NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11597, 11 March 1901, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

According to a writer in the Outlook the great characteristic of the King is his genial tact, and this is supported by such charming manners that for the past 10 years he can claim to have been the first gentleman of Europe. On the Continent he is most popular. Possessing an intimate knowledge of social affairs in most Continental countries, his great knowledge of the world has often caused him to be the arbitrator of those petty disputes in which German royalties find such polemic joys. It has always been his practice to encourage international friendliness, and the embassies at the Court of St. James' have borne testimony to his considerate kindness towards them. . . . The Kin" is not a great orator, but he always says the right thing in the right way, and never grows prolix. And as to his politics, it is no secret that until the introduction of the Irish Home Rule Bill he felt a warm personal admiration for Mr. Gladstone, and prior to that time his convictions were those of a moderate Liberal. . . . The King's enthusiasm for sport is well known. No subject of the Crown is a better judge of a horse, and his racing colours have always borne a spotless repute through runs of bad luck and good. He is a capital rider, and one of the best game shots in the country, and at one time he used to hunt a good deal. . . . The King is of a cheery nature, delighting to unbend among his own friends and deriving amusement from social intercourse. He is extremely careful in his diet, though he possesses a very hearty appetite, and, albeit a rare judge of wine, is in private satisfied with the fashionable whisky and soda. He is an inveterate smoker, both of cigars and cigarettes. In his own set his favourite topic of conversation is clothes, and he has tried to free mankind from the frock-coat and chimney-pot hat. Over the fashion of a tie, the cut of a jacket, and even the shape of a boot, he will grow loquacious, and his comments on other people's sartorial views are often extremely witty. . .'■', . Yachting, the King understands thoroughly, nor is he content to watch his own boat from the window of the Squadron, but will be on board even in a stiff gale, when she is competing for some cup. He is a keen soldier, anxious for War Office reform, and he has seen more of modern German army manoeuvres than any other colonel commanding an English regiment. A point on which it is hard to pronounce is, whether he will keep his roving tendencies. As Prince he has been given to wander whither he would, and it is not more than six years since a detective reported to Scotland Yard that, attended by a gentle-man-in-waiting, the Heir Of the Throne had been informally investigating slum life in the neighbourhood of Bethnal Green. It must be observed, however, that Royalty, even more than people of less importance, suffers from " doubles," and the King observed last season that he had four various walks of life in the metropolis alone.

The late Sir John William Maclure—-or "John William," as he was universally known be as sorely missed in the House of Commons as in his own Lancashire, for he was as well known and picturesque and popular a figure at Westminster &a he was in Manchester. Tall, robust, with broad shoulders, a huge frame, a mass of white curly hair, a genial face, and a seductive manner, " John William " was one of those beings who are able to be friendly with everybody like most people, and to be liked by nearly everyone; A keen business man, a strong party man, he was at the same time overflowing with good nature; and in the Lobby of the House of Commons be might constantly be seen exchanging a word with anybody, from the hot Irish Nationalist to the staid member of his own side. In Lancashire Sir, William was a great power. Though he never made a speech of any length, though he took political things easily enough in later days, there was no man who got such an enthusiastic reception from a Lancashire audience. Even Mr. Arthur Balfour, with all his popularity, and hold, and great position, was never received with half the enthusiasm which greeted the burly and familiar figure of John William. With more than 50 years of hard work behind him Sir John was until quite recently a man of tremendous energy; rushing up and down to Manchester at all hours—sometimes travelling all night—often catching the newspaper train in the ghastly morning hours; and he was an active director of almost as many big and prosperous companies as there are stars in the heavens or sands by the sea. And he always found time never to miss a serious division. His good work in the Lancashire famine made him a national reputation ; and in Westminster he was so familiar a figure that the place will not seem itself without him.

The present stagnation in the trade and commerce of Germany as compared with the marvellous prosperity'and rapid forward advance noticeable in late years, is causing much comment and no little anxiety in business circles The causes of both deserve attention (writes a Berlin correspondent). The explanation for the sudden set-back is evident. The wars in the Transvaal and China have exercised a most deleterious effect on all branches of commerce. There is such a feeling of insecurity respecting China, especially that merchants prefer not to execute ordei-s sent in, and are pursuing a waiting policy. Then besides this, the expenses of the Chinese war affect trade directly and indirectly—directly by heavy taxation, for the taxes will be almost doubled; shortly in order to cover the war expenses, for besides the enormous sums already voted by Parliament, further considerable expenditure will be necessary at no distant date; indirectly in so far that the merchants have, as above pointed out, been obliged : to sit " close instead of continuing to cany on their usual business, thereby affecting the business in the shipping line as well A The cot-'

ton trade has suffered very uracil from the high price in coal, and. the cement-dealers have lost heavily owing to the non-passing of the Central Canal Bill, which they had hoped would prove the.means of extensive orders being placed with them by the German ■■- Government. ~ At present stagnation exists •without, doubt, and a certain amount of anxiety very naturally/prevails;; hut at the same time, as was pointed out to me by a gentleman in a very large way of business in Berlin, such a lull must be expected after a long series of "uninterrupted prosparity, and it would be foolish to imagine that : there is any reason for a panic.

At a recent audience given by the German Emperor to Hen- Ratenau, the president of the Berlin Society for Generating Electricity, the latter submitted his project for connecting ; Berlin and the chief cities of the German Empire by electric trains running at a speed of 210 miles i; an hour. Commenting on the project, the celebrated Russian;•electrician, Voynarovski, of the Electro-Technical Institute, at St. Petersburg, says that there is nothing to prevent such a speed being attained, the only important obstacle being the elements and the human organism. The carnages would have to' be of special construction, and hermetically covered, as no human being could withstand the tremendous rush of air which such a speed would occasion. The rails would also have to be of more than ideal solidity.The speed already attained in America :by electric trains was 90 miles an hour, and as each carriage had its own motor, the ; increased speed was not hard to obtain. 1 As the sanction of the German Emperor has been obtained for the construction of a military railway between Berlin and Zossen, a distance of 21 miles, we should not have long to wait for a demonstration of the value of this form of locomotion.

It is stated that Botha and the other Boer leaders who have been in communication with Lord Kitchener with a view to terminating, the war, are willing to agree to the latter' terms, which have been transmitted to the British Government for its final decision. . De Wet and Steyn are unfortunately not included in these overtures for peace. They have both refused to agree to any terms, and are apparently determined to continue ; their guerilla warfare. They are making northward, in the Orange River Colony, but are closely pursued by the British. There are still a good many raiders in Cape Colony, and they have occupied Maraisbury. ; The Russian Minister"'for Foreign Affairs saw and approved the British Ambassador's despatch reporting Russia's verbal promise not to acquire - Manchuria. The German Emperor is progressing favourably. His assailant is an ex-sea captain, who suffers from delusions. [When ho threw the piece of iron which hit His Majesty he thought he was heaving the lead. Mr. Brodrick's new army scheme, . or perhaps it would be more correct to say Lord Roberts', has been expounded in the House of Commons, where it has been favourably received. It provides for six complete army corps to be stationed in as many districts, for an increase of men and guns, and decentralisation of administration.