WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23. 1913

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1913, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23. 1913

IF ' tihe . cablesrammer has not made a' blunder, the "remarkable" nature of Israel Zang-wiir.3; article .in the London Chronkk on -what is termed "The War Devil" must ; be— sougiht: in the article, its-elf. The precis of it • con-tarns-nothing: more, enlightening than a picturesque and rather contradictory set of disjointed ideas. There is nothing dii it to lead the public to any definite coricliiswn regarding- the state of affairs that exists in Europe at- present. : If Mr Zangwill had , sa,id what war; in his mind in pi ain. 'direct language, one might ihave some' idea as .to what he really means. But the -farrago of nonsense that .the cable agent has wired- out ' is simply a piece of pure mystification. It miglht pass .muster in one of Mr. ' Zangwill' s rhapsodes of life in the ghettos, "but t!i-2re is 'a deal too much of Oriental glamour; about the article -to make it at all .intelligible to that directness of -thought «o associated --with- Anglo-Saxon char ■ act-er.- The world will not stand awestruck at a new 'revelation : when;- Mr Zangwill says tlhat ' tihe ultimate argu■iment'.of nations, as well as.c-f 'kings, ■i's :: '.the'r' sword or the strong handMight will often prevail over right . in the first instance, though right '.'muist invarialy triumph in the end. OOtherr r wise : progress would be impossible. To tell, us that the/ishadow; of Bismark. ■is looming over Europe in only vary-, ing the. phrase that might is right' aind'

that blood and iron are the most 'effective adjusters of international .differences. But it is a little Mke nonsense totalk of terror-stricken" Britain thrp^ving- herself into the arms of Russia and thereby sinking to the. level'- of. her { barbaric swain. The ftiistpry pf the] vvo rid) is full of inistan ces in which the preservation of peace has been" greatly due to judicious, and timely alliances. Ha,d it not been .for the- formal alliance between Britain and. Japan; be^ fore the- war: ' With Russia \ there -was every probability that .Russia would have brought the Far East under her control, arid all that such a contingency might mean. Mr Zangwill says that "If Germany desires. oxir territory she muist have it," arid that "there : s no'; reason, other than the. ; sword why Britain should possess a fourth of the globe. '\ That goes without saying. What Britain holds she. ds well aware that she can only hold by the , strong hand. It is . because ,of her oversea dominions and 'her. .friendly •cornbiriatipnts that Britain. is able to. hold that share of the world that the energy and enterprise of her sons have enabled her to. acquire. It is not to\ be supposed for a moment that Germany,, if she felt herself- in- a position to do so, would hesitate a moment in helping herself . to any portion of British oversea territory ._ that she .might • fancy.

Winile'-tlhe world agrees with the principle -of arbitration. . and , all . otiher peaceful methods 4 of arranging international differences, the last argument of all is war. It is all very fanciful and striking; to; say that no law of 'Calvary .or San'ai has laid it down that Australia or Egypt should be British ; that the AH Red route means the route of- blood ; . and that. Germany '■'■ must yield Alsace and Lorraine ; and so on all round. Thdsis : all very- poetical, no doubt, but as peope do not give up .what they : hold and . regard .as their own •■•without" a struggle. . Britain- and Germany ; alike - will not part with any of .their ternitofjal possessions without, a struggle. - ;lit is.easy enough to account for Mr Zangwdll' s antipathy to the great Slav ; power, any connection with which by Britain h.2 regards as a degradation. He belongs to- a race that has been ■ sadly . persecuted by the Russians in the past, and even unto the /present day. But other nations iin- their, day and generation have acted a similar part towards the unfortunate children of Israel;' and there is every reason to believe that Russia will learn; to .treat the Jews with the same consideration that. is extended to otiner "races : and religions in: the great Slav Empire. We are afraid 'that eveti after Mr Israel Zangwill's "remai kable" article public Opinion regarding the European impasse is riot a bit further advanced than' it was before this -noted novel.iist sought to impress the world by his ideas on the question. ;"

It is not always that the Sydney Bulletin is given- to complimentary notices in - its "Wild Cat" column. Yet it pens a .very favourable notice in -its last issue of the ->Vestport.~Coal CdnSpany, or what it ! calls "Maoriland's Biggiast Coal. Mining Concern." The ■writer -in the Bulletin goes back to the early history of the mine, when it had to.-go ' througfti ' its share of infantile troubles. . . The ngurtes make interesting reading. They, give details from 1904 up to the latest audited 'balance sheet of -the -.■profits,- divadisnids, the amounts written off, the different -iamounts placed to' reserve, -with the actual reserve at the end of each year. In 1904 a dividend of 15 per cent, was paid („£42)006) and the reserve then was From that on to 1912 the ; dividehds. fluctuated between i.5 and io| . per cent., while in 1908 reserves were . capitalised. In . 1910 •further -reserves. of .£40,000 were capital ised. In 191 1 .and 'l9.l2 the profits were £40,000 and £52,306, the dividend be:aig. . 10 per cent. In paterence to tihe last year the writer shows that hesides -making' a profit of £52,306 all the new plant and development work has been paid for out of revenue, and £9633 in; addition 1 had been written off (that is to say, put into liquid assets) to provide for future renewals or purchases. A further view of the highly ■■■satisfactory position may be gathered from ;the fact that the liquid assets of- 1904, which stood at £91,1221 rose to £235,724 in 19 12. in .the same way the current output of coal swelled from 532,228 tons for the year to 621^322 -eight years after. It is unneoissary •' to follow tfhe details more closely. The leading facts will be suf-. ficient for the enlightenment .of the casual reader whose only interest will be felt in a knowledge pt gross • results. "A few yearisiago (the writer goes on to'say.j it was calculated 'that, the coal, reserves would last about 40 , years- ■ 27 .years ago or trom now. A" sinking" fund . was established to wipe out the capital cost of the undertaking within: that ; peraod. With its own interestearnings that fund, now amounts to £51,282. " ...5incV the date of that original estimate,, lange discoveries of mineral iiave been made, .and thclife of the property lhas .been extended, provided no catastrophe happens. Never- ' theless the original basis of the sinking fund has been ;. adhered^ to by a management whose long-headedness strikes this paper most favourably. There isn't iisdeetdi . another . ; Australais-

iari coal-mining concern which' seems to -so thoroughly realise" tihat its principle asset is ■ wasting all tihe time and must presently disappear altogether." The actual paid-up capital if tihe • company is £280,000. . Though formed in iSS.i, ' thia. company had a very hard struggle for many years > and :i't wasn't until it had built-up, a fine bunkerng trade that , there was : any glitter in the results. During the last few years £i2p,000 ha v e\been transferred to. capital, so that the- present .diy:dehd of ro .per cent, is only a little under. 15 per. centon the actually padd Capital. ; . 'Evan, a; 6 per cent.; dividend! did not arrive till) the middle of the 9q's. . The.business/now'ds very -steady with.;: ; a : sligtht ; tendency upwards. 1 -

Full particulars of the special "Win^ fred" Ciffarette ComEetitions which is being- held for the West- Coast only •will appear .in our advertising to'-mbrrow. . ; i

Mark Sprot and Co^ local agerits-for the Maoriland Shipping Company; ad yertise in this issue, that -the i s.s., Ennerdale will be berthed at Auckland about the 25th inst, arid will be available for cargo direct to Greymbutn. '■■■. . : .-;■"■'*

The Union Steam Ship Company.' have a- notice ; to ' importers in'; this issue.-. that ; the- s.s. : Kaituria will leave Auckland for .Greymouth on ; Wednes--' day evening 23rd inst. carrying cargo for Greymouth arid Hokitika. "

Miners' delegates Ayere in -Westport last week drawing up a new agrieement, as the present' one expires on the 4th ; May. The' delegates appear to be ., particularly irnpr^ssed with the need for improving condition's at, Dennis'tori. .-■■• ;: "' : -'"

Mr. • Jas Colvin'M.P., .speaking at the' Victoria Theatre \¥estport recently -referring to a report published iriV-We'll ington -that he did notantend to .stand at the general -election, said ; he 1 : /was not likely to inform the Domiriiori— the ''squaters organ"— of his intentions: VVhen he proposed to retire from politics he would teil his constituents. 'If his health was good 'he would contest the next election. ! "

Mr. Moriarty, a Labour secretary at Wellington, who offers " himself -as^a candidate at the municipal elections, says: The United Labour Party, as proved by the preamble to the basis of of the unity scheme, was pledged toSocialism, . syndicalism, .. and .I.W.W. principles. ■ .. .-■■• . j

Mr., A. Leaver, has on view" -at. his premises Westport a , sample,, of coal '. taken from near "the 18-mile peg, Bull- .' er road. ' If a little more eneprgy: were put into the .construction of the railV ' way up. the Gorge, this field would be: speedily tapped and condition made much brighter in Westport arid . dis- ■ trict.— News. •''•■;•' . .

The . Wellington Waterside Workers' Union completed. a ballot yesterday-. on '. a proposal to regulate 'the/hours^during which they can, be erigaged.^The . members by '756 -to. 58 votes earned ; the proposal that they refuse' to iaccept, engagements .: after : "10 ■■a.^m.-.-.of r after 3 . p.m., A vote was also ;takeri pri the proposal to -unify ;i the. various -jlab- • our organisations, ; arid it was. carried by-,714 to 77.. .;..--•.. ■:,: -...: . ■ 3 :>:0;; : :

Yesterday; at the Magistrate's Court, when a. certaiil case of ; application- : ;for ' an Order on ,a .judgment; suminoris' \vas called, the plaintiff *was not present." He arrived later arid excused ' himself by stating that he "had been prevented ; from attending . earlier. <;on. account of , having got back- to town only a. few . . minutes before. His . Worship took . the occasion to .remark .that if. plain* tiffs did not appear- to look after,-sheir i cases they would run. the 'risk of^h'av- ;: ing them struck out. . • :

. The Triad- for April is- to hand,'and is as lively and interesting as .usual. In .the .Obiter Dicta-. column is . a,satisfying discourse oh the Fenianism craze of the day as exemplified by the viru^ lent lawbreaking suffragettes of -the •Pankhurst type. An article from Mir C .N. Bayertz gives 'some, hints to competitors in singing; and \ elocution that could -be perused -with: advantage by aspirants after hononrs in . either direction^ Amongst an interesting" diversity of prose ■ and verse 'is a characteristic article from the pen of Frank Morton, entitled "Threeof -a kind beats . two : pair. "■ / -

The potato market has been rather •' quiet, andf even with the • restrictions • on Australian - exports -? irein oved',- ther & : - is no indiGatioh \whatever: ,• of * , ship- ' mentsin that direction; (says; the Dunedin "Star"). The requirernept that farmers must sign their .certificates is proving an obstacle to business, and, apart from- that, srep.orts . froni ; > Austra- ' lia indicate that deliveries are increase.. ing, and in consequence no transactions are being entered into forXtrade across -the Tasman Se^... . New; Zealand growers are beginning to see that it . would be, a grievous, error of judgment- to hold on to. stocks in the c expectation of extreme, prices '. No surprise would; be occasioned in wellinformed quarters if no New. Zealand V-, potatoes found their way. to Australia this season. The Australians do not seem to want them. Tasmaniah- po- . tatpes have the preference in. the ..Aus-; tralian market, the variety prirTcipally • grown there being the redskin potato, , much prized in the Commonwealth. .

In connection with the- treatment of consumptives, Dr. Valintihe, Inspec-tor-General of Hospitals.; has "written to the ■Wellington- Hospital' Board-' point ing out that it is desirable^ in /view of the further development in the can\paign against tuberculosis, that 'spme facilities should be given tp nurses; who wish to undertake this work.albne to follow a special course'of training. In conjunction with' the department those Hospital Boards; with a sanatorium •' for tuberculosis might very profitably make sub, al provision. The. opportunity of obtaining ;& special, certificate after a course -of lectures? and practical training would probably attract young women for. this work. After setting out the course of trainingas provided by the -Royal Hospital >f or diseases of the chest, • Vaientirie stated that _he would be glad if r the medical superintendent . and matron of the sanatorium under the "control of the board would' give their opinion .as to the feasibility of carrying ■ puti"a similar course and make iaii'> suprgestipn roccuxing to therri"; : ; This letter came, before the . Wellington .hospital committee yesterday, when>it Was;: decided > to- consider; the matter further before replying.- V? -'./V'

; Dress ;gods,i exceptional ' valued in ; Navy and Black Serges, is. od,. is iid 2s /3d, 2S 6d- per yard. 54 inch>wide serge 3 s 6d per .yard. > Dress tweeds done up«in dress -i&ngths' only? ss-i6di 7s. 6d and 9s 6d; cheapest; in the trade; Also a Tange >p^ yelveteen- mall, colours is >ud V per yard/ Velvet-, eens are in great demand this season. : note address. — J. N.- Walker, Boundary .;St.. •■. ■■■.-- " : -- ; " -■•.-■ .''■■■'.

When Mar. Webster wrote of Woods . .He. said, \vith' graphic ease:- '■•■■ • r That Woods were mostly^timber, ■ ' And were all composed of -trees. f . But if Mr. Webster liyed-;-..tq-da.y , .' He'd find, a -meaningr newer, • ; - For "Woods" to millions silmply means ■ The' Woods* Great Peppermint- Cure! -

Lamps.— Large Phenomenon the very best gas lamp 13s 6d at Wade's.

Mr. J. \\ .Chalky who specialises in stocking boots and shoes, has'now opened up his grange of new,: winter footwear and invites inspection. Read the new advertisement in '■''■'to-day's issue.

run the risk of -facing the m,agistrate it's cheaper to; get one of Wade's Bike Lamps. .

■-Inspector Phair received, the following .'wire /last, night from Sergeant D^ew.^-We.stport :— -"Frederick BenjaminVLucas a Maori, married: residing riear^Biiller Bridge, was drowned by falling- off h'ridge or attempting to s\vim- river this afternooji.. "Body recovered. Inquest, to-morrow. " •

• The "'■» practice of riding at night, is most dangerous not only to foof passengers but to cyclists themselves— get away from this dangerous hdbit and get a lamp—an endless •variety is on view at Wade's from.2 S 3d.

'.The indications are for easterly winds moderate to ■ strong ;and veering by east to north; then freshening. -Increasing -haze and cloudiness with change following.. The bax-ometer is falling.' Seas : moderate ; tides good.

Lamps that will > steer you clear oi the 'bobby at Wade's from. 2s, 3d.

.•A.^Geymouth resident recently ireturned from Christchurch says that a few of the enterprising citizens who were beguiled 'to; invest in the Poeru.a quartz : claim do not speak in. too cheerful a 'strain .; of their ,. luck in \ some of 'qftr mining' investments, bur particularly in reference to that Poerua undertaking. .Although ;a 'crushing or two are spoken of, not even a whisper is heard of anything definite as to results, though very direct inquiry on the point was made.

The new lamp posts erected by the Council give •■ a vely .fine light,' but cyclist — yow need one of Wade's brilliant Phenomenon, large lamps at 13s 6d. ■.."• ' ; •

Dress tweeds splendid value 5s nd and 83 1 id, the dies s piece. Navy blue fine all ww>l r serges ,is,iid, 2s od, 2<5 lidto3s lid per ya*d. Also fancy material for evening wear in oream radiantas silk striped lustres, poplins. Sicilians; etc.— Walker's ? Warehouse, Boundary Street.

Ladies and childrens waterproofs, new shapes 15s to 42s'. just 'the thing for this wet weather, also a smart line in ladies umbrellas at 3s lid. 4s nd. and - 7's lid each.— Walker's Drapery Warehouse. Boundary Street.