CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6450, 22 February 1908, Page 8

CURRENT TOPICS.

FIGHTING THE FKUIT FLT. The reported outbreak of fruit fly at Auckland is being dealt with in energetic manner by the North Island Poinologist, Mr Boucher. He has three inspectors maintaining a strict daily watch over the orchard in which the pest was discovered. A careful inspection is being made of all orchards in the locality, and of Auckland orchards in general. Nothing will be left undone which may lead\to discovery of the fly. EO AD-MAKING EXPEDITED. While nearly every farmer in New Zealand is troubled about tiie long spell of dry weather and its accompaniment of fires, it may be consoling to them to state tbat this abnormal state of affairs has enabled record progress to be made in the construction of new roads. Tue Government Department which expends the grants for improving communication in the back-blocks has not suffered much lass through destruction of bridges by lire, in fact, as already stated, it has directly benefited from the continued fine weather. AVeek after week since Christmas additional men have been engaged for road construction until the total stands at 2600. All these meir are working to make new roads or tracks, and there are 250 more engaged in maintaining old works.

COMMON-SENSE MARKMANSHIP. Commenting upon Captain Richardson's remarks on up-to-date rifle-shooting, reported in our issue of yesterday, an. authority on rifle-shooting remarked that the Council of the Defence Forces Rifle Association had for some years been encouraging shooting under service conditions. The Government recognised that a more practical form of shooting, in the way of “service” matches, should he introduced and for the last five or six years those had been a feature of the meetings. As a matter of fact they had now been made compulsory, and men who fired in tho championship matches had to enter also m the service matches, or pay a penalty of 10s lor each service match they did not take part in. THE TABLES TURNED. Life is full of little ironies. Not many weeks ago wiseacres in Australia were' busy predicting another great drought, and the conditions were certainly disquieting. In view of probable contingencies a country- journal in this that New Zealanders should immediately devote their energies to the raising of such produce as might be required in tho Commonwealth. Tho advice was not extensively disseminated by other newspapers because it really was too naive and ingenuous, besides savouring somewhat of the policy Of counting chickens before the hatching process. , In the result, it is wo who have experienced tho drought, while, Australia, or' at least New South Wales, as to-day’s cables inform us, is enjoying a copious rainfall. A TRANSPORT SUGGESTION. A gentleman who has done a good deal of travelling in the Dominion’s hackblocks, and is well qualified to speak upon transport questions, suggests that sufficient Use is not being made of light railways, operated by electricity or steam. Our main roads are quite three times wider than the macadamised portion, and there is plenty of room for a light railway on one side. Having had a wide experience of railway- construction, he is convinced that an electric tramway to carry goods could be constructed along main roads for £3OOO to

£P>r<o a mile, this including complete equipment. The Eltham-A Zatulin tramway is estimated to bo likely to rim into JtoOOO per mile, but this comparatively high figure is due to the large amount of bridge-building to bo done. Our railways cost £BOOO per mile to construct, so that it would often pay big backblocks districts with a poor prospect of getting a State lino to build one cheaply for themselves. It would last many years, and probably when the time came to go in for extensive renewals the district, helped forward by cheap and easy communication with outside markets through the medium of its tramway, would have forged ahead so much that no difficulty would bo experienced in getting a Government line.

TOfPORA MUTANTCB. That two such influential journals as the Melbourne “Argus' 7 and “Age" should have committed a breach of the new Victorian Gaming Act (which closely resembles our own) shows how difficult it must be for Australians to realise the change in public sentiment regarding the turf. Victoria, it Is not too much to pay, has been steeped in the atmosphere of racing for generations. The thoroughbred has been regarded with as much veneration as the sacred cow in India, and Mecca itself has never drawn greater crowds or more devoted disciples than Flcmington. All the youth, beauty, and intellect of the continent concentrated on the lawn on Cup Day, and it was long the practice for Parliament to adjourn in honour of the event. And now, alas, it is not lawful to publish a tip or record the result of a sweep! No wonder the “Argus" and the “Age" failed to grasp the reality when it meant the reversal of the sacred practice of seventy years.

FORCE OF EXAMPLE. The criminal class is not conspicuous for originality. Considering the leaps and bounds made by science in every department of human ingenuity, the assassin, actual and potential, has never managed to get much beyond the gun and the bomb. His method is no better calculated to carry out his purpose or to secure immunity tor himself than was the case a couple of hundred years ago. As a matter of fact the proieosional bravo of Jhe sixteenth century was much more adept than the modern practitioner. Nothing could have been more crude than the conception of the scheme for the murder of the King of Portugal, and yet this method has been adopted, though only theoretically so far, by the Now York anarchists. Wall street speculators, whose liv.ii are threatened, are evidently convinced that safely is to bo secured by keeping strangers out of tha Exchange. The man with the revolver and the infernal machine is confidently expected to make use of those weapons only in a public place, whdre the chances of detection arc overwhelming.

A DANGER IN THE PACIFIC. Herr Dernburg’s explanation that the project to send criminals to a convict station in the German colonies in the Pacific is not to bo carried out owing to financial difficulties should bo received with caution. Tho temptation to ship tha worst classes of offenders to a far-away island must be very strong. Wo know how difficult it was to induce tha British Government to abandon the practice in rospect of Australia. It was only after repented protests, and when Something like a mutiny was threatened, that Tasmania procured that immuuity which had been granted to New South Wales, hut which was detnied to Queensland ahd West Australia for many years afterwards. The experience of Australia is not fitted to make her peoplei regard with equanimity a recrudescence of tho evil in these latitudes. They are not likely to tolerate any infringement of the provisions of the anti-convict agreement between Britain and Germany. The specious plea that the scheme was only intended! to deal with what may be called "probationer” criminals is too thin, and the excuse - that the obstacle is financial is even thinner. A WAGES QUESTION. A grievance felt by business men ae a result of tho operations of tho Shop Assistants Act was given expression to by Mr John Duthio yesterday in the course of an. interview with a “Times” reporter. The position, ns put by Mr Duthie, was this; It had been tho custom of a great number of business houses to pay tho wages of storemen and the junior members of the staff ..weekly, hut to'change to a monthly payment when advanciug any of tho men to a more responsible position. This arrangement had proved satisfactory to both sides, and had generally worked very well, because the employees had recognised that it practically meant placing them on a permanent instead of a more or less temporaiy footing. It was also good from the point of view of tho employer, because it meant that a month's notice would bo required on either side in the event of any of the senior hands leaving. "But now,” said Mr Duthie, "this wretched interfering Act has prohibited any such arrangement, and that relationship which was established by putting a man on this footing Ims had to be stopped. It means that oven our seniors are on weekly wages, and that both sides are reduced to a week’s notice.” He Quite failed to sec any reason in a regulation which had the effect of preventing a permanent and confidential relationship of that sort being- entered into. Not only was it prohibited, but an employer could be fined for any breach of the regulation.

THE ROYAL ROAD TO LEARNING. New Zealand's educational system is designed upon liberal lines, providing equal opportunities for all. Tire child of a labourer whose store of worldly wealth is only enough to feed ahd clothe him, may climb the educational ladder to its highest rung, the University, a graduated scale of scholarships making the way' financially easy, so long as the ambitious student demonstrates that ho has enough brain and application to justify the expenditure of public money upon him. A happy instance of benefits derived from scholarships is to be found in the case of Mr Soloman N. Ziman, who at the beginning of October next will enter Oxford University as one of New Zealand’s Rhodes scholarship holders, to enjoy the privilege of three years’ free residence and tuition in that ancient seat of learning. Mr- Ziman's successful career commenced in Clyde quay elementary-school, Wellington. A little more than ten years ago he won a junior foundation scholarship, entitling Kim to a place in the Auckland Grammar School. Three years afterwards he won a senior district scholarship, while in another three years he entered the University upon a junior University scholarship. He exhibited

exceptional capability in mathematic*, and physical science, and two scholar* ships won in connection with thee* branches stimulated him to persevere until ho has earned the right to be called a brilliant student of science. Hii scholarship career has now passed oaf of the local sphere, and it is the opinion of thoie well able to judge his capabilitics that tho 1008 Rhodes scholar i* destined to make a mark in the wldos world.

THE MAN MATH THE GTJN. Ic seems as if our infantry riflemen will have some difficulty In dodging ail the missiles of the artillery broadside which was fired into their ranks by Captain Richardson yesterday. It boa been obvious to careful observers that thej-o is too much target shooting, tod much stomach firing, and too much pothunting amongst New Zealand riflemen* There is not enough marksmanship un« dor actual service conditions. The Boer* owed their marvellous success in th« South African .war to tho fact that they had learned to “’shoot running,’* and to judge distances. They could hit their mark on the flat from tho hill* tops, und from slop© to elope, while! Tommy Atkins was simply firing off his rifle in the vague hop© of hitting some* thing. The doer-stalker knows how difficult it is to judge distance whoa ho has marked down his slag, and a riflemnot who can make records at tho butts would often bo absolutely lost if ha found himself firing at animate objects '• on the hills. Wo do not propose thait Colonel Collins or the other members of tho Defence Council should take & day off and give our marksmen a little animate figure practice, but we do thiulfi it possible that their brains may outpace their legs in devising some means of making the practice of rifle shooting less mechanical und more effective.

MORE ABOUT MEAT. Masterton people, although at timet perhaps the innocent consumers of th« mangled remains of tuberculous tAjasls, may take heart from the fact recorded in tho "Medical Times and Hospital Gazette" (Loudon) of recent date that a Dr Forbes Ross has propounded a theory that "persons suffering from tuberculosis should be fed with meat taken from animals known to have tuberculosis at tho time of killing for food. Ho hopes, therefore, to supply to these patients a food in which there is much toxin, antitoxin, and opsonin producing action, gained from the disease of tho animal whoso flesh is eaten.” We see in fancy a tluiving industry at Masterton and. elsewhere. Tho vigilant inspector will no longer bo short in his tally. With tuberculous meat atapremium.nonimbla microbe will now escape his watchful eye. All diseased jmrts will bo eagerly seized and carefully set aside for tha euro of its old time victim; while tha remainder goes to create a market for the new "cure." The inventor of this now cure argues that "milk, while serving to convey much tubercle bacilli, will not contain much curative substances, whereas meat, while containing few or no tubercle bacilli, contains much curative (antitoxin) substance," hut his main proposition is that "tuberculous meat should ho an article of food and cura iu all sanatoria." Ho claims further that the amount used oau bo accurately estimated and scientifically measured la each patient according to tho stage of the disease. The "Medical Times” docu not pretend to endorse Dr Forbes Rosa’s views on the subject, as tho question ha raises calls for extended study- and investigation before being definitely settled by tho profession. Mnstertonians and others will doubtless await the result with tropidity, meanwhile drawing comfort from the fact that until the result of this investigation bo known, all beasts showing even clinical symptoms of tha disease will ho held pending a possihla rise iu the market price of tho opin'! modity. 1

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. No one will deny that our railway* are wanting in some respects, or that the complaints which are voiced in the press from time to time ns to deficiencies in detail are justified, hut the wholesale condemnation of the critic signing himsoll "Silver Point" in to-day’s issue seems lo ho in a largo measure captious and beyond the mark. It must always ho remembered that bettor arrangements can bo made for railway running in populoui countries than in places like New Zealand, where settlement is scattered and served with 'single lines of track. Poop!* who assert that our railways compare favourably with those in England and America are deceiving themselves, but the same can also be said for those who condemn the local methods in every detail. For instance, our correspondent complains of the slowness of the through trains and the long stoppages at wayside stations. Ho may not remember to what extent the mail trains in the Dominion have been expedited in recent years, but certainly a groat improvement has been made. The main difficulties which confront the Department in expediting through traffic are the narrow gauge fipon which the trains ara run and the mountainous character of the country they traverse. It may bo possible by and bye to inaugurate s. system of section running which will further expedite travel, but at present the management has to cope with the demands—the reasonable demands —of district passengers, and it has to make adequate allowances for stoppages at thei various centres. Then there is the vital question of safety. It is better that passengers should arrive deliberately than that they should be landed dead, and the Dominion’s railways have earned an enviable reputation for their safety and their care of life and limb.. We think our correspondent is merely querulous in regard to the accommodation in the "smokers” and "diners," in his animadversions on the decorations, and in his complaints about "squat seats with backs like church pews,” but, with his complaint ,about "incessant ticket examination," and the necessity for a better system our readers will probably agree. His comparison between the railways and the electric tramways in the matter of convenience and comfort will bo especially entertaining to Wellington people. Criticism if good, but wholesale condemnation defeats its object.

HEWS NOTES.

The active membership of the Choral Sociflty now stands, at the beginning of its fourth season, at 105. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand will hold their biennial conference in this city on Thursday next, the 27th inst. A Manawatu dairy expcVt states that the drought is causing the dairy farmers a loss of at least ,£IO,OOO a month as compared with last season's returns.

All Iho olliccrs of tho Education Dcin ha\o byou inrTod by Major UurUnsrm <o visit Dio. fcmvj moment of Dm Third Battalion VV^UPublic School UadoU M II u a Tar!. ISj is afU-r noon. On Monday. before M; Justice Clmptuiii], applications for rj?*r will be fcnado by Gcorgo I inn and -h ju, boil. <>f WVIlm-lon. The fwnin- ■Z' tlarwl Ij.-inkrnul ,m Ncv.-oibov .t h, 1! H,. jvinl Dio !at tor on January ITh ot Dm name y<>ar. M'-mbers of lli ■ Counoil of Dcfo.noc will bo p rc«onl at UiC Ivastor mnm/nivn,. to l;iho Into in iho vai-ioiirf diolritlt ot ♦ Dominion. Collins noil [ir-0c0..! bi 01.-tno. f»1 oimi Robin to < •ant"-rbn t » . fk.Umol Toson lo Auckland, (.olon,. ,\V(ill* U> Nelson, and Colonel hi'VH-s v.UI jitioml t.ln 1 Wellington onoampnmn'. WiuH [>,rv.ing Uirough Hamilton on iriuni liv,m R/norua to Auckland yr-a.-rdav 1.-ulv Wa.rd dec! a rod to lx; '‘udl and Indy laid” Iho foundation(.j.nn, ;i ( a rmv/ building for Urn “V/aihat'' Ti nnv-;.' ’ .'v i'HJrwa rdo Sir Jenoph jijid I .ad s' Ward and mm hundred busim..;, nn-ii v.-rr »■»» i <-rl a i imd at broaiftast hy M >• lb -1. iMull. proprietor. Tlio WVllinidou CoHn-ni Dahourpr-o’ Jiidimtrinl l.uioii ot Workers iuu-> > lik'd an .LppUeuiiou fur the axUnsum ot nm existing award to the whole ol t■ ho Wtdiingtun industrial dUtriti. Its ptovi>joii at pnvoair extends only to piaors within i>. l/.venty-milo radius oi the city. 3he will comi* on for healing before tin? Concilia! ioji Hoard in duo course. Mins Maefjenn, the AsniAta ut-I Uspwden' of flospiials. finding Dint more nurses, .am n-q'iiircd for Hie public hospilah?than ‘the Dominion ran snip ply, has com mu rural od with Dio anUiorititw in Now South Wn if« h , a skin* if there aro any niim-s in that State who would take service in New Zealand. It appeare that most of our hx'-allv-l rained nurses prefer private ■eugag< moots or employment in private Jieopifals. Tho reason is that tho duties ;uo not so arduous as in tho public institutions. and the rates of remuneration are higher.

At a meeting of Uio members of the Automobile Associalion of Now Zealand, beiil yrsh-rdav. umlm- tin* presidency of tlm Mayor of Wellington (the iion. T. W. Uislop;. ibo draft rub*, with a few (/flight alferations. were approved. It was pgfocd that. 1.1i.* mxt innfling of the asfcoeiatLou. should be held at Christchurch on a date to bo fixed by the Council. The following offi<*er.s were elected :-Chairman. Hon. 'l'. U'. Jlu-flop; secretary and treasurer. Mr 11. F. Alien; Council. Dr Knight. Messrs A. do B. Urajixlon, and C. M. Banks (Wellington), S. W. Luxford (Palmerston North), (Jo lone I G orton (I‘Vilding). Messrs JO. Nurdon and K. M. Macdonald (C Jhristchnrch.)

In connection with tho Wcbb-Trcsiddcr mulling contest the Wellington and Maun wnt a II nil way Company announces Hint holiday excursion tickets to Wanganui will be issued from all stations on the company's line 10-day and on Monday, available for return up to and including March 7th. A special train leaves Palmerston North at .0.15 a.in. on Tuesday, reaching Wanganui at 8.00 u.m.. and on return journey leaves Wan* ganui ai s.;;o p.m., arriving Palmerston at 12.30 a.m. Passengers can leave Wellington by the 1.10 p.m. train on Monday, and connect with these specials, reaching Wellington on return journey about midday on Wednesday. The following dialogue occurred at the Waihi nautical inquiry yesterday: —Mr .Myers: “What am you?'’ Witness: “A Hoanuin.” Mr Myors: “On board Uio Waihi ?“ “No, I was.” “What are you now ?” “I’m a tourist now, ,J suit! the witness. l*ator the witness said lie could pee about a Hallo in front of him on tho night in question, notwithstanding tho haze. “That’s not eo bad,” said Mr Myors, “No, not for a tourist,” remarked another member of the Court. Witnciaa said it was tho first timo he iiad been across tho Strait. Mr Myers; “It was your first tour?” Witness admitted that it was, but he hod since made two more such tours. The Department of Labour has not yet succeeded in collecting all the fines imposed by the Court last year on the slaughtermen who participated in the strike at Christchurch in February. Tho department has not lost sight of the matter and the whereabouts of nGhrly all ot the defaulters has been traced. An eye is being kept on their movements, find m; eoon os they aro in steady employment, renewed denumds will bo made tipop thorn for payment of the amounts. It is stated that unless tho outstanding arrears come in quickly, or unices some arrangement is made with tho departmont, proceedings will bo taken in the Magistrates Court, and should fall 'f of the Supreme Loiiit will bo invoked.

Soma fixoitcment was caused in Customhouse quay about a quarter to 12 rn ° rn ' n fj, by a strugßlo between ii coujilo of policemen and a stronc younpr ,nnl > on tlio footpath just Su l^’ U °T| be iVi ’i lo, ! al Life BuildK ' , l oftorhj °f the officers to place the bracelets” in position were stoutly resisted. A big crowd .tethered to witness the enaninß tussle. ~h ® '■“inbined efforts of the constables Pi 01 od utiiua.ilnu; to trot the man's wrists nto the handcuffs, and it took them all !i«; r t ,,n * ‘o. k«*l> him on the ground! A 1 sjmpathies ot a Rood part of the irowl wore distinctly with the “man underneath. Finally the man appS eutl.v bwiimo exhausted, or ei.se thought bettor of it. for lio capitulated, and “5 ti‘nn C w'f| off e ° t a ‘ 1181,1,1 P' ace of detention without causing- more trouble.

Inu-n 1 d f, fodjr Who was coming: doun one of the Northland roads noticed on the side of thd highway an nnuaually largo chrysalis, lin in length and 3in in diameter. A huge moth was emerging from the chrysalis. The lady to°k Uio moth to Mr Hamilton, Director o tho Dominion Museum, who reports that the chryaalm is that of one of the very large wood-boring moths belonging i extonsive S rou P of Cossidae. The has not been able to properly develop its wings, It having been crip, pled. It is a female, which is nlv/avs larger than a male, and has probably boon brought to Now Zealand in Australian hardwood timber. A large epopimeu was found in Nelson last yc«r. i'ho extreme dryness of the weather has retarded its dov»lopment, although Mr Hamilton helped it HI ho could by damping thu shell.

The Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Justice, will present tho Kebbell uliicilcl and the Colonial Ammunition Company’s cup to tho winners at the pallet camp, iiutt Park, this afternoon. The shield, which is a particularly' handsome silver one, sot on an oak Uise, was competed for by teams of school cadet riilc shots selected from companies in tho Third Battalion. The X’otonc boys won tho shield with a score of 400 out of a possible 420. The Coloui«l Ammunition Company’s cups (of which there arc four) are fired for by loams from four combined education districts. A cup is givitn for tho best shot< at 100, lull and 200 yards (possible lit). Tho cup to be presented by the Minister to-day will go to Private Walton, Levin District High School, who put up a total of 78, firing with tho Taranaki, Wanganui and Wellington combined tutwn.

When considering what further action, if any, they would take regarding tho “All Black” professional team, the Now Zealand Rugby Union discovered what is regarded as a serious flaw in tho ruleo of tho rocomtly-formctl Sports Federation af New Zealand, and immediate steps -will bo taken to rectify it. hula 7 provides that any matter to be dealt with by the Federation must be submitted to it within fourteen days of the commission of tho offence. There is no provision for dealing with any breach which occurred prior to the formation of tho Federation, It is intended by the Rugby Union to endeavour to get an amendment of tho rules for general purposes, po that the Federation wil* bo able to deal with all cases without \\y restriction as to time limit. It i* : M ccnsidcrcil likely that the Kugby-X* i ivil! take any Further action rcg».i . ■She professionals.

Entries for the .Tune theory examination of Trinity College of Music, London, close at Bogg’s. Willis street, on March Uh.

John Stevenson Pear.-on. salesman, of Pereivui street, Wellington, has been adjudged bankrupt. The are to meet on Tue.-uhiy, March 3rd.

Commissioner and Mrs McKio will conduct Salvation Anuv mo-diugs in the Opera IJou-.* on Sunday. March Ist, and the Town Hail on Monday, March 2nd. The gab- receipts at tin* Masterlon show wer-« 1:221 A fid, as compared with .'j2IJ T fid los-t year. The amount taken at; the grandstand gates was ,£52 JA> fid, being an im-rcase of .*2!O on last: year. ’rhe Zealand in. which left Sydney on Thuralav for Auckland, ha,s on board an English mail tor Wellington. It -Jionid in tho ordinary course ay rive by Tuesdays express train from New PJymo utli. The executive of Die Wellington and Wairarapa t’Jiaritable Aid Dom'd will meet on 'Tuesday next to consider the provisional estimate for ]W)B-1), ami to arrange for discussion on I lie new Hospitals Dill.

A J’almerst.on North Tress Association message states that Mr 11. F. Gibbons, inspector of Die Dank of Now Zealand, Wellington, is resigning his position in order to become a partner in the firm ot Ib.iTutr! and Abraham, the well-known auctioneers.

Great indignation is being expressed in I'airnerston North, according to a Dress Association message, at the action of the Mayor (Mr K. Essex) regarding Dm curator of tho borough reserves (Mr W. W. Smith), whicli led tho latter to hand in his resignation. A public meeting of protest is to be called. There is oomeithing very "catching" nlxmfc tho proposal to incrcvise the cost of hair-cutting to a shilling. Tho latest converts to this profitable idea are the New Plymouth barbers, who are considering ’ the. proposal, and it is understood are almost unanimously in favour of tho increase.

The dense canopy of smoke which hung elver Wellington yesterday rendered navigation in tho harbour somewhat difficult. The signal /station at Seatoun was unable to discern any vessels entering or leaving port yesterday, and it is believed that owing to the density of the smoke tho Maori, bound for Lyttelton, did not clear the heads till a late hour last night.

Tho Wellington Hospital Trustees are Inviting competitive architectural designs for the improvement to tho general building, the scheme to embrace an extension capable of providing double tho accommodation at present afforded, but arranged so that sections of the improvements can bo made from time to time. Two prizes are offered, .£72 for first and .£SO for second, the first prize being deducted from the commission coming duo for carrying out tho work.