The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3332, 2 June 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1885.

Our cable messages received early yesterday morning contained the information that a definite settlement had been arrived at between England and Russia, and for the first time we are enabled to get a tolerably clear idea of the nature of the arrangements made. The result is that Russia is allowed to make another step towards the goal of her ambition — a secure position alongBide India, by means of which she would be enabled to menace, and, as she imagines, coerce Great Britain. The Zulfikar Pass and Maruchak are to remain m the hands *of Afghanistan, but Pul-i-Khatum and Penj-deh, on which violent hands were laid by Russia, while England was talking about "peaceful negotiations" remain m the grasp of the Czar. The " peace-at-any-price " people will rejoice no doubt that England is able for the present .to avoid war, even at the expense of her dignity, but public opinion both at Home and abroad will readily recognise that a great victory has been gained by Russian unscrupulousness and aggression. In Pul-i-Khatum and Penj-deh, Russia has secured two most important strategical positions, one on each of the two roads leading to Herat ; and with regard to one of them, Penj-deh, even Russian statesmen had to admit at an earlier stage of the negotiations that the place unquestionably belonged to Afghanistan. Both, it ia hardly necessary to state, are a long way within the frontier to which England originally laid claim. Moreover, there is not merely the question of lost ground. It will not soon be forgotten, m the East at any rate, that England, when confronted with the most rotten Power m Europe, was completely overawed by the bluster j of the latter, gave way when she should have been most firm, and even allowed her allies to be slaughtered under circumstances of the most unprovoked wantonness. It was not thus that our great Indian Empire was built up, and if it is to be maintained m the future a very different policy will have to be adopted. We confess that we do not see much m the situation out of which any comfort is to be extracted. The blow which has been inflicted on Great Britain, however, will not be without its value if it should have the effect of at length opening the eyes of the public to the real character of the Power with whom England will still be obliged to have a day of reckoning. Yet, looking at the past, it seems incredible that British statesmen should ever have allowed their credulity to be bo shamelessly practised upon, as the records of Parliament show undeniably to have been the case whenever they have had dealings with the Northern Power. There is no occasion to go back to Russian intrigues m Afghanistan at the time of Dost Mahomed, although long before that period it was plain enough m what way Russian aggreßsion was tending. We have only to look back to an epoch almost within the memory of boys and girls still at Bchool, to see bow Great Britain has been continuously duped by Russia, and time after time has swallowed the most barefaced lies, and condoned the most flagrant broken pledges. No longer ago than 1869, when Russia was hundreds of miles from her present boundary, the Russian ambassador solemnly assured the British Cabinet that the desire of his Government was "to restrict rather than to extend the possessions of Russia southward m Central Asia." Prince Gortchakoff gave a " positive assurance that His Imperial Majesty looks upon Afghanistan as completely outside the sphere within which Russia may be called upon to exercise her influence." A few months later he declared deliberately that he saw no objection whatever to English officers visiting Cabul though he had agreed with Lord Mayo that Russian agents should not do so. Everything, m fact, was done to lull the British Government into a false security while Russia pushed forward her designs. In 1871 Prince Gortchakoff, when taxed on the subject, denied positively that his Government had any intention of attacking Khiva, declaring that " itß possession would only be an embarrassment to them." In 1872, it was admitted that " a small expedition " was going to Khiva to punish acts of brigandage and^ recover fifty Russian prisoners, but it was added that, "not only was it far from the intention of the Emperor to take possession of Khiva, but positive orders had been prepared to prevent it." Within two years not only Khiva, but the complete control of the river Oxub, was seized by Russia. Lord Granville did write to St. Petersburg about it, of course, but obligingly remarked that the Government did not see any "Practical advantage m examiaing too minutely how far these arrangements are m ntriot accordance with the assurances given to me m January last by Count Sohouvaloff as to the intentions with vrhich the expedition against Khiva was undertaken. They are not disposed to share m the exaggerated apprehensions which have at times been expressed m this country as to the danger to British rnle m India whioh may arise from the extension of Russian influence m Central Asia." After this, of course, the Russian advance was merrily resumed. Lord Granville, m 1873, wrote another despatch m the " Really-you-ought-not-to-do-this-sort-of-thing" style, and, of course, the Russian Government had any number of protestations ready. In particular they solemnly declared that they had no intention of going m the direction of Merv, m fact to judge from some remarks of Prince Gortchakoff, one would imagine that the Czar was ready to cut off the head of the first man who would hint at such a thing. Still m some mysterious way the Russian troops seemed to be getting nearer and nearer to the Turcoman capital, and then England began to bluster and threaten. In 1875 Lord Derby " reminded Count Schouvaloff that he had warned him some months back of the great importance which the Indian Government attached to Merv, and of the danger to our relations that would ensue if it were meddled with.' In 1877 the British Government again " invited th# wriouß attention, of tho

Imperial Government " to the subject, and threatened a counter advance if the Russian movements continued. On the 15th February 1884, the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg formally announced to his superiors that Russia had actually accepted the allegiance of the entire district of which Merv is the capital, and again Great Britain, after having talked so loudly of what her intentions were if a Russian foot stirred m the direction of Merv, calmly and tamely allowed Russia to annex the entire district. Once more the Government felt, apparently, that there was "no practical advantage m examining too minutely " into the details of the latest illustration that the solemn assurances of Russian diplomatists are false as dicers' oaths. After noting what has happened m the past, no one can imagine for a moment that Russia will long be bound by any engagements into which she may now enter. One can only hope that the British Government have at laßt learned a little wisdom, and will push on the works which we are told have been commenced for the defence of the Indian frontier, and if they can still persuade the Ameer that British statesmen are to be trusted, that something will be done to fortify Herat. The whole story of how England has been alternately bamboozled and bounced by Russia m the East, is one that Englishmen will never be able to refer to with pleasure ; and it is to be deeply regretted that the closing years of so great a statesman as Mr Gladstone should be associated with one of the leaßt agreeable chapters m that history.

Gbhaldine Eiple Voltjutebes. — The appointments of Dr. Robert Fieh as Honorary Surgeon and the Rev. James Paterson as Honorary Chaplain of this corps are gazetted. Vital Statistics. — During the month of May there were registered at the Registrar's office, Tiraaru, 37 births, 6 deaths and 7 marriages. The Gbain Season. — The number of sacks of grain received by rail at Timaru up to the 30th ult. was 149,431, and by road, 55,518 j making a grand total of 204,949. The Club Hotel. — To suit the convenience of the public, froni to-day the Is luncheons at the above Hotel will be from 12 noon Bharp to-2.30 p.m. — [Advt.] Fees Under the R.M. Acts. — The scale of fees chargeable under the Resident Magistrate's and Amending Acts is about to be altered. The new scale of fees will come into operation on the Ist of July next. Resident Magisteatb's Cofbt, Waimate. — At a sitting of this Court yesterday, before J. Manchester, J.P., an inebriate was fined 20s for being drank whilst m charge of a horse at Waimate, on Sunday last. The Travelling Public are reminded that Breakfast shall for the future be ready at the Railway Refreshment Rooms m time for the Early Trains at Is 6d. Is Hot Lunch as usual from 12 till 3. Is fid Tea Dinner from 6 till 8 o'clock. What a Boon !— [Advt.] Mbs Baldwin and the Detectives. — It appears that m the course of one of the Baldwins' entertainments at Wellington Mrs Baldwin offered to tell the Police who itole the jewellery from Jennesa' shop if they would call on her prirately. The detectives were sufficiently credulous to do so, and Mrs Baldwin gave them a couple of names. The suspicions of the Police, however, pointed m a different direction. Pabboba Licekbing District. — The annual meeting of the Licensing Committee for this district was held m the District Schoolhou«e, St. Andrews, yesterday. Present — Messrs Elworthy, McLaren and Lawrie. The Clerk read the appointment of the Committee as received from the Department of Justice. Mr Elworthy was elected Chairman of Committee. The only other business was the renewal of the license of the Masonic Hotel, St. Andrews, to Mr W. F. Brown. This was granted, the police reports for last quarter and last year being highly favorable as to the management of the business of this hotel. Mb R. T. Booth. — We learn from the Press that this well-known temperance advocate gave an address at Kaiapoi on Sunday evening. He Baid that up to Friday he was afraid he should not have been present. Several people along the line between there and Dunedin would, he feared, be a little hurt when they knew ha had come on, but having reason to know the efforts of the temperance party m Christchurch were being put forth, he was glad to set aside sentiment to assist them m th« suppression of the liquor traffic, and he hoped they would not rest till all the public-houses m that fair town were closed. Fme. — At a quarter to twelve last night, the firebell at the Town Hall rang out an alarm of fire, and on looking over the town at the time a very strong glare was noticeable m the north-west. On going m that direction, however, it was soon evident that the fire was not at all a serious one, and on gotting as far as Grey Road north, it was seeu that the gorse hedge, bounding a paddock directly opposite Mr Win. Collina' private residence, was burning furiously. The Fire Brigade, with their reel, were quickly on the scene, and soon had the fire extinguished. As both firebells rang furiously for some minutes, a good many townspeople turned out, many of whom were rather chagrined to find it was, as they contemptuously termed it, "only a gorse hedge.'' How the hedge was set alight is a mystery. Probably it was set fire to by some swagger or " sundowner " carelessly throwing a lighted match amongst it while camping under the lee of it. Technical Education. — The technical education movement appears to be progressing with "great strides m England. The London correspondent of the Sussex Daily News writes : — " The City and Guilds of London Technical Institute held its annual meeting to-day under happy circumstances. The year has witnessed considerable advances m connection with the technical education movement. The fine building m South Kensington which is to be the headquarters of the institute is progressing towards completion, and will, I hope, be m good working order before long, with full classes for the instruction of both students and teachers. The Finßbury College has long been conducting classes with very gratifying results, and there is keen competition for the scholarships. Technological classes m connection with the London institute are formed and m course of formation all over the country ; and by-and-bye perhaps, we shall have no important school of any grade without its technological classes and technological examination. After that we shall all be teaching our children a trade at the same time that we are teaching them geography and the multiplication table." Allocation of Lakd to Half-Castbs at Waimatb.— Mr Steward, M.H.R., and Mr Kit«on. of the Land Office Cbristchuren, attended at the Court-house, Waimate. on Saturday last for the allocation of Bcctions into which the land granted for the halfcastes resident m Waimate District *«»»«« divided. There were eight half-castes P™""^. Mr Steward informed the meeting that he nSd been appointed to conduct the business. The reserve containing the allotments, eighteen m number, is Bituated between the Waihao Railway Station and Waitaki river ; plans of the sections and locality were laid on the table. The allocation was made m accordance with the Half-Caste Land Grant Act 1883, and the names of eighteen grantees had been gazetted. Mr Jas. Kick us and Mr Joseph Harper appeared as proxies on behalf of absent grantees, and Mr Steward on behalf of two grantees. Evidence on oathas to the identity of tho persons claiming with those named m the Gazette as grantees was taken, and also as to the relationship of claimants to grantees deceased. Allotments were then grouped to suit the wishes of claimants as to contiguity of the sections. The apportionment was decided by ballot, four persons acting on behalf of the grantees. Mr Steward said he would forward the evidence and result of the allocation to the proper department of Government, and he had no I doubt the titles would be m tho hands of the gr^nteee ia tbo course of a few months.

Bahk Holiday.- The Banks atWaimate ■will be closed on Friday next, the day the Waimate Steeplechases are to be held on. POLITICAL. — Mr W. Bolleston will address the electors of Geraldine at the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, this evening, commencing at 7.30 sharp. Steam Collies Compart. — A special general meeting of the Timaru Steam Collier Company (Limited), "will be held on Friday evening. Dibthict Cotjht, Waimate. — Sittings of the District Court at Waimate have been gazetted to be held on the 13th of every month. When the 13th fall 9 upon Sunday, or a public holiday, the sitting will be held on the following day. Fatal Accident meab Waimats. — A lad named B riant, about fifteen years old, was kicked by a horse whilst engaged ploughing on Mr Slee's Crouch Place farm, Deep Creek, cm Saturday last. He was attended to by Dr Stacpoole as soon as possible after the'accident, but died on the morning of the Ist instant, from the injuries which he received. The deceased was a Btrong young fellow, son of iff (Jeo. Briant, of Parsonage Paddock. The Suicide at Tbngawai. — Our Pleasant Point correspondent writes : — "The inquest on the unfortunate man Anderson was postponed till Tuesday. It appears that m company with Mr Wood, s neighboring shepherd on the Levels, he had returned from Christchurch on Thursday evening, and was not afterwards seen alive. Another Bhepherd named Dixon, and a relative of the deceased, went to the Tengawai shed on Sunday morning, and finding the door locked, looked through the window, and seeing the body m the shed, at once got the assistance of a neighbor, named Vickerg, and burst opon the door. A letter waß found directing as to the disposal of £100 m the Bank, and on his person there was £9. Deceased was of a very retiring disposition, and was greatly respected by those who knew him. Several relatives live m the neighborhood, and his brother is employed on the Loburn station m North. Canterbury. His mother lives m Scotland.