NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8603, 6 March 1897, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The thin end of the wedge! Cable news ( states that a detachment of Russian infantry has started for Manchuria "to protect the surveyors engaged on the railway survey." This means that the unfortunate villagers have been goaded into obstructing the convict labor gangs in order to give the Russians an excuse for what might otherwise receive I the ugly name of " armed occupation." The j Czar's Government niched Manchuria when j the Celestial was prostrate at the feet of the conquering Jap. The niching took the form of a railway concession. Prior to the war, the trans-Siberian railway had a three-1 cornered track to follow via the river Amoor, but Manohuria offered such an excellent straight route to Vladivostok—with facilities for a branch line to the ice-free ocean at Port j Arthur—that Russian diplomacy made short work of the sick man's protests. Thus the sacred province, with the famous Multan —the holy city of the Moguls—feels its Oriental conservatism ruthlessly trampled upon by the iron horse of Occidental civilisation. Probably the new epoch is a source of utter amazement to many of the benighted children of Manchuria. It is soberly estimated that, amongst the Chinese multi-millions, there are many provinces which hare never even heard of the war with Japan, and though Manchuria can hardly come within this category, it is not unlikely that the Joss-ridden populace are entirely at a loss to grasp the situation or account for the intruder. But they will soon have their eyes opened. WitL. her railway and her armed " surveyors' escort," Russia has a big grip on Manchuria—a grip which she is not likely to relinquish. # # * *

Tns continuation of the article on electrical transmission is crowded out of this issue, and will appear on Monday,

We would draw the attention of those about to furnish to the sale *f furniture, the property of H. Eyre Kenny, Esq., at B. P. McGregor's auction mart on Monday next.

But it is not outside the boundi of possibility that the " Colossus of the North " may yet find that she has—both literally and metaphorically—" caught a Tartar." China is an element of danger not through her military strength, but by the very vastness of the population. There are many competent authorities, of all shades of conviotion, who hold to the belief that once the Chinaman begins to emigrate, as a nation, towards the West, nothing short of a racial epidemic or a continental cyclone will stop him. It is a significant fact that the whole tenor of mankind's advance has been from East to West, from the time of the Aryan forefathers of European civilisation, to the days of the Pilgrim Fathers. What, then, would happen if the Siberian railway, with its new and disturbing influences, were to tap that westward flow? The slumbering Orient might awake as one man, dash down the legislative barriers that Western ingenuity might erect, and never pause this side of St. Petersburg

Speaking of legislative barriers against | Asiatic races reminds us of the Queen's celebration. What a glorious pageant there will be to do honor to "the Widow of Windsor," and what a piebald realm may there be represented. Bed Indians from Canada, Blaclss from Guiana, Kaffirs from South Africa, all the multitudinous races of the Dark Continent — Fgyptians, Soudaue.se, Ho-.is.-as.^the Etihopian pure, &^s7^fSlX^^U^^y Nepalese " terais," and Burmese from the Irrawaddy; Polynesians from the Straits Settlements, their off-shoots in the Pacific Islands, and the noble Maoris of New Zealand, with the wretched natives of the Aus£SS P t eorU of the picture is occupied by Saxon and Celt and their colonial offspring. This is the conception which Rudyard Kipling— as the natural poet-laureate of our Empire of Seven Seas—has endeavored to impart in verse. What artist have we who can hand the idea to posterity through the living mediumship of the brush ? • * *

It is a. noble reflection to think that all these heterogeneous races are banded together under a common rule of_ progress and peace, but, like all human ideals, it has its sombre side. The sombre side will be pretty much in evidence just after celebration week, for Mr Chamberlain is going to invite the Colonial Premiers to a discussion on their legislation excluding Asiatic immigration. Colonial and Hindu will toast together one day, and next day the scion of the younger race will be called on to explain his reasons for erecting <t ring fence to keep his Asiatic fellow-subjects outside, which will be rather a striking 1 commentary on the unity of the piebald realm. * ♦ * *

As " uuiversal Providence " and builder of a united Empire, Mr Chamberlain will, how•ver, still have a little consolation left. Whatever the colonies may do legislatively, the glorious response to the cries of famine-stricken India proves that the ties of common charity have in no wise been severed. It would seem to be almost the one bright spot in a painful and embarrassing outlook

The company and band of the Thames Naval Artillery will muster for inspection on Monday evening at 7 o'clock. The Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, Colonel Pole Penton will make the inspection, and it is, therefore, necessary that every member should be present.

At the Primitive Methodist Church, Ma«'jcay street, the Her. J. W. Boys preaches to-morrow morning and evening. We notice that at the evening service Miss N. Davis (whose beautiful voice has been heard with much appreciation on various occasions) will sing the solo Calvary.

Mb Bray, a student of Dunedin University, will sing, " Behold, I Stand at Ih3 Door and Knock," at St. Ge«rge's Church to-morrow evening. He is the possessor of a strong, clear voice, and has the power of making every word distinctly heard in even very large buildings.

During the w^ek a total sum of £27S 4s was deposited at the Warden's Office on behalf of applications, etc., made up as follows : special claims (9), £150 10s; machine sites (2), £3 10s; water race (1), £110s; additional deposits (20), £112 14s; deposit on additional protection of water race, £l( ; total of deposits, £278 4s.

We would remind our readers of the sacred concert to bo given in the Academy of Music by Carl Hertz's company to-morrow evening. In addition to the vocal selections by Mdlb. D' Alton and the sacred pianoforte solos by Prof. Taylor, a number of pictures will be presented by the cinematographe, including some which have not been seen at the Thames prey C lsly. The concert commerces at 8.30 p.m., nd the Management reserves the right to refuse admission to objectionable persons.

The Thames Friendly Societies Conference met last night, and decided to hold the annual demonstration of societies on Easter Sunday, 18th April. A sub-committee was appointed to attend to all matters iv connection therewith, and a hope was expressed that all members of Friendly Societies resident here would do their best for the success of the demonstration.

About one hundred scats have been booked for Ovide Musin's farewell concert this evening, and a full house ia promised. The programme to be submitted is a high-class one, comprising violin, harp, piano, and vocal selections. This will positively be the last appearance in Now Zealand of this celebrated viotiuist, the company leaving for Sydney on Monday.

A stone-breaker consigned to the Komata Beefs G.M. Co. arrived by tho Chelmsford the other day, and will be forwarded by Mr Hawkes to its destination at an early date. The manufacturers are the well known Gates firm, of Chicago.

The scow Orakoi is now at the ■wharf unloading firo-wood for Mr Short, along with the cutter Gannefc (bricks for Mr Henderson), and the ketch Huon Belle, which has also a consignment of bricks for Mr P. Maxwell, contractor for supplying tho Thames-Hauraki Company, The barque Asia, laden with kahikatea from Turua to Melbourne, is lying in the stream, and will endeavor to depart by the next tide. The Northern Company's tender launch has been fitted up with a new gasoline engine, and will remain to attend on the Wakatere