TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Two rather important Agricultural matters, affecting i-espec Show Matters, tively tho comfost and entertaiiuucnt of visitor* to the Metropolitan Show, were brought up at tho meeting of tho Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Thursday. The first was the matter of the front entrance to the grounds, which every one will admit is capable of considerable improvement. Under the present arrange* ment, as soon as tho stream of visitors begins to turn homewards, it is met just outside the gates by a confused array of conveyances of all sorts. The driver or guard of each of these does his utmost to pack His vehicle full and get to Christchuroh as fast as he can, with the object of coming back for another load. There would be no objection to this, nor to the deafening shouts and yells by which it is sought to attract the attention of possible passengers, were it not that the latter are put in considerable danger of life and limb by the disordered crowding together of horses and vehicle*, through which those who wish to walk back to town have to make their way. The good luck attending the A. and P. Association in connect ion with Show Day is proverbial, and in nothing is it shown more clearly than in the immunity from serious or fatal accidents which has favoured this arrangement. Jf, as is suggested, a stone kerbing is put down the vehicles, as one member rather happily put it, will bo kept off the public, and persons who wish to walk will not have to dodge about among nine-tenths of thi cabs, drags, and omnibuses of tiie town. The biest of luck may turn, and ii this plan is not . followed before long it is safe betting to say that someone will be knocked down and trampled upon. Tin work would be comparatively inexpensivei and it would be of such a nature that the Riccarton Road Board might very well be asked to contribute towards its cost. The other matter is tho stock parade. Properly managed, which ia as much as saying if all the stock entered for 'competition took part in it, this would be one of the most interesting events of the day. It lacks, it is true, the excitement of the jumping contests, but for anyone who goes to the Show for the purpose of seeing tho best stock in Canterbury it affords the best means ol doing so. The Show grounds do not, it it true, afford such opportunities for seeing the parade to the best advantage as, foi instance, tho Oamaru ground, with itf natural amphitheatre, does, but the new grand stand offers an excellent point ol view, and probably everyone who wishes to see the parade could do so. For various reasons, however, owners do not seem to care whether their animals are paraded 01 not, and tho question of how best to overcome (hia indifference and improve thi* feature of the Show is now engaging the attention of the Sub-Committee who are responsible for its management. Probably some means of getting ovei tho difficulty without fining ' those owners who- do not parade their stock, will be found. In any case, it is very desirable that this portion of the Show, at once attractive and instructive, should be brought up to the high level of excellence which characterises all the other arrangements.

Wb begin to have hopai The that the proposed lake in Hagley Park Hagley Park will, ere long Lake. become an accomplished fact. At any rate, a first practical step in that direction has already been taken. Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley, the Chairman of the Domain Board, has received a letter from a well-known Chri-t* church civil engineer, Mr Oakeley Archer, fa which the latter offers to take the necessary levels for the lake, and to design and com* pute the excavations and embankments necessary for the work, free of sJ charge for professional services, providing that the work is carried out by private sub* soriptions or money locally raised to give work to the deserving unemployed. There is, we should think, little doubt that the Domain Board would accept this kind offer if the funds for the rest of the work were forthcoming. The Board, it may be Mid at once, has no money for such a p_rpOS»> and therefore if the citizens of Christchurch want the lake made, as we believe they do, they must provide the necessary funds. We do not think there would be any difficulty in raising the money, in fact we, know already of several persons who are only waiting for somebody to take the scheme up to send along their subscriptions. This brings us face to face with tho dilemma to which we referred yesterday—the lack of » leader. As one gentleman said yesterday* if Mr John Ollivie., the ♦'sturdy begg»r'' of old days, were still alive the mow? would all be raised in a day or two. Has not the mantle of that unparalleled collector, whom it required such super* human determination to refuse, fallen upon any of the present generation ? We do not altogether absolve the Domain Board from responsibility in the matter. They have the charge of the Park upon their hands, and if, in the absence of the necessary funds, they are unable themselves to carry, out this particular pieoo of work, - which; would so undeniably add to its beauty; they might, we think, make It known that they would receive subscriptions for such » purpose. In the meantime, if any respon* sible person will take up tbe work of colkw**

jae and receiving subscriptions we shall be most happy to give them due acknowledgment in the columns of the Press. Il is exceedingly doubtful if Tho Wreck any braver deed has been of the done of recent years in these Patrician, seas than the rescue of the captain and crew of the American ship Patrician by the heroes'of the steamer Fifeshire." It stirs tiie blood ... w j ne to read the bare, almost technical, details of the affair, as given at the nautical enquiry- Captain Sterling, of the lost ship, nnot say too much in praise of the manner • which the rescue was eflectcd, aud one must have been in a similar f-.ituatioa to fullY appreciate the feelings of joy with which he and his men saw the Fifeshire approaching on that eventful morning. Their ship lvas dismantled and shattered, lying on side at tiie mercy of a merciless and furious sea, and fast sinking under their feet The boats wore smashed, the pumps couldnov.be worked, and everyone recognised that within a few bonis at most the vessel would found"!'. When tilings ver e at llie,r v-orr-tt the Fifeshire put in l!er welcome appearance, and, Is Captain Sterling said, the terrors of the previous night ssemed to vanish at the thought of safety. But even after the Fife-hire had said, in answer to the Patrician's signal of distrcs., that "they would come to the rescue if it were possible," Captain Sterling did not think a boat coakl live in the tremendous sea which was then running. It seems, however, that lie knew Captain Wilson, of the Fifeshire, and felt sure that if he could not rescue them he would remain by them to the end. The apparently impossible -proved, thanks to the bravery and skill of those on the Fifeshire, to be just possible. Captain .Sterling narrated, to a Dunedin interviewer, how those in peril watched, no doubt with painful eagerness, the attempts made to lower the Jjfc boat of the rescuing ship. "Owing to the tremendous force of the gale and the terrible rolling of the steamer the boat was completely stove in, and the bridge rail and fittings were carried away, while Mr "Rosa, the chief officer, was injured. " Then it was that Mr Forder, the third officer, asked to be allowed to swim off to the sinking ship with a line. The captain, however, would not let him go, as such an heroic attempt would have meant certain death.

Another attempt was The Work made to launch a boat, of this time witli success, and Rescue. the chief officer, in spite of tho injuries ho had Unstained, together with Boatswain Mouat and Quarter-master Martin, set out on their dangerous work. "It was solely due," said Captain Sterling, "to their wonderful courage and the skilful manner in which Mr Boss and his crew handled the boat that they reached the wreck, the undertakingbeing a most difficult and dangerous one. Had it not also been for Captain Wilson, who handled hy. steamer in such a masterful and seamauship-like manner (thus rendering valuable assistance to the boat) all efforts would.have proved fruitless, as the Fifeshire is very large, and being a light ship, and having a heavy gale and high seas to contend with, it was extremely difficult to keep her in position." One can imagine the sea that was running when at times the hull of the Fifeshire—looking from the wreck—would entirely disappear in the trough of the sea. ffwo trips were made between the steamer and the wreck. The boat was miable to approach the latter, owing to the heavy sea, and the rescued men had to be taken off their doomed vessel by means of a life buoy -attached;to a line, the same means being adopted to transfer theni to the Fifeshire. It was an heroic undertaking, splendidly earned out, and crowned with the completest success. In concluding his story, Captain Sterling added :—" I must say that Captain Wilson and his officers are a credit to the Shire line and an honour to the British flag,- under which they sail. It seems as if Captain Wilson were an instrument of Providence. He has saved no less than forty-three lives in the shott space of three years. I sincerely trust, and fesl confident, that the United States Government will recognise and reward the captain and officers of the Fifeshire in proportion to the bravery and courage they displayed in giving such timely assistance and saving the lives of myself and crow." As will be seen from a telegram in another column, the American Consul at Dunedin has already recognised in Borne .degree the valuable services of the rescuers, and, no doubt, the United States Government will do all that Captain Sterling expects of them. .We should like to suggest that when tlio Fifeshire next puts into Lyttelton, as we suppose she will do before very long, some public expression of the admiration-in which this heroic deed is held by the public should be accorded to those who took the activo part in it.

The news we_ published yesTheCzar. terday morning of tho frigid

response of the Czar to the efiiisive enthusiasm of the Emperor of Germany must have brought balm to the heart of many ardent French Russophiles, who can hardly have read of the proceedings at Berlin during the past few clays with any Very great pleasure. It appears now that the apparently cordial feeling existing Between the two ino'narchs is all on the Kaiser's side, and to his friendliest speeches the Czar replied laconically "in French." Perhaps the Kaiser has rather overdone the jeview business. The Czar is reported to bo fond of such festivities, but the Emperor is devoted to them, and ho may have wearied J-Ui guest. Little seems to be known of the young autocrat's tastes. Ho is said to be conscientious in his duties, reading all documents placed before him, listening to his councillors whenever thov approach him, and uever being behind-hand in his work, whathe thinks of Russia or of his own un"ttited power no one," says an apparently »ell-informed correspondent, "has yet guessed. He is the unfathomable mystery of Russia." Hi s reserve has deepened since n» accession, and he speaks as little as Possible. At first he seemed inclined to from the traditions of his rank and beco me more approachable by his people, ww he has retreated, and his position with ,K>prd to his subjects is that of his father, Jhose views have still mu?h weight with *"?*• He is said to rarely express an different from that of his Minis- «* B * "I feel my youth," he said to ™ c - " I will not act without exnerience " tte lov-s hi s mother devotedly, «• but she is Wso conservative, and repeats the words of wj.late Czar. She has more political wnuence tian in her husband's time, and all ; J»«» is wondering how long this influence JUI reign supreme. The young Court and „ °f dc - «». exist side by side, but in His young wife, to whom he * deeply attached, has, so far, no political £««<*<*. She is the bved) . raWe of his private life, an d in time ay come to wield an influence over him -JW*. one may be su .e, will be in the dh-ec-«°»of maintaining and perhaps increasing SSSd relatioas between Russia au *

p*LST y v . m New Zealand at th <- KbvArT hM , ~o difficulty in getting 12? *i lV ahoo > the » ow universally re° New Zealand cure for i„iig__. it'tt VriS 1, year was un known ; now coW y evei 7 chem "«- -nd gi-ocer in the tA-v.?* genU " ie 1)r00f of ita " merit,-