MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 370, 20 March 1902, Page 3

MAIL NEWS.

ENGLISH POLITICS. (Per R.M.S. Sonoma, at Auckland.) . San Francisco, Feb. 27. A despatch from London, dated Feb. 21, says that Lord Rosebery’s announcement of his final separation from Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman’s section of the Liberal party forms a fruitful topic for editorial articles, and for discussion in all quarters of Great Britain. One of the most notable cases is the curious effect of a letter produced on the wording of the Times editorial on tho subject. Its friendliness to the ex-Prernicr might bo explained on tho ground of Unionist delight at a definite split in the Opposition ranks. Its declaration that what the country wants is not a brand new set of principles, but a new set of men, capable of replacing the presont set without upsetting the policy of tho Empire procedes a significant demand that Lord Rosebery’s party must prove that they can bo trusted to infuse business energy, and capacity into the prosecution of the Imperial policy. “ If,” the Time 3 concludes, “ fruition of effort in that direction muy seem to be remote, wo can only say it may come sooner than anybody expects." This utterance has started rumors of a new coalition between the Unionists and tho Imperial

Liberals under the leadership of the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Rosebery, besides tho possible dofection of the Times in its support of the present Government. Something of this is visiblo in the Globe’s editioriai this afternoon, which while congratulating Lord Rosebery on his emancipation dilates strongly upon the pettiness of tho differences between his policy and that of the Unionists. The Ball Mall Gazette follows the other opinion, in declaring “ that tho man that can write a letter so as to reply to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman has tho grit which the Empire asks of those who guile it.” The Westminster Gazette, hitherto divided in its allegiance, comes out for Sir Honry Campbell-Bannerman, but sorrowfully admits that Lord Rosebery’s letter moans another terms of Government for the Unionists, while it fears that Lord Rosebery’s group may be absorbed in that party. E. L. Godkin, writing to the Westminster Gazette with reference to Mr Chamberlain, says that when the latter deserted the Liborals, ho (Godkin) asked Mr Gladstono through a correspondent for information anont Mr Chamberlain. Mr Gladstone’s reply was that Chamberlain is the first politican we have had of the American type, aud ho is destined to give a great deal of trouble. AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.

A despatch dated London, February 22, says that the Irish ' Barty attaches great importance to the eviction of tenants at forty farms on Lord Do Froyne’s estate, at Roscommon County, Ireland, for refusal to pay rent, and intends to make a fierce parliamentary struggle over the matter. John Redmond said that not only are forty tenants ovicted, but hundreds have been proceeded against. Tho country thereabouts is alivo with police, ; yho patrol the roads day and night, forco themselves into people’s houses, and in every way create a reign of terror. Fifteen public men of the Legion have been imprisoned for merely taking part in meetings of a political nature. Many others are being prosecuted. Everything has been peaceable so far, but the Government are not so extraordinary that we can help being anxious lest violence occur. The cause of all this trouble is the Government’s refusal to face the unanimous demand of the Irish people that it pass legislation giving compulsory power to buy out' landlords, and thus restore the land to the Irish people. Lord Dillon’s estate, next to Lord De Froyne’s, was bought out by the Government, and tho tenants who bought the land are paying far less for the laud than formerly. The De Freyne tenants naturally wish to do likewise, but the Government, instead of trying to effect a settlement, poured in an army of police. John Dillon, the former chairman of the Irish Party, said : “ I agree with every word said by Mr Redmond. The trouble, although for the moment confined to Roscommon, involves a principle of vital interest to Ireland. If the De Freyne tenants succeed it will bo impossible for the Government to resist longer our claims for settlement of tho Irißh Land Question. The whole future of the Irish national movement is seriously affected by the struggle proceeding on the De Freyne and neighboring estates,” ESTIMATES.

A despatch dated London, Feb. 21, says : The Secretary of the Admiralty today introduced the Naval Estimates for 1902-3 in the House of Commons. These show a total of thirty-one million two hundred and fifty-five thousand pounds, compared with thirty millions eight hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds last year. In the accompanying statement tho secretary remarked that no thinking man could havo anticipated any reduction from the estimates of last year in view of the fact that the army was engaged in a difficult conflict seven thousand miles away. In regard to the Naval Reserve tho Secretary said that the Government had discovered there were legal objections to the engagement of men in Newfoundland. The movement would therefore be temporarily arrested, but legislation would be introduced legalising the engagement of men in every part of the Empire. The Secretary further explained that promotion in the Engineering Department would bo further accelerated by the creation of ten new posts. Ho also said that the progress of naval construction during the past year had been unparalleled. No fewer than forty-nine new ships would be put in the water during the year, and next year there would be under construction sixty ships, in addition to twenty-seven others that would be laid down. Besides this a large programme of reconstruction would bo undertaken, thereby adding greatly to the fighting power of the fleet. Guns of more formidable calibre would be mounted on many vessels, and 6-inch guns of the latest and most improved type would replace the 4.7-inch guns. Referring to smaller crafts the Secretary said that unexpectedly rapid progress was being made with the submarine fleet, and several vessels would be added to this fleet. A new type of torpedo boat destroyers has been designed and it was hoped to obtain better results than in tho case of existing vessels. After giving further details of the Admiralty s programme, the Secretary concluded by saying the work the Admiralty was determined on was to prepare the fleet for war, preparation for that day of trial which it was hoped would never come, but which the Admiralty was in duty bonnd to prepare for. THB CONDOR.

All hope has been abandoned for the j H.M.S. Condor. The sloop of war Egeria i returned to Esquimault on February Util from ft cruise around the Scott Islands in search of news or wreckage from the mis- : sins vessel or her deck. The Condor s boat was picked up by Indians at Abousat in December, which Captain Tozer of the U S revenue cutter Grant, bought from the Indians for his dress sword, and delivered to Captain Simpson of the Egeria. At Longbeach, the Egeria found a grating, signal, locker, and sheaths, ail bearing the Naval broad arrow. One of the sheaths was found by Dr Stephen and Paymaster "Wyllis while walking along the beach at Gclayoquofc, and was identified as from the royal ma9fc truck. All these articles were, no doubt, from the Condor, and it has been reported that part of the topmast had been found by white settlers not far from where the other things came ashore. The Egeria ran on a rock at Glayoquot, and was fast for twelve hours, but suffered no serious doinage. The weather was rough at the time, and prevented more than a superficial search along the rock-bound coast. The Egeria has been re-victualled, and will again put to sea, if orders to that effect are decided upon by the Admiralty. The naval officers regard the outlook as gloomy, and are forced to the conclusion that the Condor went to the bottom during the overwhelming storms of December 3rd It is said that the vessel was hardly fat for service in the North Pacific, being better adapted for river use. This was pointed out at the time she was commissioned, and many naval men, while conceding that she would behave well in a wodetate sea, shook their heads when

asked their opinion of her sea-going qualities in waters such as those of the rather tempestuous region she was supposed to traverse. The vessel was laid down at Sheerness oir January 1, 1898. Captain Sclater, in command of the Condor, left his wife in England, and she was lying at the point of death from typhoid fever when he was ordered to join the Condor to proceed to the North Pacific station. The first news he was aDlo to receive of her was when the ship called at a South American port for orders. Mrs Sclater is now at Victoria, where she has been joined by her father, Mr Charles Cameron. Other officers of the Condor were Lieut. Hay Wintsrop, who acted as navigating officer of the Rattler in China. He has been married but a few months. Lieut. J. Bnasjn, a native of the Southsea. Second Lieut. Harry Y. Proctor. Surgeon T. S. Harily. The ship carried 120 officers and men all told-