TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3777, 27 June 1899, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY

A WAITARA INCIDENT. The late Mr John Rogan, ex-Judge of the Native Land Court (says the Taranaki “Herald”) was one of the very earliest arrivals in Taranaki, having come hero in the Brougham, which arrived on February 11th, 1841, with Mr F. A. Carrington and his survey staff. Mr Rogan was one of a party which accompanied Mr Carrington to the Waitara River on a visit of inspection to see whether that site was a convenient one for the new settlement. An incident which occurred during this visit finally decided the question. On leaving the river for the return journey to the Sugar Loaves, the coxswain of the boat, Samuel Teague, missed a stroke and the boat broached to smd capsized, throwing the occupants into the surf. According to fin early historian, writing during the forties, this accident was eventually a leading feature towards re-considering the site of the township ; and the same writer predicted that the next generation would erect a commodious breakwater, creating thus a seaport conveniently situated at the circling shores of Mount Egmont plains. A peculiar coincidence in Air. Rogan’s life occurred not long ago, when, after an absence of about half a century, he revisited Waitara. He came down from Onehunga to Waitara,. and the tide not suiting for the steamer to enter the river, he and others were boated ashore, but through some mishap the boat was capsized, and he was once again thrown into- the water. BICYCLE BENEFITS. "Amongst’’Those who hold that cycling is one of the'most effective of existing factors in social reform is Miss "C. H. Spence, of Adelaide. In the course of a lecture, on “The Social Atmosphere in its| Relation to Crime,” which she delivered in the Australian Church, Melbourne, Miss Spence stated that she had observed that “girls vyho become good cyclists are less extravagant in their dress than they were before, an 1 dress is as great a temptation to girls as drink and tobacco to boys.” She was of opinion that a gymnasium should be attached to every institute in the country. Every country torn and fanning district had hoys who did not car© for books, and who would not join a literary society. They hart an excess of animal spirits, and a gymnasium would call these forth into healthy rivalry, and at the same time develop their limbs and muscles. The occasional demonstrations would collect ail the youth and beauty of the neighbourhood and bring in the feminine influence. All things that developed vitality and strength in healthy channels should be encouraged in the girls as well as the boys. It was this which led Miss Spence to remark that bicycling “had proved an enormous factor in ■taking the young men out of the dust and smoke of the city into the fresh air apd communion with nature.” * EVERYTHING AT WHITELEY’S. Mr William -Whiteley, of London, whose business has recently been floated into a limited liability company, the price paid being £1,800,000, began life in a very small way; but in that small way Mr Whiteley laid the foundation of 4he largest retail business in the world. He was originally a draper’s assistant, and marrying a lady, who was also an assistant, he commenced • business in Westbonrne Grove, then the Ultima Thule of West London. As the West End extended, and Bayswater came into existence, and spread out to Kensal Green, the business grew, and shop after shop was added, till the place became what it is to-day, when nothing cannot be obtained there. An excessive banking business is carried on, while other branches include coal, meat, dairying (supplied from Mr Whiteley’s own farm), printing, yacht and shipping agency, and it is a well-authenti-cated fact that on one occasion an AngloIndian official sent to Mr Whiteley for a wife, and that one of his lady assistants was sent out with her trousseau, and happily married.

SUCCESSFUL MELBOURNE MEN. Two of the most famiKar features of Melbourne, it is saul, are Cole’s Book Arcade and Hosie’s Scotch Pie Shon. They are almost next-door neighbours in Bourke-street. To be in Australia and not to be able to talk about them is to exhibit a woeful deficiency in th? art of conversation. Cole is alive and well, but .Hosie has just died _ at “lie age of sixty-eight. An energetic young Scotchman with only a few pounds in the way of capital, he landed in Melbourne in the early fifties and started a little Scotch pie shon at one end of Bourke street—what time two other young men named Spiers and Pond were beginning business ini a little restaurant at the other end of the same street. In 1861 Spiers and Pond risked all their available capital in brinriim out the first English cricketing team to Australia. The speculation proved a great financial success, and on the profits Spiers am l 'Pond were enabled to transfer, themselves to Lon won and to revolutionise the eating business in England. Unlike Spiers and Pond. Hosie remained in Melbourne, made a fortune out his threepenny Scotch pies, buili

a pretty Bijou Theatre, provided Melbourne with a luxurious Turkish batning establishment, erected a couple of gigantic hotels, and attained the dignity of Mayor. He was a liberal uonor to Melbourne charities, but 'always stipulated that his name should be kept secret. Now that he has gone it has transpired that it was he who in 1889 added a wing to the Melbourne Homeopathic Hospital at a cost of £IO,ChJO. DESTRUCTION OF TROUT. During the past few days numbers of dead trout have been found in the Inangahua between Crushington and Reefton, and there can be very little doubt but that the wholesale destruction of this fish is entirely attributable to battery refuse from some, if not all, of the mills in operation in the vicinity. It is most unfortunate that this killing of fish should take place just now', and when the spawning, season is about commencing. Experience shows it is about this time that the i large-sized fish leave the deep water and make up-stream for the smaller tributaries, w'here the favourite spawning beds are, but, as before stated, the Inangahua in the close vicinity of Reefton intervenes, and one need go no further than opposite the township lo realise the deadly extent (says the “Herald”) of the havoc being wrought. This is a poor return indeed fer all the outlay and care and attention bestowed by the Acclimatisation Society, and many residents as well, in men-long-maintained efforts to successfully introduce the brown trout.

WELLINGTON’S WATER SUPPLY. The City Engineer reported as follows to the Public Works Committee of the City Council last night on the water supply question;—“l think m desirable that the Council’s attention should be called to the following points, viz., (1) the enormous quantity of water wmsted in the city in consequence Principally of defective fittings and badlvdesigiied baths; (2) the necessity Improper regulations as to water fittings, etc., such as are made and enforced by almost every water undertaking in tne world; (3) ’ the necessity for thorough and systematic house to house inspection for the purpose of detecting waste.” Commenting on these conclusions, Mr Rounthwaite adds : —“A free and abundant use of water is desirable and beneficial, but when it is absolutely' wasted to an enormous extent, I think it is time that steps should be taken to conserve the supply, especially in He case of a city situated as Wellington is, The higher levels require a better supply for domestic purposes, which they would certainly obtain in a marked degree but for this waste; also a more efficient supply for fire extinction would be available, and the cost of sew age pumping would be distinctly reduced it the present waste >vere checked, as it should be.” The Committee decided to recommend the Council that this report and one from . Mr Perry, one of the Council’s drainage officials, should be referred to + he Bylaws Committee for consideration. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE, v A press message states that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has received the following communication from the Postmaster-General in reply to a letter addressed to the Hon R. J. Seddou with reference to the San Francisco mail service • —“lt has never been t lie intention of tbe Government to substitute Wellington for Auckland as a port of call for the San Francisco mail steamers. I have read your letter with much interest, and am pleased to.ieavn of the increasing commercial prosperity of Auckland, and thei North.'’