The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1895.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 25 April 1895, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1895.

4 The terms of peace between Clr'na and Japan do not seem to have met with the approval of the Continental Powers, and already France, Russia, and Germany have addressed protests to Japan against the treaty entered into between tho two Asiatic Powers. Tb.B English Government is at present standing aloof, statiDg the treaty does not interfere vrith any of the British rights. There arc sever.il versions of the terms of peace, especia'ly as regards tbo indemnity. One version make? it two hundred million taela, which at 2s 7d per ounce for silver would give about 8s 3d per tael or over £30,000,000 sterling in gold. Another account says the indemnity is a hundred million dollars, which as the attenuated Mexican dollah is 3ti!l worth 2s 2d would make the amount something liko £10,000,000. There is another Bam which has also been mentioned namely, seven hundred million yens, which is equal At the latest exchange quotation to abaut £78,645,833, bat the amount would be more if thero was any rise in silver. As to the other term?, tho details are not fully made public, but it is expected to include the cession of territory, including the Pescadores, liaiolmng, and Kulionching. The treaty of peace will not bo confirmed until about the beginning of May, in the meantime China is reported to be raising a loan of tnentyfive million dollars, or taking tho Mexican dollars ns tho standard, which is yrortl) 2s 2d, would come to pomelhing (TTer £2.500,000. The payment of the in'iomnity will make a very heavy drain on *be metallic supplies of tho world. Ohinu, it is true, may have lionrdod resources of silver which nmy be draws upon by tho Government, but there is ample grounds for the belief that to meet the amount demanded by Japan Chin* will have to seek th« Earopotn market for s greater part of tha moniy, U tbe indemnity it to bo paid ia lilrir

everything points to even a fiutlier advance in price than has jet taken place ; when peihaps France, or some other countries, may be disposed to sell sirae of their metal. Commenting on this matter, the commercial editor of our Sydney namesake says: —"lf it be thought that there is a prospect of its general retuonetisationV there would not be much disposition to sell, and China would require to look to the general market. If Japan slionld deaiand the payment of the mo^ej in gold, and so seek to establish a gold standard, then the consequences would bo more perious for Enrope as well as for ourselves. Of course the suggestion that gold miglit bo demanded naturally arises from the reports which obtained circulation to the effect thai Japan contemplates the adoption of a gold standard. If any such view prevails, it might reasonably be supposed that the present is an opportunity when it could be attained, as gold is comparatively plentiful. Time would probably bo given for payment, and in a given number of years Japan's requirements might be met. If at this juncture Japan should accept the indemnity in silver, then the inference will be that there is nothing in the report that a gold standard is seriously thought of. The industries of Japan have been so stimu. laled by the cheap silver money of the past few years, aud especially since the stoppage of silver coinage by the Indian Mint, did in years gone by." Anyhow, Japan has made the war pay her, and, considering her great snceess.lier Government are not taking an undue advantage of China's weakness and defeat. The J possession of the. territory* Mhich will he ceded to her will givo Japan r. commanding position in the Asiatic ecu?, and according to Colonel Maurice, the wellknown strategist, " if Japan lias secretly ( obtained tho right to control 'the develop- | ment of Chino, she would become the most formidable Power in the world. If she insists on tho Chinese receiving the same right of entry into Australia as the j Japanese, her augmented navy wil' supply a very powerful force to establish that | claim." It is this alone the greater Powers have to fear, although there can be no doubt that should Japan seek to dictate to the Western, World, that she would moretlmb find her match. Owing to the s.s. Gairloch proceeding to Wellington to-morrow (Friday) for cleaning, she will not return to Onehunga to-morrow night. • Members . of tho Friendly Societies' Band are requested to attend a meeting at tho Borough Council Chambers this evening. ,_ , The letter signed' "Christchurch" reached us .too late for insertion to-night, but will appear to-morrow. A new firewood yard has been oponud in Currie-streefc, by Messrs Perrett Bros., for whom Mr Crann is the local agent. General carting is also undertaken by the firm. " Flaneur," in the Lyttelton Times, writing with legard to closing schools on tho statutory half-holiday, bays : " This hait'holiifay business is getting very much overdone, J and ■ considering that public school children have onjy to attend for five day 3in the week, <i gentle application of the Truancy Act would seem to be the best reply to the application for a Thursday half-holiday on their behalf." Cool stores have been opened at Manchester, with a capacity of a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. 'SEyes" formed the subject; of Jlr Hugo's lecture last evening in St. Mary's Schoolroom. There was a largo audience as usual. Tho matter was made both amusing andinteresting,and the manner in whichMr Hugo dealt with the subject showed both education and natural ability for observation. The last locturo will be on Monday evening, and the subject will be on the chin and the forehead. A great deal of sea growth, which looka liko kolp, has been washed up on tho beach, evidently haviog bean torn away from somo boulder bank by the force of a storm. Tho growth, takes diHerent shapes, some pieces being long, tough, and elastic like belting for machinery, others are like snail rope, whilo Homo take the form of a carrot. The influenza is so f^ttil to old psople, eaya the London correspondent of j. contemporary, that great anxiety '.rss, not unnaturally, felt concerning Sir Georgo Grey's indisposition, and inquiries at Park Place have during tho week been numerous. Your Grand Old Man's friends are a great deal more fidgety about him than he U about bimaelf. He rather pooh-poohs .his colci, and gives people to understand that having pulled thus far through the bittereßt winter of the century without going away, or without any severe ailment, he has no intention -whatever of breaking down now. On March Bth Sir George'was not np when I called, but he was rising, and professed himself nearly .well again. There was a largo attendance in tho Wcsloyan Schoolroom on Wednesday night, when the Committee of Mr Cook's mission invited the enquirers to meet the minister.? and workers. At G o'clock a capital tea was provided in tho room, and after this an adjournment was made to the Church where a public meeting was held. Several speakers gave addresses on tho misson work. On account of tho wet weather the fancy dress football match that was | arranged by the Tukapa 'Club to take place this (Thurnda;') afternoon, had to bo poptponed. Sirius, the dog star in tho heavens, is said to move through space at 33 miles a second, its distance irom tho earth exceeds about a million times tho distanco of the sun. Amongst the victims of the influenzp epidemic is in London, is General Joseph Henry Saye, C.8., who, as Captain Saye of the 08th Regimont, distinguished himself greatly in tho New Zealand war of 1845-47. Ho plaj'ed a prominent part in connection with the assual aud capture of Kawibi's Pah January 11th, 1847, and was in command of the troops afrWanganui when the natives made an attack on that town. He was mentioned in the despatches several times, and received the brevet of major and a medal. In 1855 Major Saye went to the Crimea, and was military secretary to Lord W. Paulet, commanding the troops on the Bosphorus.