PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1899.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11560, 29 June 1899, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1899.

Amono our cable messages on Wednesday was one to the effect thai; both Persian and Russian authorities have denied that negotiations nro taking place for tbe cession or lease of a Persian Gulf port. This may be au equ ivocation, for it is believed in some quarters that a secret treaty was concluded some years ago between Russia and Persia with reference to the seaports of Chahbar and Bander Abbas, occupation of which would -make Russia mistress of the Persian Gulf. Only recently it was ann< unced that surveyors and engineer?, 6b behalf of the Russian Government, were laying out an extension of the Trans- Caspian line from Krjshk, across Persia, a ctatance of nearly 700 miles to Bander Abbas, where Russia proposed to establish a naval station. This development of the Russian policy of expansion was regarded as a menace to India, tbe north-western corner of which it Would flank, with otly Afghanistan • and Ba'ucbistan, a strip of country 300 to 700 miles wide, interposed. It will be remembered that only a few weeks ago Great Britain prevented, by a threat of bombardment, the Sultan of Muscat from permitting Franco to establish herself at Bander Jiasab, a port about 300 miles from Bander Abbas, for the reason that' the possession of trfafc pesi tion would give control of the Gulf. The rumour that Russia has been aiming at obtaining a similar advantage has apparently led to an enquiry by Great Britain as to Rnssian designs in that direction, with the result above stated, a denial that negotiations are taking place. If the belief in a secret treaty is well-founded, then Ibis reply may be literally true, and yet an equivo cation. There is little doubt but that Russia does seek to obtain an outlet for her commerce on the Persian Gulf, though it does not necessarily follow that she has any idea of taking our Indian Empire from us. The Transcaspian Observer recently gave what appears upon tbo face, of it to bn a very likely explanation' of Russian designs in that direction. Tho paper fi st pointed out that tho Eogli h had themselves to blame, by closing the Straits into the Mediterranean, if Ru. c sia, with her growing population and increasing industries, sought another outlet to a southern sea. The development of the trade in riw cotton with Turkestan, and in silk and wool with Persia, was urged as nn excuse for pushing on with the railway through Persia, before tho Germnn3 coald exploit the trade of tbo country, as it was feared they would proceed to do after <bo \isit of the Emperor William to Palestine. Tho paper we are quoting strove, however, to make it clear that tho fundamental object of Russian progress southwards was in the interests of trade and industry, and that so long as England dul not attempt to stand in the wny of this object, no menace to India was intended : but that if Englnnd did oppose Russian progress, then she might look out for a direct attack on Injia. The Pftlt Mall Gazette, a pronounced Russophobe Jjournal, ascribe 3 less legitimato molivcs to Russia, the existence of whoso trade and industry it professes to doubt. That paper urges tho necessity for action on the part of England to forestall Russia, and in conjunction with Germany to hurry on the completion of a through railway from Constantinople to India, thence eventually tapping China. The difficulties nro by no means insuperable in the way of this new overland route to India, which would go by way of the Euphrates Valley, through which Germany is already in possession of a concession, passing down tho eastern side of the Pernian Gulf to Bander Abba.-, thence following the coast line of Baluchistan to Kurnicheo, at the mouth of tho Indus. Whether it is a race for trade 3r strategical advunlago, it nppca^s that ioen rivalry nlready exists belvrem Russia, o.a fhej one hand and Eng r

land and Germany on the other, bo that there is a prospect ot a through railway route from England to India before many years have passed. That England does not intend to allow Eussia to obtain any great strategical advantage is apparent from her action with reference (o Bander Abbas and Muscat.

In another column a correspondent draws attention to the fact that the principal works carried out by the Borough Council during the last two years have been done out of overdraft, and asks what there is ; to show for the expenditure of tbe ordinary revenue. It may help to a proper apprrciation of the present management if we make a small comparison between the two years 1898 and 1899 and tbe four previous years 1894 to 1897 under the Mayoralty of Mr Roy, with Mr Dockdll as Chairman of Woiks Com mittee; and also with the four .years 1800 to 1893, when Mr Bellringer was Mayor and, we believe, Chairman of Works Comnrttee. On March 3iat, 1889, the Borough overdraft stood at £136. During the eiisuiog four years April lsr, 1889, to March 31st, 1893, under Mr. Bellringer's management, a. total of £840, or an average of £210 .'per year, was spent upon road metal, and this starvation of the streets resulted in their rapid deterioration. In the meantime the Bank overdraft had steadily grown until, on March 31st, 1893, it stood at £1073. During the next four years, under the management of Mr Roy and Mr Dockrill, £2355, or £588 a year, waa expended on metal, £981 of which was in 1897, and a large legacy of broken stone was, if wo remember rightly, left over for the following year. , At tho same time the overdraft was reduced from £1073 to £447 Just at the end of the financial year ending March 3 1st, 1897, Mt Bellringer, we believe, again became Chairman of the Works Committee, and during the next twelve montns £644 wai spent on metal and £518 on contracts, the over draft jumping in the same pericd from £447 to £1449. Last year the expenditure on " metal, metal contracts and new work, and contracts," was £768, and the overdraft again increased to £1499. As for the new works which bare been done, Morley-street is a job. which would discredit the smallest Road Board in the country, while Pendarves-s'reet, from Eliol-street to Fort Niger, is an expensive t-iece of work totally unjustified by the amount of traffic upon it, a remark which applies with almost equal force to Bullerstreet and other places.

A Utter from Mr E. M. Smith on the waterworks reached us to late for ins ssitioa to day.

A pi irate telegram received in Wellington on Wednesday states there is no change in the condition of Mrs Thomas 'I homp«on (wife of the Minister for Justice), who is- ljiug seriously ill in Aucklaud. The doctors hold out no hope of her recovery.

Mr Avery has just received specimen copies of the first five numbers of " The nistory of Methodism in New Zealai.d," by the Rev. W. Morey, D.1)., for which he is receiving subscriber's names We shajl notice the work at greater length tomorrow.

The Taranaki Education Board has been aaked by an indignant parent it it is right 'or a pupil teacher to stand a girl of 12 years on a form for the whole nlass to laugh at— a proceeding which the parent in question characterised as "a disgrace to the education of our civilised age." The members of the Board hardly felt equal to the strain of wrestling with such a knotty point, and relegated the matter to the Committee interested for a report.

A San Francisco telegram announces that a young woman named Stella Yachon, employed as a hotel servant, Ins been arrested ou a charge of insanity. It appears that she snored to such a degree that the guests at the Oabot he Use, wbe 1 0 i-he worked, were unable to sleep, and tniny left the hotel rather than be subjected lo the ordeal di lying, awake and listening to her. It is Slid that no sane person could snore as Bhe did, but the lunacy physicians confess themselves puzzled.

The Dresden Piano Company are now opening- their second annual sale of pianos and organs in* New Plymouth, at their depdt (Miss Retford's fancy goods shop), Devon street. The Company's representative, Mr G. W. Henderson, is to conduct the sale, which is to bo con>tinned for ten days only. A number ol very fine instruments, notably Lipp' & Son, Broadwood & Soap, Collard aLd Collard, Bel', &o , are on exhibition, and as ihe Dresden hire system is to be introduced inU n-iiog purchasers may anticipate special advantages

A remarkable restoration to sight is recorded by the London Times. Mrs .Samuel Wade, of Stanningley, who is nearly f0 yeara of age aud has been blind for 30 years, has undergone a tuccessf ul operation for cataract at tho Leeds Infirmary, which has completely restored her sight. In on interview she said ihat the recognised neither Stanningley nor Leeds, fo many new buildings had sprung up She had buried two sous without seeing them and on recovering her sight she saw for the first time htr daughter aged 21.

At a public meeting in Wellington on Wednesday ni%ht, the Opera House was crammed to the doors to welcome the Rev. L. M. I-itt. Mr Ititt, who received a very enthusiastic reception, spoke at some length. He related some of his experiences in the Old Country, where it seemed a hopeless task to make any headway in temperance reform The liquor trade there was bolstered up b} the churches and leading ueo^le to such an extent that all efforts in the direction of decreasing the tmffic had very little effect. With legard to the temperance movement in New Zealand, he said Prohibitionists were very confident that the next local option poll would see Prohibition carried in seveial districts.

An inquest on the body of "the late Harry Sedgley, who died, suddenly in the police cell at Mok .v on Sunday, wan held at Leslie's Hotel, W itara, on Wednesday afternoon before Mr 11. L. Stanford, dM. (coroner), and tho following jary : — Messi s Colesby (foreman), Sef ton, Frost, Sampson, Pell and How. From the evidence given by Constable McAnerin, who is stationed at frlokau, ib would eoem that Sedgley bad tun atcnod to commit suicidf, and he arrested him. Iho man was very taciturn On their way to the Rtation Sedgloy h aided witness a bottle containing strjehnino. At first he denied having taken any of tho contents, but afterwards admitted that lie had, but that ho was all right. On arrival at tho station tho man vias thoroughly searched, and ho ate a hearty meal at 630 Tbe constable cuw him several times subsequently, and he appeared to bo quite well. At 8.30 witness passed tho coll and called out, but did not receive an answer. lie then went in, and found deccasod lying face downwards. Witness endeavoured to force an emetiodown tho man's throat, hue the swollen stato of tho tongue prevented this being done. Tho body was cold ani rigid iv ten minutes. Dr. Gooda gave evidence that ho beliovud death was caused by poison. Strychnine, would takd several hours to aot. In witness' opinion nothing could have been dono to savo tbe mini at the time the constable fouud him. A verdict wns returned '•' That deceased died from tho effects of poUon adnrnistertd by hirmolf whilo in a state of temporary aberration." Tho Coroner commended Countable McAueriii for the wise and huiniue (reac meat of the deceased.

Meps e s Goldwater Bros, have undertaken the agency for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society. Captain Edwin wired as follows :—: — Northeast to north and west gale with heavy sea ; tides very high, and heavy rain ; glass further fall. Mr W. J. Freeth has been appointed agent for the Taranaki district tor the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Cor-> poration, Ltd. His advertisement will appear to morrow. >The Hon. T. Kelly and the Hon. W. C. Smith are candidates for the position of Chairman of Committees of the Upper Bouse, rendered vacant by the res''gna«> tion of the Hon. Captain Baillie. The marriage of Mr W. Rankin, of Wanganui, to Miss E, Cottier, second daughter of Mr W. Cottier, was quietly celebrated on Wednesday afternoon.. Mr and Mrs Rankin left by the four o'clock train en route to Napier, where the hone; moon will be spent. • On Saturday Mr Newton King will sell at his mart a nice little farm, situated on the Durham Road, on account of Mr O. Huse. This is a good farm within easy distance of Dairy Factory and Railway Station and will be cjuitted at a very low figure. At the same time Mr King will sell a j acre section with two houses at Fitzroy, on account of Mr Nelson. The McGill University of Montreal has conferred the degree of LL D on Mr Rudyard Kipling, who has accepted tin honour, saying: "It is a matter of peculiar pride to me that the suggestion should have come from Canada, the elder s'ster of tbe new nations wibin the empire." This ia the fir-t University degree which j Mr Kipling has accepted . Mr Balfour recently stited that since the time of Sir Robert Peel England hid paid off the' C'imeau War debt, and £200,000,000 in addition. The incomes accessible*to income tax were twice what they wore in Sir Robert Peel's time, and the condition of all clas«e°, a.nd especially the working classes, had improved by every test they liked to apply. The Duke of Westminster has probably been known by more names than any man in England. As a child he was simply " Master Hugh Grosvenor" ; at Eton be blossomed into Lord Belgrave, when hia grandfather received a promotion to marquisate ; on his father's su cession to this title, the embryo duke became Earl Grosvenor. In 1869 he became Marquis of Westminster, and five years later he was made duke. Wireless telegraphy will p]ay an Important part in the International yacht race for tbe America Cup next October. Tha New York Herald announces that its observation btnt will be equipped with a wireless apparatus, and every move of the competing yachts, tha changes of the wind, and other incidents of the race will be instantly flashed to the Herald office and bulletined in -its special editirns, and cabled abroad.

I; baa often been rem irked how young men have displaced their soniora in all olasses of employment This fact ia very marked if. we pxaraino ih 1 ? personnel of the officers and crew of the Perthshire. The oldest man on board was the boat^ swain, who w<*g a veteran of 50, three others were over 40, the captain waa 3 1, chief officer 31, chief engineer 32, the average age of the whole from skipper to cabin boy being only 25.

Entries for the forthcoming Poultry, Pigeon,- & Canary Shdw closed on Saturday last, and when the returns from Wellington and Auckland oitne ia the entries totalled over 400, There will be con~ diderably more exhibitors than in former years, while competition in several classes will be very keen, entries in Leghorn and Minorca sections being exoeptionally h»avy.- Exhibitors are sending from Auckland, Wellingtou, Feilding, Waver-« ley, Manaia, Stratford, &o. Art Union tickets, including admission to the Show, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 7th and Bth, may be procured from members of the Committee.

CONCERT IS St. MA.RYS HILL. The conoarfc held in St. Mary's Hall on Wednesday evening attracted a large attendance. The programme was pleas-, ing, being well varied, and comprising a numbar of attractive vocal dud instrumental items. The trio, "Three Little Mai^S from School," suag by Misses E; Hurathou<e, M. Fookos, and Matthews, was among tl^e gem 361 the evouing, and was heartily encored. Miss Clarence Douglaß sang very nicely a pretty plantation song, in which hir sweet voice waa heard to advantage. The last two verses bad to bo repeated at the emphatically expressed wish of the audience. " The Charmed Cup " was admirably treated by Mr D Hursthouse, who was also encored ; Master Alan Matthews contributed a pretty song, and Misa Mary Roberts sing sweetly "Massa'a in de Cold Ground." The chorus to the song was almost inaudibleMr A. Gray's singing of "The Wolf" was warmly applauded, but the singer was soniewhit handicapped by a not very finely tuned pHno. "The Flight of Ages" was favourably vocalised by Mi>>R Jamep, and a quirtette, " Departure," Bung by Misses A. George, D. Taylor, and Messrs J. O. George md Broome, found much favour. There were two instrumental selections- by Miss and Messrs 0. and A MacOiarmid. and Messrs Joy and G-. W. Goldin?, both of which provoi very acceptable. The seooad part consisted of a fare* cilled "John Wopps." the following taking part: -Misses W. Matthews and D. Taylor, and Messrs D Teed, juu , E. Chrke,and D. Huwthouse.