TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 25

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TEE ROYAL VISIT. \ It has been definitely decided that the Duke and Da chess of Cornwall are to arrive at Auckland oh the 11th June, and take their departure from the colony on the 29th of that month. Their Royal Highnesses. will thus have seventeen clear days in the colony, and will have an opportunity of visiting Rotorua, arrangements are to be made to give pleasure to as many people in the colony as possible, and at the same time minister to the convenience and comfort of our JEtoyal gueste. RELIGIOUS UNITY. In the course of an address at the Wesleyan Conference last week, the Rev C. H. Garland, the newly-elected president, maintained that divisions among evangelical churches were the outcome of efforts to find the truth. For his part, he said, he would rather have the divisions than a unity bought at the price of crucifying liberty of thought. He expressed a belief that the tendency of the churches was towards union. The sentiment —the desire for union was in the atmosphere 1 . jEe had been deeply impressed with this at the united general service for the late Queen held at Napier.• OUR THERMAL SPRINGS. Cabinet last week decided to authorise the expenditure of £2OOO on the Ectorua baths. This is very well so far as it goes, but it is not nearly enough. The following, contributed by Mr James Muir, is a short account of one of the European Spas that we have to compete with, if we would make Rotorua the sanatorium of the world : —Carlsbad is ‘about eight hours by rail from Berlin and Vienna. In 1899, 50,000 ‘'invalids” and 108,000 tourists and travellers visited Carlsbad Sixty-two trains de luxe, express and ordinary, arrive daily. The scene at Carlsbad in the early morning is very curious. As eai’ly as four o’clock the first '‘cure guests” take their stations at the springs l , and by six o’clock a huge crowd of, perhaps, ten thousand people is assembled. In order to prevent confusion they are lined up in single file at each of the eighteen springs, and tlx© row is sometimes nearly a ( mile in length. Everybody carries a little glass fastened on a strap. At the spring a bevy of young girls are in attendance to fill your glass with the hot water, and it is gratifying to notice that rank or station is of no account. If a "working man comes before a peer, his glass is- filled first. The season at Carlsbad begins, on April Ist, and lasts till November; but invalids come all the year round fio drink the waters. Drinking constitutes the principal part of the cure, but bathing, exercise, and judicious' dieting all play their parts. There are baths of all kinds in the town, and the Kaiserbad, erected in 1895 at a cost of something like £IIO,OOO, is a veritable bathing palace. It contains a Swedish gymnashim and Turkish and Roman baths. No one need fear having to go without expert medical advice, for there are no less than. 125 physicians resident iii the town, many of them English and French, and all specialists in the particular diseases—stomach and liver troubles, gout, etc.—which the waters benefit. The usual length of the cure is from four to six weeks, but in many cases patients break off the course after about' a month, and rest in some quiet Swiss or Tyrolese resort for about a fortnight or so. This is called the af-ter-cure, and is much recommended. SPREAD OF THE KING’S ENGLISH. A cablegram, dated London, 27th February, announces that English has Become a compulsory subject of examination for French public appointments, forms part of the Germain day schools* curriculum, andl is an, optional subject in commercial schools in Russia. This (writes “Moana”) is a matter of particularly keen interest to students of our noble tongue, and) will attract moie than casual attention from John Marley's “ man-in-the-street.” That love of the British nation has not brought about this striking development •course, patent tq the dullest. The antipathy to Englishmen and their ways was made clearly manifest by the Continental press a few months ago, when dark South African clouds o’erhtmg the nation. It was only a day or two since that the “ North German Gazette ” was compelled to denounce as brutal the venomous attacks made by ! other German newspapers upon King Edward. Keeping all this in view, what is the motive whioh has caused the two great, expanding Continental nations, Germany and Russia, coupled! with la belie France, to so favour the English language? It is the knowledge of the fact that English is the language of commerce. The idea taken np by some persons when, the Kaiser recently promulgated his decree making English an oblisubject in all the gymnasia, or public schools, of his hereditary schools that in so doing he was bent on conciliating England and consequently snubbing France, does not hold good. France has now followed suit to -

certain, extent by requiring her future public officers t*» in© speakers of Engli*' although perhaps they may . be bitter haters of Albion- As the “ Spectator ” puts it, the Emperor believes that “:f

his 'subjects had but the English resources he could at once place Germany at the top of the world. He wants mere revenue from lighter taxes, better credit, a larger national reserve, which would embolden his people to run greater risks.” The Kaiser looks upon colonisation- as the secret of much of English wealth, and so he wishes his merchants and others to. enter those colonies with their manufactures or professions on equal terms, linguistically, with the British themselves. Whether Germany with tho-English tongue and bounty-fed manufacturers will conquer the world 1 of commerce remains to i e seen. Certainly, the experiment is most interesting. France and Russia, in their own ways, have taken the example of English expansion very much to heart, and will make a big bid to achieve similar success. AN IMPORTANT LAND QUESTION. A question of some importance cropped up before the Land Board last week. It was proposed that a section of land in the Mount Cerberus district forming a corner of the Master ton Reform Block should be offered on the optional system. In reply to questions, the Commissioner stated that the land was not included in the special settlement. Mr Hogg stated that objection had been taken to the acquisition of the freehold in the neighbourhood of small farm homesteads. "When homestead sections were surrendered or forfeited they were re-offered under Part 111. of the Land Act, 1892, under which the freehold could be acquired: This left the gate open to the evils of absenteeism and landlordism, and the surrounding settlers naturally were apt to complain of non-occupancy and its drawbacks. Mr Reese said the evil referred to was very obvious. It seemed unfair that in the midst of special settlement blocks a means should be allowed whereby the Crown grant could be acquired. The Commissioner said the matter had 1 not been over-looked. Apparently the law only provided for forfeited sections being offered on the optional system. Mr Hogg observed that before the Aot of 1892, under the deferred payment system, dummy ism. and the conversion of small homesteads into large estates was rampant. Mr Stevens remarked that when a settler once acquired a leasehold his desire was to get a freehold, and when -he had secured hi® freehold, he then wanted to enlarge his possessions. The Commissioner said the question of tenure would /be duly considered in connection with the disposition of similar sections in the future. Mr Hogg: What we wish to ascertain is, whether, in dealing with forfeited or surrendered lease in perpetuity sections, the Board can restrict the tenure to lease in perpetuity. The Commissioner : Exactly. A NEW INDUSTRY IN IRELAND. A Scotch firm—-Messrs Morton and Darvel, Ayrshire—are building a place at Killybegs, Donegal, to accommodate over four hundred workers, for the purpose of producing “Turkey” carSets by hand-loom weavers. Mr James luir, who has a technical knowledge of the business, sends us the following notes on the subject: —The difference between a carpet produced in this way is much the same as that between an oil painting and a coloured lithograph. The method requires human thought in the process; it is, therefore, an industry which cannot be superseded by . power loom. The price per square yard varies from 17s to 455. World-wide attention has been called to this industry, from the fact that the late Queen Victoria ordered a Donegal carpet. The design chosen is in shaded red of a very fine quality, and on handsome rose-coloured ground. The variety of beautiful designs was particularly remarked on by Sir Fleetwood Edwards when conveying the, order. This new industry will give employment to many hundreds of girls and boys, and one of the most ant features will be the rearing of sufficient sheep on these western highlands to supply the full requirements of a business whose goods are made entirely of -wool. This wool will be spun and dyed on the spot. Turning to the statistics on which this industry is based, it is reckoned that one girl will work up in a year the wool of 225 sheep. When the number employed increases to 1000, as is expected in a very few years, it will mean the consumption of the fleeces of over 10,000 score of sheep annually, and a sum divided among the sheep farmers ‘of something like £15,000. For the spinning, dying and weaving of this wool the families of these farmers, or small holders, would earn in wages from £20,000 to £30,000, making a total of perhaps £40,000. For scattered and outlying parts, where girls could not walk night and morning to a factory, a simple device has been invented, whereby, after the girls have acquired the art, they can take the frame loom to their homes and weave the quaintly-designed rugs or tapestry panels in their homes, or as they watch the sheep on the hillsides.

INTERESTING EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION. Mr George ITogben, who is a member of the Permanent Committee of the International Seismologioal Society, has just received the first four-monthly

report from the central earthquake-ob-serving. station at Strasburg, Germany, up to and including the report for October of last year. This contains particulars of all the earthquake shocks recorded by the delicate instruments at the Strasburg Observatory and other stations, from which records have been received. Mr Hogben informs us that he has been able to identfy three of the shocks in October last with the photographic tracings taken by the instrument under ins charge. Most interesting is the seismogram, as it is called, of a very considerable earthquake in Alaska on the 10th October, 1900, the vibrations of which lasted for three or four hours, and left their mark on the seismograph at Victoria (j-j.G.), at Toronto, and at all the principal European stations. One of the other shocks, he thinks, probably comes from a spot beneath the Pacific, which cannot be exactly defined until the other returns are in-. Nevertheless it raises the hope that the work of stations surrounding the Pacific Ocean may result, at no distant date, in the discovery of the dangerous earthquake centres beneath that ocean, and so enable the scientists to give warning to the promoters of the Pacific cable to avoid dangers similar to those which, in all probability, were the cause of the failure of the first Atlantic cable. THE CLEMENCY OF THE CROWN. The Government is understood to have under consideration the question of extending the clemency of the Crown to a certain number of prisoners in the gaols of the colony in honour of the accession of King Edward. A PIGEON’S ADVENTURE. A carrier pigeon belonging to Mr P. Lynch, of Ranfurly terrace, in tills city, was liberated from an up-country railway station on Saturday last. Itdid not home till Wednesday.- When it again reached its loft in Wellington it had a narrow piece ofparchment paper wound around one of its legs. The following was written on the paper:—“Go, little stray bird; may good luck attend you on your homeward path. Paraparaumu, February 27, 1901.” It is supposed that the bird encountered a storm and was exhausted, but that it fell into the hands of kind people, who set it free when it had recovered its strength. WELLINGTON GARRISON BAND. With reference to the comments which have been made on the Wellington Garrison Bandfs withdrawal from the Wanganui contest, Mr T. Herd, bandmaster of the Wellington Garrison Band, has made an explanation to a '‘Times” reporter. Of course, Mr Herd does not treat seriously the ill-natured imputations that have been circulated, but he considers it due to the band to explain its position in the matter. The band, lie says, entered for the competition three months ago, in good faith, and under the belief that it would be able to compete. As far back as two months ago lie commenced the practice of the test piece for the competition. The incessant calls upon the band since it won the Christchurch exhibition contest have, however, rendered it impossible for the band to put in an appearance in anything like its full strength. As a sample of the risks that the bandsmen undergo, it may be mentioned that one member of the band wast discharged from his employment for losing half a day at the reception of the Indian troops, on Monday last. Mr Herd recognises that the withdrawal of the Garrison Band will remove a big attraction from, the contest, bnt in justice to the band and its reputation, he could net appear with only a section of its members, tn such 'an important occasion. The expense is another difficulty, considering the many calls made upon the band lately;, still, that- objection, he says, could have been got over if a muster could have been counted upon. Mr Herd is somewhat amused at the insinuation that he is afraid to meet some of the competitors that have entered for the contest, and can afford to let it pass. It is true that the band did lose some of its best players, but that was seven months ago, and since that time it won the exhibition contest at Christchurch, plainly showing that it. had quite got over the loss. Mr Herd says that the charge of professionalism levelled at the band is contemptuously splenetic, and is not conducive to: that friendly rivalry that should characterise all such contests. A MEMORIAL TO QUEEN VICTORIA. In many quarters people are wondering in what way they can erect a suitable and permanent memorial to our late beloved Queen. Attention is being ‘called to a .scheme which is felt to be appropriate, and one which from, its very* nature should commend itself . to tlie sympathy of most people. It is proposed! that a school for Maori girls be established similar to the one doing such excellent work at Hukarere, Napier, which, however, is altogether inadequate for , the requirements of bo fcb islands, it being always full and constantly obliged to. refuse applications. A start was made to found such a school in Auckland a few years ago_, in commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and known as the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls. Since, however, the whole community owes a debt to the Maori race, it is now pro-

posed to take up this as a colonial rather than, a local scheme, and place it upon a satisfactory basis by endeavouring to raise a sum of say £IO,OOO. At the recent meeting of the Anglican General Synod held in Napier, the matter was discussed, and the following resolution was passed: —'‘That this Synod has heard with warm approval of the movement on foot to establish the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls in Auckland, as a permanent memorial in New Zealand of our late beloved Queen, and commends the effort to the sympathy of the church people of the province!/’ It is now desired that this scheme should he put into effect with as little delay as possible, and an appeal is being made to the public to assist. The following reasons foir (supporting the scheme are urged:—l. The claim of our Maori sisters upon us for Christian education, is a very strong and very urgent one. Successful efforts have been made in various centres for the education of the boys, but comparitively little has been done for the girls. It is of little use expecting a higher moral and spiritual tone in the Maori kaingas if the women of the future are left without that elevating influence which only Christian education can supply. 2. Very little has been done in the past by the women of New Zealand for their Maori sisters. This will give a fresh opportunity before it is too late. 8. A school for Maori gilds would be a most fitting memorial to our. beloved Queen, in that it would carry out an object always dear to her heart, viz., the benefiting of the women of the native races _ over which she ruled. 4. Auckland has been selected as the most suitable position, because (a) the largest number of Maoris (18,000) reside in that diocese, and it is the centre of some of the largest tribes; (b) less has been done for them in the way of education than for those, in other parts: and (c) a small commencement has already been made there. 5. It is believed that the Maoris themselves will cordially sympathise with and give assistance to the scheme., which is heartily commended by the Primate of New Zealand. We are requested to state that subscriptions sent to Mrs Fancourt, Thorndon quay, Wellington, will be publicly acknowledged. Mrs Wallis, of Bishcpscourt, will receive subscriptions on her return to Wellington. COMBINATION OF FLOURMILLERS; , The New Zealand Flourmillers’ ‘Cooperative Association, Limited, commenced operations on the Ist. The association is a combination of most of the mills in New Zealand, formed with the object of raising the. price of flour, so far as the mills are concerned, to a profitable level. It is understood that the present agreement, under which the contracting, mills sell their output to the association, who will sell to the public, is for a period of two; years. Mr T. Meek, of Oamaru, is the managing director of the association, and Messrs D. W. Virtue and Co. are the Wellington agents. AMALGAMATION OF HOLDINGS. Mr Field. M.H.R., wrote to the Land Board on Friday giving it as his opinion that tenants in the Horowhenua Village Settlement should be allowed to amalgamate their holdings on their own terms. He said that the Board.’s, action in interfering between buyer and seller in these cases was an '‘unheard of interference with the liberties of his Majesty’s subjects.” The Commissioner, and members of the Board pointed out in regard to refusals where, the profits seemed excessive, that this happened only in cases where sections had only been held for a short period, and the action of the Board was simply due to a disposition to discourage mere speculation and prevent bona fide settlers from being handicapped. It was con-* eidered that when sections were too small amalgamation might be allowed, but in view of the number of still landless who should have facilities for making homes in the country, the members were opposed to the amalgamutiens of holdings of twenty-five acres, such as those at Horowhenua, because when the village-settlement scheme was introduced it was never contemplated that the sections would maintain the settler and his family, independent of v other work. The object was to enable families in towns to secure homes in the neighbourhood of work in the country, whore they would be able to live cheaply and l in comfort, and it was cipated that when they improved their position they would! transfer themselves to larger areas. Mr Hogg thought the present agitation for amalgamation was owing to an entire. stances. 1 The rise and progress;Shf%fhh dairy industry was the i>fihci^l;;:fa btpir ■When the village system' was -in 'its' in - fancy dairying could 'hardly ;bd called.; a colonial industry. . Now. howev©r> /that dairy land was in great demand,and was fetching high prices the villagers in certain instances wished to cultivate the industry and buy one another out/' 'lt was decided to reply to Mr Field zri terms of the views expressed l .