The Taranaki Herald. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY,9 1870.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2701, 9 February 1876, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY,9 1870.

The present Conservative Government have sought to re-establish the prestige of Great Britain in foreign affairs. Their strong point is to be the foreign policy, and the special gonins of the Premier finds congenial employment in reviewing an old question which was current at one time amongst the nations of Europe— What will England say ? The British Empire is growing in population, wealth, and power beyond any other on the face of the earth, and her ambition ought, Mr Disraeli's mind

conceives, to keep pace Ayith the material and moral growth. British India, with its 150 millions, is being highly organised, statesmen and soldiers combining in recognition of the . fact that any branch of the Aryan race is capable of self-government, if the changes are not too revolutionary. The Colonies, too, arc fast developing into a national groAvth. Mr Disraeli sees that England must rise equal tothogTeiilucssof the interests tit stake. To him the investment of four millions in Suez Canal Shares is, like his celebrated simile of the National Debt, no more than a "flea bite." The political aspect of the question is evGrj'tlung'. A high road to India by the shortest route must be kept open if that great possession is to be secured. Russia is jealous, and its inspired Press is put forward to denounce the policy of Great Britain. The necessity of reducing to order the barbarons tribes of Central Asia was the diplomatic answer given to the nervous apprehensions of England. But when the policy of the Czar is met by a move of no greater political importance in itself, the Russian asks for guarantees of neutrality oi the Suez Canal, Germany agreeing with Russia in making the demand. France in her present condition must remain quiet, but is privately sympathising aticli jßng-land in any possible antagonism to her conqueror. The policy of England has undergone so marked and sudden a change that it is impossible to say what the Government are likely to say in ansAver to the demand. We are inclined to think that England did not purchase four millions Avorth of unprofitable shares in order to concede the neutrality of the land. Mr Disraeli is a statesman not easily turned from his policy. lie did not make an up-hill fight for years without possessing some of the sterling metal in his composition. Tn the Cabinet there are two great statesmen with whom the honor of England is an inheritance. Lords Derby and Salisbury are not mean politicians prepared to sacrifice points of honor or advantage because of a threat ; and the English people are really fond of a bold and unmistakable lino of I policy. If the English Government have made up their minds to hold the Suez Canal as a guarantee for India and a strategical point in the event of the disruption of the Turkish Empire, they will pledge the country and their party to stand by the policy. Russia and Germany can have nothing to feai' from England as a military power. But both those empires aspire to a groat naval position, and the Canal has its prospective advantage like Gibraltar or Malta. The army mobilization scheme in England, an English telegram informs us, is causing great commotion in military circles. The Government evidently are not to be bullied by either Russia or Germany. The latter power cannot afford to make war at present with any other power than France. Prussia is powerless to injure England, and Mr Disraeli and his colleagues are determined that the ioreign policy of the country shall not be controlled by the Czar. There is a time when the most pacific nation cannot afford to ba passive, and the indications in the atmosphere of European politics show that this time has arrived. We think England is determined to be mistress of the Suez Canal, despite the jealous}- and menaces of her rival powers. *— : The Native Department must look to it, or the fate prophesied by Mr Rolleston j last Session will not be delayed. We are amongst those avlio believe there is useful Avork left for the Department, if it Avill only recognise the foice of political opinion as distinguished from Avhat opinion Avas in I earlier times . The last event Avhich has oc- | curred shoAving a great laxity of administra- [ tion,is announced in atelegram.TheNatives have taken forcible possession of land in I occupation of a settler at Wairoa. The remedy ought to be provided by G-overn-j ment at once. This is one oC those mat- ! ters which will not brook delay, for reasons Avhich are obvious. It must be remembered that possession by force might be resisted by force. In connection Avith Native affairs, jwe would ask what position Captain Blake occupies in the service of the Government 1 He is now draAving £400 ayear, and Avas appointed a Native Agent in the Patea district. The only capacity in Avhich lie is now recognised is that of a land speculator, which, however, does not seem to have prevented him from ! getting into a state of chronic impecuniosity, as he appears at regular intervals m the Resident Magistrate's Court, answering judgment summonses and confessing judgment. This is a pretty representative of the Native Department. No wonder indeed Native affairs are growing troublesome. A visit of Sir Donald McLean to these parts would do a world of good.

It will be seen on reference to our telegiams that Sir Julius Yogel is on board the AraAvata, which arrived off Holcitika this morning.

A number of the Shakespeare immigrants have been forwarded to Tavauaki, and we notice by the list of names that only one of the men has a large family.

It is high time something was done to stop the proceedings indulged in by a number of boys on Sunday afternoons, not many chains below Churton's creek. At first they gathered there £or the purpose of having a bathe. But soon they Avent beyond that,for a fight was caused through one of them throwing the boot of another into the river. This appears to have become a common pastime, mid if a big boy wants to thrash a little one, all he does to find occasion is to throw his hoot or some other article of wearing apparel into the water. The boy who thinks himself injured is at once assured by the rest that lie can "thrash so and-so easy," and there is of course a fight, which is folloAved bj' a number of others. Last Sunday afternoon there Averc not only boys there, but several men might have been seen among the spectators. While tins is being stopped no harm would be done by bringing those men who delight in bathing in broad daylight almost opposite the tcnvn to account. Dr Hanson anuounces that he ln.s commenced the practice of his profession in Wanganui, and AA r e need not say that we Avish him success as a physician. There is always room for more medical skill, as unfortunately all the deaths Avhich occur are not from old age. Dr Hanson belongs to the school of Homoeopathy, and -will be able to prove by the best of jtH logic, experience, liow far llis system of treating disease corresponds to the demands of the highest medical science, AYhich we take to he the ability to cure. Homoeopathy has provoked a vast amount of opposition amongst the adherents of the Old School, but a spirit has for some time been groAving to extend to the former that professional courtesy which medical men usually observe in theory. This has no doubt been brought about by the rank and character of the men who have discardod Allopathic therapeutics, and joined themselves to the school of Hahnemanu. There is no Pope in medicine, and no school can lay claim to infallibility ; hence there is a substantial ground on which to ask for Liberty. The law, that like is cured by like, has been for some time gaining ground, and Homoeopathists rely on the position that the results of practice are Aveapons of defence preferable to dialectics ; they say these sileut victories are winning for them general recognition, and that the universal application of the law in the treatment of disease is only a matter of time. However this may he, their claims in an age of scientific inquiry cannot be ignored. That there is truth in all systems is highly probable, and dogmatism in medicine is as great an intellectual weakness as dogmatism in religion. We might observe that Dr. Hanson's qualifications are of the highest. In England the Homoeopathic practitioners are entirely recruited from the graduates of the Old School — this being considered preferable to the establishment of a Homcoopathic College, which would have the tendency to promote sectarianism in medicine. Dr. Sharp, the President of the Homoeopathic Society, and r Fellow of the Royal Society, has for a quarter of a century maintained that the great medical schools will ultimately embrace th? law of Homoeopathy, and we are informed that Edinburgh is already teeming with qualified medical men Avho have adopted the new system from conviction of its efficacy. Truth will doubtless he evolved in the conflict of opiniou and practice, and the alleviation of human suffering be the consequence. Information has reached us that another death under someAvhat uuusual circumstances, has occurred at Palmerston. Nearly everybody in Wanganui Avill remember Patrick Gill, the " man from Galvray," as he used to call himself. The man Avas much addicted to drink, and has on various occasions undergone sentences for indulging, too freely. Probably he did not change Avhen he reached Palmerstou, for we understand that he ayrs found dead out-doors on Monday morning. The works on which the Borough Counoil employed a considerable number of men during the last four or five months are gradually drawing towards completion, and considerable reductions are being made in the uurnier of hands, about ten or fifteen having been paid oft already. Before long the office of the Town Clerk Aviil probably altogether cease to be the object of attraction on Saturdays to a large number of working men. A man in Tasmania had his foot cut oif clean by a mowing machine.