The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1885.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6732, 15 April 1885, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1885.

The mania for war preparations which has seized on a section of the inhabitants of the big ports of New Zealand, and through their influence on the Government, shows that the world is really governed by the foolish and that the opinion of the wise in times of excitement are set at nought. The Government is urged to defend the ohief ports of the colony against Russian cruisers, and the Government nothing loath commences spending money with vigor. The Government is not quite so foolish as its mad advisers, for Sic Julius Yogel tried to put on the drag, and gave great offence in consequence. Of course the bill will have to be paid out of the hard earnings of all classes of the community, many of whom are l;ttle interested in the matter. If, as it is alleged, all the expenditure is to be made to protect property, is it not just that property should pay for it. This is the commercial view in regard to private affairs. In insurance matters a war risk is at once put on, and the person who gets the property insured pays for it, and nobody growls. "When, however, the Government spends money to protect property, those who have little or no property pay in the way of taxes out of all proportion to those who have available property to lose. How inconsistent. Propertyholders have been relieved of one-half the tax, and now liabilities are being incurred which will at least equal a tax of one half-penny in the pound. Indeed, wa question if £150,000 will cover the liabilities incurred. Owing to the fact that Russian troops have come into collision with the Afghan forces, we are to have torpedo boats with their equipments, fortifications built at the ohief points, brand new commanding officers imported at high cost, and even expensive cruisers are sought for with all their heavy cost in purchase and annual charges. The military and naval element is evidently in the ascendant as it has been on many former occasions finally to collapse andJeayea legacy of debt. We ! advise moderation. The financial position of the Colony is such that even for defence our means are limited, and every shilling we so spend is absolutely lost and robs the Colony of its power of constructing reproductive works suoh as railways and roads. We do not object to moderate expenditure for defence but decidedly object to the costly expenditure proposed. We do not believe in the oapacity of Russia to seDd fast oruisers to these colonies, but even if she did we have sjfceamers afloat which it properly handled would run down and exterminate any suoh that would show themselves in a hostile attitude. We have the material, it only requires the pluck to rightly use it; that would be available too. If hundreds would volunteer for service in tho deserts of the Soudan, surely we could command a few brave sailors to man a fast steamer to ram the cruiser and sink her. We havo no doubt that this would be the most certain and effective way of dealing with such visitors. __^__^_____

Tho first class militia are being enrolled in Auckland. The machinery at Levett's marble work", in Auckland, was insured for £800 in tho New Zealnnd Company. Up to the hour of Roing to press there was no sign of the ship Akaroa which left Wellington for this port on Monday. At the Supreme Court, Wellington, Mr. Justice Richmond expressed lub opinion that the owning of a racehorse was not a recognised means of livelihood. The 8.8. Penguin (Captain Allman) arrived alongside the breakwater at G this morning, and having shipped a quantity of produce sailed for Nelsbn shortly after 8 a.m. The S.S. Penguin took ay/ay frcra hero this morning 700 kegs of butter for transhipment by steamer for Sydney. The little steamer Waitara last week took 500 casks for shipment to the same market. Woodyear'B Circus, which on its previous vis-itß has proved so popular with the people here, is expected in New Plymouth tonight, and will open on the reclaimed lind tomorrow evening. Max Rinkle is still with the company, and as great a favourite as ever. The' horsemanship is bettti, we learn, than on the lust visit of the circus, whilst the other novelties in the shape of trapeze feats and wonderful acts by the Japanese performers are sure to attract a large audience. Attached to the circus is an exhibition, consisting of three Ivsus nalura; in th -. shape of a diminutive horse 27 inches hitjb, 4$ years old, and 351bs in weight; a five-horned cow, and a threelegged sheep.