CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6964, 2 November 1909, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

THE lONIC’S IMMIGRANTS. Before their departure from London the assisted immigrants who arrived m Wellington last night by the lonic were inspected by Dr Hawn and Mr T; B. Donne. Whilst on board they detected a man—not an assisted passenger— who to the practised eye of Dr Mason appeared to be suffering from consumption. The matter was referred tp the ship’s doctor, and : the suspect carefully examined in the ship’s hospital by both medical men. As a result they came to the conclusion that he was a tuberculous subject, and on the strength of their representation the unfortunate-sufferer was not allowed bo proceed on the voyage, he and his wife and children being put ashore.

THE MOST POWERFUL CRUISER. "Engineering,’’ in a recent issue, discussing the new cruiser-battleship Indefatigable, launched last week at Devouport, says the increase in length is 25ft, in, beam 2ft, and in displacement nearly 2000 tons, as compared with the 17,250 tons of the Invincible class. There has been a slight increase to the size of the turbines, in order that tbe speed should be 26 knots in this; case also. _ As to the new cruiser which is to be laid down in the berth vacated by the Indefatigable, it would bo impolitic to give details. The vessel : will be, some GOOft long, and she will have turbine: machinery ’exceeding in power that placed in any preceding ship, excelling that even of. the Lusitania and • Mauretania,, now doing such splendid steaming on'the Atlantic. It is too early to write about speed, but in view of the successful lines evolved by Sir Philip Watts in all his ships, and of the high efficient’ of machinery arranged by Admiral Oram, the Enginecr-iu-Cbief, it may bo predicted that this vessel will certainly exceed 28 knots, so that, alike in her power of attack, her adequacy of defence, and her fleetness, she will mark a departure which will furnish further opportunities for the ability of the Admiralty office re to keep pace with the willingness of the nation to excel in naval power. .

THOSE CHAIRS. Life is made up of important trifles, and though the seating accommodation at a place of popular entertainment may not seem an important enough, subject to make a fuss about, there is such abundant testimony of tho discomforts which Town Hall audiences feel at the chairing accommodation there provided that the 'Mayor and Citj- Councillors would; do well to consult with their expert advisers as to the manner in which the grievance can be minimised. It is said that a deputation of Wellington women, is to be promoted-to impress upon the City Fathers their duty in this matter. Surely Dr Newman and his colleagues will not, for, shame’s sake, allow the ladies to imply the lack of vallantry which such a course would demonstrate? ’Tis said that the chairs are badly balanced and too high. The fact remains that persons of certain stature cannot conveniently sit out an entertainment, no matter how attractive.

WIRELESS INSTALLATION. In connection with the tenders that are being called by the Federal Post-master-General for tho supply and erection of wireless telegraph installations on an approved site in or near Sydney, and on a site in. or near Fremantle, thg tenderers are required to mention the country or State in which the apparatus will be manufactured. The idea, is to have the New South Wales installation on either North Head or at, or near, South Head, though the tenders merely provide for an approved, site in or near Sydney. It was at one time proposed to have the West Australian installation at Rotlncist, but this has been abandoned in favour of a site in or near Fremantle. Should the ■ stations, whichare in the nature of experiments, prove successful. Sir John Quick proposes to extend the system. Ho may go as far

'S to negotiate for reciprocal n-rrango-■v.ents with New Zealand. Tender-era will be required to provide for a plant capable of commun:eating with Ore wardrips onuippod with wireless, and with! tiro mail, or any other steamers. Tiny will tender alternatively to provide for .he transmission of radiations effectively to 500 miles, 750 miles, or 100(1 miles. When tho stations are completed, a e-stem of charges will be adopted for communicating with private shirts.

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN COINAGE. "No more British coin of any sort is !o be imported,” announced Sir John Forrest in Melbourne last week. The Commonwealih Government has asked tho ■British authorities to cease supplying silver coinage through the mints, and arrangements are being made for a million florins, a million shillings, a million sixpences, and about two million threepenny pieces of the new Australian coinage to arrive in Australia at the beginning of next .year. The total value of this coin is .£200,000. Vlt has been arranged that when the coin reaches Australia •£103,000 worth of old money will be ready ten bo shipper! back to England. It is not intended to circulate tho whole of the new money at once —probably only £IOO,OOO worth, to take tho place of that which has boon withdrawn from circulation. The British authorities arc to attend to the insurance and other matters connected with the shipping of the money. They are also to be instructed to purchase tiro necessary bullion for minting (ho coin. Copper coinage has not been dealt" with.

NEWS NOTES Tho mails which loft Wellington on September 2-tth and connected at Sydney with tho Brindisi mail per McoUan* arrived i.:n London on the night of October 2.9 th—-due date.

Detective Cassells yesterday arrested a man who * wil lb;, charged this morning with having deserted from H.M.S. Pioneer in Sydney in September; XBOS. The Telegraph Department is advised from Berne that tho Indo-European Company’s lines oro interrupted between Lowestoft and Emden.

Messrs Richardson and Blair signed a contract yesterday for the supply of two miles of trolley wire to the electrical department of tho City Council. The price is .C 172 10s. . j The first body to be incinerated in Wellington's crematorium will be that of the late John Jack. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.in. to-day. Tho ashes will bo sent Home, to bo buried in the family vault at Dundee. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was held yesterday. The report and balancesheet wore adopted, and the meeting adjourned for a week, when matters of interest to tho profession will' bo discussed.

The payments made by the New Zealand Daii‘y Association, Ltd,, Auckland, for buttor-fat supplied diming tho month, of September totalled .£15,164 Its Bd. For tho same month last year the similar payments aggregated .£10,397 Ss 3d. Thus there is an increase of .£5067 6s sd. His Excellency the Governor has intimated to the secretary of tho Wellington Amateur Athletic Club .that ho will bo ■ present on tho Basin Reserve on November 9th, King© Birthday, to witness the duty’s sports and tho fijiteh of the Marathon race.

The president* (Mr T. Borkin) and fjscwjtntpv (Mr J, D. Bancko) of tli<3 Rxmu Miners* Association* will ..give evidence before the Parliamentary Committee with reference to the petition from 1 asking for an amendment of: the water power regulations.

'-During October 164 births were regis-' fared in Wellington, against 210 for the corresponding , month last year a doorcase ,of 54. Deaths’ numbered 58 (against 64), and marriages 69, as com-, pared with 76 for October 1008. Thirteen marriages took place before the Registrar. f ; . Tho “New Zealand Herald" is advised by Messrs Russell and Somers and Messrs Thofl, Cook and. Bon that the question of. fares between Auckland and Sydney by the R. and 0. steamers has been reconsidered, and the faeces to be charged fixed, at <£9 first saloon.- and <£6 second saloon.

At the. monthly meeting of the Wellington . Bootmakers’ Dnion last: evening a notice 1 of motion was tabled as follows; “That this union disaffiliate from the Trades and Labour Council owing to tho unconstitutional way in which the Premier and Ministry wens, invited to tho Labour picnic on last Labour Day."

Dr Borgbelti lectured in the Concert Chamber of (ho Town Hall last night to a large, audience. The subject was "Europe, past, present and future," or “Tho rising and falling of ' nations." The lecturer 1 treated tho subject in an analytical manner. Dr Tudor Jones was in the chair,: and a vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer at tho conclusion of tho meeting. • It was stated at Friday’s meeting of the Northern, Coal Company, by Mr E. \V.‘Alison, chairman ot directors, that tho total onontity of Newcastle, ooal imported into the Dominion during the first six months of the present year amounted to 1,213,66’! tons, as against 192,018 for the corresponding period of the previous year, an increase of over 1,000,000 tons in six months.' Inquiries were made by a " Times" reporter yesterday concerning ,the possibility of the- three lifebelts which have been picked up on the beach, in Palliser Bay having,’ come from the , missing steamer Duco. Tho Wellington ! Harbour Ferries, owners of tho Duco, state that tho lifebelts on that vessel had no blue design, as on the throe lifebelts picked up. The Duco’s lifebelts wore quite plain, without a pattern.

Taking advantage of the searching visit of the cruiser Challenger to the Kcrmadcos in quest of traces of; survivors of’ tho missing ship Clan Macphcrson, tho Marino Department shipped new supplies by the Challenger yesterday to replenish tho castaway depots on tho Kermadeos if the 'supplies there have been used by any shipwrecked people. Tbe Challenger sailed from- Wellington at 6 o’clock last evening for the Kermadecs. The Amokura was to have made a visit to the Kennadccs next iveek. The last call at the islands was made by the Hinemoa last November.

The Magisterial inquiry concerning tho loss of the steamer Duco is to be held as soon as a suitable date can be arranged. The Minister for Marine has approved the appointment of two assessors to act at the inquiry. They will Toe Mr James Maclean, engineer, of Dixon street, Wellington, and Captain W. J. Grey, late of the Customs service, who has acted in a similar capacity on previous occasions. It is seldom that an engineer is appointed as an assessor, but in tins instance the Marine Department is providing for any contingency in which expert engineering knowledge would be required. The Marine Depart ment will be represented at the inquiry by Mr C. S. Nixon, Collector of Customs.

At the monthly meeting of tho Wellington branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the following resolution was unanimously carried "That this branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants enters its emphatic protest against" any alteration in the Arbitration Act in the diroctiox of allowing: the Drivers’ and Firemenf Association to be recognised by thl Minister of Railways, as such recognition would be detrimental to the railway men as a whole.” Similar resolution's were adopted on Sunday by the Dunedin. Greyuiouth, and Wanganui branches of the society. At a meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Drivers'. Firemen's, and. Cleaners’ Association a motion was passed condemning what were' termed the dog-in-the-manger resolutions passed by the A.S.R.S., that cedy not being representative of the locomdrive men.

Victoria terrace, Brooklyn, will be closed to traffic until I'aitlior notice, mvinf,' to wewers bciritf laid in the street. The monthly meeting of the_ Uornoii h Social and Political League will ho held hi the roorms Uidv.dll street, tomorrow afternoon.

Tho bankrupt estate of Mr C. 0. Beckett, journalist, Waihi, has paid a first and final dividend of twopence m tho pound.

The New Zealand oyster season has been brought to a close. On February Ist the South Island season will reopen, arid the North Island on May Ist. Tho .parliamentary party which wont to Vinton by tho Tutanekai on Saturday to attend the Marlborough Jubilee fwtivifcicß roturnod to Wellington early lias mornlufj by the Tutanekai.

The Stratford “Post” understands that al/roady twenty of tho prominent bumnoiH people of the town have paid their HiiljMcriintione and undertaken to supjx>rt the projjo,s©d s-cheme for checking tlie of credit to “ aad marks. Yesterday an ordinary seaman named VVarren. who it* but seventeen ■years of was badly injured on the Ty>or Unor Kiwaru. A beam. from one <of tho liatchcis foil njxui him and he v. r considerably bruieod about the body; in addition, ho sustained a feoiuewhat isovoro ocalp wound. He was admitted to the hospital about 6 p.m., aaid it is reported that his injuries are serious. In tho first heat of the Petone Rowing Club trial fours, to Ixj rowed on Saturday, tho following: crows will compete: No 1 crow —Benner (stroke)* Bland, .May, Sharou (bow); N«. 2— Trcmaui, Carty, 0. B. Brummoncl, Brunette; No. J Sharon, Inglis, Core, Valentine; No. 4~ Whr.te, Parr, Arrowimiitli, Packard; No s—Burrldge,s—Burrldge, L. Driiiunond, Newell, Baker; No. G—Strutters, Parrant, Stapkv*, Moire©©. •

Hourly a day ahead of her schedule time, tiio Shaw, Savill and Albion. liuoi lonic arrived in the stream at AVellington shortly after V* o’elock last nigliX, from. London and Plymouth, via icuerilFc, Capetown and Hol.«ari. The vessel arrived too late to uiidiM'go medical inspection, but at 7 o’clock tint morning the Port Health Officer will, go oat by tender and board the lonic in the fetree.m. Tho v-e*fifol will I subsequently berth at tho outer tee of the Queen's whurf. Last night a Morse lamp signal was received from tlie vessel which read; “All well; no deaths nor births aboard. Vessel fitted with wireless telegraphy."

Addressing a special meeting <xf his council last night, the Mayer of Lower Hutt, Mr B. P. Bunny, said that from his reading of the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Bill it appeared that local bodies would, under Us provisions, bo placed in a, much less favourable position regarding the raising of small loans than they were under the Jjoana to Local Bodies Act, which the Bill proposes to supersede. Apart from the 1 pea* cent, procuration fee—an entirely new lovy—there was the .probability, if not certainty, that any but big loans could not possibly be floated under such favourable terms as now obtained —viz., 3| per cent., to extinguishing themselves in forty-two years. The Mayor and councillors propose, to wait on the Premier today regarding the matter.

Tho delay in the appointment of a successor to Bishop Stcne-W’igg at Papua it# causing concern aauongst those interested in tlie Anglican mission there {bays tlie “Melbourne Argus"). Bishop Btouo-Wigg resigned in August lust year, and ‘the vacant see was left in the hands of the Australasian bishops. The difficulties tin tho matter of distance that lay in the way of tho bishops meeting forced the decision to send Home for a man, arid the commission was transferred to tho Archbishop of Canterbury. Tho stipend offered is *£3oo, and tho funds of the mission will not allow of any ircreuse. This is believed to be one of the chief obstacles in the way ot obtaining a candidate, and an appeal was some time ago addressed to the Australian Church to make itself responsible for the diocese, and contribute towards its support. Tho Bev. A, T. Thompson, ©peaking at a Y.M.C.A. meeting at Masterton, said Christians in these days had grown too modest by half, and lived in an atmo ephere of toleration and liberalism, being far too much inclined to become concessional. A©- a consequence of this laxity our Christian blood was losing its iron. We certainly did not form a part of the Church Triumphant, nor did we belong to a, church militant. . Wo belonged to a church that was non-com-mittal. We were' not decided enough, and the tendency was to apologise for our religious belief. We lacked the not© of challenge, as found tin the instance of St. Paul, and ever since the wave of criticism had set in, from the publication of Darwin's origin of species, .Christians had been too weak-kneed, and this criticism had been allowed to have too much of its own way. The half-yearly meeting of the Cooks' and Waiters' Union was held last evening. There were over a hundred members present. The financial statement showed that 89 male members and 34 female members had joined the union during the past six months, and that the receipts from contribution and entrance fees totalled «£lßl 7s 6d. Extraordinary expenditure was incurred during tho* time covered by the statement in connection with court proceedings, federation business, and donations to other bodies, but the transactions resulted in a clear profit of about 3515. The union ha© assets now amounting to *£l93 12s lid. Special interest was taken by members in the secretary’s report, which dealt with tho prospect of legislation during tie present session for improved conditions of labour in tho trade. A email committee was set up to deal with tho p <ro r ose d amendment of the Shops and Offio?s Act outlined by tho Minister for Labour. Tho opinion of the meeting ■was that nothing less than a clear day’s holiday in each wesk would be sntrisfacjtory. The committee was instructed to again interview tho Minister, with the hope of his acceding to the demands of Aho union. \

Tho Lux Light Company wish it known that the Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See To Aro House, Bates and Lees', Wardeli Bros.’ Leydon and Co., Caterer and Carey, E. Poaroe and Co., E. Hannah and Co., Petone Workshops (whore Lux replaced the latest devices in lighting). House Lamps 22s fid. Lamps np to 2000 candle-power. 35, 37, 39, Old Customhouse street (hack of Opera House), Wellington. *