WHAT THE “WORLD” SAYS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1018, 6 January 1880, Page 4

WHAT THE “WORLD” SAYS.

(from truth.) I hear that Prince Leopold will take up his residence at Claremont, which he will find a far more convenient and healthy abode than Boyton Manor, which is remote of access and lies in a damp country. Since Claremont became a Crown domain, it has been very little used by our royal family ; although a place more desirable in all respects could not be conceived. The paragraph which went the round of the papers three weeks ago by which we learnt that the Queen was eating strawberries at Balmoral grown in the open air, was sent up by her Majesty’s express desire, in order to dissipate the idea that at this season Balmoral lies in a snowy or fogey waste.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch are about to celebrate their golden wedding at Bowhill, in Selkirkshire, their favourite residence. The present duke has been a great Tory power for fifty years. It is sixty years since he succeeded his father. He is the “ Walter ”so often alluded to by Sir Walter in Lockhart,a “ Life,” and throughout his life he has been known as one of the best and most popular landlords in the country. • It is no secret that Lord Salisbury is deeply incensed against Lord Lytton for having pushed matters so for in Afghanistan ; for in spite of his sneer against the Edinburgh Review, the rational plan advocated in that “ pamphlet ” (as the Duke of Wellington once styled it in the House of Lords) was that wished and intended by the Ministry—i e., to place our representative, not at Cabul but at Candahar, where he would have been in perfect security. The Jingoes and their organs played and bellowed against the “ dishonour” which would have been entitled by such a “ retrogression,” and they must be rather dismayed now to find that the Edinburgh Review and Lord Salisbury were of the same mind.

The abdication of Yakob Khan is a stunning blow to the Ministry, though they have taken it jauntily. Whether he was knave or idiot, or a combination of both, he was a convenient puppet. Now we shall have to find some other prince, for annexation is out of the question. Lord Lytton’s plan is to set np a child as de jure ruler, and for the Indian Government to rule de facto, which would be annexation in everything but name. Last week there was a scare amongst the Liberals. An article in the Times was believed to be “ inspired,” and it was expected that a dissolution was imminent, I am told, however, the conservative wire-pullers have received no intimation of an immediate dissolution.

This however, does not prove much. When Mr Gladstone dissolved the last Parliament, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wolverton, and Lord Granville alone of his intention. The Cabinet was only informed of what was about to occur after the first step had been taken. Lord Beaconsfield is more fond of surprises than Mr Gladstone, and I should not wonder|if he were to “ spring ” an election on his Cabinet some morning, What will be the result of the next general election no man can say. Unquestionably the Liberals will gain seats in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and in the English boroughs. But will they gain a suffiicent number to counterbalance the English counties, which are the strongholds of the Conservatives ?