The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, MAY, 13, 1886. THE ATTITUDE OF GREECE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1415, 13 May 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, MAY, 13, 1886. THE ATTITUDE OF GREECE.

It is a fortunate filing for Europe, and a particularly fortunate thing for Greece, that M. de Lyannis, the bellicose Greek Premier, has been induced to place his resignation in the hands of his Sovereign. A few days ago it appeared as if this vain-glorious politician, whose arrogance has made Greece appear ridiculous in the eyes of the civilised world, would succeed in gratifying his warlike ardour and in bringing an overwhelming disaster upon Ins country. But K ing George, misled by none of the strange hallucinations which seem to possess his late adviser, was able to form a more accurate estimate of his own position and power, and at the last moment adopted the only possible course—the dismissal of his advisers —to extricate iiis country from the absurd position in which it had been placed by the reckless and boastful policy of the Premier. It was only natural that during the general disturbance in the Balkans, Greece should take steps to protect her frontier ; and it was not wholly unreasonable that she should select that particular period to revive certain questions of territorial divisions which had remained in abeyance since the Berlin Conference. But when other countries had reduced their armaments and smoothed down diplomatic difficulties, Greece no longer had an excuse lor mainlainiug her army upon a war footing. The attitude of menace towards Turkey threatened to disturb the peace of all Europe, and to produce a struggle of indefinite extent and duration. The Great Powers could hardly tolerate a prolonged maintenance of this position; indeed it would have been obviously unfair to require the Sultan to longer bear the expense ot a threatened war. The Powers, therefore, demanded the immediate demobilisation of part of the Greek army : M. de Lyannis hesitated to comply with this demand, and his hesitancy brought about the very critical condition of affairs we noticed a few days ago. Fortunately the expostulations of the Great Powers ultimately prevailed ; M, de Lyannis interviewed his Sovereign and resigned, and there is now a reasonable prospect of the difficulty being over come without an appeal to arms.

EROM A FRENCH POINT OP VIEW

The French newspapers, apparently, do not know very well vvhat to think of the ministerial dissensions in England. The Royalist “ Francais ” says ; —” Ihe Radical leader, Mr Chamberlain, refuses to follow Mr Gladstone in his sudden conversion to Home Rule. Fie has no desire to compromise a political existence which has a future in the supreme enterprise undertaken by an old man, almost an octogenarian, against the fundamental institutions of his country. To secure the success of his scheme, Mr Gladstone will have to restore order in his Cabinet, by replacing those who dissent from him Fie will then have to secure the support of the House of Commons, with the certainty that if he succeeds there, he will tail m the Flouse of Lords. Whatever happens, an appeal to the country will be necessary. If Mr Gladstone be defeated in the Commons, his op ponents, the Conservatives, will convoke the electoral body. It, on the other hand, lie succeeds, he must dissolve Parliament, and ask the verdict of the country on novelties which are a formal disavowal of all his promises and declarations during the last electoral period. These are not the smallest difficulties of the situation. Should England once more give carte blanche to Air Gladstone, he will have to induce Southern Ireland, Western Ireland, and the Ireland of the United States to be satisfied with a Parliament which will remain connected with that of the United Kingdom. For sixteen years the Irish tenants who have become landlords will have to be compelled to pay, under the name of annuities, what they refused to pay as rent. Finally, England will have to advance benevolently, on such guarantees, a sum of five milliards; and for what ? When an old man plants trees, he has a right to say that he is thinking of his descendants j but when he lets loos.; the tempests which he can no longer control, what can be his thought ?”

We have to congratulate Mr Wheeler,

the enterprising proprietor of the “ Illns trated New Zealand News,” upon the exceedingly good number issued on the 10th instant. It is far and away the best illustrated paper we have seen In Australia, the engravings being quite up to the mark of the “ Illustrated London Nows.” Views of the Domain, Christchurch, and a Glen in the Manawatu Gorge, being especially good. Everybody who era procure oi e shoulo a copy Homo. With this number is presented a very beautiful engraving eu titled “The Hop Picker,” and the whole number is printed admirably upon the bgst |A(ia papwj

The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin “Star” telegraphs to that journal : —“lt is not intended to act on the recommendation of the jury in the ‘Evening Press’ libel case,viz, that a searching inquiry should be instituted into the working and management of the Christchurch Hospittals. A now Hoard having been formed under the Charitable Aid Act, the Government think that Iho control of the institution is perfectly safe in their hands.”

.Residents in Mount Somers, Springburn, Wheatstone, and Tinwald districts arc informed that the water races affecting them will bo shut off for four days from 18th May, in order to admit of the channels receiving a thorough overhaul. This occupiers are requested to do during the close time. The weatner to-day has been anything but delightful, and not at all such as would make a day on the racecourse pleasant. Still a fair number of people went to the course, and thunks to tho drizzle overhead, and the sloppincss underfoot, the expressmen did a fair trade. Tho Ashburton School Committee invito tenders for the supply of coals during the winter months.

Intimation (says tho “Press”) has been received of the safe arrival, at tho Grand llapids, Michigan, of Henry Lehmann, a woodchoper, well-known in tho Kaiapoi and North Canterbury districts as “ Schnapps.” He had reached the ago of ninety years, and was nearly blind. Leaving Lyttelton for Auckland, on February 28th, ho took the mail steamer from Auckland to ’Frisco, and travelled the remaining distance of several hundreds of miles by rail, reaching his nephew’s home on March Blst. Considering his physical infirmities, and tho difficulty ho had to make himself understood, the old man really performed a most wonderful journey in a very short lime.

Our readers are reminded that tho Floraington tea meeting takes place to-morrow evening, when visitors are promised tables

“ loaded with all tho delicacies of the season.”

We remind the public that the llickardsIlaynor Company appear to-night for the last time at tho Oddfellows’ Hal), when the musical absurdity “ Spoons” will bo presented. As the whole entertainment ia a really capital one, the company deserve a crowded house. Tho Christchurch Industrial Association have decided to do honor to Mr G. it. Hart i tho writer of one of the prize essays on the industrial resources of the colony. A special general meeting of the Association is to be held next Wednesday evening in tho Association’s rooms, at winch the medal gained Ly Mr Hart will bo presented to him by the President, as requested by Government, and Mr Hart will read his essay. The lady friends of members are to be admitted. At yesterday’s meeting of tho Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch, Mr Walker’s motion to hold tho ordinary mootings of tho Board on tho second Wednesday in each month, was proposed in his absence by Mr White and carried. Mr White gave notice to move to alter the time of meeting from 10.80 a.m. to 2 pan., with a view to give tho Ashburton members a chance to attend the mootings, and yet not leave Ashburton until the mid-day train.

“ Yo Band of Masonic Musical Brethren to bo found in the several Masonic Lodges

Ashburton are busy organising a concert to bo given in tho Masonic Hall on tho 28th inst, Wo understand that tho entertainment is to be given under the auspices of the Somerset Lodge and from tlm names of probable performers wo have heard mentioned there is every indication of a very successful!] meet-

Mr McGregor, grocer, has a fresh announce ment in this issue.

The Now Zealand Clothing Factory call attention to a now stock of goods just opened out.

The Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory, in liquidation, invite tenders for the purchase of the property, plant and stock. The Ashburton Woollen Company is prepared to receive money on deposit at rates of interest ranging from o to (!,} per cent. Mr J. W. White, Crown Solicitor at Timaru, and a member of the firm of Messrs White and Co., barristers and solicitors, announces that he will attend the sittings ot the Ashburton It.M. Court on Tuesdays and Fridays, and may bo consulted on Mondays and Thursdays at the Commercial Hotel.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Charitable Aid Board in Christchurch a bundle was produced comprising three blankets —one of which was full size and somewhat torn, together with some pieces, all ot which boro groat signs ot use—a dross, clean but ragged; some other articles of appara 1 more or less raged ; and some stockings—altogether there were about twelve or thirteen articles. These were produced as samples of the clothing and blankets in use by the children of the Orphanduriug the late regime