THE DIVISION OF AFRICA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 June 1901, Page 3

THE DIVISION OF AFRICA.

“ Spheres of influence " have carried the light of Europe into six-sevenths of the “ Dark Continent.” All but onesixth of the 11,514,000 square miles of Africa is under the influence of nations north of the Mediterranean. With the British troops in “ control ” of tho Boer States, tho sphere of Great Britain’s influence covers 2,733,640 square miles. Tho French sphere rounds up 2,903,000 square miles. Then comes the Belgian sphere of 866,400 square miles, followed by the Portuguese 841,000, which is only a little ahead of the Turkish. 835,000 square miles. This is closely followed by the German 822,000 square miles, while Spain still clings to 203,764 square miles. With about 80,300 square miles of lakes and little Liberia taken out, there is left about a million and a half square miles yet outside of the sphere of European influence, with little probability of it long remaining.

Tie Union Company have received word from Wellington that there is still plenty of lodging house accommodation available there during the Royal visit. The official list gives the number of vacancies still remaining as 1,800. Steamers on arrival in Wellington will be supplied with addresses of houses where accommodation may be secured, and enable passengers to make their arrangements accordingly. Tile Post says ; —The Mapourika, in charge of her aforetime skipper Captain Worral, resumed her old running to the West Coast on Saturday, sailing for Grcymouth direct. Very disquieting rumours are (says the Carterton Observer) again afloat with regard to Makohine viaduct. Some independent expert opinion on this construction ought to be insisted on. A female witness in the recent alleged criminal assault case, dealt with and dismissed at the last sitting of the Mastcrton District Court, is to be indicted on a charge of perjury, the information in connection therewith having already been laid. At a mining meeting in Dunedin on Wednesday evening a shareholder, in asking the Chairman the reason why no scrip had been issued, said ho had read a recommendation in an Australian paper to the eelfect that as the outlook for New Zealand dredging was looking so prosperous the holders of scrip ought to lend it for decorative purposes during the Royal visit.

The Patea County Press states that Mr Hazelden, a farmer of Hunterville, has definitely decided to contest the Patea seat in the Opposition interest. It adds that on present indications there will be three candidates for the ssat, the other two being Messrs Heslop (of Hawera) and Remington (Hunterville), both Government supporters. The following is an extract from a letter received in Melbourne from a settler at Quambatook, on the Ultima railway line, in the thirsty “ mallee ” region.—There has been no rain here for nine months. The plains arejiike rolling deserts'of sand. While Melbourne has been screaming over a crowd of ducal sattellites and viceroys, wiih their feasting and champagne, here in the grim depths of the mallee men cart their tankful of filthy liquid home, and thank God if they can give themselves and their stock one drink a week.

During the four weeks ending on the 11th May 226 artisans and 5668 labourers were employed by the Government on co-operative works, 2638 being under the direction of the Survey Department and the remainder employed by the Public Works Department. The Survey Department had 867 men working in the Auckland district, 7GI in Wellington, 278 in Hawkes Bay, 248 in Taranaki, and 124 in Otago. There were 1087 men employed on the North Island Main Trunk Railway construction works, 455 on the Otago Central, 414 on the Midland, and 245 on the Blcnheim-Waipara. On public buildings throughout the colony 54 men were employed at co-operate work.

According to the Mayor of Sydney notices arc to be placed in conspicuous places about the city “Do not spit on the footpath. Offenders will be prosecuted ; ” and then it is intended to obtain the co-operation of the police, and in cases of conviction to press for heavy fines. Reports from the country districts of Victoria continue to be most disappointing, It is stated that the present is the worst season in 12 years. There has not been good rain since September last, and the ground is as hard as rock. The rainfall this year has only been three inches. An effort is to he made in Bendigo, ( Vic.) to establish the tomato pulp industry there being a great demand for this pulp in Great Britain. The blacks are reported to bo very troublesome in the northern districts of West Australia. They have practically taken charge of all the stations on the goldfield roads killing cattle indiscriminately.

.An important gold discovery is reported from Mathinna, Tasmania. The stone averages several ounces to tho ton. A direct trade will shortly be established between Tasmania and China. A movement is on foot in Victoria amongst dairy farmers for improving the quality of butter. The Government has, by proclamation, declared the municipality of Port Adelaide, a eity, to be called the City of Port Adelaide. This action has been taken in response to a petition by the municipality, which now numbers more than 20,000 inhabitants. The late Queen’s Birthday was not observed in Victoria as a public holiday. Here and there ffags flew half-mast high, but it was evident that the occasion had escaped general notice. The new Governor of Tasmania, Sir Arthur Havelock, is expected to arrive at Hobart at about the middle of August.