CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS

MEN. Tho communication from our London, correspondent in our news columns this morning in regard to the . scope of the School of-Economics is interesting for two reasons —because a New Zealander is director of the school,' and , because the information now published gives more detailed information concerning tho institution than we have hitherto been accorded. Mr Beeves epitomises the objects of the school as jbeing “to bring education into closer touch with the realities of modern life—to equip the business man or the political aspirant or the budding diplomat with a solid groundwork of knowledge.” It must be, confessed that the subjects embraced in the Curriculum are varied enough to permit the student a wide choice. The inauguration of such a school in connection ’with the University of London is another of many recent indications; that education in "the things of to-day” is coming to be regarded as of equal importance to training in the literature of another age. Such a school : must inevitably have a powerful influence on civic thought and activity. ; There are many objections to "the business man" in politics, but these will probably he in time removed by the creation of such an institution over which Mr Beeves now presides. THE MEMORY OF COOK. Six of the admirals who have in turn commanded the- Australasian squadron hare addressed a letter to the London "Times” in cordial support of the - proposal to erect in London a monument to tho great navigator. Captain Cook. "A largo number of us," they say, "have had reason, when following our vocation, to feel personally grateful to him for the care with which he carried out his explorations, and fSb accuracy of hia hydrographical surveys." Cap-

tain Cook's career illustrates in a very brilliant manner a side of naval service which is often less considered than it deserves to be. His work was purely

;l»o*Qc, and —what is an one —w.as performed in the interest of the navigating public irrespective of nationality. He had eminent -predecessors, and has had •emiiiierjt successors, but -no man hae done so much as he did for the marine commerce of the world. . . Our service in the Southern Pacific, with which ocean Cook’s name is specially connected, has given us frequent opportunities of observing the high merit of his work. We are, of course, aware that Cook's achievements were by no means limited to that area; but wo have thought that our experiences within it would justify us in asking you to permit us to appeal in your columns to support the proposal brought forward by Sir J. HCarnithers that a memorial to Captain Cook should bo erected in the capital of the Empire which he served with such great distinction.” A LEGAL VISITOR. Amongst the most recent visitors to Wellington is Mr Sydney Mack, a rising young barrister who hails from the capital city of New South Wales. Although it is Mr Mack's first trip across the Tasman Sea he is in more than one way associated with New Zealand. The first and best of these associations is that he married a New Zealand lady, who accompanies him on this visit. The other associations are of a professional and somewhat sinister character. The "Tallin© case,” as it was called, still dwells in .the memories of most people, although it is six or seven years old. A woman named Jane Smith wps thrice tried at Darlinghurst, Sydney, on. a charge of having poisoned a man whilst on the voyage from Wellington to Sydney in the steamer Talune. At each trial the jury failed to arrive at a verdict, and eventually the then Attorney-General (the Hon. B. R. Wise) instructed the Crown Prosecutor (the Hon. C. G. Wade, now Premier of New South Wales) to enter a nolle prosequi, and the woman was discharged from custody. But later on the same woman, who had .now changed her name to "Mrs Jane Bakie,” was charged with having poisoned and killed another man, and was again set upon, her trial at Darlinghurst. Mr Mack defended her and the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. When a "Times” man asked Mr Mack whether the crimes alleged against this innocent woman were similar In character, ho laconically replied, "Yes, but it was strychnine in one case and ai’senic in the other,” and sententiously added: "fabula de to narratur; nomine mntato.” (The story is the same; the name is changed.) And then he proceeded to admire Wellington and express his hopeful anticipations of the enjoyments which he and Mrs Mack entertain of their ‘'Tong vacation,” as the lawyers have it in New Zealand.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES JUDICIARY.

Since the retirement of Sir Frederick Barley from the position of Chief Justice of New South Wales, which he has held with credit and dignity for some twenty year®, there has been a considerable flutter in tho Sydney dove-cots. No doubt there is much truth in tho adage that “in a multitude of counsellors there is wisdom,” but in this case the multitude is ovor-multitudinous, and ; the Government is hard put to it bo hit upon a proper successor to the late respected Chief Justice. All or nearly all of the senior counsel are no longer eligible for the position, as - they have either retired from their forensic labours or have accepted scats on the Bench as puisne l judges, which in a sense precludes advancement. (When counsel accepts such a position he is by legal etiquette' or general practice not to look for further preference.) But it is difficult to see what they arc going to do in New .South Wales if this rule is observed. The only senior counsel available ia the Hon. C. E. Pilcher, K.C., and it is doubtful whether he would accept the position. His Honor Mr Justice G. B. Simpson, who hasheen Judge in Divorce for a good many ydars, is spoken of as a possible successor, but he has only about another year or so to run when he may retire on a pension. His Honor P. W. Street, who is the junior of all the puisne judges is talked of,; hut although he is regarded as a brilliant" equity lawyer, it is maintained, apart from the before-mentioned objection, that _he is already a judge—and that objection, of bourse, applies equally to Mr Justice Simpson —he is too young for such an exalted position. Several other names have been ‘mentioned—Dr Cullen, K.C., Mr Adrian Knox, K.G., Mr A. Gordon, K.C., aiid Mr A. B; Shand, K.C., and tho present Premier, the Hon. C. G. Wade, K.C.—but in each of. these oases, with perhaps the exception of Dr Cullen, the youth of. the candidates, if they arc' candidates, a)l of whom only “took silk” four or five years ago, is against them. The Sydney evening papers are strongly in favour of Mr Wade assuming the position, bjit the big morning journals as strenuously oppose any suggestion.

THE IMPERIAL. PRESS CONFERENCE.

Some further details are now available with regard to the coming Imperial Frees Conference, which meets' in London next year. The conference will assemble on or about June 7th, and will last about three weeks. There will be a number of meetings at which papers will be read, probably with subsequent discussions on subjects of Imperial and journalistic interest. Such questions as those, of better 'and cheaper cabling facilities for the press between the different parts of the .Empire will no doubt receive due attention. The sittings of the conference are, however, only to be a limited feature of the scheme, though they will have adequate importance. The hospitality which .it is hoped to show to the visitors will range over a wide field. They will not be welcomed only hy the press of Great Britain. Official recognition will be accorded to them by the Government in appropriate form, and many other invitations have already been received from various bodies, which will represent the most characteristic aspects of Great Britain’s national life. The conference will not remain, in. London during the whole of its duration. Its members will be given an opportunity of inspecting, a great naval base, and of seeing some of the most recent additions to the fleet. It may he hoped, also, that they will bo shown representative troops of the British Army—a most desirable feature of the scheme which should not prove difficult of arrangement. They will be taken, under specially advantageous conditjoms, to some of the chief manufactur-

ing centres, and will be enabled to learn something of Britain's great industries, her shipbuilding yards, her ironworks, and her textile factories. It is suggested too. that a visit to Oxford might possibly be undertaken with the co-opera-tion of the University authorities, and that the programme might also include a . visit to Edinburgh. The social side of the conference will be one of special significance. The visitors will, it .is expected, be able to meet and exchange views with many of the loading public and professional men. They will also, before the conference terminates, be able to sec something of English country life under distinguished auejucce. The journalists from over-sea arc certain, says ‘•The Times/' in uu article on the subject, “to receive the warmest of welcomes in this country, and the outcome of the conference should be a deepening of mutual esteem and regard between the press of the overseas Empire and of the Mother Country/' THOSE TINE PHOTOS. A little time since a Wellington photographer went out of business. % It was necessary in the interests of the business that the photographs should be disposed of. Therefore, the subjects of the many photograjihs were astounded to see in various second-band shops their counterfeit presentments marked up at desolating prices. People of society culture and what not •were to be obtained for a few shillings, and one beauty of more than Wellington celebrity was offered at a ridiculous figure. Tho point is that many of these society persons did not offer a sufficient inducement to tne second-hand dealers to reclaim tho photographs, and Miss So-and-So and Mr As-itrWerc, director of ,a largo commercfal concern, may figure as the chief ornaments of a wharf labourer's parlour, Formerly it was considered a moral law that tho subject of a photo should first give his or her consent to tho public disposition of a photograph, but apparently in Wellington tho moral law hhs become a little clouded. HALLINEN AND ANDERSEN. There are always newspapers and individuals in the community who can bo relied upon to advocate tho payment of largo sums as compensation by the Stato to individuals 'on various pretexts so long as they themselves are not direct contributors. Tho agitation which is being fermented in connection with the Haliinen and Andersen trial is a case in point. We do not propose to discuss the , merits of this prosecution, but we say that the Administration would not be justified in handing over a large sum of money to tho one man and to the relatives of the other who has since unfortunately died, without a formal application to Parliament and the fullest inquiry into tho circumstances. This is not a matter which should be determined upon the representations of special pleaders, but upon the equities after Parliament has satisfied itself that tho Grown, authorities have been remiss and that an intolerable injustice has been inflicted upon innocent persons. On tho face of it, if Haliinen and Andersen had been, peaceful and law-abiding persons they could not possibly have found their way into a criminal dock on a capital charge, or having found themselves there, they, could by taking advantage of the local laws of evidence, have cleared themselves of the stigma of crime. Of course, if through tho negligence or carelessness or prejudicial action of thp police, 'or tho wrongful action of the judicial tribunal, an injury has been inflicted, upon these men, substantial compensation is juStly due, but it would ba a wrongful usurpation of the prerogatives of administration if, at the instance of an irresponsible section of tho community, Cabinet, without consulting Parliament, were to decide upon a course of action which might subsequently be found not only to have established' a questionable precedent, but to lack justification in other respect s, NEWS NOTES On Friday (Now Year's Day) the Postal Department will be closed in ail its branches. Mails for steamers sailing on that day will close at 8 p.m. to-morrow. Mails by the morning express trains only will close at the usual time. Between 8.30 p.m. and 0.30 p.m, to-morrow a delivery will bo made over the public counter at the Chief Post Chico by the lette'r-carriers. The annual meeting of No. 4 Co-oper-ative Building Society will bo held on Friday, January Bth. All butchers' shops in Wellington willbe closed from New Year's Eve till next Monday, During the passage of the Wnrrimoo from Sydney a concert was given by the passengers on Monday evening. A collection was made in aid of the Shipwreck Relief Society.

Owing to the holidays interrupting the sittings of the Court at Wanganui, the Magisterial inquiries into the wrecks of the Ururoa and Charles Edward have been postponed till about January 7tb. Owing to the concert room of the . Town Hall being ' otherwise engaged for tho evening of January Bth, the Wellington Wool, Brokers’ Association has engaged the Sydney street schoolroom. The sale commences at 10 a.m.

Dr Hornaday, of the New York Zoological Gardens, has presented, to tho Wellington Zoological Committee, through the medium of-Mr T. W. Arthur, ashietanit superintendent, a couple of American black bears. Tho animals- are expected to arrive at Wellington about March.

Great is brawn! Johnson, the large muscular, oratorical coloured person who beat a white man palled Burns in a. fight on Boxing Day, has been engaged by Mr Xtiokands to "do a turn" in a Sydney theatre. Two hundred pounds a weeh and expenses for self and trainer is the solatium.

The body of the unknown man who was found dead in an alley in Courtenay place, and who has not yet been identified, was yesterday immersed in formalin solution, in order that tho remains might stay in tho morgue for purposes of identification for a further period.

Only sixteen of the passengers by tho Tainui have so far called upon tho Lahour Department. They comprised farm labourers, iron-moulders, _ labourers, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, ship’s carpenter and drapers. All the farm labourers were assisted to obtain situations. Tho demand made on the Department at present for this class of worker largely exceeds the supply. A sudden splash, and* the cry "Man overboard!" occasioned some excitement on the Onehunga Wharf on the arrival of the Rarawa on Saturday. The Rarawa at the time was about 40 yards away, when a middle-aged man named R. Williams, overbalanced and fell from the wharf into the water. A line was quickly thrown by a bystander, but Williams, wbo, on coming to the surface, still held his pipe in his mouth, struck out for tho Rarawa. The mate of the vessel then threw a lino, which the man caught and he was soon brought on board—still in possession of hia pipe.

In a letter to the Loudon “Shipping Gazette’' of recent date a-correspondent says:—‘’There arc at the present tim® in the port of London cloee on 5000 British seamen ami firemen out of work* They ore, in a great many instance's,, tho sole support of their families, who arc practically starving. It is heartrending to hoar the little ones pleading for (something to eat, which cannot bo obtained because of the inability of tho fathers to obtain a .ship, whilst foreigners arc, in preference, taken in their stead." A movement has been sot on foot is Christchurch for the purpose of veoojp nising in n lamrible manner Arnst's vie* lory in winning tho sculling champion.* ship. It is intended that tho testimonial shall take tho form of a purse of sow eycipns, and judging from tho expressions of opinion already made n. considerable sum should he realised. A strong committee has been formed, consisting of Messrs R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P. (chairman), J, H. Parker Uu>ntreasurer), and Alex. Lowry (hon. sec* rotary).

There was a rainbow of especial rndi* ancc in the heavens last evening, shortly after rundown, the remarkable fcaturo about the celestial phenomenon -beiugj that it reflected brilliantly and repeated itself, tho general effect being to throw two extremely fine arches across tn® western sky. The brilliance, of tho cloud effect over Somes .Island and I'elono, viewed from tho heights over Oriental Bay, wa« more remarkable than tor many years, the sea in the foreground giving a wonderful setting to a romanlia picture.

The steamer Taluuc's remarkable car* cor is recalled by a few remarks mnda yesterday to a reporter by Mr Sydney Mack, barrister, of Sydney, in reference to tho extraordinary poisoning casts which took place aboard that vessel idle was voyaging from New Zealand to Sydney six or seven years ago. But that is not tho only senisational experience which the Talnno has had by any means* It was she, when voyaging in command of Captain Spark from Auckland to Suva, that spoke the British fourmasted barauo Swanhilda, bound from’ Newcastle to San .Francisco, in midocean. Tho vessels hove-to. A boat wart put off from the Talunc, and her chief officer informed tho master of tho Swanhilda that amongst his crew wart the infamous murderer Butler, who was afterwards executed in Darlinghurst Gaol, Sydney, Again tho Talune had experiences. It was she —lucky nhip—that picked up the steamer Perthshire after her long and perilous drift, and sha also had the good fortune to come across the Monowai when something had goim wrong with her wbrke. Tho Montreal “Herald*' mentions i, dramatic incident in the current history of opium suppression in Canada. Th«. Dominion Parliament has passed a Bill prohibiting tho manufacture and sale o! opium in Canada. This action has met with the most grateful appreciation of the better class of Chinese residents in Montreal. The Chinese Bible Class o£ tho Montreal Chinese Mission at a recent Sunday meeting passed a strong resolution, endorsing tho legislation of tho Dominion Parliament, and asking for its thorough enforcement by the local authorities. This resolution, was moved by a Chinaman, -whoso father had boon sold into slavery at un'-carly age by hia father in order to procure Himself the drug to which ho was the helpless victim. So tho son of a clave and tho grandson of an. opium slave uses Ills freedom to help forward the emancipation of his countrymen. Tho suppression of tho opium traffic in Canada is not only a benefit to tho Chinese, Tho number of white people m tho Dominion who have fallen victims to the drug him become alarming* A dealer in sporting tackle, in conversation with a “Times" reporter yesterday, mentioned that lie had not A singl® revolver left. He had disposed of every small weapon he had in stock from tho ordinary (and mostly useless) yfintiro weapon of the '‘seventies' 1 to tho largo army revolver which will take a .‘303 rifle cartridge, if only ono cartridge at a time is inserted. He eaid that tiio recent crimes of violence in the city had given an extraordinary fillip to his trade in weapons, and hoped that tho people might ho equally scared until ho obtained a further supply of revolvers from Sydney and Melbourne. Coincident with the purchase of the large revolver is tho buying of tho “big stick." Yesterday inquiries made amongst.tho sellers of sticks convinced the inquirer that more large heavy sticks had been sold during, tho last few days than ever before in 'Wellington. One tobacconist disposed of two dozen English oak staves in a few Hours. Another had got rid of nine of a similar calibre, and yet again a , third trader had cleared seven.