NEAR AND FAR.

Evening Star, Issue 14964, 26 August 1912, Page 1

NEAR AND FAR.

It is estimated by meteorologists that the'heat irradiated constantly in the atmosphere by the combustion of carbon modifies little by little the climate of cities and surrounding districts. It is said that 19.000,000 "tons of carbon is the average yearly weight burned in cities the size of London and New York. It is also pointed out that the color of cities is changed according to the amount of carbon burned. Confirmation of these facts is offered in historical descriptions of cities, Paris being referred to by one historian of ancient times as » "eity-of rod," while to this day certain Italian cities are described as " violet." Meteorologists prophesy that when America's west is .as thickly fettled as Central Europe the clear sweep of blue sky will be very materially modified.

A city dignitary of Nottingham says:— "Thereis a mighty horde of idlers in this city. Ido not think there is any city of its kind where there are so many men who do not work, and depend entirely on the -work of their wives and daughters. They ' retire' soon after marriage. From my "position I am able to judge. Hundreds .upon hundreds of wives leave for work early in the morning—their husbands in bed. " These admirable women—and it is a common thing in Nottingham—leave their lords and masters 6d under the candlestick on the mantelpiece for the morning drink, and are really the husbands and the breadwinners. These street loafers are kept in idleness. They are the reservoirs of unrest and danger in times of industrial disputes. ' What appears to be a very cool attempt at petty theft was perpetrated in an Auckland picture theatre a day or two ago The manager of the theatre was preparing to leave his office in the front of the building at about 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon, when he noticed a man, with a brown paper bundle under his arm, leaving the hall by another door. On being accosted the man gave as an explanation that he had merely been looking round the theatre, but the bundle roused the ma>nager's suspicions, and he took it from the intruder. On examination it appeared that it was a roll of music, worth about _ 30s, which subseauentiy was proved to be identical with the orchestra's programme for that evening. The police are now looking for the man, whom the manager, owing to the absence at the time of the leader of the orchestra, could not definitely accuse of having committed a the'ft. A large plate-glass window in the shop of Mr J. H. 'Ward, grocer, of Onehunga, was smashed on Tuesday morning by a young horse backing a racing gig into it (says the Auckland 'Star'). The animal, which had been left outside by its owner, was startled by the passing of a t.ramcar, and the wheels of the gig easily mounted the footpath, to the Jowness of the kerb. This is the third accident of the kind that has happened to the shop in the past nine months', as on one occasion, some months aeo, tin proprietor's horse pushed him right'th rough a pane, and subsequently a second sheet of glass was smashed by a runaway milk carL The damage is estimated at £lO.

There appears to be a misapprehension in many "quarters (says the Melbourne 'Age') that instructions have been issued for the abolition of the Highland kilt from the Commonwealth forces. In reply to a definite question on the subject by Senator Cameron in the Senate, the Minister of Defence stated that no such instructions had been given. The instructions that had been issued were that members- oi corps...at. present wearing the kilt, as well as-members of other "national" regiments, would be permitted to wear their presentuniform until the expiration of their period of enlistment or re-enlistment. Senator Cameron asked the Minister if he would consider a proposal to allow the corps to provide the kilt at their own expense and continue to wear if. The Minister replied that the proposal v:r.s undesirable, as it would immediately create a class distinction. Under trie Territorial scheme "national" regiments' had been allotted to defined battalion areas, but as voluntary enlistment, excepting in the case of light horse regiments, had now ceased, their establishment would be maintained by the transfer of recruits from the senior cadets as t-hev became liable for service in the militia" forces. Although forming part of the battalion, these recruits would bs fowled into separate companies, and would not be intermixed among the existing members of " national " regiments. Will the brilliant' Federal AttorneyGeneral (Mr W. M. Hushes), first lieutenant to the Commonwealth Prime Minister, accept the chairmanship of the _ projected Interstate Commission'' That is a question which is being asked in Australian political circles just now. As proposed by the Deakiu Government, the- Interstate Commission were to deal with interstate traffic and industrial matters, the of any commercial rate, ar.d any matters of discrimination betweeen the States. It is said that the present Federal Government, will bring in a scheme for a still greater jurisdiction. Mr Hughes was the chief chf.mpion of the greater Federal powers proposals that were defeated in last year's referenda, and it- is suggested that some of the influence which he then failed to secure for the Federal administration he may yet wield as chairman of the projected commission. Moreover, the chairmanship will bavo a salary of at least £2.500 a year. But it is doubtful whether these inducements will tempt Mr Hughes from his present commanding influence in the Labor party. The snow which fell in Canterbuiy at the beginning of the present month has apparently done considerable harm in the high countrv in that province. It was the. heaviest fall for 20 years. Many of th? settlers who took up selections of the recently cut up Glonwyre station are heavy losers by the snow, especially as the bulk of the 'stock were unaccustomed to the climatic conditions prevailing. Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie Hills Station, has at. present 50,000 under snow, and lie estimates that it will be some weeks yet before he will be able to have them extricated. Mr Rutherford said that the whole country between Waipara Mid Nelson is a sheet of snow.