France in Egypt.

Manawatu Herald, 15 September 1898, Page 2

France in Egypt.

We direct attention to the cable news concerning General Kitobener'e advance to Fashoda, and the fear expressed that friction with France may arise therefrom. Fashoda if> a

town in what is called the Shillink country, on an island in the White Nile, 60 mile«j below where the

tributary, the Sobafc, joins that river, it is also distant about 400 miles dup south of Omdurman. It will be remembered that the Italians in 1896* received a severe defeat from Menelik of Abyssinia and had virtually to retire from Africa except for a small stretch of coast line. The French have some land in Somali Land and

immediately on the defeat of the Italians becoming known, she, not recognising the treaties for the partition of Africa, considered harpelf at

liberty to establish herself on the Upper Nile. Having compelled the Congo Statfl in 1894 to evacuate all stations to the north of the Bomu, she at once made preparations for

tba invasion of the old Egyptian province of Babr el Ghazal, and this forward movement seems to have been timed so as to coincide with a corresponding move on the part of Abyssinia. At the end of June,

1897, Captain Liotard occupied the old station of Dem Ziber ; on July 28rd he was at the famous Meshra or Rek, whence boats are to carry him to Faphoda on the Nile. A military expedition was organised by the French in Abyssina to assist the forces from the Congo, and was under the command of Captain Clocbette (who has since died). On June 9th, 1897, it is known that he crossed the Didesa, on July Ist he was at a plaoe called Gore, and on July 22nd he left for Fashoda. The cables announce that in 1896

France was warned that the occupa tion of Fashoda would be considered an unfriendly aat. It appears as thouph France doubted the power of the Egyptians to recover their lost territory, but the success of General Eitcli mer now proves their power to get lack all that previously belonged to th ra, and France will thus most prob bly retire. If she does not do so qr.etly it is most likely she will ba m de to, as the Khalifa was not smashed to give France a large slice of Af . iea. It seems that the French are in the neighbourhood of Fashoda from the statements made by the Khalifa's steamers that they had been beaten back when asoending the Nile. Further news is likely to be both interesting and exciting from this portion of the globe.

Tenders for the purchase of sections 80 and 81, with cottage thereon, will be received by Messrs Abraham and Williams up to the 54th inst.

That corner allotment In Clyde street has been purchased by Mr Jenks, owing to its adjoining his resi* denee. Land is moving in ownership in this town. \

The Borough Council meets to-night to consider the applications that may be received for the position of Town Cleric.

'The house' and land facing Harbour street and which backs on to Mr John Spelman's premises in the Main street has been purchased by him at the very reasonable figure of £80. The bargain was obtatned from the owners disregarding the value of advertising. •

Messrs Gammon and Co. draw attention as to the accounts in connection with the Whangaroa which would be well to pay attention to.

The rain of the last few days has done, wonders in making both grass and all kinds of seed grow. ' We hear of nearly all the early sowings of onions being well up out of the ground, and peas being also well forward.

We mentioned the other day that local bodies were growling at the heavy charges made by the Government for their valuations, and at Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council they passed the following resolution : — " That whereas it cost the sum of £96 for the valuation of the Horowhenua county three years ago, and Government now requires payment of /15425, being one third cost of present valuation made by them, this Council declines to pay same until full particulars of the claim are furnished to the Council, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Taranaki County Council, also Messrs Stevens, Field, and Pirani, M.H.R.'s."

For the year ended 31st March, 1898, the sheep tax collected amounted to £20,303, and £15,113 was spent on the inspection of stock and £15,350 for the destruction of rabbits.

Tw,o old Nelson Borough Councillors Mr E. Everett, who has sat for 24 years, and Mr J. Harley for twenty years, have voluntarily resigned.

,A baby boy named Sharp, travelling with his mother in a second-class carriage, fell out of a train on the Catlin branch of the railway, near Otanomomo, while on the way to Bajv clutha on Friday. The train wafs stopped, and the youngster was picked up, having received no apparent injury.

For the vacancy on the Education Board caused by the retirement N of Mr G. A. Hurley two candidates have announced themselves, Mrs Mellsop, M.A., of Palmerston, and Mr James S. Youny, of the Waimate Plains.

The only woman wrangler this year at Cambridge is Miss C. Brown Cave, of Girton, whose place is given as equal to that of fifth wrangler. Miss Fawcett's record of •' above the senior wrangler " eight years ago is not yet equalled, but this is a good second.

The cost of maintenance and runing of the Government steamers Tutanekai and Hinemoa for the year ended 31st March last was £15,074 14s yd, of which the Tutanekai was responsible for £8299 ibs 7d and the Hinemoa for £6775 4s. As against this, £4646 6s 3d was received for freight, passengers, &c. . .. ■

The Rev Joseph Campbell has discovered a process ,for making an illuminating gas from Waikato coal. It is an adaptation, of water gas, but has a naturally pungent odour. The, discoverer says it can be supplied at 5s per 1006 ft, and the cost of the plant is £2000. :

It is estimated by the chairman of the Napier Chamber of Commerce that the combined revenue of the trawlers working in the bay will shortly reach over £17,000 3 year. Alexander McWilliams was charged at Palmerston with the appropriation to his own fose the sum of £7 4s, the property of Mr M. Todd, baker. Accused, who was represented by Mr Innes, pleaded guilty to all five charges and was admitted to probation for six months.

William Brebner, senior check clerk at the Dunedin Telegraph Office, died on Tuesday morning from pneumonia. The deceased was stationed in Foxton many years ago.

Mr. Smith, representative of Mr J. Osborne, has just completed the sinking of an artesian well for Messrs MeHardy Bros., of Palmerston North, at a depth of 377 feet, giving a flow of 60 gallons per minute and a rise of 32 feet. This is the best well in the district. Mr Smith has just made a start with a second well for the same firm.

The ship Hollingwood, which left Sydney on May 22nd for London, has been abandoned at sea on fire. There is no news of her crew. The Hollingwood was commanded by Captain Kidd, who married a New Zealand lady prior to leaving Sydney. His wife accompanied him. The carge was valued at £70,000.

An alluvial rush has taken place close to Kanowna (Victoria.) Payable wash was found under a house, and a large area has been pegged out, taking in residence areas, town blocks and tbo railway line,

The population of France is stationary. Hour by hour and day by day the hated Anglo-Saxon creeps ahead. We fought Napoleon when we had 18.000,000 Britons and France had 40,060,000 Frenchmen. We have 40,000,000 inhabitants of the British Isle to-day to France's 58,500,000. Across the sea we have 10,000,000Britons, France is fast sinking to the ••^ M a ail?'' On<lary P° wer - London

At the meeting of the AVanganui Education Board held on Monday night, Miss D. Reed was appointed junior assistant, and E. Voss pupil teacher to the Foxton school, and Miss H. West was appointed pupil teacher to the Sandon school.

Mr J. N. Williams, of Hastings, has accepted the offer of the Land Purchase Board for the purchase of 1150 acres of the Frimley Estate, which is within 10 minutes' walk of the local postoffice. The property is all flat and of magnificent quality, and r will, it is thought, accommodate over 100 small farmers. .

Archdeacon Towgdod, of Marion, has obtained leave of, absence for eight months, commencing from the ist November. "The Rev. Gardner* of HaWke's Bay, will have charge of the! parish during Archdeacon Towgocxl's absence. .3 !■ . . . '

"You see all sorts of teanis on the trail," writes 1 , a Waimate man who went to 'Klondyke, "goats, dogs, horses, muTe'si donkeys, bullocks, bulls, men, wo'nten and boys." ' Like some other N?W £ealanders he found nothing very terrible about the White Pass. ' '■•"■■ "': ■ ' ' " ;

A recently-returned traveller has circulated the statement that the monkeys .of. the mountain regions of China actually make pottery, and use the jars' to store wine of their own manufacture; '• The Pope is painfully affected by the murder ofthe Empress of Austria and the grief tnroiighout Itaty is 'poignant, 1 owing to three similar crimes having been committed by Italians. ■

The Bishop of Salisbury is busy over a scheme i to provide an institute for the accommodation and recreation of the soldiers who, this summer and in future years, are to be quartered in the War: Office ground on Salisbury Plain. The amount required is put at £1,000.

Parafin oil would hardly be deemed a desirable beverage by an epicure, but it is used in large quantities as a stimulant by Russian immigrants in England. The habit is one that they acquire in their native land, and strange as it may seen, they adhere to this form of intoxication even when other liquors are within the reach of their purses.

It is reported that many Dervishes are joining the Egyptian forces. The officials in Paris are extremely reticent as to their opinions regarding Sir Herbert Kitchener's intended advance.

"Le Temps " says the position of the French expedition under Captain Marcband is a matter 3T doubt.

The Timct says the situation is nob without seriousness. England expects the Government to maintain ttie declaration made in the Home of Commons in 1895 by Sif Edward Grey, then Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Rosebery Ministry, that England would eon. sideV f be occupation of Fashoda bs± the French as an Unfriendly act. Tbe SandarS sayo it is incredible that France should sanction such a ftcklass intrusion into the British sphere of influence.

Culouel ; Fraok Rhodea, who is aioting m the !Ftmet oorretpoudent in the s ordaa, a^cl whola,«mnplicity is tie J imeßop; -.., rAidi'fesuited: in his reiu^Hted by-.^Qlftjip. Vi^