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New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9840, 22 February 1893, Page 2

Mr Wilson, the gentleman who’periodically amuses himself by miking ferocious attacks Upon colonial finances, has been tackled right manfully by Sir Saul Samuel, the Agent. General for New South Wales, Coming after Mr Perceval’s very able reply to Mr Wilson’s attacks upon New Zealand credit, Sir Saul Samuel’s defence of his colony and rf its financial position should considerably discount the value of any future diatribes Mr Wilson may direct against the colonies.

Sir Saul Samuel’s reply appears, wa notice, in the Westminster Gazette,which is, no doubt, anew name to our readers. The Westminster Gazette is probably the new Liberal evening paper which Mr Newnes, of Tit Bits fame, was reported to bs starting with the assistance of Mr Cook and other members of the old Pall Mall Gazette staff, who left the Pall Mall Gazstte when that journal passed into the hands of a Conservative UUd TJnionist syndicate. The . Home News for January (5, fepeived by the fast Xjrindisi mail, says :—> Mr Newnes’ new evening paper, which is to appear, it is hoped, simultaneously with the opening of Parliament, wi(l be called the Westminster Gazette. The alternate titles for the weekly illuatrated edition are the Westminster Gfidget ant} the Westminster Weekly.' That the Agent-General for fJ«W South Wales should hays chosen the West? minster Oa»»it9 ft o the medium in which tp convey ft defenge of hjs golpny to the world - mush for the sending already attained by *,!"•* y?niwe ’

The Spanish Government have ° against American aggression in San Domingo. The nature of the aggression complained of is, however, not stated. San Domingo is a mulatto republic which occupies the eastern end of the Island of Hayli, the western end of the island being known as the Republic of Hayti. Whereas the population of the Haytian Republic is almost entirely composed of negroes, who a e social condition is narrowly removed from a state of barbarism, the inhabitants of San Domingo are mainly a mixed race of the original Spanish and the aborigines. The whites, or European descended inhabitants» being comparatively numerous, the Spanish language prevails, though in the towns both French and English are spoken. The late Mr James Blaine held and openly avowed the opinion that the whole of fTayti should, with Cuba, be annexed by the United States : but up to the present there has been no previous report of American aggression.

A New York cablegram aays there is great excitement in Wall street over the appoint' meat of nn official receiver for the Fhiladelphia and Reading Railway Company, and a million shares, or perhaps we should say a million dollars' worth of shares, were sold in two hours. Had that 1 Colossus of Roads,* the redoubtable Jay Gouid, been in the land of the living he would no doubt, according to bis wont, have profited by the disaster, as no matter who were ruined, Gould, to use Wall street slang, generally * came out on top.’ In the financial columns of late issues of Truth * The Pennsylvania Railroad* was strongly denounced as a badly-managed line, and Mr Labonchere warned bis readers against investment in its shares. Wbeth/sr ‘The Pennsylvania Rulroad * is identical with the line which is in financial distress 1 we are not prepared to say. The probabilities, however, point that way.

Surely Mr Gladstone’s ‘ Faithful Scotland * is not going to give him trouble. It looks like it when we find the Liberals of his own constitaency, Midlothian, demanding autonomy for Scotland, and objecting to the retention of the Irish members at Westminster.—Wisely providing for the future and the dissolution and general election, which many think must come before the year is out, the Government have introduced a Bill providing for reforms in electoral registration. The old rating qualification is abolished, and the residential qualification is reduced to three months. If passed, the Bill should materially strengthen the Radical party In the next great fight.

The Papal Jubilee has been made the occasion for messages of goodwill to His Holiness from Queen Victoria, the Czar and other Royalties. Pope Leo’XIII. is the 258th Roman Pontiff, and was bom in 18X0. He was elected Pope in 1878.

The Mayor'of Palmerston telegraphed last jygbt to the Government stating that ha is forwarding LlOfi worth of produce to Wellington, to be forwarded to Brisbane to relieve the victims of the disaster.. .

~Tt was resolved in Cabinet yesterday to grant a small sum for the purpose of fitting mp the New Zealand Court ia the Imperial Institute, but not to commit the Colony to any farther expenditure or annual appropriation*