OUR LONDON LETTER.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 54

OUR LONDON LETTER.

(Fhom Our Own Corhesi>ondent.) London, August 17. THE VISIT OF THE EMPEROH OF QKRMANr. Kaiser William has returned to Germany after a visit he seems to have enjoyed specially through the care which was taken to preserve its privacy so far as possible. He is on excel* lent terms with his Royal grandmother, our ow« Sovereign, who is said to be greatly pleased that he comes to see her so relatively often— thats is to say, he has visited the Queen as many as six times siace his accession, whioh is almost s record among Royal and Imperial visitinga. The Queen always "lays herself out" to make things as pleasant as possible for her august grandson when he does come, and his sojourns are festive times at Osborne or Wiudsor.

Last Monday the Kaiser attended the military manoeuvres and sham fight at Aldershot, and vu good enough to express courteous approval. Muoh lo3S complimeutary was his uncle, the Duke of Connaught, who commands at Alderahot. He found much to complain of in the looseness of some of the guards' performances, and in the way they misjudged the position and proooedings of their enemy, whioh in real warfare would have involved them in serious disaster. Should we muddle like this in actual war, I wonder P It is said that some of our most brilliant historic feibs of arm i hare been brought \bout by the blunders of our oommanderi, who 36 mistakes were, by the splendid efforts of our rank and file, turned into glorious triumphs. But can we always rely upon suoh magnificent reotificatlont of our leaders' messes P

Muoh more would this speculation apply, I fancy, in the case of our navy. The annual manoeuvres are just over, and I am told that there have been the uiual numerous breakdowns and jumbles and failures. The torpedo catchers could not go fait enough to catoh anything (the presumably slower weasels had to wait for them) ; three vessels carried away their cables while anchoring ; in the cases of several more the steam steering gear broke down, very nearly causing shipwreck ; four torpedoes went astray, one killing a man ; a big gun started a journey on its own account (the gunner got in its way, go it killed him and calmly went ahead) ; torpedoes were discharged at consorts, and friends fiercely cannonaded each other.

If this sort of thing, with an occasional Yictoria-Camperdown collision thrown in, is to happen in aotual warfare, where shall we be and what will become of old England and the British Empire ? Yet if these manoeuvres do not foreshadow what would be done in real war, of what possible educational use can they be P Erery year's experience seems to leave us sadder than ever, owing to the host of unsuspected weaknesses and strange ineptitudes that are disclosed in our defences. One oritic terms the manoeuvres "the annual naval buffooneries," and declares that this year they have degenerated from "comedy " into "farce." Other complimentary expressions applied to the performances are "silly business," "expensively £oG up burlesque," and " unmitigated rot" — the last being the term employed by a naval officer of high distinction. It is nob cheery, especially when one recollects the huge sums we spend on this same navy whose peifortnauccs have elicited such criticisms. A BAIMVAY ACCIDENT. When the Midland Scotch express to London his got half way along the great platform at St. Pancras and is moving only at a walking pice the passengers naturally imagine that their long journey from Scotland is over and begin to collect their wraps and movable luggnge in preparation for a hasty exit direotly tha train stops. That is wh\t the passengers did last Sunday morning. But the train didn't stop. On the contrary it proceeded calmly on to the "buffer stops" at the hotel end of the platform, and then, having with quiet but irrcßistiihle force smashed up those massive buffer stops of solid steel, went on to mount the platform beyond and head straight for the ground floor of tho hotel ! Before it entered the hotel itself its impetus had been lost and its way checked by the resistance the engine encountered from the buffer stops and platform. Accordingly it stopped, the engine with its fore part perched up on the platform as if it were trying to look over a wall and the hinder part surrounded by a mass of wreckage. For although the engine itself — built as it was in the best style of the Derby works and »f the best mild steel— remained almost uninjured, as did a'so the§ solidly constructed Pullman car*, the rest of the train was reduced to a mass of d6b<is. Tho front guard's van being between the Pullman and the engine had to take their share of the shook as well as its own, and was, in fact, squashed np between those tiro ponderous bodies. Similarly the carriages following the Pullman car hurled themselves upon its iron platform and impregnable end. They were consequently smashed while it was left unscathed. There seems rather a moral here in regard to the construction of railway vehicles.

As for the passengers, when the crash came, they were all flung about in hopeless confusion, and mixed up inextricably with their belongings and with fragments of the carriages, especially with the broken glass whioh was here, there, and everywhere. About 20 deolared themselves to be " injured," but in most cases the injuries were found to be limited to fright and shaking. Six were somewhat badly hurt, the worst cases being those of two ladies who were "nipped" below the knees by the opposite seats of their carriages being driven together, and who were held there immovable, suffering acute pangs until the carriages could be sawn in pieces and their release thereby effeoted. Failure of the vacuum automatic brake was the supposed cause of the mishap. I was on the spot shortly afterwards, and that seemed to me the only possible cause. A well-knowu engineer, who is a staunch advocate of the Westiughouse brake, entirely endorses this view, but deolared that to save the vacuum brake's reputation the blame would probably be put on the driver. In this oase, however, that hardly seems possible, as he is admittedly one of the company's most skilful and careful men, and there i 3 abundance of proof that he was exeroising due care in this case. His theory it that the rails at that point had been rendered greasy by the oily droppings from some fish truoks which were on the preceding train, and therefore that the brake would not ••bite," and so did not oheok the train's way. For if the wheels were " looked " or " skidded " by the brake, they would slide fr^ly over the greasy rail, while if not they wou^l pick up the oily liquid on their tyre?, and so the brakt blocks would fail to hold them. It seems afeasible theory. The affair created a great sensation inLondon, for at this holiday travelling season so many people enter and quit London daily by rail thai? Che question interested everybody. No one likes to think he or she may be smashed up just at the journey's end, or at any other time for the matter of that, but It seems worse to oe ■mashed up when yqu im*j!ne « &c bitteroew

Poimcs. . Once more the Home of Lords h*l put down Its foot regardless of the open and covert threats of the present political majority. Many people expeoted that the Evicted Tenants Bill— more accurately the Tenant*' Arbitration (Ireland) Bill-— would be read a second time by the feers, but would then be amended in Committee so vitally as to induce its abandonment by iU Ministerial authors. Some of the Radical papers indeed began to talk sneeringly •bout the Lords "climbing down" again as they had done about the Parish Councils Bill. There is no pleasing opponents. If the Lords Btand out they are obstructing the people's will, If they give way they are weak and useless. However, in this case there was no symptom ■whatever of giving way. Directly Lord Spencer had moved the second reading of the bill, Lord Balfour of Burleigh responded with an amendment, in the usual form, for its rejection. A very able debate followed. Masterly speeches were made by the Duke of Devonshire and Marquii of Salisbury against the bill; and by the Lord Chancellor and the Premier in its favour. Its advocates described it as a measure of conciliation and mercy brought forward in the interests of peace and good order. Its opponents contended that it was directed limply toward rewarding men who had refused to pay their just debts and who had rebelled against the law. In the end the seoond reading was lost by 249 to 30— a tolerably decisive result. In the House of Commons the London Equalisation of Rates Bill and the Eight Hours (Mines) Bill have engrossed attention. The former passed H» third reading on Monday and went up to the Lords, where it met a fairly favourable reception. Lord Salisbury struck the keynote in his opening words, "My own opinion is that the bill does very rough justice indeed, but it does justice, and therefore I shall vote ia favour of it." Practically it compels the richer district! of London to aid the poorer ones. Its method as described by Lord Rosefeery is that it imposes "a general rate of 6d in the pound to be levied over the whole of the metropolis and to be handed over to the various parishes in proportion to the extent of the respective populations. Sanitation is to be the first application of the proceeds, paving and lighting the next, and there are provisions for due restrictions on extravagance and misappropriation. Practically the Lords were unanimous in their acceptance of the bill in ita general principle, and it was read a second time mm. con. Very different was the fate of the Bight Hourß Bill. The rook on which ifc met with shipwreck was virtually the same one which wrecked the Employers' Liability Bill and the Evioted Tenants Bill— compulsion versus option. The Liberals were all for compulsion ; the Conservatives for option. But the modern Radical will not hear of any option in regard to bis pet measures. These must be compulsory upon all, or he will have none of them. In the case of the Eight Hours Bill as applied to mines, this attitude was carried tco far, and led to a reaction. Several mining representatives said that the miners of Durham and Northumberland were quite able to defend their own interests, and only asked to be let alone. They urged the House not to impose an eight hours day upon those who did not want it. After a prolonged debate the closure was applied, and then a division resulted in a local option amendment being carried by a majority of five, whereupon it was immediately announced that the bill would be withdrawn. This is, of course, quite consistent with the course pursued in reference to the Employers' Liability Bill, which was withdrawn because the Lords insisted on retaining for the men the power of contracting themselves out if they' chose. This bill is withdrawn because theHouse of Commons has acted on similar lines, and has conserved to the workmen the right of deciding for themselves whether they will have «n eight hours day or not. Why should they not have this privilege ? Evidently a stand will iave to bd made if individual and even collective rights are to escape grave encroachment. This continued progress in the direction of tyranny on the part of a temporary parliamentary majority is exciting a good deal of uneasiness on the part of those who value true liberty, as distinot from the liberty of a mere | majority to encroach upon the freedom of the j people at large, and many now in their hearts j thank Heaven that there is a House of Lords to act as a check upon the eccentricities of the extreme section of the other House. For, be it remembered, it is not the majority of the Liberal party who desire or do these things. It is merely the extreme and noisy section of the party that coerces the more moderate men ! and compels the adoption of unacceptable measures in order to avoid party defeat through secessions. Be it observed, I am not now expressing any opinion upon the merits or demerits of either side's policy or measures, but simply recording the fact that through the iufluence of certain sections of the Liberal party, that party as a whole does stand committed to decisions which certainly wonld have the effect of limiting, freedom of choice on the part of the public generally as to matters whioh conoern their own interests very materially. One 6ide says, " Give the people this reform, by all means, if they desire it; but let them have the opportunity of saying for themselves whether they wish for it or not." The other side Bays, " No ; we think the reform is a good thing, «o we will force it down their throats, and make them swallow it whether they like it or not." That was the line taken up in regard to the Employers' Liability Bill, and that is the line also taken tip toward the Eight Hourß Bill. So both have been lost, and for no other reason' than the tyrannioalneiß of the method adopted. MR GLADSTONE. Mr Gladstone a few days ago wrote to Mr Thomas, the mover ef the local option amendment to the Eight Hours Bill reminding him that be (Mr Gladstone) suggested tbe application of the local option principle to this question two years ago. He added : "I am dear that if the miners desire the Eight Houra Bill with a degree of concurrence affording unanimity they have a moral title to it. Of themoral title to impose it on a considerable minority I am very doubtful, and I, apprehend that if the minority is really considerable it will be found practically more difficult to overpower than some among the promoters of the bill may imagine. ' Such is the "Grand Old Man's" view, and most people agree with him. Not, say, Mr Pickard and the Miners' Federation, who have passed a resolution expressing " deep regret at the decision ef the House of Commons in favour of local option." and adding the following characteristic remark : — "Such decision being secured by a curious combination of coal owners on both sides of the House with miners' Agents, renegade Liberals, and the bulk of the Tory party." This intense dread of letting the men themselves have any say in the matter is exceedingly suggestive. Mr Gladstone's eye is not going on so well as »t first. A sort of film seems to have formed which apparently will necessitate a further Might operation, which an oculist spoke of to foe with a cheerful air of matter-of-course a*

" just patting a needle in the eye." It may sot be much, bat it does not sound pleasant or attractive, do yon think so P Lait Tuesday Mr Gladstone, in opening a fete in aid of the Hnwardeu Institute, delivered to an audience of 10,000 persons an interesting address on what the French call "la petite culture" in husbandry. He urged the need of drawing forth all the resources of the earth and of not despising or neglecting what might seem minor branches of cultivation, especially at a time when the larger operations of agriculture were giving less favourable results. Theee minor questions, he said, might seem trivia), but in the aggregate their results were vast and might prove widely beneficial. I am not sure that this counsel might not be advantageously taken note of even in New Zealand. New Zealanders can do wonders in big things like wool, corn, and frozen meat, but muoh more might be done with •mailer matters which are at present too much neglected — fruit, for instance. THE SOUTHENTD MYSTERY. The " Soubhend mystery" of joor Florence Dennis's murder remains as apparently insoluble a problem as did to the last the " Richmond mystery," the case of Maud Holmes. That Florence Dennis was murdered is certain, but that James Read was the murderer is by no means so clear, though he is now under his sixth remand. When the oaae came on again last Monday Mrs Ayriss, & married sister of the deceased girl, gave some rather curious evidence. She said she originally introduced the accused to her sister, and that he sent the latter various letters and telegrams variously addressed. Her sister cams to stay with her, and soon received several communications from the accused, who made an appointment with the deceased for the night before that on which she disappeared. At 9 that night the witness said she passed by the place of assignation, and saw her sister and the accused walking arm in arm. Next night they met again, but the day after that her sister did not return, and she telegraphed to Read asking what had become of her. He replied that he had not seen her sister for 18 months, and requested her to explain what the meant. This, you see, was pretty damaging, as the accused was the man with whom the unfortunate girl was supposed to have "got into trouble." But oroas-examination threw * new and remarkable light on the case. Witness denied that she asked the accused to lend her £50, that he refused, or that she told him that her sister had got into trouble with a soldier at Hounslow, or that a rather compromising note addressed "Miss Latimer," which she said she found in her sister's pocket, was really addressed to herself. But, being further pressed, she confessed that she had received " a great number' of telegrams from the accused addressed to her in various names, to a fancy shop ia her neighbourhood ; that these related to ."business matters," Borne to purely and simply personal affairs ; that this correspondence had been going on for " not quite four years " ; that her husband did not know of it ; that her 6ister absolutely refused to own the letter addressed " Miss Latimer," which was couched in very affectionate terms ; that she " could not recollect " whether a compromising letter from the accused was found in her possession by her husband, or that a certain child of hers called "Pip "was born at Wandsworth four years ago, and so on. Now, whatever may yet come out as to the relations between the accused and this witness, one very distinct impression was left on the minds of those who read her evidence — viz., that it would not be safe or just to hang a dog on her testimony. Few people will be »t much lota to draw their own conclusions from what I have quoted. Her husband, at anyrate, was not, for he immediately broke up his home, got rid of his house, sold his furniture, and sent away his children. What he has done with his pcouliar wife has not yet transpired, but I should say relations have become distinctly strained. Most persons feel sure now that Head has been wrongly accused— certainly of the murder, probably also of the deceased's girl's seduction ; but his relations with her sister, Mrs Ayriss, and the tatter's part in the affair generally, have become matters of lively curiosity and speculation. It is an unsavoury case. ANARCHIST OUTRAGE. I Another idiotic but diabolic outrage has been attempted < and muddled) by those mischievons and fiendish fools who call themselves Anarchists. A small packet bearing an inscription to the memory of Ravachol, Vailiant, and Bonrdin, &c., was placed in the post office at New Cross, a southern suburb of London. It exploded and damaged a few letters, but injured no one. Colonel Mtvjendie, chief inflpeotor of explosives, is of opinion that a email quantity of very powerful explosive had in this imtance been used. I suspect it to have been fulminating silver, with which you will remember some of the Tower Hill speakers proposed to "do for " any constables who should interfere with them. This particular affair was a small one, but occurring aa it did on the eve of Santo's exeoution, it affords another illustration of the dangers that still loom ahead as a consequence of the licenße we give to talk as muoh crime as a man likes. Happily the cowardly miscreant Santo, who behaved like a cur at his execution, has been safely guillotined, and Koczula, the perpetrator of the i-haftesbury Avenue murder, was effectively hanged at Newgate last Tuesday, protesting his innocence to the lat>t. Society is well rid of the two ruffians. We oould spare several more. At a meeting of the Prohibition League of Christchurch and district, it was resolved to write to the Commissioner of Police and Minister for Justice stating that certain police ofuoers stationed in Christohuroh had relatives engaged in the liquor traffic here, and urging tUe transference of those officers to other districts. The Dunedin representative of Messrs Coleman and Sons, eucalypte manufacturers, of New South Wales, has in his possession two rather interesting photographs showing the method of tree climbing in gathering the leaves for extr&ot purposes. In the photographs Mr J. H. Hodson, the champion tree climber, who is said to be able to do as muoh work as three of the aboriginals, is seen with axe in hand half up the trunk of the tree ready to commence an onslaught. The firm hold a very large area of land covered by a special olass of tree, for the productive qualities of which something unußual is claimed.

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