NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11058, 9 May 1899, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

News from Fiji shows that tho coolies aro still maintaining their unpleasant record for crime. At the recent criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, the list of offences was perhaps the heaviest in the history of the colony. Almost every offence is represented (says the Sydney Morning Herald), among the list being several cases of murder, and the coolies provide about 80 per cent, of the calendar. As a sample of the typo of misdeeds perpetrated by this alien race, we hear of an overseer at Labassa, in the employ of the Sugar Company, being savagely assaulted by coolies, and geting his head badly cut open. It is plain that ono of the problems that is likely to give increasing trouble in Fiji is the proper control of this horde of Indian workers on the sugar plantations. Statistics go to show that they tore increasing in numbers. For instance, in April, 1891, there were 7468 coolies in Fiji; but by December, 1896, they had increased to 10,433, and in June last year a coolie ship arrived at Suva, direct from Calcutta, witn 573 Indian immigrants. In addition to the fact that these aliens are supplanting the Fijians, for the latter are far inferior to the coolies as workmen, and the population of native Fprns is declining, the authorities have to face the fact that it is a race with distinctly low moral tendencies that threatens to overrun the country. It has been one of the aims of Sir George O'Brien, the present Governor, to endeavour to check to some extent the coolie immigration, and his efforts may have some effect in mitigating the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs

During 1898 Victoria imported goods and -bullion to the extent of £16,768,904, as agam S £ls,W ) /182 for 1897, making an increase for the 12 months of £1,314,422. The fence was largely represented by gold .bulhon b r o„ Bht there from West Australia. The tote] exports from Victoria, on the other Hi Sn^ Min e°ff<o the extent o mm. The total value of articles of Vlcto ™. produce and. manufacture solely exported■«■ 1898, in comparison with 189? showed a decrease of £1,050,511, gold bullion an spec* accounting f ° £558578 > Wool £101,563, butter 45151,302, hay, chaff, and •JSfiif 69 ; 0 , 39 'i IVestock£6 o.Wo, tallow £59,612. The effects of the drought in the early part of last year were apparent in the' tailing off of such items as wool, butter, hay' etc, and the great decline in West Austra! .an consumption may be taken as responsible %. .he loss of trade « other directions, In

1898 Victoria exported agricultural implements and machinery to the value of £125,096, as against £103,075 in the previous yeai, or an improvement in this line of trade -of £22,021. The export of preserved fish improved by £3463, and the colony also exported preserved and dried fruits to the amount of £7256 more for 1898 than for the 12 months. The exports which showed the healthiest increase were oats £30,431, wheat £98,032, flour £127,868, and other grain £38,292. The leather export trade suffered badly, showing a decrease for the year of £55,731. The decreaso in line export of potatoes was £30,000, and in sheepskins £22,000 ; though rabbit and other skins increased by £33,000. Victorian beer appears to be growing in favour in the other colonies, as during 1898 the quantity exported showed an improvement of 31 per cent, on the previous year.

The Feterburgskiya Viedomosti considers the conclusion of tho Anglo-French agreement in Africa as an immense victory for Great Britain, as it assures to the latter Power complete political and commercial domination in Africa, where France will henceforward find herself powerless against Great Britain. "As regards Germany," continues the journal, " that Power will only be able to continue picking up the crumbs at the colonial banquet in Africa on condition of subordinating herself even in Europe to British policy. Great Britain bad nothing to fear from Germany in Africa, and tho construction of the Cape to Cairo railway lino will enable the former Power to exercise an overwhelming influence on the shores of the Mediterranean. The event which has just been brought about is a final blow for the independence of Turkey, and one all the easier for Great Britain to strike since she will be able to create a diversion in the direction of Arabia, and because in another direction Abyssinia must now enter upon a very painful phase in her history." The article concludes by counselling close union among the States having interests in the Mediterranean if they would avert the danger wmch now threatens them all.

It has been the custom on the occasion of every recent international exhibition held in Prance to pass a temporary Act giving protection to patents, designs, and trade-marks in addition to the Act of May 23,1868, which is quoted in the French regulations of the Paris exhibition of 1900. In view, however, of a recent decision of the French Court of Appeal, which has attracted much attention, the French Government aro taking special steps to protect exhibitors in 1900. The Royal Commission for the Paris Exhibition have been officially informed by the ConsulGeneral of France that a Bill will shortly be laid before the French Chamber, in which certain clauses referring to the invalidation of patents are suppressed. The Act of 1868 will be re-enacted on the present occasion I with come amendments. It will give the owner of a design the rights conferred bypatent from the date of admission to three months after the close of the exhibition, with- ' out prejudice to any patent or registration i which he may effect before the expiry of that I period. This gives a longer protection than is afforded in similar cases in the United Kingdom by British law, which specifies that application for the registration of the design must be made before or within six months from the date of the opening of the exhibition. Her Majesty, by an Order-in-Council, dated February 2, lorft), has declared that the provisions of sections 39 and 57 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-Marks Act of 1883, shall apply to tho Paris Exhibition of 1900. This relieves exhibitors from the conditions specified in the said sections of giving notice of their intention to exhibit. The new French Act, it is believed, will give British subjects greater protection than the ordinary British law affords to French subjects ; and this, coupled with tho fact that French judicial decisions have no effect as binding precedents, should allay any fears which British exhibitors may entertain with regard to exhibiting at tho Paris' Exhibition of 1900.

The Queen has returned to Windsor from her visit to the South of France. The AngloRussian agreement, which has now been published, is practically confined to railway questions, but it also disclaims any intention of infringing on China's sovereign or treaty rights. The Anglo-German TientsinChinkiang railway negotiations have led to a preliminary contract for a 5 per cent, loan of £7,400,000. The Parliamentary Committee of the French Chamber of Deputies has approved of the Anglo-French Upper Nile and Niger Conventions. The Chronicle states that the British Government intends to take vigorous steps to compel a settlement of tho Transvaal disputes. The Times hopes the colonies will accept the proposed financial basis of the Pacific cable schemo, and that Britain will modify her onerous conditions. The delay may encourage American rivalry to the detriment of British interests. Owing to the frequent assassinations of Britishers in the Peshawar district tho Viceroy has decided to disarm the natives of that part of India. The New York Herald states that Aguinaldo, the Filipino leader, has recognised American sovereignty over the Philippines. Lord Rosebery's speech, urging the Liberals to combine with the new Imperialism party, is regarded as a bid for Liberal-Unionist support.