TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12970, 25 November 1907, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Gold - minima in Gold-Mining Great Britain has in not been carried on Great Britain, to euch an extent ■ rtt- to make it generally known that sold .mines actually are in existence there, and are producing a fairly large quantity of gold at the present day. Considerable exciteiment was caused lately by the announcement of a discovery of gold in Gloucestershire. The locality of tho reef was kept secret for some time— prdbably to prevent the rush which usually attends euch discoveries in other parts of the world—and this secrecy, combined with tbo fact that a prominent South African gold-mining authority was associated with tho development of the mine, greatly increased the interest shown in gold-min-ing circles. A syndicate \vas formed for investigations, and little is yet known concerning its operations. But from certain facte lately published in the "World's Work" magazine, it would seem as though tho prospects of the mine are decidedly hopeful. Tho reef, which is about ten miles lone, is situated in the Forest of Dean. In the near future tho beautiful solitude of this picturesque corner of England "will be disturbed by the whirring of machinery, the droning of heavy rolls crushing the quartz from which, the yellow grains are extracted, and the rush of water escaping from the turbines by which the adjacent stream will be harnessed in'order to supply tho requisite motive power." It hae long been known that the United Kingdom is permeated with gold-bearing rocks, but the percentage of yield has hitherto been so small as to render exploitation, save in a few casos, impracticable: Of tho miiwe that are well established and working at the present day the- beet are in Wales. Tho mince of St. David, Voel and Gwynrynydd, all in Merionethshire, have by "far the largest output. Cornwall, thoueh chiefly renowned for its tin mines, has produced gold, and although hitherto it has not been profitable, -thoro is reason to believe that with tho modern process of mining results might now bo different. In Ireland, too, and in Scotland, gold hae been found at various times, In both countries it is chiefly alluvial, and ono- or two famous nuggets are preserved in tho Hoy at Scottish Museum at Edinburgh,, one of which, known as the "Suiflftill," weighs 2oz 17gr. Ono does not naturally think of gold in connection with the famous Vale of. Avoca, yet here, as in many a peaceful valley of Ireland, one might have even, not to long ago, men panning the bet]

of a stream, a sight so familiar in tb* goldfields of Australia arid America.

Three privates belonging Soldiers to the Royal Irish Rifles Three, were recently sentenced to

six months' detention at Delhi for an action of considerable significance. They were charged that, when they caw another private running towards them pursued by a crowd of natives, who had beaten him severely with sticks, instead of immediately going to their comrade's assistance, they retired to the fort. The Court unanimously recommended the prisonera to mercy "on the ground that the very strict rulfs that have been imposed, on the British soldier with tegard to his relations with natives make it extremely difficult for him to know how to act, and tend to make him avoid a conflict with. them, at all costs." There is good reason to suppose that this was just the reason why the soldiers did not goto the reecue of their comrade. The authorities are very severe on soldiers who interfere with natives, and there tre some who conipluin that they have gono to quite unnecessary lentgths in their policy. Tho British soldier requires a great deal ot self-con-trol to avoid breaking the regulations on this point. Hβ is continually subjected to insults, and worse, from the natives, and no matter how great the provocation may be, ho cannot be certain ,that retaliation, or even self-de-fence, will not nie-et with punishment at tho handn of his superiors. The native is perfectly aware of this, and acts accordingly. IVmomg the letters received on this subject from India by London '"Truth" is one from a private who has suffered ptuiishiment for a breach, of tho regulations. "I myself «aa confin-cd to barracks for fourteen days (tho only crimo on iwy sheet) for knocking a native's turban off after he had thrown a stone at mo when I was out walking, although I had never et> much as spoken to him when I passed. He cam© to barracks and reported that I had ill-used him, nnd brought another native a« witness who I don't beliovo wns in the vicinity at all, as I saw not one on the road at tho time." Had these three Irish soldiers gono to their comrades assistance, tho chances were ;i hundred to one, thinks this "Tammy," that they would have been convicted or causing a disturbance with the natives, and received a longer term of imprisonment. It is certainly difficult to believe that the men showed cowardice; Iri&hmen as a rulo are not given to turning tail in the face of a row. It is clear from the discussion of tho ca6e that tho Government, which tho Socialist orator loves to doscri'be as brutal, takes particularly good care of tho native when the soldier is about. Hns any other nation such a stringent policy -governing the relations between its soldiers and subject races?

The "Strand" for Telephotography. October publishes a happy account of all the charms and advantages attached to tho development of "Telephotography ,, —a science now brought by recent invention quite within the rango of any enthusiastic photographer who will complete' his equipment with, a few inexpensive adjuncts. Even the ordinary photographic lone "is easily made capable of annihilating distance, and of bringing out into appreciable size and clearness objects which in an ordinary photograph would bo mere specks." And Captain Owen, who himself modestly owns to introducing the special lens-hood, which removed tho main drawbacks to telephotography for the multitude, seems to have no compunction in helping to arm us with, this new long-range weapon. To be snapshotted by invisible cameras miles away is the new risk which attends the shy celebrity. Hβ may bo caught in his own secluded garden-ground, from any small commanding eminence in the surrounding country. Ho may furnish pleasing sport to a threo-miles-off artist on a sand-hill,*while he is congratulating himself upon all that lonely and camera-less length of beach, tfo be far from the madding crowd is by no means to be far from the madding telepHotographor. Some persons may find doubtful pleasure in the assurance that the process means "a great future for Press work." On the other hand, science undoubtedly thanks the telephoto lens,for "hundreds ot beautiful pictures of birds and beasts in their native haunts," where it seems even a moro distinct advantage to all ipartios to be able to take youi lion without disturbing his serenity, and with a safe few miles between. In war, tho scout has only to get within three or four miles of a fort or a battery, to bring back its exact image, bright and sharp in every detail; or ho may get telephotographs, at the same distanco, of, a stretch of country, with a clearness likely to be appreciated by tho most exacting general. Jie may reflect, also, that unless a telephotographer on the other side Jiapfpons to be at work on him, ho is not Ifkely to to observed; and runs no great risk of .-being intercepted on picked off. A naval operator on the deck of a battleship"*or cruiser several miles from shore may obtain pictorial information as to the precise state ot the coast defence*. In short, it evident that the day will como when every regiment and warship will liavu its adequate- telephotographic outfit, as that in the future of Christchurch a photo will only be thought worth mentioning if taken from, the very furthest fashionablo studio on tho Port Hills.