THE DAILY OTAGO TIMES. FRIDAY, MAY U, JLB9S.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10368, 24 May 1895, Page 2

THE DAILY OTAGO TIMES. FRIDAY, MAY U, JLB9S.

The storm cloud to the florth has for the present broken up and dissipated. With great and commendable discretion the Japanese have done under pressure of the Eussian forces what the Russians under pressure- of the British forces had in like manner to do at the end of the Turkish War in 1877. Eussia had expended incalculably more in Mood, treasure, and effort to '" subdue the resistance of Turkey than Japan has been forced to expend to • bring China into a suppliant attitude. No Plevna, no Balkan Passes have exacted from Japan a vast toll in suffering, life, and money. Her task has been comparatively short and easy. Undertaken about the beginning of eptember 1894, the last embers of Chinese resistance had flickered out by the end of March 1895J One short six months has sufficed to bring her co much forward out of the comparative obscurity of ages as to become a source of anxiety and alarm to the most venerably astute chancelleries' <■■£ Europe. To have achi*ved so much, ir. so short a time is surely a feat that should content the most exacting Japanese patriot. The check , her diplomacy- has undergone is a mere matter of t.-mporary detail. All her predecessors in the path of victory and extension have been driven to succumb to greater .force •when the day of reckoning has arrived. The latest insbanco of the kind, prominently important in the movements of the world, is that of Eussia herself at San Stefano. Admiral Hobkby. ("whom his recent obituary notice in The Times mentions as long being the foremost officer in the British Navy— possibly the mostprominent naval officer of the world) had then to bring his fleet past the frowning fortresses of the Dardanelles, where 350 ■ guns commanded every movement of his ships. He did not know, and could not know, what attitude the Turks by that time had assumed — whether they were friendly to Great Britain or not. He expected that at any moment the fovts commanding both sides of the narrow entrance of the Dardaiaelles would open fire on the British ~fleet. "Notwithstanding this" obstacle, .Hornby, clearing his-, vessels for action, sailed past the Turkish forts, where by treaty .he had "no right to sail, and brought up his ships ready for duty near the Golden Horn. Then.followed the Treaty of San Stefano, and the subsequent Berlin Conference, from which Lord Beaconsfield brought his famous Peace with' Honour. The check given to Eussia was serious," and it was expected its effects would be lasting, but time and circumstance change so much that 'it its more than doubtful whether, should it be to do again, Great. Britain, would so act again.

The lapse of a Jew years will see Japan; in such a position that the strongest European Power may hesitate before either giving or accepting her challenge. A few more years may also find Russia in such a condition in the Mediterranean that it will be immaterial to her what activity Japan develops in Eastern waters. It is well known that Russia holds her form of civilisation to be in germ actually superior to that: of Western Europe arid of the United States. The corrupt democracies, the noisy, festering republics outside her own borders, she affects to view with scorn. When the time is ripe she will descend from the .-North on the nations of the West to chastise and reform them. To carry out this important mission she must acquire Constantinople, and it is not certainly the British people who will interfere with that design. Not a ■British "bullet will be fired nor a British, bayonet fixed to aid keep 'the Sultan a moment upon his throne. On the contrary the - opinion seems to be gaining ground that to set Great Britain free to meet all the obligations of convoy and defence to her immense trade, it were' well she should withdraw altogether from the Mediterranean. It is pointed; out that she has no interest there; that there is not a single British settlement on the shores of that pleasant sea; that to use the Mediterranean as a highway to India or to Australia during the actual currency of war is no more feasible than flying; that her presence with a big fleet—not big enough to overwhelm, but quite big enough to provoke, annoy, and challenge—keeps up the application of an unnecessaiy irritant to the sentiments of a somewhat irritable and supersensitive nation; and that in case of war she couldn't hold her own so far away from her bases of supplies. Advice and policy of this kind are apt to be looked upon with dubious eyes, as being akin to a now forgotten policy —once formulated in the words " Perish India." But consolidation of resources to meet the emergencies of a vast and scattered empire is good policy, whatever distaste it may excite. The days when a Kelson could keep the sea for 21 months are gone for ever. It is said that during the blockade of Toulon by the British fleet the admiral in command, when asked, after months of tedious watching Toulon Harbour, whether he stood in need of supplies, replied that lift should like a j shipload of onions. Months oi keeping the sea found him short of nothing, but as a mere luxury he requested a good supply of a most savoury and healthmaintaining vegetable. Alas, for such halcyon times ! Modern warships are rapidly used up, and are expensive to keep. An anoient galley of the first size and efficiency may have cost about £10,0(ki, and carried 400 men. * ship o:c the Admiral class costs about one million, and carries also 400 men. Hhould the ancient trireme have gone to the bottom, the loss per head was about .£25. Should the Oamperdown, the Majestic, the Barlieur go to the

bottom, the loss per head runs up to £2500. The modern combatant thus, roughly valued, costs at sea about one hundred times as much as his predecessor in the Mediterranean only a few' hundred years ago — say, for instance, at the date of the battle of Lepanto. This being so, the strain on national resource becomes terribly oppressive and provocative of recalcitrant action. Wise Governors knowing this do not push the people down to what we may call the PlimsoMi mark of taxation. Now in England there are many signs that the PlimsoU-j mark has been reached. The recent Budget is perilously near 100 millions, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer announces that there is little or no hope of more taxation being acceptable, or indeed feasible, in England. Naturally people glance round, to see if from any quarter relief may be had— [ some burden may be thrust away, some fetter knocked off. The millstone around the neck of John Bull is. according to the opinion of many, the Mediterranean and.its : fleet. They urge that this inland sea can be sealed up at both ends by Great Britain by arranging with France to leave France a free hand east of longitude sdeg, the possession of Tunis, Egypt, Malta; provided France will assent to the fortification and occupation of Tangier by England. Tangier once belonged to the British Crown, as part of the dowry of a British Queen; let England resumeit. With these two strongholds—Tangier and Gibraltar—to the west, with the,, Canal neutralised, and Perim holding command of the southern end of the Bed Sea, the Continental Powers of Eastern and Southern Europe may settle their affairs in the inland sea as they best please. . These brief remarks go to show how truly evanescent are many of the questions which agitate the heart of nations and bring them to the verge of war. Not twenty years ago Great Britain was prepared to spend a hundred millions to oar the rpath of Russia to Constantinople : would she do so at this ino'ment ? Japan is doubtless in. a high state of fever over disappointed expectations; loss of the fruits of victory. Ten years hence she may be very thankful that her hand has been restrained. So may Great Britain now,' withdraw from that control of the Mediterranean she has held for a centurf, and be the stronger. In the competition, of nationsthe most useful to the whole community of nations is that which measures prudently its own strength and husbands it for the hour of danger.

The accident on the Eoslyn cable tramline a fawdayssiucQ fortunately The resulted in but slight inRoslyn juries to the passengers Tramway, who were on the car at the

time.' It" is'-none,-.the less the duty of the press to take some notice of the circumstances connected with the accident, akd in the interests of the public safety to draw the attention of the' directors to certain features in the method of controlling the cars, which ib:has been clearly demonstrated pa more than one occasion are not sufficient to secure immunity from, the risk pE accident; We do bo in a spirit of the best goodwill to the company, hut also in the belief that, notwithstandingseveral narrow escapes, the; directors have; failed tp realise the imperative necessity which exists .for fitting, their cars with mere perfect brakes and gripping apparatus. We have no hesitation in saying that the present brake power is imperfect and inadequate, and that the Occidents which have occurred have amply proved this to be the case. The brakes in ? use are two in number—one is known as'; the .dolphin or wedge brake, which is jammed into the slot in which the gripper works; the other is the slipper brake, which is forced on to the rails. In the recent accident,' it is admitted,, by the management . that these brakes proved ine£Eective^rinr the case of the latter because the brake had become worn and was about to be replaced. The directors1 may now well be arged to provide additional brake power. It is a ■ duty cast upon them alike in the interest of their shareholders and of the general public. Webelieve it canriot be questioned that the wheel brake attached to the cars of the Melbourne cable tramway service, and to those in use on the Mornington Company's line, is a powerful, easily managed, and completely effective brake. It is a cast iron, shoe, applied by lever simultaneously to all four wheels; and wa regard it as the imperative duty of the directors of the Roalyn line to have it attached to their cars with as little delay as possible. Withont wishing to pose as experts, we think it is very questionable if the company are acting wisely in also adhering to'their present grip gear. Many people who have given attention to the matter have come to the conclusion that the present method of working the grip should be discarded and a lever grip substituted. With the latter there sis far less risk of accident. The Roslyn tramway sarvice has been, and is, an unquestionable boon to the population of the hill suburbs and the uppar part of the city which it servea, and we trnst it has a loug and prosperous career before it. Its patrobs, however, have a right to demand that, every possible precaution shall be taken to guard against accidents, and we trast, therefore, that the representations we have thought it necessary to make will be given effect to.

Owing to the Mahinapua having taken the ground in Manukau harbour, the inward mails via San Francisco are not expected to reach Wellington till this evening. The southern portion is to be sent on by the Tarawera at 4p.m. on Saturday.

Telegraphic communication with the north has been partially interrupted during the last few days. The recently-laid cable across Cook Strait turns oub to be only a single-core cable, and as the old three-cove cable does not appear t>D hare been yet repaired, while the old single core cable has apparently given v/ay, our telegrams have been coming to hand ab an unusually late hour.

To-day being the anniversary of the birthday of her Majesty Qaeen Victoiia, who was born in 1819, will be observed as a public holiday. The races at Forbury Park will doubtless prove the chief attraction, but those who care more for football will have an opportunity of attending a match in the morning and a choice of Association v. Rugby ia the afternoon. The telegraph office will only be open for business between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m. aud 7 and 8 p.m. The telephone exchange will ba open all day.

The body of a man namsd Henry Halliday, who had been missing for about three days, was found at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon in a dam at ihe Roslyn Woollen Mills. The deceased, who was about 57 years of age, was employed as a dyer in the service of Messrs Ross and Glen, dining at their mills iti the Kaikorai Valley until he was discharged on account, it is believed, of irregular habits. Since that time he had been dependent for a living upon the charitably disposed until a few days ago, when he was given a home by a sen. The latter last saw him about 6 p.m. on Monday, wheu he said ho was going to sell 3ome fowls, but would be back at 9 o'clock. He did not return, however, and on the nexb day a coat, which was supposed in bslong to him, was found near the upper dam at the mills. The dam was dragged on Wednes-

day, with the result that a cap. supposed to

belong to the missing man, w«s recovered, and the dragging was continued on that day and yesterday until eventually, about 2 o'clock, tho deceased's body was brought to the surface. It is suggested that the caße is one of suicide. The coroner will hold an inquest this forenoon.

We learn that there has been a terrible accident at the Pine Company's naw mill at Colac. The belt that drives the governing balls of the engine came off, and the engine ran away at such an awful speed that it smashed a lot of machinery, killed one man, and made terrible bavoc. It is said that the belt csme off once before and almost made

another such smash, but no one was hurt at that time.

The Hon. J. Efl'Kenzie has sent the following telegram to Mr F. E. Fiatman, H.H.R., who urged the calliug of a conference to consider the recent schemes put forward for the extension of the frozen meat tirade: —" Received your telegram re conference, and I will see that the matter is fully considered when I return to Wellington. Nothiug should ha done hurriedly in a matter of this sorb. It ■will require careful consideration."

At a special meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday morning it was resolved to grant an extension of the charter of dredge 222 to the Lyttelton Harbour Board foe six months.

A special meeting of the City Council will be held on Monday night to consider the question of the loan conversion. A cablegram has been received from EQgland with reference to the matter, and this will be dealt with by the Finance Committee to-morrow morning.

The expenditure during the fiuancial year by the Lands and Survey department out of the public works funds and Lands Improvement and Native Lands Purchase Acts was £193,694, with liabilities of- £193,295. Of the latter £131,378 is on the Lands Improvement Act.

As a result of the inquiry recently held by Mr J. P. Maitlaud as to the maintenance of the punt at Taieri Mouth, a proclamation has been issued giving the: Bruce Couuty Council the exclusive care, control, and management of the punt. The Bruce County Cou'ucil is to bear two-thirds of the cost of maintenance and management (less revenue received), and the Taieti County Council one-third.

We have received the following subscriptions to the missing fishermen fund :—Speight and Co., £2 2a; collected by John Mitchell (Palmersfcon), £3 Is 6d.

Mr Paulin forwarded the following forecast at 8.30 o'clock last evening :—" Light to moderate N.E. wind and fine. Barometer fall," .

A peculiar coincidence, may be mentioned in connection with the death of Bishop Moran. When the bishop landed 'in Dunedin in: February 1871 Mr H. .g. Fiah.occupied the mayoral ■ chair, having • been elected seven months previously. On' the occasion of. the bishop's death 25 years afterwards Mr Fish again occupies the honourable position of chief mogietrate of Dunedin, and on the evening of Dr Moran's death is enabled to make the announcement. of his decease to the council, that body having met later on in the evening.

In consequence, of Inspector Pender's visit to England the North Island will be divided into three instead of four polica districts." Mr Hick; son will remain,in charge of, Auckland and Mr Emerson^be continued at Napier, but Mr Thomson will .return- from New-; Plymouth to Wei-

lington, retaining charge of part of the Tarauaid district. s ■'- ■' •-■■,

The Timara Herald says that on Tuesday, night a horse bolted into a house at Kensington while the inmates were sitting at the fire. In entering ifc broke two tables.'and then rushed into the bedroom, broke the toilet stand and ware ; then got between a large, double bed and the wall, and there got pinned. It subsequently rolled on to the bed, kicked the wall, breaking tblß plaster, and smashed the iron bedstead to pieces. It theijf plunged until it got out of the bed, and kicked and smashed the remainder of the furniture in. the room; then got into a passage, smashed all round, breaking pictures, &c, and finally getting out galloped away. It is doubtful whether it can be identified or not, as the night was very dark and the people left it sole occupant while it was in. The dftmage is calculated to be £12, and the owner.of the horae is being anxiously inquired for to settle the account.

Therewas a startling increase of insanity in New South Wales lately. The report of the Inspector-general states that the number of insane persons on the official registers on 31sb of December last was 3587, of whom 2198 were males and 1389 females] The number of irir sane persons at the close of 1893 was 3425, so that the increase during 1894- amounted to 162, of whom 106 were males and 56 females. •The increase in number was very much above the average for the last 20 years, which had .been about 100 annually. . The increase in 1892 was 178 ; in 1893; 113; and in 1894, 162 ; so that these three yeers had added 453 insane, psrsons to the number of those under treatment. An examination into particulars concerning the cases admitted led to the conclusion that, aB in the two preceding, years, so: in 1894-,' the chief factor in bringing under official cai;ea number of insane persons largely in excess of the average had been the general commercial trouble. The proportion ;of insane

to population, which was 1 in 357, or 2 80 per thousand, at the close of 1893, had risen to lin 348, or 2-87 per thousand, at the close of 18S4 ; whilst the rate of " ccenrring insanity " —the admissions in proportion to the general popu-

lation—which in 1893 was 1 in 1778, rose in 1894-to lin 1719, The total expenditure was £99,425. '' ' '■'" ■■"•■"■■■ ■■■■■' '~■'.

Commenting on the judgment of the Appeal Court in the case affecting theY Horowhenua block, the Post says :— " Everything that has happened since—orders of court, certificates of title under the Land Transfer Act, sales to her Majesty the" Queen, &c—every dealing with the

Land —is wiped out as effectually as if it had never happened. As the elaborate judgment read by Mr Justice Denniatori pointed out, there was now no necessity to dismiss Warena

Hunia from the trust, as prayed for, inasmuch

as the trust no longer existed, having been found by the court to be yoid for uncertainty. As to the position of being an absolute owner, claimed by Warena Hunia, the court spoke with no uncertain voice, and punished Wartua with heavy costs. And here, again, the -Full Court went further than the Chief Justice. It struck out the parb of the decree whicli required the.respondent (Major Kemp) to file

anaccounsof. rents and profits received by him

in his capacity of tribal representative. Oa the other hand;' for obvious reasons, the order, requiring the appellant (Wareua Hiinia)' to bring into, court all moneys received by hini on account of the sale of a part of the trust estate is allowed to stand. Whoever, thersfore, may in the end .have to find it, that £2000 improperly and secretly paid to Warena Hunia, through Mr Donald Fraser, will have to be looged in court. Wo shall be very much surprised if the Treasury is not compslkd to pay that money twice over in order to complete the title to the State farm purchase."

Mr Larke, the Canadian commissioner fo Australia, states that, the capital required for the Pacific cable is now estimated at £1,600,000, and that the total amount of expenditure -would bs £125,000 per annum. He contends that in 20 years the revenue would not only cover the expenditure, but provide a surplus sufficient to retira the bonds issued' to provide the capital. The proposal of Mr Bnnclford Fleming was to ohttin the money required on the general security of the British, Canadian, and Australian Governments. He considers tbat the cable could be constructed, maintained, and worked without costing.the Governments concerned one farthing, and that the line would be worth £200,000 per aunum to them. Canada wa3 ready now, and it was for Australia to

move.

The seventh annual meeting of subscribers to the Hanover street Free Reading Room was held in the reading room last night. The Rev. A. North presided, there being a number of subscribers present. The hon. secretary (Mr P. Walker) read the report and balance sheet, which showed the receipts to be £12 12s Id and the expenditure £13 7s 3d, leaviug a debit balaacs of 15s 2d to carry forward. The Rev. Mr North, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said that although the finances were not in a flourishing condition he was glad to say the attendance at the room was well up to the average of the previous years. The fact that the room was visited by an average of 200 men daily showed that it was appreciated by tha public, for whom it was intended; and although he had hoped to sea better accommodation provided ere this in the city, the committee would meanwhile endeavour to carry on the room and would be glad to receive donations from citizens for this purpcfie. Mr J. Outram seconded the motion, whic'i was carried. Votes of thanks wcra accorded to donors of papers, &c, to the retiring committee, and to the bou. secretary (Mr i\ Walker). The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year: — Messrs Outram, Buchanan, Crosby, Tucker, Sligo, O'Connor, P. Walker, Williams, and T. Shnon. Ths meeting concluded with a vote or thanka to the chair.

The time is rapidly approaching for the 1 Oiago A. and P. Association's winter show, which will provide four dp-ys' amusement for country visitors. Eatriea close on Wednesday next. The show is to be opened by the Hon. J.

M'Kenzie on Wednesday, sth June,

Letters received in Auckland state that Sir George Grey is getting better and stronger, and is almost capable of again taking part in public affairs.

The Thames Charitable Aid Board at its meeting on the 13<;h mot. had, according to the Thames Star, the following letter under con- '< Bideration:—"Having met with >» very serious accident last January in the bush —namely, compound dislocation of the knee, —from which I am still a cripple and cannot put my foot to the ground yet, I have to apply to you for charitable aid. I have a wife and six small children, the eldest being just under nine years of age. There Was a subscription got up for jme in the bush, the total of which was £2112s 6d. . The orders were passed in to the Kauri Timber Company, and they took £11 5s 5d of an old debt off the subscription. I have written to the local manager and aleo to the head office, and can get no satisfaction about the stoppage of the money. I have ako written to the bushmen where the money was raised, and have received an answer that they are very indignaut at the money beiug stopped. They distinctly 6t?-te that they were led to believe that I would receive cash for their orders before they passed them on to the manager. I am utterly destitute or I would not make this application." Mr A. Joyce, constable in charge of the Tairua police station, wrote substantiating the statements made in the letter. In the discussion which followed, tha action of the representative of the Kauri Company:was strongly condemned as " abominably scan" dalous," "cruel," and " unchristian." It was decided to give thu man some assistance and to intimate to the Kauri Company that they will becharged with the cosb of maintenance incurred by the board. The following extract from a letter written by Mr Henry JH'Niel, general secretary of the Bimetallic League (Great Britain), to the

league here has been handed to us with a

request for publication :—•« lam sending you by this post the Financial News.. with a verbatim- report of the proceedings at an annual meeting, which was the greatest success we have ever had. We are informed that the meetiDg.at the Mansion House was the most crowded ever held there, and it was most influential and representative. Oar^canse is making great progress in the city and in the provinces, and the reports from the Continent are equally encouraging. .As to the International Conference, there is no definite news as to when it will be held." :

The patronage bestpwed on the Second Tivoli Company is steadily maintained, and the members constituting it were last evening accorded a moat nattering reception.' The programme was'the same as that formerly produced,'and every item went with the utmost success, redemands : repeatedly made. .Messrs Collins and Browne are always responsible for a large snare of the fun. There ■will be a change of programme this evening. There was a : moderate attendance at the Princess Theatre last night, when the Kennedy - Lucas t)ramatic and Comedy Company reproduced " The Shaughrauu,'" which has previously been played by them a number, of times. The piece went off very well, and the audience appeared, to bo much pleased with the efforts of the performers. Mr J. J. Kennedy as Conn, the Shaufihraun, created a considerable amount of merriment; while -Mies Lilla Wilde, in the dual parts; of Moya Doolan and Biddy Maddigan, Miss Hetty Howarde as Mrs O'Kelly, Mr F. Nortou as Captain Molineux, and Mr Harry Sayille. as father Doolan all acted in such a manner as to, meet: with the warm approval of the audience. It is intended to produce *J Uncle' Tom's Cabin" this evening,' introducing new songs and hymns.

The choir1 of St. Joseph's Cathedral will hold a special practice this evening.

A special all nations meeting will be held this evening in the Salvation Army Fortress.

Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will sell St. Bernard dogs on Saturday morning. On Monday they will sell, at St. Kilda, Messrs Stephenson and Hazlett's racing stock and stable plant . .''■■■■'■: ■■'.-■-'■■ -.'. ■ • ,■...■ v*

Messrs .Tamos Samson and Co. will sell household furniture, &c. on Saturday. On.Tuesday next they will, sell freehold property., in.Lees street, and freehold property, premises, furniture, stdck-in-tritde, &6:, Duncan and Arthur streets. The Mutual Agency Company will-sell store cattle at Balclutha on Friday, 3lst inst. •■' ■■■•■'

Messrs Donald Reid.and Co. will sell.on the premises, MauDgatna, on the 6th June, dairy cows, calves, horses, sheep, &c.

We have to , acknowledge receipt of Messrs Howden and Moncrieff's descriptive catalogue for 1895 of rare and beautiful plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, &c. There is a lot of useful information as to the characteristics of the flowers, plants, &c, and as to the best method of treating them.

In our yesterday's report of the meeting of the City Council the case respecting auctioneers' licenses was erroneously referred to as the City Corporation v: Bowler. The action was in fact against the Roslyn Borough, Mr Bowler being a witness only. ' A well-known suburban town clerk, says :— " Wahoo certainly suited me better than Seigel's Syrup for indigestion." 2s 6d, grocers, chemists. Loasby. Princes street south.—[Advt.] Movxison and Co.. drapers, George street, are offering 2*lo pairs of soiled English, blankets at extraordinary prices—from 7s lid up; worth 11s 6d.—[Advt.]

See G. and T. Young's Christmas advertisement on first page, aud note that watch, clock, and jewellery repairs receive personal supervision of Mr T. 6. Young. Competent workmen only employed. Satisfaction guaranteed. Moderate prices.l-^ Adv.]

''Specially prepared aodawater for invalids, as supplied by Thomson and Go. to the Dunedin Hospital, Union Company's entire fleet, and other public institutions. In nearly all cases of sickness Thomson and Co.'s sodawater is held in high esteem by physicians for its purity and wholesome action in assimilating with milk and other nutritious liquids. Labelled with name and trade mark.— fAwr.]

Anyone requiring a good serviceable waterproof at a Ijw figure cannot do better than inspect W. Scott and Co.'s stock. See advertisement

third pags.—[Advt.] . ~.'-. ib-xsrs A. aud J. iVl'Faexane beg to call attention to their advertisement over the leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive the best attention.—lAdvt.] : John Hisuijt', V^atcViniater and Jewiiltr, 74 Priacfes street. The oldest established house in town Repairs of all kinds. Good assortment Waii.hes, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to euit all sights.—[Advt.]