TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1909, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Though robbed of much of the popular interest that centred The in previous races ,it Wanganui Wanganui for the Duel. world's aquatic hon ours, to-morrow's contest promises to be the keenest struggle of the New Zealand series. The stu dents of form, those patient hunters of the pretty river's banks, those diligent dissectors of Arnst's and Webb's performances, have agreed that both men are scaling their proper weight, and their muscles are ready for the call. Theiasb trace of Arnst's indisposition— influenza, a cold, or some kindred trouble— which seemed to greatly coi-cein the cha-n-pion's friends for a brief time, has vanished, and orie hears no more of that muscular rheumatism which weakened one of Webb's strong arms on that day last Decamber when his title went over to the challenger. Kven alter allowance had been i»ade for that partial failure of muscle when it was most sorely needed, it was believed at the time that Arnst had pulled ir-to a class above even the doug&ty Webb, the vanquisher of Stanbury, Charles Towns, and Tresidder. Battling against tho formidable Arnst, Webb, in spits of his rheuma'ic handicap, beat the time that he rogistsred against Tresidder, but he was many seconds behind the winner, who was not "all out" at the finish. Some people have come to believe that Webb, however valiantly he *may strive to regain his lost laurels to-morrow, is set on a forlorn hope, but it must be remembered he is not the type of man to start out on any "fool's bnand," and his backers are not putting up money merely for the fun of letting their n.an have another ''go." Eeliable observers say that Webb ha* appreciably improved since December, but it is believed, too, that Ajiisl has not deteiiorated. He ha,, undoubtedly, superior strength, and he nas cleaily proved that he has skill. As tar hs y human calculations ran make an assessment, Arnst is likely to be ahead at the Hose of the stmaslc. Big schemes seem to make a natural appeal to dwellers in Canada and wide areas, who form the "Army." the habit, apparently, of "thinking in continents. At rare intervals we have a man — and General Booth is a contemporary example— whose field is literally the world, and who thinks in' terms of the planet, To-day, a message from Canada tells of negotiations between the Canadian Pacific Company, which reaches across the North American Continent, and the veteran General, who, between them, aro discussing what is described, as "the largest colonisation scheme on record." Unlike our little island home, where every few acres opened for settlement have their scores of applicants, the Great Dominion is in need of hands for its acres. And these, General Booth thinks he can supply. The locality under consideration is one of the Northwest Territories, Alberta, adjoining British Columbia, and also on the boundaries of Athabasca. It contains over 106,000 square miles, is fertile, and has many advantages for settlement, among which, of course, railway communication -is one of tho chief. At present the scheme seems to be only "in the air,"' and it is quite possible that it -may meet with opposition. But the Army organisation is good, and its supervision effective. Another advantage in the Salvation Army operations is the economy with which they are carried on. All the requisite machinery is in existence, and not only is it used in the most effective manner, but it js supplemented to an unparalleled extent by voluntary and gratuitous service. The scheme seems to be one with prospects of advantage both to the Old Land and the New ; and the progress of the negotiations will be watched with interest throughout the Empire. Paradoxically, 'disasters which destroy life may save life. The Life-Boat net result of a shipEnterprise, wreck, in which many men and women perish, may be a gain of lives, for the sad event may give a quickening impulse to inventiveness, and bring about important improvements in life-saving appliances. Thus the sad loss of the Penguin has been followed by the evolution of two new ideas in lifeboats in Wellington. One, elaborated by Mr. James Izett, is still on paper, but the other, due to Mr. Harry Fisher, has been translated into steel and other materials, and has been tried in the harbour. Saturday's experiment, in calm water, was not conclusive, of course, but the inventor appears to believe that the result is encouraging enough to justify him in taking his boat to England for further demonstrations. Time and the waves are yet to prove whether Mr. Fisher's steel "'cigar" will realise expectations. Certainly the world has a place for it, if it acts up to the specifications, when discharged into a rolling sea. One of the surprises of this radio-active, aeroglaning, and wireless-telegraphing age "is that the life-saving apparatus for steamers has not adequately shared in the benefits of that invention which has made so many marvellous advances. The inducement has been surely strong enough ; almost every day brings a reminder that improvements should be possible without unduly straining the intellects of clever designers. It must be assumed that in recent years competent men have grappled with the problem, but in some sea, in some part of the globe, evidence is too frequently given that the designers' ideals are not yet attained. Did the decease of the Wellington Scenery Preservation Is Arbor Day Society represent the to be death, or only the Memorable 1 dearth, of interest in the beautifying of the capital? Will Arbor Day come and go in vain? Will it be marked with nothing more memorable than the planting of a few trees in the grounds ' of the Training School and the cessation of work for some hours in the Government Buildings? Efforts to arouse Wellington's citizens to be be conscious of the bleakness of waste places have not been conspicuously successful, but it is possible that if enthusiasts will only volunteer to pDi-bistently attack the" dragon of apathy the monster will be thrust aside, and the way will be clear for admirable achievement. The Mayor (Dr. Newman) has strongly expressed a desire to take some of the bleakness out of Wellington's surroundings. He has now an opportunity to make performance square with promise by starting a vigorous arbor movement. Even if the people develop useful enthusiasm on only one day per year much could be accomplished to silence those critics of other cities who rail at Wellington's yellow ochre ornaments. The Belt is jewelwith sandstone instead of emerald. Gaping wounds in the sides of the hills, in and out of the Belt, cry out for n bandage of verdure, and a little enterprise, at no great cost of money, could supply the necessary covering." Intelligence rather than an inordinate outlay of cash is required to make beauty oust the "beast" that has feet and head of unsightly clay and ugly decomposing rock. Cuttings along Clyde-quay and Oriental Bay, exposed to the noitheiiy's fury, have been clothed. Why not others'? Why should the other scarps be so pitifully nude? Has no one any pity for their nakedness? If only a species of

botanical "two-garment--' movement for the benefit of those stark features of the landscape was energetically started sufficient local patriotism might B~e aroused to keep the good work progressing.