PEN-NOTES AND PENCILLINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 51

PEN-NOTES AND PENCILLINGS.

ME ‘'SWORD-EXERCISE” GETS THE "BULLET.”

Xerd Roberts h.as decided to abolish useless sword exercises in the British Army in favour of better rifle practice. Thus, after surviving from a time perhaps when Marathon was juvenile, a practically obsolete weapon has been given the "bullet. 5 ’ a* l* Hot proposed to dismiss the sword

entirely—as yet, as' that would be too cruel to the officers. They, at least, must still have the sword, if only to wave at reviews, and mark the distinction between them and "Tommy/ - ’ All the same, the time will be when the sword will disappear as an active weapon altogether.

OUR FIGHTING MINISTER.

Just now Mr Kingston is the centre of attraction to • all mercantile Australia. But he is as an oyster, both in regard to his closeness and the sharpness of his edges. He can’t be pumped, ho can't even he approached to know that he can’t be pumped; he is a political porcupine, whose each quill is charged with dynamite, and one never knows when there will be an explosion. In his younger days Mr Kingston was even more vitriolic under irritation, and the story is extant -Of how he was once seized in Adelaide because he was carrying about a revolver, and expected to be able to use it. Sir Richard Baker, now President of the Senate, has bitterly offended him, and smarting under the insult the irate poli-

tician sat down and wrote a challenge to fight to the. death, sending it with a loaded pistol to his ehemv. Bui Richard Avas himself again in more things than temper, and so just turned it over to the police, who, on the morning fixed for the duel, surjmieed Mr Kingston at the rendezvous, and, searching him, found a loaded firearm. In due time the wouldbe duellist attended at the Court, and

was bound over to keep the peace, a precaution that eventually became unaeces. sary, through the one-time fees becoming fast friends, a condition which has ever since been maintained.

WEST AUSTRALIA’S SECOND

PREMIER.

Mr George Leake bas recently been much in evidence in connection with the West Australian strike. He is Premier of the State which Sir John Forrest was going to "chop off with a hatchet,’ - and has taken the attitude in the railway strike that to concede the terms demanded through Parliament is to surrender constitutional government. As Mr Leake is a lawyer he may be supposed to understand his ground in this direction, though it is a matter for congratulation that his "understanding’’ didn’t run away with his patriotism. Harking hack some time, we get an excellent pen portrait in miniature of this gentleman from the "Vagabond,’’ the late Mr Julian Thomas. It runs:—"Here is Mr George Leake, M.L.A. for Albany",

vhose family has subtended a big angle in West Australia since the original Mr George Leak© was appointed the first Resident Magistrate at Fremantle. Sir Luke was afterwards Speaker of _ the House. The present George Leake is a very cultured, witty, and energetic gentleman. He has been acting Attorney-Gene-ral, and might now be Attorney-General if he chose, but prefers to remain in Opposition till he can become Premier. But Mr George Leake is very friendly with Sir John Forrest. It is this which astonishes the stranger in this colony. The Ins and the Outs are bound together by ties of relationship and personal friendship. 5 '

A COLOURED CHAMPION.

A giant has fallen in the prime of his life, a victim to consumption. This was Peter Jackson, a West Indies native, but an Australian by adoption, wh© has passed away in his fortieth year, m Queensland. Jackson stood 6ft and weighed 2051 b, and in every sense he was an ideal specimen of the physical creation. His history as a fighting man shows that bravery can underlie colour, skill be found in one man as well as another, and goodness of heart find an exemplar even in "the ring.” Beginning in his eighteenth year to "show ’em,” he met and defeated fifteen Australian champious in succession, but his greatest fights are those he fought abroad Godfrey, the American coloured champion, at the Californian Athletic Club, August, 1888; McAuliffe, at the same place, December, 1888; Cardiff, Californian Club April, 1889; Jem Smith, the English champion, Pelican Club, London, November, x»B9, Slavin, same place, May, 1892; all ®f

whom he defeated for large purses. The biggest fight of all, however, was with Corbett, with whom he had a draw, after 61 rounds, lasting four hours and three minutes. This was the most stubborn contest in the history of the ring, and was enly ended because neither man was

able to keep his feet. On giving up the career, when it became evident his day was done, Jackson toured the States in. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 55 taking the name part with some success.

AN AMERICAN SPORTING MAN.

Mr Pierre Lorillard, whose death was announced a few days ago, was one of the best known American sportsmen on the English turf. A millionaire, ef courses

he crossed "the pond” because racing in his own country was unsatisfactory, and obtaining a splendid string of horses soon commenced to make the public yespept his colours. While Lorillard was alive people used to speak of "the four millionaire Yankee turfites,” the others being W. C. Whitney, Clarence Mackay, and James R. Keene. The quartette has now been reduced to a trio, death having removed one of the most popular members, apparently years before his time.

THE DEADLY SUBMARINE.

The French Government has tried its new submarine boat, and, according to the Paris press, it is more than a success —it is a revelation. At the same time that we get accounts of the jubilation through this, we are informed that the English Government has ordered two or three submarines, in the way of an experiment. It may not be generally known that the British Admiralty is trying a

submarine designed by an Australian. Tbe invention comes from Mr Argles, of Sydney, and takes the form, actually, of a submarine torpedo boat, which, can, it is said, do absolutely anything either on top or under water. Admiral Pearson in his report to the Secretary of the Admiralty describes the Argles boat in most enthusiastic terms, the following being part of what he says: “It consisted of a copper cylinder pointed at both ends, and about 6ft long and

14in diameter. Bow and stern rudder and screws were fitted, the latter driven by electricity, either ahead or astern, as well as a horizontal screw placed directly under the centre of the model. Pour horizontal rudders (two each side), were capable of being moved up or down, out of the normal plane, by electricity. In practice it was stated that this would be done by hand, as well, as the control of the bow and stem rudders. The model was buoyant, containing no water ballast, and floats ordinarily with upper part of

cylinder out of water. By working the fore and aft screws (or bow and stern screws, and inslining the horizontal rudders downward, the model was quickly submerged to tiny depth, coming up at once by either altering the rudders or reversing the screws or stopping altogether, when the buoyancy asserted itself. If the horizontal rudders are not used, it can be submerged at once by the horizontal screw, or kept down, or driven to surface as required. On this occasion the model

was admirably worked by electricity, the batteries, etc., being on shore, and eight wires connected them to the machinery of the model. It appeared a simple and complete contrivance, as far as manoeuvring went, and deserving of consideration. The model was altogether down by the head, as soak water had leaked in, but this did not seem to impair its manoeuvring powers, for it kept wonderfully upright, notwithstanding the drag of a bundle of connected wires, which entered a gland in its upper surface amidships.