The Wanaganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.]

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10016, 20 April 1900, Page 2

The Wanaganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.]

FRIDAY, APRIL 20,-1900. LORD ROBERTB'S STRICTURES.

The publication of the severe condemnation of the tactics of General Sir Rodvers Buller and Major-General Sir Oliailes Warien during the disastrous attack on Spion Kop and its suosequent abandonment, has, no doubt, caused inlenso surprise and cliagrin in many quaiters. Wo do not remember any similar publication of censure during a campaign, and can only suppose that Pield-Maiblial Lord Robeity felt compelled to speak out piomptly and clearly, in order to, if possible, put a stop 111 1 such bhindcra as those which cost the British forces around Ladyamith so heavily in casualties and prisoneis. Geneial Duller seems to have been singultuly unfortunate, as through Col. Lone; disobeying instructions, and attempting to shell the- Boer position across the Tugela Eiver from an exposed position in close proximity to the concealed enemy, a teriiblo loss of British life took place, as also the loss of the guns. It has always, been the aim of the aitillery branch of our aimy to pi event any of their cannon from being captured, .wd until this war it has seldom had to be chronicled that they ha\o failed to do so. Lord Robcits, while piaising Col. Thorneycroft for his gallantry after he assumed command ot the attacking iorce at Spion Kop when Major-Geneial Woodgato was 11101 tally wounded, te\crely censuies the former for his ino\(usable assumption of Responsibility m oulcrmg tho retirement of the ttoops. Like Colonel Long'a unauthorised and inexcusable disobedience at the Tugela Ri\er, Colonel Thorneycioffs action in an opposite direction at Spion Kop had equally disastrous results and prevented the carrying out o( General Bullet's intentions, which were atill further thwarted by the action of Major-General Warren, who deviated tiom tho louto ordered by the former, and ,took a more direct, one, which necessitated tho attack, capture and abandonment of Spion Kop, and led to the frustration of Bailor's plans for the relief of Ladysmilh on that occasion, and a fearful loss of lifo and casualties. Tho Btnctuies of tho Field Marshal on General Duller, Major-General Wiuien, and Colonel Tliorneyeroft, are such that it will bo impossible for these officers to retain their positions, and their recall is hourly expected. The publication of Lord TCoberts's condemnatory despatches necessitates this being- done, as it is impossible for the officers named to remain whero they are after such se\cre censuie being published, as it is certain the troops under them would naturally lack that confidence and enthusiasm so necessary to success m the field. What a teinble revelation of inefficiency and wavering, this Hocr war has been. British gcneials, who were looked upon as the greatest strategist*, of the day, and who had won their high positions by successes in India and tho Soudan, when called upon to cope with tho Boers under generals who had passed the greater part of their lues on their own farms, failed utterly to defeat the ii regular forces under Joubert, Cronjo and other Boer leaders, who inflicted reverse after reverse on our troops under Generals Buller, Motliucn, Gatacre, and other distinguished officers, many of whom suffered severely at tho hands of the enemy. Tho fact of the matter is most of these high ranlc officers gained their reputation for successful generalship against enemies poorly armed and ignorant ol modern tactics. It was an easy matter to mow down Zulus, or Sudanese in the open with Gatlings, Maxims, and other macl me guns, seeing- that the enemy wero mostly armed with assegais or spears, but it was quite another thing to tackle an unseen foe, snugly ensconced behind tho rocks of a kopje and armed with long range magazine rifles, with which they wero splendid marksmen. In addition to this advantage, tho Boers possess longer range cannon that wo Ad and have profited by them to a large extent. To successfully attack suoh a foo in a country so favourable to the defending side, needed greater skill and foresight than many of our generals seem to possess, with tlio result that British reverses and disasters hp-ve been of disheartoning frequency. But there are bright spots m the campaign which more than ledeem tho British losses, as the successes of men like Major-General French in tho field, and the splendid defence of Kimberley and Ladysmith, to say nothing of tho capture of Cronjo and his army, more than counterbalance tho previous disasters in Natal and on tho Modder Eiver. The strictures of Lord Roberts on General Buller and Major-Qeneral Warren, as alhd on Colonel Tliorneyeroft, were, do doubt, penned with great leluctanco by the Field Marshal, who must have felt it his imperative duty to do so, irrespective of every other oonsideration. Like a major operation in surgery, it was, in his opinion, no doubt the only way to save a worso state of things, and to give the patient a chance of recovery. In such critical junfibures, private feelings and even friendships pf long years' of duration, have to ba ignored and strict judgment passed ou even 'Jie highest officers, otherwise tho prestige of tho Army and the safety of the Empire would suffer. It took a brave man to perform bo gnerou? and unthankful a duty, and nothing jn Lor 4 Roberta's long and successful military career displays greater courage than his condemnation of those responsible for so much loss of lifo and other casualties inflicted on tho British forces under them, in South Africa. It has opened the eyes of the pecplfl °f Britain to tho need for an immediate reorganisation of lior whole A*niy evstem, from the War Office downwards,

Sporting and commercial news, and an interesting article headed "A Blizzard in London," will be found on onr first page.

T'litliei' nlteiat'oii'i aie being mans in the local Court-house, including the pulling down of a partition to make one large loom -where the business of the lower Court can be carried on when the main room is otherwise engaged. By a notice in another column, those who are depositing mhbisli on the Misses Dunleavy'a section, corner ot Campbell Place and Market Square, aie warned that il they repeat it, they render themselves answerable to legal proceedings. i For having attempted to induce three sailois to leave the ship Portia, Henry Muiholland was bi ought up at the Police Court, Newcastle, New South Wales, and fined .£ls, with the alternati\e ot sit months' imprisonment. Letters are being leoeived from membeig ot the Victorian Contingent in South Africa, in which they complain bitterly of the inefficiency ot certain Tictoiian officers. They declare they have no knowledge of handling men. A [latent combination lock, wlncli «i\en security against burglais, etc., lk now under oiler to the Government, so f.u as the New Zealand lights are concerned. The mvcntoi is the Hcv father Salvador. Air V. K. Jells, ol Onehniiga, recm ed information by the last mail of tho death of his father, which took place in London on Pebiuary 21st last Tlio deceased gentleman was in his 106 th year, he having been born on June 1, 1794. A Boor sympathiser is found to have enrolled under an assumed name with tho Victorian Bushmen's Coips now on its way to the Cape, and the Defence authorities have wired to tho Capo, instructing the officer m chuige to place him under surveillance. Miss VAU Julius, third daughtci of tho Bishop of Christchurch, was marned on Wednesday to Mr A. S. Elworthy, ot Timniu. The ceremony took place in the Clnistchurch Cathedral, which was eiowded. Tor one year only it has been estimated that Eiuopo pays something like £225.000,000 ior its fleets and armies, and neaily as much again m the shape of interest on debts mcuired on ao einuit of foreign wars. A recent writer liab been pointing out that moio than one-thud ot nil the national revenues i- swallowed up by the budgets oi ainnos and navies. Sister Maiy Maotilde, of Bt. Mary's Coinent, Wellington, died at Blenheim on Monday night. Tho deceased lady had beon ailing fen some time, and went over to Blenheim in search of health. Further complications of her malady, however, ensued, and sho passed a,waj as above. Sister Maiy Mac-tilde had been a member of the order for many yeais, and was well known as a most energetic worker. Mr .T. 11. Keesing advertises a sale of lvi goods at Inn mint on Wednesday next. The catalogue cinbracos mgn of all kinds, ladies' apparel, mats, caps, and hand-bags, all m \arious dosigns and eveiy kind of Australian tins. Tin 1 collection ib a fine one, and as tho cold weather is betting in the sale is just at the right time. The goods will bo on exhibition all day on Tuesday previous to the sale. Al the Police Court tins motning, befoio Mi (\ C. Kettle, S.M., Archibald MoAUsler was lined 20a, in default 18 horns' imprisonment, for dniiikenniMs, and suiteiuod to two months' imprisonment for having no lawful visible means of support. Alfred Davitt, a lad (f IS), was comuted on a chaige of uung obscene language, and ordered to bo impi. honed until the using of the ('•nut. A prohibition oidn wan also waned aganiht him. ' From Capetown to Ladysmith" is the title nt a new hook by the late. G. W. Kteou'iis, who died of enteric fever at Lailysnuth dumig the siege. This work is written \n the same breezy and pleasing style as ' With Kitchener to Khaitoum," and brings the reader right up to tho day oi Ihe author's death Messrs 11. I. Jones and Son have an advanco copy on mow. Intending puioliaaers should book their orders at once, aa tho supply is limited and being rapidly taken up. Price, -'is Gd cloth. Attention is diawn to Mr H. Noverman's (tho White Shop opposite the EnirU-.li Ohurrh) new winter goods, juat armed and opened up. They comprise a splendid selection ot vicunas, coveit coatings, woisteds, and some choice tweedb for suits for the winter season. Also, attention is drawn to the stock of mei eery and hosiery, Bnirts, braces, ties, hats and caps, in fact everything m tliu mercery lino, and at most reasonable pi ices. Inspection is invited. The Kuinara Times states that there is now on \iew at Mr 11. Caiter's watchmaking and jeweller's establishment in Mam Sticct, Kumara, a magnificent doublo greenstone and gold albeit cliain, to which a greenstone and gold locket is attached bearing the following inscription ' Prom Kumara, New Zealand to General Huller, 1900." For presentation to Geneial French there is also a veiy neat greenstone pendant, a scaif-pin, a gieenstone shamrock set in gold, and a Ret of gold and greenstone studs and sleeve-links, the lot being neatly and suitably engraved. With the exception of the Permanent Aitillery, who remain behind to Btrike tents, etc., tho remainder of the men who attended camp left last evening on their return home, tho Mimawatu contingent going by special .at 7 and tho Hawenv and Waverley men at 8. The Artillery brought their guns into town yesterday afternoon and the remainder of tho camp cqnippage was put on. the train thia morning, tho men leaving to-morow morning. The officers speak in terms of praiso of the camp generally, which lias been one- of tho most successful yet held. Sketches done with charcoal on brown paper are increasing in favour as a means of training children to draw. Tho Wellington Education Boaid, at the instance o* Mr &.. D. Riley, its technical iustructor, has decided to extend the method in its schools. The method is also favourably regarded by the Otago and Bouthland Boards, A drawback to its extension has beon that the paper used has to pay a duty of 20 per writ, on its importation into tho colony. The Education Depart ment has, however, made inquiries, and has ascertained that suitable paper can be manufactured locally The demand is not at present sufficient to warrant the letting of a contract, but the Education Hoards lr terested have been informed by the Department of a, paper mill in the I South which is prepared to supply their I wants. A very pleasant little gathering took place yesteiday afternoon aboard the s.s. Mauaroa to say good-bye to Captain Mclntyre, the genial skipper of that vessel. Amongst those present weie Messrs Alexander Ilatrick and W. H. Cliipham, directors of tho Company, nud Mr C. F. Millward, the secretary. Mr Hatnck, tho acting chairman of tho Company, acted a& spokesman, and in a few well-chosen words handed Captain Mclntyre ,i purse of sovereigns on behalf of the officers, crew and steward department of that vessel and those immediately connected with the Company. In doing sq Mr Hatrick said that the captain during the two or three yeats that he had been l mining here had made, himself a favourite with passengers and the shipping community generally, and that they all wished him a pleasant tiip and a speedy return. After drinking his health, Captain Mclntyre suitably responded, A very pretty wedding was celebrated in St. Mary's Church yesterday morning, by tho Very Eev. Dean Kirk, the contracting parties being Mr Francis W. Oliver, third son of Mr Aitcheson Oliver, of Wanganui, and Miss Amelia Harnell, daughter of Mr F. Ilaniell, Midhurst. Tho bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a becoming cornflour blue costume, and was attended by Miss Sarah Oliver, sister of the bridegroom, who was also tcstefully costumed. Mr J. MoMahon officiated as best man. At the conclusion of the ceremony the wedding party and guests were entertained at the residence of the bridegroom's parents, where the health of the newly-married couple was heartily ioasted. Mr and Mrs Oliver were the recipients of a large number of valuable presents. They left by the evening train for their future homo at Kaponga, whoro Mr Oliver has secured a good appointment. As the popular and energetic secretary of the Wancranui branch of the New Zealand Liberal Federation League, Mr Oliver will be best remembered, though he also took a keen interest in the defunct Parliamentary Union and other debating " oeißtim in Wanganui. With their very many friends, we ]om in wishing Mr and Mrs Oliver success and happiness.

Captain Kdaiu telegraphs — Alodeiat3 oa&terly wmda and low tides. The amount of the judgment and costs have been paid in the Wilson— Pnam libel cas<\ The Lyttelton Borough Council ha? resolved to take steps to laise a loan ot £10,000 tor nit leasing the water ~upply, and building a Town Hall and now i'ne Brigade Station. The Chnstclnirch Fire Police Corps, v.hieh is being lonned, will eompiisc ono captain, one other officer, and 45 constables. All the membeis will be distiiigu.shed liy an aim badge bearing the inscription ''Fire Police." The residents in and around Kai Iwi are moving in the direction of erecting a publio hall in the township, and to thai end a meeting ot all inteiested has been called lor to-monow (Saturday) evening at 7 o'clock. A Capetown cable states that the mquuy into the loss of the Mexican, alter being in (ollision with the transport YVinkhokl, eli'eited serious chaiges ol diunkeiiuess and the lack of discipline amongst the crews of the \essels. A public meeting at Wellington yesteiday, tho Mayor piesiding, decided to colled money throughout the Province to aid th" Indian Famine Fund. NumI'cis of offers of assistance have aheady been received. A lobbery took place at the Hot Spungs, Nuhaka, on Friday last, during the temporary absence of the licensee. Tho bar of the hotel was broken into, and the cash-box, containing about JI3O and two gold rings, was stolen. Tho adio.n nod animal meeting of the Wangjnui Football Club will be held at Chavannes' Hotel on Saturday at 8 p.m. It is desirable, if the Club is still to remain active, that there is a full attendance of membeis and intending members. At the inquest at Roxburgh re the coach accident, a verdict was returned thai W O. Neill was killed by the coach capsizing and tailing on deceased and breaking his neck, caused by the cap of a wheel unscrewing and the wheel coming off. A rider was added that nil similar axles on licensed veluclcs should be fitted with .i pin thiougb the axle and cap. In the Champion Draughts Tourney nl Imeicargill, Gardiner won his last game on Wednesday evening, and stood level with Brodie with 18* points. Yesterday these two met to decide the Championship, when D. A. Bodie woii thrco games, and takes the first pri7e of ,£2O and the championship," J. Gardiner, .£l2 2s, A. Boreham, ,£B, J. A. Lucas, £5; J. Mulvey, »E3; J. Scott, .£2, F. W. Langston, £\. Tho sixth round of the Chess Congrots at Wellington resulted as follows — Edwaids beat Brown, Clcland beat Mackay, James beat Still, and F.aree drew with Mason. Barnes is now leading, being half a game ahead of Mason. Tho seventh round began last night. Tho game between Barnes, ex-cham-pion, and Clelaud, champion, nppeaw to be in favour of the former. Mackay had tlie ad\antas;e over Mason. The other games are fairly even. A large number of women attended the meeting of the Women's League last- evening. Owing to Miss Stedman (president) being unable to act as delegato to the National Council of Women, Mrs Bullock was appointed. A number of lesolutions to come before tho Council were considered. It was lcsolved to extend a hearty invitation In tho National Council of New Zealand Women to hold their next annual conference in Wanjjamii. Pievious to tho D Battevy leaving camp yesterday, the members of the coi ps asbcmbled in front of the TJ.F.C.A. sloro at Tayforth and, through their spokesman, remarked on the excellent ((uality of the stores supplied, together with the uiifailinf; courtesy and attention received at the hands of one and all connected with the institution, concluding with tluec hearty cheeis for tho popular storeman (Mr J. Andrew) and thoso associated with him in the dispensing of camp requisites. Canon Robinson, in his new book on Nigeria, tells some good stoiies. Here is a choice one' — The boys at St. Mary Rodeliffe School at Bristol were asked a short time ago to write an essay on a British colony. Ono of them wrote as follows' — "Africa is a British colony. I will toll you how England makes her colonies. Fust she gets a misGionaiy. When tho missionary has found a specially beautiful and fertile tract of country he pets all his people round him and says 'Let us pray,' and, when all eyes are shut, up goes the British flag i" It is a strange anomaly to find Great Britain, the home of the emigrant, threatened by the emigrant, yet such is tho case. Industrial activity and the increase- in wnges in the United Kingdom have attracted hordes of Continental labourcia. In February about •1000 immigrants arrived, a largo inciease on the average. Tho Globe plaintively remarks- — "When the present wavo of industrial prosperity is succeeded by a wave of adversity we shall have on our hands a multitude of foreigners eagerly competing for tho bread which ought by right to nourish the native-born. Wo have no legislative machinery for sifting our pauper aliens and returning them to their own countries, as they have in the United States." A train-stopping device, the Laffaa system of preventing railway accidents, was tested on the Barry railway line recently in the presence of a large number of persons interested in railway management in England and abroad. The apparatus is intended to serve as an effectivo accompaniment to a danger signal. In tho centre of the permanent way is placed a convex-shaped steel plate, and to tho engine of each train is attached an appendage containing a valve connected with the brake-pipe of the train. When this appendage stakes the steel plate the automatic brake is set in action and the train is stopped. When running at 30 miles an hour, with steam on, the train was automatically stopped in its own longth and without a shock. Good progress was made at a plenary meeting of the Garrison Band Complimentary Bciipfit Concert Committee last night, sd wo are informed by tho secretary and treasurer, Mr J. G. Woon. The programme, which comprises 11 or 15 items, is in a forward state, and will appear in our advertising columns to-morrow. Given a fine night next Thursday, tho 26th instant, there should bo a record attendance at the Opera House, equalling, possibly, that at tho "free show" on the Sunday evening preceding the Band's departure for Wellington, td take part in the great North Island Bands^ contest. The secretary asks us to state that aiiyone wishing to procure a number of tickets, of whatever class, may do so by applying to Mr Woon at the Borough Council Chambers (Mayor's room) on any day between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 3 and 4 p.m. Displayed to-day in the window at Mr R. M. Gatenby's chemist's shop, in tho Avenue, was the Rontgen Ray apparatus, recently mamifactured by Mr Harry Moult, elde3t son of Mr E. Moult, of Wanganul, and alongside the contrivance an initial photograph taken from it, showing a purse with three coins inside. The apparatus in general consists essentially of three pnrts — (1) the ittduction coil (with battery or other sourco of power) and interiupter, (2) tho Crooke's focus tube; (3) photographic platC3, or a florescent screen. Tho coil is constructed of mottled kauri, with polished brass fittings and two windings of silk-covered copper wire, very highly insulated; the external appearance "being very neat. The Crooke's tube is of an approved form, with a separate reflector, which gives an extremely sharp image, as will be seen by the photograph showing the purse containing coins. Mr Harry Moult is to be highly complimented on the ingenuity and skill he has evinced in perfecting the apparatus, and we feel assured he will reap his duo reward as a manufacturer of the same. He is a young man. gifted as an electrician, and it will be our pleasure to learn in the near future that this latest exhibition will lead to its recognition from the medical faculty, and indeed all thoso whose desire it is to keep abreast of the times in the practical working of such methods in the cause of science. Mr Gatenby will be pleased to show those interested the apparatus under notice.