AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 33, 7 January 1884, Page 3

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Srecx the writer last contributed to these » columns, the year 1883 has vanished into space. Some few reflections upon the aspect £ of that year, either as regards ourselves or the outer world, may not, therefore, be inappli- a cable. The last week of its existence has r been with us one continued round of felicity, ® leaving little leisure for the more serious j. business of life. Old and young have alike t relaxed during the festive season. The town o has been frequently almost deserted while 8 our community disported itself in forest * glade, revelling in coolness and shadow, or t bathing in cool, clear pools, feasting under c trees, exploring ferny dells, or climbing hills. ' Biding parties, picnic parties, dances, etc., e have been the order of the week, not forgetting e racing on Boxing and New Year’s Days, t Nature has been most kind, as though to compensate for the trying weather of the last ' few months. The days have bean bright, * sunny, and not too hot; the nights have been ! tool and dear, affording a most grateful con- , tract to the warmth and glitter of the days, i Thus pleasantly has 1888 departed. On the wholes we of Poverty Bay constitute 1 a merry, happy, light-hearted community. 1 Our citixens are ever ready to unbend and 1 enter heartily into the enjoyment of the hour. Life does not appear to prose too heavily on > anyone. There is little state to be kept up, little ceremony to be maintained; the life of 1 Cities does not weary us with its stirring ' activity, its pressing needs, its incessant de- J mands upon our brains and purses as in more ■ crowded centres. We have time to think, to 1 enjoy, to listen to the myriad lessons Nature has to teach. ! id omxa sms. And yet, to a week of holiday-making, and especially to this season of the year, there is the other side of the picture to be contemplated, and that “other aide” makes some feel almost glad when the holidays are over. We are bound to admit that to go to work again seems almost as pleasant as to leave it it for awhile, and we realise fully that lite would not be more perfect if it were all holidays. Labor, or, at least, occupation, is really sweet to most men, and nothing brings thia home to us more fully than a week of holiday-making. Writers are continually praising up Christmas time. For instance, we rack our brains each year to find something to say about it. We write stories setting forth the happiness and joy of Christmas meetings—the wrongs righted, the soft side of humanity uppermost, the love affairs brought to a happy conclusion. One would suppose from the way we write—from the stories we reel off about love and joy and happiness — that Christmas time is some blessed interval during which we live in an Arcadia; that bills are paid and babies are good; that wives are good and husbands considerate ; that servants are attentive and employers kind and thoughtful for their happiness. The pen can scarcely be brought to record the truth that Christmas is even more rank with domestic difficulties than any other time. Servants are unsettled, desirous of spending Christmas in their own fashion, often leaving at a moment’s notice; children are home from school, with a charter for frolic and mischief; at the dose of the year the financial position requires closer investigation ; difficulties must be faced, and often new lines of life must be laid down for the ensuing year. And yet, it is well, although the writer has been unkind enough to indicate it, that the other side should be kept in the shadow as far as possible during the festive season. Our ideal Christmas is such as we would wish to find the real, and such as doubtless many do find it. Rejoicing preponderates as a whole. It is strange how the old traditional custom affects even those who do not regard Christmas as a religious celebration. Universal rejoicing, festivities, acclamations greet the recurrence of the time set apart in memory of the appearance of the lowly preacher of “ peace on earth rejoicings and acclamations from those who scarcely acknowledge His memory, although their whole lives are unconsciously influenced by His teachings, on which the laws and literature of our C9untry are mainly based. However Christmas is not our theme, but rather a brief review of the year which has just closed behind us— AN OLD PROPHECY. Our readers may not be aware that according to an old tradition, the past year should have been an exceedingly unlucky one. Christmas of 1882 fell on a Monday, and it is foretold in an ancient prophecy of unknown date, that in such a case the year succeeding

will be full of world-wide calamity, The legend runs as follows—- •’ If Christmas day on a Monday be A great winter that year you’ll see, And full of wlnslB both loud and shrill, And in summer, truth to tell, Hkh winds shall there he and strong Full of tempeaU lasting long ' While battles they shall multiply And grevt p’enty of beasts shall die, They that be born that year, I ween, They shall be strong each one and keen, He shall be found that stealeth aught, Tho’ thou be sick, thou diest not.” Some of the newspapers in commenting on this old prophecy which appears to have only just attracted attention, find interest in proving that during this century, at least, the years succeeding Monday Christmases have been fraught with disaster, as foretold. Certainly the clause about “ a great winter you’ll see, and full of winds both loud and shrill,” has been borne out with us, as elsewhere, during 1888. . The weather has been exceptional on both sides of the world. Much loss, both of cattle and crops, has been experienced. The mothers of children born last year may congratulate thefnselves; according to our legend, “they shall be strong each one, and keen,” OUR ADVANC£MSNT« At home, in Gisborne, out advancement has been slow but sure, It has become a proverb and a faith among us during many years that a great future awaits our district. Gisborne is “ progressing,” and we all look forward in hope to the not-far-distant day when our harbor will be thronged with shipping, our flats covered with a city almost equalling Melbourne or Loudon, ourjivers running oil or wine, and all our coffers overflowing; In the meantime, while we indulge in these extravagant anticipations, our district really is advancing steadily, after the manner of such districts, Houses are not springing up like mushrooms on every side, neither are our streets thronged with pressing crowds, but our town has spread considerably, trade is thriving and is carried on on a safer basis than formerly, while our population has largely increased, and, above aU< many lands have how secure titles, which formerly were held on a most uncertain tenure. It is in our lands that the real strength of the district lies, and every acre secured and settled is a benefit to the whole community, The last sitting of the Native Lands Court held here did excellent work in this direction, thousands of acres receiving secure titles, equitable divisions having been effected to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, We may agitate for a breakwater, railways, large public expenditure, water-supply, high school, &c., but our real future lies in the industry of our inhabitants and the careful cutivation of our lands, Gisborne, we well believe, has indeed “ a great future before itbut that great future will more likely be attained by the energetic development of local industries than by exaggerated hopes and anticipations of sudden results from outside causes.

ENGLAND. In swiftly glancing at the main features of the past year, we are bound to admit that, as far as England is concerned, few changes of importance have taken place. England is much in the position she occupied a year ago. She has succeeded in carefully maintaining a peaceful policy, in spite of great provocation from France. Ireland has been her difficult question ; and affairs in Ireland, although far from settled, are in a slightly better position than at the beginning of the year. We hear little lately of public distress in England itself. Exciting social problems are held in abeyance. Socialism and Communism are not so rife as in years past. The newspapers have latterly been filled for the most part with comparatively trivial subjects. The English public has been more excited, more worked up to a keen display of feeling over the departure of Irving and Helen Terry for America than over any event of public or domestic importance. Royalty is popular just now from the Prince and Princess of Wales ever following one round of social duties, seeking and gaining the approbation of the British public, to the saddened Queen for whose amiable weaknesses her subjects have, for the most part, learned to make allowance, remembering her long and glorious reign, her many good deeds, her pure, unsetfish life, and the benifloent influence she has ever exerted over England. When young, happy, and energetic, few were more wise than she, none more quick to extend the hand of help or sympathy, few intellects readier to grasp the situation and suit the action to the needs of the hour. Now that she is old, careworn, feeble in mind and body, the more thoughtful may smile at her weaknesses, but can never cease to respect, remembering how well she has earned the lasting veneration of all British subjects. Perhaps the most important development of the military during the year 1883 has been the RISING IN THE SOUDAN,

which still presents a more serious aspect than a superficial glance may show. Although affairs are in a temporary abeyance, and El Mahdi has, fortunately, met with some reverses, we can hardly hope that the rebellion is at an end. It has been well known by the interested for many years back that the Mahometan world possesses a superstition that a new Messiah or prophet would appear in 1882. The prophesy is expressed as follows “On the first month of Moharrem, in the I ear 1800 (Noy. 12, 1882) will appear El fehdi, or Messiah, He will be exactly forty years of age, and of noble bearing. One arm will be longer than the other; his father’s name will be Muhammed, and his mother’s Fatima, and he will be hidden for a time prior to his manifestation. El Mehdi, the leader of the Soudan insurrection, possesses all these indications. During the year 1888, his followers swelled to an army, composed of religious fanatics, borne up by an implicit belief in the supernatural powers of their leader. We have already seen how this confidence enabled them to obtain bo great an advantage over the army of Hicks Pasha, resulting in the total destruction of that force. Hicks Pasha, an English officer, had been despatched to take command of the Egyptian Army. We learn that, being a Christian, he was (nominally) placed under the orders of Suleiman Pasha, who, from jealousy, did all in his power to thwart the influence of the new commander. General Hicks marched upon the head-quarters of El Mahdi, the False Prophet of the Soudan, believing him to possess merely a force of some 8000 or 9000 men. In this he was terribly mistaken, being misinformed by his spies. The Mahdi had a following of no less than 300,000 fanatics at his back, and the result of the advance was that, after some temporary successes, General Hicks and his army were totally annihilated by the adherents of the prophet. They were cut off from water, their ammunition was exhausted; and after a brave resistance of three days, during which they fought standing, formed into a hollow square, they were cut down to a man.

The population of the Soudan numbers 40,000,000, and comprises some of the best troops of Northern Africa. El Mahdi is said to be supported with the most fiery enthuiasism, and to have intelligences all over an immense stretch of country. But this is not all. A Musselman rising means a rising among all the Eastern nations of the Old World. The prophet’s success over the Egyptian Army has alone much to establish his claims to the title of Messiah among fanatical Mahometans. If there is to be a general Mahometan rising, we may apprehend serious trouble from the 70,000,000 Musselmen of Tudia. If a great religious war among Mahometans continues, the danger may be very great to England. An ever-increasing horde of armed fanatics, supported by an enthusiastic belief in the pretentions of their leader, may stream along the Valley of the Nile and seriously threaten Egypt. Should the influence of El Mahdf penetrate among the Bedouins who inhabit the borders commanding the Suez Canal, it is quite possible that the Canal may be blocked. In India, Britannia would have both hands blocked in case of a general Mussulman rising. We have late intelligence of fanatical insurrections of a like nature in Central Asia, and learn that the important city of Meshed was threatened by a horde of Turcomans. A general Mahometan rising has a significance so vast and widespread that it cannot be contemplated without dread. Yet such a rising seems almost imminent unless the present revolt in the Soudan is crushed very rapidly, and it appears not impossible that the whole Mahometan world, from the Soudan to Further India, may be in a blaze. The situation appears the more serious that the expectation of ths advent of a

Deliverer at the before-mentioned date has »0t been confined to any particular country Or place, but ha& been general throughout the whole Mussulman world, During twelve centuries, the 22th of November, 1882, had been anticipated among Mahometans as the season of the advent of a new Messiah, El Mehdi first began to make a stir in the Soudan at the date named, although the matter han. only recently attracted the attention of Christian nations. One of the first actions, after his announcement, on the part of El Mehdi, was to levy a tax upon the merchants of Kordofan, by which he obtained funds to carry on his operations. He collected fl sum of £400,000. His forces are increasing daily. It is said that in Khartoum itself there are 8,000 persons rebels at heart, and only awaiting an opportunity to join the insurgents. Lately it appears from the telegrams that the Egytian garrison has been forced to abandon the outpost of Senbrah, an# that a force of 150,000 rebels is holding the passes of the Soudan. FRENCH AGGRESSIONS IN TONQVIN AND MADAGASCAR, During the year 1883, France has developed an entirely new policy. For many years back France has been fully occupied in retrieving her position among the nations, by a pacific policy and a strict attention to home government, The country prospered marvellously under these auspices and France earned the respect of Europe. Her obligations to Germany were cancelled Kfl rapidly as to astonish the world. Peace, encouragement of trade, home industries brought wealth into her coffers and contentment to her people. Three years ago she was surrounded by friendly neighbours. She was on the best of terms with England, and she had no entanglements in any .part ot the world. Now all this is changed. BV her aggressive policy she has alienated Italy. By her immoral seizure of Tunis, she provoked the war. ih Egypt which ultimately involved England, ghfj ha# provoked hostile feeling in England, not alone by the procedure which led up to the Egyptian war, but by her conduct towards Madagascar. In her new and fatal greed of territory, all considerations of political honour have been laid aside. Her aggressive policy has led her to such a point that a war with China seems inevitable. Spain has been insulted anew by French treatment of King Alphonse, who was mobbod, insulted, and hooted in the very streets of Paris, Her threatened annexation of the New Hebrides is causing reasonable alarm in the Australasian Colonies. In case of war in Europe, France has now little to hope for. Offended, England will be little likely to intervene : and Spain and Italy are now her bitterest foes. She is involving herself on every side, and if we mistake not, her policy of 1883 will yet prove disastrous to her arms. It is difficult to foresee, in any measure, the consequences of the war with China, into which France is plunging with headlong speed and folly. Whether the millions peopling the vast territories of the Chinese Empire can among them raise an army sufficiently strong to repel their aggressive foe is a matter of opinion. The Chinese have never shown themselves as a fighting nation. Eminently S eaceful in their habits, they have so far been evoted almost entirely to agricultural pursuits. It remains to be seen whether they can fight. They have learned much since the Opium war, and may prove tough foes. England will only be involved through her subjects in China, and is already concentrating ships for their protection. War is a terrible calamity to any nation. In the excitement, glitter, and glory of conquest, men from afar off are apt to overlook its ravages and the misery produced. Let us hope that it may yet be averted, or at least that our own country may not be involved, and that the year upon which we have just entered may rather be fraught with peace and plenty; that science may progress, discoveries be multiplied, commerce prosper, industries thrive, and reason predominate both “ at home and abroad.” Scribbler.