vert the ordinary conditions of life. The Chinese immigrants to Queensland were recruited from the most objection able parts of the Empire. They came under arrangements with contractors, or “ passes,” taking it for granted that they can live where Englishmen can. The English gold-digger had been always the pioneer of towns, which rose and prospered after he had emptied the hoards. But nowhere had the Chinese settled in any considerable number with out creating a blot on our institutions. In the cities the “ Chinese ” quarter was looked on with loathing. Nowhere had Chinamen blended with Anglo-Saxons. The gulf between them could never be bridged. These Asiatics are not col onists, in one sense of the term. They come, but they do not bring their wives and children with them.

M. Hue asserts that “ they are scep tical and indifferent to everything that concerns the moral side of man.” They look on a good coffin as of more im p >rtance than a correct life, and cer tainly what we hear of their habits, though unfit for discussion, is enough to deter any Government from forcing them on a people unwilling to receive t lem. They stand aloof from our language, from our ideas of progress and freedom. They come to Queens land, not to ply ordinary handicrafts, but to seize the gold fields, that they may suck them dry, and then return to China to spend their gains there. They invest no capital in our undertakings, and care for no tombstone amongst us. Their very ashes they contrive, should they die in our midst, to get transported to the Flowery Land. Mr. Macalister was aware they had been described as 'industrious, sober, and intelligent, but he thought there was more truth in the words of the song—

For ways that are dark, And for tricks that are vain, The Heathen Chinee is peculiar. An extract from a Cooktown paper was read, giving an account of an attempted murder and robbery committed by Chinese in that neighbourhood in last

August, as well as passages from Mr. ' Wingrove Cooke, branding the Chinese as a nation of the most consummate liars. Mr. Cooke was cited again as a witness to the utter moral callousness of the Chinese, quoting the State papers of a, mandarin who “ would cut off ten thousand heads with a quotation from Mencius on his lips as to the sanctity of human life.” Mr. Macalister further spoke of the Chinese as subject to the leprosy of the Bible, which unfitted them from mingling with other men. He Renounced their gambling and debauchery. His accusations he based upon a report issued by a joint com mittee of both Houses of the United States Legislature upon the Chinese question in California, and every word of the extracts he gave from this docu ment might be applied to the Chinese who had squatted on the Queensland gold fields.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By Submarine Cable.]

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[Per Press Agency.]

The Eastern Situation.

HOSTILE APPEARANCE OF

AFFAIRS.

DEPRESSION OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE. ENGLISH RESERVES CALLED OUT. TROOPSHIPS PREPARED FOR SEA. RESIGNATION of LORD DERBY —EARL SALISBURY HIS SUC CESSOR.

London, March 28,

Lord Derby has resigned. He ap proved of the policy of the Cabinet regarding Congress, but not of calling out the reserves.

Lord Beaconsfield defended this on the ground that the measures were necessary to the peace and security of the Empire.

A special Cabinet meeting was held to-day to consider the Russian reply to the British demands.

Sir Stafford Northcote stated in the House of Commons that the Russian reply, received yesterday, adhered sub stantially to previous declarations, in effect that the signatory Powers may raise such objections as they may think fit, but Russia reserved to herself full liberty either to accept or decline dis cussion of them. This, added Sir Stafford, virtually closed all further diplomatic correspondence on the sub ject.

Earl Beaconsfield explained that Lord Derby's resignation was consequent up on the warlike K attitude which had be come necessary for them to assume, and also expressed a hope that now all probability of assembling Congress had ceased, and the balance of power in the Mediterranean being disturbed, that the advice tendered by the Government to the Queen to call out all the available reserves would be thoroughly approved.

SPECIAL.

March 29. Lord Salisbury succeeds Earl Derby The Government policy is' not an aggressive one, but they will prepare for war, at the same time hoping for peace. The Opposition are expected to resist the calling out of the Reserves. Count Andrnssy is attsmpting to re concile England and Russia. The Bank of England has raised the official minimum to three per*cent. There is almost a panic on the Stock Exchange owing to the state of affairs. Consols extremely depressed. London, 30th March.

The Standard says Russia has ad dressed a note to the Porte demanding die withdrawal of the British fleet from the Sea of Marmara. England refused while Russian troops are in the environs of Constantinople.

Orders have been received in Ports mouth to have the troop-ships in readi ness to embark an army corps in case of an emergency. The Liverpool National Steeplechase was run to-day, and won by Shignal in two lengths. In the late semi-panic the following stocks suffered : —Russian, Bulgarian, Italian, French, and Turkish. There was also a semi-panic on the foreign Bourses. Colonial Government deben tures are heavily depressed. New Zea land five per cents are quoted at 104.

The wool mnrket resumed with a calmer appearance. Prices recovered from the temporary relapse. The series of sales will close about the fifth of April. Wheat has advanced two shillings owing to the political agitation. March 31. All the troopships are being prepared for sea.

The First Lord of the Treasury, in reply to a question, said the Queen’s message to the calling out of Reserves would be presented on the Ist of April, and would come on for discussion on the 4th. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the time had arrived to take de cided steps. The Government would consult Parliament as to the course to follow under the present aspect of affairs. Sir Stafford Noithcote denied that Britain had hindered the arrange ments for a meeting of the Congress. It desired only a treaty of peace to form the basis of discussion.

Lord Salisbury has been appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. St Petersburg, March 31.

The Journal de St Pclasburg states that the balance of power in the Medi terranean is only threatened by the British ironclad squadron being present in the Sea of Marmora, and looks upon Elngland calling out her reserves as a fresh provocation to Russia, who is pre pared forcibly tp defend the fruits of the war.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

WAKAMARINA COLD RUSH,

Auckland, Saturday. The opening of the Ohaupo Railway line has been postponed. Sir George Grey arrived per Hine moa.

The meeting at Parekarenga is over. There was a great deal of talk, but very little done. The Native speakers all asserted their determination not to con

cede large blocks of land to the Gov ernment, but either to return the money or a portion of the land instead. They said the Government had held over the completion of the purchases, and through their delay the matter was lost to sight altogether. They threaten that: any surveys carried on without their consent would cause trouble, and, per haps the surveyors would be killed and eaten. They had heard there was a new Government formed, but they did not believe it to ,be true. They were in the dark. ‘ •

H.M.S. Sapphire brought to Fiji, Hunt, concerned in the lynching case at Samoa, who has- appealed to the Supreme Court at Fiji against the sen tence of 12 months.

The Bobtail Nag, brigantine, was wrecked in Viti harbor. The crew got ashore. Governor Gordon offered to reduce the indemnity of the Samoan authorities for the Barracouta affair to 6600 dol lars, which the Samoans refused to pay, and afterwards rejected two separate sets of articles of treaty. Dunedin, Saturday.

The swampy sections, fronting An derson’s Bay road, were sold to-day on account of the Harbor Board, and realized an annual rental of six hundred and sixty-seven pounds, being 50 per cent above the anticipated price. Havelock, Saturday.

There is considerable excitement in the Wakamarina district on account of a reported new alluvial find on the goldfields. A new terrace was opened by “ Darkie Arthur” while “hatting” on 'the eastern river bank about six miles from Canvas Town. A drive was put into the washdirt, and one ounce three pennyweights to the “set” ob tained. The party could not bottom on account of the water, and the tail race is now being deepened. The ground on the terrace is pegged out for three-quarters of a mile. The diffi culty with all the claims to the North and towards Mountain Camp Creek, is a large hard reef between the terrace and the river, which must be tunnelled to get the water off. Another difficulty is the want of water for sluicing, as the rights to the present head races arc now vested, and at the outside there are only sufficient for three claims. Any additional available head of water must be brought from a distance of five miles at least over a difficult run of country. The present sinking is about 40 feet from the surface, and, although there is a good fall for tail-races to the river, the distance varies from 300 to 500 feet, and consequently it is no “ poor man’s diggings.” Wellington, Saturday.

In receiving a deputation of the Edu cation Board yesterday, Mr. Ballance said he considered the sum voted for educational purposes inadequate, and that the Government intended next ses sion to ask for a vote of ,£ 100,000 for educational purposes. A return has been prepared by order of the Government, showing the loss of Government property occasioned by fires during the last ten years, also the sums paid for insurance during that period, with a view to ascertaining whether or not it would be advisable to insure all Government buildings. It appears that the total loss sustained by Government through fire during the last ten years amounted to The heaviest item was the Custom house and Post-office at Auckland, the loss at which was estimated at ,£25,000. The smallest loss was that at Wellington Railway Station, which was burned about two months ago, and was valued at ,£3OO. Other items are :—Auck land Lunatic Asylum, Go vernment Buildings, Picton, ;£ißoo ; the Government Buildings, Blenheim. .of which was insured, leaving an actual loss of ,£7OO. The amount of insurance paid during the ten years has been ,£6IOO. It is stated that the Government consider it is advisable partly to insure the larger and more valuable buildings to the extent of about half the value, Go vernment taking the half risk. In the case of the smaller buildings it is found that it is not profitable to insure, and that it is more saving to take the risk of small losses. The Government buildings at Wellington are insured for ,£25,060.



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Al. RESTAURANT. REMOVAL To the premises lately occupied by Mr. Quinton. TANCRED STREET, On the Bth April.



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