The Week.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 208, 28 September 1894, Page 3

The Week.

The foreign intelligence of the week it of the usual description. Tho contretemps , between <7hina and J apan ranks first in im)portanoe. The Japs encouraged by the suecees of their navy off the Yalu river, intend prosecuting the war to the bitter end. The plucky Japs will, however, find this a huge undertaking. Mowing down a thousand or two of Chinkies will not make any impression on China, and Japan can never carry out her intentions against the dead weight of the superabundant population of the Celestial Empire. * * * * China's teeming population is a great factor to be takeN into account when spcculatiag as to the probabilities. The western nations will never allow Japan, even if she should succeed by force of arms in gaining a footing in China, to permanently remain there. Already the clouds are gathering. France and Russia are reported to be taking united action, and any step ef au aggressive character taken by Russia, must bring Great Britain into the arena, as it ie imperative that the balance of power in the East as between England and Ruesia, should remain as at present existing. It is the complications that are likely to ensue that give to the war between China and Japan so nsuoh importance. It ie impossible to believe all that ie reported of Ruesia ; that she is alive to her interests, and would even steal a march if the opportunity afforded is generally accepted. Rut England and Germany and the Cnited States also have commercial interests involved and are not usually in a state of coma, when business demands that they should be very wide awake. The war may possibly be stopped by the intervention of the western powers, whose com mercial interests are affected by the belligerent#. and to avoid unnecessary com plications in safeguarding interests. The naval engagement off the Yalu Kiver is the first real test under modern conditions. The damage on both sides was great and experts hold tho view that the results tend to depreciate the value of heavy guns behind thick armour. Lord Charles Beresford has seized the upper - (unity of bringing hie ideas of a naval re serve before the British public, and that he will wrest attention goes without say ing. as he is an expert on the subject with which he deals. The establishment of dockyards at strategetic points throughout the Queen's dominions is the next step in the programme of England's naval defence. The expenditure on armaments and defences still continues in Europe. The Dutch Government is spending a trifle of Xl.t)00,000 in strengthening the defences of the country, while poor semi-bankrupt, over taxed Italy will spend a like sum upon the substitution of smokeless for ordinary powder. France has undertaken to wipe out the Malagasy and is j sending 7000 men and eight batteries of I artillery to Madagascar. The Italian press gives currency' to a report that England j and Italy have agreed to resist Frenoh aggression in Madagascar. This rumour may or may not be true, but it gives room for a whole crop of speculations and probabilities. F.aglaad and Italy have been bracketed together upon more than one occasiou recently, and always for the purpose of stopping France. The Italian Government recently proposed to the British Govern- 1 luent united action in Africa, and the negotiations on the point have evidently j been successfully concluded from the report of the French papers that Colonel Colville, f at Cairo, has received orders to occupy the junction of the Bahr-el-Gha/el and the Nile, with a view to assert the British claims in the Equatorial Basin. Murderous plots followed by detection and wholesale arrests still continue to enliven tho Russian people. At war with herself within her dominions and itching for war outside, Russia is kept effervescent. The unfortunate ( zar meanwhile rests uneasily, and is reported to he suffering from Bright’s disease. Is Europe to again witness the pomps and vanities at tend tug the funeral of another ruler? 'Die Nihilists and Polish peasants have done 1 their utmost to accelerate the Czar’s departure from tl»i» world, but Bright’s disease will possibly do what they hav« vainly endea\oured to accomplish. Colonial news is of a humdrum character. The shearing troubles in Australia still continue, and the silly strikers are fighting with fire and fire-arms, the worst known weapons in on industrial struggle. The safety of H.M.S. Ringarooms. to which the French warship Dnchaffault was alleged to have contributed, is a matter for congratulation, as just now, with troubles ahead over China and Japan, wo want all our war vessel*. In Victoria the leader ef tho Opposition in the last Parliament. Mr Turner, has undertaken the task of form ing a ministry consequent upon the | resignation of Sir.F. Patterson, and to day’s cables give the result of his efforts. Western Australia's Budget estimates the revenue of that colony at £873,000, and the expenditure at £934.000 with a certain dwiieit ef £61,000. But the country that owns Coolgardie can afford the luxury of e deficit. New South Wales is on the chaise paring tack, and a private member has introduced a Rill into the Assembly to reduce the sslary of future Governors from £7OOO to £6OOO. fa New Zealand the topic of the week was undoubtedly the proposed nrnalga naation of two banks. The complete manner in which the Government gave the scheme its quietus was pleasurable to those who viewed the question with alarm. The sharebelders of the Bank of New Zeeland and tbs Colonial Beak met at Wellington and Dunedin respectively on Wednesday last, end the signatories of tae agreement fulminated against the ( I'.verarnent and evervbody else because of their aon success.