Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 27, 1900. England's Spirit.

Manawatu Herald, 27 January 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JAN. 27, 1900. England's Spirit.

We have to thank Lord Koseberry for placing in such a convincing manner the fact that Englishmen rise superior to party in time of peril. In these distant lands we all feel the impulse to rise and do something, and in our small way something has been done, but this, satisfactory as it is, is not the act which has called forth Lord Roseberry's eulogium, it is the feeling of assurance planted in the minds of the members of the Empire that come what may, reverses when success was hoped for, the end must eventually be as we all desire, because every man, woman, and child in the Empire is determined to sacrifice themselves, relatives, money, everything, to achieve it. Out here we have all felt in unison with the Old Country, we have not been successful, but we are bound to be before the war is over. The men who conduct the war are trusted, time is given to them to carry out their plans, and we wait with confidence for the result. Should we be disappointed there will be no howling, no raving at our leaders, but there will be a strain upon our resources to inorease the forces in the field, as come out on top we must. These few words are simple and only offered as a contrast to the appropriate words used by Lord Roseberry when addressing a meeting at Chatham on Monday night. The campaign, he said, was in some respects the most formidable that Great Britain had undertaken, recalling the Austrians' task in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Dalmatian province transferred from Turkey to Austria by the Berlin treaty of 1878.

He trusted the worst was now over but the national spirit evoked by recent reverses had counter-balanced the losses to the army. The events which had occurred during the week of the battle of Colenso — when General Buller was repulsed in attempting a passage of the Tugela river — might, in the case of other nations, have led to a revolution.

" I was never so proud of Britain as during that week," proceeded his Lordship. " There was no tendency to accuse anyone, politics disappeared, and there was little or no criticism — nothing but a passionate resolve to pour out the last shilling and the last man to assist the country's needs." Continuing his speech, Lord Kosebery made reference to the present attitude of the European Powers and the Continental press. The antagonism to Great Britain was, he declared, attributable to corrupt information.

According to Vanity Fair, Lady Colin Campbell, worked herself weary over the making of xo6 paddings, 3lb each which she sent out to the Dublin Fiuilicn.

Bearing in mind the spirited action of the Colonial forces who sat down and eat a dinner just ready for the Boers, who thus escaped pursuit, it would appear a wise proceeding for General Joubert to provide and leave a palatable dinner for his pursuers when he desires to reach the passes in the Drakensberg mountains.

We have been informed that Sir Redvers Buller's force is accompanied by sco vehicles for commissariat and ammunition. If these were all fourwheeled waggons and drawn by ten mules each, allowing twenty feet between each waggon, if placed in single file would extend for 143 miles, a fact particularly handy if the provisions happened to be in the rear. We expect however thst they travel differently. At Clinton, Dewar, a postal cadet, was committed for trial on three charges of stealing letters. f We have the pleasure of acknowledging a sample of Early Rivers peach from seedlings from the orchard of Mr H. Baker. The samples were fine and they have ripened early. Our opinion on samples of the best fruits will be cheerfully given at any and all times.

It is stated that Mr A. R. Guinness, M.H.R. for Grey will introduce a Bill next session providing for a course of military drill for all male pupils in the public schools of the colony, instruction which will be compulsory, and in the future appointment of teachers a necessary qualification must be competency to instruct scholars in military drill. If this becomes law we may have the gratifying sight of a camp of instruction for the teachers of the district.

At the last meetin? of the Wirokino Road Board Messrs Martin McGourley and Samuel Campbell were to have notices to clean the Koputuroa stream out within 14 days.

His Excellency the Governor has received the following cablegram from the Right Hon J. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies:— "Secretary of State for War gladly accepts third contingent. Her Majesty's Government desire to express their grateful appreciation of the generosity and patriotism of subscribers and volunteers/

Sixty cases of Australian tomatoes brought by the Westralia have been condemned and burned in Auckland by Captain Broun, the Government entomologist, owing to the consignment being infested with fruit fly maggots.

In reply to a telegram from the Mayor of Christchurch the Premier has wired that the name of the third contingent will be " the New Zealand Rough-riders."

On Thursday afternoon a man named Willian Hall was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for using obscene langauge.

At three of the large London railway stations— Charing Cross, Cannon street, and London Bridge— more than 33,000 movements for signal and point levers, have to be made every twenty-four hours quite apart from the telegraphic operations.

Several bush fires are raging on the hills near Coromandel. A large fire destroyed an immense quantity of kauri timber in Mercury Bay, in the direction of Opitonui. There is a large bush fire on the lower spur of the Toketea range.

We beg to congratulate our enterprising contemporary, the " Daily Mail," on haying reached a circulation of over a million. That is certainly greater than any morning paper has ever attained in England before, and it may very well be stated that it is really the largest " circulation in the world." The only serious competitors for that honour are the " New York Tournal" and the "Petite Journal." Even among the weeklies "The People " and " Lloyds " are the only papers whose circulation at all approaches these immense/figures. - "The Globe.

A remarkable incident occurred at the run of the Ystrad Hounds, Glamorganshire, last month. A fox had been chased for a considerable time, and was at last given up as lost. Later, a farmer saw Reynard crawling through a potato field, followed up at some distance by three of the dogs. The fox at last came to a standstill, utterly exhausted. Tha dogs equally done up, crawled close to the fox, and the farmer without any trouble secured all four.

Amongst the navvies who built the. forts at Pretoria, was a great bearded Englishman, who worked so well, and was such a steady, well conducted man that he was employed till the forts were completed. He was one of the smartest engineers in the British Army, and grew a beard, got his hands hardened, lived for months the life of a navvy, and adopted their methods of speech, in order that he might gain a thorough knowledge of the Pretoria forts. As a* consequence, the Intelligence Department has every fort that surrounds Pretoria as accurately and completely mapped out as if they had been at Portsmonth or Plymouth.

Major Robin, commander of No. i New Zealand Contingent, in a letter to his father says :— " You will be glad to know that we have an excellent name with the Imperial men, and they say that we are steady, well-disciplined and hard-working. Attached to our contingent we have 57 mules one conductor, 15 black Kaffirs, four big waggons, one water-cart, one oxwaggon, and two S.A.A. carts, and I have to inspect and see these driven about. If you read the descriptions of active service you will see pretty well what we are doing. AH the people of the country about here wish that war was over. ... Our officer in command is Major Haig, and he and Captain Mayhew, General French, Forrest, and Colonel Trotter have been very kind to us. We get to know very little here of what is going on. The people away from us know more than we do, as the country all around is so full of spies and rebels, and all news is kept very close. No 1 one knows what is coming oft except ' the principal officers,"

The Hawke's Bay Polo team defeated Wellington on Wednesday at Wellington by 2 goals to 1. On Thursday on the same g r ound the Oroua team defeated Hawke'3 Bay by 16 goals to 7.

Old residents in the colony will much regret to learn tiiat Dr. France expired at his house in Boulcott-street, Wellington, on Thursday afternoon. Dr. France arrived in Wellington by the ship Norman Morrison ir 1854. He leaves a widow and two children. Dr. France was held in the highest esteem, and his death will create a feeling of great regret.

The Borough Council have not annou .ced officially the day they have fixed for the half-holiday for this town.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court will begin on Monday week, sth proximo. The following is the present state of the calendar :— Arthur R. Wolf, murder; W. Ah Tong, theft ; Henry Hargreaves, alias Cook, alias Taylor, theft ; Alfred Miners, criminal offence upon a girl of tender years ; Henry Williams, alias tf ortney, false pretencea; James Higgins, Chas. Mackrell, and Joseph Johnston, theft ; George Hobbs, criminal offence upon a young girl; David George Lewis, theft ; James Egan, forgery and theft ; James Amos, theft ; W. R. J. Miller, forgery; David Coakley, assault and robbery. The chief Justice will preside.

Mr Powell- Williams, M.P., Financial Secretary to the War Office, speaking at Birmingham, referred to a statement in the press that recruiting in Great Britain had fallen off. He said that during November as many as 4500 recruits joined the army. It was said that the War Office was enlisting boys. He did not know whether they were aware of it, but the average age of the British soldier to-day was nearly two years higher than the average age of the British soldiers who won the battle of Waterloo. There were in London attached to the Embassies of the European Powers military experts, any one of whom would tell that there was not another country in Europe that could have, landed two army Corps with all the equipment and supplies six thousand miles away as we nave done. Nay, more, he would tell them there was not another country in Europe that could attempt to do it.

Mr Percy OavieS, the advance agent of Henry's Dramatic Company has arrived in Foxton to make arrangements for the company's appearance here on Saturday and Monday next (February 3rd and sth), in the Public Hall. They have since their last visit here been performing in Australia, and have recently completed a most successful tour, of the South Island. Their opening piece will be the great moral and religious drama " Uncle Tom's Cabin," so that the people of Foxton can look forward to a treat, as the members of the company are so well and favourably known.

Mr Richtei 1 , who has been very ill, came down from Palmerston on Thursday afternoon to reside at the sea beach, and we are pleased to learn that the change has already had a beneficial effect on his health.

The Te Aro House Drapery Company announce, on pur first page, that their great clearing summer sale is now on. This advantage is thoroughly understood by the ladies.

The Payne Family, with whom the Misses Tansley are associated, are now in Adelaide, and will, return to this colony shortly. ,

Mr Henry Stephens, who- has been engine-driver for a great number of years will retire at the end of the month from the public service. He has always been known as one of the most experienced and careful drivers on the line, and for his uniform courtesy. He leaves the town also to take up his residence on his farm at Kairanga, and his house and property in town has deen purchased by Mr Geo. Stiles.

At the last band practice Mr Betty presented Mr Eccfes with a souvenir of his connection with the band, on behalf of the members, Mr Eccles being about to leave the district. Mr Betty spoke of the great assistance rendered by Mr Eccles, and the pleasant terms they bad been on together. Mr Eccles suitably responded.

Foxton is to be represented in the third contingent for South Africa, Mr Robert Perreau having sent in his name to Wanganui. He has received orders to report himself there with his horse on Monday, when if, as most probably he will, pass the examination, he will have some part in quieting the Boers. We wish him every success and a safe return, when he may be sure of a hearty welcome.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is bemg painted with five shades of enamel paint. Two coats will be required, and nearly fifty tons of enamel paint will be consumed.