MEXICO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 5

MEXICO.

{From the San Francisco papers). THE DIXRANGO RANCH.

The Mexican Sevolution interferes considerably with the plans of the party of San Joßeans.who recently purchased the 5,000,000 acre tract of land near the City of Durango. It was the intention of Mr Murphy, not only to send a portion of the herds of cattle, now in Nevada and Arizona, to his Durango ranch, but to put in new machinery at the Cerro de Mercado and run the iron works to their fullest capacity. He was also making arrangements to locate several colonies on his land. The present state of affairs, how* ever, will compel him to wait a little while before he invests anymore money in Mexico. It is to be expected that Iglesias will call upon the country occupied by him, for the sinews of war, and will not be careful to fix a very ? l.ow rate, of taxation. Diaz may come into possession of Durango within a couple of months,, and the property owners be called upon for another assessment. Altogether the prospect is not very flattering, and although the big ranch cost the parties but a trifle originally, it may be an enormous expense to them if they have to pay taxes to half a dozen different governments. THE LATEST EXILE'S EXIT. Ledro has made a grand financial success of it. He has depleted the country to the tune of millions. As a deplomatisr, a failure — as a financier, a triumph. It is said he has safely lodged his 3poils in English Banks and in United S fcates bonds. Of such are Mexican patiots. LOW MORALS. The entire moral atmosphere of Mexico is pollution. It excels quantity rather than quality. It excels such a dead weight of corruption that it is impossible for the Government to sustain itself under any leadeiship whatever. It must sooner or later come under the domination of some stronger power. The Almighty never intended such, a people to govern themselves. They need " bringing up. " The moral status of a nation determines it 3 political condition and outlook, and mere brute force avails little in the matter of government. The only guarantees for the success of auy people are education, character, and virtue, and of these Mexico can make no boast. As for the decisions by wager of battle, these arc re-cxaminable at any time. There is no Statute of Limitation to that writ of error. Reason has always been occupied in reversing judgments of force, and it ia well that it ia so, else error once victorious would be immortal. Force cannot stamp out truth. COMMERCIAL AF-FAIRS. Commercial affairs have a decidedly hopeful aspect. The retail trade is comparatively brisk. The business pulse is more steady and firm. The arts of peace are again advancing. The public visage is agaia relaxed and cheerful, and tells of a better circulation of the life-currents. The market is better supplied with dry-goods and foreign importations, and mining operations begin to quicken their activities. The wealth of these hills and valleys awaits the conquest of peace, when it will disclose itself to the astonishment of even the old Californian, who is accustomed to his golden harvests from the soil and golden harvests from the mines as well. Bat as I before said, there is small hope for all this until Mexico is baptised into purity — we cannot forestall or outwit the divinely arranged order of things, which says : "First pure, then peaceable." And so may iv be !

An entertainment will be shortly given by the Carisbrook Cricket; Club to raise funds to improve the ground at Montecillo, on which the Club has already expended some £80. Under the captaincy of Mr F. Fulton, the Club has been well to the fore during the past season, and, in addition to proving a training school for youths, it had the honour of contributing Fulton, Dixon, A. Cargill, Rose, and Austin to the team which played the All-England Eleven. The programme will comprise musical selections, the capital comedy of " The Rough. Diamond," the Fakir of Oolu's "Decapitated Head," and a laughable farce.

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