THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1899.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11603, 11 December 1899, Page 4

THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1899.

Any person who; not being afflicted with incurable bias in his view' of the events which preceded the war in South .Africa; still entertains doubts respecting tho'1 motives that actuated the policy of the Imperial Government throughout its negotiations with the Transvaal Government will have his mind set at rest by a perusal of.the speech delivered by Mr Chamberlain in the House of Com-mons-on; the 19th October. It has been described as a;" great" speech. It wasnot'great in ihe sense of abounding in passages .of literary excellence, but it was distinctly great in the resistlessness of the argumentative force which ran through it. 'One by one Mr Chamberlain took up and disposed of the points, which/had been made by the critics of the Government and of himself in the country and in-the House, and one by one, to the accompaniment of the encouraging cheers- of an overwhelming and sympathetic majority of the members, he met and repelled the accusations and allegations which had been levelled against him by a section of the community. It was "with a feeling of satisfaction and almost of relief" that, aiter the silence which diplomatic considerations had for months imposed, upon him, he -seized the opportunity of replying to the critics of the Government. • Among these was Mr Stan- ' hope, the member for Burnley, who had proposed an amendment to the Address-in-Eeply expressing strong disapproval of the conduct of the negotiations with -the Government of the Transvaal, and to him Mr Chamberlain administered a severe verbal castigation, with which, however, we need hardly concern ourselves. It is of more moment to,follow the Colonial Secretary through his masterly narrative of the circumstances that produced the war. In this connection Mr Chamberlain admitted that he had made one mistake. He had, he says, always hoped for peace and always striven for peace, but, looking at the matter in the.fuller light in which it was presented to the country after the actual commencement of hostilities, he confessed that, however near peace may sometimes have appeared to be, he had most reluctantly come to the conclusion that war was always inevitable. Why? "Is it ■ not true," Mr Chamberlain asked, "" when we come to look at the whole situation, that there always have been cardinal differences, that there have been things which it was essential for us to demand and to obtain, and that these things President Kruger and his friends and advisers have always been determined not to give?" The Transvaal throughout the whole course of the negotiations constantly strove to take back witli the one hand what it offered with the other. The "extraordinary ultimatum" which was addressed to the Imperial Government finally thrust war upon Great Britain. Even if the Opposition had been in

power there must have been war. Or; all essential points of the Transvaal policy the differences between tiie two great constitutional parties in Parliament were really trifling. The Imperial Government went to war, Mr Chamberlain showed, in defence of the principles "upon >which the Empire has been founded and upon which alone it can exist." There were two great principles at stake. The first was that if Great Britain was to maintain its existence as a great Power in South Africa, it was bound to show that it was both willing and able to protect British subjects everywhere when they were made to suffer from 'oppression and injustice. This is a principle "which prevails, always and everywhere, and in every difference which we may have with another country, and it prevails trith. special force and emphasis in this case, in which our relations with the Transvaal in the establishment of the Repub-

lie are so special and peculiar." The second principle was that in the interests of South Africa and in the interests of the British Empire, Great Britain must remain the paramount Power in South Africa. That being the' position, Mr Chamberlain claimed,that the Opposition, had it been in power, must have adopted the cour.se which the Government, of which he is one of the most distinguished members, had pursued. "Suppose the negotiations had failed with you, as they have failed with us," he said, addressing himself at this juncture to the front Opposition benches, "what would you have done then? If your insistence had been of no avail, what would you have done then? Would you have betrayed your countrymen?—(Some cries of "Yes.") Would you have lost South Africa ?—(Loud cries of "Yes" from the Ministerial benches.) It is absurd to answer except in one wayi You would have been bound by your own utterances. You could not have helped yourselves. You would have been bound to carry your policy a step further when. persuasion had failed. • If you: had gone to war under these circumstances there woulo have been absolutely, no difference between your policy and ours." If th« nation had shrunk from war in the-lasi resort, the alternative,, which Mr Chamberlain declined to cdnteniplate,. would have been disastrous. It was absolutely imperative that the supremacy of Great Britain should be maintained. Sir Wil'

Ham Harcourt and! others had argu&o that the suzerainty had been abolished.Mr, Chamberlain would not split hairs about the .use of a word—supremacy, suzerainty, predominance, preponder ance, paramountcy: they might call it Abracadabra if they liked—so long \-, the substance was preserved, but. " the name became of importance when tne substance was attacked." Adopting the definition of suzerainty which lord Kimberiey had given whence described it in 1881 as "the superiority over a State possessing independent rights of government subject to reservations in reference to certain specified matters," Mr Chamberlain pointed out that-from 1881 down to the present time the existence of the suzerainty was asserted hy successive Governments of different .party complexions. Through all these years, however, the Boers had been plotting to get rid of the suzerainty. Their whole policy, had been transparently plain. "Why, Sir," Mr Chamberlain exclaimed, "'from 1881 dowiiwards, they have been patiently, cleverly, persistently, by imperceptible steps, endeav- ! ouring to oust the Queen from her suzer- ■ ainty, to throw off the last trace of j subordination, until, grown bold by apparent immunity in the course they have pursued, they now take off the-

mask, i-sey show openly what has been their, object all along, and declare themselves to be 'h sovereign independent State." '' Mr' Chamberlain, went rather, deeply, but very clearly, into the whole history of the rather complicated negotiations between Great Britain and the Transvaal, justifiably claiming that the Government had, as .much' as; any previous Government, been anxious' for the honour and the interests; of the

countiy.

"It is in consequence of

that," he said in a stirring peroration, "that we have received the great mea-

sure of support from the great mass [of our countrymen, and that we have seen that magnificent demonstration of loyalty, and not only of loyalty but of sympathy with our object, which has been made by' our ; self-governing colp-< nies. . . .-. .We have been, as I ha>cC shown, as anxious for peace as any man on the other side of the House or in the country, but we have held that there are things which are even more j important than peace itself, and in order to attain, peace it xis sometimes necessary to face, the contingency of war. In our endeavour to maintain peace we have ' shown the utmost conciliation, we have shown endless patience. We have run some risk, but we have never from the first to the last for the sake of peace been prepared either., to betray 'our countrymen or to allow the paramountcy, or whatever you call it, to-be taken from us. President Kruger has settled the question; he has appealed tt>. the God of Battles, and I say, with all reverence and gravity, we accept the challenge, believing that we have our quarrel just."

Cr Solomon .has given notice of his'intention to move at Wednesday's meeting, of the City Council that a wooden-block crossing be put down across George -street, from the Douglas Hotel to the opposite corner. The council will deal as special business with' the appointment of three sinking fund commissioners and 10 delegates to the Half-holiday Conference.

Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs: — Influenza is raging here. One death has occurred already, and several people are very, severely attacked. The rivers being high, most of the dredges are not dredging. Tha Maori dredge is not yet raised. ,

Our Springfield correspondent writes:—A young man named John Greer was struck by lightning on the sth inst. He was shifting sheep at about 9 o'clock in the evening. ; Although his brother, who accompanied him, saw no flash, John was knocked to the ground unconscious. Medical aid was summoned, but the patient remained insensible until about 4 o'clock next morning. The hair on his forehead is singed, otherwise no injury is apparent.

The hospital returns for the past week, show the number of patients remaining over from the previous week to be 105; 31 were admitted, 27 discharged, and 109 remain in the institution:. There were no deaths during the week.

Our Bald Hil' Flat correspondent telegraphed on Saturday:—The sudden death of JMr James Falconer, late proprietor of the Speargrass Hotel, took place here about 12 o'clock to-day. It appears he had gone about a mile and a-half from home with his horse and trap. In some way the horse got away while deceased was out of the trap, and in running to overtake it ho is supposed to have over-exerted himself, ihus causing his death. Deceased was universally respected, and great sympathy is felt for the family in their 'sad and sudden bere?wemeßt,

As we briefly announced on Saturday morning, the residence in High street of Mr R. H. Fraser, was almost completely demolished by fire. It is supposed that tho fire originated at the gas stove in the front room. Mr Fraser, when he retired for the night, left a flannel in front of the stove, intending to use it, when hot, for a bandage. He, however, dropped off to sleep, and, presumably, the heat caused it to ignito. The fire was discovered by Mr D. K. Corsan, brother-in-law of Mr Fraser, who was sleeping on the premises, and when he was aroused by a crackling noise the front room was already a mass of flame. He at once gave the alarm. The house was completely gutted, only two back looms escaping destruction, and it speaks well for the energy of the firemen that those were saved. Mr Frasar's loss is complete, absolutely nothing of any consequence being recovered. His furnitura and effects were insured in the Standard office for £150, but his loss must bo fully,-£IOO over that amount. The house was owned by Mr H. F. Hardy, and was insured in the New Zealand office for £175.

At the last meeting of the committee of the Free Kindergarten Association, Mrs "W. H. Reynolds, the president, intimated that she was about to pay a visit to England, "and intended leaving next month. She therefore tendered her resignation of the office of president, which she has held with such conspicuour credit to herself and thorough satisfaction to her colleagues and the community who .are^interested in the kindergarten movement. It was unanimously decided to record on the minutes a, resolution expressive of the committee's high appreciation of tho zeal, ability, and enthusiasm with which Mrs Reynolds had managed tho affairs of the association during a long course of years, • aud wishing her a pleasant time on her travels and a safe return to the colony.

Bishop Nevill visited Stewart Island and opened a new church there on Sunday, 3rd inst. The building, which is a large and handsome one, stands on a rico in tho centre of Oban, and commands a. view of Half Moon Bay; to which it is. itself an ornament. The Bishop (says the Southland Times) expressed himself as highly pleased with the edifice, which was erected by Mr Ramsay, of Oban, \froni plans prepared by Mr 0. H. Roberts, of Invereargill. The bell which is in use at the new church was that used by the late Rev. J. F. Wohlsrs, o£ Ruapuke, and is a connecting link with the past. The church will be consecrated when quite free from debt, and a proper font and altar are provided. The Bishop, however, dedicated tho church to the honour and glory of God in the name of St. Andrew, and in pious memory of George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, who visited Half Moon Bay and founded the church there in 1542. '

The following reply to a congratulatory telegram on the results of the election has been received by Mr R. C. Wilson, president of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, from the Premier:—'.'l thank the Trades and Labour Council of Otago sincerely for .their kind congratulations. The decisive victory in Dunedin clearly demonstrates that those who are faithful to its workers will find the workers true to them. The mishaps of the past were owing to want of cohesion and unanimity. The continued confidence will cheer us on in using our best efforts to promote the wellbeing of our fair land. Convey my sincere thanks to all.—R. J. Seddcw."

Messrs A. Thomson and J. R. Monson, J.P.s, were tho silting magistrates at Port Chalmers on. Saturday, -\vlion Miss Maria Bauchop was charged with travelling in a first-cL-iss railway carriage between Port Chalmers and Sawyers' Bay without having paid the proper, fare. Guard Lawson stated that he was in charge of tho train on October 19, and when going through the carriages collecting tickets, defendant, who was in a firstclass carriage, handed witness a second-class ticket. Witness demanded 3d, that being the difference between the price of a, first: and second-class tioket. This the, defendant refused to pay. The Bench inflicted a fine of Is, together with 9s'costs. ' J • -■•

There was a clean charge sheet at the City Police Court on Saturday, and consequently no.sitting.'of the court.

The Railway department announce that from the 20th inst. to January 20 a fast passenger train will be run diiilj from Dunedin to Oatnaru and from Oamaru to Ohristchuroh. There will also be a daily fast return train from Oamaru to Christcliurch. The, train will leave Dunedin at 10.20 a.m., and will reach Oamaru at 2.10 p.m. It leaves for Christcliurch at 2.25, and reaches its destination at 8.25 p.m; The train from Oamaru to Dunedin leaves at 4.40 p.m.,.and reaches the city at 8.30. The train, it will tlws.be seen, travels both ways some little time in advance of the express, and as some of the excursion tickets issued arc not available for the express, the evident intention is to, cause excursionists to tiavel by tho new fast train, thus reducing the load on the express.. .

The St. Kilda shooting case provided another sensation for Melbourne on the Ist inst, when Mrs Fraser was brought up on remand charged with attempting to murder her husband, Dr Fraber. The Sub-inspector, in asking for a further remand, informed the bench that Mrs Fraser had been to the private hospital where the doctor is being treated, and created several disturbances. She frightened Dr Fraser. and Mrs Evans, and on tho last occasion left the hospital, threatening to go and shoot her child. The bench, in granting a remand for two months, was about to advise Mrs Fraser, when her counsel interfered. It is alleged that the disturbance occurred because of the doctor's refusal to go with his wife to a house she had furnished and prepared for his reception; He said it would bo dangerous for him to move. Mrs Fraser is stated to have become excited, a,nd upbraided him for not keeping his promise. After a painful 3cene, she left the hospital, and when seen subsequently by Detective O'Donnoll, denied any thought of attempting to shoot her child, and said she had been utterly misunderstood in. the matter.

The late dry weather had up to the last few days (reportsl the Marlborough Express) so reduced the water in tho Wairau River as. in some places to leave but mere waterlvoles. It has como to the ears of tho secretary of the Acclimatisation' Society that parties of men and.boys, taking advantage of the low state of the river, have been making persistent raids on the fish, on© party securing 21 in tho early morning, another party with the aid of torches, capturing a number at night, the fish being driven with sticks and stones into the shallows and there secured. Another diabolical contrivance used has been a long stretch of wire netting, with which the water has been dragged to catch the fish. The police are now on the alert, and the Acclimatisation Society are offering a reward for the conviction of the offenders.

The bazaar in aid of the Y.W.C.A. was brought to a close on Saturday evening. A fair sum has been realised, but many valuablo articles being left on hand, the committee decided not to Eacrifice them, but to hold another small sale in tho association's rooms somo time next year. During the afternoon the proceedings were enlivened by vocal and instrumental music, and in the evening Miss Wilkie, Miss Heinemann, Madame Yon Look, and a quartet party, consisting of Messrs Maxwell, Sinclair, Walker, and Ibbotson, lent assistance. ■

"British Born," the military drama which is to be produced at the Princess Theatre by the Rosicus Society on Fridaj and Saturday evenings next for, the New Zealand Contingent Patriotic Fund, is

a play of stirring interest. It has been in active rehearsal for some four or five weeks, and Mr A. Brandon-Cremer (stage manager) feels confident the Ro?cia,ns will give a good i.ecount of themselves. The New Zealand Natives' Association have been working most energetically to make- the piece a financial, as well as an artistic, success. The box plan will be opened at the Dresden this morning at 10 a.m.

Messrs Park, Pycynolds, and Co. will hold a tola of oil and water-colour paintings at their rooms on Thursday, 14th mat. On Tuesday, at their rooms, i they vail sell tho booths and privileges for the military tournament on Boxing day.

The Duneclin Woolbrokers'. Association will hold the first wool sale of the season at the Agricultural H,all Buildings on Thursday, 21sfc inst.

Applications are invited from medical practitioners for positions on tho honorary medical staff of the hospital for the year 1900. Tenders are also invited 'or supplies and services for the samo period.

Sales of grain and produce will be held today as follows:—Messrs Donald Roid and Co. at 10 a.m., Messrs Dalgcty and Co. at 10.30 a.m., Messrs A. Moritzsou and Co.,at 11 a.m. .

Mr D. M. Speckling will sell furniture, pianos, etc., at his rooms on "Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. Messrs James Samson and Co. will sell a pi umber's stock-in-trade on the premises, Maclaggan street, on "Wednesday at 12 o'clock. Messrs "Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will hold a sale of forward store cattle at Burnside on "Wednesday next.

The annual meeting of the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge, No. 912, E.C., will be held on AVediiesday evening next. Tenders are invited, for ths cartage of dredge machinery for the Manuherikia Gold Dredging Company from Ranfurly to the claim at Alexandra South.

Tenders are invited for the cartage of dredge machinery for the Richards's Beach Gold Dredging Company from Frankton to the claim on the 'Kawnrau River.

The price of " Brunncr" coke at the city gasworks is increased to 25s per ton net. Auckland Harbour Board debentures for £100 each, bearing i per cent, interest, are for sale at par. The time for receiving nominations for running events at tlio Mataura Athletic Society's gathering has been extended till Saturday, 16th inst. / ,-

Consignees of goods by the ship Invercaigill are requested to present bills of lading and pass customs entries without delay. Tenders are invited for the supply and delivery of coal and kindling wood to the Government buildings, Dunedin, and the Otago Central railway.

Meetings of shareholders in the "Waimunru Gold Dredging Company will be held at the company's office at i p.m.; and 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday next.

John Hisdop, cutest, established "Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles suit all sights.—A.dvt. Bowling G-reen Bowls.—G. and T. Young have just received their stock for the season. A full selection of Taylor's prize and ordinary bowls at lowest prices.—Advt. Cakter and Co. have now landed the bulk of their season's shipments, and have lull stocks in all departments. Koliable goods at lowest cash prices. Try Carter and Co.

Who is Petkr Dick?—Tho most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.

"My mother says you need only scan the news-, papers to know which Teas'to avoid buying. She never buys extensively advertised tea, or tea, with which you are promised something for nothing:- -It all has to be paid for by reducing quality. She buys Kozic, at 2s, and gets value and purity always.—Advt.