TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 1884.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1804, 29 January 1884, Page 2

TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 1884.

Tjeie rebellion in thf- Soudan promise-! to .issumc tremendous proportions unless it can be .speedily checked. The Mahdi'b successes have quickened the pulses of the whole Mahonniicdan race, and it w ill need the greatest foresight and .skill to keep the revolt u itliin its present limits Before the defeat and annihilation of General Hicks' army at El Obeid, little importance an as attached to the Mahcli and his doings, though it might have been supposed the Egyptian authorities had fairly gauged the significance of the rovol on the White IS lie. That they had not clone so is clear from the defeat of U\vks Paslm, because the force which marched on El Oboid was thought to be targe enotigli to stamp out the rebellion, and clip the wings of the Malidi for ever. The destruction of the Egyptian army was not the only, nor the most important result of that terrible fight on the banks of the Nile. Nothing succeeds like success, says the proverb, a proverb which may bo very happily applied to a fanatical people like the Arabs. Mahomed Ahmed may have proclaimed that ho was the Mahdi, the redeemer of Is'am, until h»: were hoarse —-the success of his arms in bittle would alone purchase for him the support of the Musselman population. Mahomed .irroga'ed to himself the title three years ago —it is only now that the JVLihoiiiinedan world is beginning to recogui.se his pretensions. But now that his Mcssiahship is being received, not only in the upper Nile country, but over the whole of north Africa, into Arabia and Syiia, and probably over a portion of India, the danger looming up in tlie distance takes a "scry serious aspect. If the Mahommodans as a -whole acknowledge tlio validity of the Mahdi's claims, it is difficult to sec in what way a great religious war can be averted. TJio defeat or cajiture of tlio soi-clisant Messiah would depi ivo him of liis prestige and 10b him at once of tho homago of his co-religionists. IIow to compass liis (low ufall is, therefore, a problem which .seeks an immediate solution. It has been suggested that the aid of the Abysinnian p ople should be called in ; but, as the (Spectator points out, nothing would more surely kindle the fire of religious warfare than the pitting the dark-skinned Christians of Abysinnia against the followers of the Prophet. There is another circumstance in connection with the rise and progress of the Alahdi's revolt w hich deserves more than passing attention. It is now well-known that the year 1889 has been fixed as the date on which slavery is tn cease in Egypt, and it is thought in some quarters that tho Mahdi's rebellion has been fomented by die slaveholders. Whether this be true or not, it is certain that the prophet has received his chief support from the sheikhs and chiefs interested in the traffic in human fiesh. But it cannot be doubted, after all, that the outbreak had its real origin in religious fanaticism, and the Mahcli's ranks have been, o.ud wilL continue to be filled by uion who know liltle, and probably care less, about the slave trade of Uppor Egypt Nothing definite is known concerning tho strength of the Mahdi's forces at present ; he must have suffered tremendous loss at El Obeid —for we have it on record that General Hicks' army fought with desperate valour —but the effect of the victory would be, as we have said, to spread the fame, of the new " Messiah" abroad, and the Arabs of the North are probably by this time flocking by thousands to his .standard at El Obeid. The future movements of this force will be watched with interest. The Mahdi evidently conceives that he has a mission, and in the execution thereof he will probably do one of three things. He will either march into Lower Egypt with the object of driving out the British, or he will direct his steps toward Tripoli, or, thirdly, he will endeavour to cross into Arabia, and raise the standard of the Prophet at Mecca. If he adopts the first course he will inevitably meet the bayonets of England; if he adopts the second, then he will have to measure himself against .France; while if he ventures to cross the sea into Arabia, the British fleet will probably cut short his career, ' It is

possible that 1 Generar*€f'b i rdon, who has just been appointed i Go vernorGeneral of the Soudan, niay effect a cure of the evil by pacific means. He has gone into the country with sonic confidence in his power to influence the population, and induce them to return to their allegiance to the Khedive ; but his chances of success are of the slenderest description. We are, we fear, on the verge of a religious war, the counterpart of which tho world has never seen.

The Hamilton East School wil ic-open to-morrow (Wednesday.)

The concert given lately by th« Cambridge Ea&l School Committee, in aid cnihiisiatttn of the ptironta m this very im jjortant matter.

The annual meeting of the member of the Cambridge Public Libiaiy wilJ be }io)d in fcbe readnig-inow to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock, when a large attendance is pvpected. The business to be disposed of is of an important character.

Dr. Sinclair, MR.C.S.E. and Licentiate of Dental Surgery, Ireland, notifies Ins intention to pay a ])i i ofessiona] visit to Waikato. Full particulars will be found m the advertisement which appears in another part ot the issue. On next Sunday the morning and evening services of S. Andrew's Church, Cambudge, and the afternoon service at S. »SteplienV>, Tamahere, will be conducted by the Rov. G. H. 8. Walpol©, M.A., of S. Mary's, Auckland.

About a month ago, it will be remembered, a young lad named Webb was urn over by a disc hairow, at Waitoa, and sadly mutilated. His fi iends sent the poor boy to the Thames Hospital, but it seems that his case cannot receive the necessary treatment at that place, and an effort is being made to collect a Miin of money sufficient to send the patient to the Piovincial Hospital, at Auckland. We can recommend the case a& a veiy cleseiving one.

The following specials to the Press Association dated London January the •Jlitli ha\e been published in the N.Z. Herald : — The ship Citv of Lucknnw, from Adelaide, collided in the Channel on Fnd.iy e\eiung with the Simla, bound for Sydney. The bteamcr Gueinscy lescued fifteen of the Simla's crew. The Simla was not canymgpas^engeis — Anothei despatch says :— Tho collision between the City of Lucknow and the Simla occuricd during a heavy gale about twenty miles fiom the Needles. It is supposed that the Simla, sank. The City of Lucknow pioceeded to London. The captain of the Simla, with his wife and child, the thiid officer, thiee appientice", and Mr Short, a passenger, succeeded m boaiding the City of Lucknow The chief officer, four other officei s, beven of tho cict, and two stowaways wno also lesoued by the steamer Guernsey, but the iciruimdui of the cicw of the Simla arc nu.s-iing. iS'he had on boaid a geneuii CAigo. — The death is anuouueed of the Jiaiqiiis of ffuitfoid, aged 72. — ft lias tians])iied that Loid Deiby lias lefused to acce|it the coinpioniitsu suggested bv Ptcsident Kuigei, ot the Tiansvaal, in older to bung about a modification of the Tiansvaal frontier of a basih .satisfactory to both (Joveininents. — It is proposed to conveit the t)i lental Bank Co.'b opeiations into a limited liability company.

The Rev. E. H. Gulliver, M.A., conducted the service at H. Andicw's, Cambi id;*e, on Sunday last. Dm ing the com se of his sermon lie leferied at length to wh.it he termed the burning question of the day — that of the education of the clulcli on of the colony. As a mean.s of soculai framing ho con'sideied the hy.stem in foice in New Zealand the most peifect which tiny countiy could wish to pos^es.s, and one winch was calculated to picpare mon and make them thoioughly fitted for the caies and ie-ponsibilitios of life. Asa woildly education it could not be surpassed. Theie was, houevei, another depaitment of oui education which should not be ovei looked, —that of the moral ti. nniiig of the young. He proceeded to nige upon the patent* to do all m their power to inculcate in the minds of their childicn lessons of nioiahty, foi a good moi al ti /lining w a-, indispensable to the good and successful lhing of all men. He pointed out that the lives of all gieat men weie charactei used by their high moral chaiacter as well as by their great deeds. The object of the discourse was to urge upon pai en ts thi necessity of attending to the moial is well as the secular tiaining of their children.

The following business interesting to leaders in this distnct was tiansacted at Fnday's meeting of the Auckland Board of Education : — liukuhia. — Letter from Mr (lubble le election of school. — Consideration defeited till ne\t meeting. — Te Kowhai. — Application for a school. The inspector recommended that a small building should be elected, if suitable site be prowded for same. — Recommendation appiovod.—Ohinew.u. — Messis K. Heatherjngfcon and Hugh Sutheiland attended as a deputation fiom Olnnewai, and objected to tin 1 Ohinew.u school being made half-time with Chuichill. — iEi Cooper pioposed that, the Oblnewai school remain a full-time school, and the bo.ud send a teacher to Chin chill for six months. The deputation also dicw attention to the inconvenience caused by the pic^ent school diitiict boundaiies. — The deputation weie iccommsndud to lnemoril.vlise the board on the m.ittoi. — Singing Teacher. — The question of the appointment of Mr Henry Richaidson as singing master was consideied, and it «,is lesuhed not to make the appointment.—Agreed that Mr Rice lepoit as to Mr John Young's .suitability for the position. — The appointment of a .singing teacher for Waikato was deferred.—Devonpoit. — The committee leconimended the appointment of Mr Alfied Benge, of Te Awamutu, to the head-mastership of the l)evonport school. The Inspector endorsed this recommendation. — Appioved.

The roar of stampers is (says the Aioha New-s) a*, yet unheard at Waioiongonui, but the 12 berdans are funding away, foui each for the New Find, Piemier, and Oolonibt. The tailing^ are shaping as well as ever. The enlargement ot the battery Cov, the new beidan^ has been completed iind the berdans will shortly bo in prwtion. Tf airangements can bo made for working the tramway ciushing will in all probability be losiiuied ne.\t week. The tailings fjiiostion i.s .still in a " .status, quo ;" we tinnk the battery owner-, and the mine directors would' bo consulting their respective interests \>v agvecw\g U> tv gOYwal clmcc coveting the crushing and treatment of the tailings. Tenders will be opened to-day for the election of the tailings plant and the tailing flume. The battery proprietors piovide the timber, the tenders being for labor only. The building will be 80ft x 40ft, with ](i foot stud, and roofed with iron. The plant when complete will comprise four rows of beidans, 17 in a row — OS. Only two rows, that is 34 berdans, will bo placed for the present. The motive power will be supplied by a hurdy-guidy turbine similar to that in \iso at Bull's battery, Thames. This will be worked by the water from the battery tail-race. The tailings will be bluiced from the battery to the tailing plant and deposited in pits between the beidans. It i& estimated that 5 sluiceheadb will be sufficient to work tho berdanb, but 15 sluice-head? are available.

On the subject of the Selwyn election and it-> bearing on Colonial politics tho Lyttlutou Times writes : — " For the Selwyn electors the gieat question is. which of the two candidates is the better man. Equally plain is the answer— Mr Wakefield is the better man. He has experience of public affairs, and independence of judgment which is protected by the selfreliance which comes of experience, and the talents as well as the practiced skill necessary for making an impression on other minds. As a keen politician, as a man of varied information, as a graceful polished debater, Mr Wakefield would bean ornament to the House of Representatives. Mr M'Lachlan would simply be one of the Canterbury members ; who are most estim* able excellent persons on the whole, but of no more UBe in the political world than would be so many jellyfish thrown by an enterprising fisherman on the floor of the House of Representatives. In Canterbury there is a curious unanimity of opinion about the Ministry. Every one almost without exception— we mean every one who wrjteB itt », newspaper or Bpqaka i,n pubtyo-r

It will be seen from a report which appears in another column that th< Cainbudgc Town Board and Domah TCoard have jointly agreed to spend aboul £200 on di aming the fl.it between Reid's Oorner and Jlenson's property into thi Lake.

emphatically declfijerf that the Ministry Is not fit to govern^ Some have held this opinion,-, since yibeAevil days .when the Ministry q£ Sir John Hall" did its best to ruin trie credit ofrthe Colony at home and abroad.' Others ){rdfess to" believe that the prop fa Hfll having been; withdrawn, they have noticed*, a great change fojr the wor^e. The tWa, Sections' of public opinion, however, are 'of a most paradoxical union. United against the Government, they are always ranged on different sides when the existence of tho Government is in question. That is the paradox which kills all political life in New Zealand at the present moment. We have come to a curious pass. We have to endure a Government which is admittedly bad in every relation of public lifo, for no other reason than that a dozen or so of political jellyfish cannot see beyond that poition of their political contour which they may choose to call ariose. Sehvyn is called upon to choose between a jellyfish, who will act after the manner of his kind, and a politician who hae^eclined to see in any un&uitablencss of lp3 Opposition a reason iot allowing the oifno\ious Government to escape from the consequence- of its bad actionh, or to perform ah many bad actions ab it pleases. Mr Wakefield i.s, therefore, not only the better of the two canditates ; he is also the more practicial politician. "