Notes and Comments.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 592, 24 March 1908, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

Diiuidism is essentially British. It rcvi>res3n-ts one of England's oldest religior.s and also one of the Motherland's most modem aaid up-to-date instibutions. No movement in friendly society eircd-es, in New Zealand especi. ally, lias been more remarkable than tho rise and progress of the ' Order of Druids. In tho olden days the Dmids practised magic and soothsaying, and ;heir modern emulators use tho Order ' is a magician's wand to diw memjers into tho fold. That it is a successful wand statistics prove. Accordng to the latest British returns, the 1

U.'A.O.D. has a membership of 135,745 and a capita:! of £874,160. In propor- , tion to its sizo and population, tlio i North Island of New Zealand must stand as high as any district in tho Order's jurisdiction, for there, are 65 lodges in tlio island with somo 7000 members, and tho Grand Lodgo funds alone stand at £7500. Tho ilargo ami enthusiastic gathering of members of tho Mystic Order in Feilding last night bore very strong testimony to tho popularity of Druidism in this district; and not the least pleasant feature of tho gathering was tlio keen fraternal feeling that exists between tho brethren of the surrounding districts. Unity is strength, and in no ( department of lifo is this axioni move clearly demonstrated than in our friendly societies, which aro of real and genuine benefit to the people of our dominion.

There are, no doubt, some scholars in tho schools of the Feilding district who havo literary aspirations; who enjoy the exercise of those gifts in the way of essay writing. Such scholars will, therefore bo interested in a circular emanating from the Educsition Department and distributed to tho Education Boards throughout the dominion. It contains the proposals that havo been made by the British and Foreign Sailors' Society of London, with a view of fotering in tlve minds of young people respect and admiration for the deeds of Britain's naval horoos which made tho Empiro what it is. The idea is that this object may best be achieved by offering prizes to school children for the best essays on the question, " What does tho nation owe to Nelson and to her sailors ?" Following are the terms of the contest: — (I.) Competitors must be under 10 years of ago on May 31 next. (2.) The essays, which must not exceed one thousand words, must l)c forwarded to tho Education Board of tho district on or before May 31 next. Tho envelope is to bear the words "Nelson Essay." (3.) The essays must bo written in school without notes, text-books, or assistance from tho toachor. (4.) The number of essays from the boys of any one school or from the girls of the same school is limited to two, or at the most, three. (5.) On the last page of each essay must be shown the full name of tho writer, his or her age, tho name of the school, and a certification by tho head-teacher that the conditions heroin imposed have been fully complied with. Prizes are offered for tho host essays. The intimation by cable that the Turin Academy of Science had honoured l'rof. Ernest Rutherford by awarding him tho Brossa Prize draws further attention to places that New Zealanders are winning abroad. Prof. Kutlierford has won the praise of the highest scientific authorities through liis discoveries an tho realm of radioactivity, and his name is intimately associated with radium. It is only a few weeks since that he lectured on " Recent Researches on Radio-Acti-vity ' ' in the Royal Institute, London, before a distinguished audience, with Lord Rayleigh as chairman. Four years previously the young New Zealau<ler had given a lecturo on the same subject in tho same place. In the realms of literature and art representatives of our dominion aro also making names for themselves. Amongst leading artists in London are Harry Rountreo, of Auckland, and Sam Ik-gg, of Napier; it was a Napierite, Dr. Glendinning, also, whom tlio young Queen of Spain chose to lie ono of her leading medical attendants; and in literature, the names of H. B. Marriott Watson, Harry Yogel, "Alien" (Mrs Baker), "G. B. Lancaster," Arthur Adams, and Fergus Hume, easily come to mind. New Zealand is marching steadily forward to that time, foreseen by Sir Georgo Grey, when she will bo a nation of poets and musicians, and of inventors and discoverers in the field of scientific research. The news gatherer at the other end of tlio world has a queer idea occasionally of tho things that interest colonial newspaper readers. For instance, ho cabled yesterday particulars of the coll in which General Stoessel lias been incarcerated ! Wo doubt whether anybody out this way is tlio slightest bit interested .in tlio General, of whom too much tlas already been telegraphed. It may bo that lie is the scapegoat for others, but ho is lucky in not having been sent- out into the Riberia-n deserts with all tho sins of the Port Arthur contingent heaped upon his back. It was a shocking surreiuior, and Stoessel Mas just as deep in the disgrace- of it as tho other leaders who were too jealous of ono another to think in the supremo monient of their nations honour. Seeing that Port Arthur wa.s surrendered" on January 1, 1905, Stoessel. who was charged with treason and cowardice, lias been fortunate in keeping out of tiro fortress, prison so long. And now it is, so long, Stoessel !