The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11,1883.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2798, 11 September 1883, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11,1883.

The prospect of war between France and China, the telegrams state, is causing grave anxiety m Great Britain, and we are not at all surprised to bear it. Some idea of what tbe effect of such a war would be, may be gathered from the preliminary communications which have already passed between the two Powers. The Chinese have intimated that if the French do not withdraw from Tonquin, they will terminate diplomatic relations with them, and treat them as enemies, and to show that they are m earnest, they have sent an army to Tonquin. The French on the other band have intimated that if the Chinese do not withdraw from Tonquin, they will blockade the principal ports of China. This would be the first step, and it is one which would injure Great Britain nearly as much as it would China. The trade of China is mainly with Great Britain, British India, the Straits Settlements and Australasia, and if that trade were to be suddenly paralysed, as it would be by an effective blockade, tbe results would be most disastrous to British commerce. An immense amount of British capital would be rendered unproductive, a violent disturbance would occur m the money market and n all branches of Eastern trade, and hundreds of great, wealthy houses would be utterly ruined. The annual exports from China to Great Britain amount to £11,000,000, and the imports into China from Great Britain to £6,000,000. The- trade with British India and the Colonies is proportionately great. The

exports from China, moreover, consist of eonmioditios which cannot be obtained elsewhere, namely, tea and silk. China supplies Great Britain every year with tea to the value of about £7,500,000, and with raw silk to the value of about £3,000,000. Both tea and Bilk, of course, are exported from other countries besides China, but not on anything like this scale ; and if the French were to blockade the Chinese ports, a collapse of the tea and the silk trade, and of the numerous industries connected with it, would inevitably follow. The prospect of a FrancoChinese war, therefore, may well cause grave anxiety m Great Britain. Tbe astonishing thing is that it docs not appear to cause any anxiety to speak of m France. Next to Great Britain, France would undoubtedly suffer more than any other country from the destruction or suspension of tbe Chinese trade. The greatest of all French industries, more than twice ns great as any other, is the silk manufacture ; and, though France herself produces vast quantities of raw silk, yet the supply is exceedingly fluctuating, aud cannot be increased at demand. The result of an interruption of the import trade, therefore, would be to raise the price of raw silk to a ficticious and ruinous price, and thus to throw great numbers of people out of employment. Iv addition to this France would havo to bear the cost of a war the extent or duration of which could not be either estimated or regulated. Our last brush with China cost us six millions, and it was n very short affair, and we had Fiance for an ally. Tho trade which it brought us, moreover, compensated 113 for the expense, many times over. Tbe French would have to deal -with China single-handed, and, tho question being one of territory and political ascendancy, not merely one of trade, the conflict would necessarily bo long and severe. Finally, the French would have nothing to show for it when it was over. Under such circumstances, it seems nothing short of madness for the Republic to allow the miserable squabble with Auain to grow into a Chinese war. Yet it is difficult to see how it is to be prevented, while the French remain m their present aggressive mood. The Chinese Envoy, it is reported, has proposed a settlement of tbe difficulty, by which Tonquiu is to be treated as neutral territory between China on the North, and the French colony of Cochin China on the South. But that would practically amount to an abandonment by France of all her pretentions. Tonquin has all along been neutral territory, m the sense that it has been independent both of France and of China, though nominally a tributary of the latter; aud the whole of tho dispute now iv progress has arisen from the attempt of tin; French to gain a footing there. If, therefore, the French were to agree to leaving Tonquin alone, and withdrawing their fortes on the Chinese withdrawing theirs, things would stand just as they stood before, and all the expense of the past operations would be thrown away for nothing. No doubt this would be the wisest and most economical course for France m the end ; but it is not very likely that the French would submit to so tamo a conclusion of an enterprise from which such brilliant results were anticipated. Tbe people have been led to believe that a French dominion would be established m Tonquin not less important than British India, and tbe wildest dreams of wealth and splendor have been indulged iv iv consequence. The Government, however, know better ; and it is quite possible that M. Ferry, who is a particularly cool headed statesman, may so arrange matters as to enable France to back out of her awkward position m Tonquin, without too much offending French pride. Should he do so, be will gain tho thanks of the tea-drinking world.

Expressmen- A*D Finns.— Tho Timaru Borough Council inform oxpress drivers and other* that the bonus hitherto offered by the Council for the first pair of hor?es nt tho Fire Brigade Station nftcr an alarm of lire had been given, was withdrawn on the 10th inst. Tub Oamaku Drbdgk. — Tho Mail elates that tho dredgo is now doing pond work m deepening the xito for tho new wlmrf, and having broken through a hard superficial bed of shingle is working well into the blue rlay beneath. A portion of the ground lias been deepened to 2' ft at lon- water. LAnoK Works. — At tho Council meeting last evening only three tender? were received for two large contract 4, and on the Mtivor drawing Councillors' attention to this fact, he was informed that some largo works had been lately let iv tho Levels district, and perhaps that accounted for tho scarcity of tenderers for the Council's work. llomkwahu Bound. — By tho steamer Te Anau, which left Wellington yesterday, a number of Canterbury legislators returned to their home?, including the Hon. Mr Hollestan, Minister of Lands, tho Hon. Mr Achind, M.L.C., Mr Post loth waito, Member for Ocraldino, and Mr Ivess, Member for Waknuui. Wesletas CnuECH Anniversary. — This evening the usual social tea meeting m con nection with the Sunday school will be held, tho tables being spread at half-past six. After the tea instead of the addresses and music, which commonly form the after-programme, Tile Rev. Mr Wills will deliver a lecture on " Nineveh and the Biblo." WINCHKBTEB. — The residents of Winchester aud surrounding district will regret to hear that Mr G. Slator, tho telegraphist at Winchester Station, is leaving. During tho time ho has boon there he has gained the respect of nil classes by his business-like, kind and obliging manner. Ho will take with him the best wishes of all who know him for his future welfare. Hobse Pakade. — Tho conditions undor which entries of horses may bo mado for the Agricultural Society's parade, are advertised this morning. Tho parade will b« held as m previous years, iv tho old showgrounds, and tho oQicial walk round is Ciod for half-past cloven. Entries aro to bo made by noon of Thursday, tho 27th, the parado coming off on the following Saturday. ENOLisn Cable News.— Tho following special telegram appears m tho Press : — " London, Sept. 8. Ths wool sales aro continuing. One hundred aud eighty-eight thousand bales have been catalogued, and twenty-two thousand balos withdrawn. The valnes aro unchanged, and tho market is weak owing to tho small demand for tho Continent. Messrs Schwartz and Co. attribute tho action of the foreign buyers m abstaining from purchasing to the unsatisfactory condition m which most of the Australian wool reaches tho market." New Journals. — We have just received copies of tho firat impressions of two now ournals, ono being the Ross Mercury, a small tri-weokly, published m Ross, Wostland, where recent mining progress may have led to the venture. The other is tho Bgmont Courier, to be published once a week at Opunake, on the coast of the Waimato Plains. This little broadsheet commences well, with a quantity of matter " held ovor," including, m the copy forwarded to us, even the heading of the paper. Kino street. — Tho work of improving King street at Sb&Vs coniw vas ft&'aflcwa

I another stage — we might almost say its final < stage — at the Council's moeting last evening, ] n tender being accepted for tho work. We,| hnve no doubt that many of tho Councillors | ] nre pleased they have heard tho lost of this matter, tor during the last throe or four meetings it. has bcon before, them, nnd the same ground has been gone over time after lime m discussing whether such a work is required to be done or not. A Bolt. — One of Messrs Peacock nnd Granej's horses bolted with a meat cart yesterday morning. The man m charge had been delivering an order at. a house m Church street, and had just resumed his seat m the cart, when the horse stnvted for some unknown reason, throwing the man off the cart, and hurting ono of his legs a good deal. Tho horse galloped past the ahop, when an ineffectual attempt was made to stop him, down Strathalliin street, and round to tho railway station. ITere he came to grief, capsizing the carl near the end of the platform, breaking n shaft, and upsetting a load of joints over the ground. Bystanders got him out of his harness, much terrified, but not hurt. Thkatke Royal. — To-morrow evening Messrs Stiinfield and Dark's Merry Thoughts and Happy Moments Company commence a short season at. the Theatre Royal. Tho I'ress without. exception speak m the highest terms of this little Company, and the public appear to have greeted them with tho utmost enthusiasm wherever they have appeared. We anticipate a like cordial reception for them m Timaru. Though email m numbers, the Company appears to be a strong ono, inasmuch as oach member is clever m his or her special line, and their pieces having been written expressly for them, each member appears to the best advantage. Our contemporaries show that their sketches are full of humor, but devoid of vulgarity. Tho only momber of the Company who has been m Timaru before is Aliss Amy Horton, who will be remembered as one of the sprightliest if not tho sprightliest, young lady who has ever appeared on our stage, an excellent singer nnd excellent mimic. She will be sure to receive a hearty welcome. Mr D'Arcy Stanfield, fi member of the Company, we nro informed, is the son of the celebrated landscape painter und R.A. of London, nnd Mr Dark the son of the well-known London cricketer, at onetime owner of "Lords." "Thialby JrnY." — All of ourreadera who remember " Chilpcrie " and its unqualified success will be glad to be reminded that tonight the same company give " Trial by Jury " and "My Turn Next." The latter is a farce by Williams, and is a bright and sparkling little piece, the story hinging on the perplexities, anxieties and fears of o certain apothecary, who had married tho widow of v man m distressed circumstances, and who deemed it expedient at stated periods to alter his name and habitation. From this slight cause all poor 'pothecary'a troubles arise, as his friends recognise his wife as the widow of the distressed ono at. different stages of his impeeuniosity, and each give her a different name, but. each one is positive that the husband disappeared " very mysteriously." Poor 'potheeary, m constant dread of death at the hands of this female Bluebeard, nearly goes demented, but. ultimately all comes right by tho disclosure of the distressed one's history. As regards the " Trial by Jury" it is scarcely necessary for us to say more than that it is by Gilbert and Sullivan, tho composers of " Pirates," " Pinafore," " Patience," Ac. Tho music is extremely pretty, nnd the dialoguo amusing. The scene is laid m the Supreme Court, and the case is a breach of promise — Angelina Prottylass v. Edwin Norliboy, damages £10,000. The whole strength of the Musical and Dramatic Company (late Chilporic Company) are employed, nnd when we inform our readers that the leading characters were taken by t lie same amateurs as were principals m " Chilperie," wo feel wo have said enough to prove to playgoers that the characters -will have full justice done them, and the entertainment will be one that no one ought to miss. Qikku Generosity. — Atthe Water Police Court, Sydney, on the 3rd ult., a man whose clothing was of a very inferior description was placed before the Court on a charge of having a coat reasonably suspected to bo stolen. The coat was n new one, having the clothier's tickets attached. The possessor of it. told what appeared to bo a highly improbable story. He said th.it he went up to another iiiaii m the street, nnd asked him to give him n shilling for charity's sake. The man to whom he made the appeal, he added, said, " I have no monov, but you can take my coat to soil it," at the same tune giving him the coat which he was now charged with having m bis possession. The man who had done this appeared m court, and confirmed the statement of the accused. Tho worthy P.M. scouted a- a lie a story so gross and palpable. Yet, stniuco to say, police investigation showed tho statements "to be true. Takino thi: Tf.ii.. — The Tablet states that a reception and profession took place atthe Dominican Convent, Dunedin, on Tikmdny, bis Lordship the Bishop officiating, assisied by the Venerable Archdeacon Coleman, and the Rev. Fathers Walsh, Lynch, nnd Burke. The ladies who made their profession were the Sisters Mary Doininick (m the world Miss Kate Scully, daughter of Major Scully, of Napier), a choir mm ; and Mary Aloysius (m the world Miss Kliznbcth Gunn, of Timnru), a lay bister, Miss Mary O'Neill, of South Dunedin (m religion Mister Mary linelda), v lay sister, received the habit of St. Doininick. The ceremony, which was performed m the chapel of the Convent, was strictly private. An Amruso Cask. — The Southland Niws reports an amusing application which came beforo the Land Hoard a. few days ago. The case may bo termed the cn«e of the two Margarets. They both live m a country district, and one wished to transfer her dofcrred-payment section to tho other. Atked why she had not gone to live on it herself, it was explained on behalf of Margaret No. 1 that she had been married about tho time she should havo taken up her abode, on the allotmcut. To tho suggestion that she might intluenco her husband to live there, sho smilingly answered m the negative, whereupon one of the members jocosely expressed regret that sho had not, although tn lately wedded, more power over her spouse than lier answer implied. This was followed by n. still more startling query, seemingly put with tho utmost gravity — Could she not obtain a divorco and go on the land herself ? The young matron, with a good-humored appreciation of the situation, replied very emphatically that such a thing was not to be thought of. " Ah, well," was the slowly - uttered comment of a member of tho Board, "lifter ten yeara of wedded life you may not regard tho idoa with so much horror." Then camo tho intimation that although some improvements had been made, no house had been erected on tho land. Tho Board could not grant tho transfer till tho conditions of the Act had been complied with but the difficulty was OYereomo by tho Board offering to postpone consideration of tho application for three months, to be granted thon if the required improvements have been made. Margaret No. 2, who certainly did not, n» a member ventured to hint, look much liko an able-bodied agriculturist, was then usked by her companion if sho could undertake to have tho building put up m that timo, nnd gavo tho decidedly non-committal reply, " I'll see whatevor." Mn Robkbt Stout ox Australia. — We learn from a Dunedin contemporary that thero was a largo attendance at tho Lyceum on Sunday evening, when Mr R. Stout gave an interesting account of his recent trip to tho Australian Colonies. In introducing the subject, Mr Stout remarked that a witty Englishman had said, "You should never read a book beforo criticising it, it prejudices one co," and he supposed that advice was seriously acceptod by some m Dunedin, ns the Daily Times, m order to givo the public a proper idea of a lecture ho had delivered m Sydney, published ho criticism of a person who had not heard it. This incident, however, reminded him of ' how little ho could know of Australia from a visit extending over a few weeks, and ' thorcforo ho would not attempt to de- ' liver a lecture, but would toll them m a conversational way of some things ho had observed m Australia. In concluding an instructive narrative of his trip through Victoria and New South Wales, Mr Stout referred to tho vastness of the Australian Continent, expressed tho opinion that there would probably bo fifty million people itt AuEtrajiu a Jjyjjtlrcd rears teljw, mi epoko

of the necessity of the pioneers living and legislating so that tlieso colonies may be grander and better than any countries ever hare been. During tho evening a number of selections of music were very pleasingly rendered by the clioir. The Salvatiox Akmy and the " Eaole Tavern."— A lending London journal says : — It is impossible not to rogret that money subscribed from such excellent motives as that which Hows into tho coffers of the Salvation Army should be simply thrown away, as £20,000 "of it seems likely "to be over the " Eagle Tavern " business; but it is equally impossible to bco how Mr Justice Stephen could have come to nny other decision than he did. The folly of Mr Booth's conduct m agreeing to a covenant, which expressly forbade him to do with the tavern what he especially desired to do with it, is only excelled by tho disingenuity of the means ho adopted to delay the inevitable result. It is to be hoped that further details may place Mr Booth's conduct m a better light than it now appears. The Salvation Army has n character to make or to maintain, and eueh shifty proceedings aro not likely to dispel the prejudice against it which exists m large classes of society. The Annkxation Question. — The Home News of July 13th says :— " The first threatening of n serious disagreement between England and her vast Australian Dominion darkens the political horizon. The decision of the Cabinet, as published by both tlio Premier and the Colonial Secretary, is adverse to the annexation of New Guinea. Both these statesmen haTe declared it an illegal net ; both decline to recognise any excuse for the bold action of the Queensland Executive. According to the strict letter of tho law, Ministers have no doubt the right on their side. It cannot be denied that Queensland was wrong m seizing upon New Guinea m such a summary fashion. Yet although the step was hazardous, premature perhaps, it can scarcely be called ill-advised. There was much to" justify the action of Sir Thomas Mollwraith, the Premier of that enterprising colony, to whom tho annexation was primarily due. lie saw tho strategical importance of this neighboring island, and felt that the future welfare of Queensland was bound up m its acquisition. 110 had the sagacity, moreover, to perceive that other Australian Governments were precisely of tho same opinion, and that he could count on their sympathy and support when brought to book at home for what ha had done. Thia unanimity of colonial feeling on the subject will probably lead Mr Gladstone uud his colleagues to revise their decision. The Cabinet will hardly refuse to approve an annexation upon which all Australia has already made up its mind. Even if it did this country would have something to say on the subject, and would insist upon a fuller and more searching inquiry before a step was taken which would imperil the hitherto amicable relations existing between the mother country and her great and prosperous offspring." The Some i\ r ws goes on to say " It is not easy to comprehend tho opposition of the English Cabinet to this proposed annexation. A decided disinclination to accept new responsibilities is the principal argument upon which it is based. But surely these arc of the most vague and shadowy kind. No part of Australia has ever been a bin-then to the Old Country except New Zealand, and the New Zealand wars were directly traceable to Imperial policy. We have kopt a small naval force m Australian waters for somo years past, but rather on our own account, m furtherance of our universal humanitarianism, which cannot tolerate kidnapping or slavery m any shape, than for the benefit of our colonies. If New Guinea becomes English soil it would not call for the increase of tho Australian squadron by a single man-of-war. The cause of offenco would rather bo reduced by the annexation, because the filibusters of the South Pacific would bo brought more under control. On the other hand, responsibilities very plain and direct are avowedly assumed by the denial of Queensland's wish to annex. Mr Gladstone has said that while be sees no danger of England being forestalled m New Guinea, he would be ready at once to resist intrusion there by nny other European Power. In other words, to preserve the future integrity of tho island he would fight either Germany or Franco. This is accepting responsibility on a very large scale, compared to which the possible cost of an Knglish colony m New Guinea is almost infinitesimal. As the whole question is now certain to be debated m Parliament, this point ought not to escape attention."