CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6996, 9 December 1909, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

THE KING'S WHARF. One of the evil effects of doing work in committee- is shown by the- Welling- • ton Harbour Board's action respecting i . the' King's Wharf. Serious complaints I havo been mode regarding the delay (• ', caused .at the wharf to shipping' through the necessity of having to use \ the , board's hydraulic cranes, which are alleged to be much slower than a ship's derricks. The chairman of the board, Mr Wilford, says: "That at tho last month's meeting of the Harbour •' Board the question had been con-i sidercd ,in committee. Various alterationr had been proposed and carried, and instructions were given to tho engineer accordingly." It' may bo pertinently asked " Why was * not tho public told about this before?" Tho fact soeims to bo overlooked by tho board that it is dealing with tho ratepayers' money. If there have been any miscalculations, and tho wharf, under present conditions, does not serve the purpose for which it was constructed, those concerned have a right to bo told about it. There is far too much publio business ed by tho board in committee. LORD KITCHEnSTER—FATALIST. It is only thoso who know Lord' Kitchener well who are aware how strongly fatalism, is ingrained in his character. Some years ago, during the time that ho was Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, the talk in the headquarter mess turned upon tho military future of those present. It was'gen orally agreed that it was inevitable that Lorn Kitchener would sooner or later find himself installed at the War Office, and certainly at that time everything/ pointed to this. Lord Kitchener, however, shook his head and said with a smilo. "I'think you are all wrong. Somehow I liave a feeling that convinces jno I shall never occupy any position at tho War Office." This belief has, if anything, becomo strengthened since that time. On another

occasion, during tho Soudan campaign, Lord Kitchener was warned not to expose himself so recklessly when in action. "I shall never be killed," he saTd. "When my time comes I shall die peacefully in my bed.'' .Many other instances might be adduced to demonstrate this rather strongo side of Lord Kitchener's character which, by tho way, appears to have missed previous notice in tho press. MONEY MARKET. Conditions continue fairly easy and money is readily available for all reasonable and legitimate purposes (says . the current issue of the "Trade Review''). In the ordinary course tho bank r-eturns for the December quarter show the effect of . advances made to wool farmers and other producers for , tho handling of the season's products, while in the following quarter -the returns benefit liberally from the realisation of these goods and their exportation to the markets of consumption. Tho present season is exceptionally, early. Tho wool sales show substantially. increased quantities brought to market, while an unusually large proportion is being sold, and that at very satisfactory. prices. Dairy produce is also going forward in extra large quantities. The bank returns for the current quarter, when they come to be published, can scarcely fail to show that exceptionally large amounts have been brought to credit from these sources. The largo proportion of the season's exports go forward, however, in the March quarter when the excess of exports over imports always amounts to some millions. There are disturbing factors in operation or in prospect that threaten a, measure of unfavourable results for: trade. There is the very serious labour strike in Now South Wales and thei prospect of an exciting general election' in tho Old Country, both of which may, have some effect upon New Zealand.. Wo have ourselves a small troublo similar to that existing in New South. Wales hut it is hardly likely to be of long duration or to assume serious proportions. On the whole, however, trade prospects, the world over, are encouraging and New Zealand is ma good position to profit by favourable conditions. BABIES IN THEATRES. Happily for infants most theatrical managements do not allow infants into ■ theatres. This is not because tho managements are concerned about the health of babies, but because babies who cry during an interesting portion of a plav disturb patrons. Parents probably do not know that they reallv perform an act of cruelty by taking babi-a to a tli',tre—hut the fact remains.. During a time when all infants (-hould-. be in bed, the infant who is taken to a theatre is being grossly ill-treated. Peoplo who cannot go to a theatre without tho baby should etay at home,

An infant who perspires for several hours in the hot atmosphere of a theatre stands a poor chance of leading a healthy life. Theatres are had for (i baby's physical and mental health, and managements should combine on the Bcoro of public comfort and the health of infants in stopping a practice' that unfortunately continues in Wellington. A BOY WITH OBIT. An oxamplo of grit and perseverance worthy of record wa.s mentioned by the Koctor of St. Patrick s College last evening at the pnzo dwtnbution ceremony, paries I**?..s° kud who won one of Lord junior prizes for a paper on irM»A' L not present, having left College it was explained, to cam enough to keep him at Collie during the next yoaT. Laird is a farmer lad, who. tavitifi had an ordinary primary school education, determined to cxrutp. bimseif with a sooorcdairy school training, anU immediately «* about. <*™™S enough money to do bo flus money has now been expended, but young Laird has gone to work again to provido for-another year's education, lno titory of Master La.vrd'3 pluck was fiiwtod with hearty applause. RAINBOWS. A correspondent from Bertiamporo writos.:-"Uoifld you explain to mo how it is that a rainbow B formed A friend of mine and myself have had many arguments on this subject hence the question. He contends that you can see two disbmot rainbows, which I don't believe. Tho most I have over seen at one time is one. i havo asked a good few people ciuostions relative to this, and I am now no wisor tlian whon I started. 1 should bo vory gk*d if you could explain tho general principle or tins phenomenon." Newton, in.the second book of his Optics, will enlighten our correspondent, who may also glean, some information from "Oliamberss Encyclopaedia." which says:— iho most careless observation shows us that, for the production of a raiinbow, wo must havo a luminous body of modorato angular diameter, and drops of water; for it is never seen except bv direct sun or moonlight, and never in a cloud unless ram be failing from it. Now, a falling drop of water takes, by its molecular foroos, a spherical form. Also,, as there is separation of the various colours of which white light is composed, the cause of tho phenomenon must involve refraction of light, because by reflection these colours are not separated. But, again, the spectator who views the rainbow has hs back to tho sun, and rays of light merely refracted by a raindrop could not be thus sent back to tho spectator. The phenomenon must therefore depend upon successive reflections and refractions." NEWS NOTES ! - We have a 'largo number of letters to „%c editor in mmd, which will appear os space permits. Preference will be friven to those in which the writers have expressed themselves concisely, and taken, the trouble to write »nd punctuate ■properly. Several of the communications which have reached us recently are so ill-spelt and badly written that we can make nothing' of them. Two Chinese, who have been on a holiday jaunt to the Bist, returned to the land of their adoption yesterday by the ! Marama. ■ *.

In a court case at Palmerston xn. which a motorist was charged with, running over a dog, it WUs said that the dog -was on the wrong side of the road! / Leo Boronoff, alius Arthur Arnold Copland, was arrested at Eongotea on Tuesday night, on a warrant assuid at Feilding. that he did, on the Eangibkei line, near Awahun, on. November 30th, attempt to carnally know a girl under twelve years of age. It is Ulleged. that ithe accused had been hawking spectacles Ibetweea Feilding and Wellington, representing himself as the expert of an optical firm in Wellington.

The estate of the late Mrs A. J. White, of Christchurch, has been JESO 000 The sum of about .£2OOO is left for the erection of a Catholic Church building at Sumner, ,£3OO-for the Catholic Cathedral fund, and .£IOO forottor religious purposes connected with tne Catholic Church. Annuities amounting to .£I7OO will be divided between Mrs White's eight children and her sister. The T'eaidne will be devoted to orphanages under the control of the Catholic i-Chnrch, but not for Catholic children only.

Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F.. met on .Tuesday evening, Bro. W. Janes. O.J.W, rpresidiiw. There was a good attendance of members. Bros. Jessen, Shapcptto and Harlen, the newly appointed U.OJi., D.S.C.E and D.SJ3. respectively paid a, visit and were 'heartily welcomed. P.D.C.E. Bro. G. Key, one of the delegates to the triennial meeting held at Picton, gavo an exhaustive and interesting report of ithe proceedings there, and spoke warmly in praise of their treatniont at the hands of Picton and Blenihoim residents.' One new member was [proposed.

A chc*?tnut horse in harness, but Tinattached to a vehicle, galloped along Jervois quay shortlv after six o clock last evening, and turned into Brandon street, whore efforts -wore mude to catch it. Near the intersection of Lamb ton quay and Brandon street, the, animal dashed j full gallop into a tramway pillar. I'he 'horse bounced back like a rubber ball, ' and judging by the limp way it wobbled down the street, the runaway was budly injured by the collision. It afterwards expired in Waring-Taylar street. Another horse dropped dead near the Pubdio Library yesterday. Dr Chas. Harries leaves Ducedin for t'ho North to-day. He is a composer, organist, and conductor, and also a .strong Imperialist. The objects of his visit, ho explains, are to m'ake himself conversant with musical conditions and to pav his respects to Lord Plunket and I Sir Joseph VVard, to whom he bears important letters, and generally to clear the way to put a final link to his scheme far the preparation of musical festivals tliat will eventually encompass the whole .of the British Empire. To this end, he ;hii» already visited England, South Africa, Canada, and Australia.

"More harm is done by publicity in •connection with prosecution, of females than, by any hole-and-corner privacy," ec.id the Attorney-General,, yesterday, when the Reformatory Institutions Bill •ana under consideration, and the question had been raised that such cases .might be heard and determined by a Magistrate in private. "To-day the publicity is mainly -used for the pollution of minds through a certain, kind of journalism," he added. "It is monstrous that a girl has frequently to go to a public court to establish a claim against a man in affiliation cases." The lion. 0. Samuel agreed that in some oases rpxkbl'iojty was unnecessary and cruel, and simply depraved the community.

The Lux Light Company wish it iiewn that the Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See Te Aro House, Bates and Lees', Wardell Bros.' Leydon and Co., Caterer and Carey. E. Pearco and Co., R. Hannah and Co., Petone Workshops (where Lux replaced the latest devices in lighting). House Lamps 22s 6d. Lamps up to 2000 candle-power. 35, 37, 39, Old Customhouse street (back of Opera House), Wellington. •

Mr T. At. "Wilford, M.P., will open the rifle ran:je at Eastbourne next Saturday afternoon. Tie first shot v/ill bo fired by Mrs John Rarr. after which a raatoh will bo arranged between visitors and members.

Thf. annual meeting of tho Oity and Suburban Cooperative liuildinK Society of Wellington will be held at tho office of Quarter, f)yke.s and Co., Featherston street, on Friday, December 17th, at 8 p.m.

.Acknowledgment of the receipt of a chequo from Mr .'fames W. Jack, honorary treasurer of the recent Nursing Guild f'nir, is mauo by Mr W. B. Fisher, honorary treasurer of the St. John Ambulance Association. The amount of the chequo is for £IOO3 3d 3d, being the balance indicated on the balance-sheet presented to tho comrnitteo and stallholders of tho fair last week. The annual 6how of the students' work for tho past year is now open at the Wellington Technical School, and demonstrates .the progress made by both teachers and taught in the various departments. Admission is free, and parand all others interested in the education of the raring generation should pay the show U visit. Afternoon tea "will bo provided by the members of tho cooking classes. Boors: 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4.30 p.m., and 7 to 10 pjn.