The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 289, 17 May 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1898.

* The " splendid isolation " of Great Britain we are told by Lord Salisbury and Mr Chamberlain, is about to be resented by a combination of Powers, and that war is imminent. What that combination against Britain is composed of we are not told, but the inference is that Russia and France are two of the Powers alluded to. This crisis there is every reason to suppose has been brought about immediately by an interchange of notes in reference to the war now proceeding between America and Spain. The question has natuially arisen as to what steps shall be taken by the European Powers, there is a feeling that America should not be allowed to push Spain to extreraeties, nor to reap the full reward of the victory which is certain ultimately to attend her arms. Britain has, i.t is believed, stated that she will not allow interference by any other Power during the progress of the war and that America shaH have the free disposal of the territory she may acquire by force of arms. The American and -Spanish trouble is, however, only one of the incentives to combine to break the power of England. The Powers are jealous of her colonial possessions and the greatness and wealth which result therefrom. They are also irritated that she stands in the position of arbiter of the peace of Europe. The alliance of France and Russia on the one hand and of the Triple Alliance on the other, gives two combinations of so nearly equal power that the side Britaiu might take in the event

of a general conflagration would be assured of victory. The unity of the English speaking people has been looked forward to as the event of all others calculated to confer the greatest benefits upon mankind. And if we are to take Mr Chamberlain's words as prophetic of an event to take place at a very early date, this great boon to humanity is about to be brought about. Once cement all these people together and a power would exist capable of enforcing peace upon the world. It is true that the sixty million people in the United States are not all by a very long way the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon race, but it is that race which is predominant, and the foreign people who have been poured into the States have been assimilated, as have been all the races which have settled in the British colonies, When once they have tasted the freedom which is to be enjoyed under either the Union Jack or the Stars and Stripes they soon lose all hankering to return to the countries of their origin and once more be subjected to military despotism. Mr Chamberlain told the people of Birmingham that " War would be cheaply purchased if it resulted in the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack waving together over an Anglo-Saxon alliance." That a great war is inevitable is recognised on all hands, and we agree with Mr Chamberlain that it is well, even if that war be precipitated in consequence, that Great Britain and America shall be found fighting side by side.

The Waikato Hounds will meet at Newstead Railway Station on Saturday next, at 11 a.m. The extradition of Dr. Orpen has been granted, subject to the approval of President McKinley. He is expected to arrive in Auckland on 7th June. The Agent-General, Mr W. P. Reeves, has arranged with the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company to convey to Auckland Mr "Williamson's statue of the Queen gratis. The Russian Government has purchased the racehorse Galtee More for £25,000. This horse it will be remembered won last season the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger. We remind those interested of the clearing sale to be held by Mr W. J. Hunter at the residence of Mr H. Kirk (Ohaupo-Paterangi Road) to-morrow (YYednesday), commencing at 2 o'clock p.m. A telogram from Auckland last night says that among those who perished in the great snowslide on the road to Klondyke, reported in the cables recently, was W. E. D. Wood, of New Zealand. The war seems (Writes our Obaupo correspondent) to be taking up considerable attention. Every day there is a great demand for Argils extras ; they are certainly a great boon and are highly appreciated by subscribers and others. Messrs McNicol and Co. have received instructions from Dr. Perceval (who is leaving the district) to sell at his residence, Cambridge, on Wednesday, June Ist, the whole of his household furniture, etc. Full particulars will be found in their column this issue. The late rains are having a beneficial effect on the turnips, especially the late sown, and on the whole we may look forward to a fair averages crop ; young grass is also looking well. Our factory closed down for the season on the 13th. Milk, of course, was running low, owing to the dryness of the season. (Own Correspondent). The Salvation Army had a gala day at Cambridge on Sunday, when Major Cain and his .wife were in command. We understand the services were well attended, and that the collections were good. When parading the town in the afternoon the music was not up to the usual standard, the instruments being out of tunc or badly played. The negotiations for the sale of the farm at present in the occupation of Mrs Hill, and originally the selection of General Galloway, were yesterday brought to a successful termination. This desirable property adjoins Mr Fitzroy Peacocke's farm, " Weston Lea," and comprises some 790 acres. The price realised, -£BSO, seems a very low figure for such a well-situated property. On Saturday (writes our Kihikibi correspondent) Mr James Farrell, an old and much-respected resident of this township, was taken suddenly ill, and at the time of writing (Monday morning) is lying in a precarious condition, having been unconscious for some time. Mr Farrell had never thoroughly recovered from his serious illness, which I reported some weeks ago, although he had since been up and about. I trust that he may yet pull through. Word was received in Sydney last week that the Kingo, a Japanese training ship, has started from Tokio a visit to the Australasian colonies, with thirty-two graduates of the Naval College, Japan. The voyage is to last 169 days from the time of leaving Japan. New Zealand will be included in the list of colonies visited. The Kingo is composite built, and has a displacement of 2200 tons, her hugth being 2311 b, beam 40tt 9in, and draught 17ft 4in. She carries nine guns of heavy calibre. Mr Buick, who contested the Palmerston seat last election against Mr Pirani, is at present in Waikato on a short visit to Mr Sare, manager of the Loan and Mercantile Company, who ia a connection of his by marriage. In conversation the other day, Mr Buick said he had it on reliable authority that a dissolution ia iinmiuent. He intends offering himself as a candidate at the next election, and is sanguine of securing the seat in the Opposition interest. At the last election he was only beaten by about fifty votes ; since then a considerable reaction has set in. Mr Pirani lias seceded from the Government ranks, and as it is rumoured a Government supporter will be brought out, and with Mr Pirani also in the field, Mr Buick considers his return will be practically assured. The vagaries of rats are of a truly wonderful character ; they are most cunning in their methods of getting at anything eatable, and sometimes they appear to do things in a spirit of pure " cussedncss." A peculiar instance of the latter propensity occurred at Mr Thos. Wells' store at Cambridge last week. A quantity of new clothing from the Kaiapoi factory had been put upon the shelves in the shop, but it evidently did not meet with the approval of the rats, for they somehow got on to the shelf that held the waistcoats and gnawed the bone buttons off them. They then amused themselves by chewing the aforesaid buttons into small bits, in fact made bone dust of them. It is evident the rodents do not think Mr Wells progressive enough and have given him a gentle hint to add a bone mill to his multitudinous undertakings.

A well - known writer tu the Journal of the French Statistical Society has been making some observations on the outcome of pure American marriages, which may well receive attention on the other side of the Atlantic. From one cause or another such marriages arc resulting in a steady diminution of the birth rate, and the facts are beyond dispute. The question is one to be solved if the American race is to survive. The most obvious explanation (says a writer in the Pall Mall Guzette) i 3 probably the ideal of consumptive beauty which prevails in the States, for it is an open secret of nature that women adapt themselves 10 the reigning ideal (has not Du Maaricr created a type?). The writer of the article in question, however, takes another view of the matter. It is the principle of democracy, he finds that is at fault. Democracy produces individualism and the maximum of personal development, which is bad for the race. The numerical increase of a race is in inverse proportion to the development of individuals. America, it seems, must either give up democracy, or die of it. There is yet a third alternative. She may discover a ' scientific democracy ' capable of infinite reproduction.' With this nebulous but tempting suggestion the writer comes to an end. Much was made of the late native chief, Major Kemp, while he lay in his coffin. The Hon. J. Carroll pro, nounced a remarkable eulogy over the departed chief at his graveside, and took advantage of the occasion to read a telegram of sympathy and effection from the Right Honorable the Premier himself. Not till after the funeral ceremonies had been completed, and the late distinguished chief was laid in the grave, did one word fall from any of their lips showing what they really thought of the treatment he had received from the Government of the colony during his lifetime. Then they did not fail to say in the plainest lauguage that he over whom the Government now pronounced such eulogies had been persecuted to his grave by the members of the Government themselves (comments the Wanganui Chronicle). Mr J. M. Fraser (a friend and employe of the deceased), who followed, among other things said : " In his speech at the grave addressed to the Europeans there present, the Hou. Mr Carroll gave a fair resume of Major Kemp's life, and expressed the very great grief of his Government on the loss of so good a man. Why this hypocrisy ? (Addressing the deceased): During the latter years of your lifetime, Taitoko, you have had no rest from unjust and unfounded attacks oh your fair fame and good name by the present Government and their party. They have persecuted you to your grave. Your death has been accelerated, and we are thus here to mourn your loss. The Government had forgotten the consideration due to you for your past meritorious deeds. Now you are dead they come here and shed crocodile tears over your grave."