The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1906. AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 256, 2 November 1906, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1906. AMERICA AND JAPAN.

For the cause thai lacks assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, \ And the good that we aai do.

Happily for the peace of the world there seems every probability that the difficulty that has arisen over the treatment of Japanese children in ths Callfornian schools will be satisfactorily settled. It is quite possible that the distinction drawn between the white and Oriental children by the San Francisco educational authorities may have been in the first place a hygienic precaution. But there is no doubt about the way in which it has impressed the •■ Japanese; and it is stated on what appears to be good authority that the man- ' ncr and lang-uage of the Japanese am- ; bassador while interviewing President ' Roosevelt on the subject were very "unusual"—in other words, iorcible, and perhaps even pugnaciuus. Not unnaturally, the Japanese, in the words of the Washington correspondent of the . "Times," regard the exclusion of their ', children from the Caliiornian schools as "a blow to the national and j racial pride of Japan"; and, ilwiser counsels did not prevail, it , is quite conceivable that thu dispute might have very serious consequences. ' The Caliiorniaiis are not likely to give ' way without a protest; but President j Roosevelt has practically promised the < Japanese ambassador that, if ne- : cessary, they shall he coerced into submission, and this statement has evidently cleared the air, and j disarmed the resentment oi , the Japanese. So far as California is concerned there is certainly a very strong feeling on this ' subject throughout the western States. ' The deeply-rooted objection to Oiientil ( immigrants, whether Ciiiuese or Japanese, lias a great deal to say for itself on m- ' dustrial and social grounds; and the ' experiences of the United States in the case of Hawaii and the Pacific Coast have not predisposed Americans to deal , impartially with any question re- < lated to the great problem of Oriental 1 immigration. But we caa hardly expect I that prejudices of this sort should be , allowed to override all other considera- j tions; and the Washington Government ' is concerned less with the duty of concili- 1 ating San Francisco than of maintain- 1 iug friendly relations with Japan. The , Federal Constitution was drawn in such ' terms as to dtbar any single member of ' the Union from so acting as to conflict with the diplomatic action or thu foreign , policy of the central Government; and i it is not to be expected that either Congress or the President would sane- * tion such conduct on the part of any State, or would for such a cause imperil America's friendship with a foreign Power. Not only on account of Japan's great military and naval strength and her alliance with England, but because of the exceptional position which she enjoys in the Far East, America has no i desire to quarrel with the Japanese; and we believe that President Roosevelt will have the sympathy of the vast '. majority of his people behind him if he ; enforces the Constitution on this point , regardless of wha-t the "yellow peril" agitators of California may do or say. '

The facts of this little dispute have some bearing upon a question that may at any moment assume serious proportions for the Australasian colonies. New Zealand and Australia have hitherto had practically a free hand in making laws relating to immigration and foreign trade. The Colonial Navigation Acts and the "White Australia" policy generally have • certainly caused a great deal of annoyance to China and Japan; and the protests against the employment of Lascars on the Australian coast have brought home to British statesmen the unpleasant truth that the public policy of the colonies may at any moment come into conflict with England's Imperial interests. WTien the crisis arises it will be

argued as a question of national expediency how far local prejudices should

be subordinated to Imperial statesmanship. But the British Empire, less fortunate than America, has no definite Constitution limiting the powers of its constituent States; and we do not envy the lot of the British Premier who may find it necessary to inform a British colony that its legislation is inimical to the interests of the Empire, and must be modified accordingly. But here we meet another difficulty which is emphasised by a question asked and not very satisfactorily answered in our cables to-day. Not only must England respect the feelings of her friends—for instance, Japan —so far as colonial legislation is concerned, she is bound under certain conditions to assist Japan in resenting any infringement of her rights or encroachment upon her interests. In reply to the question whether the Anglo-Japanese alliance might not drag England into a quarrel with the United States, Sir Edward Grey gave an answer that* can hardly have been intended to supply much definite information. But though we do not think it possible to construe the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in such a way as to involve England in any trouble with America over this question, the incident may help us to understand how highly complicated England's foreign relations have become, and it may also serve to remind certain enthusiastic colonial statesmen how difficult or even bow dangerous it may be to enforce a "White Australia" policy as consistently as they desire.

During September quarter goods were imported to the colony to the value of £4,294,875, an increase of £707,210 over the figures for the corresponding period of 1905. The imports to the principal ports were: Wellington, £1.343.226; Auckland. £968.940 ; Christchurch, £693,915; Dunedin, £668.300. The exports during the quarter amounted to £2,763,429 an increase of £23,109. The figures for the principal ports are: Auckland, £667,516; Christchurch, £473.582; Wellington, £361.191; Dunedin £303,----948. The average rainfall for the month of October, during the past forty years, has been 3.3S inches, and during October last year the fall reached 5.57 inches. With the exception of two previous occasions the rainfaJl recorded during October, 1900, was the lowest during tho past forty years, being 0.97 indies. This fell on nine days. The fall was lower in October, 1570," when the fall was 0.40 inches, and October, 1901, when the recorded faLt was 0.93 inches. Since our weekly commercial article was written the onion market, which was then advancing, has hardened considerably. Very few tots are now oliering, and these are quoted at from 15/----to 16/- per cwt. The Australian welter-weight boxer, J. Blaekmore, has arrived in Wellington fiom Sydney. He will be staying there for a few months, and it is probable that the Wellington Boxing Association will arrange a match between him and some capable exponent. Mrs. Harriet Drake, who, on August 18, li>o:2, was convicted on a charge of ; manslaughter in connection with the I death oi one of her children, and was sentenced by .Mr. Justice lvdw;,axds' on .November 24 following to six years' imprisonment with hard labour, was released from the Wellington Gaol yesterday on the ground that she is in failing health. The vital statistics of the Auckland district for the month of October show that births numbered 202, deaths 126, and marriages 93. The figures for the corresponding month last year were 210, 82. and bO, the increase of 44 in the number of deaths being partly due to the 15 deaths by drowning in the wrecks of ths Sir Henry, the Aotea, and the Haereinai being registered. The totals for the past 10 months are as follows, the figures in parentheses being those for the corresponding months of 1905: Births 2150 (2005), deaths 906 (878), marriages 823 (767). The vital statistics for; the Dunedin district foi October were: Births ICO, deaths SO, and marriages 50. The number of births constitutes a record for the past 20 years, being the same as the figures for August, ISSC. Thn number of deaths recorded last inoiii.h was higher -ban usual, but this was due to the prevalence of measles, whooping cough, etc., which caused the death of J. 4. infants. It has been a firm belki of the Maori that very often before a person dies his spirit is seen, and even before some great calamity occurs some of it is made known. Correspondents of the Maori paper "Te Pipiwkarauroa" have recorded ! two such instances. Before bloody battles were fought up the Wanganui river it is recorded a spirit battle was actually witnessed by human eye; again, before the great Tarawera eruption took place, it was commonly reported that a phantom war-canoe, fully manned, was seen on the lake. The editor of "Te Pipi- I wharauroa" published these stories as j curiosities, but now the editor himself I records one of those wendfirful coinciilenre.s, and thereby endorses the stories of his correspondents. The editor points out that it is a remarkably curious thing that only a few weeks before the ketch I ■Sir Henry was wrecked at East Cape, when all hands were lost, the crew of this same vessel witnessed a phantom land covered with tall trees, and with I heavy seas beating against its coast, off j Mahia, and, more strange still, the land ' seen was in many respects not unlike the ! East Cape. A billiard match between C. Memmott and R. Buckeridge, of Waihi, will be played on November 5 at Waihi. Mr. Uuckeridge received 350 in 700. Misfortune continues to beset the scow May, which went ashore at Tolago Bay a few months ago, and was towed to Gisborne for repairs. She remained at Gisborne for some time, and sailed a few weeks ago for Auckland. Encountering adverse weather at the start, she sheltered near the East Cape. Then one of her crew became ill, and she put into Tauranga for medical assistance. On the way out she was caught in a storm, which carried away one of the masts. The vessel put back to Tauranga for repairs, aDd will leave for Auckland in a day or two. Writing from Hororata, Canterbury, to a friend in Hamilton, Mr. Thomas Stone, late of Woodlands, Hamilton, who recently returned from a trip to the Old Country, says he has purchased the Ho- j rorata Estate, of 400 acres, and intends [ to reside there for the present. Horo- i rata is 36 miles from Christchurch, on the plains side of Sir John Hall's famous Gridiron Estate. He says they had a splendid holiday and enjoyed good health all the time they were away from the colony. Mr. "Stone remarks that he is not half as conceited regarding New Z-a- ' land as he was before he left. The market and consumption at Home are marvellous. He is one of the f\-w New Zealanders who say they would like farming in England, and if it were not for his j family he would have been tempted to ' stay in the old land. Mr. Stone says I good agricultural land within fifty miles of London is selling for from £12 to £17 per acre. Forty-pound lambs fetch 40/, ! fat sheep 60/ and 75/, and fat steers £25 per head. There are equally high prices for poultry. The English farmer is losing millions through not adopting up-to-dtit'. , methods. He attended the Smith- j field meat market for a week, and he I came to the conclusion that the Government would have to grade meat like butter, although Canterbury will be the loser. In the butter market there is not so much to complain of as there is in regard to frozen meat. Thousands of middlemen are making fortunes in handling farmers' produce. The cycling season will be opened by the Auckland Cycling Club to-morrow afternoon. All cyclists desirous of participating in the display are invited to assemble at the Three Lamps, Ponsonby, at 2.30 p.m., at which time the procession will start for Cornwall Park, where one or two competitions will be held. The pace of the procession will be regulated to, suit lady riders. Mr. R. H. W. Bligh will address a meeting of men in the Choral Hall tonight. The Bishop of Auckland will preside. The meeting is under the auspices of the Church of England Men's Society.

It has not yet been decided where the seven chamois, which the Emperor of Austria is sending to New Zealand., will be located. It is proposed : to send the Austrian Emperor a number of New Zealand birds omd tuataras.

The antimony deposits at Endeavour Inlet are being made ready for extensive working, and there is prospect (says the "Post") that the industry will soon be prosecuted on a scale never previously achieved. Messrs. Fanthain and Cadigan have acquired 200 acres of lease, half or which is on new land, and half on the land of the defunct Star Antimony Company, which failed to do profitable business chiefly, it is said, through its defective methods of treating the virgin ore. Messrs. Fantham and Cadigan are availing themselves of the patent process, devised by Mr. Seager, of Wellington, and in course of the last week or so three tons of stuff roughly picked from about the outcrop of the reef have been treated at Victoria Foundry. As result, lOcwt of star antimony has been obtained, which is an excellent result from "rough stuff." Seeing that a tinall margin of profit was obtained from ore worked whsn the market price was £33 to £40, some fifteen years ago, there must be good prospects of profits, if the supply iiolds good, now that the London price is from £120 to £125 per ton.

The local representatives of the Oceanic Company inform us that it has been decided to give each of the vessels engaged in the San Francisco service a thorough overhaul at Sydney. The Sonoma, on arrival at Sydney to-morrow, will be docked, and she will not leave Auckland for 'Frisco until Nov. 30. The next boat to arive from 'Frisco, the Ventura, will leave Auckland on the return journey on December 21, the Sierra's date, instead of Kovember 30, while the Sierra will not be dispatched from tins port until January 11, which, in the ordinary course, would be the Sonoma's sailing. This alteration means that one outward trip (November 9), and one inward trip (.December nil] be dropped, and each of the boats will be given nearly a month for overhaul at Sydney.' It is expected that the steamers will then be able to keep well inside contract time in the delivery of their mails.

Frederick Reid, a eabdriver, was killed at Christchurch last night in a collision between a hansom and an electric car.

Messrs. Devlin and Donovan, the j.iiSh envoys, will finish their mission in Isew South Wales very shortly. Arrangements are being made to give them a titting farewell in ydney. ±t is expected that by their visit they will raise £15,000 in the Commonwealth and JSew Zealand, of which New South Wales will contribute £6000, and Queensland £2500.

The directors of the United Permanent Building and Investment Society met this week and passed loans to the extent of £1900, and also decided to issue a number of maturing shares, for which a steady demand has arisen.

This year's Waikato Show promises to be ahead of previous years in the display of farm implements. As regards stock entries, there are so many that the erection of an additional 25 pens became necessary, and workmen are now busily engaged on the work.

The Auckland Bowling Club requests that guests visiting the opening of green to-morrow will present their cards of invitation at the entrance, which will be at the gate at the corner of Graftonroad and Domain-street. The Tennis and Croquet Club also open to-morrow afternoon on the adjoining green.

Our Clevedon correspondent telegraphed that '"Yesterday in one of our local streams Mr. J. Abbott, a local sport, landed six rainbow trout weighing 251bs. Pish are plentiful."

Little boys' washing tunics, 2/3; white drill sailor blouses, blue collars, 2/S; blue and white striped drill blouses, 1/11; white drill blouses, 2/6; boys' crash Conway suits, 9/9; large selection of boys' wear at fine prices, at John Court's, Queen-street. Lower shop open to-morrow till 9 p.m.— (Ad.)

Ladies are advised of another shipment of Irish hand embroidered linen box drosses and blouses just opened up at Smith and Caugbey's, Ltd. Early inspection recommended.—(Ad.)

Boys' tweed Norfolk suits, 7/6; boys' tweed Ccnway suits, 7/6; boys' tweed and serge sailor suits, 3/9; for best value in boys' clothing, visit John Court's, Qneeu-street. Lower shop open on Saturdays till 9 p.m.— (Ad.)

Boys! Do you know what Buster says, Resolved that I never saw better suits with prices that fit so well. Come and see them at Geo. Fowlds'.—(Ad.)

Men's strong tweed trousers, 4/11, 5/6; colonial saddle tweed trousers, 9/6; dark tweed working suits, 19/6; all wool colonial tweed suits, 25/. We are showing a splendid range of gents.' boxed suits equal to tailor-made, from 35/ to 59/6. A perfect fitting suit. John Court, Queen-street. Lower Shop open on Saturdays.—(Ad.)

Latest novelty for ladies' underskirts: Smith and Caughey, Ltd., are showing ready-made frilled flounces for underskirts in silk, muslin, and net, prettily trimmed. — (Ad.)

Cool underwear: Coloured merino shirts and pants. 1/9; white gauze merino pants or shirts. 1/6; natural wool shirts or pants, 2/11; black Cash, socks, Sid. pair; men's knit wool sox, Bid. pair; boys' bathing suits, 1/8; men's, 1/9; bathing trunks, Cd.; rowing pants, 1/11; cooks' and carpenters' aprons, 1/4; butcher carts, 4/6 j men's Denim pants, 2/6; men's white drill coats, 4/6; at John Court's, Queen-street. Lower shop open on SaUirday till 9 p.m.— (Ad.)

You need the goods, we need the money. What belter could we exchange than a nice Panama? The sort Geo. r'owlds has.—(Ad.)

Boys' straw hats, 9Ad., 1/, 1/3; youths' boater straws, 1/ to 4/6; boys' washing hats, 10d. to 2/G; men's white washing hats, 1/2, 1/8, to 3/11. A large assortment of gents.' hard and soft felt hats at finest prices, at John Court's, Queenstreet. Lower shop open on Saturdays till 9 p.m.—(Ad.)

Pure cloth and free from dressing is Smith and Caughey's white sheeting, 80in wide, at 1/3 yard.— (Ad.)

Men's strong wearing trousers, 3/11 pair; tweeds, 5/11, 6/11, 7/11, 8/11; worsteds, 10/6, 12/6, 14/6 pair. All special value at Kushbrook and Bridgeman's, just above the Grey statue. Open till 9 Saturdays.—(Ad.)

Collars, white starched linen or soft material. To Geo. Fowlds' to get them in fit and. finish. Nicer goods you never saw.—(Ad.)

Big purchase of smart summer skirts and jacekts, in cream serge, crash, etc., selling at very low prices; newest styles. Rushbrook and Bridgman, Queen-street. Open till 9 Saturday night.— (Ad.)

See display of gent.'s summer shirts in Smith and Caughey's window at special cash value.— (Ad.)

Tennis.—Fancy cotton and white shirts, collars, ties, hats and caps. Best selection and cheapest in town at Rushbrook and Bridgman's. Premises open till 9 Saturday night.—(Ad.)

In this warm weather nothing , acts batter in keeping you cool than good unshrinkable underclothing. Geo. Fowlds has it from 3/8. —(Ad.)