at the grave. The charge sheet at the Police Court yesterday morning was a very light one, the only offenders being two for drunkenness. John Collins was fined 10s and costs, or in default 48 hours' impri-onment, and Kosina Ingham was dismissed with a caution. Mr. P. G. Ewington was the presiding justice. , ;,-.

The monthly meeting of St. Sepulchre'* Band of Hope was held in the schoolroom evening There was a large attend, anee. Song?, recitations, and reading were given by the members. \ The Rev* Haselden and Dudley were present and dl' livered appropriate addresses |o the chili dren. ! u " The market day services ft the Citv Hall yesterday afternoon were larwelv -,7 tended. The Rev. James BW.kte co ducted, and gave a mostimpressVeaddress. his remarks being founded oi nr ( v. inthians x., 1-5. Previous to tie meeting in the hall an open-air eervice fes held in \ iet oria-street East, which wfewell *»■ tended. J ,j Last evening Dennis Sullivn was a? I rested on a charge of larceny o two spirit flasks, value 7s, property of AhKow. R e . cently he was arrested and clirged with the larceny of a pet caged rat, blue 3s 6d the property of an old man need Robinson. J The Riw;ika correspondent Jtbe Nelson Colonist writes " Yet anot of the old eettiers has passed from our jdst, after a few weeks' illness, Mr. R. E yoake, whc had reached the great age ef years. He came to the colony in 1834, the Indus, and resided for the greater pj of his low* colonial life in Riwaka. For >w nearly 20 years he had retired from p ticipation in all matters of public concert preferring iu his declining years & life alin ; of solitude. Seventy years ago he was w ling in these waters, and he made a ni ber of trips with convicts in the olden ays to Port Macquarie, then holding t position of second officer. Leaving the a when about 35 years of age he marrie and shortly after sailed for New Zealanc The social evil seems to s as troublesome in Wellington as in uckland. A new school committee ha been elected for Mount Cook Sch 1, and its special attention was at )nce directed to the existence of veral houses of ill-fame in the immedte vicinity of the Boys' School, and a eputation was appointed to interview Insptor Pender on the subject. The Post says :— "The locality is daily becoming ore notorious, and the children are daily iposed to foul and filthy sights and lesso , Better the children should not atter school at all than have their minds pollnd by the surroundings. The police mit be perfectly aware of the character o some of the houses, but apparently d nothing until some resident lays an inf mation, which the residents are loth to do, « they consider it the duty of the police. Their apathy here contrasts unfavourabljrith Inspector Hickson's activity in Auchnd, although the Resident Magistrate he is evidently prepared to give every sup rt. The present position is a public sc:dal." A member of the cong gation of th 9 Church of England atDevo )ort has generously offered to subscribe i 0 towards reducing the liabilities of he church, on condition that the parishcers and others contribute £150 for the see purpose by the 31st December next, it a meeting of the vestry of Trinity Qurch, held on Thursday evening, the offd was gratefully accepted, and Messrs. Caeron, Bartley, and Mays, were authorise! to collect subscriptions. Ibis confider y believed that the £150 will bo raised the prescribed date. Should this be so he ordinary income of the church being elieved of payment of interest on these Abilities, will be sufficient to meet the exp^diture. A correspondent of Colonist writes that at Spring" Give the other day two young horses werejiioticed chasing lambs; when either of fie horses caught up to a lamb, it woijd stand over it stamping its feet. At length one horse was seen to pick up ajlamb, and, after shaking it like a dog wjild a rat, finally threw it into the air. I The Cogill's New Minirel Company will finish a four weeks' seson and terminate their stay in Auckland Jith a final performance at the Opera Hone to-night. Last night there was a gool attendance in the body of the house to wit Ess the programme of the two previous eviings, and the applause which greeted til performers testified to the. pleasure tley afforded. The programme for to-night is an entirely new and special one. The pmcipil feature will boa sparkling comedy" The Voyagers." This will introduce fitteeibeaitiful scenes of English, Scottish, Irish, and other scenery specially painted for the play by the wellknown artist Hennings. Jlr.Slade Murray is announced to sing " Bajiklava," " Nevermore," and "I Forget." /Miss Yinciai *T.', give new violin selection, and as will be seen by the advertisement in another column, a very aitracti 9 programme has been arranged for the f lal performance of the popular minstrel conpany. At the Opera House, 0 Monday evening, the Uolloway Dramatic Company open for a farewell season, theopning piece being the drama "Judge No/," which has been highly spoken of by <ie critics in tho Southern journals. lie whole arrange" ments are under the fecial superintendence of Mr. Charles Bblloway, who takes the part of the hero ii the piece. He is ably supportod by a very excellent company, among whom arl Misses Linda Raymond and Alico Decrwyn, and Messrs. Melville and Oily Deeijng. A vocal and instrumental concert, conducted by Mr. J. H. fhillpot, was held at) the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms last night, arid proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable,' although a somewhat lengthy one. The instrumental portion of the concert vas made a leading feature. The performers included Here Zimmerman (violinist), Messrs. Wilson (flute), Beale (violoncello), Phillpot (piano), S. Jackson (clarionet), and J. Jackson (oboe). Many of die selections were specially arranged by the conductor, and they went with great smoothness and accuracy. It would be almost invidious to distinguish between the vocalists, but judging by the applause and the • determined encore demanded, we should say that Mr. Musker's fine song, " The Goodwin Sands," was that which to the greatest extent elicited the feelings of the audience. Mr. Tytherleigh sang " Queen of the Earth" in very good voice. The duet, "Army and Navy," by Messrs. Garder and George, was fairly rendered. Miss Lizzie Warren, Miss Harper, and Miss Cantlon, all gained applause for the finished manner in which they sang, and we may add that the house was thoroughly filled by a large and keenly appreciative audience. The concert was given in connection with the winter course of Y.M.O.A. lectures and entertainments, and in the interval Mr. T. Buddie (hon. sec. of the Association) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Phillpott and those who had assisted, and the motion was carried by acclamation. The fifth dance of the season in connection with the Ponsonby "At Home "was held in the Ponsonbv Fall last evening. About 35 couples attended, and everything passed off pleasantly. A programme of 20 dances was gone through, and dancing was kept up till a late hour. Mr. U. McIncloe curried out the duties of M.C. in a manner that gave satisfaction to all. Some very pretty and becoming dresses were worn by the ladies.