West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 1897. AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

West Coast Times, Issue 10672, 28 December 1897, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 1897. AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

The complications in China are becoming more acute each day as the severaLpowers interested in getting a share of the spoil become more concerned in each others doings. The cable from Shanghai with reference to China having asked Britain toi assume a protectorate of the Yang-tsze-kiang and Si-Kiang valleys seems to- have orginated in the very fertile imaginations of a few looal Acglo-philes, for jwe have heard nothing more of it, whilst a subsequent telegram from the same city tells us that Britain has no influence with China just now— Russia has assumed the commanding position. It is evident .the Shanghai • cable lid not reach Europe, or was not seriously con-

sidered ttiere^-fe'ecatisrVao- reference" to it' basjbceil': cabled^ Svheueas thece would have been much commotion > had it any • ■substantial 'backing in 'fact. iTha two! Russian papers whose opinions are considered of value as indicative of Russian policy suggest that Britain should acquire Port Hamilton orLazaieff, in Corea, in order ito : balance the acquisitions of the other powers, but we very much question whether the Imperial Government- would. ai&i prefer «■ harbor further south, which would give her a better strategical position and be less likely to wound the amour j^opre of Japan. The German . press seems to have awakened to the fact that notwithstanding the increase of^ their naval strength in Chinese waters the British fleet predominates,- and hints at a possible junction and mutual assistance of the Russian and German ■ fleets. Probably they will eventually find that the British fleet could easily overpower both should necessity arise, and that it has been carefully watchtDg them all the

time. But we do not suppose the neces-

sity for' overt action will arise. It is not likely that there will be any joint action on the part of the Russian and German fleets, orthat Russiawill assist Germany, because such a step would arouse the enmity of France, and it is'not' probable that Russia will care to- offend' -her

newly found ally. The greatest interest naturally centres on the probable .action of Japan. We have already been told that this warlike nat'ori is intensely, aroused, and that her chiefs are in daily consultation. From present appearances it would seem that a conflict is inevitable between J apan and Russia as to the ascendancy of the one or [the : other innorth east China. The war with China was undertaken with the object of securing the control of Corea, and though successful in the conflict, Russia succeeded in •thwarting her abrbition and in,gainiug substantial advantages', for herself. She is steadily pfurauing those advantages, and it now. becomes «,• '.question whether Japan will not have to-fight to retain what she , won during the.' w'av. She still holds Wei Hae-Wei, and if her rulers are wise she will continue toholdit, whether Russia pays the balance of the indemnity or not, because it is very obvious that the full terms of the treaty of peace will not be observed. It will be noted that up to this Britain has made no sign. We are so accustomed to regard the Mother Country as fast asleep when her vital interests were concerned, only to discover, in a momenL-tb^-sheJias beenverj'-wi^lo-ttt?aSe^vll the time, that we need have no misgivings on the present occasion. The visit of Prince Henry of Prussia to the Queen before proceeding to KaioChao, the very fact of a British port hay ing been that fleet's final point of departure from Europe, would serve to convey the impression that Germany was solicitous for Britain's benevolent neutrality and wished the world to believe she was acting with Britain's concurrence. We have no doubt that if Russia, Britain and Germany are alone concerned [they will find means for robbing the Chinese without quarrelling labout the plunder, but if the fourth dog—Japan — steps in and wants to fight over some particular bone, the present apparent. agreement will be broken. It all hinges on Japan's action. The European nations are not disposed to re gard her as a Great Power, nor to accord her equal claims of robbery with themselves. It would seem that she will have to fight her way into recognition and full status or else be defeated and content herself with a secondary place, and retain what she has got on sufferance.

Yesterday was observed as a close holiday and all the townspeople were on pleasure bent. There were several excursions and picnics out of town, Cass Square attracted a large gathering and a goodly number left by the early train for Reefton. Owing to some neglect on the part of th 6 Reefton agent of the Press Association the result of the races were not telegraphed and we are iudebted to Mr W. Sherman for the particulars published. His train Ipf t before the last race was run.

Mr A. Bennett sent a pair of pigeons to Reef ton yesterday morning and they reached home at 6.20. They were released at 4.26 and consequently occupied lhr 54min on the journey, good travelling considering the strong .south-westerly wind against which they had to fly. They brought the results of the first four races, which were awaited with interest as owing to the neglect of the Press Association agent it . was not possible to obtain the results from.train till ; near midnight.

! A sensationsl story was published by a New York paper on November 4to the effect that her Majesty's cruiseV Imperieuse, just arrived at Victoria, British Columbia, had returned from Cocos Island, whither she went in search of buried treasure. The officers are reported to have stated that the story of a treasure of 30,000,000d0l being buried in the island is not a myth. A. guard of marines has been left on the island, and a smaller vessel than the Imperieuse will proceed there shortly. It is reported that the Imperieuse has oh board a large portion of the buried treasure, consisting 'of jewellery and gold to the value of about 15,p0q,000d01. ,

We can confidently recommend all visitors to town during the holidays to pay a visit to Mr Tait's Photographic Studio where they will see pictures equal to any thing. seen in Sydney or Melbourne and all at very reasonable rates. — Advt.

A."Weliingfcon correspondent telegraphs 'I 1?*I 1 ?* #*P* ain Russell leaves fqr>.England .this week, and" will be away foßt or five fpnth/i' Mrtfames Allen, member for. rucfe, leave's for England in the Gpthip. • An amusing incident happened iti ' connection with the municipal election at Blackburn, where an independent Conservative candidate canvassed for the vote of a woman who objected to go to the poll on ihe grqund that there w,as nq one £lse in the house and .she- had the baby 'to nurse. The persevering candidate was equal to the domestic emergency. " You go and vote," said he, " and I'll do tbe nursing." On these term? the lady transferred the baby to the arms of the candidate and went off and recorded a vote — it is said in his favor. ,The revival of the report circulated some time ago respecting the existence in the Vatican archives of a commtiinca- ,' tion addressed by ' Pontius Pilate to the ' Emperor Tiberius respecting the cruci flxion of our Saviour has led to inquiries ; for trustworthy information. According ' to the Standard's correspondent at Homo", the facts known regarding this subject of singular and solemn interest are as fpjlows': — Not long ago the' Pope received information from two separate sources of the discovery of fragments of manuscripts concerning the cruciflxion, and' particularly of the document 1 above alluded to. But Jts the fragments were

doubtful and confused, a careful study was ordered to be , made. They were f o ( und te be not the originals," but some papers referring to a documentary report sent by Pontius' Pilate to Tiberius immediately after the commencement, of the Christian era. The manuscript in which this reference is made are referred to, the elite of about 150 a.d. but even this is not clearly established. Docu-

ments of the third and of the fifth '. centuries also exist hearing on the same subject, but containing nothing worth quoting as evidence. We have heard about the bravery of the piper who was s>hot through the ankles and yet continued playing to encourage his regimerifastliey "pressed on urTthe bnllet-swep: ascent/, but it seems that the iv.al facts of ihe case are even more ! stirring. Lance Corporal Piper Patrick Milne, of Aberdeen was the hero, »vhose defd deseryes asiong celebrity as that of the gentleman, at Chevy Chase who, when his legs were 1' cuttit off/ continued to fight upon his stumps. Milne was shot not in the ankles, b,ut through both legs, and fell helpless and bleeding to the grqund, exposed to the withering fire of the enemy. He had been one of the first of the Highlanders to dash into the zone of fire, " and as he ran he piped " Cock o' bhe north." After being wounded he managed to raise himself to a sitting position, and continued to pipe the same air, though with gradually diminishing vigor. His portrait shows him to be a . smoothfaced boy, who, though he is said to be twenty-five, looks years younger. Although he stands out so prominently in the. story of that famous attack; his four brother pipers'deserye more than passing notice. They are described as marcbing steadily across the fire zone playing " C.ock o' the North " like Milne, and only one of them got across unwounded, one of them being severely hurt,' full in the; chest. There is talk of mrkiiig' some recognition of Piper Milne's bravery, and the Scotchmen in Capetown are raising a -shilling subscription for the lad. '

The question of precedence has says a co-respondent occupied' a prominent plaice of late in the public mind. fMr Meredith brought the matter to a head when asking the Premier whether in a memorandum to the Governor he had recommended that order of social precedence should be given to bishops of the Anglican Church over the bishops of other churches in the colony. The Premier read the orders , of precedence in England from Whitaker's Almanac. He th£n referred to the existence of a code of precedence in South Australia. Accordr ing to this schedule the Premier takes rank next to , the Chief Justi.ce of the colony. The memorandum to the Secretary of State was the result of a decision of the Executive Council. At this stage the Hon. Mr Rolleston' interposed with the following awkward query: ''Is it not the case that precedence always comes direct from the Crown?" The Premier- replied that in tha case- of Sojith Australia it was a ''recommenda|ion by the Secretary of State." The recommendation took effect in 1894 or 1896, but it was not staged that the Secretary of State had answered the memorandatn of the Ne[w Zealand Cabinet. The impression conveyed to the .House was that, in New Zealand, as in South Australia; the Premier of the colony should ; walk behind } the. Chief Justice of the .colony. ' But, as the Premier said, there/are, no bishqps in it. ■•....