Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1892. THE BEAR'S HUG.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4212, 7 September 1892, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1892. THE BEAR'S HUG.

Being rim fxtbkded thus of the Wairaiupa Daily, with whioii it is IDBNTIfIAt.

It is to be hoped that the people of this Colony are following with an intelligent interest the brief daily chroniclrs which relate to what is called " tbe war cloud in the East." As a matter of fact, scarcely anything that occurs to allect British interests in ono pnrtof the world is without its ultimate reflex action upon the remotest confines of the Empire; white, in the particular ease which is now engaging men's eager attention, what with tho magnitude of the Asiatic and European interests involved and the certainty that Now Zealand will be a mark for Russia if war is formally declared, it would be difficult for us to view the progress of events with indifference.

Serious though the situation is, it is nevertheless only the latest—though perhaps the most important-develop-ment of an old story to which a fresh chapter more or less exciting has been added every two or three years. It is the story of jßussian craft nnd English supineness; of stealthy for. ward movement, under every pretext but tbe true one, by a half-savage and wholly unscrupulous foe, with the sole objeot of swarming into British India and wresting that magnificent possession from its slow-witted and self-satisfied British guardians, Who has not read, in one form or another, the recotd of this insidious advance from point to point, of outposts gradually planted over the country between tbo Caspian and the Hindoo Koosh,

of the occupation of Khiva, Bokhara, Merv, and Balkh in turn, sometimes "with scientific objects," sometimes " for colonising purposes," sometimes "to quell turbulent tribes" whose rising has first been fomented and then alleged as an excuse for the presence of tbe Russian troops! That presence is never withdrawn j there is no receding of the wave; wherever tbe grey-coated battalions bave appeared, they have come to stay. Meanwhile, what have our owu authorities been doing ? Not muoh. From time to time a momentary apprehension has arisen, and the British Government has strengthened en outpost or two, or built a fort, Indeed, it would not be too much to say that private students of thehistory of our own times are realising tbe imminence of the Russian attack upou India more forcibly than tbo rulers to whom our Indian intorests are entrusted, To this general statement some exception must tie made; for in tbe days of Lord Beaconsfield's power stirring military achievements like the march of Lord Roberts from Kabul to Kandahar went hand in band with diplomatic action in the direction of the delimitation of a "soientifio frontier." It is not a little significant tbat Russian aggression is most conspicuous when Liberal Ministries come

into power. Bussia is particularly well informed on English politics, and she sees olearly that, however keen about commercial and domestio matters a Liberal cabinet may seem to be, it is traditionally blind to the signs of war. It is not impossible that some day, while Mr Gladstone prates of arbitration and the revision of tariff*, the British nation may wake up'to learn that the Russians have seized India and there is no need to alter commercial laws since tho commerce itself has been taken from us, When Mr Gladstone's return to power was first announced, the Sam Vremya was good enough to givo ex-

pression to its truo sentiments for once, it" hoped that Mr Gladstone would place foreign matters in a secondary position," Wo should say tbat the St, Petersburg journal bad no reason to doubt that this hope would be realised, i{r Gladstone will relegate foreign matters to an inferior place; lie wj|l do t)iis just so long as the voice of the Queen's lieges remains unheard. He js p wpll<knnwn lliisso-phile, in whose efts Ilussia pan hardly do wrongj and the murmur in England against the advocate of pence at any price mudt swell into a roar, he must be threatened with ignominious expulsion from office, before be will take the diplomatic or strategic steps which tbe situation calls for,

! The impiediale occasion of tbe present Hussian interference is one of those revolts against tho Am'or of Afghanistan which seem to be a periodical evil. The Afghans are a lighting people, and we cau well imagine that mis-rule among them produces Bwift consrquencts, But it concerns the English whose proteye tho Ameer has alwaye been, to mjn-

iraisQ as much as possible the effects of his bad government nnd to give him at least tbeir moral support when bis nominal subjects robnl; and it concerns the Russians not at all to interpose in the dispute, Tbeir liighhitntlnd conduct in encroaching on bis territory and shooting down his people may reasonably form the ground of a complaint by tho Ameer. We are very well pleased, however, to note that Russia lias fallen foul of another great power in this impudent attempt to intrude on territory which is not hers, The Chinese ambassador in Lo.-.don has started for St. Petersburg to demand au explanation of tbe Russian aotion; and China will not be trifled with, whatever may be tbe case with England, We take it that even Russia is hardly ready to be embroiled with tbe Chinese power at this stage, and possibly we may find an unexpected succour- to our own feebleness in tbe age-long antipathy of China to her northern neighbour, If these rogues fall out, perhaps we may manage to keep our own; but this happy consummation will be due, in that event, rather to our luck than to our judgment. Meanwhile, we can estimate tbe gravity of tbe position when wo read that securities in India aro rapidly falling, the natives becoming uneasy at the action of Russia,

There is, by the way, another cable message which would be amusing if the strain were not too grout. The Russian ambassador at tho Court of St. James's assures Lord Roseberry, our new Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, that the Russian advance in the Pamirs is only made with amic: able intentions. This is quite in Russia's best style; and we look forward to the cartoon which Punch will give us in the course of a few weeks, founded ou this diplomatic re-assurance. Tho bear, grinning hideously, is forcing his way through a mountain pass to pay a surprise visit to the lion, Lions are, it is true, awkward customers for intrusive guests, but this lion lias been stall-fed for years. He blinks at his'visitor, and tbe bear prepares to—bug him, We arc anxious to see the sequel.

Several important additions are made to tho outries for Mr F, E. Wood's next Taratabi stock sale, We recrot to hear that Mr flf. Casel. berg, of Mastcrtjii, is still indisposed, and has been confined to his home for a fortnight, Tho question of settim; aside say £SO a yoar for the payment of future Mayors will be discussed by the Masterton Borough Council at an early date. A Taranaki housewife considers that yeaat made frum lwney, instead of sugar, give 3 far better and lighter bread, and the yeast keeps bolter, Tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society has decided to issue weekly licensos at 5s each for trout fishing.

A number ot milk sellers in Aucklam have beon fined on oharges of mill adulteration

Notwithstanding, says tho Lj ttelton Timcc, the fact that matters in busiuess circles at tho marine borough, Ly ttelton, jutt now aro supposed to bo at a rather low ebb, no loss than thirty Jour marriages wero celebrated in tho placo during the presont year. The petition of Mauricevilla East settlers, praying the Education Board to at once proceed with tho'erection of a new school in that district, was forwarded yesterday to Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R. KK

The lender of Mr H. Benzie at 1800 has been accopted for additions to the Dudley Arms Hotol, Mangataiiioko. _ Deteciive Herbert is again in Pahiatua investigating the poisoning case, The Pahiatua Jockey Club is issuing debentures, and intends forming a course without delay, Frank D. Lowe, alias C. H. Campbell, will bo brought up for sentence in the Wellington Supreme Court on Friday. A number of parents will appear in the Maßterton R.M. Court ou Friday to answer for the absence of their children from school. The School Committee intends' rigorously enforcing the compulsory clauses of tho Aot. The Star states that a friond has just written to a business man in the Hawera district: —"Butter shippingbasbeen a profitable business. I shipped about £9OOO worth, and it avoraged 104s per owt."

Walter Frost Ownhani, a bushfaller, was killed on Monday at Waimate, near Gisborne, Ho was a single man, aged twenty-seven, and was recently working in Canterbury and Otago. James Walker, of the firm ofCuthbertson and Walker, produce merchants, Auckland, was driving to a Masonic meeting, at Wairoa South on Monday night, when he suddenly gasped and expired.

Tlio Chamber of Commerce at Now Plymouth has passed a resolution to the effect that the management of the railways by a non-political Board has been eminently successful, and tho independence of such jfloird from the control of the Minister for tho timo being is essential,

I From what wo can hear, tho Masonic gathering to be hold in the Drill Hall this (Wednesday) evening will be a largo one. Visitors from all parts of tho Valley and East Coast have signified their intention of being present. The Hall has been beautifully decorated, and under the management of a thoroughly energetic committee everything possible has been done to ensure success.

The following telegram, with reference to the case in which E, A. Haggon, of \Voodville, is charged with criminal libel, was received after wo went to press yesterday The Chief Justice has agroed to receive affidavits in mitigation of the sentence in Haggen's esse, but absolutely declined to reserve the question of privilege. Sentence has been postponed uutil eleven o'clock to-mor-row morning, but, if counsel for tho prosecution dosires to reply to tho affidavits, sentence may be further doferrcd. The accused has been admitted to bail in his own recognizance.

A FLATTEBINO verdict.—Speaking of one of the most noted of colonial specialities, tho press says :-"Slurland's Baking Powder desorves more than a notice,for the "iVoa'J-Brand Baking Powder enjoys a reputation second to none. From ono end of Neir Zealand to the other, largo ordorg are reooived for this popular brand, Even in tho mort out of the way districts tho careful house-wife, possessed with tho laudable ambition to mako her bread and her scones better than her neighbours', buys Sharland's Baking Powder, and triumphs over the few of her less

sensible sisters, who, from a mistaken aeneo.of economy, buy apparently cheaper brands. The recipe of a good Baking Powder js anything but a Bepret; biit ho)v very few pse, as Messrs Shapland & Co. do, the best onjy of ptefiajs, carefully tested before mistqre and «j«pt)y proportioned," Readers, who renuire an economical, satisfactory ap(i healthful Bajijng Pojvder, .cannot [jo better than use the I "Moa brand.--Avvt ' Bememoer;! Our big Sale of Surplus winter Drapery and Clothing, commencing on Friday, July Ist at To Aro House. licmemborl If you want to receive wonderful bargains you should visit or Bend to the Big Sale at To Aro House, Wellingtop.

Eepiemberl There aro wopdprful bargains in every deparipicnt such as wjls make a trip tp ojir Big gale remunerative You will s'avp fpr more i|iap your esppnsps by visiting (hp Big Safe at Te 4ro toqsp Wellington

Bemember! Sale Prioe Lists will on ap« | plication bo forwarded poet free, Bale lasts 15 days only, If a visit is impossible, stud your orders, enolosing cash, so that you may 6harejn the good thing? Roipg at the BiR Bile, Tc to Soqge,WeliiPßtDn—Aoyt

A man named Seymour had his leg broken the other day through his horse falling with him on the road from Makuri to Pahiatua.

A boy named John Bcvan was walking through a tunnel on the Manawatu Company's line, noar Wellington, when he was overtaken by a train. He sought shelter in a manhole, but his dog was run over and killed. The bey. whose escape was a narrow one, was charged in the B.M. Court yesterday with trespassing on the line; and was fined a shilling.

We are requested to notify that tho thirty head of four-oar old bullocks advertised for sate at HieTaratahi yards to-morrow have been sold privately.

Our Carterton contemporary says Religion should not be takon m homai' pathic doses by people of too exoitoable a nature. ACartnrton youth has apparently been driven slightly demented lately through tho excitement of the Army services, or the beauty of the lassies conducting them, Be had left his work and was wandering around alternately in a state of religious eostasy and gloomy despondency. lie was found yesterday morning under tho barracks where he had stayed all the preceding night. His breast was lacerated and covered in blood, and in rep'y to tho question: " What liavo you been doing to yourself?' 1 ho said, "I've been cutting the devil out of me," Ho also said that ho got under the building so tbat its woight mißht keep him down, otherwise he would fly up aloft, Be was taken care of by the constable, and will be examined as to tho state of his mind.

Tho Sunday Pun, reviewing Mr Rees' book on Sir Qeorge Croy, says Sir (ieorge is always ahead of the foremost thinkers, and his failures are more glorious than moaner mon's successes,

r, , It IS understood that the Dalefield, Taralahi, Greytown," (iisbnrne, and Woodvijlo Dairy Factories have fixed the minimum price of the new season's cheese at 4Ad per lb net cash, delirered at Wellington or Napier. Tho bulk will be mado for the English mirket. The Fcatherston Town Board has been asked if a ratepayer who has not paid his rates can vote at an election. The Board is taking legal advice on the question.

Messrs Joseph Payton and James Mscara have been re-elected unopposed as directors of the Masterton Permanent Investment and Building Society. A first offender mado his appearance in the Masterton B.M. Court this morning, and was dealt with in the usual summary manner,

_ The temporanco paper, the Prohibitionist, in reference to some judgments recently delivered by Mr Justice I)enniston, charges iigaimt hiin that he is alleged to bo a shareholder in a spirit and beer importing company (Neill and Co,, of Dunedin), to the extent of £7OO, whilo his brother is said to he interested to tho extant of £4OOO, and that this company was interested in the Sydenham licenses through its business. Mr Kelly, has in his place in tho House called tho attontiira of tho Minister of Justice to the statements,