Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 1900. The Dawn of the 20th Century.

Manawatu Herald, 30 December 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 1900. The Dawn of the 20th Century.

The new century opens with the wonderful display of the power, wealth, and harmony of the mighty British Empire, affording a startling contrast to the opening of the last century when the Union of Ireland with Great Britain was the first addition to the multitude of nations that now claim dependency on the Mother Land. The map of the world now dotted and splashed with red conveys a better idea of the size of the Empire than a mere recapitulation of names and areas ; but during the last 100 years, under the i-eign of Queen Victoria, the Indian Empire, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the possession of South Africa, and the colony of New Zealand stand out as most valuable assets, the admiration and envy of the world. The Empire is the largest that has ever existed, judged by all tests, and the push and independence of the Briton is now forcing the English language to be learnt by all who desire to be successful traders. Our prosperity has arisen from our having willingly been as Napoleon contemptuously [ declared "a nation of shopkeers," and our adherence to trade has so enriched us that we have a navy greater than any two of the most powerful Powers, and an army, though small, of capital grit and nghting power. So placed are British people and possessions over the world that we are able to beard, did we desire to do so, the German Emperor in his. trade, as Mr Ernest E. Williams, writing in the National Review on German trade, says:^— Germany badly wants foreign markets for the sale of her increasing output of manufactures ; other nations, with their own economic interests to look after, are shutting the door even tighter in Germany's face. She is, therefore, becoming abjectly dependent upon the markets of the British Empire. Already, by the institution of the Canadian preference, German traders have begun to shiver with apprehension ; and Canada's example is going to be followed more | widely. It can be followed to any extent, and quite easily to such an extent as would bring Germany to 1 her knees, pleading for our clemoncy. At the present time a new commercial treaty is pending between this country and Germany ; if we chose to insert stiff provisions in that treaty in respect to our own economic interests it is sincerely to be hoped that we shall set our feet down pretty firmly — Germany would be helpless to resist."

The Century opens then with the display of wealth, power, and trade, the growth of which has been most wonderful, and the increase and exprHon of which will we trust ba

continued. We have touched upon the Empire afc large, but it will be interesting to note how that portion of the Empire in the South Pacific has grown. The Commonwealth of "Australia comprises 2,972,906 square miles of country, and has a population of 3,909,000, which is a curious para 1 lei as that was the population of the United States at the date (1787) when American independence was signed . The Commonwealth of to-day has an annual revenue of £25,000,000, productive industries of £130,000,000 per annum, and shipping in and out of her ports measuring 10,000,000 tons annua ly ! New Zealand also stands out as wealthy and flourishing, though little, her area being only 101,471 square miles. Her revenue is over^ £6,000,000, and does a total trade of more than £20,000,000. In the early seventies the small population of the colony were taught the phrase of progressing " by leaps and bounds," but the last ten years has shown by unmistakable figures that our progress has been rapid and secure Between 1890 and 1900 the value of land and improvements, which now total 188£ millions pounds worth, increased by 16 millions ! The imports and exports increased, each, by more than 3£ mil ions ; wool increased 41.27 pov cent, and was of the value of £4,986,---216; £1,281,557 worth of frozen meat was exported, an increase of 122.57, and butter to the value of £567,833, an increase of 427.98 to that of the year 1890.

We have in the colony, not established 100 years, all the conven- , iences and marvels of the last century, in steam for shipping and railways, electricity for lighting and power and communication. We have a glorious climate and more . than ordinarily good health for the population. Employment is plentiful, wages high, food cheap, and laws and regulations under which disputes can be settled and strikes avoided. We have the Colony's security for life insurance and Post Office Savings banks, and the lot of the people is well safeguarded in every way. Under these circumstances the dawn of the 20fch Century is bright with actuality and hope for the future, and we wish our readers a Happy New Year. Messrs Walker and Nolan will run a coach for the Bulls' races on Tuesday. Intending passengers should, to make sure of a seat, book early. Our beach becomes every day more popular. We understand that a resident of Levin intends to erect a cottage at the Sanatorium for his own and friends use.

Festival services will be held at All Saints' Church to-morrow, and after Evensong several Christmas carols will be sung by the choir.

The next English and European Mail via San Francisco will close at the local office on Wednesday the 16th day of January at 3.30 p.m.

The Official Assignee invites tenders for the stock in the shop, and the good will of the business in the estate of W. B.Rhodes. Tenders will be received up to noon of the 4th Jauuary.

Tuesday will be a day of much interest when the Friendly Societies jonrney to Foxton to thoroughly enjoy themselves. We trust the day will be fine and that our visitors will not be disappointed.

Some miscreant entered the cemetery the other day and fired a gun at close 'quarters at a tomb stone, and the shot have cut out the leaded letters on the inscription. Anyone who knows any thing about such an action should let the police know as it is time an ex ample should be made of such unfeeling actions.

A midnight prowler vented his will upon a very nice garden the other night, doing much damage and. stealing some property. He however left his tracks behind him, which was foolish, and probably he will be enforced to employ his energy on behalf of Her Majesty, as he is not safe to be about alone.

At the second day's Manawatu Races a rowdy demonstration was made against the starter in the Hack Flying Handicap, backers of both Himalaya and Beau Ideal clamouring for a dividend. At a meeting of the Stewards, held subsequently the race was declared void, and totalisator money was returned to investors.

This week's number of the Weekly Press contains a really fine series of pictures illustrating the Jubilee procession at Christchurch. There are also a lot of pictures of the Maori haka danced by the Hawke's Bay natives, and the poi dance performed by the natives at the Christchurch exhibition. Altogether the number is an excellent one.

New postal notes are to be issued for the New Year, the old ones are to be called in with the exception of the £5 notes. These notes are a real puzzle to the public : — The note for the greatest v^ilue £5 is issued and is exchangeable for gold at any Money order office, and have no signatures upon them, but the smaller notes Irom one shilliug upwards are not negotiable until signed by the issuing officer. Why?

We propound question to the Colonial Treasurer — What practical difference, to the sender lies between a £s bank note and a £5 postal note ? One will go as safe throught the post as the other, neither is safeguarded for the sender. If a man wants to send £5 he can do so cheaper and as safe by sending a bank note, which costs him £5, but if he invests in a postal note it will cost him £5 and sixpence ! The Government should issue the £5 postal notes, and in fact all postal notsa for their value-.

Mr Barton has been successful in forming a Ministry.

A Papal Bull has been issued prolonging the Jubilee for half a year to Catholics throughout the world, Rome excepted.

Mr Charles Wilson, ex-M.H.R. and editor of the " New Zealand Mail," has been appointed Parliamentary Librarian.

The General Post Office Wellington will be illuminated on New Years' Eve in celebration of the inauguration ofuniversal penny postage by New Zea land. A teature oi the illuminations will be an enlarged representation of the new penny stamp.

The Returning Officer, Alf. Fraser, Esq., gives notice that nominations for candidates for the office of Councillor in the room of F. E. Jenks, elected Mayor, must be delivered to him before noon of the 7th of January, with £3 as a deposit-

The manufacture of the New Zealand ensigns which the Government has decided to present to the State Schools throughout the colony is to be entrusted to Messrs R. G. Knight (Wellington), Thompson (Auckland), and Bannatyne (Christchurch).

Mr J. C Martin, who is filling a seat on the Supreme Court Bench during the absence of Mr Justice Denniston in Europe, has been appointed a permanent Judge of the Supreme Court. Th« appointment is to date •"mm Mr Justice Denniston's return to the colony.

His Holiness the Pope on December 24th closed the Holy Door in the Vatican, signifying the end of the holy year. He cemented the threshold of the door with a golden trowel, and fixed the first three inscribed bricks with an urn, medals and portraits, in the presence of forty thousand persons.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, has returned from a visit to the Rotorua district, where he has been making arrangements for putting into operation the scheme of utilising short-sentence prisoners for tree-plant-ing pnrnoses. A site has been chosen in the Waiotapu Valley, about 24 miles from Rotorua and six square miles in area. The camp, which it is expected will not have to be shifted for five years, is on the banks of the Waiotapu creek, where there is an abundant supply of water all the year round, and the men are to 02 housed in railway workmen's huts. Special attention will be paid to the sanitary requirements of the camp. A batch of 25 prisoners from the various gaols of the colony, with four officers, will be sent up shortly, and it is probable that they will be able to make a start with the work about the end of January. The question of tree-planting at Tapanui and Naseby is still under consideration by the Department.

Mr Hales, of the " Daily News," relates a grim incident of Spion Kop. *s the Boers marched among our dead they saw a sergeant lying at full length, shot through the brain. Even in death the man looked like some fighting machine suddenly gone out of order. His rifle was nressed against his shoulder, his left hand grasped the barrel on the under side, the forefingers of the right hand pressed the tigger lightly, the barrel rested out upon a rock, and his death-dulled eye still glared along the sights, for dissolution had come to him just as he bent his head to fire at those who shot him, and now his hand had stiffened in the unbendable stiffness of enternal sleep. A Boer soldier saw the sergeant as he lav, and with rude hands grasped the rifle by the barrel and tried to jerk it from the dead man's grip, but as he pulled he brought the rifle in a line with his own breast, and the unyielding finger on the trigger did the rest, the rifle spoke from the dead man's hand, and the bullet, passing through the Boer's heart, laid him beside the Briton. " Sounds like a journalistic lie does it not ?" says Mr Hales. i: But it is the eternal truth, all the same, for the comrade of the Boer who died that day, killed by a dead man, told me the tale himself, and he was one of those who buried the dead Dutchman on the slope of Spion Kop."

On 2ist November the Money-Lend-ing Act passed by the Imperial Parliament came into operation. Its provisions, in a nutshell, are that moneylenders must be registered by the Inland Revenue, that the Courts have power to re-open and deal equitable with inequitable contracts. The first provision strikes at the system of deceptive aliases on which the .business and fortune of many usurers is founded; the second strikes at those contracts on which they are built up, whereby a debtor who had within perhaps a couple of years returned a loan two or three times over might still be held liable for a sum greater than loan and interest combined. No more practical and humane Act (says a Home paper) has been added to the Statute Book for many years.

An Australian paper says that a notable occurrence in connection with the pbtato market consists in the fact that potatoes imported in cases from Germany last week made £8 a ton in Sydney the other day. Though these potatoes had been carried 10,000 miles they brought £2 per ton more than Ballarat potatoes, which sold at £6 per ton in Sydney on the same day, while Derwents realised only £5. Even new Sydney potatoes brought only from £6 to £1 per ton. " From time to time," the " Warrnambool Standard " remarks, "it has been suggested that potatoes should be exported from this district to other places, but it has always been urged that they would not carry well over the sea. However, this shipment from Germany must have carried well, or the potatoes would not have brought the price they did, and they must have been carefully picked and packed. In Melbourne new potatoes are at present worth £8 per ton in bags, but farmers in this district are so busy harvesting their grain crops that there is no time for potato digging. Besides, the. crops are far from maturity. In Warrnambools £6 10s per ton is being offered, and last week th« first shipment consisting of only two torn, wai des« patched to Melbourne."

Mr Charles Fulton, of Blenheim, has been appointed a Government Hemp Grader.

Mr Arthur P. Pender, son of Inspector Pender was married on Boxing Day to Miss Nora McParland, eldest daughter of Mr F. McParland, J-P-

On New Year's Day-Mr J. H. Traill has arranged to have a booth on the beach at which refreshments and fruit can be obtained. His enterprise should meet with a good reward.

The Foxton Rifles are directed to assemble at Victoria Hall on Wednesday next at 1.30 p.m. to attend the opening of the Rifle Range. There will be competition for some prizes provided by the residents. The public are cordially invited to attend and afternoon tea will be provided by .the ladies. This will make a pleasant end up to the holidays.