The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 30. 1893.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 40, 30 December 1893, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 30. 1893.

The year which closes to-morrow will not contribute greatly to the pages of the future historian. It has not been productive of what our American cousins call “ happenings.” Nevertheless, it has held O ' much of interest, much of joy and sorrow to mankind, and before we part from it to greet the coming year, a little time may not unprofitably be devoted to a glance at some of the features of 1893.

Socially, the great event of the year at Home was the marriage of the Duke of York and the Princess May, which was celebrated in July last with great pomp and amid widespread rejoicings. In the political world the Home Rule question for a time overshadowed all others. The measure introduced hy Mr Gladstone was debated at great length, hut the end, so far as the House of Commons was concerned, came early in September, when the hill was passed hy 301 to 277. Gladstone’s triumph was, however, short-lived. The House of Lords would not look at the child of his (political) old age, the voting being 419 against, and 41 in favour of Home Rule. Its advocates have not abandoned all hope, and the last has by no means been heard of the question. Some singular developments may, indeed, be anticipated, • for rumour credits the Conservatives with an intention to steal the G.O.M.’s thunder, or, in plain words, formulate a Home Rule scheme of their own. Whether the Irish party will dance to their piping remains to be seen. The Home Rule session, as it will hereafter be known, was marked by a disgraceful squabble—a scene unprecedented in the House of Commons, and utterly alien to its high traditions. From an industrial point of view the year in Britain has been an eventful one —the barometer has stood at “ stormy ” most of the time, and, although a lull now prevails, he would be a rash mortal who should venture to give “ set fair ” as the final reading. Shipping troubles, labour riots, the latter attended with loss of life, and, lastly, the great strike of colliers in the Midland Counties, point to the unrest that exists. Much has been done in the way of social legislation, but much more remains to be accomplished. The struggle for existence must be made easier for the toilers of the universal. They must not be left to the tender mercies of syndicates—like those of the wicked, these are cruel. There must be more of forbearance and of sympathy on both sides. In June last Britain and her colonies had to “ weep for the brave.” While naval manoeuvres were beingcarried out in the Mediterranean, “ someone blundered the Camperdown struck a sister wai\ship, the Victoria, and she sank, carrying to their graves Admiral Tryon and over 100 of his officers and men. ’Twas indeed a pitiable catastrophe, but the sorrow of it was mitigated by an’ exhibition of obedience to orders, of heroic self-sacrifice worthy of the brightest annals of the British navy. With the requiem for the dead mingled admiration of their bravex-y

—a bravery displayed, not in therush and roar of battle, but on placid seas, ’neath sunny skies, and at a moment when none recked of danger* or disaster.

The year has not been allowed to pass without its “little war”— the contending parties being the British South Africa Company and King - Lobenguela, of Matabeleland. It is scarcely correct to call it a war—a slaughter would be nearer the mark, and the native potentate has had to fly before his foes and their Maxim guns. There is not much of honouror glory connected with the affair—— all the less if there is truth in thestatement that the lust for gold is the moving cause.

Nothing of startling importance • has occurred in literary or scientific circles. No great additions have been made to the sum of human knowledge, and Tennyson’s place instill unoccupied. The year has, however, been redeemed from the absoluteprosaic, for has not that “ Hardy Norseman,” Dr. Nansen, fared forth in quest of the long-sought-for North Pole P Since he left, news, or ratherhints, of disaster have been received, but these are vague enough to give room for the hope that all’s well with the dauntless voyager and his sturdy Pram. The fear of a European war has not been absent from men’s minds during the year —this, like the influenza, is an annual recrudescence now-a-days. France’s little differencewith Siam gave cause for uneasiness,, but after a good deal of noise and bluster an amicable adjustment of conflicting interests was arrived at by the establishment of a “buffer” state*. The Triple Alliance, despite rumours that one of the parties to it—ltaly—finds the strain of military expenditure too great —continues, and is not likely to be affected, by the recent theatrical display of friendship between France and Russia. That the hug of the Northern Bear was not purely fraternal has since been manifested by the intimation that he has squeezed a loan out of his effusive ally. France is still eager for revenge, but her time is not yet.

America has had her World’s Fair. It was a great show, but greater, we venture to think, in anticipation than, in reality. It was run too much on advertising lines, and its management, while marked by much that was commendable, lacked dignity ; and afterall the grandeur of which Chicago has been the scene, it is odd to read that the corporation is unable to pay its employes owing to a deficit in the treasury of 700,000 dollars. The Americans have had a stirring time of it politically, the repeal of the Silver Purchase Bill being the subject of contention. Success rested with the repealers, and this, coupled with important tariff changes, will make President Cleveland’s term a notable one. The Russian Nihilists have not been quiescent —their activity is perennial, and anarchists have been pursuingtheir diabolical work in France and Spain. In the latter country the city of Santander was the scene of a terrible explosion, while in Franfce the very Senate Chamber itself was selected for his purpose by a desperate bomb-throwex-. South America is in the throes of another of those revolutions which appear to be essential to life in that part of the world, and “ battle, murder, and sudden death ” are the order of the day. The death-roll of 1893 is not a long one. Among the list of the departed Medicine mourns Sir Andrew Clark*

Gladstone's “ beloved physician ; ” Science, Professor Tyndall; Music Gounod, who, though dead, yet speaketh in many a beautiful composition ; Mars, a worthy son in Marshal McMahon, an ex-President of France ? and one of the best of the many ** soldiers of fortune ” to whom she has been indebted; Letters, M.Taine, critic and historian ; the Drama, Mr Pettit; and the Pulpit, Phillips JBrooks, the large-hearted, liberalminded and eloquent Bishop of Massachusetts. Coming nearer home, Victoria misses Judge Higginbotham and Hew Zealand the Hon. John Ballance* planner of the political campaign whose issue he was not permitted to see. The House of Representatives has lost its first Speaker in the person of Sir Charles Clifford, and the Temperance cause a doughty champion in Sir William Fox, an erstwhile Premier. Te Kooti, of sinister memory, is gone—his mcma had long preceded him. That most skilful of guides, Quintin McKinnon, whose name is inseparably connected with our Southern Switzerland, came to an untimely end in the prosecution of his duties. In Southland not a few of our pioneer settlers have passed to where, “beyond these voices, there is peace.” And how have the colonies fared during the year P “ Badly ” must the answer be in the majority of cases. Victoria has suffered from a species of commercial influenza bank failures, building society collapses, and private insolvencies have followed each other with depressing regularity the trail of the bcom is over it all. Many reputations have been sadly besmirched. Men in whom the people trusted have proved utterly unworthy, and Marvellous Melbourne is in sad ease. Small wonder if outsiders ask—“ Can any good come out of her ?” Hew South irs Wales is little better off. The cry of the unemployed is urgent, and frequent changes of government are accentuating the misery of the situation. One of the most significant episodes of the year was the departure of a vessel called the Royal Tax’ for South America, with emigrants anxious to establish a “ Hew Australia ” on the banks of the Parana. The movement has recruits from all the colonies, but it is too early yet to speak positively as to its success or failure. Hew South Wales has also suffered from floods, and Queensland has been heavily handicapped in the same way, property to the value of £2,000,000 being destroyed.

And what of New Zealand ? Little, liappily, that is not cheering and cheerful. The gap made in the ranks of the Cabinet hy the death of Mr Ballance was filled from amongst its members —the Premiership falling- to the Hon. Mr Seddon and the Treas-m-ership to the Hon. J. G. Ward. The session that followed the reconstruction of the Ministry was a long one, and will ever he memorable as that in which the women of the colony were granted their political freedom. The opportunity to use it came on the 28th of November, and the results of the elections, broadly viewed, indicated plainly enough that the votes of the new electors had been so cast as to make for the well-being of the people of the colony. Among minor incidents it has to be noted that Butler, of Cumberland street (Dunedin) tragedy fame, was released from gaol some months ago, and was, according to report, shipped off to itio de Janeiro. That lonely spot, the Antipodes Island, was the scene of a

wreck —that of the Spirit of the Dawn. Her captain and four others perished, and the survivors, after a sojourn of over two months, were rescued by the Government steamer Hinemoa while on one of her periodical trips. Heavy floods have been experienced in Hawkes Bay and the Thames. Early in the year the people of Invercargill made the acquaintance of His Excellency, the Governor and Lady Glasgow, and yet another honour was theirs a few weeks ago, when the Garrison Band carried off the championship at the contest in Christchurch. In January last the Southland Land Board passed maps representing an area of over 50,000 acres to be opened for settlement. Allotments not a few have since been taken up. The Government, not content with opening new country, have acquired the Cheviot and Pomahaka Estates, and are reported to be in treaty for the purchase of the Ocean View property at Fortrose. In July some uneasiness was caused by the news that the Hew Zealand Loan and M. A. Company had got into difficulties. This was followed not long after by a run on the Auckland Savings Banks, but fortunately this speedily subsided. It was intimated that a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company had been undertaken, and on Christmas Day the welcome news was received that the officers of the Company had been instructed to hold themselves in readiness to pay out balances due to clients on account of consignments. This means the distribution of something like a quarter of a million sterling—about the best Christmas box CD the colony could receive, coupled as it was with - the intimation that a satisfactory settlement of the Company’s affairs had been arrived at in London.

There ! Our review, necessarily a hasty one, of the world’s doings in 1893, is ended. What a restless, troubled old universe it is ! Hardly anywhere is there peace and quietude. By comparison with other parts of the globe, New Zealand is a veritable haven of rest. It cannot be said that within her borders the rich are growing richer, the poor poorer. To each is given the opportunity to work out his or her destiny, undisturbed by war’s rude alarms, unhampered by Governmental tyranny, and unfretted by the grinding poverty that embitters the lot of so many in the Old Land. Yes, of a truth we have abundant reason to declare, as the old year, with its joys and sorrows, its hopes and fears, passes from our view, that “ there’s no place .like home !” Feeling thus, and yielding to the buoyant influences of the season, we wish our readers, in timehonoured phrase,

A Y kuy Hatty New Yeah !