TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9632, 5 October 1911, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

There arc not wanting outward and visible signs that a genRailway eral election is approachServants. ing. In Parliament re-

cently Mr G. V. Pearce, -"•"•.for Patea, referred to the rents of railway employees' cottages having been raised. The Prime Minister's reply was to the effect that the statement, was incorrect, adding: "It is one of the usual exaggerations.". But now we have another version of the matter. One of the men has risked writing to an Auckland paper to explain the true position, which, he states, is as follows:—"When the tablet- system was established on the line south of Auckland the men were engaged at a given rate of pay, and in consideration of long hours and occasional overtime were provided with cottages rent free. Just about three years ago, prior to last election, the wages of these men were raised to the amount of 19s 6d per month, But what else happened ? Immediately they were debited with 19s 6d per month as house rent, tlms leaving them apparently with the same cash income as before, but they actually now receive less cash because their contributions to the superannuation fund are taxed on the larger amount. Any one wishing to verify the above statement for himself can do so by asking any tablet man at any of the flag stations. I quite agree with Sir Joseph Ward; it is .'one of the usual misrepresentations—but on whose side?"

In a fiery speech in the' Legislative. Council a couple of years A Gem back, that gnarled old from warrior, Wi Pere, startHansard. led the august chamber by declaring that if he had a well-armed band of native veterans lie would drive the luited Europeans into the sea ami hand over New Zealand to its rightful owners, the Maoris. But Wi Pere is a quaint sort of a person and he is now to be seen in quite a different style of oratory. Looking over that mysterious volume "Hansard" the other day we _ were startled by another declaration from our sapient M.L.C, This time lie is fawning "to. the Government in a speech of welcome to Sir John Findlay. We produce it verbatim et literatim. Here it is:—"Welcome home again, 0 friend ; you who wandered to distant parts, welcome back to your home, to the land of your birth, to your people. Come, rest again on the bosom that nursed you and the breast that fed you. You have come back bearing the great distinction that has been placed upon you. Great is the gladness of my heart for the distinction that has been placed upon you. Great is the gladness of my heart for the distinction that you have won. This is indeed a cause' for great exultation by this Houso. Why should members of another .place receive all the honours, ami all the decorations and not ono of this Chamber? Now, Sir John Findlay, because you bear such distinctions my wish is that you will live long to bear them, and that you will be steadfast to the principles that you have borne in the past. I repeat, may you live long as a protector of the peoples of this country. I wish you health in every respect; I also wish you longevity of life, that you may long abide with people. I ask God to bless you." With such gems as this adorning its pages, in years to come Hansard should be a mine of wealth, to the scholar!

: On pago 2 : "The Week in Wollingtoiii'commercial. On' pago 3: Commercial, cables, and telegrams. On pago 6: Entertainments, correspondence, genora].: Oa pago 7: Political notes, Fire Board, matters.

The llouso of Representatives sat; til! 5 o'clock this morning on the Education Estimates. .

Nono of ihe Aucklanders chosen for the. North and South Rugby match will be able to play, says an Auckland Press message. '

Rev. D. o.'Bates wired to-day Light and variable winds, land and sen breezes; indications for fair weather, and hazy; glass little movement. A gold medal has been offered by Mr J, B. Wiehart as .second' prize for tlio ladies' hack class at the coming A. and P. Show. : • :

: TWo Foxton Bowling . Club' intend to officially open; their green on Wednesday, 18th October,■ Meantime members are at liberty to use the green.

Eighteen girls were drowned 1 in: ; the river Aluta, in Austria, ;while bathing at midnight, under the old-time belief that they would thus get husbands before the end of the year. A. strong} current earned them 'away.—Cabled 'item.' . We havo been asked to state that the sale of sixpenny tickets for "Our Navy,' as the Zealandia. Hall last night, j was. not discontinued until 500 liad been sold, which is nearly double the number :-o!ct at any other house on Hay ward's circuit.

The twenty-ninth annua! conference of the Baptist Union opened at Napier .yesterday afternoon, the business being formal. The delegates, numbering ninety, were welcomed at a public meeting in the evening.

At a largo and representative'meeting of the Wairoa A. and P. Society, it was decided to urge tho Minister for Public Works to complete the road round the Waikaremoana, and connect it with the Waikato stock market, also to open .it up for tourist traffic. It is stated that, there aro only three miles between the road heads—Press Association.

The following deceased persons estates in the Wellington district have been finally certified to by the Commissioner of Stamps .as follows:—Maris L. Dawson £67,255, John Judd £14,265, Maria Wright £6IBB, William Rao £3781, George Parr £3178, Wiiliam J. Day £1644, Hcnrv Berch £1456, Josoph Bottie £1271, Marianne A. Tasker £1173, Stephen Knight £IO7O, James Barlow £975, Elizabeth Brodie £899, Robert M'Conochie £728, Janet Mackay £645, Elizabef.li Baxter £651, Phyllis Baxter £630, Francis S.' E. Mayoss £527, William H. Kitto £517. The meeting' of the Palmerston North Methodist quarterly board was held in tho Cuba, street Methodist Church last evening, when there was a record attendance, over sixty officers being present. Reports, from the various churches revealed a satisfactory state of .affairs, and the income for the quarter constituted a record. An invitation was extended to ,Revs. G W. J. Spence and T. T. Thomas to remain for a fourth year, arid to the ■ Rev, L. B. Nealo to remain a second year. Messrs A. Harding and J. McLeavey were elected substitute representatives to the district Synod. A proposition to purchase a parsonage for the Cuba street Church was postponed! for six months. Notice of motion was given that tho Ashhurst-Pohangina branch of the circuit bo created an independent circuit.

An old lady was going over tho Zoo, and after some time she went up to a keeper and tapped him on the shoulder with her umbrella. "Well, mum?" said the_ keeper, "I want to ask you," explained the old lady, "which of the animals in the Zoo you consider the most remarkable?" The keeper scratched bis head for a while. Then: "Well, mum, he replied after careful consideration, "as you might 6av, I've come to the conclusion that the biscuit goes to the laughing hyena !" "Indeed," said the old lady in surprise, "and why do you consider the laughing hyena so remarkable?'' "Wrfll, mum," answered tho zoological expert, "he only has a sleep onco a week, he: only has a meal onco a month; and he only has a drink once a year. -So what: lie's got to laugh about is a bloomin' mvstery to mo!"

A Masonic installation was conducted at, Bulls yesterday, tho following officers of Rangitikei Lodge being invested : W.M. Bro. F. Purnell; 1.P.M., Wor Bro. J. E, Walker; Si. W„ Bro. J. Anderson; J.W., Bro. G, W. McKenzie; Secretary, Bro. G. W. Smith; Treasurer, Bro H. Mercer : Chaplain, Wor. Bro. F T Webb, P.M.; D.C., Wor. Bro. J. Phillips P.M.; S.D. Bro. K. , S ' Penn y; I-G., Bro. R. ChisholmTyler, Bro. G. Hathaway ; Organist, Bro. G. Williams; S.S., Bro. C. 11, Thorby; J.S., Bro. H. Fagan. Representatives of Lodges extending from Greytown to Frankton wero present. R.W Bro. J. Moncrieff, P.G.M., was Installing Master, and Bro. W. J. Phillips, P.M.. acted as Director of Ceremonies. Tho annual ball was held afterwards, and proved very successful. ■ ■ ■'

Tho Manawatu Land Drainage Board this morning received from the Town Clerk, under instruction from the Borough Council, a letter calling attention to the fact that an open drain had been j constructed along Boundary road to Mangaone., The road was under control oi the Borough Council, and the drain had been constructed with an outlet info a watercourse under the Board's control and without the consent of the Council ( as required under tho Land Drainage Act)., Tho Council understood that (he work had been carried out under tho supervision of the Board's engineer in lus 1 private capacity. Tho Board was asked to givo an indemnity, to the Coim•cil for any damage that might result. Mr Milvcrton held tho Council'liable for any damago duo to the backing-up of tho water. The engineer (Mr E. j. Armstrong) said he was not present at tho last meeting of tho Borough Council, but he would fully explain the position. Ihe Board was not responsible. Mr \V Milvcrton waited on the Board and statod that no complaint was made against the Boards engineer; it was the procedure that was objected fo. He explained tho nature of tho work, as previously brought before the notice of tho Council Alter considering the matter in committee, the Board decided to advise Me*s>-s Abraham and Williams, who are constructing the dram, to obtain the consent of tho Council to an outlet in the Bovongh. A copy of tho resolution is to bo forwarded to tho Borough Council with' tV Srcl reSPonSibility 0n 11,0 P art

An announcement of interest to ladies contemplating the introduction into their homes of loose covers for furniture " now so popular, appears in this issue tk-Advi and Co -B„„

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Something new for polishing'linen ' uftV collars, fronts. "GLAZO TABLET " ThU f so , ld b y of fading stores' in let'—Ad T provinces - Only 6d 'Jab-

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