TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 121, 25 May 1903, Page 1

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

With reference to the statement made by Professor George Darwin, in the course of an address to the Royal Institution, that " the days were calcuia'oly lengthening aud the time would come when one day would be equal to two of the present days, the earth rotating eight times monthly," Captain HuttoD, Curator of theChriatcburch Museum, says that Professor Darwin's statement is a very important one. He explains that the position briefly sot forth in the cablegram is due to tidal friotion, and the action of the moon on the oarth. Presumably there has been detected some difference in the present twenty-four hours as compared with a very ancient clay. How this has been done, however, cannofc be stated until further information is available. If the scientists at Home have been able to calculate the rate of the reduction of the time of the rotation, they will be able to re-calculato back, and perhaps set some possible date as to the time the earth began to rotate, or when the moon was first formed. It is quit© likely that that may be the result of the discovery, and in that case it is absolute proof of the evolution of the earth. The fact of the revolutions of tfee earth getting slower and slower shows that it did not begin to rotate an indefinite time ago. This is an extremely important aspect of the question. It will be interesting to compare this announcement with the results obtained by Lord Kelvin and others with regard to the ago of the earth, which has been set down at different times from 10,000,000 to 400,000,000 years. Tbo generally accepted idea now is thafc it is about 100,000,000 years old, these figures being fairly in accordance with both geological and physical facts. Of course, if Professor Darwin is correct, the day will continue to extend, and the time vrill come when it will be equal, not to two of the present days, but a month of them. The moon and the earth will rotate together, and the earth will keep the same face turned to the raooD, so that one side will have all the tr.Gonlighfc, and the other will have nor?e./

Mr Chamberlain made an important statement to a deputation which waited upon him from the- Birmingham and District United Air-gun Shooting Association. In order to endeavor to most the action of the Birmingham licensing magistrates, who hare set their faces against these clubs despite the fact that they number 300 with an aggregate membership of 9000, the members decided to ask the lo?d"Chancellor to receive a deputation on the subject. They approached their re*, presentatives in Parliament with a view to securing their support in obtaining this interview, and Mr Keogan (Chairman of tl© Association) and Mr ftl. Hirst (Secretary) met Mr Chamberborlain in hi a room afc the House of Commons. The Right Hon. gentleman said that ho had seen the Lord Chancellor, on tho receipt of their communication, and tho Lord Chancellor had consented to receive tha deputation on a dato to be fixed. Mr Chamberlain added that ho thought the members of the association had been badly treated by the licensing- magistrates, and incidentally referred to the question of compensation for suppressed licenses. He said : —" I tbiak that when a man has sunk all his savings in a public-house, recognising that it is not an unlawful trade, if the house is closed for no misconduct on the part of the man, but simply on tho ground that it is not now supposed to be required, that man is entitled to compensation. I am not prepared to say just now from what source tbat compensation should come, but I feel sure that that is tho opinion of the Government."