VERY LATEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 99, 30 March 1885, Page 3

VERY LATEST.

Hfew Zealand Defences. PREPARATIONS ACTIVELY GOING ON. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington. Sunday Midnight. Up to midnight the Government had not received any important cablegrams from Home. The latest information received was to the effect that considerable anxiety was felt m London as to the resuit of the negotiations with Russia, and also that Earl Granville had intimated that England would not flinch trom the stand she had taken m this matter. . This Day. The Government are making all preparations m their power to place ports under defence. . The surroundings to the harbor are being surveyed and immediately this has been done steps will be at once taken to place the heavy guns m position. The Government have made application to the authorities m charge of the Australian squadron for a|man-of-war to be stationed m Now Zealand waters. The Hon. the Defence Minister, does not consider there is any probability of war breaking out, the firm stand taken by the English Government will, he thinks, deter the Russians from crossing the frontier. The Government are, however, taking all measures m their power to have a proper defence, and it is probable should war be declared the first class militia will be called out. A meeting of all Imperial army and Navy officers and members of the Government will be held to-day to discuss the question of defence. His Excellency the Governor will preside and among those present will be Major Eccles, Major Cautley, Colonel Reador, Commander Edwin, R.N., Commander Hewitt, R.N., Commander Home, R.N., The departure of the Governor for the South has been postponed for a day or two, and the Minister for Public Works will not leave for Napier ur.til next Monday or Tuesday,

An uusoemly disturbance took place m the Foresters' Hall last evening m which the police had to interfere. It is hi 5 h time such rowdyism was put a stop to. Robin iiooi! requests us to ftato his consultation is faat. lilliu^ up, ami will , close on the 2ml of April. I The Dtuictliu Star finishes tin article on tiiA Afgau trouble as follows :- In conclusion, we may quote ft few figures significant as to the matviial effect of thw Crimean War on tho trade and commerce of Rnss«a. In thy year 1853, the exports of Russia (m Europe) n mounted m value to £22,000,000 ; 'in 1854 they fell to £8,77ti,000 ; and m 1854 to £4,618,000. The imports m 1853 were m value £ 1 4, 295, 000 ; m 1824 only £8,699,000. The progress towards financial and commercial ruiu was rapid. Russia surely will not bo m a hurry to repeat such experiences. In a speech at Liverpool, Mr Trevelyan, late Chief Secretary for Ireland, ro. marked : — " It is acknowledged that the industrial production of England is colossal as compare! with anything elsewhere at present. Her fleets are I suppose, two thirds of the fleets of the world, and when we come to the larger steam shipping, which is the mercantile fleet of the future, we main tail) a still greater proportion. Her laws and customs are pervading iho globe ; her language is the language of the world, quite as much as, or even more than, m the old days, French was the language of Europe." A country lad m theNorth of Scotland got his leg hurt m one of tho local factories. His mother, who had great faith m a neighbouring bone-setter, wanted the lad to go to him. Accompanied by his anxious mother, he was, after a long and painful journey, taken to the towu where the bone setter resided. The leg was duly examined, and it was found nccessnry to haul it very severely, m order, as the bone setter said. " To get the hone m." The lad was liberal m his screams while this was going on, but eventually the bone was " got m " and he was told to go home,, and that would m a few dnys bo all right and lit for his woik. "Didn't Danny do the thing well ?" said the joyous mother. i; Yen, he did, mither, said tho lad, 1 ' but I wasua' sic a fool as to gie him the sair leg ?"