The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886. The War Scare

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1327, 28 August 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886. The War Scare

The startling coup d'etat that has taken place in Bulgaria is naturally regard by the British ministry as a matter of very serious import. Although the Russian Government has disavowed any complicity in the kidnapping of Alexander, the desposition of the Prince is still viewed, in many quarters, as part-of a cunningly devised Russian intrigue. What may be the ultimate outcome of the present difficulty remains to be seen, but for the moment the situation is raught with the greatest danger to the peace of Europe. It has always been easy enough to excite the pugnacity of John Bull by assuring him that someone has “trod on his tail,” and to flatter his pride by picturing scenes in which a hundred Frenchmen, or Dutchmen, or Russians, are to run pell mell before the genuine Britisher, so that whenever a Government has done anything exceedingly foolish, or selfish, or mischievous, there is no such easy way to hide all its misdoings as to raise a war clamor. We are not aware that there is any need for such a strong diversion from the Horae policy of the British Government just now; war, we fear, would not prove an easy or ready solution of the Irish difficulty; but many of our readers will recollect that when, ten years ago, Russia chose to make the fearful atrocities committed

by Turkey on her Christian population a pretext for attacking her weaker neighbor, every sensible Government, with the exception of that of Great Britain, thought that two such powers as Russia and Turkey were better employed in destroying each other than in destroying their neighbors, and left them in contemptuous silence to cut each other’s throats. Of coarse no one supposed then—no more than we do now—that Russia was actuated by any new-found compassion for oppressed humanity Then, as now, Russia vowed that she did not seek a foot of additional territory; but when she had crushed Turkey she was compelled to reneal her policy, and it now appears that she aims at acquisitions which the rest of Europe is unanimously interested in withholding from her. Under such circumstances why should England single-handed resist the encroachments of the Muscovite and put herself in a position in which she would have to fight and pay for all the rest of Europe? She is not half so much interested in

the free navigation of the Bosphorus as either Austria or Germany, and why should she officious’y offer to fight alone, when by quietly and unostentatiously offering to co-operate with the other powers all fighting would be certainly avoided, and any attempt at aggression on the part of Russia more certainly defeated. Nothing would please our excellent friends the Germans better than that Great Britain should bear the brunt of a fight in which all Europe would be interested, but Prince Bismarck has not the most distant idea of allowing Russia to command the Bosphorus, but if Lord Salisbury and his party choose to do all the “barking” until they bring on Great Britain all the paying., if not all the fighting, the astute

German is not the man to objec | to such an arrangement to re- J lieve his own country of the respon-1 sibility and the expense. Those who remember Landseer’s picture of “ Dignity and Impudence” will hope that our rulers will take the former and not the latter attitude, as no country could better afford to do so, and there never was an occasion when it was more clearly our only safe, our only wise, and our only right course.

The North Canterbury Hunt Club Steeplechases are again postponed. The meeting will take place, if possible, on Friday, September 3.

The following statement of assets and liabilities baa been filed in the Ashburton District Court:—Stevens, David, of Ashburton, laborer,—Liabilities :—Opawa : Alice Hanna, £49 18s. Ashburton: Orr and Alcorn, £3. Tinwald: G. Grice, 10s. Alford Forest; Mcßae, 14s; total, £54 Bs. Assets—Furniture, etc., £5.

The Times says :—A very large hare was shot la the neighbourhood of Burnham a short'time ago. Although iu poor condition, the animal weighed a trifle over 12 Jib. Giant specimens of these rodents are not very scarce in Canterbury, but the hare in question was of extraordinary size a The sportsman who gave poor puss her quietus has had the head stuffed and mounted. We notice that the editor of one of our sporting contemporaries takes credit to himself for having anticipated the winners of three of the four events at the recent Hunt Club Steeplechases.

We may mention that our own contributor, “ Centaur," selected every winner, and this before the acceptances, three days earlier than the “tips” given by our contemporary.

At the conclusion of a meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton Racing Club held last evening, a very handsomely illuminated address expressing the goodwill of the members was presented to Mr S. Saunders, the late Secretary of the Club, who will leave Ashburton to-day to take up the duties of sporting editor to the Canterbury Times. The presentation was made by Mr O. W. Purnell on behalf of the Committee, and Mr Saunders appropriately acknowledged the compliment and the handsome treatment he bad at all times received at the hands of the Committee.

Some excitement was caused on the wharf and breakwater yesterday morning, says the Tiinaru Herald, by the capture of a baby seal. Mr Oreig, one of the men employed on the breakwater, when working among the random blocks at the foot of the mole, noticed the seal jammed among the blocks, and getting a rope and assistance, very soon bad it safely on the breakwater. He then placed it in a barrel, and during the day it was eagerly inspected by a large number of people. At first the seal objected to its confinement, but afterwards became passive, and scanned the faces of all its watchers in a very pleading and wistful manner, as if mutely asking to be realised from Its uncomfortable prison, and placed in its natural element again. The seal is about two feet six inches long, and belongs to the species known as the silver seal.

Several Dunedin Volunteer officers waited on the Premier yesterday complaining that they had to pay for Auckland made ammution 4s per 100 rounds more than before. Sir B. Stout replied that it was desirable to have a factory in the colony so that they could be independent in war time, but there was good reason why the Volunteers should not be made to suffer. On his return to Wellington he would lay the matter before the Minister of Defence, and see what could be done to put the Volunteers in a fair position.

A meeting of the Committee of the Ash. burton Racing Club was held at the Clnb’s roam last evening. A letter was read from Mr Hammond, again referring to his claim for the full amount of the Flying Stakes won by Rooket at the Spring Meeting. Consideration of the letter was deferred. Mr David Thomas was elected Treasurer in the place of Mr C. 0. Fooks resigned. The other business was of a routine character.

The question of the polioo appearing in oases where informations were laid by private persona again cropped np at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr Wardell, R.M., held that the police had no tight to set in oases where private individuals were the informants.

Mj J. B. Bradshaw, was seized on Thursday with an apoplectic stroke but is expected to recover.

The telegraph line between Ashburton and Winslow was broken down yesterday in consequence of the weight of snow on the wires. The break was soon repaired, and communi. cation restored.

Mr Neate, chemist, has on view at his shop in East street, a practical illustration of the efficacy of the poison supplied by him for the destruction of small birds. On a string across the footpath are suspended nearly seventy larks, sparrows, and linnets, which were poisoned on an acre of ground at Tin. wald which had been “ salted” with Mr Neate’s preparation-

At yesterday’s meeting of the Canterbury Land Board the following sales were reported: —Perpetual lease of Reserve 1106, near Ashburton, sections 1 and 2, was granted to Robert Gallawav; same reserve, sections 3 and 4, to H. M. Carson ; same reserve, sections 5 and 6, to J. D. Gobbe; same reserve, sections 7 and 8, to T. Wisbey ; same reserve, sections 0 and 10, to F. Low; same reserve, sections 11 and 12, to J. Ward. Reserve 1771 at Chertsey, sections 1 to 6, leased to B. Mash; Reserve 264, section 6, to Brian O’Connor. A|prospeoting license for minerals other than gold in the Alford Survey District, was granted to Mr Jacobsen, for six months, J. Wolfe applied to lease reserve 1371, near South Rangitata. It was decided to put it up for sale. Letters were read from the Undersecretary authorising the perpetual lease of the following sections :—642, 644, at Glenavey; 261, Hakateramea; Reserves 1815, 1816 at Waitaki; Reserve 240, Alford Forest; part of Reserve 349, at Orari. The Receiver of Land Revenue reported several deferred payments on lands were in arrear. The Board decided to enforce payment. He also reported that the rents on certain runs, due on May 14 last, were in arrear. The Board decided to recommend the. forfeiture of the runs. It was resolved to pat Mr George Grice’s forfeited deferred payment section at Tinwald up to auction. The question of the proportion of the value of the improvements to go to Mr Grioe would be determined after the sale.

Messrs Duncan and Crawsbaw held their opening sale at the Koyal Saleyarda this afternoon. There was a good attendance, and the auctioneer (Mr J. C. Duncan) was appropriately introduced by Mr T. Bullock. Mr Duncan thanked Mr Bullock and the Mayor (Mr B. Friedlander) for their presence and good wishes, and then proceeded with the praclioal business of the day, which con* eisted of the disposal of a large variety of goods at eatfefaotory prices.

The Ashburton Dramatic and Musical Association held a meeting in the Assembly room of the Town Hall last evening. After the transaction of routine business, the rules and bylaws were considered and adopted The cast of characters for the drama “ False Colors” and farce “ Serious Affair,” which arc to be presented on the Race nights, Nov. 25 and 26, was arranged. One new member was elected, and four candidates for membership were proposed. It was decided to bold the regular “ coffee supper” on Thursday evening next.

In the parish of St. Peter, Cornhill (says the City Press), where the rector receives £2300 a year, there is only one bona fide resident ratepayer, and he is not a member of the Church of England. M. De Lesseps says that England is support-

ing eighty-two million cattle, sheep, and hogs upon cereals she herself raised, while she imports flour from America to feed her people.

Now that Te Whiti is unable to exercise his influence among his brown brethren) Parihaka has been almost deserted by the Maoris, who have scattered about the neighboring district, engaged in clearing off bush plantations. Some of the new clearings at the back of Parihaka are very extensive. The principal crops will consist of potatoes and maize. Te Whiti’s son was in Now Plymouth last week procuring seeds of different kinds. We understand that the recent entertainment given by the Druids resulted in the addition of a considerable sum to the funds of the Lodge.

It ia very probable that not a single sailor lives vrho does not believe that Friday is an unlucky day. Captain Barnstable, of Cape Cod, endeavord to disprove this by laying the keel of a ship on Friday, be launched her on Friday, named her Friday and always went to sea on Friday. The vessel was finally lost on Friday, and the captain, two mates, and twelve seamen were drowned on Friday. For the year ending 30th Jane, the exports of wool were 88,265,0001bs against 78,961,000 lbs lor the previous twelve months. The value, however, fell by 11 per cent, although the weight increased by 12 per cent. The Customs valuation for the year ending 30th June last was £2,823,000, and lor the previous year £3,178,000. The Niw Zealand Trade Review thinks that the recent rise in the Home Markets gives good reason to hope that the actual result will not show to such diagivantage as the above figures would indicate? It will be seen that on the above quantity of wool exported, a rise of one penny per lb is equal to an addition of £367,000 to the year’s income of New Zealand sheep-farmers.