The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1885. THE PROBABILITIES OF WAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1973, 24 April 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1885. THE PROBABILITIES OF WAR.

The cable news which we publish today is of a more portentoiifl nature than any we have received since the affair at Penjdeb, where the Russian General Komakopp attacked the Afghan forces, and defeated them with a loss ot five hundred men and all their artillery. The consideration then forced itself upon us that it was scarcely possible to avoid war without leaving Russia a way to. India, and this lias been gradually strengthened by the details of the buttle which have from lime to time come to hand. To-day we learn that Russia absolutely refuses to make any further inquiry into the action of General Komarofp, If this statement provenjcorrecji, if appears to us that nothing remains to be done bub declare war, for it seems but too plain that Russia has all along made up her mind to gain a certain object, whether by diplomacy or war. Her past history shows that -she has been in the habit of shilly-shallying before her opponents, and making professions of peace while she was massing her troops within easy reach of the frontier, and that, when hostilities commenced, she was always well prepared. It is to be presumed that Afghanistan will be the first battle Held; but it is hardly likely that fighting will be limited to such a small territory when two of the largest Empires of the world are at war. Probably no Russian fleet will ever leave the Baltic or the Black Seas without being overmatched at the outset, and it is therefore likely that the soil of Russia Afghanistan and India will see nearly all the bloodshed. Tt is satisfactory to know that preparations are being pushed abend for defending the Colonies, because it has been ascertained

that Russia has'' purchHsed vessels in San Francisco which she is fitting out as cruisers. It is also satisfactory to kndw that the Pacific coast of North America does not possess vessels that coulrl for a ruonunt rival the Kuapehu and the other merchant tamers engaged for defence purposes, in either speed, size or endurance. All these vessels, wutild ,hajje to be riddled with shot before they could sink, Kussia has no ironclads outside of the Black Sea or Baltic that would venture within range of the Nelson's guns. With these armed cruisers to assist them the Colonies have. every chaiiee of making a • successful defence, and their victery would be a victory for the British Empire, The only cause for doubt lies in the fact that the pieparations are rather backward, The next few days will be a period of anxiety, for it is impossible to say at what moment the struggle may commence,

A young lady has opened a photographic studio at Woodville. Messrs Whitt and Donaldson's new advertisement will appoar to-morrow.

The appointment of Mr G. B. Davy as District Judge for the Wairarapa is gazetted.

Messrs Lowes and lorns have made further additions to their catalogue for their stock sale on Wednesday next.

We have received the April number of Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald & Co.'s Landed Property Guide. It is proposed to erect an hotel at the junction of the Forty-Mile Bush 'and Mauriceville roads.

The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Alfredton Road' District will be held on the second instant.

We direct attention to Messrs Lowes and lorns extensive sale.of household goods and furniture, which takes place te-morrow afternoon.

The annurl meeting of the Wairarapa and East Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Society, takes place at the White Hart Hotel at 2 p, m, to-morrow, Captain Edwin telegraphs to-day at 1,30, "Indications of glass falling within twelve hours, and after sixteen hours from now, strong winds between north-east and north-west may bo expected,"

Members of tho Masterton Farmors' Club are reminded that a meoting takes place at the Council Chambers at 3,30 p.m, tomorrow, Members of the Committee meet half-aii-hour earlier. Mr T. Price annuomiccs in another column that he is opening a general drapery store in one of the shops in front of the Theatre Royal, Mr Price was formerly manager lor Mr J. Paul, and is well and favorably known throughout the Wairarapa, He is at present unpacking sixteen cases of seasonable goods of all kinds, and of superior quality, which he is prepared to soil at prices which should ensure him a fair share of public support.

The Masterton Road Board notifies elsewhere its intention to hold a meeting on May flth, for the purpose of striking a rate of three farthings in the £ for the year ending 3rd March, 188 li, the amounts to be payable in one instalment on the Ist June next, The rate book may be seen at the office of tho Board, The land recommended by the Waste Land Board for sale on deferred payment in the Mangahao, Mangaone, and Kopuaranga Survey District is gazetted. The upset price ranges from £1 to £llss per acre. The sections range from 7li to iJOQ aprps. TJIO schedules of land in tho FortyrJlije ISush to be offered 011 perpetual lease also appear pi the Gazette.

The Manawatu Times seriously advises the residents of Palmerston to securo a monopoly of the Mangatainoke Block, at any rate so far as its future trade is concerned, and proposes the construction of a district railway for that purpose. We niay gtate that a low saddle, which would, at any rate, he (jujtahle for a road, exists In the Tararua at a point between fj}e two places; but we fancy it will ho a lpng time before even a bridle track will" be cut through it, It is not at all improbable thattlie New South Wales Contingent which was sent to the Soudan will seo a good deal more of active service than was anticipated when they left Sydney. A recent cable message brought the news that the forces of General Graham were to be withdrawn fwjm Suakim, and that only the Indian troops were to be Jeff there. The chances are that the colonials will follow tljeir genoral, and, if need be, fight tho Russians as roadily as the Arabs, The following is a statement of the assets and liabilities of the various banks trading in the colony for the March quarter. The figures do not refer to .transactions at branches outside of the polony : Assets. Liabilities. . . ■ « £. Bank'of New Zealand.. ifiVM 5,306,108 Bank of New South 'Wales 2,078,73fl 1',028,113 Bank of Australasia ... i,lilß,o4'tl tiKm Colonial Bank 1,703,06!) 1,078,078 National Bank 1,873,253 1,002,657 Union Bank 2,2!)2,<106 1,891,062 The Masterton Rifle Volunteers went through bayonet and manual exerciso under the instruction of Sergt. Major Bexar last night. Private A. G. Thompson, Bugler Bentley, Col, Sergt. Dixon, Sergt, Wood, and Sergt, Dalrymple wore all nominated to the vacant lieutenantcy. It was resolved that fclu) annual Ball of the Corps should be held on May ?Btli, fjie Queen's Birthday, as that would enable all attending the review in Masterton on that day to be present, On the application of Messrs Foley and Berkley the officer in command grantod permission to as many volunteers as liked to appear in uniform, to form a tableaux at the Theatre Royal next Monday night. Three new members were elected. It was resolvod to hold a drill on Thursday week,

The following are extracts from speeches made by the Premier, Perhaps his friends will understand how such utterances can be reconciled, The first runs as follows:—"What I would like to see in New Zealand is the system adopted in America; that there shall bo a homestead belonging to the family, so that no creditor can seine it; and it glial! be theirs forever. I believe you will not have bona fide settlement until the lav/ Bteps in and says: There is one place the law shall recognise as sacred to a man and his family, which no creditor can touch, and that piece of land shall be his home," And again he says!— ,l 1 believe I was the first in New Zealand to bring forward in our Provincial Council a resolution that no more land should be sold, I was the first to bring forward that proposition in the House of Representatives in 1875, anil if you will take the trouble to refer to the speepji which I made, on that occasion, you will find succinctly stated the reasons for such a step. Long before Henry George had written any of his books, I advocated those views, and I say still to all Liberal politicians that the Stato should still control the land, and have large ownership oyer, it, TJiafc ought to be the ideal of every Liberal politician. Heilbron's German Worm Cakes and Fitzgerald's Koromiko Extract are Patented,— Ad vi.

A conceit is to be given on Wednesday, next, at Carterton, by the choir 1 of' St.' Mark's Church, in aid of the churclvfund. Several prominent Wellington amateurs have promised to assist. ' . ■■,

The Carterton Wesleyan choir will shortly give a 1 service of song entitled "Eva." The proceeds will be added to the Sunday School account.

The first snow of the season fell on the Tararua Range during the recent southerly rain, Mount Hector, which is the highest of the range, receiving quite a resnecfcahlo covering, "TO,

In the R.M. Court, at Wellington, yes,terday, G, Harris, haker, who had' & refreshment booth at the annual meeting of the New Zealand RihV Association, at Island Bay, sued the Association for £ll Bs, value of meals supplied to officers. Judgment was given for £5 19s and costs.

"My Uncle's Will" a clever pretty little comedietta in one act, " Round the Camp Fire." and the amusing farce " A Pit of Dyspepsia," is the programme announced by Messrs Foley and Berkley for performance at the Theatre on Monday next. The valued services of Miss Rosie Beaufort have been secured for the season, during whioh she will appear in conjunction with the above named gentlemen. Mrs Captain Oolley, of the Salvation Army, a Gloucestershire lass, arrived in Masterton yesterday,- She made an appeal to the public last night for furniture, &c, and we hear that it' is being liberally responded to. An advertisement on the subject appears in our "wanted" column. Staff-Captain Spratt will be in charge of the Masterton corpa on Sunday next.

A man, who arrived from Gladstone this morning, attracted general attention as the. possessor of three sets of large deer's antlors, which he carried on his back.. They were taken from deer shot in the Maungaraki ranges. The owner has not decided what he will do with them, but if he is willing to dispose of them, many residents would no doubt be glad to obtain a pair for ornamental purposes,

It is said that black maire is much sought for at Home for machine bearings, and that the present price is as much as 2s per lb. If black maire is useful for such a purpose, tho white variety will be found equally serviceable, There are largo quantities of both in the Wairarapa, their only use at present boing in tho grate of the parlor fire-place. Sixpence a pound n'ett would make a fortune for many a settler,

A narrow escape from what might havo. proved.a fatal accident, occurred on one of the up country roads, one wet and stormy night recently, A gentleman, driving his family in a buggy towards home, on turning a sharp bend in the road, leading to a gully, across which only a narrow bridge, without handrails was placed, perceived, within ashort distance, another vehicle approaching at a rapid pace from the opposite direction. No room to pass, a collision seemed inevitable. But the drivers of the two conveyances were equal to the occasion and with admirable presence of mind applied their brakes, bringing the horses to a standstill within a few feet, and the occupants were able to congratulate each other on having had fitted, powerful brakes,, and good lamps to their carriages, by Muir aup) DjxQn of the Masterton Ooach Factory, wliq are now building all kinds of vehicles at fabiilqusjy low prices. —Adyt,