TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 78, 4 April 1910, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

+ "Little in the open, but much under the surface," is said to be The Mayoral the history of the MayCampaign, oral campaign bo far. On present appearances the fight is to be a straight-out duel between Mr. T. M. Wilford and Mr. 0. J. Crawford, each commanding a powerful following. At one time it seemed that four or five candidates would be in the arena, but for various reasons Messrs. J. P. Luke and W. H. P. Barber have finally declined the invitation to offer their services, and other names, once in the air, are no longer quoted. It is to be regretted that such a position of honour has not yet excited more extensive competition. From all accounts, this time the political element threatens to be conspicuous in the contest. It is commonly stated that the Opposition Party will work hard for Mr. Crawford, and it is understood that Mr. Wilford will rely on the support of Government sympathisers and Labour. This marshalling of the forces will ensure a lively election, ■without the addition of personalities.Previou» Mayoral elections, in varying degrees, have been unfortunately marred by the personal attack, direct or indirect, and there are certain signs that the present encounter may sec the introduction of controversial issues which may have very little bearing on general municipal politics. It will be well for the candidates to remember that efforts to secure an advance by personal tilts at an opponent usujtly defeat themselves. Tho work of manly criticism and the construction of a workable policy should give the candidates enough to do, without resort to personalities. Mr. Crawford will be in the open at the Town Hall to-night, and Mr. Wilford will be visible at Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn, on Thursday night. Mr. Clement Wragge's supposed discovery of relics of the temple Nature or Art? of an ancient cult of fi re - worshippers in New Zealand would, if verified, be of profound interest to archaeologists ; but scientific authorities are naturally sceptical. Not that there is the slightest imputation on tho discoverer's goodfaith, for all know Mr. Wragge's genuine scientific enthusiasm. Pie is btill engaged photographing and charting the curiously-inscribed stones he has found in tho Bay of Islands district, and until his investigations have been completed ' and checked by others, any definite ex- ] pression of opinion would be premature, i Interest has, however, been aroused, and one good result lias been that Mr. A. Hamilton has been led to investigate minutely a remarkable group of stones at Northern Waimate, celebrated in Maori folk-lore in connection with tho story of Manaia, and bearing the suggestive name of "The Arranged Stones of Kupe." They are so peculiar in their grouped arrangement, so unusual in form, and so intricately sculptured, that some observers have been inclined to accept the native myth that they were the work of human hands ; but Mr. Hamilton thinks otherwise. After a close examination, including the photographing of the most notable stones, he concludes that they are basaltic columnar iwks, curiously vveathered, and vsiihout signs of human agency. Basaltic columns — as in the well-known "Giants' Causeway" in Ireland and the wonderful "ITingaTs Cars' - in .the Isle

of Staffa, so vividly described by Scott in "The Lord of the Isles," simulate human handiwork so well that folk-lore usually attributes them to giants or demigods. Superstition has sometimes found in them "rock-temples" ready to hand, in which case the hieroglyphs «uperadded to natural markings have further perplexed scientists. It is not always so easy to Hiscriminate between the works of nature and of art as might be supposed. Two conflicting literal interpretations of an inscribed rock-face, both plausible enough, were once finally disposed of by file demonstration that the strangely regular marks were caused by wind-blown sand on a stratified surface. More remarkable still was the "Tree of Ten Thousand Images," described by the two devoted Lazarist priests who gave the world the first detailed account of Tibet some seventy years ago. This unique tree, held in great reverence by the natives, was alleged to be inscribed on the veinings of each leaf, and on and under the bark, with legible Tibetan characters — which fact the explorers verified for themselves, though they could not interpret the supposed inscriptions. "The sweat," they said, "ran down our faces as we surveyed this wonderful phenomenon." Mr. Wragge's last report seems to be in les& conhdent terms than his first announcement; but if he h»b erred, he has erred in good company. "Out of bounds," one may fairly cry against the ptoThe Mystery of maines that invaded Ptomaines. the bread pudding at Auckland. These troublesome little organisms may occur in meat, tinned or untinned, in cream, in cheese, and now in bread puddings. One of the most serious cases of ptomaine poisoning recorded in New Zealand was traced to cream, bad cream — "rotten cream," as one medical commentator'described it. The ptomaine bacillus is the germ of putrefaction. Those whose taste runs to "highness" m foodstuffs take a risk of a painfully intimate acquaintance with the ptomaine, and it might be said of such people : "As high as they have mounted in delight, in their dejection do they sink as low." A very good rule for the avoidance of ptomaine trouble is : "W T hen in doubt, leave out." Bo shy of the brawn whose ingredients have a savour of the suspicious ; have a fear for goods which emit a 'fragrance that is not one of freshness. Remember even the bread-pudding, which might have got its poison from bad butter. The food laws of Moses reduced the danger of ptomaine poisoning to about nothing for the Jews of old, and a similar regard for cleanliness and freshness in the food nowadays will valuably serve to protect people. Possibly the Health Department could do a public service by issuing a leaflet as a guide to the people, especially those who are settled in remote districts. A little advice about prevention and euro would no doubt be welcomed by many thousands of New Zealand's people. Truly "man never is, but always to be, blest." No one ocAnother cupation pleases him 'Great Strike. forever. He is "most pleased when most uneasy." Genial President Taft, set at the joyous task of shaking hands with two thousand ladies in a day, struck work after his large palm had gathered in the dainty fingers of only seventeen hundred of the fair ones. Seventeen hundred thrills for the big President, seventeen hundred • glances from bewitching eyes, found him reduced to wishing to £&cape the remaining three hundred. Therefore he struck. Such a decision must be regarded rather as a compliment to the seventeen hundred than a slight to the denied three hundred. The President was so totally conquered by the seventeen hundred that there was nothing for the three hundred to master. Therefore, the hat camp-oven, the hat fruit-basket, the hat marquee, the hat three-storied, the skirts plagued, pleated, and flounced, the gorgeous belts, and the high-heeled shoesof the three hundred were in vain. The President saw them not, and the pencils of the fashionable recorders had no tally of the loveliness that was not handshaken. Buo why did the President really quail? Why did he falter? Why did he strike? It is absurd to suppose that a man of his spirit was not eager enough to face the three hundred. A little figuring explains much. Allowing ten seconds for each of the 1700, the shaking would have taken nearly -five hours — and there was a prospect of another hour of it. It seems that if the President is not equal to more than 1700 hand-shakes per day, the ladies of Democratic America will be likely to insist on drawing lots for the privilege of the Presidential clasp. Mr. Taft's strike is a "record," but there is another American one equally notable. It was the strike of the much-kissed Lieut. Hobson, when the supply of his face was not equal to the ladies' demand after one incident of the war with