CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

EMPIRE DAY RIFLE MATCHES. It seems that the Defence Department has had charge of the arrangements in New Zealand for the oversea rifle matches which are to take place on Empire Day between teams throughout the Empire. All rifle clubs and volunteer companies have been circularised with regard to the competition, and already a number of entries hare been received. His Excellency the Governor received a special despatch on the subject from the Imperial Government, and the Defence Department, is acting under his orders in the matter. Entries should, therefore. bo made with the Defence Department. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Quito a fuss was made recently because some Auckland Educationists believed tho Queen City of the North had been overlooked .when the Education Department sent out circulars to the University Councils asking' for opinions upon the Research Scholarship prox>osals, but it seems that the complaint had no basis in fact. The department’s records show that the circular was sent .to • Auckland ou March 19th, and a telegram to the Registrar of Auckland University on the subject was answered yesterday aa follows: "Otago telegram incorrect. Letter received March 21st/’ When th© University authorities have signified their approval of tho scheme, or suggested modifications, the Education Department will go further afield for opinions, and the Special Board to superintend tho work of research scholars will be appointed.

'WHEN I WAS A BOT

Auckland's District Health Officer, Dr Purdy, had occasion to officially visit the cadet camp at Papakura. and, haring been satisfied with the sanitary arrangements, made some wider observations, which caused him to wax enthusiastic over the facilities for training and recreation enjoyed by the rising generation. “I was especially struck/' he wrote subsequently to the officer commanding the cadet corps, "with the clean, tidy, aud orderly appearance of the camp, which was in marked contrast to many military camps I have visited in Now Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, and even at Aldershot. I can also speak very highly of the discipline of the boys, and was pleased to see the smart way in which they turned out, the respect they have for their officers, and the interest they showed in their work. My only regret is that when X was a boy there werp no cadets."

A GRATUITOUS MARTYR,

Most improper influences ar© being exerted to secure the lease of a Drury resident who lias been committed to prison for contempt of Court in refusing to pay a claim for back wages. The individual in question had been paying an employee lees than the minimum wage prescribed by the Arbitration Court, and on being found out and ordered to pay the arrears said he would go to gaojjiret, and, h© went. Now a hullabaloo is being raised in the Auckland press about it, and no less a person than the leader of the Opposition has wired to the Minister of Justice urging his release. If the Minister complies with the request he will establish a very dangerous precedent. Persons who pay less than a minimum wage which all in a given trade are expected to comply with are not only sweating their employees, but also Decking to take an unfair advantage of their competitors. It is a mutual protection that they should bo mad© amenable to the law. • If this man is liberated at the instigation of political agitators it will be impossible to administer the law. Mr Dixon of Drury can liberate himself by paving the fine nnd complying with the judgment of the Court.

COOK MEMORIALS.

Cook memorials are evidently to be multiplied. The people Of Marlborough have decided to suitably Inark the spot where the great navigator , unfurled the British flog in Ship Core, Queen Charlotte Sound, on January 30th, 1770, and a monument has already been erected at Poverty Bay. the first bit of New Zealand sighted by him. Now it is suggested that Mercury Bay should also have a Cook memorial. Says the Auckland "Herald": —The very name given to it by its discoverer embodies memories of an interesting episode in his travels. His strong bent towards astronomy was there rewarded by seeing the transit of the planet Mercury across the sun’s disc, and for that reason he called it Mercury Bay. But not for this docs, it demand a monument. Its name is in that respect its monument. ’ Its claim to something further rests on the fact that it was the very first spot in the country over which the flag of Britain floated in the breeze. There, on November 16th, 1769, Cook hoisted the national ensign, and took possession of tbe newlydiscovered land for England, thus securing for her priority of claim whenever, or if ever, she chose or desired to utilise it. Subsequently discovering that the country was not one island, but at least two. he repeated the ceremony on Motnara Island, opposite Ship Covo in Queen Charlotte Sound. But Mercury Bay had the prior honour.'*'

NEW ACT QUADRUPLES GAMBLING. Mr R. S. Abraham, a leading Manawatu resident, writes a suggestive letter to the “Daily Times,” in which he says: The press is full of complaints that Racing Clubs are neglecting the interests of their patrons, inasmuch as they do not use sufficient care in the class of bookmakers licensed at the various meetings. They do not, however, suggest any means whereby the clubs can ascertain the standing, financial Or otherwise, of the various applicants. What can he done in this way is done. Any misdemeanour on the part of a bookmaker at a meeting is at once reported to the Racin'’ 1 Conference, and by the Conference to the clubs which have meetings coming on, who will not issue a license to a man so reported. We algo obtain a police report. Let us, however, "look a little further into the effect- of the Gaming Act, this precious result of combination between phuroh and Bookmaker! For a small meeting such as ours next week, we have applications from thirty-three bookmakers! Now, I very much doubt if prior to the Act there were that many bookmakers in the colon- actually -bring.their calling; they had been compelled to go to Work owing to the really Small amount of wagering done off the racecourses. What is the position How? There are hundreds of them, and owing to the strong temptation offered to the idle they are increasing very rapidly. Do these men make their living simply on the racecourses? It is an open secret, on the contrary, that anyone can hot in any town, and at any hour, without let or

hindrance. It was only a shprt time back that a friend of mine was ap-

proached in a respectable hotel by on© of these men, who offered to bet with him, and when he was contemptuously refused, he struck him in tho face with a tumbler. In my opinion, this mistaken Act is r-oing to do irremediable mischief, and I am sorry that'tho Government allowed themselves to be forced into passing such a measure to satisfy the claims of those individuals who would compel the Dominion to become moral by Act of Parliament. It is to be hoped that these gentlemen will rest content now that they have quaddupled gambling in New Zealand, and that not with th© open and harmless totalisator, but with the "booky," who deals in secret and will give credit to any clerk if he thinks he has half a chance of getting his money.

WOOL AND FLAX.

At the Horowhenua County Council meeting on Friday it was mentioned that owners of flux land were approaching the Government with a view to having the Departmental value of flax land reduced owing to* the unremunerative. condition of the flax industry. Councillors present thought (says the "Levin Farmer") that if a revaluation was to be made, in accordance with the wishes of the owners of flax land, the Government should extend such valuations so as to take in all land on 1 which wool woe produced. They thought fiux-growers were in no worse position than wool-growers, as wool had dropped from about lid to 6|d. A fail in market values was just as serious a matter to as flax-growers.

A USEFUL GUILD.

The Girls* Realm Guild, formed for the purpose of carrying out work, chiefly for women and children, is without doubt being justified by, its works. The following two examples of the work carried on by the three Wellington centres are interesting. There is a blind man at the Hutt, whose case has been brought under the,.notice of the Guild, and members visit, him regularly throe times a week. It has been decided that he shall be sent to the Blind Institute at Auckland, ana the Guild has taken on itself to provide the necessary funds. Another section of the Guild has under its care d. young widow and her children, who' will bo provided with food and clothing throughout the winter. In connection with the Guild there is a musical committee, of which Miss Eileen Ward is secretary, which visits the various charitable institutions for the purpose of giving concerts to the inmates. Miss Diamant is the general secretary of the Guild for Wellington.

AN EYE-SORE.

There is a beautiful garden occupying the southern half of the KentCambridge terrace Reserve. Once the mournful fir-tree and the unreproductivo jam-tin cumbered the ground, and fthe wayfarer might have noticed weary cab-horses drawing -whatever sustenance the many weeds offered. The City Council altered all that, and to-day the passer-by who sees the legend, "Citizens, protect your mm property,'* is pleased that he has such property to protect. Whether, the civic authorities despaired of having any place to stow* drain pipes if itliey planted the northern end too is not ascertainable* but, at anyrate, there still sighs the dreary funereal fir, tons of pipes are stacked under the trees, and scraps of paper blow up against rotting tree-guards—from which the citizen helps himself to firewood. The fence is a blight. There is not in New Zealand a mote desolate and ugly blot than this public reserve. Some day soon tho Council will be stricken with and then the funereal spot will become a nightmare that is gone.

THE COST OF TIMBER.

Commenting upon the price of timber the Taihape “Daily Times” remarks;— “Building, along the Main Trunk line has been going on apace for a long time, and -we Have to only look around Taibape to see houses going up in all directions. According to our Ohakune correspondent, building is brisker there than has been the'case for some time, and the fact that more land is to be opened up shortly will further tax local mills to keep up requirements in their own neighbourhood. Taumarnnui, with its adjacent towns, is in the throes of an evolution so far as building operations aro concerned, and timber from mills In that vicinity is sure to be earmarked for local purposes. Taking into consideration the fact that for a great part of this Season mills were closed down owing to the prevalence of bush fires, which destroyed tramlines and bridges in all directions, and also that we are just now on the threshold of winter, it seems that those in want of timber outside the district will require to bide their time before they can look forward to obtaining regular and adequate supplies from the Main Trunk mills. Once the Public Works Department’s prohibitive rate is removed, the timber output will gradually increase, but there will be so many local orders requiring fulfilment that it is questionable whether outsiders will be benefited to any great extent for some time. Judging from the experiences in the past, one may be very safe in assuming that even when the line is through to Auckland, and the trains are running regularly, the shortage of trucks question will crop up from time to time, and this even with the large increase in rolling stock nowunder construction. We have no doubt that with all matters working smoothly the huge forest resources of the Waimarino would be capable of supplying all timber needs for many years, but it appears to us that Wellington has little to hope from this district for a considerable lime.”

NEWS NOTES.

The jnward bound Brindisi , mail, which arrived at Auckland on Sunday afternoon from Sydney by the Wimmera, left Onehunga yesterday afternoon by the Takapuna for New Plymouth. The mail will be brought on by express, due at Wellington at f. 15 o’clock tonight.

The Wellington branch of the St. John Ambulance Association intends commencing classes of instruction shortly after Easter.

Mails which left Wellington on February 2Sth by the Moeraki, connecting at Sydney with the Mooltan, arrived at London, via Brindisi, on the night of the 3rd inst., due date.

Some idea of the value of land at Blastings may be gathered from the fact that a nurseryman has purchased the remaining 50 acres of the Frimiey estate at ,£l2O per acre.

Another batch of eighty-four assisted immigrants i* expected to arrive by the Tonga riro this week from England. Although the condition of the labour market. is not now what it was a few months ago, it is in a very satisfactory state for this season of the year-

The Wellington Conciliation Board held a sitting yesterday to consider its recommendations in the butter-workers' dispute. The recommendations will probably bo filed by the end of the week.

The wholesale price of butter was reduced yesterday in Wellington from Is 3JJ per lb to Is 2ld. In sympathy with th'S reduction retailers are selling butter at Is 4<i per lb, a penny decline on previous rates. Retirements under superannuation owing to the age limit have recently been announced in connection with several State Departments, but the Valuation Department is only losing one officer from this cause, end he is an extra clerk employed at Dunedin. During yesterday and to-day the Wharf Labourers' Union has been balloting for an assistant to Mr David McLaren, cecietary. There are seven candidates, but the contest is said to lie between Messrs T. Smith and J. Bruton. Mr Smith has for some years been treasurer of the union.

Additions to Palmerston North Courthouse, for which the Public Works Department is now inviting tenders, will provide an extra wing at the right hand side of the present building. The new building will contain a library 19ft Gin by 18ft Gin, a small courtroom, police and witnesses' rooms, and a vestibule, Franklyn. Hols© Kenworthy, arrested last evening by Detective Williams, will be charged at the Magistrate’s Court tide morning with having, by representing himself to be a collector for the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, fraudulently obtained money from certain. persons.

Appointments have been made by the Wellington Education Board to the following positions:—Secondary assistant. Pahiatua, Mrs Bnker-Gabb; sol© teacher, .Horooka, Miss V. Gayne; sole teacher, Mangaheo. Miss Chapman; assistant, Hamua, Miss A. Dougherty; sole teacher, Breyors' Rock, Miss Matthews.

The Weraroa (Levin) post office is to be a one-storied wooden building, similar to that at Ron gotea, and to the one in course of preparation for TJtiku. It is to contain public offices, mail room, private letter-boxes, telephone bureau and room, lobby, etc. A suitable residence is to bo attached to the building. Tenders for erection are now being called.

Much dissatisfaction is being expressed by the members of the Hawcra Mounted Cadets at the decision of the Defence Council in excluding them from participating in the Easter encampment manoeuvres for the Wellington district. The matter has been brought under the notice of Mr C. E. Major, M.P., and he is communicating with tho Minister for Defence on tho subject. Eatenswill journalism flourishes in the north. The Waikato "Independent** fills up its editorial column with large blanks on either side with this # singular utterance t —"On Tuesday evening his Worship the Mayor made a number of puerile insinuations against this paper. Taken from the expressive vocabulary of the 'man In the street/ our reply Is summed up in one word, i.e.—RATS!** The Minister of Justice (Hon. James McGowan) has been strongly urged by Mr Massey (lender of the Opposition) to release W. Dixon, of Drury, who was committed to prison for two months upon neglecting to pay £2l to an ex-employeo whose claim for extra wages had been allowed by tho Arbitration Court. Mr McGowan, not having received a report which he has asked the committing magistrate to furnish, declines to express any opinion upon the matter at present.

The Dudley Workhouse Guardians (England) lately lamented wofully because the proprietors of the local Opera house invited the workhouse children to a pantomime. One guardian arose to say that although he had never attended a theatre, "nowhere were morals so debased." There was groat laughter amon». the unregenerate guardians who had seen a play, but there was two hours* Wrangle before a majority decided to let the youngsters go to tho theatre. Teachers in the native schools'.fill a role other than that of pedagogue. 1 They occasionally L dispense medicines to sick Maoris under' direct sanction df : the Health Department, which provides them with mediomeohests containing simple remedies with instructions attached, so that when a Maori child has a .minor ailment, its teacher can doctor it into 6ood health. Mr Arthur Hobson has just obtained the tender for supplying medicine to native schools in the Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough districts.

A new, order has been issued by the Council of Defence in regard to rifle-bar-rols. Rifle-barrels condemned by the Insoectin 0 ’-Armourer for fair wear and tor will be replaced nt Government expense. Eiile-harrels condomnedby tho fc ll^lfli ra cZ r rged f °Lr n 1 ? rate’s Individuals who may require new barrels to be refitted, a ? d . ji ßl^ p b cctinghrn in the opinion of the Jnspceunß Armourer. still serviceable, ehall pay full price for the new barrel fittcu. This will apply do all Government rifles on issue to corps.

His Honor Hr Justice Chapman was encased on Saturday in camera hearing nn K appeal from the decision of the Commissioner for Taxation under the Deceased ; Persons Estates Duties Art. Jit the representatives of G. 1. tnitora, proprietor of “Hr Williams Pink t i*ioTho ouestion at issue was as to the value placed upon tho Rood mu of the busmess m Now - Zealand. Mr bkerrett, K.C., with him Mr NeaVe (mstructod by Messrs 8011, Gully, Bell, i and Myers) appeared for the appcnonts, and the Commissioner for 'Baxauon was represented by Mr W. J. Napier (Of Auckland). His Honor, naving heard, the arguments of counsel, reserved his judgmant.

Ai an early hour yesterday morning Andrew Alexander Perris, sixty years of age, died suddenly from heart failure. The deceased, a painter by trade, left hie hoino at 11, Horner street, at 6.50 a.ra., intending to so to his work at Wilson and Wilson’s, Cambridge terrace. He caught a car, but immediately felt 111, and got out at. tho bottom of Constable street. Ho was seen by a Mr Flint to bo in difficulties, and was taken into the latter’s bakery shop in Riddiford street. Dr Kemp was Sent for, hut just after ho arrived death ensued. It is improbable that an inquest will be considered necessary, as Dr Kemp, who had attended the - deceased for some time, has certified that death was due to heart failure. The senate of the New Zealand University will hold a special meeting on Saturday to deal with tho results of the degree examinations. The question of the 1851 Exhibition Scholarship will also be decided. This scholarship is awarded on science theses, and the examiners in England found themselves unable to decide between two candidates, whose theses, both Very good, were in different branches of science. Tho candidates bctwen whom the senate will decide on Saturday are Mr A. M. Finlayson, M.Se., of Otago, and Mr D. E. Hanson, B.Se. (of Auckland University College). Mr Finlayson, who has had a distinguished College career, was one of the candidates for the Rhodes Scholarship this year. Mr Hansen is a son Of Mr Paul HMnsen, managing director of the Auckland tramways. •

Mustcrers in the North Island will be interested in the award of the Arbitration Court in the dispute between employers and sheep niustersre, when some four hundred persons, firms, and companies were cited. It is provided that a musterer when employed to muster sheep for any purpose is to l)e paid not less than 10s per day if engaged for less than a week, and j£2 2s per -week if engaged for a week or more, with an additional payment in the last-mentioned case of ids tor any Sunday on which any musterer is to be required to do any mustering. Any musterer required to do any snow-raking shall be paid not less than 10s per day while engaged in such work. Any worker who is employed regularly as a farm or station hand, and who occasionally does mustering, is not to be subject to the provisions of the award.

The journevmen tailors of Gisborne district have‘decided to form an indua trial- union.

A sitting of the Native Land Court is being hfcld in Wellington- Judge H. Dunbar Johnson presides. Th© churchwardens of St. Mark's lAive let a contact for .£l3O for additions, alterations, and renovations at the church.

It is again notified in general orders that a, Now Zealand candidate for an Imperial Army Commission must servo two years in the active defence force of the Dominion and must bo attached for two months to the permanent militia.

The late Mr C. Townloy Browne, who was formerly chief detective in Wellington, made provision for the payment of a yearly contribution of one guinea to the funds of the Prisoners Aid Society fw u period of five years. Portion of the fund which has been raised for a memorial of the late Rev, R. Colley will bo devoted to ercctincr suitable monument at the cemetery. The balance is to be expended in a memorial pulpit, to bo erected in St. Mark's Church. This io on board the lonic, due hero about the 21st inst.

Mr ,H. Poland, M.P. for Ohinomuri, has received the following wire from the Minister of Lands regarding the Pae roa leasee; "As a result of your representations made from time to time the Government has decided to carry out the promise® tfaid to have been made somo years ago .that tenants, on surrendering their ieaseh, shall have an opportunity of purchasing the freehold of the land at auction. Details tiro being prepared, and you will be advised later. (Signed) R. McNab."

Several certificates have been filed with the Registrar of the Supremo Court at Gisborne for the enforcement of the fines imposed by the Arbitration Court last year in connection with the slaughtermen's strike at the Gisborne and ri*u*uheru freezing works. The local inspector, Mr Golms, is taking th© necessary steptf to have distress warrants issued at once, and foiling .the return of these •applications will forthwith bo mode for writs of attachment. There are aboutlO or 16 local defaulters, and the Department, state® tlie "Poverty Bay Herald," is determined th*at this matter shall be cleared up before tho end of the present season.

Possibly tho last public parade of the Wellington Submarine Mining Corps will be on the occasion of the unveiling Ut St. Paul*s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday afternoon of a tablet in memory of th« members of the corps who have died. This memorial is the outcome of a d<y ciskm arrived at some yCttre ago. Th» tablet, which is very handsome pioc« of work, bears the simple inscription, "Erected by tho Wellington Submarine Mining Corps to the memory of/* Tho names which will be engraved on plates below the tablet aro those of Sergeant Wilson, Cornortils Bromley and Palmer, and Sapper Penfold. After the ceremony some important business will be die* cussed at & meeting of the corps. At U social function at Milton (eaya the Bruce "Herald**), Major McClymont was congratulated on his rfcoent promo* tion, and iu replying to the toast of "Tho Imperial Forces" said he hod been fourteen years a volunteer* and he wtis disclosing no State secret when ho said thvit tho Easter movements would in some measure decide tho fate of volunteering. At present they wore tho stand* ing army of the Dominion. It had been a subject of grtivo thought by the'Defence Council what was best for tho Dominion, and if more, interest iu volun* tearing Was not manifested by both' employer and employee an entire rovolu. tion would be made in defence matters. It was the duty of every young ,man to learn how to bundle a rifle.

A correspondent again calls attention to a dangerous practice indulged in by tramway men on the Island Bay section. Ha avers, and we know it to be true, that conductors frequently close the nearside door Und put up the nearside footboard while the car is still travelling and about 400' yards from tho terminus. This action compels the passengers to alight on the wrong side of the car, and if, as is sometimes the case, the offside footboard is not properly adjusted, there are the materials nf a smash in the Circumstances, Of course, it is against the rules for a tramway man to inconvenience and endanger the public in this way. The of side doors 1b extremely dangerous whore the overhead equipment is carried on centrepoles of the one-arm variety, because of tho close proximity bf the poles. But such a breach of orders should. not ba permitted even where the span is from pole to pole on cither side of the road, as is the case on the Island Bay parade. Recently there was a "side 1 .show", aj the Eire Brigade bazaar in Elthnm that created some amusement. A- Compartment was curtained off and placarded "For men only. Admission 3d/ This excited curiosity at once, and a various •rumours were current concerning tho propriety of the exhibition. Men paid the necessary ice to see the exhibition, and when they came out of the department were unanimous in their denunciation. and suggested "that the thing should be Stopped/* ' Ladies looked askance at the mysterious apartment, and some declared it was a shame to bavo such an exhibition. . Remember, Urn apartment was labelled For men only, and when visitors entered .they saw hanging upon a lino, 01 shameful dsbtj a pair of raen’a pants, a pair of .old socks, a hat and a vest. -Tho Victims had to admit tlmt the articles a wero for men onlw and the sell in cheerful -unfit. Each victim when he came out denounced the iniquity of tho Show and did .his host to lure, other vxo. tiras into the trap. Argus.