THE CONDITION OF FRANCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9677, 24 February 1899, Page 2

THE CONDITION OF FRANCE.

Reviewing tta/e &/#ss in JFrftnce during 1898, M. de Blowitj?, p«4? dent of the Times, saya : — A great pifipoganda, has of late been carried on for the two Pretenders. Placards with the portrait of Prince Victor, pamphlets with that of the Puko of Orleans have been everywH£re .disWbjjtfld." The shame of the Republio'.a'nff'Hi^cloiy of pkp Empire, or the Monamhy have jueert^dweit . /t^ap, W&W fe^e. 111I 11 / 3 $ ongbj, been aiscoyer>a< thfl* some fflftta? chiefs dream fll dying battje to jtlje m,o& v Sf^u wid# really fancy { yourself ft P^ntuyy iaqk, cp ifi^ jjf e of some attack Gflgsjstyng insljrtutjKrasj and the men eagerly (tiding $m? >jgna'tureg to those of men who are Am)\lhPo thejr fists at the Republic seem to think tbftt the time has come for putting themselves forward, bo as not to be in the background

at the moment of the spoils. Ido not think that if Dreyfus is Proclaimed innocent Pnris can escape a convulsion, or the public nn aaaault. j Apart from the painful affair, whioh j still remains uppermost in all minds, the past year in France will not be very memorable in the annals of thi3 country. There have been three Ministries, tbosoof MM. Meline,BrisaoiiandDupuy. Tbe two former fell on the Dreyfus affair— one, the Meline Ministry, because it did not wish to accept revision ; the othor, the Brisson Ministry, because it did. There havo been five Ministers of War- General Billot, who affirmed on his honor that Dreyfus was " guilty and had been legally condemned," while M. Melino, Prime Minister, stated that " thero was no Dreyfus affair;" M. Cavaignac, who supported General Billot with the Henry forgery, condemning both General Billot's statements and his own; General Zurlinden, who accepted the position of Minister oE Wav only to get hold of LioutenantColonel Picquart, and who is still keeping him in prison for 1 know not what Apaohe feto; General Chanoine, who gave hia colleagues in the Ministry the pretty blow which the 'vorKl refuses to admire ; and, I finally, M. de Freycinot, whoso thoughts and aims still remain inscrutable^ whose mind is a strange mixture of tortuousness, precaution and rapidity. Willingly would he sacrifice Dreyfus, Pioquart, and General Mercier to boot, if their fall could involve that of M. Dupny and if the Bhook could eventually compromise M. Felix Faure himself. Wo should not, however, forget M. Henri Briason, who under the prickings of his conscience, led tbe country up to revision, and then, this done, offered no resistance against those who helpsd him to get rid of the responsibilities of office, the load of which was heavy on hia shoulders. If over we reach tha end of this affair it is to M.' Henri Brisson, that wo shall owe thiß result, and, as he will surely not bo able to escape having a statue ereoted in his honor, his countrymen will doubtless engrave upon the pedestal " II a pacific la conscience de son temps." „ .

Tenders for the lease of Mr Reid's pad docks close with Messrs R. Baddtley and Co, to-morrow at 2 p.m.

The oat market in New Zealand would appear to bo glutted just now. A Hastings resident haBJUBt bought several hundred sacks of this season's oats at Is 3d per bushel.

A mysterious disappearance io reported from Wellington. A man went out to Island Bay on Thursday and has not been seen since, though the police have made diligent search for him.

A 2J year old son of Mr Bauckham, of Ashurßt, was nearly choked the other day through swallowing what is believed to be whole maize. Evorything was done to relieve the child, but he is not yet out of danger.

The Government has been asked to continuo the prohibition against tho use of nets for taking fish in that portion of the Wanganni River above tho Aramoho Railway Bridge, and tho question of doing so is now under consideration.

The horßo fiond epidemio appears to have reached tho Auckland diatriot. The other day some vitriol was thrown over a horse at Panmure, and recently at Otahuhu a valuable animal was stabbed in the leg with a pitchfork. The poor animal was bo badly injured that it had to be bhot.

At Taihape last week a man was fined £5, in dofault one month's imprisonment, for branding a horse with a knife. Several severe flesh wounds were made in tho procoss of branding, and the animal was turned out to graze, the poor beast subsequently getting into a frigbtful'state.

At the civil sessions of the Supreme Court, Auckland, Miss Hastie is suing Henry Beattie, shipowner of Sydney, to recover £915 speoial damages and £500 general damages for alleged breach of contract in connection with the charter of the Sydney Belle for South Sea expedition. Tho ciibo ia proceeding.

Jackson, the escaped convict, was (aocording to the Wairarapa Observer) Been at Morisori's Bush lost week. A settler going into bis bay shed late one evening was startled to see a strange person hod taken possession of his loft. When pursued he bolted off in the direotion of Martinborough.'

S.A. Government, under its reoentlyestablishcd policy of resuming largo estates for closer settlement, has already re-purchased 25,000 aoros, and is steadily going. ahead with reasonable success, Westralia is doing ditto, and Victoria baa passed the necessary law, though the Turner Government doesn't seem to havo laid its hands on any of the big estatos a? yet. In this, as in almost overy other progressive idea, Maoriland led the way and keeps ahead. — Bulletin.

Mr Thomas Kurr, who for some time past has been stationed at Tiraaru, has been transferred toWangaTiui, as resident representative of the Mutual Life Associa-' tion of Australasia. Mr and Mrs Kerr wore very popular in Timaru, and will, wefeel confident, be equally so hero, as soon as they are known. Mr Kerr, we may mention takes a great interest in amateur athletics, and is himself an ex-walking champion, whose record is a very high one. Mrs Korr, we understand, is a daughter of Major Keddell, S.M.

For the cqnyenience of fhose attending the IJ.Z. Rifle Assopiatiop meetipg, 'tho Palace Car'Conmapy notify th'af'thjjy will rpn bosses ftofV&e'fcq^Offiketo. the Put>ki range at 7.8$ every morning, and after that evgry h,o,nr frpm JO to \, ijlso every half-hour afterwards. Competitors at the meeting will receivp special concessions as to faros on applying to Messrs Atkinson Bros, at the Palnoo Car Stables, Bt" Hill Street, next the Borough Counoil Chambers.

Tho following additional results are given in connection with tho teachers' examination : —Special montion (Wanganni), Class D — Arithmetia : Alice Bartlott, Fred Bates. Geography and history: Alice ßartlett. French: Albert Wilson. Class E—Englisb : Wm, Swinbourne. Arithmetic : George Gibbs. History : Eleanor Anderson. Science : Wm. Swinbourne. Classes D and E— Teaching: Thos. Slipper. Drawing : Marian Small, Wm. S, wjnbqurne.

Tho Mutual Life Association of Australasia, owing to 'the rapid 'progress 'bado during the feast 'few years, Ijave decjaijd to extemjl operations in the distriot'by establishing a Jjrancfl office at Wanganuj, ujider the copfrpl of'one'flf'jjSs own officers! 'Mr Thomas Kerr, $yj)o ]ms successf ul}y 'renrosented the Association in South Canterbury, has received the appointment of district agent, and offipes hovp been secured in the Pew Zealand Insurance Buildings, Viotoria' Avenue, Wanganai.

At the Woodville-Bnahlno Rifle Meeting yoeterday at Woodville in the Woodville Match, 800, 500, and 700 yards, 7 shots, the highest acorera wero— Bollard, 88; Bidwell, 87; Loveday,B3. MartonMatob, 700 yards, 10 shots— Grant and Marshall, 41 ; Feist, 40. Tumor (Wellington) won the Aggregato Match with 270 ; Shanks (Gprp), 26p ; Bollard and Kirk, 208. In the fitre off Bollard made 21, and Kirk 13, In the Last Try Maton at 500 yards, ton shots, the sporoa were Lowe and Duncan 48, Frazor and Duncan 30, Kajtangata won the Toams Match with 422, Woodvillo 417, Wairarapa 404.

The powerful sermon-stories of the American writer, Charles M. Sheldon, are attracting considerable attention in the Old Country and the colonies at the present time. Eager inquiries have been made for "In His Steps" (a book on which several Australian divines have ntautf), V*t "The Crucifixion of Pfijl# Btr<9nrf'> la * likely tc be quite as nopuiar. M geft>rs % f .'Locb^nJ Co. of ing cheap, l**&.tys§, #»##<s CT&fcS of the whole series of sev6H hQOUq, wfiigh, In addition to those mentioned above, in, ohffita Brother's Keeper,'"' Robert IlardVs Seven Days," •' Ktatauffl Bmoe," whi SftSfitfe* Door ' and Maloolra ' "Mbat necessitvis the motherof invention ; (says the Ensign), A Jfldy wfro landed to exhlbifrosea afcthe Gore snow found on the morning of the exhibition that she was lacking one bloom, and that a bud was. the only thing she had left in her garden with whioh to supply the deficiency. Had it ««» ft mi JP that quandary he would but, beirig ala^y,%e' B »J a«9 &W|W>. , and eveirtuaUV woman's wit leamtf't»'Her I L&fcf' Shljook'that bud ana-boilea If ittTvlecWM^'fof 0 iuartbr-'of an jqdaa's inspection. To crown ofl, thisl%

The cash takings at' the gates at tho oports 'yOstevday were about .£loo,in addition to which Iho grandstand receipts were £20. •■; •' • The Presbyterian service at Westmere will be conducted by Mr James Aitken, 8.A., on Sunday evening at 7 o'clock. The usual afternoon svvice will not be held. ,- ' '

The, School Committee will meet this evening in the usual place at 8 p.m. Amongst other business will be the consideration of the advisability of having a picnic tor the sohool children on the second day of the races.

.Messrs Simon and Co., of the Ridgivay Brewery,, publish some intaresting iac-ts elsewhere in our columns. It is worthy 01 note that this firm's beer, although <a comparatively short time in tho mufket, is fast pushing its way into pcvular favor.

Mr W. P. Harttey, of Liverpool, who is f<>,mcd' for hio liberality .has preaonted to tho injnißtors of tho Church to which ho belongs (the Primitive Methodist connexion) ;* copy of George Adam Smith's "Historical Geography of tho Holy Land" Hirton's "England's Dan'gei'" Sheldon's "In His Stops, or what would Jesus, Do," and "Tho Secret History of the Oxford Movement." We understand that a copy of the lust three has been sent out to each Primitive Methodist minister in this colony.

A Sydney cable states that the steamer Emu brought f rotn ■ Suwarrow Island a portion of the remains, consisting of two skullß, two backbones, and a number of ribs of what is" claimed to be a. veritable sea serpent. The monster was washed ashore two months before the oteamer's visit. The fearful stench prevented the securing of the whole skoleton. The captain describes it as sixty feet long, weighing seventy tons. It consisted of one body, with a double, spine, two distinct heads, somewhat resembling horses'. The skin was of brownish colour, and covered with hair. Experts have not yet expressed an opinion on the eea serpent. In somo quarters the remains are described as very like a- "whale.

Tho appearance of Misß Elsie Hall, tlio phenomenal English and Continental pianiate,ris beinj; eagerly anticipated. On Thursday evening next, in St. PaulVHall," Miss" Hall will givo^ono of her great' classical recitals. Apart from tho large amount of plcnsuro derived from such an evening, too much cannottWL'll 'be said about its sducational valuo to our. numerous students of tho p-.<inofprte.i-. i j I heHe latter will doubtless avail thc-mselves to tho full of the advnutago of hi.iring bo distinguished a player. Further particulars of the various progrnmine numbers will be given later. 1 '.The plan of reserved seats will bo available at Mebsra H. I. Jones and Son's^on Monday. ' At the meeting called for tho purpose last evening in the Fire Brigade Hall it was decided, ,on the motion of Mr A. D. Willis,' seconded by Mr G. Cuningham, to form a branch committee to act in conjunction with the Wellington committee for the purpose of "presenting the Hon. J. McKenzie, Minister for Lands, with an address and testimonial prior to his departure for the Old Country, suoh ootnmittee to consist of those present, with power to add_to their number. Tho mover and scconder'of this resolution were appointod to act, as joint secretaries, and treasurers, anil the subscription was limited fo Is, with a maximum of2s'Cd. The following, bo far, compose tho committee—Messrs Willis, Cuningham, Jas Duigan, F. M. Spurdle, J. Handloy, A. Oliver, F. W. Oliver, S. H. Manson 1 J. Soler, Atkinson (2), J. J. Littlejofon.

Judgment wan given this mowing by Mr C,C. Kettle, S.M., in tho Raetihi sly-grog" selling case. The Magistrate said ho had considered the evidence in tlio ense, and had come to the conclusion that' the prosecution had proved the sale of a bottlo of,-whisky to the native. Tho material fact of Iho case was not disputed, it being admitted that the liquor wop given nnd that UlO price was fixed at 10s. Air Kettle said he wished to express his entire disapproval of tho n.ann«r in which the defendant had beon entrapped. Ho was entirehr opposed to \ anything in the way 01 procurement of crimed by paicl informers. Tho opinion was now universally held by Judges that it was* wrong to induce peoplo to commit n crime for which they intended' to prosecute. In fact, it was a breach of tho law to do ao, as sections in *ho Criminal ' Codo Act and Justices of tho 'Peace Act laid it down that it was unlawful to aid or abet. He hoped tlmt in future the police would adopt a different mode of procedure. Considering the circumstances under which the liquor was obtained he did not think ihc case, called for a heavy fine. He would inflict the minimum punalty of £'2 nnd costs— Court 13s, witnesses expenses w613 10s 6d. The. police applied for the forfeiture of tho liquor Beized, which His Worship consented to.