THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1892. THE BEHRING SEA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2338, 2 April 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1892. THE BEHRING SEA.

The Behring Sea difficulty appears to be as far away from settlement now as ever. This difficulty has arisen out of a dispute as to the right of British subjects to catch seals in certain peaces in the region indicated. The seas and islands in dispute belonged until a few years ago to Russia, and it appears that, amongst other nations, English sailors used to fish for seals there. The United States, however, purchased the place from Russia, and thus acquired sovereignty over it, but England still persisted in the right of her subjects to fish there. This right has been denied ; there was no treaty no proof of any international agreement giving England such a right, but this did not settle the matter, and a few years ago the dispute between the two nations assumed a very serious aspect. It was, however, patched up after a good deal of angry correspondence by both parties agreeing to observe a close season for seal fishing, from the 15th of April to the Ist oi November, if we remember rightly, and for a time nothing more was heard of the Behring Sea trouble. It however, leaked out that poachers were at work, and as it appeared to Mr Blaine, the United States Secretary, that unless some protection were given to the seals, they would soon become extinct, he took very active measures to prevent their destruction. Thus arose the difficulty afresh, and now we find the Canadians insisting on fishing there until ordered to leave by Great Britain. That is the position at present, and if we are to take any notice of the cablegrams to hand from day to day, it would appear that the relations between the two nations interested are not of the most amicable nature. The Americans, we are told, are putting their navy in repair with the view of defending their rights in the Behring Seas ; and of course if they commence hostilities England will be compelled to defend her own interests. As regards American rights in the Behring regions there can be no doubt, but where British rights come in has never been made very clear. British rights are based on some international law which gives to all the privilege of sailing over the high seas, but the weakness of this is that seals are not caught at such a distance from land as would satisfy this law. They are chiefly caught on islands acquired by the United States from Russia, and as it is I denied that England ever held any right over these we cannot see where England's right comes in. However, the point is that England appears disposed to maintain her claim, and thus the position is becoming interesting. A cablegram informs us that the London Times suggests that the colonies should contribute to the expense of such undertakings as the Behring Sea difficulty. England will never find herself in a proper difficulty until she attempts to collect taxation from her colonies. It was in this way she lost the United States ; it was by attempting to enforce payment of taxation that she brought on the War of Independence, and made the States her enemy, and if she attempts to adopt similar methods as regards her other colonies, she will undoubtedly lose them. There is, however, room to suspect that there is not so much in the Behring Sea difficulty as appears on the surface. The Americans are on the eve of the Presidential election, and the British general election will take place within a few months. It is possible, therefore, that a great deal of the noise has been got up for electioneering purposes, and the great personages conducting the discussion are merely trying to throw dust in the people's eyes. If so the whole thing will soon settle down, and nothing further will be heard of it, but, at present the question wears rather an ugly aspect and \ may lead to unexpected complications.

MRS OSBORNE'S CASE. The case of Mrs Osborne appears to have created a great deal of sympathy in the Old Country. A couple of years ago she was a beautiful and accomplished young lady, moving in the highest society circles, and amongst her friends were Mrs and Major Hargreaves. She went to stay with them for a time, and while there managed to steals pearls to the value of over £IOOO belongirg to Mrs Hargreaves. Suspicion fixed upon her at once, with the result that Captain Osborne, who was engaged to marry her, called upon Major Hargreaves for an explanation. . Court proceedings ensued, and Mrs Osborne got out scotfree, and when things looked blackest against her, Captain Osborne married her. The result of the court proceedings was that Captain Osborne proceeded against some of the witnesses for perjury, and it was during the hearing of this case that Mrs Osborne's guilt became known. The scene in court was most dramatic. A document was handed into the judge, who after reading it handed it to Sirj Charles Russell, who appeared in the case, and he in turn handed it to the opposing counsel. After a minute's consultation Sir Charles Russell asked for an adjournment of the court, and this was granted. When the court re-assembled it was announced that the proceedings were withdrawn ; and it then became known that the document handed into the court was the statement of a firm af clothiers, which went to prove Mrs Osborne had stolen the pearls. Mrs Osborne at once made herself scarce, but hor noble-hearted husband undertook to bring her back to justice, and he did so. After a diligent search he found her in Spain, and brought her back to England, where she stood her trial, and was sentenced to imprisonment. No man conld have acted more nobly than Captain Osborne. When things looked very black against her ho refused to believe in her guilt; but immediately that it was proved to him that she had committed the theft he at once assisted in bringing her to justice. She is still in gaol, and about to become a mother, and great efforts are now being put forth to get her out before her confinement takes place. We cannot, of course, sympathise with the lady herself, but he would be hard hearted indeed, who could not feel for her noble-hearted husband. The discovery -,-:. -dy-married wife's guilt was unofhisno*.. .„. t blow to him but it doubtedly ■ & gr*« * ■ tofind that hi must be «U For thesake child must be bom lU

of the father, who has acted the part of a hero throughout, it appears to us, that the authorities might very well release Mrs Osborne. The punishment she has already undergone must be a thousand times more severe to her than ten times the number of years would have been to an ordinary criminal, and so it is not likely that she will ever commit such an offence against. There is only one point on which the Government need hestitate, and that is the moral effect her release would have. It would, of course, be said that she had been released because she moved in high circles, and some dissatisfaction might be the result. Still, for the sake of her husband, we think she ought to be released, and we hope she will be, at any rate before she becomes a mother.