Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1900.

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1900.

The Premier (Hon. R. Philp) has received a cablegram from Major-Gene-ral Baden- Powell, announcing the relief pf Mafeking, and adding " Most grateful for invaluable assistance of Queenslanders under Captara 'Kelly, who made a record march through Rhodesia to help us." We are glad to notice that more metal is being put upon the Moutoa Road. Messrs Walsh and Howan have pur* chased a small steam engine for the manufacture of the much-esteemed sausages turned out by this firm. Hand power prevented the demand being supplied. During the celebrations at Jersey in honour of the relief of Mafeking a French shopkeeper at St. HeKers provoked a riot, during which the windows of shops in the French thoroughfare were wrecked. The military were eventually called out and charged the mob with fixed bayonets. Thirty arrests were made. The ringleaders were imprisoned without the option of a fine. The flax industry in the Buller district (says the News) is becoming a real live one, as may be witnessed by the cart and truck loads of flax blades that are continually brought into Westport, and from there railed to the flaxmills. Prices appear to be keeping up well, as the demand is much ahead of the supply. Japan is making defensive preparations such as seem to portend early complications with a foreign Power. Live torpedoes have been placed in all the principal harbours.

A few years ago, in the Orange Free State, near Wynburg, where our troops were recently fighting, a nearly perpendicular shaft was discovered, about 150 ft. deep, and workings from the bottom of this shaft extend several hundred feet. Old-fashioned spears and battle axes, with primitive tools, curiously inscribed stones, and skeletons of men of gigantic size, have been found, but there is no legend or" tradition among the natives concerning the mine, or the giant race who worked it. In a letter dated 12th April Trooper Perreau informs his correspondent that his company is on the banks of the Orange River, near Aliwal north, and they were expecting to be in contact with the Boers any minute. The British had 3000 men on the ground, and were waiting for reinforcements, whilst the Boers on the other side of the river, three miles distant were estimated at 7000. He .had just come in from scouting, when they had seen three Boers two hundred yards off, but they were forbidden to firej and it was probable the Boers did not see them. The letter concludes like a proper novel, at an interesting point, as it says 11 700 of us have just got orders to cross the river,"

When will the war end ? In Lord Wolseley's opinion it should have been about the 15th of this month. Before Lord Roberts' departure Lord Wolseley predioted that he would enter Bloomfontein on 15th March, whereas he entered on the 13th March. We expect that Lord Wolseley will not be very far out in his prediction, as we have word now ot the Boers making their last stand near Pocheistroom, and by the disposition of the British army they will probably be surrounded within a day or two. Then capitulation. The following have been selected to represent the Foxton Football Club in their Cup match against the Raukawas at Levin on Saturday: — Fullback, Gusterson ; threequarters, Furrie, Rewita, Drummond ; five-eighth, Smith or Hughes; half, Hunter; wings, O'Dwyer and Sullivan ; forwards, Rakina, Hanna, Samuels, Kennedy, Ward, Brown and Munro. Emergencies — forwards, Tuna, Procter, Dunn : backs, Symons and Robinson.

if Mr Stead went to Oregon the 41 Weekly Astorian" (of that place) is in no doubt as to what would, happen. " it is certainly (it says) carrying the theory of individual liberty and freedom of opinion entirely too far when a man like this Stead is left unrestrained in his efforts to inflame public passion at home and abroad against his country in emergencies like that now confronting England. Under like circumstances in some sections of America he would, and rightly too, be strung up to the nearest lamp -post on sight by an indignant populace."

During the cruise of the Porpoise she discovered Falcon 'Island which disappeared in 1888 and has again appeared. It is described as like a whale's back just above the water and is considered a serious danger to navigation.

Since the capture of Quartermastersergeant Berland, Sergeant Rockstrow, who formerly acted as transport sergeant, has acted as quartermaster for the New Zealanders, and. has performed his onerous duties in the most satisfactory manner.

The information given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the issue of the War Loan affords a pretty fair estimate of the financial credit of the country, and therefore of the. resources which would be available in case a supreme effort were required on the part of the nation. The totol amount applied for was no less than £335,000,000, and the number of applications was nearly 40,000. Considering the very meagre income to be derived from investment in our Government securities, says our London contemporary, it shows what an enormous amount of unfixed capital there is at the disposal of the State, and a most important and gratifying feature is that a very large proportion of the applications, 30,800 in all, were for sums between a hundred and a thousand pounds. It is an undoubted source of strength and stability when the public debt is held by a large number of not very wealthy people instead of by a few big financial houses ; and it is most wise of the Chancellor ot the Exchequer to have arranged that these smaller investors shall, so far as possible, receive allotment in full, while the kings of finance will have to be content with 6 per cent, of the amounts applied for by them.

Lord Roberts telegraphed after a recent engagement that Kruger and Steyn had sought in vain to prevent the retreat of their forces. He added a piece of information (the London correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian " says) which has not hitherto been made public. This was to the eftect that had he known of the presence of their Honours on the battlefield he would have tried to capture them both, and might have succeeded. To do so it would have been necessary to order the cavalry to push on, instead of resting, as they did under his instructions, for two hours after the Boers had been put to fight.

" For there's no one like mother for me " appears to have been very faithfully believed if the following be true: — As the Victorian contingent was parading the streets ot Melbourne, a woman pounced on a Volunteer and cried, " You don't escape your lawful wedded wife like that ! " On being dragged away, she added, " Oh l if I'd only brought mother with me! We'd have stopped you, if we'd had to hammer the whole blessed contingent."

The-.Mail says the funeral of the late Mrs J. W. Gower took place at Levin on Sunday afternoon last, when there was a very large attendance of friends from every part of the county. The burial service at the graveside was conducted most impressively by the Rev. Peryman.

H.M.S. Porpoise has arrived at Sydney from Savage Island, where the officers hoisted the British flag in the presence of the leading chiefs. There was much entusiasm shown by the islanders. This is a coral islet east of the Friendly Islands, and has a population of 5000.

The challenge issued by " Buffalo Bill " to a wrestling match has been accepted by John O'Leary, of Oamaru, and the match is to Come off on Saturday evening next at the Victoria Hall. When Speaking on the changes in ; the railways at Riverton Mr J. G, Ward said said " that taking the rolling stock as it existed on the 31st March, 1595, as a basis, we still require twenty large tefldef engines and twenty large tank engines—^a total of 40 engines — three thousand waggons, and one hundred and forty t cars, additional to what we now havej in order to cope satisfactorily with our existing business." The Government auditor has examined the Borough accounts this week, and the balance-sheet has been signed by hirm Mr England, manager of the local branch of the Bank oT New Zealand, takes his annual holiday to-morrow, and Mr James Matter arrived by train to-day to relieve him. Next Wednesday Mr Harry Palmer will sell by public auction at Messrs McMillan Rhodes and Co's old auction room, horses, furniture, and piano. The goods are enumerated in the advertisement. There could not be a better time for a sale of furniture seeing the number of new houses that have lately been built. We tecommend all to be alive to the occasion. Messrs Hosking and Son, the wellknown ironfounders and engineers of Palmerston North, invite inspection of their showroom at the Manawatu Foundry. This firm have been before the public for many years as makers of first-class cooking ranges. An illustrated catalogue will be sent to anyone on application. They are prepared to execute all flaxniilling work that may be entrusted to them. Messrs Smale & Hay are receiving by every steamer new and seasonable goods, and they draw attention in their changed advertisement to their large stocks of blankejp, rugs, quilts, &c. We have had some weather lately which caused extra blankets to be appreciated, and as we are likely to have much more of the same sample of weather, it is handy to know where these coverings can be purchased cheap and good.