The Fielding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1911. Annus Mirabilis.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1428, 28 February 1911, Page 2

The Fielding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1911. Annus Mirabilis.

Which is, in plain English, the Year of Wonder —aiid that is 1911, according to the prophets, as forecasted in a very interesting article which has pride of place in the latest issue of the London Magazine, "What are the prospects for 1911?" was tlie question put by the editor to a number of notable persons, and the sum total of the answers spells "Annus Mirabilis." The fact that a King of England and Emperor of Britain Overseas is to be crowned ajid that an Imperial Conference of British statesmen is to be held redletters this year, and political prophets foresee an Imperial Senate as the resultant, whilst Anglo-Indians rejoice over the crowning of ueorge as Emperor of India at historic Delhi. The discordant note is struck by Lord Roberts, who considers the military outlook "eminently unsatisfactory," and Lord Esher hopes that in this year the j>eople of the Homeland will see the need for supporting national defence. The naval outlook may be summarised with the diplomatic phrase, "big with possibilities" —but "there js every indication that

„ii wm. see a growing dislike for war." Labour has, still is continuing, and will continue at loggerheads with capital. Lord Carrington, once aii Australian Governor and now President of the British Board of Agriculture, supplies the offsetting to the pessimists with the report that, "fortunately, the outlook of agriculture is brightening." High finance, says Lord Michelham, presents no glowing picture for 1911, as dear money will be a feature of British markets, "a natural result of the enormous exodus of capital." This Money Magnate made that prophecy in December —and here in February already the bank rate of interest has gone down —and is on the down grade. Lord Norfchcliffe, who is at the head of the Harmsworth group of publications, says the outlook for writers and illustrators in journalism was never brighter. Medical science will advance along the lines of the application of electricity. Marked progress is to be made in aviation, Mr Graham White thinks a speed of from 120 to 130 miles an hour will result from improved machinery, Mr It. Lorraine says there will be far less risk to the airman, Mr Wilbur Wright would not be surprised at the discovery of a new motive power. It is a strange coincidence that Mr Marconi is now studying this problem, a new force for application to bis "wireless" discovery, and a new forco that will enable us to propel and control flying machines independent of wind currents. Turning from these specialists who are helping to bring about the things of which they prophesy, and giving attention for a moment to the professional prophets, we find that "Old. Moore" predicts a revolutionary spirit for the year, and ff Zadkiel" is equally dolorous, with a belief that the Socialists Tyill gain added power, with "miich loss and WSW misfortunes, including a. dispute with a foreign Power." Nevertheless, we believe that xi>}l :is to be not only Annus Mirabels, 1 bub the best yet.