West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1885.

West Coast Times, Issue 4995, 26 August 1885, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1885.

Spain, of all countries in the world, is developing a lust for land in this hemisphere. The Caroline Islands, which Germany has practically annexed, are claimed under some ancient title by Spain, and in consequence of Teutonic aggression, the Spaniards are in a ferment. The result will be " strained relations " for a time between the two countries, a vast amount of diplomatic correspondence, and finally perhaps, a settlement in some form or another, as satisfactory as may be to the self-love of each country. So far as we know here by our meagre records of the affair, the Spaniards have only revived a claim, when they saw Germany lay claim to the islands. Hitherto, Spain nor Germany have nothing to show as a record of modern colonising policy. The ancient days have paßßed when Spain was a maritime power, which could defy the world, and did defy the world, till the elements and English Bailors broke her strength and relegated her to the inferior position she has ever since occupied. As a mere circumstance, the quarrel between Germany and Spain is of not much import to England. But it is useful to point a moral, which the nations new to the art of colonising should accept. Let any one of us reflect upon the vast energies employed by England's sons to make her what she is to-day, the greatest colonising nation in the world has ever seen. What Englishman can peruse, without a throb of pride the history of Clive, of Warren Hastings, of Wolfe, of the numberless men who fought in alien climes, with the vigor of Titans, for the spread of the English Empire, for the purpose of opening new fields to the enterprise of Englishmen. How much blood and treasure have been expended to make England what she is to-day. Yet it is supposed that all these years of battle and energetic discovery, all tbe histories of lives which have made England great, are to be equalled by a mere annexation of certain particular portions of the earth ; that indeed all a country has to do to form a colony, is to annex a few islands and the matter is accomplished. It is a true maxim, both in the lives of nations as of individuals, that nothing great is ever achieved without labor and trouble. Eoglaod's monarchy over many countries has been achieved at au euormous cost. Yet it is feared by pessimists, that because Germany and some other great Powers are developiog an earth hunger, and are competing eagerly for rule over the waste places of the world, that British supremacy is threatened. Such an idea is quite fallacious. The foundations of the English Empire are based upon strong 1 vitality. Germany and other Powers are only now beginning to undergo what England has endured for hundreds of years, in acquiring empire of vast dominions. No one will grudge the Germans, or people of any other nationality, a share of the lands of the earth. But nothing worth having can be attained without much travail, and these countries, like Germany and Spain, which are practically novices in the art of colonisation, have a great, deal of unpleasant experience to undergo before they can rival the British Empire. _^______ mm __ m ___

Evert new Parliament commences its duties with a strong determination to reform the Civil Service and bring that costly machinery into something like a simple and efficient way of working. A number of questions are asked, Government'announces its intention of dealing with the matter comprehensively, and the whole subject is allowed to gradually fade out of sight. The last Atkinson administration procured the appoint, ment of a commission who are supposed to have studied the su,t>jeci; exhaustively . X report was piepart^j, * Bill drafted,

and at length there seemed a prospect of some practical legislation. One of those awkward things, which do sometimes happen, took place, a hostile majority was elected, the Ministers yacated their seats, and the Bill never saw the light of day. The present Government then took the matter in hand, expressing their intention of procuring the classification of the service. Very little has been done in this direction as yet, and judging from the Treasurer's remarks when delivering his supplementary Financial Statement, they do not propose proceeding with the classification this year. A small sum, £2500, is proposed for additions to salaries, to be restricted to thoae not getting more than £250 a year ; £1000 of the proposed increases will go to the Postal Department, the hardest worked and worst paid department in the service. In the course of his remurks dealing with this question, Sir Julius Yogel refers to the additional expense entailed in dispensing with officers, in the way of retiring allowances, &c, and also to the manner in which these officers ! frequently filter back into the j Berrice. With a falling revenue and a deficiency staring- him in the face, it is not bard to understand why a Colonial Treasurer would shrink from a course which would make his deficiency greater. It must be borne in mind, however, that the longer it lasts the poorer the Colony will be, and a temporary sacrifice should be made to lessen the burden which falls so heavily on tbe taxpayer. A promise is implied that as the chief officers of the State retire, from various causes, an amalgamation of offices will be made, and also, that cadets will be trained into the work of various departments, with tbe view of amalgamating the duties of officers in different parts of the country and lessening their number. These reforms will doubtless do much good, but it seems to us tbe real grievance against the Civil Service is not even hinted at. Where reform is most necessary is in the management of the various departments. The immense amount of unnecessary work undertaken would be incredible to any ordinary business man without a previous knowledge of the subject. It seems to be a principle of a government department to proceed always in the most circuitous manner possible. Red tapeism and the circumlocution office are family words to our readers, and though they have been written against and inveighed at for years, they still remain a dull reality. If any business man conducted his affairs on tbe same system that most Government departments are worked on, he would, unless making very large profits, Eoon be bankrupt. Speaking with some knowledge of the subject, we can safely affirm thai a Governmeat department would require three times as much labor to procure a certain result as a well managed business bouse. This is not tbe fault of the officers employed who are probably as efficient a 9 their fellows in mercantile house?, but it is the fault of the system. This is were reform is most wanted, and not until it is effected, will the Civil Service aive entire satisfaction to the House gnd to the country.

The Public Works Statement, a large instalment of which appears in to-day's columns, was delivered by the Hon. E« Richardson last night. The items of especial interest to us are the proposed allocation of £150,000 for the East and West Coast Rails way and the further extension of the GreyHokitika Railway and the construction of the Arahura bridge. The Statement was not finished until an early, or rather a late hour, this morning, and the officers of the Telegraph Department are worthy of all praise for the neat and clear copy supplied to us.

The entertainment in aid of the funds of the Fire Brigade last evening at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre was a success in point of attendance, and those who attended wero highly delighted with the fare promised them. After an overture by the Brass Band, a solo on the piano was nicely played by Mr Coombes, after which Mrs Gould, Miss Rich, Messrs Speace, Morey, and Etcoate sang with great- taste ' At the Coming of the Spring." Mr Boddington sang "The Skipper's Flag " and Misa Batten " 0 Erin My Country "to applause. Mrs Gould and Mr Elcoate delivered the beautiful duet, " The Moon has Lit her Lamp Above " in such a manner as to draw forth the plaudits of the house. " Dream Faces " was sung by Master E. Ansell ia such a manner as to warrant the assertion thai a more remarkable alto voice has rarely been heard. The song was encored and repeated- Mibs Goulston sang " Vanished " very nicely, and Mr CoHman'a fine bass voice so delighted the audience in " The Reefer," that in response to an encore he had to give " Jack's Yarn." Mrs Gould next gave " The Lady of Lea," which was sung to a splendidaccompani ment by Mr Graham. Mr Morey then gave " Our Jack's Come Home To-day," and to an encore played and sung " Croquet." A nicely executed part song in which Mrs Guuld, Miss Ricb, Messrs Speuce, Morey, and Etcoate took part, concluded the first pare of the programme. The " Spitalfields Weaver " concluded the entertainment. The play was well presented. Mrs Goßson was an excellent Adelle, while Mr Souter gave a good rendering of the difficult part of Brown. Mr E. Ross was an excellent " Sirnuums," bis previous stage training standing him in good stead, and bis introduced song about the Humphreys Gully Company bringing dowu the house, Mr Richardson was a cold-hearted exquisite of the true type, and the " Dawson " of Mr Moss left nothing to be desired. During the interval, Captain Michel thanked the audience for their attendance, and the ladies and gentlemen amateurs for their assistance, which, he said, was most welcome.

We believe that if evevy one would use American Co. 'a Bitters freely there would be much leis sickness and misery in the world and people are fast finding this out, whole families keeping well at a killing cost by its use. We Advise all to try it. Bead

The social gathering in connection with All Saints' Church haß been postponed unti 1 Wednesday next, the 2nd beptember, in conn sequence of the Fire Brigade Concert last evening.

A rumor baa been current in town during the last day or two that a case of leprosy had appeared among the Chinese at the north end of Revell street. The Town Clerk, Secre • tary of the Board of Health, on learning thia, immediately instructed Er Rossetti who with Sergeant Moeller, visited the person indicated. It appeared, however, that he was suffering from too much drink, and im. mediately "made" for the person he supposed had given the information, brandishing a knife, iv fact he was so threatening in his demeanor that he was at once taken into custody, and will be brought up this morning before the Resident Magistrate's Court. It happened that all the Chinamen in the vicinity affirmed that he had got this disease, but it is asserted that they ate influenced by some jealous feeling against the man.

The Westland portion of the San Francisco moil will arrive by coach from Christchurch this evening.

A very painful accident happened to Mr Doaoghue, the working manager of the Humphreys Gully Company's claim, on Monday last. It appears that whilst one of the miners was manipulating the deflector, the nozzle swung round and tbe jet struck Mr Donoghue and carried him over a small bank ten feet in height. On proceeding to his assistance, it was found that he was almost covered with dirt, only a hand being visible. He was carefully taken out and Dr King sent for. Though verr much bruised and shaken he is not seriously injured. He was brought to town yesterday and is now at Mr M'Goldrick's Club Hotel.

Mr R. F. Seaborn announces that he has opened evening classes for young men at Gibson's Quay, and at Kanieri*

The Premier hag recceived a communi*. cation from tbe late Secretary of State for the Colonies, enclosing a copy of the badge for the commissioner of the newly formed pro tectorate of New Guinea. The badge will be worn by the officials, and worked on the flag of the colony. It is a very plain desigD, being merely a crown on a light ground, with the letters N.G. underneath. The new badge for Fiji is also enclosed, and is in the form of a diadem crown, with a lion on top, and underneath the word " Fiji." Lord Derby, in his despatch, intimates that these badges have been duly registered afc the Admiralty as the distinguishing pennants of the re" spective colonies named.

An interesting exhibition of a new system of telegraphy, which is expected to measur* ably revolutionise telegraphic and telephonic service, was recently given in PhiladelphiaThere were present by invitation a number of New York and Philadelphia capitalists* electricians, and representatives of tbe Press. The tests were highly successful. A single ordinary telegraph wire coaveys the electric current and operates the receiving machines. In appearance the sending machine is very much like an ordinary type-writer. The instrument has forty>«two keys—the letters of the alphabet, the numerals, and a few punctuation marks— and every letter or sign struck by the sending apparatus was instantly shown both upon that instrument and the receiver. Pressure upon any key caused a certain number of magnetic impulses to pass through the line. The number of these impulses differs for each letter, and they bring corresponding letters on the type^wheel of the receiving instrument into such a position as to make the impression upon paper. Any person who can read can transmit and receive messages through it as correctly as could the most experienced expert using tbe Morse instrument. It is as rapid as it is accurate, all messages by it being automatically printed, both at the point of transmission and that of reception. It cannot be read by sound, and is consequently valuable for preserving privacy iv electrical communication. Providing this invention cen do all that is claimed for it, it will be invaluable, and we shall hail with pleasure the dny it is introduced into the colony. The vagaries of the present system, particularly when a cable is broken or a wire iHtcrrupted", are almost beyond relief, and anything that will prevent telegrams being converted into a species of cryptogram will be received with a high of relief.

In a lecture, recently, Mr T. A. Reed stated that he had frequently taken correct verbatim reports of speeches delivered at a moderate rate, while his mind was occupied with matters having no connection with the subject of the speech. On one occasion he ventured upon the experiment of working out an arithmetical problem while engaged at verbatim note taking, but found that be had overstepped the limit of possibility.

Tongariro has shown unusual signs of activity this last fortnight, and it may be that it is ia some way connected with the recent prevalence of earthquakes.

A Wise Deacon.— "Deacon Wilder, I wunfc you to tell me liow you kept yoarself and family so well the past season, when all the rest of us hwe toeon sick so mueli, and huve had the doctors running to ua so often." " Brother Taylor, the answer is very easy. 1 u s ed Hop Bitters in time, and kept my family well, and saved large doctor's bills. Four shilliugs' worth of it kept us all well and able to work all the time, aad I will warrant it has cost you and most of the neighbors £10 to £100 apiece to keep sick the same time. I fancy you'll tiie my medicine hereafter."