Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1894. THE FRANCO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6881, 20 January 1894, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1894. THE FRANCO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE.

General Ignatieff, the Russian general and diplomatist, has declared that Austria must evacuate Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is a distinct threat to the Triple Alliance, as any attempt to expel Austria from the Balkau peninsula would, according to the terms of the compact of which Bismarck wub the principal author, bring Germany and Italy into the fighting line. Of late Bismarck has strongly contended that Germany has no interest in frustrating the designs of Russia in Southern Europe ; bub it is certain that Austria would nob have entered into the Triple Alliance except under a joint guarantee that Russia would not be allowed to become master of the situation in European Turkey. The real and avowed object of the ex-Chancellor is to prevent a close alliance between France and Russia, the only combination which Germsmy has to fear. To secure that end, he would throw over both Austria and Italy. He now feels, or professes to feel, that the enmity of Russia ivS too clear a price to pay for the support of Austria and Italy, whose effectiveness in war he

reckons at a cheap rate. All the nations of the great Peace League, as the Triple Alliance has been called, have to keep themselves armed to the teeth. The cost has been too much for Italy, which is now on the verge of bankruptcy. It is recognised that the only way to escape unnncml ruin is a decreaso of armaments, as the Italian people Ciin. no longer bear the taxation. The riots which aio now taking place in Italy are clearly the result <>£ poverty amount the mass of the tuxpayers. Almost within the memory of the present generation, Ituly achieved the position of a Groat Power. The nation is too poor to keep pace with either friends or foes. Germany is also poor nn.incialiy, but there is immense wealth for war purposes in the fifty millions of Teutons who constitute the Empire. Frederick the Greac said that he could carry on war without money so long as he had men and corn. The words are aa true to-day regarding Germany as they wore when a Hohenzollern first canie to the front as a great European ruler. A late cablegram stated that there was a large deficit in German finance. In any other country that would mean that the nation was not in a position to undertake warlike operations. The German army will move like clockwork if enough food can be found to sustain the life of the soldiers. Intense patriotism and discipline make up for any deficiency in the exchequer. Still the prospect of having; to meet such a strong combination as France and Russia is something to give rise to discomfort in the stoutest German heart, in view of the growing feeling that Austria and Italy are likely to be found wanting in the hour of the deadliest peri 1 . The armies of these two Powers have been proverbially unfortunate, and history may repeat itself. Prince Bismarck a short, time back was universally regarded as the ablest and the most far-seeing of all Europeau statesmen. Ever since he was deposed from power, he has been in a position of hosti|jjffU&»ti\Q Y,ft l Acsr-u4^^rtv.tt,^Ss^ His action is commonly put down tc jealousy and chagrin. Even if honest it his present views, it is thought thai disappointment has clouded his judgment However, ha may be influenced as mucl as erer by the purest patriotism. In the height of his power, he was deeply annoyed at Groat Britain holding aloo from the Central Peace League. Ir. his retirement he hus let no occasiot slip for weakening the bouds of friend ship between Germany and England He says, give Russia a free hand ii Southern Europe, and all cause o enmity with Germany will be removed and the two great foes of the futureEngland aud Russia — will be broughl face to face. In such case, German j would only have to deal with Franco. He scents the danger from the eastward All would be well, if Russian activities could be employed in another direction, In short, Bismarck's aim has been tc bring Russia and England into conflict ir order that Germany may be relieved front its greatest danger. Fortunately foi Great Britain, the voice of the ex Chancellor is as a voice in the wilderness The Kaiser will have none of his advice In the December number of Black wood 'i Magazine appeared an article on tin European situation by General Sir Archi bald Alison. This experienced Britisl soldier, who has held, if we remembei rightly, the Egyptian command, takes f most gloomy view of the prospects of the European peace being maintained. How ever it is consoling to find that he believes that England will be out of the fray. From a general survey of the disposition of Russian forces, he comes to the coir elusion— first, that Russia is straining every nerve to mass men on the Polisli frontier, so as to be able, in con j unction with France, to crush Germany, even though aided by flanking Austria and diV tant Italy ; next, that until this contest is over, Russia hus determined to give uj: designs on Constantinople ; and finally, that she has no present intention oi making any move upon Afghanistan oi India. Further than this, Sir Archibald regards it as certain that Russia nevei really intended to undertako such a dis tant and difficult enterprise as that oi movinga force sufficient to seize our Indian Empire through the inhospitable aud hostile country of Afghanistan. What she will probably do, in his opinion, before making Great Britain move, is to endeavor to induce us to believe that she is really about to invade India, so as tc chain the large European force there tc that country. Mr E. Parnell has a change of advertisement in this issue, announcing the receipt of a large stock of new musis. An excursion to the Wairoa races to be held on the 29th iust. is advertised by Mr McKinley, coach proprietor. With dry roads the journey should be a pleasant one. There were 308 applications received for the 24 sections of first-class land in the Cheviot estate, and 73 applications for the IS sections of second-class land. A meeting of the Cook County Liberal Association was held last night, Mr Ollivier being in the chair. Owing to the inclement weather, the attendance (which iucluded several ladies) was not large. It was resolved to urge upon the Government to spend the various grants to the district before the winter set in. A suggestion to combine all the Liberal Associations throughout the colouy was favorably received, and it was resolved to sound other Associations upon the subject. Some other routine business was gone through. The annual picnic in connection with the Waercnga-a-hika School came off on Wednesday last, and proved as great a success as on former occasions. The various events of the sports were keenly contested. All entered into the spirit of the thing and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The thanks of the committee are due to the following business people in Gisborne for their liberal donations, viz., Messrs Adams, Adair, Adeane & Primrose, Robb, Pettie and Harper, Garrett, Townley, Mrs Rosie, and the Farmers' Cooperative Association. Mr Bonrke, of the Bushmere factory, supplied the butter, which was highly appreciated, Of local residents, thanUs are due for special prizes to Messrs J. Cooper, Kennedy, Pritchard, Hyland, and H. Lougher. Mr Fordham, Messrs aud Co.'s representative, is now on his periodical trip to Gisborne. He brings with him samples of the manufacture of the New Zealand Candle Company, recently started in Wellington. The candles in appearance are quite equal to the best imported, and already command a large sale. Mr Fordham informs us that, although the factory has only been established a few months, the local manufacture has almost driven the English and Belgian product out of the Wellington import market. The factory employs a large number of hands, and should bo the means of keeping a considerable sum of money in the country. Those who have used the candles report them fully equal to the best foreign brands, and better value. The Oamaru Mail regrets to learn that the prospects of the district as regards the coming luuvfst, arc anything but brilliant. The raftiy weather Ima outstayed its welcome. The continual mugginess has brought rust into the wheat in all directions, and with a consistency made proverbial in "misfortunes never come singly," the wheat has been also attacked in places by a destructive white blight which bids fair to destroy a lot of crop. Then ngain the fact of the crop having made such a good start is in itself disastrous in the light of subsequent developments, for the heavy straw and flags have caused it to be easily laid and tangled, and even if the ear fills decently now the harvest will be an expensive one in many places to garner, and will necessitate the use of back deliveries, and hand-tying, with a consequent increase in harvesting wages. We are not pessimistic, nor do we wish to pose as prophets of evil, but. it is certain that if th« present weather does not give place to mrre seasonable sunshine, wind, and brightness, the outlook for fanners, with wheat at such a low figure — and the new crop will not open higher than 2s 6d per bushel— is anything but exhilarating!

A new firebell, weighing nearly 15001b, is being provided in Palmeratoa North. The total of the Napier flood relief fund has now reached £3150. The increase in the export of pearlshell from Thursday Island last year amounted to about £14,003. A shoal of horse mackerel visited Wellington harbor last Wednesday, and hundreds were caught off the wharves. / Masterlon, with a population of a little over 3000, possesses no less than nine local administrative bodies. \ iThe Manawatu Railway Company is considering the advisability of running Sunday excursion trains to Palmeraton. It is estimated that last year the Broken Hill mines added 15,000,000 ounces to the world's stock of silver. The dividends disbursed amongst the shareholders totalled £703,250. Alterations which about quadruple the possible output have beeu made in the buildings aud plant of the Otago Paper Mills at Woodhaugh. A Liverpool whaler was nipped in the ice off Greenland recently, and had to be abandoned. The crew had to pass three days on the ice before beiDg rescued. The larrikins at Surrey Hills, Sydney, have assaulted two fireman who early on New Year's morning turned the hose on to a bonfire which it was thought was endangering buildings. The Oamaru Mail says it is now generally understood that the Ministry will propose Sir Maurice O'Rorke for the Speakerahip of the new House of Represensatiyes. According to the News the Napier Cor poratkm laid down water mains without testing them, aud the strain being severe and the pipes faulty they are bursting all over the place. A sad accident happened at Rochdale, New South Wales, a few days ago, whereby Margaret Waley, a little girl four years of age, was killed by being struck on the side of the head by an axe, which slipped from her father's hands while he was engaged in chopping wood. South Wales ha 8 been named Gladstonef^VerrViiTe^TJfi'jSS is now perpetuated at the Antipodes by two towns, two counties, three rivers, an electorate, a mountain 15,000ft high, and last, but not least, by the main street of Gisborne. It has been ascertained that the late Sic Andrew Clark was a great sufferer by the recent wholesale collapse of the Australian banks. The stun he lost in consequence of the financial disasters in our Australasian colonies is slated to have been not far short of £50,000. The Timaru borough councillors passed a resolution to bring under the notice of the Minister for Justice the Council's inability to meet the cost of preparing and printing the new rolls required for the election of a licensing committee to take place in March next, and respectfully request the Government to defray the extra expense entailed by the new provision. A southern contemporary reports that a crossbred dniry cow, owned by Mr Cuahnio, of Springfield, dropped twins on the 31st ol December for the seventh time. The cow has been in his possession for eight seasons, and has dropped altogether 15 calves. There is a family named Enwright at Charleston, and five of the members attending the local school have in succession won Nelson Education Board scholarships, which is a record. Miss Nelly Enwright has won a mathematical scholarship, and a number oi first prizes at the Nelson Girls' College during the past year. Mr W. Kelly, M.H.R., is iu Wellington negotiating for the sale of his property to an English syndicate. It has been suggested the Government having control of the sanatorium might advance the cause of State Socialism by utilising these lands for the benefit of the general public. After several months' inquiry aa to the cause of the distress in Liverpool the subcommittee appointed in connection with the recent Labor Conference ascribe it to want of employment, sending work out of Liverpool which should be executed in the city, the large influx of immigrants, the introduction of machinery, strikes, and want of consideration on the part of employers. Of 60,000 persons employed in connection with the docks, it is estimated that only 40,000 are regularly employed, the work done by the rest ranging from nothing to two or three days per week. The committee recommends the municipality to conclude contracts for next winter, so as to alleviate the threatened distress. In the case of Meringa (an old Maori woman) against W. Humphries, heard before Mr District Judge Kettle at New Plymouth lately, some rather interesting facts were elicited. It appeared that the Native had agreed to sell her land for £70, and that all she received from the transaction was £25. The expenses which were deducted from the purchase money were costs of transfer (including stamp duty £18 18s) £25 13s 2d, interpreters' fees £3 4s 6d, valuation £1 11s 6d, cab hire £1 10a, and agent's commission £13 0s lOd. The judge, in summing up, commented very strongly on the transaction, and the jury returned a verdict for the Maori for £10. In other words they thought she had been overcharged to that extent. —Chronicle. Writing under date of November 27th to a friend in Christchurch, Mr A. G. Howland gives a somewhat gloomy picture of things in America. He says :— " Nearly all kinds oi business have come to a standstill. It has always been the same under Democratic rule. The fact of it is the Democrats, like the Liberals in New Zealand, have no policy but to get the Republicans out, and to get on to the Government benches. The factories being stopped, thousands of workmen are out of employment, and they having no spending power all the tradespeople have to suffer, the farmer, the landlord, and the money lender too. I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand will require a lot of beating ; in fact, I think it is the best little country under the sun. Stick to it, you will not find a better." The scandalous traffic in babies which (says the Melbourne Argus) has attracted so much . attention lately, has aroused the authorities to take steps to repress it. The Chief Commissioner of Police recently introduced a new system of inspection of houses registered under the lufant Life Protection Act. The enquiries which used formerly to be made by the police as to the character of women desirous of acting as guardians of children arc now being conducted by ladies associated with the Industrial School boarding-out system, and this new arrangement is likely to be attended with satisfactory results. Mr Chomley is obtaining reports of a confidential nature from the lady visitors every quarter, aud as the houses of guardians have to be registered annually, it will rest with him to refuse the renewal of licenses in cases where the reports indicate that infants are not being properly looked after. About half-a-dozen houses have so far been registered this year. A new branch of the confidence industry has just been started in Melbourne under what appears to be particularly auspicious conditions, the enterprising promoter netting £180 on his first transaction. The person who stood the racket was not the common type of sheepishly avaricious bushman, but a romantic widow of 50 winters and a modest bank account. How she shelled out for the support of a new native industry was told the other clay in the ahapo of a criminal information setting forth the following facts : — She was sitting in the Fitzroy Gardens, when a fascinating gentleman of about 30 struck up an acquaintance, the result of which was love at first Bight followed by a proposal of marriage. Without the formality of referring him to papa, she closed with the oiler on the spot, and they began at once to make arrangements for a honeymoon trip to England. She advanced him the money to buy their tickets, but, like the young girl by the Blue Alsatian Mountains, she never saw the stranger where the fountains fall again. Being of a rather more practical disposition than that interesting but gritless girl, she, however, did not wither like a flower that was waiting for the rain. She went straight away and started the detectives after him, so that if she could not get back her confiding heart, she might at least recover her cash and " jug " thffthiefV,