Fashoda.

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1898, Page 2

Fashoda.

That France should select Fashoda is a point to dispute with England about, unless as a pretext for war, , cannot be understood, as it hag been made plain so many times that Eng land intended to secure the due projection of Egypt, and the territory in question is of the utmost importance f o that country, not as regards? lands, | population, or commerce, but as commanding the conservation of tbp ; Nile to its present course, without which Egypt would soon become a desert. The Nile flows to Khartoum and the Egyptian claim so far is not «n question. At this point the Blhp Nile joins the main river coming from the Abyssinian country. The Nile run 3on from Khartoum to Fashoda, and then it«i course is to he lakes Albert Nyanza, and Albert El ward Nyanza, and a branch runs j so the Victoria Nyanza. The ! j Uganda country lies between these lakes. To the south of Fashoda tributaries ran into the Nile from the West, and it is confidently asserted that the country served by these have never been under French influence. France must know that England has always intended to have control of the country from Egypt to the Gape and her sending any sort >f expedition to intercept that intention she was warned would be considered an unfriendly act. War may arise from this mistaken action of France, but we desire to let our readers understand why the opposition to allow interference with the Nile exists, as then their patriotism may be more fully aroused. Writing on the subject of the control of the Nile valley being essential to the safety of Egypt, Major Wingate. now with the conquering forces at Khartoum, nays: — " With all those civilising powera who are marching forward un selfishly realise that should they establish themselves on the banks of the navigable Nile they must not nttempt to out off or minimise the life-giving water supply of Egypt, by introducing skilled irrigation within the territories they may have acquired ? Will they unselfishly abandon the advantages they may have secured through the expenditure >f b'.ood and treasure in order that -ha legitimate rights of Egypt may not be interfered with . . . ? Tho reasons which first prompted M >hatmd AH, three-quarters of a century ago, to take possession of the Snudan still hold good. As the Mile is the life of Egypt, so every effort must be made to preserve the Nile valley from intrusion." In his book. " Fire and Sword in the Soudan," Slatin Pasha, so long * prisoner of the Khalifa, writes : — The Bahr el Ohazal is of immense importance, and holds a peculiar position in relation to the rest of the Soudan. It is & most fertile district, extending over an enormous area, wi tiered by a labyrinth of stream*, and covered with mountains and forests, in which elephants abound, while the low valleys are subject to inundations. The soil is exceptionally Rood, producing quantities of cotton and indiarubber. The geographical and strategical position of the province makes it necessary to the Soudan. The presence of foreigners unconcerned in the pre» servation of Egyptian interests, having at their command the resources of this great country, which, in men and materials, are more vast r.hnn any other part of the valley of the Nile, would place them in such a predominating position as to endanger any occupation by Egypt of her lost provinces. There are cattle in abundance, and the population has been estimated between five and six million;). They can be drilled into excellent soldiers, but the ceaseless warring of the tribes with each other, and the impossibility of combination, makes it easy for foreigners to obtain the ascendancy, and create a local army. Steamers formerly ascended from Khartoum to the port of Meshera, but were often stopped by the reeds or floating vegetation. Just south of Fashoda the river emerges from what may have been the bed of an ancient lake. Into this wide marsh trickle a great number of winding streams, often completely blocked^ by the reeds, and through these barriers travellers have to cut their way with swords and axes. Sir Samuel Baker's expedition, in 1870-74, being delayed a year from this oause."

The County Clerk was in town yesterday with the plans of the road jto the beach, for the Mayor's signature. We understand that the contractor will make a start next week. It appears that the railway department v. ill run some excursions, as the steam v owners have been asked as to when they would be ready to run. The o was quite a mild excitement when ii bedame known this morning thaj Il'rThos. Westwood, one of the candid ites for the Mayoralty had decided, for business reasons, on reti:..'ng from the contest. He had a capital support which makes it even more surprising. The Mapourika is now considered absolutely safe from the sea. Yester day Mr Daniel got permission to make a cutting in the north wall in order to launch the vessel. He estimates that she will again be in the water in about eight weeks, and that the damage will amount to about £600 Owing to he scarcity of whitebait in Greymouth, one of the canning factories has closed down. The rapidity with which the converion of cane in.o sugar at the Hawaii Islands is carried out is shown by the fact that cane cut in the fields in the morning is converted into sugar and bagged the same night. Thomas Hayton, a farmer, 45 years of age, committed suicide in a shed at Wakapuaka on Thursday. He shot himself in the mouth and hung himself in the shed in one act. Deceased, who leaves a wite and two children, has been despondent for the last two or three weeks. It is rumoured that Captain Dreyfus is now confined in Fort Mont Valfcrien in Paris. The awkward camel has become a competitor of the coach horse. Englishmen have taught him his new role, and in India he can now be seen in front of a regulation mail coach. Four are usually harnessed together. Mr Campbell, chairman of the Greymouth Harbour Board, with other members and leading citizens, visited the Mapourika and conveyed to Captain McLean the sympathy of the residents of the district at the mishap, expressed satisfaction at the result of the enquiry, and the hope that the vessel will be continued in the trade and under the command of Captain McLean. In the Dairy for August there is an interesting communication from Mr A. T. Hutton, M.R.C.V.S., giving particulars of the latest treatment of milk fever in cows. In regard to preventive measures Mr Hutton says : — ' Experience proves that the best method of prevention is to allow calving to take place under the most natural possible circumstances. It is not sufficient to get the cow in low condition, and then make an invalid of her after calving, omitting the exercise necessary to the animal's health. On the contrary she should be put where she has to work for her living, and this is to be continued a week after parturition. Amongst other preventives, a dose or two of opening medicine is advisable, but the cow should not have salts at the onset of the disease. In the number of tramps America is rich. The estimate varies between 40,000 and 60,000. According to the most recent figures the annual production of salt in the United States is about 14,000,000 barrels of 28olb. each. A troublesome weed known as the wild turnip is said to be spreading rapidly in Hawke's Bay. A 5-petalled flower, nearly a yard in diameter, has lately been discovered in the Philippines. A single flower weighs aolb. We have been informed that Mr Ormound Cooper, manager for Messrs Barraud and Abraham, at Feilding, contemplates joining the firm of Messrs Abraham and Williams next year. Mr Williams will probably retire from the firm in order to follow farming pursuits. Fpr the first time in New Zealand the quadruple! system of telegraphy (by which two messages can be sent and two messages received at the same time on the same wire) is to be regularly made use of by the Telegraph Department. The system has been working for about a fortnight between Wellington and Auckland and enables an immense quantity of work to be got through in a short space of time. The Department is now pushing on the work of laving a telegraph line between Taranaki and Auckland. This will give two separate lines between Auckland and Wellington. Mr Donald Fraser, of Rangitikei, has just returned from a month's trip to N.S. Wales and Victoria, the major portion of the time being spent in N.S. 'Wales. An important inland show he attended compared, in his opinion, very unfavourably with the Manawatu Show as regards attendance, and the quantity and quality of stock on exhibition. The drought, recently experienced there, has been far more pronounced than generally understood, and station owners have found it necessary to destroy the lambs to save the ewes. On one station, where Mr Fraser stayed, the sheep were mustered, and 11,500 lambs were slaughtered. Mr Fraser fully anticipates that, consequent upon this, the wool crop in N.S. Wales will be shortened by fully six or seven million sheep. Mr Theophilus Easton desires us to say that there must be some mistake in the report of the civil case heard, in Wellington of T. Wilford v. T. Faston and the Aldridges, as he has had nothing to do with any matter with them or T. Wilford. The ?rince of Wales' kneecap has knitted naturally, and a complete recovery is expected. The Indian Government has in formedthe Afridi tribesmen that India will retain contol of the Khyber Pass. The bachelors of Kereru are giving a Ball at the Kereru schoolhouse on Friday, November 4th. A large number of invitations are being sent out, and the ball promises to be an enjoyable affair.