TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4083, 22 June 1900, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THIS PREMIER'S BIRTHDAY. There is a coincidence in connection with the official opening of Parliament to-day in that it falls upon the Premier’s birthday—the fifty-fifth the right honourable * gentleman has celebrated. Mr Sudden was born at St. Helens in Lancashire, on June 22m1, 1815, and it is thirty-four years .since lie landed in New Zealand. His friends will vernier that he cm urn upon a new year and a fresh session with invigorated health and renewed strength. Doubtless the Premier will ree"ive congratulations from all parts of the colony. THE FRENCH I.V AFRICA. Matters are r.ot very satisfactory between France and Spain regarding -Morocco, writes (be Paris correspondent of the “Age.” Spain looks upon the sultanate as her hinterland by right, and Inis always expected to inherit it in line com;.in But France has for many years heun throwing sheep’s eyes or. Naboth’s vineyard. Germany, Italy and the United States all intend to have a. slice of the jake, while England has always laid down that she must possess Tangier;;. That, is a> complex quarrel that should unchain the coming war of Armageddon. There is no doubt France is preparing for a spring. She may he said to he in touch, by railway, with Hie rich oasis of Figig. The Sultan’s territory is one third larger than the area, of Continental France; ho can muster a,hold 100,000 men, all of wild tribes—whether he comma mis them or they him is unknown. It is the day dream, of Provost. Parodol to create New France, until a- population of eighty millions, by absorbing the whole of the northern part of Africa. England has broken the uniformity of her plans, by protecting Egypt, and Italy will resist France in absorbing Tripoli. Only tlie gods can tell the destiny of Morocco. It then remains to partition the Empire of Abyssinia.. Menelik will not afford any difficulty in being disposed of. His six viceroys claim ’to be Ids heirs. VITAL STATISTICS. The Registrar-General, in his report on. the vital statistics of the tour principal towns of New Zealand during May, 100(1, says;—The total births amounted to 896, against 367 in April an increase of 29. The deaths ir. May were 181 —a decrease of 8 on the number in April. Of the total deaths, males contributed 95, females 86. Fifty-four of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 29.88 per cent, of the whole number; 47 of these wore under one year of age. There were forty-five deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards: Four men, 66 (two), 71, 84, and four women, 66, 70 (two), 77, died at Auckland; four moil, 65, 68, 69, 70, and three women, 06, VO. 71, at Wellington ; five men, 69, 70 (two), 81, 85, and eleven women, 05 (two), 67, 68, 70, 71, 74, 76, 78 (two), 88, at Christchurch: and eleven men, 68, 09, 74, Vo, 77, 79, 80, 81, 83, 88, 89, and three women, 66, 08, 87, at Dunedin. Specific febrile or zymotic diseases: The deaths in this class at Hie four centres and suburbs fell from 31 in April to 16 in May. Of deaths during ; last, month, those from diarrhceal diseases numbered B—o8 —0 at Auckland, 1 at Christchurch, and 1 at Dunedin. Typhoid fever caused 1 3 deaths—l at Auck- i land and 2 at Wellington. Diphtheria : contributed 1 death, at Wellington. 1 Influenza was fatal at Christchurch. (1 death). ‘ The mortality for May in each ■ of the cities was decidely low. Con- i stitutional diseases : The deaths in this class at Hie four towns increased from j 36 in April to 43 in May. Of the last, 19 deaths weyo from .phthisis, 7 from other tubercular complaints, 12 from i cancer, 1 from anreraia, and 4 from dia- ] betes. Local diseases: Of 82 deaths, 18 resulted from diseases of the nervous system, 20 of the circulatory, 14 of the respiratory, 19 of the digestive, 1 of the lymphatic, 6 of the urinary, and 4 of the reproductive systems. , Violence ; There were 8 violent deaths in May. A driver was killed at Auckland by a kick from a horse, and a platelayer at Dunedin was run over by a railway engine. A carter was killed at Dunedin by falling from a. dray, and a . labourer at Wellington by falling down the hatchway of a steamer. There ■ were 3 deaths by accidental drowning— , ono that of a. mariner at Auckland, and another of a tailor at the same place; . the third death was that of a. labourer, and occurred at Wellington. Besides j the above 7 accidental deaths, there , was 1 by suicide —a. schoolmaster hanged himself at Dunedin while temporarily : insane. MARINERS’ PERILS. ’ Some rather disquieting statements ( were made at the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday in. consequence of the reading of a. letter from Hie Ship- ] masters’ Association of Now Zealand, stating that they had approached the ] Marine Department with a view to hav- ' ing a small occulting light erected on ' the projecting rocks at Pencarrow, but ; that too department bad referred them to the Harbour Board as the light in * question would be a. harbour light. Members of the Board 1 evidently regarded Hie statement that the proposed light would be a harbour light as a mere • subterfuge of the department. It was pointed out that it would be right, outside the harbour limits, and would beio all intents and purposes a coastal light. Statements were made by members of the Board showing that quite recently three large ocean liners had been obliged to put back to sea owing to an obscuring fog lying over Pencarrow lighthouse; that more narrow escapes from wrecks took place at the entrance to Wellington Harbour than the general public know anything about; and that Lord Brassey, on the occasion of his last visit to these shares on a yachting expedition, nearly suffered shipwreck wliilst entering the heads. The secretary of the Shipmasters’ Association (Captain Kennedy) in his letter pointed out, as showing the necessity of a light on the rocks, that his experience had frequently been that slaps’ lights in Worser Bay haul been visible when the Pencarrow lighthouse was out of sight. The chairman of the Board pointed out that Pencarrow was probably the oldest lighthouse in Hie colony, and it was possible that the prismatic lenses of the lamps there had deteriorated as others had been known to do in different. parts of the world. It was decided that a. letter be sent to Hie Shipmasters’ Association informing them that the proposed light would be outside Hie harbour, and therefore not within the jurisdiction and control of the Board, but that the Board was agreed that it was essential to the safety of seafarers that a. light should be placed on the rocks at Pencarrow, and would assist the. association in any efforts made to have ono placed there. From a. list put in by the harbourmaster it. appears that, thirteen vessels have been wrecked under Pencarrow; not all, however, in Hie night-time. The following is the list : —Schooners Arila and Hunter, at Inconstant Point; schooner Rose of Eden, at Ocean Beach; cutter Paten, at Dorset. Point; brig Charlotte, cutter Supply, schooner Waiopi, ship Halcioua, schooners Han-

nab Broomfield and Maggie Patterson, at. Pencarrow Point; cutter Vinnia, at Fitzroy Bay; s.s. Tui, on a rocic in Chaffer’s , Passage. ...

THE MINISTER OF LANDS,

Great sympathy is felt by members of : the House-with the HdnJ. McKenzie in his illness, and yesterday the followi ing telegram was sent to him : —“Dear friend,— Though kept 'apart by distance tins day and illness prevents your being present in person, yet we are altogether in spirit, and, prompted by the highest attribute of men, send you kindly greetings, and earnestly and sincerely wish you may soon bo restored to that greatest of God’s blessings, l good health, and we trust that, at no distant date you may lie with ns. Rest assured that yon possess our fullest confidence, esteem and respect, and cur earnest desire is that yon may, without change, be of and with us, and soon be restored to health and vigour. Kindest regards to Mrs -McKenzie, yourself and members of your family.’’ The message .-.was signed by R. J. Seddon. J.. G. Ward, W. G. Walker, W. Hall-Jones, J. McGowan, J. Carroll. C. H. Mills, J. Stevens, E. M. Smith, W. W. Tanner, W. Carncross, J. O’.Vieara, T. Y. Duncan,-.P. Lawry, D. Buddo, J. T. M. Hornsby, J. McLachlan, E. G. Allen, J. Colvin, T. M. Wilforcl, J. A. Hanan, J. A. Millar, J. F. Arnold, F. R. Flatman, A. Morrison. G. W. Russell, M. Gilfedder, R. MeNab, R. Meredith. C. Hall, W. W. Collins, R. McKenzie, T. Parata, R. Thompson, Jackson Palmer, A. W. Hogg, A. R. Barclay, H. G. Ell, \V, H. F’ield, George Fisher, A. L. D. Fraser, J. Graham, G. Lanrenson, W. J. Napier, G. M. O’Korke, Wi Pere, W. ,1. Steward, W. Svmes, A. 1). Willis and J. H. Witheford. APBOR DAY. Councillor Barber made , a, valiant but fruitless attempt last night to stir the City Council to take a. living inest in tlie forthcoming Arbor Day celebrations. When the Reserves Committee brought down a report urging that the Colonial Secretary’s circular on the subject, he brought before the citizens, and tnat the latter he asked to assist the. movement, lie moved that the Reserves Committee he instructed to organise a public celebration on the occasion. He was met with the. stereotyped contention that the Council had no funds available. It had, however; lent the services of a. tree-planter to the Scenery Preservation Society for the occasion. The motion was defeated. It was stated that one suburban community intended to plant several thousand trees this year. The Council intends to take steps tp keep treedestroying goats off the various city reserves. THE NO. ISLAND RAILWAY. Some time ago, it may bo remembered, Mr F. Buxton, C.E., offered, on the written authority of well-known capitalists, to complete the North Island Trunk Railway on “paper,” and. without any present cash payment. As that offer, up to £5,000,000 or more, is still open, Mr .Buxton is of. opinion that it .should receive the immediate attention of the Government. By this means, it is said, the line could ho completed within two years, and main, tained for three years alter completion and traffic running over’it; ' Thus, Mr Buxton points out. a perfect line could be banded over to Hie Government in ’a tested condition, and more than earning the interest on the capital spent on its completion.- All that Mr Buxton’s friends would wish in -the first instance is to have .the permission of the Government to go over, the route at their own expense and make an estimate of the cost for submission to, the Cabinet, and to be checked by thq experts in the Government’s employ; If the estimates were not satisfactory, and the offer of the capitalists hot. accepted, no harm would be done; hut, ou the contrary, the Government would he provided with estimates of world-wide railway construction experts free of cost, and immediately. Mr Buxton’s offer is, at all events, worthy of being considered. ' . ' ■ ’

CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT,

Tn June last the" Wellington Associated Architects and the Builders’ Association agreed upon general conditions of contracts for a term of years “that are considered to be most fair to all parties.” .They.,sent. .a.copy of those conditions to the City Council asking its favourable consideration with a. view to adopting them in lieu of

those at present attached' to the' Council’s public works contracts.; The City Engineer reported to the Council last night that he had perused, these conditions, many of which appeared to he very fair and excellent.;, .Many others were, however, in . his judgment, cumbersome and unnecessary, leaving large opportunities for litigation ; hut as to that he thought the . City Solicitor should advise. What..might very well apply as between a privijfe client.and a contractor for the erection of,, or addition to, a building could have very little application to the contracts for supplies and for the execution of municipal works between a Corporation and a contractor. The conditions in question were .for the most part, totally inapplic. able to the majority of . the Council’s contracts. Indeed, it.waa only in very rare instances that it needed, to. contract for the erection of a building. Jt was moreover obvious that .it would not do for the Council to have one set of conditions for the greater part of its work and a totally different set for, perhaps one contract in a hundred. Several of the clauses hr these general conditions appeared to the Engineer to be vague; others were very questionable and opened the door to. practices which should not be possible either to the architect or the contractor. . Many other necessary provisions, appeared to be altogether omitted. After;a short debate in° which Councillors Murdoch, McGill

and Winder. expressed sympathy with the aims and objects of the Builders’ Association in framing these amended conditions, of contract, it was decided to receive the report and forward it to the latter body.