The State of Burmah.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2192, 27 July 1886, Page 3

The State of Burmah.

Calcutta, June 6. The condition of the united provinces continues far trom satisfactory. Public opinion in India ia all but unanimous in pointing to .Sn Cim'l'-s Bernard as the peison prnnanly (e-{Km>ibl«, and, as far ab 1 can gather, the same opinion is held i» Burmah. No one denies Sir Charles Bernard's ability, enetgy, or honesty of purpose, but it is foil that he has shown himself altogether deficient in the ojualities required for organising the now province, and lias failed to stake the proper key of ttao situation What is wanted is not additional troop-, but a s>ttoug man thoroughly in sjmp> thy with the people — such a man as the late Sir Arthur Ph-iyie, or as was Mr Nicholson in the Punjab. It is beginning to be whispered, too, that General White is not the right man in the right place If things go on as at present the pacification will be a very tedious and serious business, while under a .strong comuion-sei.t»e and elastic Government the country would be in order in a few months. District officers

would be carotully selected and then trusted fully and supported heartily, and there would no longer bo any need for punitive expeditions, which largely punish innocent villagers aud not the dacoits Lower Burmah is in a hardly less unsitisfnetory condition. This fact is mainly due to the disorganised state- of the police. A little more weakness may do infinite mischief, for the Burmese are a romantic people, and only the proof of Btitish power will keep them quiet.