MAIL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12523, 16 March 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAIL SUMMARY.

OUR Lfi'rriUtt HOME. 'Hi: prdgtess of the War iti the* Far East etweeu Russia and Japan is being Watched a New Zealand with an interest which is ariicuiariy keen, -in view of the possibility, b any time, : df developments which may itvolvo Great Britain; and with her her coloies, id the conflict. Tlie Defence Departteut of this colony appears to be alive to he position, as it is moving in the direcion of improving the fortifications Md muniions of War at the chief centres. , in. view f possible complications the Minister for )efence, together with officers commanding lie various Volunteer districts, . liaVO drawn! p a comprehensive series Of mauCeiivtSsy /hieh tee to he held '-.-at Easter in the Vttfiiis centres, in place* df the usual auiiuftl i olunteer encampments. The particulars : f the plan of campaign have not been dis- '■] iosed, but it is believed that it will take ho form' of an attack by a foreign war vesel, and both the attacking ana defending orces will have ample opppbrtuhity bf acquainting themselves with the conditions ?hich would obtain in the event Of ati actual ttaok by a hostile fleet. The method of tttick and defence will riot be made known ntil the eve of the attack, which is expected o take pi ice between Gobd Friday morning ,nd Easter Monday. . Considerable interest in naval matters has lso been evinced in the colony lately. At . crowded public meeting at Wellington on rebniaiy 29, organised By the Wellington iranch of the Navy League, resolutions were ittanimotisly passed expressing Satisfaction t. any further measure of hitvai co-Operation rhich may be approved by New Zealand, icirfcily approving the Objects Of the Navy ieagtiei arid Wishing it success ill its exetions throughout the colony. The Governor ifesidedi ftttd the Speakers included the Prafer. Mr. John DUtliie, M.H.R., arid other remittent public men; and Mr. H. F, Wyatt, lie envoy of the British Navy Lfeagua, who as Since left for South Africa, after making , successful organising tour of the colony. ibtd Rdnfurly, in the course of an adres* in support of the league, said that the resent ships of the Australasian squadron cere not in speed, armament, and tonnage, qual to the present-day necessities. Yet hese ships were onlv ; from 13 to 20 years Id, arid if We Were to keep the supremacy if the sea We must continue to build Ships f a size, speed, and Strength Which .would Hable Us to feel secure. If, he said, We »ked at the Struggle how ping' tin between ttissia and Jjtpati, it Was easy to see. the ifecessitj of keeping our navy dp to date, .'he Premier said that one of the cruisers .f the reorganised Australasian squadron ras to be manned entirely by New Zeajnders and Australians. There were to be hree drill ships, arid one of these was to be (lanned <ntirely by New Zealariders. We light altogether, between New Zealand and Uistralia, want 300 or 400 officers and men, .ut we''could not in our colony to-day find 0. The gunboat Sparrow was to be given »y the Imperial authorities as a traininghip, and the youths of this colony would be rained there arid drafted into the drill ship nd the cruder. ... Some months ago we" ■ published ft letter rom a correspondent drawing attention to he fact that one of the new British battlehips, In Course of construction, had been amed after this colony, and suggesting that he people of New Zealand, following an exmple which is common at Home, should (roVido by public subscription a piece of late for the table of the officers' mess. Tlie iiffiwstion has been taken tip by the Mayor f Tiiniiru, with the excellent addendum hat provision should be made for annual irizes for the best gunners in the ship, such irises to be in addition to the ordinary serice awards given by the Admiralty. The dea underlying the latter proposal is to ndeavour, "in a '■■spirit, of friendly rivalry, o make the New Zealand the best shooting hip in the navy. . In order to enable the proposal to be carried into effect, the Mayor if Timaru has appealed for public subscripions, and it has been suggested that some ,f the money for the proposed prizes might re contributed by the school children of i he colony, thus giving them a direct merest in the navy. The Governor (Lord lanfurly) has accepted the position of patron »f the plate fund, and he Will select a suitible piece of plate, Which will be presented o the Ship by the CoUnteSs Of Ranfurly, m behalf of the people Of New Zealand. Since our last Summary was published, lews has been received of the appointment if Lord flunkett as Governor of New Zeaand, in succession to Lord RanfUriy. The alter is noW making a tour of several ( of he principal parts of the colony, including he tlrewera Country, on Che East Coast, oribr to taking his departure for the Old jountry. Lord Raifuriy has heed a Very lopular Governor, and his departure, which ,vid probably take place in May, Will be rery widely" regretted. „ the present Mayor of Auckland (the lon, E. Mitohetson) announced a few weeks igo that owing to. the demands of private imsiness upon his time, he would not seek re-election to the civic chair. A first rejuesb for a reconsideration of this decision net with an unfavourable response, but this request was subsequently renewed by the mainmous Voice of the councillors, who assured His Worship that if he would consent to again accept the position of Mayor, ;hey would endeavour to lighten the routine portion of his duties as far lis possible. Mr. d;tchelson stated that under these altered conditions he' Would accept office for a second year, and his decision was received with numerous expressions of satisfaction. The annual conference of the Methodist Dhuich of Australasia in New Zealand was speitcd at. Auckland on March 4, under the presidency of the Rev. John A. Luxford, aiid sat till March. 14. In his retiring adiress the president referred, amongst other natters, to Wesley's Bicentenary, union of the evangelical churches (favouring the union), church and politics, Bible in schools, and the inadequate, stipends paid io ministers. An election took place for the ensuing year's president, and the Rev. Samuel Lawry, who has been 28 years in the ministry, was returned. The ReV; 0. Hv Laws, 8.A., was appointed general secretary. -The/delegates attending a conference, held last year, of representatives from the Anglican, Presbyterian, Metftolist, Primitive Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, and Church of Christ denominations, Upon the Bible-in-schools agitation, reported that the lessons, with slight amendments, prepared by the Victorian Commission, had been accepted, arid that mi Executive Committee had been appointed to prosecute the movement. The report was adopted. ' The union of the evangelical Churches was discussed," arid the conference re-affirmed the desirableness of the union, and while the Church awaits developments, urged the promotion of such a fraternal spirit as will lead to the consummation of the union. A resolution of ap J preciation of the excellent work carried out by the British and Foreign Bible Society during' the past 100 years Was placed on record. A resolution was carried earnestly calling upon all connected with the Church to unite active effort against the drink traffic. Success in Church, Sunday-school, and mission work was reported. The total membership was stated to bo 14,6?5 (includin" 1246 Maoris), which is an increase of 701 on the preceding year. The question of the declining birth-rate in these colonies is attracting considerable public attention just now. "The Royal Commission which was recently appointed in . New South Wales to investigate the subject has* just presented its report, in which some startling facts are. given as to the serious decline in the birth-rate in that State. The report, after referring to a marked decline in tho New South Wales birth-rate since 1889, states that, allowing for the same ratio of decline for the, other States during the period from 1864 to 1902, Australasia, through the reduction in the birthrate, lost 9*0,000 in population. Dealing with the relation between the fall of the irth-rate and insanity, the report says that in New Zealand the birth-rate has fallen almost continuously since 1878, and the insanity rate had a-slight but uniformly upward tendency since 1874, ah this tendency became , pronounced in 1878. Both the fall of the birth-rate and the rise of insanity' have been greater in intensity in New Zealand than in New South Wales. The bi#th-rate, taking the 10 years tc 1900, places New Zealand in the sixth place; Tasmania',"- which occupies the seventh place, alone of the Australian States, Occupying a

better position, with a decline from 31.9. to 28.2. In West Australia the decline has been from 35.6 to 30. Queensland, 36.4 to 30 Jr Victoria* 33.6 to 26.8 j South Atistfitiiaj 33.9 to 25.8; New Zealand; 29 to 26.6. The immediate causes of this decline are dealt wHh hi detail, the principal ageiit b«!ih£j the deliberate interference with reproduction. ', The desire to limit families is attributed to unwillingness to submit to tile strain and worry of children and'the dislike of ally such interference* with pieft;Mr eY and comfort. A great number of su|-* . gfesti6h9 in respect to legislative : provisions ' ate offered With ■& view to mitigating the evil* and the report also suggests a combined crusade by the Churches, the settlement: of "the people On the land, in order to check the tendency to the concentration ■• of the population in the towns* with its mafiy evil results, aitd a vigorous policy . til eiifcoiifaglhg immigration. ; i ' Sunday, Match 6, Was observed in Aucki land its ' Bible Sunday in connection with ■ the celebration of the centenary of the British and Foreign. Bible Society. References were made in various churches to the great Work done by the society^/ and its claims to the sympathy and support of Christian people were placed before the ' congregations by the preachers. In the , Anglican, churches a pastoral letter from the Bishop cm the Subject was read. It is desired to raise as a thank offering a special centenary fund Of at ie"asi 250,000 guineas to enable the society to meet the many fresh claims that are being' urged upon it. The committee of the Auckland auxiliary are responsible for the collection of- £500 as their proportion of the world's offering towards tile centenary fund, ! and an earnest appeal has 1 been made to all friend! of the Bible to further the aims of this national institution by their contributions. Oh the evening of . March ' 7 a Well-attended public thanksgiving service" was also held in coriiie'tition with the centenary celebrations. ■' ■ The annual prize firing meeting under the' auspices of .the, New Zealand Defence liifie Association, took place this year on the Trent-ham range, at Wellington, and extended over six days. The arrangements were .-'■ under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, of Wellington, and upwards of 350 competitors took part. The shooting Was well up to the standard of previous years, and Lieutenant-Colonel Collins should be able to select a -strong New Zealand team for this year's Bisley meeting. It is proposed to send 12 men. The championship of this year's meeting fell to Sergeant J. W. Ching, of the Waiihea Rifles (Nelson), with an j aggregate score of 542, Colour-Sergeant : Irvine, of the same corps, coming next with 539 and Captain Domigan> of Gore • Otago), third with 530. ' , The annual tourney of the New Zealand Polo' Association was this year held in Auckland, commencing on March 5, and lasting a week. The chief competition was for the SaVile Cup, for which seven teams entered. The trophy Was eventually won by the? Mahiiwatu A team, Who have noW" annexed it three years l in succession. The Auckland team was run«er-itp, but in. the final was easily defeated by the champions-' The last round of the cup was marred by an accident, whereby W. Strang, one of the cup winners' best men, broke his collarbone. This necessitated a substitute from the B team taking his place. A handicap cup competition Was also played, Manawatti standing otitj and the final was fought out by the Mangaheia (Gisborne) representatives and Auckland, the former with A handicap lead of five points winning ah exciting game, and with it the Clip, by one goal: The tournament was brought to a close with a gymkhana- and race meeting at Alexandra Park, arranged by the-local clubs. ' ; . •■ -■■ . The Australasian swimming champion* ships are now proceeding at Sydney. lii the half-mile, championship event, decided oil Saturday last, R. Cavill, whose brilliant performance in the Old Country some years ago will be remembered, was defeated by a youthful swimmer named -Reran by 10yds. The winner established a world's xecdrd of lltri, 29 4-55., thus beating the previous record, held by Cavill, by 20 3-ss. The 220 yds championship resulted in Cavill beating Reran by 3yds. Craig, Who Was. third, finished 12yds ahead of Creaghe, the New Zealftndef. The time, 2m. 31 1-58*, constitutes ah Australian record. A number of changes in. the magistracy of the colony, which were recently decided upon by the Government, are now being given effect to. Mr. H. W. Brabant, who has occupied the position of senior magis- . trate at Auckland for Some seven, years past, his left to take up a similar position at Napier. Prior to his departure he was waited Upon by nearly the whole of the members of the local legal profession, and presented Vith ah illuminated address, in which ' regret was expressed at his departure. Mr Brabant's successor here is Judge Kettle, front Wanganui. Our other magistrate, Mr. T. Hutchison, is being transferred to New Plymouth, and his place will be taken by Mr. Blomiield, from the Bay of Islands district. "' At the commencement of the month Mr. W. F. Massey, M.H. ft. for Franklin, was entertained at a banquet by his constituents at Pukekohe, to mark their appreciation of his appointment as Leader of the Opposition. A number of cohiplmentary speeches Were made, arm the function was a very successful one, and one that afforded Strong testimony of th.6 popularity of Mr. Massey amongst his constituents. In the ' course of his speech Mr. Massey referred to , Mr. Seddon's cablegram to the London papers on the Preferential Trade Bill. Mr. ■ Massey said that the Bill was rushed through the House. The Opposition menl- ■ bors favoured the preferential idea, and, owing to the lateness of the session he moved ttiat the Bill should be deferred till • next session. The figures on the division ' were 50 against and 27 for the motion, not, i as Mr. Seddon said in his cable to the . Loudon papers, 52 to 16. Many'members . in the House, including himself, were i anxious to give preference to the Old Country, but they could not support the Bill . of last year. -- It did hot decrease the duties : On British goods, though it increased the . duties on foreign goods and increased taxa- • tion, and he believed that there was scarcely i a member of Parliament who was not • heartily ashamed of it. Mr; Massey also ■ characterised the methods of the Government's administration as a system of " Tam- , many," and said the question to be coni sidered was how long the country was . going to stand this system. i The Minister for Lands (the Hon, T. Y. , Duncan) has just returned to Wellington. , after completing a tour of Several portions of the Auckland province. In a speech ■ made during his Visit to the North of Auoki land, Mr. Duncan said he felt satisfied that ■ .in the future the population in the North , of Auckland would be as three to one in .: the South Maud, taking acre for acre, on « account of the climatic conditions and the ; suitableness of the soil. He considered that ■ the native. land question was a terribly i knotty one, which must be dealt with • I patiently; that he was inclined to give th« ; present Act a trial, and if it did. not succeed : they must try something else. lit regard , to the timber revenue, he would look into [ the question, but thought the county prob ■ ably received as milch assistance from th« ! Government as the royalty moneys cams to, and in regard to' the other questions . he gave more or less . satisfactory replies, i The Minister has also announced that it . has been decided to have estimates pre* [ pared by the engineers for the work of i draining a portion of the Piako swamp, i say, about 20,000 acres, and should this » prove successful, the experiment "may , lead to greater things." ' ' I An alarming accident, which , had the ! effect of more or less seriously : disabling i 10 men, occurred at the Colonial Sugar r Company's works at Chelsea on March 4. • There is a huge sned, in which are stored • manv hundreds of tens of raw sugar, packed - in sacks, each of which contains 2cwt, I and piled up in stacks to a height i of 30ft or thereabouts. The floor i of this shed, or store, is* interI sected by narrow tramways, to facilitate - the handling of the raw material, Here it • was that the accident took place. Four men i Who were unpacking, or "breaking down,' - : one of the stacks were covered by a numt bar ot the bags falling upon them, and whilst a relieving party were at work a , second fall occurred, covering six more men. Tne men met with various injuries, , more or less severe, but there were no I, fatalities.