THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1893. THE COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2601, 30 December 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1893. THE COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON.

This issue com plates our labors for tin year 1803, for ag»in appearing 1801 will have dawned upon ns. It may not, perhaps, prove uninteresting to take a retrospective glance at the year which is now drawing to a close, for it was in many respects a very eventful one. France produced one of the first sensations of the year. There men of the highest standing were arraigned before a Court ot Justice on the Very serious charge of wholesale corruption in connection with the Panama Canal. As we all know this was a canal which the great engineer, M. De Lesseps, proposed to cut through the Isthmus of Panama,in South America, so as to shorten the route from the Jfgrtlwro tv the Swtiwwi,

Millions of pounds were raised and squandered over it, and ultimately it was discovered that an immense sum had been spent in wholesale bribery. Those guilty of this scandalous conduct were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. The Panama scandals created a tremendous sensation in Franco, and at one time it was anticipated that it would result in the overthrow of the Republic. So serious was the position that arrangements were made with the Bank of England to transfer the money of France to that institution at a moment’s notice, but it fizzled out, and the Republic still lives. The next question which excited the greatest amount of interest was the introduction of the Home Rule Bill into the Imperial Parliament by Mr Gladstone. The Bill was introduced on the 12 th of February, and practically monopolised the whole attention of Parliament until the Ist of September, when the third reading was carried, at nearly 1 o’clock in the morning. Thus nearly seven months were spent in discussing the measure, and yet on the third reading the Tories raised the cry that they had been gagged because the closure was applied, and declared that only one quarter of the Bill had been properly debated. The House of Lords made short work of the measure, and threw it out after four days’ debate. The majority against it was the largest ever recorded against .any measure in the House of Lords. In connection with this measure a scene of an unusual nature took place in the House of Commons, where several members engaged in a free fight, which lasted for a long time. This was the most scandalous scene which has been ever witnessed in the House, and which was a disgrace to all concerned. France and England narrowly escaped coming into contact on two occasions. The first was in connection with Egypt, inhere the young Khediveunceremoniously dismissed his Ministers and appointed others, who were known to be antagonistic to British interests, in their stead. Lord Roseberry, however, very quickly brought the young monarch to his senses, and the old Ministers were reinstated. In Siam also France acted in a very highhanded manner, and so offensive did the French Press become that the Marquis of Dufferin, the English Ambassador, left Paris for a time. Apparently, however, neither party appeared disposed to go to war, and the difficulty was soon healed up. An incident of a most startling nature occurred in Russia, where starving peasants laid down on the railway over which the Czar was to pass, so as to call his attention to their grievances. Several of the peasants were crushed by the train, and a fracas took, place between themselves and the military, but the Czar was too frightened to take any notice of their wants.

The labor question has been prominently before the public all over the world during the year, but no real solution of it has as yet been suggested. On the Continent there have been several strikes; anarchists and socialists have been busy. It is perhaps unfair to connect anarchists with socialists, or to bracket either of them with the efforts of labor to redress its grievances, but at the same time they are all only expressions of discontent with the present unsatisfactory condition of the poor. There can be do doubt but that all Europe is standing on the brink of a social volcano, and that there is sufficient sympathy between all three agencies to combine together in the event of an upheaval. The anarchists are the most senselesss of all. Their aim is to destroy, without a thought as to what they will construct in the place of present conditions. The socialists aim at gradual construction, without destroying anything, and the trades unions’ object is to secure for themselves a greater share of the fruits of labors. In pursuance of this idea several serious strikes have taken place, notable that at Hull, into which something of the nature of anarchy entered. There £1,000,000 worth of timber was destroyed; the shipping federation lost £50,000; the unionists £40,000 ; and trade suffered to the extent of £76,000. The colliery strike was a very serious affair, and resulted in great suffering.

An incident which shocked the whole Empire was the sinking of the Victoria, with 422 men, in broad daylight, in the Mediterranean Sea. The Victoria was the finest ship in the British Navy, and through some mismanagement she was run into by the Oamperdown while mancsuvriug in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Tryou and 422 men went down with her.

One of the great events of the year also Was the opening of the Chicago Exhibition. Like everything American this was the biggest show on earth* and one of its greatest novelties Was Galled the Parliament of Religion. There met representatives of all the Greeds of the earth. They Game front north, south, east, and west j the Hiudod, the Goufucian* and so on, of tile east mingled with the Protestant and Cathelic of the west* and the representative of every creed explained the peculiar doctrines of his own faith. No discussion, lloWeVar, was allowed, and so no debate took place as to the relative merits of tile Various creeds. New Zealand was represented there by Archbishop Redwood, of Wellington. Just about the same time the Imperial Institute was opened in London. This is a permanent exhibition of colonial products, and eaunot fail to bo a good advertisement for the colonies. We are very glad to find that New Zealand fills a very prominent position in it—-a fact Which is mainly due to the energy of our excellent Agent-General. Turning now to the Australian colonies, we find that the year will be forever memorable on account of the great financial panic, during which almost all the banks 1 oppled over like a house of cards. In the short space of a few weeks almost every bank in Australia, with the exception of such as had branches in Now Zealand, came to grief, and the panic was not allayed until the various Governments came to their assistance and threw over them their protecting mgis. In Victoria the banks were closed by law, but the Bank of New Zealand scored heavily by refusing to obey the proclamation ordering the banks to close. In Queensland State-guaranteed notes were issued, and Now South W,iles banknotes were made a legal tender for six months. No sooner were the bank managers given breathing time than they sot- about reconstructing the fallen institutions, nnclin a very short time ha i them in full swing again. This is very strong proof of the elasticity of the financial resources of Australasia. There can be no doubt but that dishonesty was at the bottom of the panic. The land boom Was dishonest, and on the strength of it rose up bogus monetary institutions, got up purposely by swindlers, who thus robbed the unwary of their money. These went down with the depreciation in the value of the securities they held, and the public lost confidence in the honestly conducted banks, in consequence of which they rudied them. The panic was a severe blow to the Australian colonies, and it will be many years before they have completely from its effects, (

Many who thought themselves rich fiud themselves penniless, and others who were looked upon as honorable and upright men are now serving sentences in the penetentiaries. It is something for New Zealand to be proud of that while all commotions were agitating her sister colonies she was enjoying a season of comparative prosperity. Every institution which had any connection with New Zealand was able to weather the storms, with the exception of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, but the failure of that company did not affect this colony, where the business has gone on as usual. However, we are suffering now on account of the panic in Australia; and gold is being filched away to back up the tottering banks of other colonies, and consequently there is great scarcity of money. If, however, the Government carry out their proposals to borrow money in London and lend it out here the effects of the drain on our resources will soon be counteracted.

The disastrous floods in Queensland, by which thousands were rendered homeless, and the greater part of a handsome city was laid in ruins, created a profound sensation throughout the British Empire, and awakened the deepest sympathy with the sufferers. Collections . were raised everywhere, and New Zealand can boast of having headed the list as the largest contributor to the Queensland flood-fund. No event took place in New Zealand which created such a feeling of profound sorrow as the death of our late Premier, the Hon. John Ballance. Just at the zenith of his power, with the magnificent policy which he had inaugurated ripening into fruition, He was cut down and after a severe and lingering illness, and the deepest grief was manifested by all classes. For two years he held the reins of office, and during that short time, he made his mark as undoubtedly the most resourceful and the ablest statesman Now Zealand has ever known. The policy which he inaugurated has made this colony the envy of the whole world, and his memory will live fresh in the minds of the peop e long after the present generation has passed away. The great political event of the year has been the extension of the franchise to women. New Zealand stands foremost in this respect, but, without a doubt, it will not be long before other States and people will follow her example. It is not necessary to dwell on the result of the recent election, further than to say that the success of the Liberal Party was due largely to the women, who signalised their enfranchisement by declaring in favor of the splendid policy and wise administration of the Government. Looked at from every point of view, the prospect for New Zealand at the present time is the brightest of any spot on the face of the earth. Strikes and labor troubles will soon be things of the past, for the Arbitration and Conciliation Bill will become law next session, and all such disputes will henceforward be referred to peaceable settlement. The Government, too, exhibit a determination to spare no efforts to settle people on the land, and as a rage has set in in this direction We may expect that this year will be remarkable for rural development. We have only one drawback, but over that we have no control—that is that prices remain low, and that there is very little prospect of a rise. Only for this, New Zealand would have been estremelv prosperous, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that, comparatively speaking, she is one of the of the brightest spots oa the face of the earth. May she long remain so, ami we have no doubt but she will, if her affairs continue to be manrged as carefully and as judiciously as they have been during the past three years. We wish our readers “ A Happy New Year.”