SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1897. South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 1 May 1897, Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1897. South Africa.

No man 'knows what a. day may bring forth, but judging by the news daily received about Bouth Africa, it should not surprise anyone to find the commencement of a general European war begun on the borders of the Transvaal. It is unnecessary to again recount the events. which led up to the Jameson Raid; but it is well to remember that thaevilß then existing which almost justified the startling step' Dr Jameson took to set them right, have, owing to the defeat of the Raid, been left just as before. The genuine discontent with the Dutch Government of the Trans-, vaal remains and will, at the first opening, explode once more. The fact which will enable Britain to use force legitimately against the Boers is that the country is held under the suzerainty of Great Britain, by which she reserves the right of controlling the foreign relations of the Transvaal, except as regards the Orange Free State. During the inquiry into the Jameson Raid it was shown that the Uitlanders, or foreigners, far outnumbered the Boers of the Transvaal, but for all that they were denied citizens rights, and had to be licenced, and that certain commodities had been placed in the hands of German syndicates, which thus caused their bting charged exorbitant prices for articles of every day use. That very peculiar monarch, the Emperor of Germany, seems bent upon impeding British enterprise in Africa, though his countrymen are permitted free exercise of their business capabilities in English colonies, and we know a year ago he desired to land a party of German marines on Portuguese territory to march for the moral support of President Kruger. Fortunately the Portuguese held the key of the gate and refused to let the marines through, otherwise the war would have been at its fiercest now. In our last issue we published a cablegram which stated that the Emperor desired' to get France and Russia to join him in giving President Kruger • moral ' support in his antagonism with England. It will be much more than moral support the Boer President will want in the next war with England, for he has been annexed once, but afterwards, by insufficient forces being sent, the British received reverses, which they calmly accepted and made a peace, instead of proving their power, all to save the -taxpayer some pounds. Just as might have been expected, the Boers imagine themselves to be a power in the land, and with the bombastio talk of the German Emperor believe they are a match any day for England. From a Blue Book published by the British Government it is shown that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has sent despatches to the Transvaal Government complaining that the Transvaal Executive had concluded three treaties with other nations without the Queen's consent ; and it also pointed out that the Act for the expulsion of alien immigrants from the Transvaal, and the stringgent press laws passed by the Volksraadjwere breached of the Convention. At present the Transvaal Government have not replied to the despatches. Appearances point that the time is shortly coming when the Transvaal Executive will have to reply, or take the consequences, as men-of-war, ammunition, and troops are being sent to the Cape. Britain will not move till she is ready, but her action points to her believing the time to be nearly ripe for movement, and the European nations will probably bear in mind Mr Chamberlain's assertion that his Government would brook no interference in South Africa. There is nothing like letting every one know what you mean, and it will be the decisive Assertion of Mr Chamberlain that will clear the road for his quieting the President of the Transvaal, if he does not withdraw from the treaties he was not allowed to make, and does not conduct his internal Government more in com plianoe with the fitness for the public welfare, instead of Boer selfishness.

The new Governor for the Cape is Sir Alfred Milner, who has the character of being the man most fitted for the difficult duties he will shortly be called upon to undertake. He was edncated at Wartemberg, and German is as natural to him as his mother tongue. He has had considerable experience in Egypt, and if it is the fact, as it is said to be, that the key to South Africa lies in North Africa he will possess great advantages.

Before leaving the consideration of tbig question it may be as well to

point out that one more grievance is still undecided between Boer and British, which could, on the part of the Boer, provided he has sufficient 'moral* support, be urged aB a cause of war. We refer to the indemnity claimed by the Transvaal Government for the Jameson Raid. They have put together figures amounting to £1,600,000, but at present no financier understands whether the whole amount is the above, or that one million shall include all charges, but the amount is never likely to ohange hands from Britisher to Boer, and for a very good reason. It has been computed that the cost of the Raid to the Boers could not possibly have amounted to £50,000. The Boers obtained from the Raiders, by fines, close on a quarter of a million, and therefore made a clear profit of £200,000. Notwithstanding this, they claim direct damages for £677,898 89 Bd, exclusive of private citizens' claims for damages, and to make the farce greater claim -a million for •« moral and intellectual damages." The next claim has yet to be made out, and possibly may be in the shape of a contra account, showing an unpleasantly large debit balance against the Boers.

Big vegetables are just now in evidence. Mr Joe Tos has a vegetable marrow in bis shop which weighs 38 pounds, and measures two feet four inohes in length and three feet in circumference.

Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a stock sale at Levin on the 7th instant.

The Borough Council meet on Monday evening. '

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company has received ihe following market cable :— Tallow— Market flat. Tallow has declined 6d per cwt since last report.

A small seam of quicksilver has been discovered when digging out foundations for a building at Auckland.

The latest reports from New Guinea state that besides a number of deaths from fever, many of the miners are literally starving, and it is impossible to transport stores.

M. De 801, of Passy, has invested a capital of £600, the interest of whioh is to give an annual dowry, to* a virtuous and poor girl. She is to be crowned with white roses at the Mayoralty.

According to statistics recently furnished by Dr James Wood, of Brooklyn, of all the patients applying for treatment at the chief dispensary of that city, no less than ten per cent were tea drunkards. They are not aware of the fact, but the symptoms of their oases point unmistakedly to over indulgence in tea ; and that presumption, on inquiry, is confirmed, by their confessions. They suffer from headache, vertigo, insomnia, palpitation of the heart, mental confusion, nightmare, nausea, hallucination, morbid depression of spirits, and sometimes from suicidal impulses— surely a formidable list of symptoms. These parents are »f both sexes and all ages, and confess drinking f om a pint and a half to fifteen pints of tea each day. .

Captain Boycott— who has given both a noun and a verb to the language —says that to-day, so far from being the most bated man in Mayo, he k fe one of the most popular. It is he who was originally 11 boycotted " 16 years ago.

Sir William Harcourt, speaking at Abertillery, Monmouthshire, said Lord Salisbury's policy would leave bitter memories of shame and remorse in English hearts.

A single tobacco plant will produce 860,000 seeds.

A picture by Florenoe Fuller, the Victorian artist, has been hung in the Royal Aoademy.

Those interested in the dairy industry, says the Post, will be interested to know that three shipments of butter — 1116 boxes boxes in all— sent to England by Mr F. W. Greville realised from 95s to 103s per owt., and the account sales show a olear profit of £374.

Geese in migrating often travel over 6,000 miles. Some English geese have even travelled to this oolony. *

The old Shrove Tuesday oeremony of tossing the pancake was observed as usual at Westminster School. Fourteen boys, who had beed elected by the 14 forms of the school, were drawn up in a line east of the bar which divides the lower sohool from the upper sohool, and the cook, having flourished the frying-pan three times round his head, threw the panoake over the bar. A. scramble ensued, and the boy who seized the greater part of the panoake immediately proceeded to the deanery, in company with the verger, to demand bis honorarium of 2 guineas. The cook followed, claiming half that sum.

The Band if Mercy is the title of a new paper published under the auspices of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Itis in the days of childhood and youth, that the lessons of gentleness and care for dumb animals can be best implanted, and result in our young men and women growing tip humane and tender-hearted towards the weak and helpless," and for this the paper is published.

Mr Joe Tos annoonoes the arrival of a large shipment of paper-hangings, whioh will be for sale oheap.

Mr Loveday's establishment is well surrounded with empty packing oases, the goods having been placed in the store. Thii means the first instalment of new winter goods.

The Queen of the South arrived here yesterday morning for the first time after her experience on the bar. Coming up she bad the misfortune to break one of the bladei of the propeller and had to aend to Wellington, on her arrival here, for her old one. This she shipped early this morning and got away.

The Sunbeam is expeoted to be floated to-night. Yesterday she waß lifted with the aid of a punt and casks, but there was not power to hold her. Wire rope has now been plaoed under the steamer and it is confidently expeoted they will bear her op whilst the water and silt is cleared out of her. It is wonderful to see the amount of silt collected by her during the time she has been und«r water.

The Mayor was round this morning with the Flood Belief lilt and got fair responses to the appeal for help.

There was a ship's dog, a cross with a Newfoundland, on board of the Queen of the South, and was on board of her yesterday. He took a ran on the wharf when he suddenly foamed at the mouth and made a rush at one of the wharf hands, and missing him ran on board open mouth at the captain. Before reaching him, however, the dog fell down dead. It is surmised that he must have got poisoned with something on the wharf.

Certainly the most effective medioine in the world is Sanders and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious oases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings— no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronohitis, Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, Ac, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organd. In nse at all hospitals and medioal clinics; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others.— [advt.]

To The Deaf and those troubled with Noises in the Head or other Aural Troubles. Dr Nicholson, of London, the world famed Aural Specialist and inventor of Artificial Ear Drums, has just issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Deafness and Anral Tronbles. This book may be had from Mr Colin Campbell, 160, Adelaide Road, Wellington, N.Z. . Mr Campbell was cured of hip deafness by. Dr Nicholson's system, and takes pleasure in spreading the news of the great specialist in New Zealand. A little boook on the cure of Rheumatism Corpulence, Lumbago, and Indigestion by the same author may be had from Mr Campbell, also|free.