NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10302, 30 November 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Floral Fete on Saturday was held'in brilliant weather and attracted an enormous concourse—indeed it was one of the largest gatherings that we remember . to have seen in Auckland,. The profusion of / floral colouring was not perhaps so (treat as last year,- but *g there - was, nevertheless, a wondrous and prodigal wealth of flowers of all sorts and forms, and many of the decorations were most) elaborate and artistic - But the vast crowd i itself was quite as interesting » study as the attractive pictures of bloom and. beauty that everywhere m rested attention and commanded admiration; - lb was a joyous, well-drwseJ, and remarkably well-behaved crowd—.lo well behaved indeed that the few, pilicemen on duty might almost as well have been absent so far as their services were required. ,In this respect, and in the overflowing number of Indies and children present it bore a striking resemblance to the fetes so common in some European countries, and which resemble enormous family parties more than anything else. .We lack the abandon and vivacity of the French, . and , are apt to take our pleasures stiffly and solemnly; but at Saturday's eooial function that in after all what the Floral FSte was, and what it is likely to become to a greater degree, we' hope, every year—there was a marked absence of that truly British characteristic. A free and companionable spirit seemed to pervade the air. These gatherings, we believe, deserve to be encouraged in every way. Thoy diffuse pleasure among all glasses; they bring together on one common rallying ground the different sections that go to make up the community; and while adding to the stock of harmless enjoyment in which all may participate, they tend to soften the asperities and increase the amenities of life.

la an article on why Americana dislike England the New York Sun Bays j— Profeasor Adams point* out that tho American people have been for a hundred years trained by the uninterrupted facts of their experience in a habit of unfavourable judgment) with regard to England's behaviour to the United States. The principal links in the chain of facts are almost too familiar to need recapitulation. They are the war of the Revolution, the retention of the Western posts alter the peace of 1783, and the belief that England waa plotting to turn loose upon our frontier settlers the horrors of Indian warfare; the English misuse of the right of search and the impressment of American seamen, which ultimately drove the country into the war of 1812; the disputes in the middle of the ceiitury about our north-eastern boundary, and, again, about the boundary of Oregon, which kept tho feeling of enmity alive; indeed, the excitement of the 'Fifty-four forty, or fight' period was scarcely less intense than that which followed Mr. Cleveland's Venezuelan message. All these earlier causes of animosity, however, might have been in time overlooked, had they not been re-inforced and aggravated by the unfriendly attitude of the British Governmeat and of the ruling classes in Great Britain toward the American Union throughout the civil war. Profossor Adams rightly says that thousands of our citizens, who could have forgiven everything else cannot forgive that,"

The Norddeufcsche Allgemeine Zeitnng, commenting on the story concerning the Emperor William's present of a photograph to the Sultan, makes tho following remarks"A portion of the European Press has reproduced with all kinds of embellishments and prejudicial interpretations, tho statement that tho German Ambassador in Constantinople gave the Sultan a portrait of tho Imperial family. The fact is true enough in itself. In the early months of 1896 the Sultan expressed a wish to possess a portrait of the Imperial family, whereupon the Emperor ordered a picture of his family group to be forwarded to the Ottoman monarch, who sent a warm telegrim of thanks for this act of friendship, It is quite evident," concludes the Berlin semi-official journal, " that this exchange or courtesies has absolutely nothing to do with the events which took place in Constantinople towards the end of August."

There is an article upon "The Rebellion in the Philippines" in the new number of Dr. Richard AndreVa excellent geographical magazine, Der Globus, in which the editor so dexterously combines geographical travel with matters of fresh political interest. The history of all Spanish colonies, he says, seems to be exactly alike ; their burning desire is to separate themselves from the European Mother Country. In each case the movement for independence has the'same grounds. The Spaniards occupy the land, then they seek to draw the coloured populations to themselves by a peculiarly Spanish Christianity and civilisation ; they succeed up to a certain point, but their success is never more than partial, because the proud Spaniard is never willing to concede thab the coloured man even though he has become civil and Christian, is capable of any exercise of political rights. The native, on the other hand, is striving to attain them, and con. sequently is full of bitter feeling against the Spanish claim to suzerainty over him. It is even worse with the Creoles, for the Spaniard in Europe can never be brought to acknowledge the Creole as his political or social equal, and the hatred is mutual. This state of things provides the colony with an inexhaustible and increasing stock of explosive political material, which only needs a spark to blaze up into a revolution. The Radical group of coloured Philippines joined force with the discontented clergy of their race, and were the first to suggest thab they should separate themselves from the feeble, distant Spain, and join themselves to the mighty and near Empire of Japan. In any case, the leaders of the rising expect a degree of help from Japan, such as the Cubans expected from the United States, an expectation which has not as yet been fulfilled. The writer thinks that the European traders and manufacturers cannot afford to. look with indifference at the movement in the Philippines. If the islands were separated from Spain, he observes, they would ( only obtain a formal independence, and would really, become a depenienoo of Japan, and greatly add to the influence and commerce of " the King, dom of the Rising Sun." .". <

The sanitary condition of Calcutta is described as appalling. So serious is the state of things that the Governor-General has threatened to bake the management oub or the hands of the Municipal Council. In spite of , the protests of the Sultan the European Powers are sending' foreigners to', recruit the police force, in ; Crete." Tom Mann, the English labour agitator, has been expelled from Hamburg, he has been exciting the dock labourers to go on strike, The Transvaal Volkwaad have passed a measure excluding aliens who cannot show that > they: have; means of support and ability, to ■ work. ,\ The law will come into operation at the beginning of next year. The President at a banquet) said that there was no intention of committing a breach of the Convention. /If it was desired !'; to '•"' have >' it ;' changed it ; would be done by legitimate means. t- With regard to the indemnity, which it was intended to claim from ;the' British Government on.'

account of the Jameson md,' It would, he (aid, bo limited ._, to the , actual ~ sura incurred in defeating - If,'. mid / he* concluded by saying it : : was ' the doty of all to ";. foster the inning industry. The latest information .'i/om Matabeland it to the effect I lint the campaign is practically oyer, though scop peoph still /ear that peaco will b« onlj touiporary.';. Earl Grey intends to restore the authority of the Indutiaa under native commissioners. A famine in the land seems • inevitable j indeed, the Chartered. Company has been uupplying 40,000 natives with food daring the last three months. The ravages of the rinderpest alono will certainly make 1897 i year of high prices and privation. ;