The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1895.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10480, 4 December 1895, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1895.

♦ The withdrawal of the two arbitrators in the Midland Railway Arbitration case at the very outset of the proceedings was a curious and nnlooked for development, but at the same time it is one which may, in a sense, be regarded as satisfactory, as it will tend to shorten the proceedings and reduce the cost to the colony. When the contract for the construction of the railway was drawn up, a clause was inserted providing for two arbitrators and an umpho to be appointed to settle any differences which might arise between the parties to the contract, and so to avoid the expense of litigation. Each side had the privilege of appointing an arbitrator, whilst the umpire was to bo chosen by the arbitrators, and in the event of their being unable to agree, was to become sole judge of the case. Differences arose, and at the beginning of the present year an Arbitration Comt was set up, but the arbitrators, Sir Charles Lilley and Sir Bruce Burnsule, both ex-Chief Justices, one oE Ceylon the other of Queensland, were unable to agree upon the choice of an umpire, and the proceediugs were delayed until the Hon. Edward Blake, a member of the Honse of Commons, and a former Canadian Minister, consented to act as umpire. I_e full Court of Arbitration being tlius constituted, proceedings were commenced last week in Wellington, with a great array of legal talent on both sides. Almost at the commencement, however, the arbitrators had a difference of opinion on a point raised, and being unable to reconcile their opinions, signified to Mr Blake their withdrawal from the case. On the umpire thus rests the task of adjudicating alone upon a mutter which involves a sum of close upon £2,000,000, and it is fortunate for all parties that the choice of the arbitrators fell upon so capable a man as the Hon. Edward Blake, whose past career lias shown that he i ossesses the necessary qualifications for dealing both judicially and judiciously with diificult questions. The narrowing down of the Court to one judge will greatly expedite matters, though it can scarcely be possible to get through by Christmas, as Mr Blake wishes. It is perhaps to be regretted that Sir Charles Lilley and Sir Bruce Burn&ide have withdrawn from the case, but it must be a source of satisfaction to everyone that the proceedings will not bo again delayed and that there is a prospect of this long-vexed question being settled at an early date. «

England has another little affair on her hands just now, which, though of a comparatively trifling nature, yet calls for prompt and firm action on the part of her statesmen. We refer to the troubles in British Guiana, where a dispute has for some time been going on, a question of boundaries being the point at issue, with the neighbouring Republic of Venezuela. The cause of the trouble is a rich goldfield which has been developed by British enterprise and capital, and which, according to the boundaries laid down and accepted by both parties about 1850, is within British territory. The Venezuelans, however, now repudiate the boundary settlement and claim this goldfield, and have lately been rendering thamselves obnoxious to England in many ways. About the beginning of the present year they arrested a small force of British police, who had been sent to remove the Venezuelan flag, which bad been hoisted in neutral country. Some months later they opened fire upon a British schooner, the Ellen, and more recently they have been guilty of a similar outrage on the Myosotis, another British schooner whose captain they killed. Reparation was demanded, md an ultimatum sent to the Republic, which has, however, continued its aggressive policy. England then ordered to the frontier a supply of Maxim guns, for the purpose of protecting her interests, which action the Venezuelans have resented. England's reply to their representations on that score isi however, that the guns are there for defensive, not aggressive purposes, and there the matter rests for the present. It is not in the least likely that England will give way in the matter of boundaries, though -when it comes to a question of compensation for the outrages committed on the British schooners, she may possibly agree to a compromise. Whatever is the outcome of the affair, we may rest assured that no interference with her colonies will be suffered by England, and that the Venezuelans will be made to understood that they cannot with impunity interfere with British interests. These little incidents serve to show how widespread are those interests, and how ready is the mother country to protect her colonies, wherever they are established. They also prove, in an unmistakable manner, how dependent the colonies are upon England when trouble arises. Whatever tends iv the least degree to loosen the bonds which unite us to her should be avoided. In these Southern Seas we have no neighbours to molest us, but for all that, the day may come when we shall be in as helpless a position as the colonists of British Guiana, and need England's assistance.

During November, 1896 persons arrived in Iho colony and 745 left. ; During Novomber nearly 1 1 inches of rain fell in New Plymouth. Sir Patrick Buckley has gone to To ! Aroha in order t» try the effects of its curative waters. j Messrs T. Veale & Son havo a replaco advertisement in another column, which reminds us that Christmas is again near at hand. A now woman advertises in Wellington " That she won't bo responsible for any debt her husband may contraot without her authority." Tom Tuohy, well-known in the wrestling arena in Taranaki, wrestled D. Leehy, Kuaotunu (Thames District), on November 20th, for £50 aside). Tuohy won tho match. Bowling appears to bo very popular in Wellington this season. No less than 88 pordons were playing on the Wellington Bowling Club'sgreen last Saturday afternoon. Judging by the recommendations, contained in tho foreman's report read at tho Taranaki County Council mooting, govoral of the bridges must need almost immediate attention in tho way of 'repairs. The barquo Woathersfield, whose disappoaranco after being sighted some days ago in a disabled condition in Cook's Strait, is causing some little anxiety. She was stranded some years ago on tho Otaki beach, and was afterwards floated off by some Wellington speculators.