The Ensign. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1909. PUBLIC BORROWING.

Mataura Ensign, 23 February 1909, Page 2

The Ensign. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1909. PUBLIC BORROWING.

Borrowing is no doubt necessary in the conduct ol the public ailairs ot a country, and New /.calami is uul a stranger in the markets ol the world, tor the year which has just pa.s.,cd a ruiiiarkablc .expansion in total is apparent, though she is not alone in tlii.i respect. It may be stated, ol course, thai as a country progresses the j demands on the Treasury are naturally increased, yet we hear that uccasioui ally more than is prudent is applied lor and not sullicient thought is given lo tlu> elfoct ol that request. We may borrow for posterity to repay, but that is hardly a course to be recommended in the ailairs of a nation as in those ot the individual. An instructive article in the current number ol the '.Vleicalitile Gazette' set's out the position very lucidly. The aggregate el all loans, it says, is £83,08] ,*UO as compared with €02.300,000. a rise ol •221,221.3(10. or over 34 per Ml. This total is the highest tor six years with the exception ol 19110. when the tigure was 188.008,100. The borrowing for State purposes has gone up Iroin 102,099,400 to 1202.009,800. and for municipal purposes from £10,200,0dd to C 20.5122.1011. The advance in the latter is specially notable, and the total is now the biggest on record, the nearest approach to it being £19,910.900 i» 1900. The public borrowing in the I'nited Kingdom last year totalled £12.090,100, as compared, with £8,348,300. The increase is entirely accounted for by the issue of £0.(100.(1(10 ol Irish land stock in July. In the colonial demand there has been an enormous increase amounting to £19.450,000, or over 112 per cent., the main line of advance being on the municipal side, where loans have gone up from £1,090,000 to 120.992.000. This extraordinary increase has naturally alfwted the credit of some of the borrowers, while it has made the burden of loan underwriters very heavy indeed. A good deal of useless recrimination has taken place recently in the New Zealand newspapers regarding New Zealand's credit, some writers maintaining that because New Zealand las issued 4 per cent. 7 year bunds at 12100 10s lo 12101 instead of a 11 per cent, loan as in 1899 that therefore the credit of the country is not so good as it was. It is surely fair to take into consideration tile prevailing economic conditions when passing judgment on such a matter. In (he earlier "war there was a plethora of money, am) investor* were glad lo lend it at a moderate rate of interest. Now there is no such plethora ol loanable credit, while the demands are extensive and pronounced. The .same conditions have been noticeable in New Zealand, and many applicants lor loans to-day have to pay higher rates for the money they requite although their securities are quite as good as they were. There is a scarcity of money locally and that account.- for the change.

The number of persons who arrived In New Zealand during last month was m-2 and the departures totalled '-N*J. The numbers in ■lanunrr, J!)0S, were: Arrivals IMO7, departures •_»;)!)!. The training ship Ainokura was lo leave Wellington last night to search for the submerged object, probably the wreck of the liio Loge, which was reported to have been seen oil' Kaikouri. The Amokura will make an effort to ton il ashore or blow il up. Want any tarrying done? II so, wo have a staff of competent hands, with vehicles suitahlo for all kinds of work, at your disposal. Goods of all kinds removed safely andspeedil* lo wherever desired. Parcels forwarded lo any address in New Zealand or abroad. Furniture carefully removed in our special vans. —N.Z. Kxpress Co. (jore Office: Main Street, 1

The question of renumbering the private and business premises in Christchurch was discussed by the City Council last night (savs a Press Association telegram). The Mayor said that there were between IU.OOO and 11,000 buildings in the city and the cost of nmxing brass numerals was estimated at Is per building. The Mayor also stated at ihe same meeting thai already (>7."i motor cars were registered in Chrislchurch.

The "Waikaka railway will be officially opened on Wednesday, March 3, bv the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Hailways'). It is understood that the Waikaka peoplo intend to adequately celebrate the occasion. An excursion train will most likely be run from Gore in the afternoon, and nil who have the Interest of the town and district at heart should make the trip. The notice is necessarily short as the Minister is unable to remain in Southland for more than a week.

The Hon. J. A. -Millar, Minister for Railways, will leave Dunediii on .Monday next for the purpose of officially examining the railways in Southland. He will stay at Invcrcargill on .Saturday night, and on Tuesday morning will leave for the Western District, visiting the extension of tho line beyond Orepuki, and returning to luvercargill in tlie evening. Ou Wednesday morning he will come to tWu and in'the noon the Waikaka railway will be o!>iiCinlly opened by the Minister. th Thursday Mr Millar will proceed to Queenstown, and will return to t''e North on Saturday, |

A resident of Duncdin has a timepiece which is 130 rears old. It still keeps good time awl ran be thoroughly relied upon. The ancient, clock-makers did not know how to make clocks for sale; they made tliem to record t!i<. time.

'The I'n! ho lVlttioii<. Committee, reporting on a petition received from 1)5 • •ogciiopo residents praying for the construction of a railway to connect. Hedge-hope with Core, states that as the petition involves a question of policy the committee is of opinion that it. should he referred to the Government for consideration.

All Merchants having goods ,„• ~.,,-. eels requiring delivery should realise the advantage of getting "s to handle their consignments from beginning to endgoods collected and shipped, dues paid, goods distributed, and charges collected —all done without trouble and worry to themselves. Try our system. You'll find it economical, labor-saving.--.VZ. Express Co. Ofticcs throughout the Dominion. 2

A discovery of copper has been made on the eastern side of the Otatnatea River, north of Auckland, and it is anticipated that when exploited some good copper ore "ill he exposed. The lodes have only been tested on the surface, so that their value cannot, yet bo estimated, but a level is now lioiiig driven lower down the hill, where the lodes are outcropping, and the discoverers expect that some valuable ore will be opened tip. The discovery has boon brought under the notice of the Hon. 11. McKonzio (Minister for Public Works). The crops of oats on Moa Flat ''.is year are really magnificent. The straw in some cases is 6ft. high and the heads are well filled, hi many cases yields of over 100 bushels are expected. The new -ettlrs are are rapidly breaking the land under cultivation. The new homesteads ;dve nilito a different appearance to the landscape as viewed Irnni l)'iV:">bi:) Hills or the higher parts of the ostMc. Some of the arguments advanced in favor of the l.awrence-lioxburgh railway are amusing. One enthusiast at tile banquet at Roxburgh on Friday evening mentioned a magnificent lield if oats which was being harvested at he Island Block as ail evidence of the fertility of the valley of the Molyneiix nid its suitability for general farming. The crop referred to is undoubtedly a splendid one, and probably there are .cry few to compare with it anywhere n the Dominion; but then it is the nnlv ■•no between Miller's Flat and Hay's function.

Another attempt is In he made ti> put lie Tapanui County llill through the House during the coming session. The iromoters are accused liv ratepayers in the .Molyneiix Valley of picking the •yes out of Tuapeka. They allege that ill the rough country has lieen left to I'uapekn and the rale-producing portion taken for the proposed neiv county. We ,ympathiso with those in the valley, is there is no doubt of the truth of 'hoir contention. Anyone who travels town the valley and on lo Law rencc, ind afterwards takes a tour through the new county, will at once admit that here is precious little on which to levy •ates in the lower area, while the coun:ry comprised in the proposed new ■ounty will furnish whatever is asked 'rom'it in the way of rates. And yel vc are told thai there is ample produce 11 the valley lo justify the construction if a railway I Detective Cameron, of Invercargil), icccMupaiiiod liy two (lore witnesses, left ''or Atickland by the second express yes. '.orday. to give evidence in ihe charge if perjury against ihe man Huston, who was sentenced to three wars' imprisonment at the, last sitting of the Ailckhmd Supreme Court. Ldgar Lorenzo Huston (says the 'Southland Times') 'ins in his lime masqueraded under nany aliases of which it is by no means •leaf that the name in question is not me. Last year be reached .New Zfa'nnd and Detective Cameron located liin in Invercnrgill in November last as the result of inquiries into certain hotel 'hefts at Core. The detective identified Huston as the man who had stayed in 'lore on the night the thefts were com■litted, but was unable to collect other :liuii circumstantial evidence. It may >e mentioned here that the charge of icrjur.y now pending against Ilusion irose from his denial, when being tried r'nr theft in Auckland, of certain statctients made to Detective Cameron in luvercargill. His arrest in Auckland i.v Detectives Skinner and Cox was primarily on a charge of stealing a Co jote from the Star Hotel. At the lime to had housebreaking implements in lis possession, and it was for this of'.'enco that, while still undergoing sentence for theft, he was sentenced at the .Supreme Court to three years' imprison, mon I'.

In ii letter to a resident. d( Christ■hurch, ii New Zealander who was in -iieily nt thi! time, of the Messina disIStcl' describes Ihe SCCIICS 111' witnessed --"We have been mixed up with one if tlio most appalling tragedies the iiorliMws over known—far worse than San I'Vancisco or Lisbon. Messina and Roggio have Iau.DOO killed most of the rest are injured, and few have escaped inhurt. All the fountains are Iniried, ind they are without water and food, raoriiiina, or rather (Jiardini, is the first station where it is possible to get anything, and relays of people, mostly Knglish and Ameriean, have been uurking night and day. The trains just ■utile in as they couid gel. them Idled uith wounded and refugees, at no sctilod times, generally six in ihe Iwenlyloitr hours; sometimes one hour between iliem, at others live. Thev stopped ■ learly half 1111 hour, and (hiring thai lime we rushed tip and down the pintform, carrying food and water, iust thrusting il into the thin black lia'nds thai were put out of the windows for t. No one was allowed to get out of lite carriages— lirst, .second, and third class, cattle trucks, coal trucks, filled :tll alike with sick, wounded, dead anil dying, rich mid p •, sonic gone mud, ithors in hysterics, sonic just silting ■iiill with horror written on their faces. Here we are in this town of Taormin,i .ind we cannot gel away. All trains mid hotels are lull, so we must make up nil- minds to stay. Slight shocks it ill •ontimio, and in uiglii they get on one s nerves ii hit, and t| u . preparations one makes before going to hod are no', conlucive to sleep— the windows left open, the door just so that il cannot kiicii, ivnips put ready at the foot- of .he bed, some of our clothes on under our nightgowns, the light left littfiiing .ill night. We are told the danger is ludil ! iere, us Taormiini is built on rock.-, and Catania on a lava bed, whereas pour Messina was built, on soft- ground In the case of the barracks there, the earlh opened and the place Hr.nt down."

An interesting interview Has accorded •i representative of ihe Cbristchurcii Truss' by a Ciiine.se ladv the other dav

ni ihe customs and habits that obtain uijier native land regarding education. ■•Yes," she said, "Western learning is advancing in China. It is made compulsory for children (o attend school. Knglisb is the main language; but other languages are also taught. Among the rich people the girls are taught at home. Kicll Chinese have tutors for the .-liildren. Hoys and girls are taught together, girls till ||„.l- ;,,,. iix'..,.,, „,•

seventeen. Then begins the tiii-d preparation for marriage. 'Micro arc no spinsters in China. The women embroider a great deal, and make household decora lions. They make i!oiv-e< us <iuilts and other household" things. When married they are dowered with clolhes—trunks and trunks of clothes.

A Chinese lady may possess ''s many as i'liur liimdrrd suits' of drilling, anil (if course jewellery. Many pairs of limccIfts, many sols of rings, bod linen ni!low shams, table.., chairs, all !h<> necessary tilings for the bed eliamher will 1,., given n bride by Iter mother. Tills is why poor people find a big fumilv <,] girls expensive, and sometimes i.!pv are sent away to foundling sehools--n,it because they are not us dear 'o ilr.-ir parents' hearts a.s boys, Girls r.f.t just as loved as boys. A lew Chinese ladies are going in for medieine. I Know several Chinese women doctors in IVkiu, and a few Chinese Indies are being trained as nurses by the missions in | various parts of China. 1 know some Skirls who are studying medicine at present in America, A ICuropoaii lady in Melbourne I met had been cured by a Chinese doctor. They use herbs a good deal. Our women arc educated in household matters in their own home: they learn to cook, sew, and take cirre of tho house. You would not, get n man to do washing at home. Tim women do that, and all the household tasks''—mid the voice rang with pride—"the Chinese hero do it because they can make money at it. The Chinese'in New Zealand come horn ii comiutTci.-il part ; thev come from the south of China. \\\ : belong to the middle of the Empire." Are you sunburnt:-' l»ut ojl it little •K.d Cm:;s" Oi,iim"i>i It ndieves tho swart, cures the bum. I, 6d, 1

I lio clerk of tin Bmco County Council Ims -boon advised (saws the Bruce Herald') that tin- loan <.f £IOOO for tlio Taieri Mouth h;is liwn granted. This loan will bo secured bv ,i social rate, over (lie (ileiilodi I adjoining district«.

The Hoard of Oovcriior, „l the Cote High School met this ahornoen for tho pm]H>so „f oonsiderill.: applications lor till' positions ol rector .ml assiMants for the school, nil i wll sit again this uvuuiug. It is liar My hlu.lv That the result will be known f.-i a fewdays. Wo understand that x.itno .".0 a indications have boon rore .v.i t,.r i 1,,. three ixisitions.

James Sharp was ariostod liv Constable Hyland at Faii'lio yesterday and sent on in custody to the Duiiodin unci (says the 'Times'). Ho whs fined heavily last October at Bulclulha for gancussing for orders for li(|iioi- within a no-lieenso district and was allowed three months in which to pay the fine. He failed to pay tho necessary money iuto court, and therefore has to sulimit to the alternative—a term of imprisonment.

In his evidence before the .Nautical Court yesterday at Wellington which is iiujuiring into the wreck of the Pengum, Captain Xaylor stated ihat the lifeboats on the wrecked ship were five years old. Oil was supplied to tlio bonis in copper drums. He could not say whether any was used or not. No. Ci boat hud a rudder and a steer oar: the other four boats had only rudders. In a heavy sea there was mi doubt a steer oar was the thing to guide a boat. Personally he thought it would be well to have all lifeboats fitted with steer oars as well as rudders. In the first boat thnt gol away there were live or six members of the crew. No. .-, boai had seven or eight men in it to manage it. The deck hands of the vessel numbered eight, six A.B.'s, a boatswain, and an ordinary seamen. He had not hold boat drill at sea as it was not customary to hold it when it could be done in port, as then all the boats could be mil in the water and all hands could take part.

In his evidence before the Nautical Court at. Wellington yesterday Captain Xaylor, of the wrecked ship Penguin, stated thnt tho record of flic tides in Cook Strait was contained in ihe (i„vernmeut almanac and the published chart. The churl, was compiled from a survey inudo in IK-I!i. Corrections had been mado since, bin. 110 systematic siir. vey had been made so far us he knew since VHlib He had never been driven out of his course before bv the current. It was a common thing, however, to ho driven out of a course to the extern of a couple of miles. It was not an uncommon experience to lose all' lights in the Straits during squalls. The compasses were adjusted on December it!). There were two compasses, There was no patent deep sea sounding apparatus 011 board. Tl„, ~l lSe had 1 11 broken oil years ago when he was mate on board the vessel. He had done everything he jKissibly could, and tin u'-e of Ihe accident, was the abnormal Hon ol Ihe tide through Cook Straits on thai night. Apart from their exceptional value the exhibition of various classes ol Linen work in Mac Gibbon and Co.'s Main street window is worthy of your attention. You'll find price reductions on every item of the various makes of Tray Clothos, D'Oylcys, Duchess Covers, Duchess Sets, Sideboard Covors and Table Centres. The styles include Drawn-thread Work, Renaissance Lace, Teneriffe Work, Hand-made Torchon nd Point Lace. You are sure to find some articles that will make a worthy addition to your stock of household linen. Our Sale offers you the opportunity to purchase at unusual prices. MACGIBBON AND CO.'S (Limited), The Main Street's Busy Corner.

General servant, wanleil. .Mis Lovcll wants donieslies. Last week of Wallis Bros.' Mil.-. Further entries for Waikaka sale. Inspection of Gore lfilles (imwhtoh

Nothing like "Roil Cross" Ointment A. Griorson, Innil has properties on the market.

Kraspr Falconer. Kelso, has latins l.nsale ami wants owes.

A. H. Aitkt'ii has a six-roonioil liutis, lor sale. .

Daldety anil Co. are ii"ciiln t,,r Quihell's Dip anil Sharpie's Separator. rarewell concert by Miss Sweeney mi Thursdav. Wise and Co. have a l.illinnl sal for sale.