THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 10

THE EMPIRE

LATEST NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL. THE UNITED KINGDOM. London, January 23. Ifc is as yet rather early to judge- the success or otherwise of tho comparatively nowlj--established Court of Criminal Appeal (slj-s tho "Standard of Empire"), but a cortr.in number of cases which have como beforo it recently would appear to justify its existenco. Somo of our judges, unfortunately, have not taken kindly to tho new departure, believing that much time, to say nothing of money, is frittered away by tho procedure. It ia significant, therefore, to note that only this week tho Criminal Appeal Court reduced a'sentenco of ton years' penal servitude- for manslaughter to'three years. According to the Bill which is being pro-moted-'by.-tW London County Council, it is proposed to spend £1,090,000 for the extension of tramways in, London. The Bill dealnwith r tho construction of new lines in Paddington, Clorkenwell, Finsbury, Shoreditch, Islington, Hackney, Battorsea, Putney, "W'andsworth, Doptford, Greenwich, Woolwich, and Highgato, and includes provisions for tho purohase of tho Highgate Hill tramways. Of the ■ amount proposed to bo expended, £033,500 is for tho construction and equipment of new tramways, the reconstruction of existing , .tramways, and tho purchase of'land; while £451,000 is set apart for new streets, street improvements, widonings work, and land purchase. Lieutenant Allan, of tho 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, addressing a gathering,of boy .scouts at Dover, said the consumption of 400,000 to 600,000 packets of cigarettes a year was no uncommon thing in a regiment, and if the regiment wero numerically strong moro than>Bo,ooo packets a''month, or nearly a million packets a year, was quite a reasonable estimate Professor Karl Pearson, lecturing at the Royal Institution, declared that the Ethiopian could change his skin, and had done so. Ho contended that the white .races sprang from a dark-skinned ancestry through partial albinism, the phenomenon seen in white mice and whito crows and in people of pink and white transparent skin with-white hair and pink eyes. Often as tho white ■came as a variation to tho dark skin in coloured races, ho had been unable to- find a' single authenticated caso where a coppercoloured or black child had been born of white parents. The medical school of the London Hospital has received from an anonymous donor the sum of £20,000. to be spent in the advancement of medical research, and the promotion of higher education in medicine. The benefits of the gift are to bo open to qualified medical men from any part of the British Empire who are willing to give lip their ■ ; time. to.advancing medical science within the Walla of,tho London Hospital. Tho donor, it •is-announced, wishes ; to remain anonymous, 'fflthb hope that .the fund which ho has thus will bo "added to by others, and that vin time it'may 'become of such magnitude as to be of great use to the present aM to all .future generations 'iri the light against, and the prevention of, disease.

Mr. Haldanc, speaking at Lancaster, dealt with the question of the reform of tho House of Lords, and said that no mere reform of the Chamber, no mere.change in its composition, would meet the difficulty. The voice of tho electors must .dotermine the policy, but; the great majority of-people were unwilling to see.the destinies of the nation entrusted tea single Chamber. He believed that seven-year Parliaments were too long, and that it would be,beneficial to the nation to have Parliaments of.'thrco or four years, so that the, constituents could confirm the legislation of the Commons. There would thus bo a guarantee of unity betweon the will of t thc pcoplo'cnd tho Commons. Official figures-show that during the past five years;,the<number;,of-horsed cabs in tho London streets has fallen from 11,404 to 8475, • while horsed omnibuses have declined from •'3623 to 2155. There are now close :-on 3000 'motor cr.bs and 1200 motor omnibuses in daily ; iise in London. . . ' h Sir Whittnker Ellis, referring at the Guildhall to the caso of threo habitual criminals charged with burglary iri London, said it was evident thai these men's only chance of getting a living now was by theft. Ho much regretted that ho was not enabled to sond thom to some colony .whero they would roceive kind treatment and profitable employment. Hβ hoped before long a law would bo enacted to onablo magistrates to send them to a colony for criminals, for they would un- : doubtedly start stealing again directly they got out of prison. _ An amazing circular, with a covering letter -.signed by Mrs. M. Cowan, a well-known Irish :laay visitor to' London, has been received by a :numbor of. tho licensees under tho Vivisection Act. The writer tells how she heard,a person ■in a London hotel say that-ho know a person I .who was in tho habit of praying from time to 'time for the death of one of our leading vivisectors, and that the man indicated bad always died. The'writer, knowing the efficacy of prayer, thought of trying the same course, with the result that about a fortnight later ono of onr most distinguished medical scientists expired. The circular concludes by adjuring the "scientists" to "take thought and ;be warned." "Their fate," says the writer, "is in their hands." The national -memorial to the- late Marqueasof Salisbury is tc bo placed in Westminster Abbey in tho early summer, probably about the end of May. A site ha.s been selected for it- inside the west door, on the left, immediately under tho north-west arch, close to the statues of the Earl of Shaftesbury and Chi;rles James Fox. The figure of the lato Prime Minister, which is regarded as a fine achievement l of the eminent sculptor, Mr. Goscombo John, is represented reclining, wearing the robes and insignia of tho Garter, .with the "Gcorgo" attached to tho collar. The altar tomb on which tho figure will rest will bo composed of polished black marble, with the sculptural and ornamental portions in bronze.

An extraordinary seance, held in a private house near Regent's Park, has succeeded in ■mystifying members of tho Psychical Research Society, in addition to several well-known society and literary personages, among whom wero Lady Warbeck, Sir Alfred Taylor, Dr. Wallace,/ Mr. W. T. Stead, and General Sir Alfred Turner. The conditions were most ■stringent, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, who :gavo the seance, were subjected to tho moat rigorous examination. Mrs. Thomson was

then confined in a-cabinet, on which careful watch was kept. Prcssutly a draped figure appeared at the entrance of tho cabinet, and then disappeared, repeating the oerformance seven times in all. Four times tho faco was recognised as that of Mrs. Thomson, tho other times it was-unknown to tho audience. A piece of the gauze in which tho figure was draped was cut off, but it was found impossible to get any to match it anywhere.

Mr. Gec-rgo Alexander tells an excellent story of his adventures with a cabman, with regard to the gradual superseding of tho Loiuhn cab by the taxi-motor:—"Being in a hurry to get home .from the theatre," ho says, "'I walked to tho cornor of King Street. An old cabman with his hansom was first on the rank, but I shook my head at him and called a taxi. As I approached it the cabby said: 'So, Mr. G. A., you've no uso for 'osses now; but you'll 'avo to 'ave ono to tako you on tho day you're buried.' I went home in that hansom after all."

A case/has occurred at the Zoological Gardens of a visitor's arm being badly mauled by a lion. "Itnppears that the lions mid tigers wore "enjoying the fine bright weather out of doors, when a man, who ought to have known better, strotehod over the low iron railings, at two or threo feet distanco from tho cage, to givo one of the lions a piece nf bread. The lion promptly seized the man's arm, and between tho eftorts of tho lion to retain his hold and the man's efforts to got looso, tho arm itself, was bitten and mauled, so that ho had to be taken to hospital! Naturally the animals-in tho different cages and the spectators were much excited.

A serious noto of. warning was uttered by Lord Cromer in a speech at the annual dinner of tho Leeds Chamber of Commerce. Ho declared that there wero umnistakahlo signs that tho British investor was being driven abroad. There was plenty of money in this country waiting to bo invested, but a peculiar

feature of tho situation was that it was not invested in British industrial undertakings. Ho thought this was duo very largely to tho fact that the conlidciico of tho investing classes had lately been very rudely shaken. Uo hardly thought that tho recont classical language of tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer was hkely to restore coufidonco. Amongst tho anniversaries which have occurred during tho last few days is that of tho hundred and fiftieth birthday of the British Museum. Tho museum, which had a very luimhlo beginning, was formed in !he reign of George 11., and was first opened to tho general pnblic in January, 1759. Tho first offer of a house- for tho treasures to tho trustees was Buckingham Houso (now the palaco), but they choso Montagu Houso, JMoomsbury, on tho adaptation of which £23,000 was spent. Sinoo then the museum has undergone many changes. Tho present buildings wero begun in 184G, and tho read-ing-room, which was opened in 1857. cost £150,000. CANADA. A statement issued by tho Census and Statistics Office of British Columbia shows that an area of 27,605,663 acres of field crops has yielded a harvest which, computed at areraso market prices, has a valuo of 432.533,000 dollars (£88,870,646). The curator of tho Provincial Museum of British Columbia lias received tho hides, skulls,. and.antlors of tho, caribou which wero shot recently by Indians near. Mnssct, Queen Charlotte Islands. Ho pronounces them to bo beyond all question a distinct species of caribou. . . . . . The lumber cut on the Upper St. John this winter for New Brunswick mills will bo from 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 feet. Fishing through the ice is a pastime of the hardier sportsmen of the working class. On Kennebeccasis Bay (a river mouth) thrco men caught nearly 200 hake in a few hours with hand lines.

Mother Louisa Mary, founder in America of tho Anglican Order of St. Margaret, died at tho homo in Montreal. Sho caino from East Grinstead, England, to Boston, Mass., and in 1883 established in Montreal tho St. Margaret's Homo for Incurables. Tho deceased lady was in her eighty-fifth year.

. Tho sum total of Nova Scotia's wealth production in 1903 is estimated at 107,249,000 dollars (£22,074,651), which slightly exceeds the total of 1907, tho banner year for Nova. Scotia.- ■ ■

A remarkablo explanation is given of the extraordinary condition of affairs in tho little French islands" of St. Pierro and : Miguelon. Tho people are of. Breton and Norman descent, and are devotedly attached to tho Roman Catholic Church. The French Gov- ' however, in a most amazing way, outraged their feelings by driving but tho Christian Brothers from thoir schools. Tho whole population was in revolt, and a procession took place which carried the flag of tho United States. A warafeip is now stationed there, and the revolution. has for the tbne been put down. Tho two littlo islands aro'in groat poverty, owing to the failure of the fishery and the prohibition by Newfoundland of thoir usnal bait supply. The fishing fleet, f >rmerly 220 vessels, has now come down to 47.. The "United States wants to get St. Pierre, but this would never bo allowed. The islands belonged' to Newfoundland, and should never havo been taken from us.

•As tho result of the vote of twenty additional municipalities in favour of taking dectrio energy from the Ontario Government's projected power plant, plans aro ing prepared for the extension of tho transmission line beyond tho points already arranged for. Tho Government Commission in charge- of the undertaking proposes to deliver power to Toronto and otlicr cities by tho end of 1909. ■ ■

Fuller returns, of tho New Year balloting iii Ontario on temperance reform sl"»v that the electors of twenty odd municipalities hive voted to cancel upwards of one hundred bar-room licenses on May 1, 1909. The votes of J the female property-owners had a good deal to do with the result. Attempts to repeal local option by laws passed thro* years a;;o were defeated by large majorities in nil but two out of twenty-nine . municipalities haard from. Licensed houses in Ontario thirty-five yqars ago numbered 6100. For the coming lioenso year tho number will not greatly : exceed 2000. Over 210 municipalities will bo under total prohibition by choico of tho local electors, who havo to socuro threefifths of tho total vote polled in order to abolish licenses. The Bov. Dr. Bidwell, master of Bishop Collogo School, Lennoxville, has been appointed rector of St. George's Church, Kingston, and dean of tho Dioceso of Ontario. Tho joint reply of tho Premiers of the Prairie Provinces to the Grain Growers' Association of Winnipeg; regarding tho proposed Government ownership of internal elovators, has been drafted by the Manitoba Government, and forwarded to tho Hon. Walter Scott, the Premier of Saskatchewan, and the Hon. Alex. Rutherford, the Premier of Alberta, for their signatures. Tho threo Premiers find that tho Government ownership of "internal elevators is unpractical, owing to tho restrictions mado by tho growers. The Hon. G. E. Foster, ex-Minister for Finance for the Dominion, addressing tho members of tho Montreal Political Economy Association, attacked thoso who talk of the 'complete independence of Canada. Ho declared that those who were responsible for this kind of talk v;ere no better than so many ostriches burying their heads in sand. Tlio-so who contended that Canada should stand alone showed ignorance as to facts, apart from anything else. It would 'bo impossible or Canada to avoid being perpetually harassed, ho said, about tho problem of dc- . fending herself, if sho had not the power of the British Empire at her back. With no 'navy, and with but a slender militia, tho 'Dominion would bo at tho mercy of any •hungry and predatory Power that desired to capture her vast resources and her splendid geographical position.

In tho Dominion general election last October 1,1/6,104 votes were recorded es compared with 1,014,413 in the 1004 election. •-no o ™ tal numbcr of Liberal votes was oyb,s3d, of Conservative votes 579,571, while the Independent voters numbered 20,250.

■ SOUTH AFRICA. An agitation has been organised in Natal against the Income-tax. Tho agitators question the- legality of taxing last year's incomes, owinjj to tho alleged faulty wording Df the Act; The Natal'"Witness" supports thejigitation, but tho "Times" and "Mercury, ridicule- it, and characterise tho movement as puerile and preposterous. Tho Treasury returns for the first Bis months of the financial year show that the rovenue has been £1,619.748, and expenditure £1,678,552. " ' l Tho Hon. W. A. Deane, Minister of Agriculture,strongly defends Natal's policy of fighting East Coast fover, and contends that a system of advisory committees- would offectually check the spread of the disease. The commission appointed to inquire into the practical encouragement of mineral, development is advising the expediency of a reorganisation of tho Mining Department. Tho Transvaal Municipal Association has passed, a resolution expressing resentment at the attitude, of the signatories of the. lettor from Johannesburg doaling with the position of, Asiatics:in the colony. Signs are not wanting that tho Closer Union Convention will conclude its labours by tho end of this month. The decision announced by Lord Selborno that tho Somaliland Protectorates aro not to bo handed over 'immediately was not unexpected, and havo been recoived without cavil. Several shocks of earthquake have been felt recently in various parts of the country, but happily no damago has bsen reported. Steps aro being taken to bring the forces in Somfuliland up to a total of 1600 men, wliich means that 1000 aro being tnken into tho country from outsrcle in addition to tho COO already there. This stop is being takon to guard against surprise. A Chinaman at tho Village Deep Mine, near Johannesburg, ignited a quantity of gelatine, and the resultant explosion killed six coloured labourers, , while nine whites and fifteen coloured men were badly injured.

INDIA AND THE EAST. It is reported by the British Consul at Bangkok that tho presont rice crop in Siam is reckoned to bo the largest on record, it being the general opinion that moro than a million tons will bo availablo for exportation. IJ-pcent legislation making contributions to seditious societies puniihablo by imprisonment has had a very salutary effect in stopping the collecting hitherto carried on by Nationalist Volunteers throughout Lower Bengal. Sir Louis Dane, in unveiling a memorial portrait of Sir Charles ltivoz, at Lahore, said that to his mind Sir Charles was an examplo of the best typo of an Indian administrator. Ho was one of the cloaicst-siglitcd inon ho had ever met. According to "The Sudan Times," the projected bridgo over the 'White Nile, at Goz Abu Gomaa, will have nino spans, each of 156 feet in. length, and one hand-operated switig span of *to| feet in length. It will havo ono 3 feet 6 inch gauge railway track, and two footpaths, 7 feet wide, each capable of taking light traffic and foot passengers. It is expected that tho bridge will bo completed in two years. The marriage of Lady Violot Elliot, daughter of tho Earl of Jlinto, Viceroy of India, to Lord Charles Fitzniauriee, son of tho J&rquis of Lansdowne, was solemnised at St. Paul's Cathedral, by tho Bishop of Calcutta. The occasion was marked by truly Oriontal splendour, tho grouping of the principals and guests in tho cathedral forming a picturo of gorgeous colouring and magnificence not easy to forget. Lord Charles Fitzmauricc, through his mother and sisters, is related to the great houses of Abereorn, Bucclcuch, Devonshire, Durham, Lichfield, Marlborough, Mount Edgcumbe, Watcrford, and Winterton, while the bride's mother, Lady Minto, is a member of tho famous Northumbrian family of Grey ; which at this moment provides England with her Foreign Minister and Canada with her GovernorGeneral. Tho miion is such as would have inspired the pen of Disraeli, linking together as it docs so many of tho great houses of tho British Isles which have sent forth Empirebuildors in tho service of their country.