The Waikato Times. UNKNOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 15 February 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times. UNKNOWN.

SATURDAY, KKIJKI VRY 11, IS7J

Tin: British public has long watched with a jealous 170 every movement m.'.do by Russia in Asia. It lms long been the vulgar opinion that Eugland's supremacy in Tndia depended, to a yiejit extent, on ! Russia being kept far from the boiders of her possessions. Jt has bug been popularly thought that every n)o\ement of troops, e\ery interview by Russian officials with one or other cf the petty Princes, was a blow secretly aimed at England. We believe there is little foundation for the popular fear on this subject. Russia, for the last two centuries has been endeavourii.g to establish commercial relations with Central Asia. From Astra can extensivefisheries were attempted on the east of the Caspian, and afterwards it was attempted to re-open the old commercial route through Central Asia to India. This took place <-o iar back as 1710- Two expeditions were sent out at this time, one marched from North to South and the other JNorth-west to South-east Forts were established along the route of march; 0110 of the expclitions consisting of 3000 ra<jn, stood out bravely for some time against 25,000 Khivans, but at last fell a prey to treachery. Peter the (Jretit who governed Russia at the time we write of, gave up any further attempt to rnjirch upon Khiva. In 181 U the Russians renewed their attempt to establish themselves on the East Coast of the Caspian, and to oneu up communication wit'i Khiva, the Khan, however, would not listen to their proposals. In 181}'.), the attack by England on Cabul induced Russia to inarch on Khiva. The expedition failed, and nearly all the invading army perished. Nothing moro was, of an active description, attempted till 1553 : the commencement of the Crimeau war, however, brought the expedition to an end before an) thing wa3 done. In 18G-J- the attempt was renewed ; an expedition was pent to Kokana and the town of Turkestan and Aulieata were occupied. Chnmkund and Tashkend fell, and the Turkestan territory was anuexeJ to that of the Czar. ISext, Russia managed to quarrel with ]3olhara, and built forts tluough that territory. Here she stoppeJ till lately, when we learn by telegraph, she is marching i! 50,000 men with an extensive force of field artillery to what may be termed her frontier. The professed object is to punish the Khivans for murdering some Russian prisoners. This of course is a very natural action to take, and bad the force been at all in keeping with the ptofessed object there could be no cause for uneasiness ; but the marching of such a vast army to perform so comparatively trivial a servico exposes the deception at once. Allowing that Russia's object is one of conquest, we aie unable fo see the grave cause for anxiety that is entertained by a section of the English and Colonial Press. Russia's principal object is doubtless to render the carrying on of her trade with China free from the interruptions and atrocities that are constantly hindei ing its profitable prosecution. The Russian merchants have long carried on an extensive trade with China through its northern provinces ; her merchants travel immense distances for this purpose, and are frequently murdered or plundered and carried into slavery by the through whose territory they have to pass It is natural for a power like Russia not to submit quietly to such ticatinent of her subjects. We cannot see that lingLind ha.s any ris,ht to interfere with Russia's onward maich, so long as she does not infringe on her territory. When she does this 'we have sufficient confidence in British pluck backed by British wealth, to feel convinced that if the Lion and the Bear ever meet in India, that the less noble animal will be speedily taught that his place is after the king of animals. Russia has an immense European frontier to defend ; England might not be ablp to invade it. but it is highly improbable, in fact a political impossibility that England and Russia could go to war without each having its allies. We are 'of opinion that much more has been made of Russian aggicssion in Asia, as it is termed, than there is any necessity tor.

The Right Ue\ercnd iho lii-Omp of Auckland arrived at Aleiandra on the 13th from Raglan lie proposes holding a confirmation service to-innirow at the former place. Sincerely as we inny chemh the colo u/. ition scheme says the Star as being calculated to raise- the colony to its right position, no one can view without a fueling akin to horror the army of officials it hits nhoadv enrolled From time t) time we have been hearing of the dc* elopinent of the Immigration Agency and it is probable that w e bare even yet but a partial glimpse inco an organisation that appears to embrace even the firm of Shaw, Savillc and Company. But through the inquisitive spirit of Mr Sheeb.in the public has been favoured with a nearer view into the bureau tbat is employed in setting our pubLc works in motion, which if not pleasant is at let!»t instructive. This department, as every one knows, is but in its infancy, but it will bo admitted that it is promising to a high degree, and if it prosper as it has begun we ha\e no doubt that it will bring comfort and consolation to the whole tribe of waiters on Providence for which this colony has already attained no ordinary f;uno. t No less than one hnndrc.l and eighty-three ofllcers have been opportunely created m this department alone, and a similar number of our follow-colortists have volunteered their valuable services. We are \cry far from anymg that the vast scheme of public works can be carried out without officer*, and well-paid officers, being employed. But when we consider thut these one hundred and eighty-three sen-ants of the country are mainly engaged in merely preparing work for those to be subsequently employed, we feel appalled «t contemplation of the probable result. Tho list is a \aried one, both v-> regards the remuneration and, we presume, tho va'uc of tho cert ices to bo rendered— -raviging fromC2o to £1,500 per annum ; and it is further to be borno in mind that not only are there allow anecs attached to the oflicc*, in many ca«es almost equal to the nominal salaries, but most of them will receive augmentation ,n what may be called the real work begins. Viewed in its mtnety the list is a study, not merely for tho^e who search in statistics for weapons to assail the policy of the Govern- ! menl but for tho-e who believe in the objects of that policy, ] and in tho hands administering it. Bureaucracy has been long rampant in the colony, and it is to be feared from this little first page of the history of tho new policy that the colonization scheme has been sottled upon as a fresh feeding grouud by Hio hungry cormoj rants by which the colony bus been long mfostcd.

In Die touiM> oi it lurk or ton iln^s lnrf Kvcelkncy tho ( Goutiuji 1 nviy bo evpeeted 1o return to Auckland previous to ln-j departure froui the colony. The preparations which I m.'ij bi- made b> Hie European population to bid tlic (Jo- | mnoa farewell ha\e not jet been indicated ; but extensive preparations are in progress in natnc districts to get up farewell gatherings. Ono of tde most important of thcuo will take place at Ngaruawalna Groit prop.irations are being made thereto cntortain his EKeellenj\ and the Xati\e and Defence- Ministers oil a grand scale, l'ne lojal natives in the \Wnkato will make tho Kingitos Mclcomo to the gathering; but it is understood that no invitations will be issued to Tawhaio and his followers. All the loyal tribes in the WasKuto and surreundmg districts will be represcutcd at the gathering at Xgamaw.ihia, and the pivparrtions for which are being entered into by the natives with great enthusiasm — Cross. An omnibus was drirrn through the principal streeta of London a fow d.ijs ago, bearing a banner with tho inscription, " Emigration to jN'ew Zealand." Tho scats were occupied with labourers, who were kept prettj well employed in responding to the cheers witii which they were giro ed, and wo understand that the occasion of their public ap icaranco wa-s to stimulate eligible emigrants for the constr iction of the railway s wliicli Messrs. John Brogden &, Sons mv about to m ikj in the colony. They, we hoar, have also a s^'iemo of colonisation with the New Zealand iio\ eminent, b\ which tlio workman, who arc on thoir lauding placed at v.\ lw.iv or nvvvv work, arc to be taken off as the work proceeds, and put to cult i\ ate plots of land or farms of their on v, the freehold of which will be handed over to them on tei ma of easy repajincnt similar to the arrangement under which they are now forwarded as woiluug emigrants' to the colony. — Eurupmn Mail.