Manawatu Hearald. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1898. The Fourth of July.

Manawatu Herald, 2 July 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Hearald. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1898. The Fourth of July.

On Monday our Coming residing in the United States of America will celebrate their Independence D.iy. and though it is an act which por pefcuates the fact of their ravolt from tho English Crown, it is one which every inhabitant of the Empire looks on with indifference as to the reasons, but with pleasure of the fact a.<= showing how our own kith nnd kin have advanced by their own grit and energy. Viewed from the stand point (if to-day our ancestors who colonised America were light in their action in withstanding oppressive, taxation for tho support of the Old. Coun'iy, and the experience our rulura have gained of the unfortunate result of putting on too rainy turns of the scrsw, has enabled us, in developing (he Australian Colonies a far feer hand. In the United States, as also in all English colonies, there are to be found the representatives of nearly every nationality under the sun. the Anglo Saxon love of liberty and justice allowing all law-abiding persona free ingress and egress to their territories and also offers them every inducement to remain. Under these circumstances it cannot be expected that a unani mous feeling of leva would be felt towards Great Britain because the foreign-born citizens of the Republic have not the ties of blood and friend ship to connect them with the Old Country, and have likewise heard many disparaging remarks upon her ability and power at the times when the Yankees let themselves go in Fourth al July celebrations of their successes against the British. No nation is given to sing small, and in snch a go-ahead, cute, and ambitious nation as that of the United States we are not surprised at their overstepping, what a little experience will prove them to be doing, the bounds between fact and fancy. Amongst our own family little exentricities, little exaggerations, are understood and valued accordingly, and when a Yankee orator denounces Great Britain we know that he really does not mean to or wish to, but it interests his hearers for a moment and sn hia point is gained. We shall on Monday have sections of the Great Kepublic observing that day in something of the usual manner, flflebrating anyhow their birth as a great nation, but without a word of bitterness against the Mother Country who gave the new world its first English-speaking population. Lately it has pleased the Americans to embroil themselves in war with a Power whose might they underrated as mtioh ai they overrated their own strength, and the issue is still in the balance, and whatever it may be, will cost both 'countries millions of pounds and thousands of lives. The principle for which America is fight, ing is the right one — that of freedom — were it not possible to have secured the result other than by a report to arms. We believe America has acted both rashly and without due consideration, but still we trust in the long run to see her victorious. On this anniversary had it been possible to have avoided reference to the Cuban trouble we should have done so, but it is this trouble which will go a long way towards knitting the Anglo-Saxon race into one common brotherhood for mutual protection and the preservation of the peace of the world. English sympathy is with the Americans, and she stands by, with her forces well in hand so see fair play between the two countries now at war, ready at a moment's notice to interfere if any foreign nation dares to attempt to take advantage of America in the hour of her disaster. With England goes the remainder of the whole English-speaking race, and in every corner of the globe, no matter by what trouble, privation, or peril has the Anglo-Saxon amassed wealth, this he 13 ready to imperil at the moment to enable the Empire, of which he is proud to be a member, to engage in war with a country who threatens the one comprising a population sprung from the stock he comes from. Blood is thicker than water, the glorious traditions of Britain's fleet and navy are as dear to the inhabitant of the United States, who is descended from the old colonists, as it is to the citizen of England or the colonists of Australasia, and the foe that attacks either,

•=o as to seriously imperil their safety, will find such an uprising over the world that has never been seen befo c, and which they will wish nvv rto witness again. Thu3 to our Am rican cousins we pass our best of wishes, and hope that before many je.ri have passed all the AngL Sax ns may have one celebration in onvnon, that of the day when the uni n of the race has been defcermin d upon to uphold freedem and enf rce peace.

The Borough Council meets on Monday evening when interesting correspondence will probably be considered and dealt with. We understand that another steamer is going to run from this port to Wellington. There are rumours that one of our hotels is likely to change hands soon. Tenders for leasing a Borough reserve must be sent in on Monday. - The Hey. Wm. Thomson, of Palmerston North, will preach fin the Presbyterian Church to-morrow both morning and evening. The service in the evening will ' be specially for young men and women. We hope to see a large congregation. Well known hymns will be sung, which will add greatly to the pleasure of the service. The Manawatu Times says actions for damages of a substantial amount will be instituted at an ear y date against the Hallway Department, at the, suit of Messrs Cobb and J. Dobbs, as the result of the recent railway accident. Mr Baker appeals on behalf of Mr Cvbb, and Innes for Mr Dobbs. The arrival of the Spanish fleet under Admira' Camara at the Suez Canal on its way to the Philippine Islands raised a question of interest as to U\e rights of warships in the gr at wat rway. The Suez Canal by a Ir>nty signed in 188C> was neutralised so that ship-! of .co'nm<*rce and of war of all flags might pass froo'v through it both in war and in peace. P»o i« rent 3 , however, are p'aend with regard t-i it o:i a similar fooling to that which the. 1 uncupy in neu ral pirts. They can only io victual with actual necees ries at its ports, and must use all dispatch in passing -through it. They may not stop at Port Said or Suez more than 24 hours, and 24 hours must elapse h tween the departure of a belligeren and that of a ship of the opposing Power. No acts of war can tak« place in the Canal or within three miles of its ports otj.cc&ss.—P ost. In the Sydney markets potatoes are quoted at £7 10s to £8 5s and in Melbourne at£B to £8 15s. It is funny how prices for wool vary. A month or more ago we mentioned the low price a we 1-known brand of wool realised in the London markets. We are now informed that some stragglers -wool was sold in Wellington equalling the price of the best fleeces that went to London. Captain Slocuin, who recently visited Australia while on a voyage round the world in the 12-ton yacht Spray from New York, has arrived safely at Rhode Island. Mr Arthur Amon has been elected to the Sluggish River Board in the room of Mr McMillan, who resigned. Julius Cffisar is not dead, but living. And not only very much alive but has just been made a J.P. by a Liberal Government. His residence we learn h at Ormond. In the House of Commons Mr Curzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, stated that the British Government has claimed compensation from France on behalf of the widows and children of the officers who lost their lives at Waima, in the French territory, in West Africa. The capabilities for fattening on the Motoa estate can be guaged by the statement, that since shearing, ten thousand fat sheep have been sent away. There should be plenty of law — of some sort — in the land as the Government have gazetted 47 more J's.P ! Yesterday morning the members of the Australian* Mutual Provident Society throughout Australia and New Zealand should have received their bonus certificates, intimating that they have had added to their policies for the one year a sum of about £885,000, being the equivalent in reversionary bonuses of the £445,---235 cash decided to be distributed. This latter sum is equal to a refund of £33 18s out of every £100 received as premiums from the members, a result which must be regarded as eminently satisfactory. As H.M.S. Torch was entering the Heads on Thursday morning Signalman Brooks was leaning out cleaning the muzzle of one of the guns, when the rail on which he was sitting gave way, and he fell backwards into the water. The officer on watch witnessed the occurrence and promptly gave the signal " Man overboard." Life-buoys were immediately thrown out, the whale boat lowered and the ship headed round, but porf Brooks, though a good swimmer, was weighted down by his apparel, inoluding his sea boots and perished. — Tivies, According to the London correspondent of the Post, the Admiralty has to Mr Witheford expressed readiness to subsidise the Calliope Dock, Auckland, by a yearly sum sufficient to pay the interest on the capital expended in providing plant capable of performing any work necessary to a man-of-war. In the event of the dock i being required for any of the British fleet, dock and plant would of course be at the service of the Crown. As, however, the | docking of vessels would mean the spending of large sums in the port, Aucklanders will hardly grumble at that. When the dock is not wanted for a British war vessel, then the Auckland Harbour Board can do as it likes, and make charges for foreign war vessels or mail or other craft.

Attention is drawn to Mr Loveday*s advertisement on the first page. The hearts of bargain hunters should rejoice, as it is expressly set forth that remnants and oddments are to be cleared at any price. As it is again turning cold the fact that discounts will be given on clothing, blankets, rugs, boots and shoes, is very satisfactory. There is no doubt but that this sale is one that will command attention and purchasers.

The programme arranged for the concert on Thursday appears to-day. The selection of the songs will give all those who appreciate good music a treat, and a very pleasant evening can be looked forward to. We learn that the proceeds of the concert after paying expenses will be devoted to the improvement of St. Mary's Church, Foxton.

Constable Gillespie is out of the hospital and has so far recovered as to be able to resume bis duties.

The Standard Bays — " In reply to inquiries we have much pleasure in stating that Mr Pirani is steadily improving, and that he will be about again in two or three weeks."

Tbe Christchurch Press publishes a capital view of tbe harbour of Santiago de Cuba, tbe scene of tbe present fighting.

Board and residence is wanted by a gentleman. Letters can be sent to this office.

By the courtesy of the local Begistrar, Mr MacDermott we are enabled to give the vital statistics for the past quarter, ending 30th of June :— Births 8, marriages 1. deaths 4.

The schooner Whangaroa is now at the wharf, fully loaded and ready for sea, and will if possible, leave to-morrow morning.

At the general meeting of the Foxton Dramatic Club on Thursday night, the report and balance sheet of the last concert were passed. Several new members were elected. It was decided that the next performance should take the form of a dramatic representation.

Mr Alf. Fraser has sent Home an exceedingly large order for Christmas and New Year cards which will be delivered in October next.