CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6313, 13 September 1907, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

NO, THANK YOU! The City Council is not in favour of parting with the control of the trams. At last evening's meeting the recent offer made by Mr A. Hall to lease the'system came up for consideration. The Tramway® Committee reported that the offer, if accepted, would, judging from returns, leave the Council worse off by some thousands of -pounds annually than under the present management. Independent of this, the committee considered it would-be bad policy to part with the management 'of the tramways. The whole of the Council were of the same opinion. The recommendation for rejection was adopted without a word of comment. ‘ DEATH OU A MAOKI WAKBIOK. A Maori who took a remarkable part in the Hauhau rebellion in Taranaki during the period from 1865 to 1869 died recently at Ohangai, a native settlementnear -H-awera. This we® Tihirua, a man of rank from the Ngatimaru country, on the tipper Waitara; he was about sixtyfir© years of age at the time of his death. Tihirua was one of the leading warriors of Titokowaru's savage . band in the bush-fighting that went on almost continuously during 1868 and the following year, and he acted as the tohuitga of the heathen ceremony of the ‘Vha-ngai-hau," which was revived by Titokowaru, together with cannibalism and other barbaric practices. This custom consisted in the cutting-out of the heart of the first enemy slain in fight and in offering it to the God of War. Tihirua on various occasions—one in particular was after the defeat of the colonial forces at Moturoa in the heart from a whit© soldier's body, and made burnt sacrifice of it to tlenuku, Titokowaru’s fighting-god." These rites, as performed by Tihirua, were described in the narrative of the pakehaMaori, Kimble Bent, whose adventures amongst the HauhaUs were published, last year in the " New Zealand Times." WOMEN'S BIGHTS Some suggestions by the Hon. Dr. Collins upon the relations of, the sexes were made yesterday in the Legislative Council, and will no doubt be discussed with vigour by opposing sides, for the proposal® are not new. The hon. gentleman declared himself against any interference with the marriage ceremony, but believed that if unsuitable marriages could be prevented it would be & good thing. Would it not be a good thing for parties about to marry to furnish each other with a certificate of health, showing hereditary' tendencies? This might prevent some unsuitable marriages. In these days when women entered upon commercial life on the same boms as men, would it not he good if the woman should have just as much right to ask a man to marry her, as the man had to propose? A 'woman, he Concluded, had jttst as mUch right to choose a comrade in life as a man.

American” with regard to the life history of the curious New Zealand insect, the awheto, or vegetable caterpillar. Pescribing the insect, the American journal says: “The spore of a vegetable fungus fixes itself on its neck, takes root, and grows like a diminutive bulrush from six to ten inches high, without leaves, and with a dark brown head. The root grows simultaneoaisly with the body of the caterpillar, which it exactly fills in every part without altering its form, but simply substituting a vegetable substance for an animal substance. As soon as this process is completed, both the caterpillar and fungus die. The thing is then a wooden caterpillar with a wooden bulrush standing up from its neck.” Mt Rainbow explains that in reality the awheto is attacked by a fungoid disease, and it succumbs soon after the intrusion of the cryptogamic plant. If it always developed the disease the species would die out. NONE BET NEW ZEALANDERS APPLY. A little-known fact in connection with the working of the Canton Villages Mission of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was mentioned at last night e meeting in the Kent ternace Church by Dr Kirk, who stated that no one but a New' Zealander had any chance of admission 'to these villages. This rather peculiar condition of affairs arose out of the fact that practically all the Chinese in New Zealand come from the Canton villages, and when a missionary goes there from New Zealand he meets men he knew in the “Gold-hills," as the Celestial calls this country, and invariably takes with him to China letters and money for the relatives of the Chinese of New Zealand. These letters, and especially the money, combined with the fact that he could often tell friends left behind in China how a prodigal was faring, gave a New Zealand missionary admittance to places which were absolutely barred to other foreigners. This fact had been discovered by the Rev. A. Don when he founded the mission, and to Dr Kirk s mind proved a strong argument against the exclusion of Chinese from New Zealand. Once the Chinese were expelled from this State the Canton villages would be effectively shut against all foreigners for a very long time. “DOMINION DAT." The Premier announced to the House yesterday afternoon that the Government proposed to ask Parliament that the colony should observe September 26th as a public holiday. Later on he would state to the House what arrangements were being made by his Excellency the Governor in connection with tho matter. NEWS NOTES

The Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company paid a dividend for th© year of 6 per cent. on. both, ordinary and preference shares. Wednesday, October Bth, being Labour Day, will be a public and Government holiday. ' / '

A person posted a letter at Newton to the Railway Department, forwarding £1 as conscience: money.

The Minister of Lands has authorised the laying off of Hutchens, Raroa, and Pollen streets, in the township of Raroa, of a' width of 66 feet, instead of 99 feet as prescribed by section 17 of the Land Act of 1892.

Stone's Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki Directory, for 1907, is now being distributed. This directory, now in its seventeenth year of publication, is on indispensable work for business and professional men. The arrangement of its various .divisions is made upon a plan which facilitates reference. The classification is complete and the information given in a lucid manner.

.Parts of <the road between Taumarnnui and Matapuna (says "Haihape Post") are at present in a very baa state. During the last two years upward of .£2OO has been spent on the upkeep of this road, but it seems unsuitable stuff for repairs has generally been used. Instead of shingle or pumice, earth has been put on, with the result that -In wet weather the road is a veritable quagmire. As this portion of the Auck-land-Wellington mam highway now carries a good deal of traffic, it should receive further attention from the Roads Department. The statement recently cabled from London to the effect'that the war-chest of the British Parliamentary Labour party was depleted, and that an increased levy would have to be made on the different bodies affiliated with the L.R.C., is not borno out by the statement of accounts given in the quarterly report of the Labour party, just to hand. After allowing £SO per quarter to each of the members of the 'House, as a "maintenance" fee, and 4 meeting all other current expenses, including =266 as the party's portion of the returning officer's claims for Jarrow election, the report shows a credit balance of .£4781 11s s£d, at June 30th, 1907. Several rich men in the United States aspire to the honour of meeting , Sir Thomas Lipton, or whatever British yachtsman challenges for the America Cup next year. Mr J. H. Hannan, a millionaire who has made hie fortune 06 a boot and shoe manufacturer, and Mr Frank Smith, the head of the Borax Trust, who is known as .the "Borax King," announce their intention of building yachts for the purpose. The two new aspirants for racing honours will not go to the Herreshoffs, the famous Rhode Island builders, who have constructed every Cup defender for the past dozen years, but are giving their orders to comparatively new designers. Henry Geilow will design the yaoht for Mr Smith, and William. Gardner will design Mr Hannan's yacht. In dealing with the necessity,of protective river works at Holcowhitu, . the •Government engineer says :—"From my knowledge of the losses of land during tae last six years along the banks of such streams as the Manawatu, Pohangina, Oroua» Ruamahanga, Mangatainoka, and many others, I am satisfied no true solution of these recurring troubles will be found until River Boards are established .where necessary, with rating .powers defined by a commission, the members not elected (so as to lie free from local influences), but appointed bv Government, and consisting of men witK a knowledge of the t subject; and having a competent engineer who has inade a study of the work, and who will evolve a well-thought-but system for the whole length of the stream under his charge." In a Homo exchange a working tanner exposes the tricks of the leather and boot trades. Imitation leather, he says, is commonly nsed in the manufacture of purses and dancing shoes. The uppers of the latter are made of thin cloth, japanned on one side to.give them the appearance of patent ( leather. This product of American ingenuity is extensively used in the fancy goods trade. Not only uppers, but soles of boots* are manufactured from various Compounds, and sold as Irdtfeer.t The sharings taken off the hide hi reducing it to the required thickness are collected bv leather manufacturers, unrolled to make them lie flat, and ten of. tw&lte of them laid on top of each other, with layers of gum between; then pre«*ed and dried under strong heat. When ready for use, soles and heels are stamped out for the making dp of cheap boots.

Half a dozen trustees of the Dannevirke cemetery have resigned. The Alexandra ward at the Palmerston North district hospital will be opened on Wednesday, 25th inst., by his Excellency the Governor. The fifth annual dinner of the letter carriers at the Wellington Post Office '■will bo held at Searl's rooms this evening. The Premier and the Mayor are expected to be present. Hr J. Jackson, who wrote to the City Council suggesting that instructions should b© placed in all trymcars stating the correct method to alight, is to bo informed that the matter is already under consideration.

Ip the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon counsel was questioning a witness as to the reason for his visiting ‘a certain. business man's office. “■What did you go in about queried counsel. "About a couple of months ago,” answered witness.

Paupers at Carlisle (England) take their food from pewter plates which are over a century old. There has boon a boom in pewter among collectors of late, and the Board of Guardians have decided to take advantage of it by selling the plates and substituting more modprn ware. The plates are expected to bring about ,£1 each. *

The Minister of Customs has ascertained that there are no fewer than 588 makes of motor-cars —rather an embarrassing piece of information for the man who wishes to select the best. English makers prcvid3 240 varieties, and the French 178, while a certain number come from Germany, and America is well represented on the list. The Tramways Committee reported at last night's meeting of the City Council that prices had been obtained for the supply of cars made in England, and they exceeded the prices at which the city was manufacturing them locally. On the recommendation of the Bylaws Committee, the? City Council last evening decided to take lio further ac- 1 tion with respect to the request of the Wellington Association of Architects in connection* with a proposal to appoint a Board of Referees regarding the building by-laws. A report has been submitted to the City Council by the Engineer, in which h© estimates the cost of placing a culvert across the creek at Island Bay from Humber to Doe streets at £7540. It was decided at last evening’s meeting to proceed with the work out of revenue, the expenditure to be spread over a period of three years. A suggestion will be brought forward at next meeting of the City Council by Councillor Carmichael that a tunnel should be constructed through the Tulakori hill from Grant road to the road at present formed on the ’Wilton estate. Ho wants the Engineer to report on the cost and utlity of this work, the idea being that this route should bo followed in extending tiio tramway to W-ades-town.

The City Council last evening decided to renew the subsidy granted last year to five bands in tbe city in consideration of their giving municipal concerts. The subsidy is .£SO a year to each baud. The bands axe the Tramways, Garrison, Engineers, Mission, and Jupp's. Councillor Cohen complained that the Cadet Battalion Band had not been granted a subsidy. Th© Mayor promised to give the matter consideration later.

Tho weekly meeting of the junior department of the Y.M.C.A. last evening was attended by eighty-eight lads. The meeting took th© form of a parents 4 night, but owing to unpropitious weather few senior members of the families put in an appearance. Next week, in consequence 'of the fifth anniversary meeting at the Town Hall, there will bo no meeting at Jervois quay. '■ Tho final lecture of the Garrison Officers' Club for this session will be given by Colonel Robin on October 24th. At to-night’s meeting. Lieutenant J. Hutchen will read a paper on staff rides* and the preparation and issue of operation orders. Colonel Robin will be present*■ and expresses the hope that the few officers who hare been unavoidably absent from recent meetings will be able to attend.

The Claims of New Zealand ae a settlers' paradise and a tourists' resort ore inot allowed to be lost eight of by. the* Tourist Department, Mr Maneon, of the Melbourne office, has lately been, ■giving a series of lectures on this .country. and these have been largely attended. Mr John Holmes, of Wellington, who is at present in Australia, has also been giving instructive lectures. on the advantages to be gained by living in this colony. ~ A deputation from the Petone railway workshops was introduced to the Premier last night by Mr A. L. D. Fraser, on behalf of Mr Wilford, who is still indisposed. Certain recommendations were made with regard to the classification scheme, and anomalies pointed out in the scale of wages and overtime. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the matter was not new to him. He had it under consideration now, and hoped to meet the position in amendments in the classification to be brought down.

Two proposals which came before the Education Committee of the London County Council a few weeks ago, presented' a striking contrast. One was a report from a sub-committee stating that the cost of providing fiagstaffs at existing schools would be .£9170. The other was a recommendation that no use be made of the power to provide the cost of food for necessitous children. It was decided to proceed with providing flag poles and not to provide for feed.

For a long time the infantry volunteers have been using an infantry training bock dated 1003—a book, by the way, of colonial, origin* They have been clamouring for the newest kind of instruction, which is set out in "Infantry Training, 1905," the basis of instruction for tho foot soldier of the Imperial Army. A supply of these books has reached the' Defence Department o,nd instruction will be carried out uniformly with that of the Army. Mounted corps (much of "whose work ie done afoot) qnd Defence cadets are to have ‘throe books per corps, and infantry corps five books. Each member of a battalion staff will be supplied with a copy.

The instructional course for volunteer officers which commences' in Wellington on the 24th inet., is exciting great •interest. Already many requisitions for free railway passes have been received by the Defence Department and applications for quarters at the Buckle street barracks are pouring in. Thte officers in t barracks will live under field conditions and the daily routine will in all respects bo the same as that adopted in camp. The Permanent Militia will siiPPlJ' men. for guards, picquete and duties for each succeeding day, and officers will be required to take charge ug tinder ordinary Army conditions.

Inquiries , omonp several targe city house and land agents by a "Times" reporter yceterday disclosed the information that the dearth of house® in or near the city is even more' acute than it wa» two years ago., One agent asserted that a .six-roomed house that became empty on a Monday was desired by seventy people ’ before the day was out. Many people not tonly offered one or two pounds to the person who would inform them of the locality of an empty house, but actually went to agents'offering them increases of rents on those currently paid if the agents would turn present occuniers out. Even In the suburbs, according to another agent, there is a woeful paucity of houeeg for Jetting, and rnshv builders arc tvot at uresunl building because of the hlgli pricci of materials. All the agents attribute the immense number of inquiries for hired houses to a ucnulne increase of newcomers to Wellington and to some extent to the number of people who have hitherto been sharihg houses with other families but are now seeking separate homes.