CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13107, 22 April 1903, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS.

Wo are all more or less Jacobites in New Zealand. That is to say, there is a tinge of romanticism in the New ■ Zealand character, drawn, perhaps, from contact with, the Maori, and the sympathies of the average New Zealand youth of both sexes are undoubtedly roused by the story of the unfortunate Stuarts. But wo must go abroad for news, and in spite of the Jacobite leanings of our young men and maidens, it will surprise most of J our readers to learn that there is an active branch of the “Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland ”in the colony. The organ of the League announces that “Mr Charles Bag* nail has been appointed agent for New Zealand, where the work of the League is being carried on with considerable energy and with consequently satisfactory results.” Tho “Daily News,” which never misses the chance of a “ dig ” at the New Zealand Premier, is anxious to hear “Mr Seddon’s opinion on the subject of the League which has just established a branch within the ample shadow of his personality.” “If we understand at all,” continues the “Daily News.” “the workings of that statesman’s intelligence—and we have attempted, this—he will regal'd the League as a formidable menace to the safety of the Throne and the integrity of the Empire, and will probably recommend its members to tho-attention of the next mass meeting of aborigines that ha happens to address.” Having survived tea years of Conservative criticism in this colony, Sir Seddon is not lively to be seriously concerned about the pleasantries of th(j rather languid journals of the Motherland. But one might reasonably inquire where Mr Charles Bagnall “ hangs out his shingle,” as the Americans say, and what the Legitimist League is doing in New Zealand. Is it preparing a revolution, or merely keeping a snirit alive? And what 1 is the'nature of'that

JACOBITES IN NEW' ZEALAND.

satisfactory results? Surely this does not mean that arms and ammunition are being accumulated against the day when another Prince Charlie will lead a force of New Zealanders to London, tiere. to sit on London Bridge and contemplate the ruins of the city. The New Zealand Legitimists can. drink to “ the King oyer the Water ” without being in any way disloyal, for the miles that divide us'front our King are chiefly miles of ocean.

The “ Akaroa Alail ” has an interesting little article orv the. fast disappearing Native game ,of the Peninsula and the need for preserving'it. The proclamation of the Ahuriri lagoon as a sanctuary will help towards the desired end. “ Our. Native water-fowl,” says the “ Mail,” “ unlike those of Britain, are nob migratory, hub live with us all the year round. ■ The grey and Paradise ducks, spoonbills and black and grey teal, all used to go inland to breed. The, young were reared in the •creeks, running in every part • of the Peninsula, and, in the autumn when they grew strong enorigh on the wing, their parents led, them to Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth and other lagoons and marshes bordering on the sea, for it is in these salt marshes these birds get the food they lore and grow to that plump perfection which renders them so delicious. When the bush covered the Peninsula the creeks v eto well sheltered and little disturbed. In those days vast number's of the birds were reared, ami the clouds of ducks that used to frequent the country from the head of Lake Forsyth along Birdling’s Flat and Lake'•• Ellesmere to Taumutu were enormous.” Twenty years ago, we are told, even a good many grey duck were reared in the Akaroa creeks, and ten years later a brace or two still came, but these breeding places are now so often disturbed, and . there are so many bad sportsmen about that could nob resist shooting at a wild duck at any season of the year, that the tribute of young ducks from inland parts of the Peninsula to the coast has almost ceased. 11 In Gough’s Bay and other localities, where good sportsmen like Mr Masefield l#'c, continues the “Mail,” “a few are still reared in, peace; but, where thirty years ago thousands reached maturity, only a few now survive to attend the great autumn muster.” A strong plea is entered for the further protection of kakas, Native pigeons and smaller birds. Pheasants and partridges, among imported birds, have apparently died out on the Peninsula, but the Californian quail have thrived exceedingly. Possibly the setting apart of the .Kaituna bush will give the Native birds, at any rate, an opportunity to recover their numerical' strength and from these headquarters they would send out colonies to the other patches of bush remain- /, ing among the Bays. /The proclamation of the Ahuriri Lagoon is spoken of as “the best possible method of checking the de- ; struction of the waterfowl,” and the preservation of a good patch of Native bush is the very least we can do, for the land birds.

native HIKES.

Shortly alter the • conclusion’ of the sittings of the Irish Land Conference, Captain Shawe-Tuylor, the secretary of the Conference, paid a visit to the United States and Canada in order to discuss the new situation with the leaders of Irish political thought and sentiment in America. He returned to Ireland early last month, and ini the course of an interview with a representative, of the “Dublin Warder” gave some very interesting particulars of the information he had obtained during his trip. His visit extended over five weeks, .and during that time ho saw nearly all the Irish leaders, and addressed large gatherings of delegates in New York, Boston, Chicago and Ottawa. He was received •by* President Roosevelt ' and by several of his Ministers, and was entertained by a number of Senators and by many of the leading'' journalists. The President, by the way, is himself half an Irishman, and is extremely proud of the fact. He follows Irish affairs with the keenest interest, and there is probably no one in the States more anxious than ho is the promotion of, Ireland’s interests. Captain Shawe-Taylor was much l struck by the enormous political influence exercised by the Irish-Americans. They number. some eighteen millions in the States, and their organisation is so thorough that they play a most important part in the political life of the country. They practically govern tbs large cities, and hold the highest official and financial positions. , For years their policy , has been one of ceaseless hostility to Great Britain, and with 75 per cent of the Senators more or less dependent upon their support, they have’ had little difficulty in making it effective. Tire British Extradition Treaty and the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty were wrecked mainly by the Irish vote, and American public opinion during the South African War was largely shaped by the same influence. With all this in view it is pleasant to be assured by Captain ShaweTaylor that the settlement of the Irish land .-question, at which the present Land Bill *is aimed, would go a long way towards the removal of the bitterness felt*, by the Irish people, and would ultimately lead to the cbmpicte reconciliation: of the two races.

THE IRISH rnouLVii.