ALL THE WORLD ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 62

ALL THE WORLD ITEMS.

KRUGER’S HOPELESS QUEST.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR EXPLAINS THE KAISER S REBUFF. AMSTERDAM, December 10. Dr Leyd’s friends are disseminating a communication to the press stating that the Queen of Holland will intervene m the South African war after her wedding, with the object of obliging Great Britain to settle the struggle oy reference to The Hague Arbitration ConferThis is possibly meant to blind the public to the real state of affairs, which is that Queen Wilhelmiua wrote personally to every European ruler in favour of such intervention at the time of President Kruger’s arrival m Europe, and that from two countries at least JJ ranee aaicl! Russia—she received conditional promises of help in the direction suggested. The plan, however,, failed in Berlin. „ Hr Leyds may want to cover the apparent inaction of the young Queen cn behalf of Mr Kruger, but the probability is that he desires to use her still more as a catSpaw. BERLIN, December 10. Count Von Bulow, the Imperial Chancellor, made an important speecn in the Reichstag to-day in reply to complaints by deputies of Germany’s official attitude towards the Boers. The Chancellor declared that Germanv, as shown by the Dutch Yellow Book, had done all that lay in her power to ward off the outbreak of war, and had left the two Republics in ro doubt as to the state of things in Europe and as to Germany’s neutrality. Moreover, when Mr Kruger first endeavoured to secure intervention, Germany once more gave advice. But to intervene now would be a very critical matter, and very dangerous for the Boers. As regarded peace mediation, it was precluded by the general international situation as well as by Germany’s special interests. It could only, end in a diplomatic defeat an armed conflict.

“As to the non-reception of Mr Kruger by the Kaiser,,”’ said Count von Bulpyr, , if the only question to be asked was, Would the ex-President’s journey and his reception by the Emperor have been of any use either to him or to us? This question I answer with a decided ‘No/ “What had been the use to' Mr Kruger of the Paris ovation and his reception. at the Eiysee? M. Deicasse had told the ex-Fresident that France would in no case take any initiative, but that France would not oppose when these eventualities became known, and providing they were calculated to serve French interests. (Loud laughter.) ’‘Our attitude towards England,” added the Chancellor, '‘is that of complete independence. We are not bound to England by a hair’s breadth more than England is to us. But we are willing to live in peace and friendship with England; on a basis of mutual consideration.

- “But to act Don Quixote against England is net what we are here for. That would be a, piece of folly for' which I vtould not take the responsibility. I must be guided by the permanent interests of the nation, and these interests are served by the calm., independent, and neutral attitude, we have taken idp.” (Loud cheers.)—Reuter.

BRITAIN’S TRADE RIVALS

HOW AMERICA; IS WINNING CONTRACTS. NEW YORK, December 11. - The subject of British and American trade rivalry, which is attracting a great deal of attention in this country, is being widely discussed. ' * The large orders which have recently . been given by English railway companies for American locomotives, the order for 6000 tons of American steel rails which was lately given by the Great Eastern, Railway Company to an American firm, and lastly the reported award of a contract to an American bridge company for bridges for the Uganda Railway in East Africa, are regarded as significant proofs that the United States has taken the lead in steel engineering industries. The secret of American, superiority is generally attributed to the cheapness of steel in this country, to superior mechanical appliances, and to the superior intelligence and energy shown by Ameri- : can skilled labour, which is uncontrolled by any trade unions such as exist in England. - ; . I had' a chat to-day on this subject with the editor of a well-known engineering journal. “It is generally understood,” he said, “that several British, firms competed for the Uganda contract, so that if it was awarded to the American firm it was simply l because they agreed to do the work both cheaper and quicker . , “The American railway engineering shops,” he continued, “are not only much better equipped than the English, but they keep patterns for all kinds of

standard bridges right in stock; while the English firms, I understand, make every bridge according to order. Our firms have had over thirty years experience in building bridges for the American railways, and this type of bnc.ge, which is almost entirely constructed of steel, is peculiarly adapted to colonial VLSG ■ ~ “The experience of English firms, he added, ‘‘has been largely with bridges for English railways, for combination with solid masonry. American firms are accustomed to rushing their work, lor railway bridges in the West are frequently washed: away by floods, and replaced so quickly that the traffic is hardlv interfered with. American superiority is not recognised in England alone; our paper this week contains advertisements from France and Holland inviting Ameiican firms to compete for contracts for steel rails, machinery, etc and these foreign advertisements, which are constantly increasing, illustrate the wonderful expansion of American trade. It is reported here that several large English firms, unable to stand American competition, are seriously considering buying up the best American enterprises and! transferring the greater part of their business to this country, retaining th same plants nd employing American workmen exclusively. The reported decision of the Vickers-Maxim Company to combine with Cramp’s Shipbunumg Company, of Philadelphia, is cited as an example likely to be extensively "olio wed.

SIX DAYS’ BICYCLE RACE

TERRIFIC STRAIN ON RIDERS, WHO FALL FI EXHAUSTION.

NEW YORK, December 13

Large crowds are attending the sixda 3' s’ international bicycle race now in. progress at Madison Square Garden. The contest began on Monday wicu eighteen teams in the field. The men rde in pairs, each man racing twelve hours a day, the total number of miles covered: being placed to the credit of the respective teams. Over half the contestants have dropped out since the start, and the number of teams is now reduced! to seven. Pierce and McEachen, the Canadians, had: covered 1647 miles this afternoon. Elkes and McFarland the Americans, had the same score, and Simar and Gongaitz, the Frenc.unen, a mile less. The Swiss and German teams come next.

The strain on the riders,, is some thing terrific. Of the men, who dropped out, four fell from their bicycles from sheer exhaustion, suffering in some cases severe injuries. • Several of the riders are in the, hospital, and some of the survivors are in such a, pitiable condition that they have to be carefully watched by attendant physicians. McFarland! collapsed this morning, and- was delirious. He imagined that he was chased by a ferocious dbg. Afterwards he> recovered and returned t > the ring and continued' the race. Gongoltz yesterday imagined that enemies were trying to smash his bicycle, and insisted upon taking it to bed with, himl when he, retired to rest. He slept with a large knife in his hand In spite of the great distune ?s covered, it is predicted that the me i will finish fully fifty miles behind the record.

FORTUNES- LOST IN CYCLES

TWENTY MILLION POUNDS SUNK BY INVESTORS. Statistics (says “London Daily Mail”) show that the cycle trade is going from bad to worse. Fifty companies with an aggregate capitalisation of nearly £5,000,000 have disappeared altogether within the past four years and it is computed that the public who, unfortunately invested their money in cycling “gold l bricks” must have paid for their folly something like £20,000,000.

The present chaotic position of the trade is seJt forth by the Birmingham ‘‘Daily Post’ in a melancholy array of statistics, and the conclusion arrived at is that over-capitalisation is the main cause of the disaster- “Overcapitalisation,” it is pointed out, “which in this connection means a preposterous price for a fugitive or imaginary goodwill, dxcessive competition, and reckless, dishonest or incompetent trading, are really at the root of the mischief, an dun-til the trade has purged' itself of these maladies we are afraid thetre can be no lasting health or prpsperity for it, however, steady the public demand. Other causese than over-capitalisation which have contributed to the downfall have bden a general rise in the price of material, the diversion of men and money to South, Africa in consequence of the war, and, an accumulation of bad debts. Phenomenal dividends are, a, thing of the past, and of the companies that have survived the wreckage only two in the past year have been able to pay a dividend of 20 per cetat. These were the Birmingham Small Arms and the Palmer Tyre, neither being solely a cycle manufacturing concern. Four others, the Raleigh, Rudge-Whitworth, Alldays and Onions, and J. B. Brooks and Co., paid 10

per cent., and therd are a few able to show an improved balance-sheet on the year’s wording. On the other hand the majority of companies have dene worse this year than last, and there is no silver lining to the black cloud.

IN THE EDITOR’S SANCTUM.

As the foreman entered the sanctum for copy and noted the editor’s nose, swollen forehead, puffed red eyes, and tattered dusty coat, he inquired : “What’s the matter? Fall downstairs

“No—only that,” replied the editor, pointing with his finger to a paragraph in the paper spread before him. “It’s in our account of the Crawley-Smith wedding. It ought to, read—‘Miss Smith’s dimpled, shining face formed a pleasing contrast with Mr Crawley* s strong, bold physiognomy.’ But see how it was printed.” Anri the foreman read—“ Miss Smith’s pimpled, skinny face formed' a pleasing contrast with, Mr Crawley’s stony, bald physiognomy.” ‘‘Crawley has just been here,” continued the editor, throwing a bloodstreaked handkerchief in the waste-pap-er basket and feeling for a clean one in hie. pocket, and he , . . 1 . But just send that idiot of a proofreader here! There’s fight left in me yet.”—“Free Lance.”

SHETLAND PONIES FOR WORK IN

COAL MINES

From Corea to the Orkneys there is hardly a bad breed of ponies. They all seem able to do, the maximum of work on the minimum of food. Their intelligence is easily accounted for. Everywhere the pony is kept out of doors, and leads a, more natural life than the horse. Its hardiness makes it a constant companion of man, and it is everywhere used for work and not for .show.

The Shetland pony, the smallest of his . race and family, the greatest prize ,\*.d possession of our childhood, is now becoming; quite a personage on his own account. His birthplace and bringingup, liis career and' obsequies, are unique in the history of the world’s domestic * animals. Born in hyperborean islands

of a diminutive father, and still more diminutive eraother, he passes from pasture to pasture in boats, till he goes to the South in a ship with hundreds of his companions. Then he descends thousands of feet into the earth, where he works by artificial light all his life, and at his death is brought above ground to be buried. The work in the mines is the destiny of the majority of Shetland ponies. Lord Londonderry kept a famous stud of them, presumably for use in his cob lieries. This stud has been dispersed, but there ard several in. thef south o England in which, by careful breeding, the ponies are kept small. These are mostly bred tor heme use and for ladies’ and children’s pets. But, in the pits the Shetland' pony is still indispensable. If it were not for him coal would be even dearer than it is. He never goes on strike, his temper is admirable, he, never grows restive even if he bumps his head, which is the only accident which commonly afflicts him, and to guard against which the more thoughtful owners providee him with a leather helmet/’

Now that the pits are lighted with elec tide light the ponies’ sight does not suffer. They have fine stables, with movable boarded floors, so that they never suffer from thrush or cracked heels, and as the temperature is uniform they do not catch cold. Pure Slietiands are the only breed which keeps small enough to work in the seams, ev.rn Iceland ponies pro rung too big and too excitable. luere is no room to jump about in a coal gallery and conversion of the diminutive “Sheltie” into an equine mole is one of the greatest tributes to its placid disposition, and to the determination of its race never to be anything but ponies.—“ Spectator.” •