CHINA'S AWAKENING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9637, 1 November 1909, Page 4

CHINA'S AWAKENING.

"The Tageblatt far Nord China," publishes an interesting article on the growth of Chinese power in Mongolia. It says that important Chinese colonial questions are being solved unostentatiously, and that. Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria are becoming more Chinese than ever they have been. As the means of strengthening her national position in the dependencies China is sending to those places enormous numbers of emigrants. To send coolies and peasants in as large numbers a3 it desires to these countries, thinly peopled by native tribes, costs the Pekin Government f»nly the small laDour of edicts to the Governors of Provinces suitable for such emigration and small financial aid m special cases. An army of about 40,000 men, drilled by Japanese instructors and armed with modern weapons, hau been placed d.iring the last two years in the region, of Urumtchi, and the old frontier p»rts of Kuldja and Bulun-tochoi havd brfen strengthened. In the so-callei f.irther Mongolia, to the north of the Gobi desert, the sudden activity of the Chinese Governors Kobdo and Uliasutai is filling the Consuls charged with the maintenance of the Russian interests in Urga and Uiiasutai with anxiety. The endeavours of China in- Mongolia are not only directed against the attempts bi Russia io obtain foot in that country, but also against the independent Mongolian prinr.e?. The interests of independence and the danger threatening them from P ekin make the'MongoiMM princes tne natural alii s of tue Russians: The author asks uf what avail that is against the irresistible forward march of Cinuse settlers and traders, with wn«,m Russian traders cannot compete,

SOLWAY—STOCK FA IK. The Genera! Committee of the Ma«terton A. and P. Association, at its last meeting in deliberating on the Solway scheme, unanimously decided to take steps to hold a huge stock fair about next show time. It was thought that farmers would willingly donate stock for the fair, and if the movement were widespread a very considerable sum would be raised by the united sale, which would greatly reduce the Salway expeness The idea, which is an excellent one, was really the outcome of a suggestion made by Mr W. B. Allen, and it was while the Committee were discussing that gentleman's donation of a 20 guinea ram the proceeds to go towards So!wav that the decision to hold a stork fair originated; The Committee appointed to control' the scheme are most enthusiastic, and they are laying their plans in a ' most thorough and systematic manner. Every farmer in the district will be approached, and the Committee, which is composed of men wbo nave the

interests of the Association and the district thoroughly at heart, intend to give the matter their closest attention. The novel idea of donating stock will, also, be more likely to commend itself to settlers than the presentation of the good old subscription list, which, although it has "stood the test of time," is not likely to be conducive of such good results as the stock fair scheme, when the present stringency of the money market is taken into consideration. Already the members are meeting with encouragement, the nature of which is such that if it continues the success of the scheme, will l be assured beyond measure.