ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11149, 23 August 1899, Page 3

ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

ARE WE CLEAN ? It has recently been declared that " Americans are naturally the cleanest people in the world," but as the information is given on the authority of a New York journalist, we may well pause before accepting it unreservedly. It has been generally understood that in the matter of daily cold tubs. John Bull stood facile princeps, but this, in the opinion'of Brother Jonathan, is not done for the sake of cleanliness, but " in order to cool his overheated blood," and he pictures the Englishman rushing with fevered haste to his tub, to make the water boil with the heat of his blood. It is possible that his Yankee cousin regards the process of washing with more seriousness, and indulges in more than a daily revel in cold water, but if the Englishman is cleaner than his neighbours his cleanliness is merely by the way, in spite of Little Billy's assertion about" trying to make himself clean." To him the morning bath is a joy, not a duty, even though lie has to break the ice to get there. And anyone who doubts that the youth of this city are as fond of the bath as their English cousins need only attend a public schools swimming carnival on a summer evening, and see the hundreds of noisy, laughing children fresh from the restraint of school, disporting themselves in the water, to feel convinced that so far as personal cleanliness is concerned, we have no need to think ourselves inferior even to the immaculate Yankee.

A NEW KLONDIKE. His Worship of Onehunga has sprung a surprise on the community by announcing the discovery of gold in the Manukau. Onehunga has already, as everybody knows, a gold mine in her water supply, and through the energy of her Mayor, the fame of the abundance and purity of that water has spread throughout the land. It is already a truism, that who knows not Onehunga, argues himself unknown. What will be the result when Manukau Golden Points are selling on the Stock Exchange at an unattainable premium, and Erson's Beach aro not to be had at any price ? It is characteristic of the foresight of Onehunga that two bird:) are to be killed with the one stone. Tho channel is to bo dredged for the purposes of navigation, and out of the dredging will come gold and ironsand to enrich tho community. I have no doubt Dr. Erson will hurry along that dredge from the West Coast, but even should the Government fail in its duty, Onehunga must rise to the occasion, and the gold must bo brought to the surface. In fact, the Government have little time to lose. If their dredge is not sent along smartly they will miss a golden opportunity, and their failure to develop tho resources of Onehunga will be a black mark against them for ever.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRAWLING. The fishermen who are petitioning Parliament to prevent trawling within certain limits, and esj ecially within the gulfs, ere opening up a big question. It is evident that the modern methods of fishing are to be developed in New Zealand, and the cry has already gone forth that those who follow old and out-of-date methods, aro to be deprived of their livelihood. In the Old Country trawling is prohibited within three miles of the coast, and within certain firths, but the law is not founded as some would have us suppose, on any scientific basis; it is a concession to the numerical strength of the line-fishermen. Since the trawling cheapened the fish supply of England, and brought toothsome varieties .if fish to tho breakfast table, which were never caught under the old methods, linefishermen have been endeavouring to prove that the beam trawl, scraping along the bottom of the ocean, and sweeping everything into its net, is killing the goose that lays "the golden eggs." Experience lias proved beyond doubt that persistent trawling over the same ground causes the fish to migrate. Line-fishermen, bent with age, have fished since boyhood the banks which their fathers fished before them, and 10, after a season of trawling, the waters around that spot are barren. But scientific research is i against the plea that the trawl kills the spawn, and statistics prove that the trawlers, i by following the migratory fish, are keeping England well supplied with fish food, which, far from showing signs of giving out, is ever on the increase. And apart from the wisdom or otherwise of restricting trawling hy Act of Parliament, the experience of the Home Country shows that the law is an exceedingly difficult one to enforce. It would be 10 times more difficult in New Zealand. Police cruisers are kept going round the const, and only occasional captures are made, and when foreigners have been caught in the firths, it has been found that the law closing the firths could not be enforced against a foreigner, and trawlers have been known to register in a foreign port, and fly a foreign flag, to secure privileges, which, as British subjects, they were denied. How are we going to police the vast spread of waters around the Now Zealand coasts? It seems a large order, and, altogether, there is more matter for discussion in this little petition than the petitioners think of.

EDUCATION BY JOURNALISM. The educating influence of journalism is a thing that is often spoken of, but it needs an occasional illustration to show bow farreaching it is. A certain enterprising gentleman recently started a newspaper in Greenland, and performed, single-handed, the functions of proprietor and editor, reporter and distributor. The whole paper is from his own pen, and he takes a long journey into the interior twice a month to dispose of his journal. At. first, to meet the limited educational acquirements of his readers, the paper was merely a collection of illustrations, words and sentences following, and finally articles on subjects of importance to the community. In this way the people have practically been taught to read. The proposal to form newspaper classes in cities is one which has frequently been made, and which has a great deal to recommend it. The idea of devoting an hour or so daily to the consideration in schools of passing events of importance might well have occupied the attention of the recent Teachers'Conference.

CORRECTING NATURE.

The silly practice of dyeing the hair, which is just now so fashionable among some of the fair sex, gave an old friend of "The General's" a disagreeable start recently. He hails from Scotland, and when he reached the season of the sere and yellow leaf he developed a sort of mania, and gave out that he was sure he was going colour blind ; but, as a matter of fact, be can make out the difference between black and wliito as well as most old gentlemen of his years. The other day he came along in great perturbation, saying, Moil, it's come at last. I'm clinket colour blind." Explanations followed, and it was discovered that the old fello-v had thought his expected maiady had arrived, because he met a lady he knew very well, walking down Queen-street, " Wi' a gowden heid," whereas he knew her ciiffure ought to be more of the hue of the ace of spades. In vain was he told tlat it was not colour blindness, but the work of a wonderful dye, with which some misguided females endeavour to teach nature what sort of hair should go tvirL «uih and such a coloured complexion. I heard an amusing story recently concerning one of these correctors of nature, which should be a warning to those who dabble in dyes. The lady had a head of hair that lias fashioned by nature, and, therefore, was becoming, but she hankered after another, a lighte-* hue, and had recourse to one of those concoctions with which they accomplish these things. The result was something between black and piebald, and the services of somebody's wash were called in. Result, a beautiful metallic green, Another dressing of dye brought about a further remarkable change, and the end of it all was a jet black coiffure. Ladies, take heed! There are many apparently who have yet to learn the reason why one native charm was so much more congenial to the heart of the poet than all the gloss of art. The General'.]