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Western Star, Issue 870, 13 August 1884, Page 2

An enterprising firm of contractors has (says the St. James Budget) offered to construct the railway into the desert from Souakim or tCorosko, and the English Government, it is said, is seriously thinking of the suggestion. The contractors will put a couple of thousand of European workmen into the Soudan, and the cost of arming them with repeating rifles, and of hiring a battery of artillery and a disengaged general or two, will be included-among the working expenses of the undertaking. During the troubles of the Crimean winter a distinguished “ promoter ” was supposed to have made aa offer to finish the war for the English Government, and handed over Sebastopool by a specified day. Perhaps this might be the best way -= of settling the Soudan troubles after all. Make it worth their while, and no doubt Messrs Cook could put an army as well as a fleet into the Upper Nile regions ; the contractors aforesaid will make the railway ; and Messrs Spiers and Pond or Bertram and Bertram and Roberts will be quite prepared to answer for the commissariat. The combined entrepreneurs would deliver Gordon, the garrisons, and the Mahdi’s head in Cairo at three month’s date, as per contract. Private enterprise, when it goes to work with sufficient command of capital and hope of is equal to anything ; and the advantages of this plan are so obvious. “ Buchu-Paiba.”—Quick, complete cure, all annoying-kidney, bladder, and urinary diseases. Druggists. Kemptheme, Prosser and Co., agents, Christchurch. fi A considerable amount of interest is being taken in Sydney in the preparations which are being made for the contest for the rowing championship o£ the world and £SOO a side, to bo rowed on the 16th inst., between. Hanlan and Beach. Both men are in full training on the Parramatta River, and as the form of the local champion is considered excellent at the present time, it is thought that the contest will be one of the best ever rowed upon the river. The movements of both are being closely watched. Beach is in training at Ryde, and has wonderfully improved since his last race with Trickett. His best time up to to the present has been 19 min. 52 sec. But he now asserts that he can do the distance in 18 min. 52 sec. He is confident of success in the coming contest, and his performances are looked upon as highly encouraging. The Canadian, however, is as confident of his powers as ever, but looks forward to a hard race. He is in splendid health and spirits, and is in training at the Mercantile Rowing Club branch.